One month later…

"You're going on tour next week?" I asked Pat. We were outside his place throwing around a baseball. I threw it at him, perfect catch.

"Yeah," he said tossing it back…not so perfect catch for me. "It's a short tour though. Not that many cities."

"Still sounds like fun," I replied. "And little ole' me can't go," I said in a southern belle accent. I put my arm on my forehead like I was fake fainting. "I just can't go on!" I laid myself on the ground. Laughing, Pat came over and laid down beside me. He looked at me, and I did the same.

"Now, who told you that you were being left here?" he asked. I sat up in excitement.

"Nuh uh!" I yelled. He smiled, and when he did, I jumped up on my feet and put both my arms in the air.

"Touchdown! I'm going on tour!" I looked at Pat, who was still lying on the ground, laughing. I jumped on top of him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

"There's one condition though," he said.

I pulled back. "What is it?"

"You have to sell merch," he said. I groaned.

"I have to deal with all the fan girls coming up and asking, 'Hay, hook me up wid dat John boy, eh'?"

"Oh come on. It'll be worth it," he said, pouting.

"Now how can I say no to that face?" He smiled and pulled me back in for a hug.

It's been a month since Cameron had gone back to Virginia. It has also been a month since I had last talked to him. Many nights I would get no sleep because I just wanted to pick up my phone and call him…I missed him a lot. But I left the decision up to him to call me...and he hasn't. It's also been a month since Pat and I first talked. Ever since that night, we have gone to each other for everything and anything. He was my best friend…aside from Peyton.

Pat walked me back to my apartment, just to make sure I didn't get raped or kidnapped or something like that. I always felt safe when we hung out.

We walked in to the apartment to see Peyton and Kennedy sitting on the couch, and Peyton looked like she had been told the greatest news ever.

"Jules! I am going on tour!" she yelled to me.

"SO AM I!" I yelled back, and she jumped up and gave me a hug. This tour, even though it was apparently short, would be the best month or so of my life. Surrounded by all my best friends, traveling …. So good.

"We will be right back, boys," Peyton said, grabbing me by the wrist and taking me into the kitchen.

"So…" she whispered so the boys couldn't hear her. "Eric is taking me somewhere tonight, and I don't know where."

"Really? Hm," I responded…Eric had called me earlier the day before telling me what he had planned: a beautiful date out at the park with Nick Santino as their servant. But I promised Halvo I wouldn't say a word to Peyton about it.

"WHERE?" she asked.

"Oh no, I promised. I even did the scout's honor, AND pinky swore. I can't Pey," I said with a sigh. I hated keeping things from her, but this wasn't my place to tell her.

"How should I dress?" she asked. "At least tell me that…"

"Dress normal," I shrugged. I didn't wanna say too much. I saw Peyton roll her eyes at me.

"Do you think it's too soon in our relationship to…"she paused for a few seconds, then continued, "uh, take our relationship to the next level?"

"I can't decide that for you," I replied. I smiled at her. I can't believe my Peyton was thinking about boinkin' Halvo! This was huge!

"It's only been a month. I want to be in love when I have sex for the first time. I'm on my way, but not quite there yet," she sighed. She directed her attention to the clock on the wall. "Better go get ready," she said, exiting the kitchen. I exited shortly after and went back into the living room. Pat stood up beside me and put his arm around my shoulder.

"Hey…how's about we have that sleep over we've been talking about having?" he asked. Random. Totally loved it.

"Uh, hell yeah. Under one condition," I replied.

"Oh god..what."

"I pick the movies." A smirk formed across my face. He let out a sigh.

"Fine, come on."

When we got to Pat's place, the first place I went was the couch. I sprawled out on it, kicked off my shoes, and got comfortable. Pat walked into the kitchen.

"You want a drink?" he called out.

"You got Diet Coke?" I asked.

"Uh, duh." I sat up as he entered the living room. I took the cup from him, and he sat down beside me.

"Humph. Spaghetti o's or chef Boyardee ravioli?" he asked me. Peyton and Halvo asked each other 5 questions every day so they can know each other well. Pat and I liked this idea…so we stole it.

