Joel

20:55pm

"I'm sorry I didn't try to call you or anything sooner, this whole situation tonight kinda took me by surprise." Sarah says as we walk quickly down the street. We've just left the dance, and we're headed for Jamie's house.

"Its fine, Sarah. Don't worry about it." I say. It is fine, she told me about this thing with Jamie as soon as she got the chance, I'm not annoyed about a thing.

"What have you been doing all night? No one had a clue where you were." She asks me.

"I got talking to a guy from class, and we bumped into Pete Wentz. It was crazy. But that's not important right now." I say, just as my phone starts ringing. Finally! It's Patrick.

"Hey, J3. What's up? You've called me like 20 times, where's the fire?" he sounds so casual, he can be such an ass sometimes.

"Where's the fire?! Where the hell are you? And Jamie? What happened tonight!?" I demand into the phone.

"Long story, man. Jamie's cool. I drove her to South Bridge, we're gonna see Bayside, I managed to sneak us into the venue, you remember that drummer dude Stix brought in last year for a tutorial? Well, he works here, and..." What the hell?

"Patrick! Focus!" I yell into the phone, effectively cutting him off. "No one has a clue why you and Jamie stormed off. Everyone's been scrambled around looking for the two of you all night! Details. Now!"

"Okay, okay, Jesus. Listen, it's a long story, but she's not happy with Noah. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow, but the band are about to come on..." Loud music muffles his voice, damn. "We're fine, everything is fine! I'll see you tomorrow!"

He ends the call, and I shove my phone back into my pocket.

"They're at a show in South Bridge." I stop walking. There's no point going to Jamie's house now. "He didn't tell me what happened exactly, but he said she's not happy with Noah. Has Noah said anything to you? Anything at all?"

"Not exactly." Sarah looks thoughtful. "But I did find out that Jamie and Noah slept together Thursday night. He told us earlier tonight."

I'm surprised, but not shocked. Jamie likes Noah so much, this was bound to happen. "Okay, it must have something to do with that then."

"You think?" Sarah sounds dubious. "I've only met her the one time of course, but the way you talk about Jamie too, she seems so cool. She doesn't seem like the type of girl to blow up at a guy after sleeping with him and not hearing from him for a couple of days or whatever."

"She isn't, but it's too big a coincidence." I tell her. "Lets go back to my place, I don't think Patrick will be home tonight."

I turn to walk back towards town, but Sarah hasn't moved. I turn back to face her. "What's wrong?"

"Um, I'm supposed to be staying at Erin's parents house tonight, that's all..." she's embarrassed about the idea of spending the night at my place. She doesn't need to be.

"Nothings gonna happen, Sarah. It's totally innocent, you know that." I explain. "Erin's parents will be asleep already, and I assume you don't have a key?" She shakes her head. "Have you heard from her at all?"

She checks her phone again. "Nope, still nothing."

"And I haven't heard from Jay." I sigh. "Leaving those two alone tonight probably wasn't the best idea."

She grins at me sheepishly. "You think they're having sex right now?"

I roll my eyes at her. "No. Maybe. I don't know. But, regardless, you need a place to stay. Let's go."

She walks with me. "What about tomorrow morning? People will find it weird that I spent the night at your apartment."

"They won't, I'm not an asshole, and my friends know that." I assure her. "Erin will feel bad for ignoring you all night, I'll tell them I offered you the couch. It'll be fine."

"Oh, so you offer stranded girls from New York your couch often?" she asks me playfully and I laugh.

"Of course I don't. I just mean, my friends know how I feel about one night stands. They won't read into this, trust me."

"You know I trust you," She smiles at me, that gorgeous, angelic smile. "but if you think I'm gonna sleep on your couch, you have another thing coming, mister."

I laugh and intertwine my fingers through hers. There's no one around, we aren't gonna bump into anyone we know, I can hold her hand right now.

"Of course I won't let you sleep on the couch. You can take my bed, I'll sleep in Patrick's room."

"Wow, you're brave." She says. "When's the last time Patrick took a girl home? And when's the last time he washed his sheets?!"

"Good point." I laugh. "I'll sleep on the couch."

"You will not." She grins at me. "You'll sleep in your bed. With me. I'm not an animal, I can control myself for one night."

I look down at her and take a deep breath. She's saying she can control herself, which is great. But, she looks absolutely stunning tonight. And we've never been alone like this together before. In my apartment, in my room, in my bed... I honestly don't know if I'll be able to handle myself.

"I know you can control yourself." I smile back down at her sheepishly. "But I'm not sure if I can."