Chapter 28: Damn It, Nerves, Screw You!

Autumn's POV

"Hi, Jack."

"I don't think you can say that on a plane..." Jack let me into his house and led me over to the living room. It was Friday and we had no school. Zack, Alex, Rian, Kara, Vinny, Flyzik, and a few other people that were considered the band's 'crew' were here. I was surprised when Jack also let Madison come over, and she followed me closely behind. Next weekend, my dad's friend finally decided to have his birthday party, and I was here to tell them about it.

"So..." Jack started as I sat down on the floor in front of one of the couches.

Here's how the room went. There were two couches, one up against the window and one up against the wall. A TV set was on the wall in between both couches and at the moment was switched to MTV, but muted. I was currently in front of the couch by the window, Madison sitting next to me-I could tell she felt awkward-Alex was behind me on the couch next to Rian, Kara, and a guy I'd only met once, Evan.

"Alright, cut to the chase, Autumn," Zack said. "What's this gig we might possibly have?"

This was when I went into more detail about this party booked at a rented out club. I shrugged once I said that much and who it was for. "He's willing to pay each of you guys a $100-band and crew. Plus, you get a free meal out of it, and you get to have about an hour long set." I paused when I saw some of the guys share looks.

Alex tapped my shoulder, making me look up at him. "Will there be cake?"

"There will be cake," I confirmed.

All of the guys heads perked up. "We're taking it," Jack declared.

Madison and I chuckled at them when everyone else nodded in agreement. "So, next weekend?" Alex asked.

I looked over my shoulder and up at him again then nodded. "The party starts at six, but you won't play until about nine."

"So, what time do we have to be there?" Zack asked.

"Five-ish."

"This is actually kind of cool," Rian said.

"And, he's really gonna pay us $100?" Flyzik asked from the other couch.

I nodded. "We get paid $100," I pointed to Madison and I, "just because we're helping set up everything."

"This guy is generous," Zack said.

"Nah," I shook my head, "he's just got the money to pay everyone. To him, a few thousand dollars is hardly money at all. The whole party itself is setting him back at least a hundred grand, probably more, and that doesn't even seem to phase him. So, honestly, I'm surprised it's not more."

"What does he do for a living?" Evan asked.

"He owns a car dealership." I answered. "Plus, his wife's a lawyer."

Alex shook his head. "Lawyer and a business owner hanging out with a Hooters waitress and a tattoo artist. Weird combination."

"You're tellin' me," I muttered.

About a half hour later, I was in Jack's kitchen, looking for food in his fridge. I heard someone walk into the kitchen and looked to the left to see Alex. "Hi," he said.

"Hey." I smiled a bit.

Jack had followed after Alex and opened the freezer door. "Yes! We have ice cream!" He took the chocolate ice cream out and set it on the counter before getting him a bowl and spoon. "You guys want some?"

"Nah, I'm good," I said, closing the fridge and turning around.

"I...actually kinda do," Alex said. Jack got another bowl and spoon out before asking me to get the whipped cream out of the fridge. I complied, setting the can on the counter after shutting the door. Alex smirked and picked up the can before spraying some onto my nose and then spraying some into his mouth.

I crinkled my nose, wiped the whipped cream off of it with my finger, then wiped it onto Alex's cheek. I giggled at the look Alex gave me and Jack shook his head.

"You guys are doing it wrong," he said, picking up the can and spraying some on my nose again. Then he licked the whipped cream off. "There."

I crinkled my nose again before wiping it with the sleeve of my hoodie. "Nah, it's more like this," Alex said. He sprayed my cheek then kissed off the whipped cream before licking his lips.

"Why do I have to be the test person?" I asked, wiping my cheek off.

"Jack could be the test person." Alex pointed to him.

Jack smirked at me. "Autumn, you can lick whipped cream off of my body any day."

I smirked and ruffled his hair. "I don't like whipped cream. Alex does, though. Maybe he will."

Alex shook his head. "Naw, he'd like that too much."

"You guys are mean." Jack stuck his tongue out at us before taking his ice cream into the living room.

Alex turned to me then, putting up the ice cream that I assumed he decided he didn't want after all. "So," he shut the freezer door then looked at me with a small smile, "excited for tomorrow?"

"That depends." I stepped closer to him and took his hands in mine. "Are you?"

