Burning the Rulebook on Romance

I woke to a mild headache – something I’d successfully avoided for a good length of time until now. Next I noticed how stiff my neck was, this was due to my sleeping position. Partly lay down but my head up in the corner of the sofa where the back meets the arm rest, then I had Jacky’s face partially in my chest and his arms around my waist. I ran my fingers through his soft untangled hair while searching for the time. My phone was on the floor and its screensaver said 10:37. Wow that’s like seven hours sleep? Could be worse.

I sat thinking, trying to loosen my aching neck muscles and combing through Jacky’s hair for a few minutes before deciding to get up and ready for the day. I had to leave that night and had hardly done what I’d set out to do which was see Ronnie.

I didn’t really want to wake Jacky up so I tried to slide off the sofa over the arm rest at first but he just held me tighter. He’s so adorable when he’s not scowling. I put my arms around him and gently squeezed.

“Sweetie, I gotta get up,” I said quietly.

“No you don’t,” he mumbled into me.

“I do. I’m sorry.”

“Nooo,” he whined again, squeezing me tighter, “You can’t move, I like you.”

I really didn’t want to move, more so after hearing that. He was so cute it made me wistfully sigh inside an awful lot.

“I need to get a shower and stuff. I must smell of bourbon and sweat,” I muttered into his hair.

“You smell great to me,” Jacky replied but then looked up at me, “I’ll let you go though,” his eyes were so bright that I began to wonder if he’d been awake longer than I.

He sat up and let me get to my feet. I looked at him, sorry that I had to move. He was like a puppy, the kind that needs to be cuddled forever. We just smiled warmly at each other then I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the bathroom.

Could I really let myself fall for this guy? Maybe it was too late to even ask that.
Jacky was all I could think about as I showered and continued the daily routine of preparation. It was slightly pathetic in my eyes but whether I liked it or not, all that thinking was making me smile a hell of a lot. Once my eyeliner and mascara was applied, hair was straight and I was dressed in jeans, cowboy boots and green leopard print vest top I emerged from the bathroom. By this point everyone was up. I entered the lounge space and looked at Ronnie who raised an eyebrow at me.

“Well I apologise about last night I really did not mean to disrespect you.” I said with a smile.

“You’re not funny ya know,” his face softened against his will, clearly amused at my use of his own lyrics against him.

“Yeah, yeah can we go out now?” I smirked and leaned against the wall.

“Give me five minutes,” Ronnie nodded and left the room.

**

We jumped onto a bus headed towards some park we’d found on GPS, just the two of us.

“I am sorry about last night. Didn’t mean to worry you.” I apologised again.

“Doesn’t matter. Glad you guys had fun,” he smiled back, “You did have fun, right?”

“Obviously,” I rolled my eyes.

I noticed a smug look on his face at this point. “What are you up to?”

“What, can’t a guy be happy that his friends get along?” he shrugged.

“Anyone that’s not you can. Radke, what are you up to?” I asked again.

“Just…giving you a nudge. What do you think of Jacky then?” he grinned.

“He’s great, I like him,” I confessed quickly and easily.

“So…?” Ronnie’s attempt to pry me for information was pretty weak as we got off the bus.

“So what do you wanna do for lunch? I’m hungry,” I beamed at the change of topic.

“We’ll go in there,” Ronnie pointed to a bar across the street.

“Taking me near alcohol so soon?” I purposely cut him off as he was about to speak and we crossed the road.

“Yes. Would you go on a date if he asked you?” Ronnie was persistent.

“Who?” I played dumb and entered the bar, which apparently served food.

“Dakota, come on,” he pleaded.

“Yes I would go on a date with Jacky. Can we drop this please?” I glared for a second and grabbed a menu when we got to the bar.

“Yes. That’s all I wanted to know,” he grinned triumphantly.

I groaned, exasperated already.

**

We ordered some burgers and had a normal conversation, which didn’t involve a food fight or anyone’s movie taste being insulted.
Next we went to the park and got ice cream.

“You know…I just saw zombies, man.” I pouted to the side.

“Huh?” Ronnie looked as me as if I were retarded.

“Dude! We gotta go kick some zombie ass!” I stared intently at him.

“Oh no,” Ronnie shook his head, “I’m not playing that with you,” he caught on.

“Either you’re Carlos or you’re a zombie. Your choice,” I stated firmly and finished my ice cream.

“I am not playing S.T.A.R.S. with you, Dakota,” he refused.

“Alright, have it your way,” I shrugged and pulled out a water pistol.

I knew I’d need it and picked it up while Ronnie was buying cigarettes before we hit the park. I filled it in the fountain and he started to walk away. Once it was full I ran up and squirted him in the back of the head.

“Dakota! I hate you,” he turned and glared at me for the millionth time that day.

“You’re meant to die, I got you,” I squirted the gun for a second into his face.

“This zombie doesn’t die!” he growled then took me out.

I didn’t expect it and suddenly I was on my back yelling and he was snarling and gnawing on my arm a bit.

“Ok, ok! Get off of me! I give up!” I writhed around, kicking and screaming.

Ronnie laughed at me and got to his feet, leaving me on the ground with a pout.

“You’re an asshole,” I stated, “and you cheated.”

“We’re not teenagers anymore. I’m not playing resident Evil with you.”

“You’re no fun,” I got up myself. “We better get back, I have my flight in a few hours.” I shrugged.

“When I get back off tour I’ll be round at your place,” he said and put his arm around my shoulder as we made our way to the bus stop.

“Good. We’ll party. You’ll be fun,” I grinned.

“I’ll bring your boyfriend with me,” he smiled.

“Fuck you,” I rolled my eyes.

**

We got to the hotel and I grabbed my suitcase and said goodbye while Ronnie grabbed Jacky and made him come with us.

“Catch ya later, girl,” Ronnie hugged me at my departing destination.

“Bring beer when you come to my place,” I smiled, “enjoy the rest of your tour,” I drew back from our hug.

“Hey,” I looked to Jacky. He smiled and stepped towards me. “You better come too cos he bites when nobody’s supervising him.”

“What an offer!” Jacky laughed.

“You better call me, yeah.”

“Yeah,” he looked uneasy and a little uncomfortable.

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“I’ll see you soon,” he whispered, hugging me even tighter.