Jared, Shannon and Tomo had Allison tag along the next day as they did some interviews and photo shoots for some magazines.
"So, always with the flannel. Do you think you're going to have to jump in last-minute at a lumber jack competition?" Jared just glared at her sideways as she smirked, Shannon trying to hide his grin as well.
"Why do you insist on hiding the necklace under your shirt, we all know you've already kneeled before Loki."
"Actually, *long pause* yea O.K. shut up." Shannon looked at Allison, shock on his face.
"You and Tom?" Shannon could see the torment flash in her eyes and he immediately felt bad for saying anything. "I'm sorry Ally, I didn't mean it."
"Don't call me that, and yea, we did." Shannon put his arms around her shoulders, resting his chin in her head as she slumped against him slightly.
"Hey, it happens. We all understand that. Especially me, I can't judge anyone."
"You better not still be man-whoring around."
"I swear, not in a very very long time. And beside now I met this amazingly wonderful girl. She's smart and funny and she saw enough in me that she fixed me up with her incredibly perfect friend." Allison couldn't help but smile into his chest as she hugged him close.
"Thanks Shan."
"Hey, what the hell though, you can call me Shan but I can't call you Ally?"
"Fine, but only you. Anyone else says it and they get punched." Shannon felt her pull away, so he let her go, but only after he looked her in the eye and told her thanks once again for introducing him with Ceci. Allison couldn't help but feel all warm inside seeing the look in Shannon's eyes, he really did look he was falling for her. As the guys had their interview Allison sat back and listened to some tunes, trying her damnedest not to sing, but she was lip syncing. Jared kept an eye on her, thinking he had an idea on how to get her and Ben talking again, and this time to take their time. Suddenly she started dancing and someone came over and asked if they could play the music during the photo shoot. Allison laughed as she though of the guys posing while listening to Dark Horse by Katy Perry and nodded in excitement. As they guys moved over to where they wanted to photos taken, the music started playing and Jared just watched as Allison moved her hips to the music. She smiled at him as she lip synced to the music and after a few dozen photos of the band were taken, Jared beckoned Allison over with a wave of his finger. She moved towards him, but stayed behind the camera as she started singing quietly.
"So you wanna play with magic, Boy should know what you're falling for. Baby do dare to do this, cause I'm coming at you like a dark horse." He got up took Allison by the hand and pulled her in front of the camera. Before she knew it the photographer was posing her with Jared, and she looked up at him wide-eyed.
"What the hell Jay?"
"Shut up and pose please."
"Your so evil, and you so owe me big."
"I'll pay you back for this I promise you." The photographer had Allison standing facing Jar, her hand on his chest as she looked away and he looked at the camera. Allison shifted slightly, her other hand gripping his shirt at his side and he looked down at her pressing a kiss to her forehead. The camera man snapped away and soon they were done. Jared brushed her hair back of her shoulders and he looked at her.
"Thanks. When do you have to go to the airport?"
"Early tomorrow morning."
"Well good until then, what do want to do?"
"Let's go get me a triad tattoo." Jay smiled as he looked at her, thinking she was joking. She just looked at him with a serious look and soon he realized she was being serious.
"Oh well let's go then."
Three hours later and Allison was sporting a brand new white ink triad on the top of her left foot. She didn't mind the pain, but Jay and to help hold her leg down from when the needle would hit a nerve and her leg would just jump as a reflex. Jared then took her to dinner and then they ended up at the hotel talking late into the night again.
The next Monday as Allison got back to work she was happy to be back, and happy to see Chris in his I love the Ninja shirt. When she got over to hair and make up, she was surprised to see a large flower arrangement, and soon Brie came around to do her hair.
"So Brie, who sent you flowers?"
"Oh no sweety, those are yours." Allison looked at Brie in the mirror, puzzles as to who would have sent her flowers. Allison stood up and pulled out the card, seeing her name written on the envelope. She pulled the cared out and looked it over.
Just a start to pay back what I owe you. Come by later on J
"Who sent the Ninja flowers."
"Jared, he owes me."
"For what?"
