Strings

Preparation

It was stupid to think about at all-she probably didn't even really think about him like that. Maybe all she wanted as to be friends with a some-what famous guy, maybe she wanted to use it as leverage, get her own fifteen minutes of fame. Dear God, what the hell was I thinking, agreeing to go on a date with Riley? He hit the lights, then closed his eyes. "Night, Barakat."

"Night, Gaskarth."

****

The next morning, Jack's hangover wasn't worth much. Just like Alex, he'd grown used to the side-effects of the alcohol, but he'd still drunk a lot more than Alex had and managed to wake to severe pain behind the eyes. Alex passed him a bagel and strawberry yogurt he'd snagged from the breakfast nook in the lobby, along with a large black coffee.

"So, how are you feeling and what do you remember?" Alex asked.

"Wha?" Jack rubbed his eyes. "I remember this smokin' hot blonde, was she real?"

"Yes. You know that girl, Riley? That was her roommate Jordyn."

"Ok. And I remember... I remember talking to somebody, but it's all really hazy."

"Yea, you talked to me for about twenty minutes last night, but you were pretty collected. You sure you don't remember it?"

"Not a clue." Jack said. But honestly, he just didn't want to own up to making his best friend insecure about some new girl in the works. Ugh.

****

"Jordyn, I'm leaving at seven, do you have plans or what?"

"Well, I'm working on this one guy from the coffee shop, he asked me to join him for desert or something, probably just wants to hook up. But, ya know, it's been a while since I've had a good time, so it's worth a shot."

"Ok, I'm just going to pull out a breakfast braid so we can go ahead and have something ready for tomorrow morning, we can just get out the door fast for work." Riley pulled the large cinnamon and dough braid from the freezer, then popped a piece of gum into her mouth.

"Chewing that shit is so bad for you, Riley. You've got to find a better habit." Jordyn walked around the corner into the living room putting in her hoop earrings.

Riley furrowed her eyebrows and nodded, making her chewing much more obvious. "Yea, totally. I've got to give up this tangerine, sugar-free gum for some pot, definitely a safer habit to pick up."

"You see where I'm coming from?" She smiled at her roommate. "So, do I need to make myself scarce until tomorrow afternoon or is this literally just a dine and drink kinda thing."

Riley sighed. "Honestly, I don't even know. I'm striving for just friends right now, because I don't know what he thinks of me and I really don't want to give him the wrong impression of me. If he wants to hug, we hug. If he wants to hold hands, we hold hands. If he wants to kiss..." She trailed off.

"You kiss, and if he wants to do the sexy-time, you?" Her roommate giggled. "But in all seriousness, would you be ready if he wanted that?"

"Like, as in would I have condoms in my bag?"

"No, as in I know you're a virgin, would you be ready to lost that card to him?"

She thought about it, something she couldn't honestly say was the first time she had thought about it. What if she wasn't ready, and he did want to? If she rejected him like that he'd probably not speak to her again, but if she did he still might not once they left. "No. I just... I don't want to risk something like that over him, at least not until I'm sure he won't leave without saying goodbye. I always believed I'd wait to settle down first."

"But I don't think you realize this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Babe, listen. Losing your virginity to a member of All Time Low is kinda really huge."

"Are you really trying to pressure me into having sex with Alex?"

"Yes! Finally, she gets the point."

"I can't, though. I mean, if this night even goes well-which it's a miracle he even said yes to go out with me-there's no way he'd be willing to do that and then stick around, he's still got the rest of the world to tour! And I don't think I can handle that.

"There were a few moments of silence, then Jordyn replied "Well, I really hope you get the guy this time, sweety."

"Thanks." Riley stood up, going into the bathroom to make sure she still looked decent. She'd decided on a pair of black jeans, a dark blue blouse, and a black beanie. She'd let her brown hair dry naturally, so it had curled itself and the caramel highlights stood out just right. She lined her green eyes a little less than usual, and had little black studs in her ears. There was a little knock on the door, and Riley opened it, expecting Jordyn. "Is this too dark? Like, I don't look scary, right?"

"You look absolutely perfect." Alex said, smiling in the doorway.

"Hi," Riley blushed.

"Hey."

"Where's Linsky?"

"She left with some big dude, looked like he could crush me with one hand."

"Oh, that's probably Ashton, he's the manager at the coffee shop we work at part-time. So, welcome back." They walked out into the living room, standing awkwardly as far apart as the room would allow-about two feet.

"Ready to go?" He asked.

"Yea, just let me grab my bag." She swung a small bag over her shoulder, and he held open the door for her. They made their way to ATL's rental car. He opened that door, too, shocking her. "Quite the gentleman." She laughed.

"I try." He walked around the front of the car, sliding into the driver's seat. "We have matching urban turbans, I see."

"Haha, I guess we do. So, do you know how to get there?"

"Already programmed it into my GPS, but it could not be the place you had in mind."

"Sounds frightening, are you kidnapping me or something?"

"Yep, definitely kidnapping. Call 9-1-1, Jack's in the trunk and we're taking you to a back alley and gang-raping you."

She swatted his shoulder. "Not funny, but whatever."

"Hey!" He rubbed his arm, keeping the other on the wheel. "Driving here!" They laughed it off, heading downtown.