Do I Turn Out Alright?

[Alex]

I hated to admit how many times I had wished and waited for the day that Sapphire and Matt finally split. I was a bad friend, I know, but everyone was already aware of that since... well since I seduced my best friend who was dating my other best friend. Now though, now was finally my chance. Sapphire was single, she was lonely, she was heartbroken. In guy code, this meant it was time to pounce.

I couldn't bring myself to make any moves though. I felt awful about seeing her so upset, she cried basically through both movies we watched and then spent an hour sobbing into my neck while telling me all about the life she imagined having with Matt until she finally fell asleep, her tears finally drying.

Now, instead of curling up beside her and holding her in my arms like I had earned to do so much in the past, I found myself standing out on the balcony of the hotel, staring up at the starry night sky, thinking if all of this was right.

Were her and Matt really done? Could I finally be with her? I wanted to, I wanted to so badly but then I didn't want to just be her rebound either. I wanted her to be with me because she wanted to be, not because she just needed to get over Matt or to like... spite him or something.

I decided to just talk to Matt about this, I needed to talk to him. Tell him how I felt about it all. So, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, checked that Sapphire was still fast asleep, before dialing his number.

"Dude, it's 2 in the morning, what do you want?" He grumbled when he answered, obviously having just woken up.

"I'm sorry... I just need to talk to you." I mumbled, sitting down in one of the chairs on the deck.

"What's up? Did you go see Sapphire? Is she okay? How'd she take it?" He questioned worriedly, making me sigh.

"How do you think she took it, Matt? She's been a crying mess since the second she read the note. She finally just cried herself to sleep fifteen minutes ago." I told him, earning a sigh in response.

"I need to call her, I need to talk to her about this. I feel awful."

"Look, Matt, that's not why I called. I called because... well because I don't know what to do." I was at a loss for how to word this. How do I just come out and ask your best friend if you can date his ex fiancee?

"You want to know how I'd feel about you two getting together now." He stated, basically reading my mind in that creepy Flyzik way that he did. I couldn't help but laugh gently.

"Yeah, basically."

"Look, Alex.. I still care for Sapphire, a lot, but what we had was over. I've come to realize that and hopefully she will soon. She cares for you, if she didn't then she wouldn't have risked our relationship to be with you. She wants to be with you, she may not realize that right now because she's still hung up on me, but you go be your charming self, cheer her up, be her shoulder to cry on, just... be with her, show her that you are there, and she'll realize that being with you is the right thing because it is. I've given it a lot of thought and at first I hated the idea of the two of you together but I've never seen you happier than when she's around, and you bring out an entirely different side of her that I've never even seen. You are special to her, and she to you. I have Angela now, it's only fair that you two are happy as well." Matt explained. I was stunned into silence. Did I seriously just get the go ahead from Matt to be with Sapphire?

"So... you like... wouldn't hate me if we did one day start dating? I don't think it's going to happen any time soon, she needs to get over you first, but one day down the road." I questioned. I just needed to be completely sure that he was okay with this.

"Alex, of course I wouldn't. Like I said, I just want the two of you happy and if that's with each other, then so be it." I couldn't keep the grin off of my face.

"Thank you, Matt."

"Of course. So, tour starts in two weeks. Do you think you can talk to Sapphire, she if she's still willing to work for All Time Low? I'll also talk to her about it when I call her tomorrow but it might mean more coming from you at the moment." He asked, laughing a little.

"Yeah, of course. I'll make sure she comes on tour with us still, don't worry about it."

"Thanks, bro. I'm going back to sleep now. Night." He told me, yawning at the end.

"Yeah, good night." With that we hung up and I sighed before standing up and going back into the room, finding that Sapphire had rolled over in her sleep but otherwise hadn't moved, she was still passed out cold. I quickly slipped out of my jeans and t-shirt before sliding into the bed beside her, flipping off the light.

"Mmmm... Alex. Where'd you go?" Sapphire mumbled tiredly, keeping her eyes closed as she curled against my side.

"I was just outside. Goodnight, sweetheart." I whispered, kissing her forehead.

"Night, Lex." She mumbled back before she was out once more. I smiled and closed my eyes, pulling her closer before falling asleep as well.

When I awoke I found the space beside me empty but heard a voice out on the balcony. I slid out of the bed and walked over to the open door to see Sapphire leaning against the railing, her phone to her ear.

