Take Me. I'm Never Gonna Let You Fall.

I woke up late the next morning, still dressed in the clothes from the day before. Groggily, I peered at the clock on the bedside table. 10:56 am. Shit. Jack would be there shortly.

I forced myself out of bed and walked to my closet, rubbing a hand over my face. Another day. More story-telling. Jesus. I took a shaky breath. Damn it, I could do this. Didn't Alex tell me that I was the strongest person he knew? Isn't this the perfect time to prove it? I shook my head before grabbing a pair of jeans and a green Metro Station t-shirt.

The morning routine was done on automatic. When I reached the kitchen afterwards, Daniella was already there, a newspaper in front of her face and a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

"Morning," I muttered as I grabbed my own java.

"Good morning. Sleep well?" she asked, setting her newspaper down.

"Like a rock," I replied, running a hand over my face.

"Oh my gaaaaaaaaaaaawd! HOLS!"

I turned, a smile lighting up my face. Standing in the doorway to the kitchen was Jack, a small grocery bag in one hand, and a similiar grin on his handsome face.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it was rude to walk into someone's house without knocking?" I scolded, wagging a finger at him.

He walked around the table and wrapped his arms around me. "Maybe, but do you think I ever listened?"

I couldn't help but laugh. Same ol' Jack. He hadn't changed too much since high school.

His lips pressed against my cheek lightly before he turned to place his bag in my fridge. Chances were, he brought pie for dessert. And I could almost guarantee it was key lime pie. The boy was too repetitive.

"And who is this fine looking woman?" he asked, gesturing towards Daniella, who was gaping at him.

"That, dear Jack, is Daniella. She's the writer," I informed him, giving him a stern look, clearly telling him that if he even thought about tormenting the woman, I was going to kill him.

He looked offended for a second, jutting out his bottom lip before turning back to the brunette that was staring Jack down like he was some rare species of...I don't know, monkey.

"Well, Daniella, I'm Jack. And it's nice to finally meet you," Jack said, holding his hand out for her to shake.

I couldn't help but arch a brow as I watched them shake hands. Jack was being normal. And polite. What kind of drugs did he take that morning?

Shaking my head, I turned to begin making lunch. I had decided on a light chicken ceasar salad with breadsticks earlier that morning, when I had taken my shower. I began pulling out things and setting them on the counter. It wasn't long before I felt Jack standing next to me. My blue eyes drifted over to him and I chuckled. He was wearing my flowery apron as he chopped lettuce.

Jesus, I loved Jack.

So, everything was forgiven, and for the most part, forgotten. The next couple of months went by just as normal as any. There were no mishaps like that night. Henry and I spent every possible minute with the guys. We all grew close as friends. I grew especially close to Alex, and Henry with Jack. He had even opened up to them, which surpised me, yet made me happy at the same time.

Halloween was right around the corner. The six of us was invited to a costume party at a mutual friend's house named David. I dressed up as a pirate, even going so far as to getting a sword. My brother went as Robin Hood, which I found odd, but he liked it, so whatever.

You so thought it was cool. You even gave him a mustache. I went as the Friar Tuck, complete with bald spot. We were extremely good looking that night. Wasn't Alex Batman or something?

Jack. Shut up. But yes, Alex went as Batman. I think Rian was Superman, and Zack was a fireman. We arrived at the house a little late, and the party was already jumping. Music was pumping through massive speakers that were situated in the corners of the living room. People were dancing, grinding together. Drinks were set up in the kitchen. It was just one of those normal, high school house parties. Though, for Henry, it was a first, and it was extremely exciting for him.

As soon as we got there, drinks in plastic red cups were handed to us. I remember distinctly telling Henry not to drink more than a couple. If he was anything like me, he was going to be a light weight. Two beers, and I'm plastered. About ten minutes later, everyone had seperated, and it was only me and Alex sitting on the kitchen counter.

"I'm glad you decided to come tonight," Alex informs me. He had already drank one cup, and was on his second. He was tipsy, at best. I knew he was well on his way to getting shit faced.

"Well, thank you, dear Batman. I'm glad I came tonight too," I told him, grinning up at his masked face.

We continued to sit there and talk, drinking away. It wasn't too long before we were both so smashed, our bodies were swaying on the marble countertop. In the back of my mind, an alarm bell was going off. I hadn't seen Henry since we parted, but I was so drunk, I didn't think anything of it. Besides, I knew that one of the guys was bound to be with him.

I peered over at Jack as he winced. I knew this was getting harder for him. This was the night that changed a lot of things, not only with me and Alex, but with Henry. Talking about Henry was always rough for Jack. It had been for some time. We rarely brought it up. I guess I should've known that today was bound to be the day that we would talk about Halloween. I shouldn't have invited him over.

I reachced over and placed a hand on his for a second, then continued.

Alex had slung his arm over my shoulders, and his head was leaning on mine. "Holly. You're so pretty, you know that?"

"Why, yes, I do. Thank you for pointing out the obvious," I slurred, giggling to myself.

"I would love to kiss you, but Rian says that if I fuck up our friendship, he was going to cut off my balls. And I kind of like them there."

A blush crept up my cheek as I turned my head to peer at him. I squinted my eyes, trying to see just one Alex, instead of the two that was swimming in my vision.

"Well, that's really nice of him, I guess," I said, furrowing my brows.

"Oh, fuck him," he whispered, then cupped my face with his drink-free hand.

Before I knew it, Alex's lips were on mine. They tasted kind of sweet, mixed in with the alchohol. They lazily moved against mine for a few minutes. I didn't even think I could form a coherent thought. I had started really liking Alex about a month before, but like Rian, I didn't want our friendship ruined. So, I stuck with being that one girl who hung out with the guys, but never dated any of them, no matter how much I happened to like one of them.

Alex sat his drank down and used both hands to hold my face. I think I dropped my own cup, and it clattered onto the floor as I wound his shirt up in my hands, pressing myself against him.

"Holly?"

We broke apart, gasping for breath, to see Jack standing in the doorway, a look of pure fear on his face. "Help," he said simply.