"Well, he roped me into this photo shoot, and interview, and he said he still can't help but feel upset with what he said to Ben. So, I guess he's trying to make up for that."
"What did he say to him?"
"Well, basically that Ben was quote fucking lucky I care for him because Jared wanted to knock his teeth down his throat and if he ever hurt me again Jared would come after him."
"Yea, well he just said what some of us wanted to say." Allison looked up at Chris and he just grinned at her.
Ten hours later and Allison was finally done filming for the day, but it was still early enough she drove over to see Jared as he requested. Once she got there Jared just gave her a mischievous smile as he led her through the house and into a small recording studio he had set up.
"What is that smile about?"
"Your going to sing."
"Oh no no no. You don't want to hear that."
"Yea, I do."
"I'm saving your eardrums, no you don't."
"Trust me, now go, and sing anything." Allison looked at him and seen there was no way she was getting out of it, so she just went and stood in front of the mic. Soon Jared came over her headphones.
"Go crazy kid." She took a deep breath and soon she blurted out what was on her mind.
"You can't just put me on the spot like that. I have a million different lyrics running through my head and not one of them sticks out."
"Do you want me to help?"
"Yes please." She watched as he picked up a guitar and joined her in the small room.
"Alright, now let's see." He started strumming on the guitar and a smile tugged at her lips.
"Here we stand, worlds apart, hearts broken in two, two, two. sleepless nights, losing ground, I'm reaching for you, you, you. Feeling that it's gone, can't change your mind. If we can't go on, survive the tide, love divides. Someday love will find you, Break those chains that bind you. One night will remind you, how we touched and went our separate ways. If he ever hurts you, true love won't desert you. You know I still love you though we touched and went our separate ways." Jay played on for a moment, and he smiled at Allison as he stopped.
"Now that wasn't so bad was it?"
"I don't know, I have cans on my ears, was it?"
"I think it was good. how about this one." Jared started strumming again and Allison felt it hard to look at him, she knew this was one that would be harder.
"Say something, I'm giving up on you. I'll be the one if you want me to. Anywhere, I would've followed you. Say Something, I'm giving up on you. And I am feeling so small. It was over my head, I know nothing at all. And I will stumble and fall, I'm still learning to love, just starting to crawl. Say Something, I'm giving up on you. I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you. Anywhere I would've you. Say something I'm giving up on you. And I will swallow my pride. You're that I love, and I'm saying goodbye. Say something I'm giving up on you. I'm sorry that couldn't get to you. Anywhere I would've follow you. Oh-ooh-Oh Say something, I'm giving up on you. Say Something, I'm giving up on you. Say something." Jared watched as so much of her pain flowed out with her voice, and at the end, her voice was broken and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. He put the guitar down and hugged her close before going out to stop the recording.
Allison made her way out of the small booth and went into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. Moments later, Jared was standing next to her at the kitchen counter.
"Why do you keep all that bottled up inside you? You have people who care about you, and who will be there when you cry." Allison just walked over and put her arms around him, her head resting on his chest as she stopped holding back the tears. Jay stood there with her, holding her for the better part of thirty minutes. When she finally controlled her tears again she pulled away and looked up at him.
"Jared I keep it bottled up because I don't want to burden anyone else with my pain. This is mine and I should be the one to handle it."
"Well I'm here telling you I will be here, and don't about burdening me, I can carry a lot, and I know how to dump what isn't needed." He watched as her lip quivered, and he put his arm around her, pulling into the living room where they sat down on the sofa. They just sat there in silence as Allison cried and Jared held onto her. Once she was done she looked at Jared, small smile on her face, and in her best southern accent spoke to him quietly.
"Jared, why are so good to me." Jared smiled as he kissed the top of her head.
"Cause your my girl Jenny." Allison hit him playfully.
"Who is this Jenny Chic?" They both laughed for a moment, but he took her chin and turned it so that she would look at him.
"Seriously, you are my family, and your stuck with me. So as long as you have me around, let me help you get rid of that pain." He kissed her forehead and Allison smiled sleepily up at him. "And your sleeping in the guest room tonight, your too tired to drive." Allison didn't feel like fighting him because he was right, she was exhausted.