"I just... I don't understand, Matt. Why couldn't you tell me this a few days ago when we talked instead of letting me go to that restaurant? You kept my hopes up only for them to be crushed down in public." Oh, she was talking with Matt. I contemplated turning around and leaving so she could have some privacy but she already turned and spotted me, giving me a soft smile before holding her hand out to me. I smiled back and closed the distance between us, bringing her into my bare chest.

"Morning." I whispered into her hair.

"Morning." She smiled up at me. "No, Matt, not you. Alex just woke up. Anyway, back to the previous conversation.... No, of course I'm happy for you. I wanted you to find someone who deserved you and I am glad that you have... I don't know." She mumbled the last part, glancing up at me. "I just... I need some time before I consider that.... I know that I've already been with him once before but... this is different... Don't be such a jackass, Matt... No, you really don't..... Yeah? Well guess what, you've hurt me too! Not just yesterday but many times in the past, you've cheated on me too!" My eyes widened. Matt had cheated on her? When? With who? Why hadn't I known of this? "Whatever, Matt. Good bye." With that she hung up.

"When did Matt cheat on you?" I instantly question, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"A year and a half ago. He didn't really cheat like I had, he just made out with some girl at a bar. He was completely wasted. He doesn't really remember much of it. I had only had one drink though so I remember pretty clearly." She explained, sighing.

"Oh... well that's not cool." She laughed and shrugged.

"Still not as bad as what we did." She mumbled, looking down at her feet before stepping away from me.

"So... did you and Matt work anything out?" I wondered as we sat in the chairs on the balcony.

"Not really... I'm angry that he didn't tell me about Angela before, but then he's still pretty pissed obviously by what we did. He asked if I was going to get with you now and I said that I didn't know. He then was like 'well you've been with him before, what's different now?' and then when I said that this was different he said 'why? because you aren't cheating on your fiance?' I told him not to be a jackass but he thinks he has every right to be one. I don't know." She sighed, running a hand through her brown hair. "It will take time until Matt and I can really talk. Things will probably be tense and weird for awhile, if they even ever get better."

"Well..." I started, thinking about what Matt asked me to do the night before. "What about tour? You guys still work together." She laughed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Alex, but do you really think it's such a good idea if I still go on tour with you guys? Tour is in two weeks, I don't think that would be good if I go." She told me, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, come on. Saph, don't let this break up define your life. All Time Low is your job, we need you. Vinny can't do his job without you. I can't do my job without you. I need to see you before I go on stage or I won't be able to do it." It's true, in the years she had been in my life, she had become my good luck charm. If she for some reason wasn't at a show, it always turned into a nightmare. I even once had an anxiety attack on stage when she was gone. That's how much I needed her there. Its ridiculous, I know.

"I just... it will be so awkward and... weird. I doubt Matt wants me there anyway."

"He does. I talked to him last night and asked me to make sure you still came on tour." I told her, smiling at her softly.

"Seriously?" I nodded. "I don't know... I want to go.. I love tour but... I have a job here now and-"

"Sapphire, please. I will get down on my hands and knees and beg you. Just come on tour with us, please." I begged. I even stuck my bottom lip out making her laugh and shake her head.

"Fine! But if things get too awkward on the bus with Matt, I'm going to stay on the crew bus. I don't want to spend the next two months in a tense environment." She told me, making me nod.

"Or we could just kick him off the bus, onto the crew bus. We like you more, you smell better." I said, making her burst into laughter.

"Oh, Alex. You are a goof." I just grinned at her.

"But I'm your goof!" I then stood up and leaned down, pecking her on the cheek. "I am going to go shower now and then let's go find food, me hungry!" I yelled as I walked back into the room, Sapphire following me.

"That's fine, hurry up, fuck face." She said as she fell back onto the bed.

"Geez, your words are so romantic. They make me swoon." I put my hand on my chest dramatically making her giggle and roll her eyes.

"I know. Now go!" She picked up a pillow and threw it at me, effectively nailing me on the head.

"Oh, no you didn't!" I yelled. "It's on now!" She screamed as I jumped on her, tackling her back onto the bed. I climbed on top of her and took her wrists in my hands, pinning them above her head. "You hurt me, you know what that means, right?" She giggled and shook her head. "It means... this!" I released her hands only so I could use both of my hands to begin tickling her. Her giggles escalated until they became shrieks of laughter as she tried to fight me off.

