Los Angeles

Jackie

"So...are we dating or not? I'm confused..." I lean against the wall.

Nic

I think about it and shrug again, before realizing how much I've done that in the past few minutes. Studying her, I find I don't know.

"If that's what you wanna tell the paparazzi, sure," I say. "I don't like labels."

But I think an exception is possible.

Just this once.

Jackie

"Alright," I pull him into another kiss, tangling a finger in his hair.

Nic

My eyes close, and I kiss her back. My arms gradually move to wrap around her, and I almost feel lightheaded for a bit of the kiss. Not like that's happened before. I remember having better, but none of that seems to matter much in comparison.

Something about this girl bothers me, but a good kind of bother. It's something I can't place, that feels odd and unnatural to me yet nostalgic and familiar as well.

I decide I like the mess of it.

But then someone behind us clears their throat.

Jackie

Someone clears their throat behind us and I pull back to see Jace. I bite my lip and look at up at Nic for a second before burning red and twining my hand with his. Jace's eyes widen and looks at NIc, awestruck.

Nic

That's great. Just perfect. How come this always seems to happen to me?

I keep Jackie's hand in mine, kind of liking the feel of it. It's weird, I find, that I do. Just last night I would have shied away from any kind of contact that didn't get me what I wanted. I guess I realized without realizing that holding someone's hand is almost a more intimate act than what I had previously been shooting for. There's something warm about it.

When I look at Jace, I simply sigh. Why he still finds stuff like this surprising, I have no idea. It's sad, really. How many times has he accidentally walked in on me doing something far worse? And he still blushes.

"What?" I ask.

"Car's all clear," he says almost in a daze. "Rehearsals. You've... you've gotta get back, you know. Big show."

Jackie

I huff a sigh. One thing that'll always get in our way. Time.

Rayah walks in, eyes wide, "Um..."

I roll my eyes at her and flash a smile before looking up at Nic, "I guess I'll see you later then. Rayah's going to the concert with her sister."

I take a deep breath and let go of his hand before walking him to the door, Rayah following like a lost puppy.

Nic

Following Jackie to the door, I almost wish she hadn't let to of my hand; but ' never admit to it. Jace says his quiet goodbyes to Rayah, and I begin to wonder why I even have to say goodbye.

I fish out my phone and hand it to her, having her out in her contact information, but I don't give her mine. I'll call, or text. Maybe it's habit, not wanting to be nagged, but maybe it's me wanting to do things the way normal people do things.

Isn't the guy supposed to call or text first?

Kind of old fashioned, though. Too Jace.

"Why aren't you coming tonight?" I ask Jackie, only half listening.

Jackie

"Homework, gotta study...college applications," I respond, sighing and running a hand through my hair, "Sucks being an older child. Know nothing about it."

Rayah says goodbye to Jace, watching him walk outside, and I kiss him long and hard before letting him go, "Have fun tonight."

Rayah gags and I flick her in the forehead, chuckling.

Nic

I think my insides churn at the thought of doing what she has to, or even wanting to ask what's on my mind next. But she pulls me into a kiss, and I forget my question. With a half-smile, I peck her on the lips one last time before stepping down the porch backward. I almost trip, but catch myself before face planting into the mulch off to the side, where a small bush grows.

Shaking off the unnatural feeling of embarrassment, I smile cockily and joke about my own gracefulness before stepping closer to the car, which Jace thinks he's driving. The fool.

"I'll call you," I promise.

And it scares me how much I mean it.

Jackie

I watch him go and nod, watching him as he drives out of the parking lot. Rayah gets ready for the concert and I sigh, closing the door and grabbing my phone. I stuff it in my pocket, getting to work on my college applications and my essays due next week.

Nic

I get in the passenger seat, only to realize it after Jace pulls away from the house, and pout the whole way. He wears a cocky grin and tells me to put my seatbelt on, which I ignore in spite of him. Time passes quickly, and if he tries to talk to me I don't hear it.

When we get back to the hall, I rehearse and prepare in a daze. Jace watches me carefully but keeps his distance. He only speaks up when it's time to get on.

"Are you actually all doe-eyed over this girl?" he teases as he leads me to stage.

I shove him and leave his question unanswered.

"Shut up and send Marne to her house," I say. "Maybe if she helps her with her college whatever, she'll show up."

"This is a strange side of you," he mutters before making the call. "By the way, I gave Rayah and her sister back stage passes."

"To get into her pants?"

It's his turn to shove me, and I muster a chuckle and stop beneath the stage.

"Not everything is about sex, drugs, and money, Nic," he says.

"It's simpler that way, though," I say, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes.

I'm not nervous. Never get that way anymore. I close my eyes and take a deep breath to clear my head and stop my skin from itching, which it has been since I kissed Jackie.

Jackie

I finish after a while, Rayah leaving, and I hesitate before grabbing my jacket and leaving. I get to the concert and they let me in, me buying a ticket but doubt I'll use it. I make my way backstage and find Rayah already in, the security guards not letting me.

"But...That's my boyfriend," I tell him.

"Sure, every girl says that. Now go back to your seat," He tells me, chuckling. I roll my eyes and just wait, leaning against the wall.

Nic

I pat my hand against the side of my leg as the music begins to play and count to ten before being lifted up onto stage to a bunch of light tricks and screaming fans. My smile comes naturally, and I begin what I had seemingly always known I'd do.

Halfway through the show, I disappear backstage and let the opening act come back to keep the fans calm. I wipe my face off with a towel and down a bottle of water before going through a wardrobe change and heading further back to appease whoever happened to have particular passes.

Jace is talking with Rayah and his sister when I find the area, but something just off to the left catches my eye. Before anyone notices me, I slip down the hall and past the guard. My smile returns before I hide it, playing the part.

"What are you doing down here?" I ask. "I had my assistant sent to you. If you were to come, she was supposed to let you back to where your friend is."

Jackie

I flash a smile at him when he comes to see me and shrug, "I finished early."

I play with his shirt, which is soaked in sweat, and sigh, "You look exausted, Nic. Thank the lord that they have intermission..." I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. Still leaning against the wall, I glance around the hallway and swear when two teenage girls run up to us, asking a bunch of questions. I smile wider at Nic and leave him to answer, chuckling at their fangirling.