"Would you make fun of me if I was?"

"No promises."

He scoffed, bit his lip, then smiled. "I'm very excited."

I smiled, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Me, too."

"Now, Autumn, you are doing it wrong." He curled a hand around the side of neck and kissed me, leaving me wanting another one when he pulled back. "See? Much better." He smirked.

"Mmm, is it now?" I crossed my arms.

"What are you two doing in there?" Jack called from the living room, suspicion filling his voice.

"Working on a mass escape plan," Alex called back.

"I want in on that!" Rian said. "You'll fuck it up somehow!"

"Ha!" I said, laughing at Alex before walking back into the living room.

"Autumn, you're mean," Alex whined, catching up to me before I made it back to the living room by grabbing my hand. I turned to see he was pouting.

"And, you're cute," I kissed his nose, making him smirk. "Now come on." We went back into Jack's living room.

XXXX

Ever have one of those moments when everything is going so great that you know something has got to go wrong soon? Does something always go wrong shortly after? That's what I feel like is going to happen right now. Life is good, at the moment. Nothing is fucked up or too out of place. Things are going smoothly. But I couldn't help but feel like it was too good to be true.

Later that day, Alex, Jack, Madison, and I somehow found ourselves back at my house. Alex and I had went into the kitchen-I went to get something to eat, he went to get something to drink. I was still making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when Alex walked back in from the living room. "Autumn, come here," he said quietly.

Knitting my eyebrows, I shoved the knife I was using back into the peanut butter jar and followed after Alex. He was peeking around the corner of the kitchen into the living room. I followed his actions, seeing Jack and Madison making out on my couch.

"Whoa," I whispered, but smiled. I knew it would happen again.

"Right?" Alex whispered back. Alex and I shared a look, both of us smirking. We both made ourselves totally visible before I cleared my throat loudly.

Jack and Madison broke apart quickly, Jack just smiled at us, but Madison blushed and hid her face in her hands. Then they both started laughing, really hard, which made Alex and I just chuckle. "You two are having fun," I said, crossing my arms.

They were still laughing, but Jack shrugged in response. I took Alex's hand and we walked back into the kitchen. Dropping his hand, I started making my sandwich again when he moved his way over to my side, hip bumping me. "Hey."

I smirked. "Hi."

"Will you make me one, too?"

"Here, just take this one." I pushed what was my sandwich over to him before getting two more pieces of bread out for me. "Stereotypical thing right there. The girl makes the guy a sandwich."

Alex chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist, giving me a quick sideways hug. "You didn't have to make me one."

I shrugged, taking a bite of the sandwich I made myself. "Just don't expect it to be a habit."

I walked around him to the fridge and he said, "Autumn, don't slap me or anything for this, but you have long legs."

I looked down at my legs that were currently exposed thanks to my shorts that I changed into because Jack, being the huge klutz he is, spilt Pepsi on my jeans. "I know. Track is my best friend thanks to them."

"You run track?"

"Yup." I closed the fridge and went back over to the counter so I could eat my sandwich. Alex was looking down at my legs again so I kicked his shin lightly. "Stop checking me out, Lex."

He chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "I'll try, sorry." Then he sighed. "Now how come I can never catch you checking me out?"

"There's not a whole lot to stare at," I said. His jaw dropped in fake shock, making me smirk and ruffle his hair. "Kidding. You just never catch me."

"I will. You just wait, Autumn."

"Whatever you say."

XXXX

That night, Madison and I were in my room watching TV and talking about prom when I heard what sounded like something hitting my window. Being as it was midnight, I may have panicked a little. "Did you hear that?" I asked.

She blinked at me, staring blankly. "Hear what?"

The sound came again and I pointed at my window. "That! Did you hear that?"

"Yeah. What the fuck?" Madison looked at my window, confused.

Making a split decision on what to do, I got off of my bed and went over to my window, looking down at the ground since I was on the second floor. Two figures were there, and I rolled my eyes at the blond streak I saw in one of the figures hair. I opened my window. "What the hell are you doing scaring the shit out of us like that?" I asked them, talking quietly but I knew they could hear me clearly.

"Well, you see," the other guy that wasn't Jack pulled down his hood, revealing Alex, "we wanted to do something before prom. So come on," he said in the same tone I was using.

