Even Forever Doesn't Seem Like Long Enough

Brendon's P.O.V

I couldn't believe she was actually going to do it.

She was actually getting up on the stage and singing on karaoke.

I had officially rendered her completely unable to embarrass.

Sipping at my water, I kept my gaze strictly on Amber, not moving them even when I almost missed the table when attempting to put my glass down.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself as she tripped on one of the stairs on her way up to the stage.

She blushed bright red and laughed at her own stupidity before smiling widely at the DJ.

They had a short exchange, I guessed something to do with what song she was about to sing, then she wandered over to the microphone.

Everyone was staring at her expectantly while I was suppressing my laughter.

"Next up, we have Amber singing 'Fever'," The DJ announced.

I bit my lip and kept my eyes on her as she prepared herself.

She eased the microphone from the stand when the music started up.

I took this time to scan the rest of her body because I'd mostly been staring into those shocking green eyes of hers or at my feet.

She was wearing a figure-hugging black t-shirt with capped sleeves, a mid-thigh length denim skirt, black leggings that reached the middle of her shin and a pair of low-topped dark-blue converse that matched her skirt.

She was highly colour co-ordinated.

As my eyes travelled back up her body, they landed on her eyes and she winked at me.

Soon enough, she'd started singing.

But, in the nicest possible way, she murdered the song from the moment she opened her mouth.

The only reason it was entertaining was because she got off the stage (well... Almost fell off) and danced her way around the room.

I felt a slight bubbling feeling in my stomach when she slid her hand across some random, quite good-looking guy's shoulders.

He almost fainted- which he should've done because Amber was drop-dead gorgeous no matter how badly she was singing the song.

Then she came over to me.

"You give me fever," She sung tunelessly as she slid onto my lap.

I pulled my hands away from her- not completely sure where I should put my hands- and I knew I was blushing madly.

She was smirking but, even though I was feeling totally ashamed and she knew it, I could see it in her eyes that she wasn't trying to make me uncomfortable; this was just her way of being playful.

She sent me a cheeky smile before she locked her eyes on mine.

"When you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight. Fever," She swiftly got up and made her way back to the stage, "In the morning, fever all through the night,"

She left me with a different kind of bubbling feeling in my stomach- the good kind.

But at the same time it was frightening.

I'd known this girl for (if you only count the time we'd spent together) about two days and I already had this funny stomach feeling.

Surely she couldn't make me feel this good, this fast.

The guy that she'd touched before wolf-whistled at her and that, dare I say, 'jealous' feeling returned.

She sent him a flirtatious smirk and got back up on the stage.

I cringed again when she almost fell up the stairs, holding my face in my hands, muffling my chuckle.

All of a sudden, the music cut off and Amber's vocals ceased.

I heard very unenthusiastic cheering and the DJ looked pretty stunned.

"Well, that was Amber's- um- 'lovely' rendition of 'Fever'," The DJ chose his words carefully.

Amber giggled and jumped off the stage, landing unusually gracefully on her feet before she came wandering over to me.

"Hey," She flashed me a toothy grin and grabbed my hand, pulling me up.

My eyes fell down to meet hers and she grabbed my jacket before pulling me out of the room.

"So we're leaving are we?" I stated ironically.

As we got outside she handed me my jacket with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, I just wanted to get out of there," She replied, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be so abrupt,"

I shook my head, "Don't worry about it,"

"I just wanted to get out because I think I was a little too flirtatious and that guy may have taken it the wrong way," She explained, beginning to walk towards my car, "I didn't want him coming up to me,"

"I wouldn't have let him," I replied unthinkingly, following her to my car.

She glanced back at me and then slowed down so that she was walking next to me.

"That's sweet," She nudged my shoulder with hers playfully.

"You seem to have sobered up a bit," I swiftly changed the subject.

"It's all that singing I did, it's sobered me up- Or maybe it was almost falling on the stage twice," She shrugged, "Or maybe it's because I need to talk a little more seriously,"

I cast a worried glance over to her.

Serious talks? That doesn't sound so good.

Amber's P.O.V

"Don't look so worried," I assured, "It's nothing bad- well I don't think it is," I stopped by the passenger side of Brendon's car.

"Okay," He said slowly and unsurely, "What is it?"

"Would you like to do something with me sometime?" I asked outwardly.

He chuckled slightly, "We're doing something now,"

"Well the night's pretty much over- I mean something else some other time,"

"What and when?"

