hey guys, i had decided i was going to stop workin on the story for a while because of a very hurtful review that i recieved that completely broke my spirit. but i knew there were a lot of eager readers out there that i didn’t want to let down. enjoy everybody. :D

“What the hell is going on?” Eric demanded stepping into the apartment.

“Eric I can explain,” I calmly replied, I swore I had stopped breathing, “just let me explain.”

“Explain what? That you cheated on me with Brian?” Eric threw his bag at the floor and punched the counter. Brian stood in the middle of the living room leaning on the couch shaking his head,

“Look man…” he tried to begin.

“You shut up,” Eric boomed.

“Eric, dude you’re not listening…” Brian began.

“I will fucking kill you,” Eric lunged at Brian and he ducked.

“ERIC, “I screamed, “I didn’t cheat on you, listen to me!”

“Listen to what?” Eric yelled back his face turning red as he backed up from the now flinching Brian.

“Everyone’s here,” I explained, “we all got a little drunk last night and I didn’t want anyone driving anywhere, everyone crashed here.”

Jess and John came running out of the bedroom, Jess blinked a few times and trembled before running to the bathroom and throwing up.

“See!” I motioned towards the fully sober John, who stood completely still in shock.

“Why,” Eric began, “why isn’t Brian wearing a shirt?”

Brian laughed, “Dude, I don’t sleep in shirts man, never have.”

Eric held his head in hands, “why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

“Tell you what?” I began, “tell you I was having friends over and we were drinking. You’re not my father Eric; I don’t have to tell you everything. You didn’t tell me you were coming!”

“I wanted to surprise you,” he stood up from leaning on the counter, “the tour got cancelled because of Pat and Kennedy’s accident and I drove all night to surprise you today. Looks like I’m the one who got the surprise.”

“Eric that’s really sweet,” I replied walking over to the kitchen, “but you should be able to trust me enough to know that I’d never do that to you, and you of all people know what I’ve gone through.”

“I, I know, I’m sorry,” Eric walked over to Brian, “and I’m sorry too man.”

“It’s alright, I probably would have reacted the same way,” Brian shrugged, “but you know I’d never do that to you man, Britta and I might joke about stuff like that, but it’d never happen.”

The events of last night ran through my head and the image of Brian and I kissing made my heart hurt, there was no way I could tell Eric about it.

Josh and Stephen basically crawled into the living room rubbing their eyes, “what the hell am I awake right now?” Stephen whined.

“Hey guys,” Eric smiled, “wild night?”

“Eric!” Josh exclaimed once his vision cleared, “how the hell are you?”

“I’m guess I’m alright now,” Eric replied walking over to me, “as long as we’re alright.”

“We’re fine,” I breathed resting my head on his chest, “we’re perfectly fine.”

* * *

After everyone sobered up The Summer Set eventually took off back to their hotel, leaving Eric and I alone to talk.

“So how did everyone end up sleeping here again?” he asked sitting down on the couch.

“Funny story,” I began, “Brian and I recorded ‘Where Are You Now’ and he was really upset about Chelsea, he said he wanted to get smashed, so we did.”

“Oh wow, that must’ve been interesting,” Eric rolled his eyes, “man I didn’t even know those guys drank.”

“Well neither did I,” I laughed, “well actually John didn’t drink much.”

“Did Stephen?” Eric asked.

“Yeah, why?” I replied suspiciously.

“Well, they’re dad’s kind of an alcoholic,” Eric explained, “Stephen tries to ignore it and John pretends like it doesn’t bother him, but it does.”

“Oh man,” I sighed, “that’s really sad.”

Sitting on the couch for a while in silence I finally sighed and stood up, “follow me,” I suggested taking his hand. I led him out onto the deck, I grasped the rail and Eric wrapped his arms around my waist,

“What a beautiful view,” he dazed watching the sun begin to set.

“The first night I came out here to LA,” I began to explain, “I came out here on this deck and cried and watched the sun set, I was scared and alone, and I missed you. And every night after that I’d come out and watch the sun set and think of home.”

“Well I’m here now,” he kissed my temple, “you’re not allowed to miss home anymore.”

I laughed, “what’s there to miss?”

We stood on the deck and watched the sun set into the water, finally going back inside my stomach growled.

“I’m starving,” I groaned, “I don’t think I’ve eaten in 24 hours.”

Eric laughed and grabbed the phone, “Chinese and Never Back Down sound good?”

“Sounds perfect,” I smiled, I had my favorite guy, my favorite food on the way, and would eat it with my guy watching my favorite movie.

* * *

The ending credits rolled and Eric clicked the TV off and yawned, “you tired? he asked.

“A little,” I yawned, “I kinda wanted to shower before bed tonight, wanna join me, like old times?” it wasn’t even a sexual suggestion, we were used to showering together to save time on tour and at home.

“I’ll meet you in the bathroom as soon as I put my stuff away,” he replied standing up and grabbing his bag.

I padded to the bathroom and started the water, stripping out my shirt I glanced at my tattoo in the mirror, in cursive letters across my waist line I had “la vie est belle” I got it before going off to college, it meant “life is beautiful” in French and was my favorite quote.

I heard the dresser drawer shut and soon Eric padded into the bathroom with a smile on his face. He slipped out his shirt and threw it on top of mine, I slid my arms around him and hugged his chest,

“Thank you for coming out here for me,” I squeezed him a little tighter. He kissed the top of my head and smiled, “no problem beautiful.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I backed out of our hug and pulled it out of my pocket and read the screen, “text from: B-Dalessss” what Brian was programmed as in my phone.

“He’s texting you?” Eric asked trying to not act suspicious.

I clicked open and we both read the screen, “hey Britta, really sorry about this morning. I hope you and Eric are okay, and if I fucked anything up I’m terribly sorry. Hope all is well, I’ll send you a Deluxe copy when it’s finished. Talk to you soon.” I breathed a sigh of relief, he hadn’t said anything about the kiss. I quickly typed back, “don’t worry your pretty little head off boy, Eric and I are swell, and you didn’t do anything wrong. Looking forward to hearing the finished product, talk to you soon.” I looked up at Eric for approval but hit send before he could say anything.

“You know you can trust me,” I assured him.

He shook his head, “of course I trust you, it’s him I don’t.”

“Eric James Halvorsen,” I pecked the tip of his nose, “you need to just relax.” Hitting the camera button on my phone I gave his nose another peck and snapped a picture into the mirror. He smiled from ear to ear and pecked my lips this time him snapping the picture.

We continued to undress and hoped into the steaming shower and slowly forgot about the events of that morning.

* * *

Feeling the cleanest I’d ever felt in a while I climbed into bed wearing fresh fluffy pj’s and a smooth moisturized face. Eric shifted in under the covers and soon pulled me in close,

“Remember when you used to sing me to sleep?” he dazed.

“Of course I do” I replied, “I remember I’d sing you a different song every night depending on where we were.”

“Sing me something,” he breathed.

I pondered of a good song and finally chose one I thought was appropriate,

“I’ve got a tight grip on reality,
But I can’t
Let go of what’s in front of me here,” I sang the beginning of the bridge of Paramore’s “The Only Exception.”

“I know you’re leaving
In the morning, when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it’s not a dream.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Eric whispered before pulling me into a kiss. Goodnight world.