I've made up my mind,
Don't need to think it over
If I'm wrong, I am right
Don't need to look no further,
This ain't lust
I know this is love…

The melody's mild tempo was the perfect salve for Jules's worn out state of mind. She mindlessly hummed along to the familiar tune that piped laconically from her car radio as she debated her options for the umpteenth time.

She could go home… no. She could call one of the guys… at 2 AM… no. She could book a motel room. Oh please. This was ridiculous. Sitting here for another half hour was not going to give her any new ideas, nor would it make her inevitable decision any less gritting. She turned the key in the ignition again. The radio blinked off momentarily, then started up again along with her engine.

But, if I tell the world
I'll never say enough
Cuz it was not said to you
And that's exactly what I need to do
If I end up with you…

It was a good thing she knew the way to his apartment so well, and that passing traffic was few and in between at this hour of the night, because Jules's eyes seemed to process nothing while she drove. She was merely consumed by a combination of exhaustion from lack of sleep and dread at her approaching encounter.

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasin' pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasin' pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere…

It was after she'd shut the engine that Jules realized she should call Sam to tell him she was coming. Her mind flicked briefly to his apartment key that she'd had on her key ring for several happy weeks, but it unfortunately no longer occupied a place amongst her assorted key chains - but it was no matter, anyway, because at this hour a phone call was a necessary courtesy.

Glancing at the clock, which read an ominous 2:08, Jules flipped open her cellphone and hit speed dial 2.

Riiiing… Riiiiiing… Riiiiiing…

"Hey, this is Sam. Leave a message."

Oh, damn. She hadn't considered the possibility that Sam wouldn't pick up.

Speed dial 2 again, then.

Riiiiing… Riiiiiing… Riiiiing…

"Hello?"

"Uh, hey. Sam."

"Yeah. Jules? What's – what's goin' on?" Sam asked groggily, trying to clear the sleep from his voice.

"I, uh… Um, I just wanted to ask you if it would be all right, if… I mean, I'd completely understand if it wasn't… I just wanted to know… oh geez."

"You're not one to be at a loss for words." He seemed more awake now.

"Uh huh."

"That wasn't even a word."

"Sam…" She was way too tired for this.

"Jules."

"Look, I just…"

"Jules, it's two o'clock in the morning, and if I didn't know better, I'd think you were drunk."

"I'm way more talkative when I'm drunk."

"Like I said, I know better."

A few moments of silence passed during which the ticking of Jules's watch seemed to be unnecessarily loud.

"Jules?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Uh huh."

"Jules, what's wrong? And don't say nothing's wrong, cuz it must have taken a lot for you to call me."

"I wanted to ask you if I could stay at your house tonight," Jules said in a rush before she could chicken out again.

She waited nervously for a response, but none was immediately forthcoming.

"Um, hello?"

"Still here. Uh… you – you want to sleep at my house?" She could not blame him for sounding completely and utterly baffled by her request. Still, a prompt affirmative reply would have been nice.

"Yeah."

"Did something happen?"

"Um… uh, yeah."

"What happ – Wait, where are you? Do you need me to come get you?"

"I, uh – I'm, no, you don't need to, I'm – I'm outside."

"You're outside?"

Jules cringed at the sudden rise in decibel level, but he didn't sound angry, just flabbergasted. His phone clicked off abruptly, ending the call, and a moment later the porch was flooded with light and Sam was standing there in his pajama pants, squinting out at her car from the doorway.

Jules blew out a deep breath as she studied him for a long moment, then opened her car door and slid out.

This is such a bad idea.