"I'll think of something and whenever you can fit me into your hectic work schedule,"

"I don't know when I'm free," He shrugged.

"You know, if I wasn't a carefree, non-paranoid woman I'd think you were avoiding me,"

"Oh I'm not, trust me," His full, red lips twitched into a kind of half-smile, "I like spending time with you,"

"You don't need to reassure me," I replied casually, "I trust you and I can tell that work is important to you, it's just..." I trailed off, "Nothing, never mind,"

"What?"

"Nothing, it doesn't matter,"

"No go on, it's just what?"

"It's just... I can't help thinking that you seem to want more out of life than you're getting," I gazed into his eyes, searching them, trying to get a read on him.

He'd fallen quiet and his deep, brown eyes had become slightly solemn.

"Brendon," I tried to pull him out of whatever thought-land he'd gone into, "Are you going to unlock the car? It's freezing out here," I rubbed my arms from emphasis.

Without a word he unlocked the car, opened my door for me in a gentlemanly fashion and headed around to his side.

I wondered frantically what I'd said, waiting for him to get in.

I didn't say anything for a while, afraid that I might put my foot in it again so I just found conversation somewhere else.

"I'm just going to phone Hannah to see where she is," I muttered, glancing over his face to try and catch some emotion.

All I got from him was a short nod.

I chewed on the inside of my lip and got out my phone to call Hannah.

"Hello?"

"Hey Han, where are you?"

"Still at the club doing the last of the tidying, where are you?"

"I've had a few drinks so if I come back to this club can you give me a ride home?" I ignored her question.

"Sure, how long are you going to be?"

"Not long,"

"Are you alright? You don't sound as chirpy as usual, was your night with Brendon a let down?"

My phone was quite loud so I knew that Brendon could hear Hannah. I'd seen him flick his eyes over to look at me briefly before they returned to the road in front of us.

"Of course not- It was great, I had fun, I'll tell you about it later," I weaned her off the topic, "Anyway, I'll speak to you in a bit love, see you,"

"Okay, bye," We hung up and I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

I rested my chin on my hand and looked out of the window, up at the stars that were shining unusually brightly.

I kept on sneaking glances at Brendon every so often but I never said anything- he looked way too deep in thought for me to disturb that.

After another five minutes of silence, he pulled into the car park outside the venue we were at for the fundraiser.

He parked and shut off the engine before turning in his seat to face me.

"How can you tell?" He questioned randomly.

I frowned in confusion, "I'm sorry?" I turned in my seat like he did and caught his eyes with mine.

"Why do you think that I want more out of life?"

Shrugging, I ran my hand through my hair, "I don't know, you just strike me as that kind of person,"

"What kind of person?"

"A person that wants more from life," I chuckled airily.

"I know that but I don't understand," His expression was quite mystified and intrigued.

He was searching my eyes, my face, for some sort of answer.

"I don't know what it is," I replied honestly, "It's probably because you told me before you'd rather be making music than managing the others that make it. I know you love your job, well you seem to, it's just I can't help but get the vibe from you that you feel like you're missing something- Like a big part of your life isn't there," I attempted to clarify, "Do you know what I mean?"

He nodded vaguely, "I think so,"

"Is there something missing in your world?" I raised my eyebrows and smiled at him, showing that he could talk to me and I wouldn't judge.

His eyes rolled up to the ceiling as he contemplated my question, "Life outside of work,"

I sent him a sympathetic look, "Brendon, sweetheart, you're twenty-one years old, your life shouldn't revolve around work, work should revolve around your life," I placed my hand on top of his and stroked his soft skin with my thumb, "Life is for living,"

"But I need to work to live," He seemed like a stressed out child.

"And if you work to live then you live to work, so how can you ever call it living at all?"

His eyes slowly came up from the floor and I locked on to those subliminally beautiful browns.

"You have so many little mottos and sayings in that head of yours, don't you?" He smiled and I felt his fingers twitch underneath mine so I took my hand away.

But he reached back out for it, catching the ends of my fingers, "Don't," He whispered, as if it were a reflex.

I slid my hand back into his and squeezed it gently.

"I've got to go now so you can go home and sleep. You need to get up in time for work," I was trying my best to keep my smile under control.

I knew that I shouldn't keep him from going home but at the same time, his hand in mine felt truly exquisite and I didn't want to let go.

"Five minutes," He smiled sheepishly.