I looked over at Madison, who was standing behind me, and she shrugged. "Give us five minutes, ten tops. And meet us out front."

"Bring a swimsuit!" Jack said just before I shut the window.

I looked back at Madison. "Swimsuit?" she asked. I shrugged and dug through the second drawer of my dresser for my swimsuit. Madison left my room quietly, coming back five minutes later. Apparently, both of us had the same idea and put our swimsuits on underneath our clothes. We both had tank tops on, but she had shorts and I had jeans. We got towels, hoodies we would probably need because it was the end of April and nighttime, and quietly walked to the top of the stairs.

I shot a glance over my shoulder to make sure my parents bedroom door was still closed, as was Madison's door and my door with my light off. We started walking downstairs, trying to be as silent as possible-the same when we got to the front door. I made sure it was unlocked for us to get back in before we both walked out, seeing Jack and Alex on the front steps.

Jack grinned and looked at Alex. "Told you they'd come." This was when I noticed they were wearing shorts, or in this case swim trunks.

Alex sighed and I rolled my eyes, taking his hand then pulling him down the steps. "So, why a swimsuit?" I asked as Jack and Madison both followed us.

"Silly Autumn, we're going swimming, duh!" Alex smirked.

"You couldn't wait until daytime? I have a pool and everything," I laughed.

"No, because we wanted to swim at night," Jack clarified. I happened to notice he grabbed Madison's hand.

"The pool at the park four blocks down?" I asked.

"That's the one."

The park isn't closed off at night, nor is the pool that had lights surrounding the outside. It's almost like they are asking teenagers to come here at night and hang out. We got to the pool easily and, after pulling off his jacket and shirt, Jack jumped in. Alex quickly followed, which left me and Madison.

They were having a splash fight when me and Madison stripped down to our swimsuits. We had a short argument that involved us saying, "You jump in first," back and forth for about thirty seconds before I stopped us with, "This is ridiculous!"

Madison and I both laughed, but she offered, "How about we go together?"

"Nah, I think I'll just do this." That was when I pushed her into the pool. She squealed, splashed into the water, then came up a second later.

"I'm so gonna get you for that, Autumn," she said, eyes narrowed in a glare at me.

"Not at the moment," Jack said, swimming up to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Because right now, you're mine." He kissed her neck a few times, but she giggled and pushed him away, starting a splash fight with him.

I crossed my arms and Alex looked up at me. "You comin'?" he asked, keeping his eyes fixed on mine. I then became very aware I was just in a bikini in front of him. Umm...

Sure enough, I jumped in and swam over to him. "Happy?"

"You know," under the water, I felt his hands rest on my hips, "I'll never talk this mushy to any of the guys, but you really are beautiful."

I smiled, slightly taken by surprise, and kissed him as my response. He smiled against my lips and deepened the kiss, but we both got splashed. "Jack Barakat!" I said, breaking away from Alex.

"Kissing you would be a lot more fun if you weren't yelling other guys' names while we were in the middle of it." Alex smirked at me and I splashed him as Madison swam up.

"Actually, it was me," Madison said with a smirk. "Good guess, though."

"I told her to do it, however," Jack chimed in. He swam over to Alex and tried to dunk him, but it didn't work. This started a small fight with them in the water.

We messed around some more, but at around three, we decided we should probably go home. Alex and I were trailing behind Jack and Madison as we walked when he nudged me a bit with both of our hands that were twined together. "So, you know we're going out to eat before prom, right?" he asked me.

"Really?" I raised an unexpected eyebrow.

"Mmhmm." He nodded, smiling. "We're going pretty cliché about all of this."

"That's fine," I laughed.

"Are they going together now?" Alex asked, nodding towards Madison and Jack as they were laughing at something.

I shrugged. "If not, I'm making them."

Alex chuckled. "I'll handle Jack, you tell Madison."

"Got it."

We stopped in front of my house and Alex turned to me. "You sure I have to go home?"

"I don't exactly know how to explain to my parents that you and Jack are here." I smirked.

He smirked as well and kissed me before saying, "I'll see you tomorrow."

He and Jack left and Madison and I walked inside, home free. We smiled at each other and whispered our good nights before she went to her room and I went to mine. In bed, I tossed and turned for a while, too excited to let sleep take over me.

Thanks you, butterflies, for making yourselves comfortable in my stomach.