"Oh man. I think I'll go with s-ghetti o's," I replied, taking a sip of my drink. "Alright…alright…who took your v-card?"

"..I'm……a…." he was mumbling. I couldn't hear anything he was saying.

"Speak up, buddy."

"I'm a virgin," he said.

"No you're not!" I chuckled. He puffed out his bottom lip.

"Yeah, I am."

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry I laughed then," I said, ruffling his hair.

"No big. …I'm just waiting for the right girl, you know? I have to know I love her before I bang her," he said with a laugh. A smile formed across my face. I then felt something vibrate in my pocket. I took my phone out to see what it was. I opened it up.

"Peyton: Spending night Kenny's. Date went horrible. Tell you about it tomorrow. I love you!" I stared at my phone for a minute, thinking of what could have went wrong.

"Hey…Julia…everything okay?" Pat asked me, getting me out of my daze.

"Yeah, yeah. I suppose…let's watch something," I replied.

"Okay, what do you wanna watch?"

I scanned his DVD selection from the couch. I saw a few movies that I knew I definitely wanted to watch…then I had an idea.

"Pat. You may hate me for this, but I know what we're doing tonight," I said. A small smile formed across my face.

"What?" he asked.

"Oh I just can't wait to be king!," we both sang out. We were snuggled together on the couch watching and singing along to Disney movies. Life was amazing.

"You know, JuJu, I hate you, but I love you at the same time for this," he said with a laugh, pulling me in closer to him.

"Oh hush, you love me all the time," I stated, flashing a cheesy grin at him.

"Gotta love that smile," he said under his breath. I don't know if I was supposed to hear that or not, but I did.

"I want to use my last question, Julia. Try not to get upset when I ask it, okay?" he suddenly requested.

"Alright, shoot," I said, snuggling into his chest.

"Do you still miss Cameron?" My heart sank. I hated thinking about Cameron. Ugh. Cameron. But, we made a promise to answer everything truthfully…

"Yes and no," I replied.

"Elaborate."

"Well…sometimes it's like, I wish I had him around. I mean, we have been there for each other since kindergarten…I have always been used to having him by my side, through anything. And we've had some fights, but we were best friends. We got past it. We told each other everything. Hell, he was my brother. So that's why it's yes. And here's why it's no. I told him to call me when he wanted to stop being like this. I have said that to him every single time we've gotten into a fight. And he has always called. And we have gotten into worse arguments than this…..I don't know why he won't….anyways, I have you, Peyton, and the rest of the boys of Tempe. You're all my friends. And I love you all"

"And we love you, Julia."

We were silent for a long time after that. We finished the rest of The Lion King before either one of spoke again.

"Why do you like me, Pat?" I asked him.

"Because you're nice to look at," he replied without hesitation. I shot him a look.

"Seriously?"

"Ha-ha no…well I mean, yeah. You're pretty, but I like your personality. I can talk to you, and you actually listen to me and try to help me, unlike the guys who just kinda laugh and pretend it's nothing. You and I are like the same person, except you have a vagina."

I let out a laugh. "And you don't?"

"Oh, you're going to get it now," he said as he started to inch closer to me. I shot up and he shot up too, chasing me around the couch. After about a minute, he cheated and jumped over the couch, tackling me to the ground. We both busted into laugher as he lay on top of me. We eventually stopped and were staring into each other's eyes. We spent five minutes doing that; staring at each other and breathing heavily. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Then, it happened.

Pat quickly lowered himself and kissed me. He quickly retrieved himself and we were in the same position we were in a few seconds ago. He was about to get up, but I pulled him back on top of me and we were tangled in a deep kiss.
After about five minutes, he pulled back, stood up, and swooped me into his arms. He took me to his bedroom and put me on the bed. He got on top of me again and wrapped his arms around me. I put my arms around his neck, and we started kissing again. We went on for about eight or so minutes when I pulled back.

I let out a yawn. Pat got off of me and sat down beside me. "Sleepy?"