I bit down on my lip, "I wouldn't have thought you'd want to spend more time with a stupid, drunken, completely random girl,"

"You're not stupid," He disagreed, "Drunk and random, maybe, but not stupid,"

I laughed and slowly eased my hand out of his.

"You better get going; you don't want to be up late tomorrow,"

The hand of his that was holding mine fell down to his lap.

"Can I have your phone number?" He questioned.

I couldn't have turned him down even if I wanted to.

"Of course you can," I nodded, typing my number into his phone. I rang my number so I could get his and then passed his phone back.

"Thank you,"

"You're very welcome, I'll speak to you soon,"

"Yeah, see you soon," He flashed me a toothy grin as I got out of the car, waving him off as he drove away before heading over to Hannah.

She was waiting outside the main door for me.

"You're smiling like an idiot," She smirked as I approached her.

"I have good reason to," I stated simply, "You ready to go home then?"

"Waiting for you," She linked my arm and led me over to the car.

Smiling like an idiot didn't stop until I fell asleep that night.

Brendon's P.O.V

Driving home that night, the tingling feeling in my fingers, from Amber's skin, lingered.

I hadn't felt something like that in a while and I loved having it again.

When I got home, the remnants of a smile were still on my face.

I felt quite ridiculous when thinking back on the slight desperation in my voice when she took her hand from mine.

After setting my alarm, I fell asleep pretty quickly into uneventful dreams.

9.08 am

"Shit!" I cursed with a hoarse throat, shooting up out of bed and racing into the bathroom.

I'd overslept- I'd slept through my alarm and apparently it gave up on trying waking me because it wasn't working.

Damn it! I was SO fired!

It was ten o' clock before I arrived.

I attempted to just sneak in and pretend like I'd been there all morning but there was no way I was getting away with that.

It was a video shoot; All Time Low's video shoot to be exact.

"Where the hell have you been?" Jack slapped his hand on my shoulder and almost sent me flying fifty foot in the air from fright.

"Holy crap," I jumped, "I woke up late, I'm so sorry, I got here as fast as I could,"

"It's not me you have to apologise to, Patrick is pissed," He warned.

I rubbed my eyes and heaved out a sigh, "Man, he's going to fire my ass for this,"

"Brendon, man, it was nice knowing you," He tapped my shoulder, attempting to be reassuring but his words didn't really help. He wandered off when costume called him over.

My brain was searching hysterically, racing a three million miles an hour, trying to search for a feasible excuse for my lateness.

When I arrived in front of Patrick I saw the rage in his eyes and I gulped.

"Patrick, I'm so, so sorry, I just-" I paused when he glared at me.

But when his eyes fell on me they turned into slight concern, "Brendon, you okay?"

"Um... Yeah?" I was quite confused.

"You look really pale,"

My hand automatically went to my face.

And the perfect excuse was thrown right into my lap.

"Not really no, I was feeling really ill this morning so that's why I'm late, I was taking ages to get ready because I kept thinking I was going to throw up," I spoke weakly, pulling my 'sick' face, "I figured better to be here and late than not here at all,"

"Are you feeling better now?" He asked, completely buying that I felt ill.

At that moment, I saw an opportunity and I seized it.

"A little but not much," I lied.

"Do you think you'll get better?"

I shrugged, "I really don't know,"

"You might be better going home you know," He advised, "If you're sick then you're not going to be much good around here, I can call Jack or someone in to fill your place," He offered.

"It's okay, I don't want to be a bother," I dismissed.

"No, no, I insist, go home and get some rest- The video will still be here tomorrow," He encouraged, "And the next day and the next day and maybe the day after that," He joked.

I laughed and faked it turning into a cough- Which I completely pulled off- before we exchanged goodbyes and I headed out of the studio having the whole day off to myself.

Christmas come early.

Lay ins and sick days.

By half ten I was back in my house, lying down on the couch flicking aimlessly through the many TV programmes.

There was nothing on.

I soon heard my text tone go off on my phone.

Grabbing it, I saw I had a text off my work mate Josh.

From: Josh

You're a liar! I don't believe you pulled a sick-y! There's fuck all wrong with you! You owe me for covering.

I smiled to myself and sent him a message back thanking him for replacing me last minute.

As I started scrolling through my contact list, the phone highlighted my newly made contact- Amber.

My fingers grazed over the buttons over and over again. I didn't want to seem desperate or anything but I really wanted to talk to her.

I sighed, locking the keypad and launching my phone onto the other side of the couch.

I didn't have a clue what'd gotten into me.