"Alexander! Stop it!" She yelled, trying to wiggle away.

"Never!" She giggled as I continued to tickle her until I finally decided that it was enough and collapsed beside her, both of us laughing. When our laughter died down she rolled over and flopped across my chest.

"Thank you, Alex. You are the greatest at cheering a heartbroken girl up." She told me, making me laugh.

"I don't have much practice with is, seeing as I'm usually the one doing the heart breaking." I told her, making her giggle and shake her head.

"You heartless bastard." She then sat up, sliding off of me. "Now go shower, you smell!" She shoved at my leg. I groaned and got up.

"Fine, fine. I'm going." I grumbled as I walked into the bathroom.

After I was finished getting ready we ventured from the hotel room to downtown LA where she took me to this outside diner place that apparently served the greatest grilled cheese and tomato soup. She was right, it was like heaven in my mouth.

"Is Jack and Rian here as well?" She asked me as we walked down Huntington Beach Boardwalk, our hands linked together between us. She swung them back and forth, her flip flops clutched in her other hand.

"Yeah, they are staying in the same hotel as I am." I told her, laughing. The rooms on either side of me, actually. So they probably heard your screams and giggles this morning." I informed her making her laugh.

"They probably think that you brought home some chick from the bar." I laughed and shook my head.

"No, because they know you are the only girl I ever want." I told her seriously. She looked over at me, her blue eyes wide before she broke into a smile.

"You're sweet." She leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Now come on, I want to walk on the beach!" She pulled my hand down a small flight of stairs until our feet hit the warm sand. I pulled her to a stop and slipped off my shoes so I took was bare footed before taking her hand once more as we walked on the sand.

"I've missed LA." She commented, looking out across the water as we came to a stop, taking a seat on the sand. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her against me.

"Not as much as you miss Baltimore though, right?" I asked making her laugh.

"I do miss Baltimore but... I don't know how I'd be able to go back.." She mumbled, looking down. She brought hand up and began playing with a lose thread coming from my jeans pocket.

"What do you mean?" I questioned, frowning.

"Well... where would I go? I have no home there now. All I had was with Matt." She told me, shrugging. "I guess I could move back in with my sister and her husband... though they had a baby a few months ago so I wouldn't want to like... cut into their family like that."

"You know..." I started. "Rian is moving out so... I'm in need of a room mate." I informed her. It was true, Rian was leaving me to move out here to LA to live with his girlfriend Cassadee Pope. It made me sad, all my friends were leaving me for LA.

"Oh, really?" I nodded. "Maybe... I hate living with my parents and I actually really hate the nursing job here. Los Angeles patients are some assholes." She said, making me laugh.

"Come back to Baltimore then. I need you out there." She looked up at me, staring into my eyes for a few seconds before sighing.

"When you do you go back?"

"On Wednesday." I informed her, making her nod.

"I guess I could go back with you... I really do need to get the rest of my stuff from my old house anyway... before Matt throws it out, if he hasn't already. Or before he gives it to Angela." She spoke her name with such hate.

"She really is a nice girl you know." I muttered.

"I don't care. She could be fucking Jesus and I'd still hate her." She grumbled. I couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Oh, Saph..." I said between laughter. "I love you." I leaned over and kissed her temple.

"Do you think I'll have to meet her? I don't want to meet her... I can't... I couldn't handle it..." She looked up at me, her eyes wide with fear.

"I'm sure if you tell Matt that you don't want to meet her, he won't make you." I told her, making her nod. "Come on, the sun is going down. There's somewhere I want to take you. I found it the other night." We both stood up and made our way back towards her car.

I drove us about fifteen minutes away to a shopping center.

"What are we doing here?" She asked as we got out. I took her hand and pulled her through the crowd of people milling about.

"Come on!" I just yelled, speeding up. Finally, we reached our destination. It was a small courtyard converted into a sort of outdoor club. People danced around to loud music, lights flashed around, propped up on the balcony's of the surrounding buildings and there was a small bar across the way.

"Wow. Alex, what is this place?" She questioned, yelling over the music.

"I have no idea. Let's dance!" And so... we spent the rest of the night dancing and laughing together.

This is how it was supposed to be. Just Sapphire and I...