"Yeah…I might just hit the hay," I said, starting to get under his bed's covers.

"Okay..let me go turn everything off." He exited into the living room. I laid there, stiff.
…What just happened? I thought to myself. Pat entered a few seconds later. He turned the lights off and got under the covers and laid down beside me.

"Is something wrong?" he asked me.

I closed my eyes. "No..just…sleepy." He put his arms around my waist and cuddled up against me. I put my hands on his hands, and before I knew it, we were both asleep.

"Julia…..hey…..hey…Wake up," I heard a voice say to me. It sounded like it was very far away. I slowly opened my eyes. I sat up in bed and looked around me. Pat wasn't in the room…no one was in the room.

"Humph. Werid," I mumbled, laying back down.

"Don't go back to sleep, love," I heard that same voice say. I sat back up and looked beside me. And there he was.

"…Cameron? What are you doing here?" I asked him. This was surreal.

"I missed you..a lot..," he said, running his fingers through my hair. "I just had to come back to your place. I just had to. I couldn't stand it anymore."

…My place? I thought. I looked around. Sure enough, I was in my apartment. I wasn't going to ask any questions.

"Cameron..you never called. It has been a month. You never called…" I started. I began to cry. Cameron pulled me into his arms, and I buried my face in his chest and began to cry more.

"I wanted to talk to you at the right time, and the time is now," he whispered.

"You can't just expect me to forgive you all of a sudden, Cameron…it doesn't work like that," I murmured.

"Julia, listen…you are my best friend. You always have been, and you always will be. Nothing will ever tear us apart. Nothing."

"Cameron, I-"

"Shh... I was a jerk, Julia. I should have never doubted you. What happened that night…was something magical. I felt like we had become one. It was more than making love to me…I can't describe it. Finally being that close to you just….it just felt right," he started. His eyes were getting watery.

"Cameron, please.."

"Julia, I love you. More than anything and anyone. If I don't have you..I…."

"You what, Cameron?"

A tear rolled down his cheek as he said, "I have no will to live."

"Oh…..Cameron…I love you…"

He put his hand on the bottom of my chin and lifted my head up. Our lips inched closer and closer to each other… I could almost taste him……………..

"Julia………………………..JULIA!" I opened my eyes yet again, but this time, Pat was jumping up and down on the bed. ….It was all a dream..

"Jesus, what is it Pat?" I asked, sitting up. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes as he spoke.

"I just wanted you to wake up. I was lonely," he said as he jumped off the bed.

"You better have breakfast ready if you're waking me up this early."

"Pancakes and Sunny-D."

A huge grin came across my face. "You're the best."

As I dragged myself into the kitchen, the sweet smell of Pat's amazing flapjacks entered my nose. He cooked the best pancakes. I walked over to the table to find a small surprise waiting for me.

"Oh my god, they are in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head!" I yelled with excitement. "I don't know how I'll be able to eat them now, they're too cute!"

"I'm sure you'll manage…if you're hungry," he replied, sitting down. He began to eat from his plate. I sat down beside him and also began to dig in. Jesus, Pat's pancakes were like an orgasm in your mouth.

"PattyCakes, I don't know how you do it, but your pancakes…always the best," I said, with a mouthful.

"Ha-ha, I know, I know."

-KNOCKKNOCKKNOCK-
"Well shit. I'll go see who it is," Pat said, standing up and walking out of the kitchen. I gulped down the rest of my Sunny-D and finished my pancakes, and Pat wasn't back yet.

"Hmm…Hope he didn't get abducted," I mumbled to myself. I looked toward the kitchen entrance to make sure he wasn't coming back. I took my fork and took one of his pancakes and put it on my plate.

"Julia..," Pat said reentering the kitchen. Startled, I dropped my fork onto the table.

"What is it, Pat?" I asked him.

"There's someone here to see you," he said.

"Who is it?"

"Just…just come to the door."

I followed him into the living room and directed my attention towards the door.

"Hey Julie," they said.

"…What're you doing here?"