Amber's P.O.V

I was lonely the next morning.

It was around half ten and Hannah and Ruby were still in bed- I didn't want to wake them for selfish reasons.

My mum was getting on with her usual Saturday routine and I was sat on the couch, bored out of my mind.

I was restless because I felt like I should've been doing something and I knew that I was literally wasting what was left of my life. It was one of the scariest- no the scariest- feeling ever.

Gazing at my phone, I considered calling Brendon but I knew he was in work. I wanted to call him and tell him to ditch work and spend the day with me but I knew I couldn't do that.

So I sat there, wallowing in seclusion, looking at my list to see if there was anything I could add on that I could possibly fit into my time limit.

Brendon's P.O.V

The thing that was annoying me most about being off work was the fact that I wasn't distracted.

Every few seconds my mind would wander back to Amber and then my eyes would flick to my phone. I'd then check to see if there was a text or a phone call that I might have missed even though I'd been sitting right by it and it hadn't gone off.

I knew for a fact that she wouldn't have called or text me because she thought I was in work but I couldn't help myself.

When half twelve rolled around I figured that she might message me because it would've been dinner time. She didn't.

I was annoying myself because I couldn't stop thinking.

Amber had changed a part of me after only being in my life for the shortest time.

And it was only a short time before I'd given up on self-control and pressed the 'call' button.

Amber's P.O.V

My phone rang around one o' clock and it took me all of half a second to answer it.

I was that desperate for conversation I didn't even look at the caller ID.

"Hello?" I answered rapidly.

"Hey, Amber?" A familiar voice came through the speaker.

After the remembering the time, I had to move the phone away from my ear to check it actually was him.

"Brendon?" I was quite confused and yet quite excited at the same time.

"Yeah, hey," He greeted again.

"Hi!" I was a bit over-excited.

"Whoa, you seem very energised,"

"Sorry, I just haven't had any human contact today, my sister isn't up and Hannah hasn't called me. They deserve their rest, they've been helping me all week," I explained, "Anyway, I thought you were in work? Are you on your lunch?"

"No, I'm not working today, I... Didn't go," He faltered slightly but I didn't push it.

"Oh right, so what're you up to?"

"Not much really, just sitting around being bored,"

"Yeah me too," I agreed, "Are you hard up for company?"

"Kind of,"

I chuckled, "Kind of?"

"Yeah, kind of," He repeated, "Are you?"

"Yeah, fancy spending time with a stupid, random, drunk girl?"

Hearing him laugh caused a grin to spread across my face.

"I thought I said you weren't stupid," He corrected me.

"I'm not drunk anymore either," I added.

"And you're no longer random because I know you,"

"Okay then," I chuckled, "Do you want to spend some time with just me- non-stupid, non-random, sober me?"

"Well drunk Amber's dance moves were pretty fantastic and I'd like to see her again but I guess sober Amber will be fun too,"

"Sober Amber is even more fun because she actually makes sense!" I giggled.

"Great!" He sounded genuinely excited, "Okay then, when and where?"

"Your house as soon as I can get there?" I suggested.

"Sounds like a plan," He approved. He gave me his address and we exchanged goodbyes before I hung up and shot up the stairs.

Running into the bathroom and checking my appearance, I frowned slightly at the paleness of my skin and suddenly I was hit with a reminder of my fate.

Brendon's call had distracted me briefly and at that moment I realised that he still didn't know.

I had to tell him and it really was a conversation killer.

Running a hand through my hair, I sighed and shook my head.

Not just yet.

Twenty Minutes Later

As I knocked on Brendon's front door I was quite nervous- But good nervous if you know what I mean.

It was exciting. I had that funny little flock of butterflies in my stomach as I waited for him to answer.

My heart began to jump about in my chest and I kept trying to tell myself that he was only a friend, someone who 'something' wanted in my life (or wanted me in his).

But there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I was attracted to him- In both the emotional way and the scientific way because I simply felt drawn to him.

I was soon pulled out from my thoughts by the front door opening.

I couldn't control my smile. I didn't want to either.

"Hey, are you ready?" I beamed, my eyes looking over his face, taking in his features.

"Yeah," He nodded, pulling on his jacket and stepping forwards, closing the door behind him, "So where are we going?"

"Well I had an idea of somewhere but we don't have to go if you don't want to," I opened the door and got into the car.

He got into the passenger seat and closed the door, "Go on, where?"

Grinning enthusiastically, I answered, "The fair,"

"The fair?"

