Lets Learn to Put the Past Behind Us.

Aj's POV-

I sat there in shock.

My jaw dropped, and I tried to speak. But I could not find the words to
say.

I looked back up at Joel. He looked nervous. His eyebrow was lifted,
and he was biting his lip.

I took a deep breath, then spoke. "Um, I-I do." I stated, nervously.

"You do?" Joel asked.

I nodded.

Joel sighed in relief. "That's great."

"Yeah... So you never stopped loving me?" I smirked.

Joels cheeks turned a faint pink. "No, I never stopped. I always cared
about you. When you said, you think we would be better off as friends,
I didn't."

"Then why did you agree?" I questioned.

"Because it's what you wanted."

"I only said that, because I thought it's what you wanted." I whisper.

Joel shook his head.

I sat back in my chair, and thought about this whole situation. I
remember Joel feeling distant, and I just wanted him closer. But I was
afraid if I pushed it, we wouldn't work. Then if we broke up, we
couldn't be friends. And I didn't want to loose him as a friend. I felt
my stomach feel sick. Like I was going to throw up.

"I always wanted to be more than friends." Joel says, breaking into my
thoughts.

I smiled, "I always wanted that too."

"I wish we both would of known that before." Joel sighed, and slumped
back in his seat.

"That would of been nice." I agreed. "But where does this leave us?"

Joel eyes met mine, and were filled with confusion. "Im not sure." He
shrugged.

Before we knew it, we heard the obnoxious sound of a car horn. We
glance out the big, glass, front window. There were three vans outside
the shop. "That's the guys." Joel huffed. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah." I said, and stood up. Joel pushed his chair in, and we both
walked to the door. On the way there, Joel's hand found mine, holding
it in his. I glanced down at it, and smiled. It reminded me of how
things use to be.

I've missed that.

"Do you want to drive with us, to the next venue?" Joel asked, turning
towards me.

I thought about it for a quick second, before nodding.

"Cool." Joel smiled.

"I'm just going to go tell the guys, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you at the TC van." Joel said, as he let go of my
hand.

"Okay." I responded, and headed to my van.

I opened the back door, and stuck my head in. "Hey, I'm going to drive
in the This Century van." I informed them.

"Really?" Donnie said sneakily

"Yeah."

"So, I seen you and Joel holding hands... Are you guys like, together?"
Jake asked.

"Not together, exactly." I said, thinking about it. "But kind of, I
guess. I'm not really sure. We're working in it."

"Wait, what's going on?" Taylor yawned, peeking out from the back of
the van.

"Nothing, go back to bed." Andy tells her. "Okay, well good luck with
that, Aj." Andy said, giving me a wink. I rolled my eyes, and grabbed
my bag out of the backseat. "See ya later." I announced, then closing
the door.

I throw the purse over my shoulder, and walk to This Century's van.
While I was in front of the van, the horn went off. I jump back,
startled. I look over and at the van, and seen Ryan laughing. I shook
my head, and opened the back door. "You are such a jerk." I yell at
Ryan.

"It was welcome back joke." He chuckled. "Welcome back."

I rolled my eyes, as Joel pulls me into the van. I take a seat in the
back next to him. "On to the next city." Joel shouted, with a smile. We
both buckle up, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder. I lean over,
closer to him. When I looked up, I saw Sean. He was turned around in
his seat, smiling at us. "What?" I asked, awkwardly.

Sean shook his head, still smiling. "Oh nothing." He said, and turned
back to the front of the van.

I laugh to myself, as I get more comfortable. I nuzzle up against Joel,
and rest my head on his shoulder. He moved his hand to mine, and
intwined our fingers. Resting our hands on his leg.

Everything seemed to be happening really fast. But as I look down, at
my hand. I realized, I did not care.