Chapter 10, part 1: These Nights Are Long

Your alone
The nights are long as long as I think of you (think of you)
She's good at making love but she ain't you (you)
The nights are long as long as I think of you (think of you)
She's good at making love but she ain't you

Zack sighed as he focused his eyes on the road once again. He was always the designated driver, due to the fact that he didn't do drugs, or get wasted nearly as much as they did. It surprised him that Tristan, to his knowledge anyway, hadn't been with any more girls, or he was smart enough to stop flaunting them in front of both him, and the camera. Tristan confronted Zack about talking to Emma, but that was all it was, the talk got nowhere, and of course Zack talked his way out of it... Speaking of which... Zack fished for his cell phone...

"Hey." An almost cheerful voice said into the phone. "How's the tour going?"

"Pretty good actually. How are you?" Zack asks, keeping his voice semi-low, even though the rest of the band is hung over and in a deep sleep.

"Swamped with work, I've been keeping myself busy, plus classes are starting." Emma tells his, wondering how she could talk to Zack so easily.

"You wouldn't happen to be keeping your mind busy for a particular reason, would you?" Zack asks, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, maybe a little. Did he tell you he called?" Zack can hear the disappointment reaching her tone.

"Nope."

"Well, he did, and he acted like a jerk, but I get it. The whole band thing, being on the road, and whatnot, it's the rock star life." Emma says, trying to convince herself as she tells Zack.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he has to cheat on you." Zack replies, not wanting Emma to fall for any of Tristan's shit.

"Well, he was in the right, because when I got high with him, I was so buzzed I sorta kissed one of my friends." Emma tells, curious to what Zack thought of the situation.

"You kissed someone else, Tristan had sex with someone else, that is a big difference. Plus, Tristan got you high, and let you go home still feeling it." Zack reasons, knowing how persuasive Tristan can be.

"Maybe, I don't know..." Emma stops, not sure what she wants to say, or even what she thinks about the situation.

"Oh, shit, I have to go, but I'll call you soon. Have a good day, Em." Zack hangs up quickly, as he saw Matt stir on the back of the van. He hoped no one heard the conversation he had just had.

-------------------------[Meanwhile----------------------------

Jay sat at 'his' desk in the office of Tony's old garage, still feeling a little weird calling it his own, well it was almost his own. He and Greg had been doing business together for almost five years or so. Jay went back to the papers in front of him, placing orders, and running advertisement. He hated the phone part of his job, dealing with people, stupid people, very stupid people. Jay looked up to a light knock on the open door.

"Yo, I brought the things by you needed. I got them for a bargain." Sean states, putting the boxes on one of the chairs inside the office.

"Thanks." Jay doesn't look up from the paperwork he's filling out. He gets ready to pick up the phone to place another order when he remembers something Emma told him. "Oh, Emma said that you promised to take her to that dinner thing Friday night." Jay looks up at Sean for the first time.

"Friday, this Friday, as in tomorrow?" Sean asks. He totally forgot, he's been so busy with work, and with helping Jay so he can get a better job, not to mention he has to go in for army training soon.

"Friday's tomorrow?" Jay's surprised. "Oh, shit. I have to get these to the advertising company by six. Fax number, fax number, here it is." Jay pulls a slip of paper out and gathers together all the papers he needs to send the company. He continues mumbling to himself, unaware of Sean's current issue. Sean had pulled out his cell, trying to call Emma.

"Hi Sean, I haven't seen you in a day and a half, what's going on?" Emma asks.

"Em, please don't kill me. I've been working like crazy, and I have to go down to the Army base this weekend-"

"No, Sean, don't do this to me." Emma cuts him off.

"Is there someone else that can take you Friday?" Sean asks, sympathy in his voice.

"Sean, even if I could get someone from the band, they are all away. I can't go by myself Sean, I need you."

"I know, I'm sorry." Sean stops, he looks at Jay. "I know someone who can take you."

"Sean, this better not be some game."

"Jay." Sean states, simply and fast. Jay turns around, thinking he was just calling his name. "Jay should be able to go with you." Sean looks at him for an approving look, but Jay looks at him questioningly, and then a wary look.

"Can he really?" Emma asks, hopeful. She doesn't want to go by herself.

"I'm sure he will take you, since I can't. You two are friends, and I know how scared you are about going by yourself." He keeps strong eye contact with Jay, doing his best to guilt Jay into saying yes.

"I'm not scared." Emma says, and then contemplates. "Okay, maybe a little, but I'm only scared about giving the speech, and the guys. I don't want to be hit on all night."

"I know you don't want to be hit on all night, and I would love to be your 'boyfriend' again, but ..." Sean looks at Jay, strongly as he emphasizes the word boyfriend. Jay finally nods, intrigued by being able to play the 'boyfriend' card. "He will take you, I promise."

"Thank you Sean, and please thank Jay for me."