I nodded profusely, "Yeah, the fair! It'll be awesome!"

He chuckled at my eagerness, "Okay then, let's go to the fair," He agreed.

"You're sure?" I looked at him hopefully- I don't think I was giving him much opportunity to refuse.

"Yeah, I'm positive,"

"Great! Trust me; we'll have so much fun, I promise,"

"I'm holding you to it," He clipped in his seatbelt and I started up the engine.

It took us about half an hour to get to the fair because I'd looked up what ones were open at this time of year- this was the closest one.

We spent the journey just talking about anything and everything. Laughing, joking and learning about each other.

When we eventually got there, I didn't really want to pull up because I wanted to talk to him more but I did it anyway.

"We're here already?" Brendon frowned a little.

"Yeah, come on," I gestured my head towards outside and got out, looking up at the fairground with glee.

"It's not very full," He commented as I wandered around the car to stand beside him.

"That's the beauty of it, small queues!" I beamed, hooking my arm in his.

He casually glanced down to our linked arms and sheepishly smiled at me before gently squeezing my arm with his.

I tugged him towards the fairground entrance.

"What made you want to come here anyways?" Brendon enquired as we pushed our way through the turnstile.

"I want to go on the biggest, fastest, highest rollercoaster closest to my house,"

"And it's here?"

"Yeah, it's here," I agreed, re-linking his arm as we separated when going through the turnstile.

"Why do you want to go on the biggest, faster, highest rollercoaster?"

"Because it's funny," I stated as though it were obvious.

He chuckled, "That's really the reason?"

"Well, no, the real reason is because I hate rollercoaster's,"

"So you're going on the biggest one? How is that logical?"

"It's not; it's just a fun experience," I shrugged, "So let's have some fun. It'll be good I swear to you,"

"I'm not very keen on rollercoaster's myself- Well not one's as big as the one I'm imagining you're about to take me on anyway,"

"Are you just scared or do they make you nauseous?"

"Mostly scared but a little nauseous,"

"As long as you don't throw up on me I'm sure it'll be fun," I reassured, "Holy crap, it is quite big isn't it?" I winced and had to tilt my head quite far back to see the top.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"No, but let's do it anyway,"

He let out a short laugh and we joined the end of the queue.

"I'm so going to hate this," He groaned.

"Well, you can always wimp out," I offered teasingly.

"Are you calling me a chicken?" He seemed slightly offended.

"I never said that, I just said the option to be a chicken was open,"

"Well I'm not a chicken," He folded his arms defiantly, almost crushing mine in his elbow.

"I believe you," I scoffed, easing my arm from his.

"No you don't, stop lying,"

I laughed and shook my head, "No I don't- You're going to come on this with me, right?"

"Yeah because I'm not a chicken, I'm not going to wimp out,"

"Okay," I stifled my laughter as his defensive attitude.

"Okay," He imitated gazing up at the track, an emotion in his eyes that signalled it really was quite daunting to him.

"But really, Brendon, you don't have to come on with me- I'm doing this for myself, I don't want to force you into doing something you don't want to do,"

He shook his head stubbornly, "No, no, I'll be fine," He licked his lips slowly and this caused somewhat of a tingle to worm it's way down my spine, "It'll be fine, right?" He wanted reassurance.

I nodded with a small comforting smile, "Yeah, it'll be fine," We were three people away from the front of the queue which meant we were on next.

"Oh, God, Amber, you so owe me for this," He breathed shakily; I could feel his arm shaking slightly.

"You don't have to come on Brendon," I repeated.

"But I do, because I'm not a chicken,"

"Male pride," I scoffed with a shaking head.

He pushed me slightly in the shoulder and I chuckled, "I'll make it up to you I promise,"

He slid his hand into mine and held on tight, "Don't let go, will you?"

I almost fell in love with him at that moment. It was the most adorable thing I'd ever seen in my life.

With a gleam in my eyes and a smile on my face, I replied, "Never,"

To Do List1. Buy flowers for mum and help them understand.
2. Have a space hopper race.
3. Swim with dolphins.
4. Hold a charity night.
5. Get drunk & sing loud and out of tune on karaoke.
6. Ride the biggest, fastest, highest rollercoaster

Six down, nineteen to go.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Cause it's you and me
And all other people
With nothing to do
Nothing to prove
'Cause it's you and me
And all other people
And I don't know why
I can't take my eyes off of you

Lifehouse- You and Me

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------