"Sure I will, bye Em." Sean and Emma hung up with each other. Jay and Sean made eye contact again. "I owe you..." Sean trails off before deciding to say what's on his mind. "If you do anything to her, I will kill you." Sean looks at him, a firm expression on his face. Jay looks up at him with an 'I'm-not-stupid' look.

Chapter 10, part 2: I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got

I can't stop this feeling I've got,
I know who I am and I know what I'm not,
I know where I've been and I know what I've lost
But I cant stop this feeling I've got

Jay caught his breath as Emma opened up her apartment door. She was wearing that dress, that gold metallic halter dress, and she looked incredible.

"Hey, thanks so much for accompanying me." Emma says sweetly, closing her door behind her. The two started walking down to Jay's car.

"No problem. What do I have to do tonight?" He opens the car door for her, and gets in on his own side.

"Not much, just calm my nerves, pretend that you actually like me." A smile appears on Emma's face.

"Oh, well that's going to take a lot of work." Jay jokes, but keeps himself from grinning. Emma punches his arm. "Hey, I'm driving here; we could've swerved off the road." Now smirking, Jay takes a quick look at Emma.

"Good, then I wouldn't have to go to this stupid thing." Emma's smile begins to dim. "I can't do this. Why do I have to do this?"

"Of course you can do this. You've been doing the whole protest thing since high school. You'll do great, plus the speech thing only has to be a minute or so." Jay give Emma the most sincere smile he can manage, trying the whole 'sincere' thing. Emma gave him a small smile, trying to push her fears out of the way. What was really bothering her was that she wished her real boyfriend was with her, but Tristan didn't even know what she did for a living, even though she's talked about work a million times. "You ready to go in?" Jay asks, interrupting her thoughts. She looked around, they were here... great. Emma nodded, her head, already opening up the car door. She stepped out, Jay appeared at her side of the car, and closed the door for it. Jay placed his hand on the small of her back, slowly walking at her pace, and sort of having to push her along. They entered the big hotel, decorated in bright lights and flowers. Immediately they were greeted by co-workers and supporters of the cause. Emma and Jay smiled politely, occasionally jumping into some small talk. "I need a drink."

"Jay, we just got here." Emma tells him, looking at him with wide eyes.

"I won't get drunk, just a drink or two." Jay looks at her with soft eyes. She nods her head, realizing she has no right to tell him what to do. Jay walks off to the bar. Emma looks around, a little surprised at the amount of people there.

"Emma Nelson, how are you?" Jeff asks, approaching her, giving her a little hug.

"Um, okay, how are you?" She asks Jeff, the manager of one of the violence groups.

"Good, great turn out. You do amazing work." He tells her, inching a little closer to her.

"Thanks, but I wouldn't be anywhere without all the people in this room." She replies. Jeff takes another step closer to her, intruding her personal space.

"You look gorgeous. Are you here by yourself?" The flirtatious tone in Jeff's voice sends a weird vibe through Emma.

"No." Emma and Jeff turn to see who had said that. There stands Jay. "Sorry I took so long, here's your drink." Jay says, moving Jeff out of the way to get closer to Emma. Jeff walks away.

"Jay, I don't think I should be-"

"It's club soda." Jay says, putting his beer to his lips. Emma nods, taking a sip of her drink as well.

"Thanks for-"

"No problem."

"Stop cutting me off." Emma says, a little smirk playing on her face. Jay gives her a little smirk back, but then Emma's diminishes. Everyone is told to take their seats. Emma and Jay find their table. She dreads having to stand up there and give her speech. Why am I so scared over this? I've done this sort of thing a million times. No, I haven't. Not like this, not with all this weight on me, not with me in the spotlight. I am not in the spotlight; I don't do well with all that attention, that's for Manny. Why can't I be more like Manny?

"Emma, you got to go up there." Jay whispers to her. Slowly, Emma stands, ready to just get it all over with.

"I want to thank you all for being here tonight." Emma starts, she swallows, "One in three women end up being in an abusive relationship. An even bigger percentage of those women have an incredibly hard time getting out of the relationship. The march that you have supported and/or participated in brought in one hundred thousand dollars. You should all be extremely proud of yourselves. I would now like to introduce you to a few women who have been in an abusive relationship..." Emma introduced the girls, giving them each a hug, and sat on the side of the stage, giving them support. Finally, it was over, Emma walked back over to the table Jay sat at.

"See, that wasn't so bad." Jay stands as she approaches him.

"Yeah, yeah. So we eat and then we leave." Emma tells him, wanting to get this night over with.

"Well-- Oh, here comes that guy, come here." Jay sees Jeff looking at them. Emma moves closer to him, Jay places one arm around her and kisses her cheek. "He looks like a freak." Jay whispers into her ear, making her laugh. She looks up at him.

"Thank you." She gives him a small peck on his cheek. She stopped herself from doing anything more. Her feelings were buzzing around, and she was so confused. How can she be falling for Jay?