PART TWO

No. 2: You laugh at my jokes, but your eyes light up when he looks at you.

Love makes you do crazy things. I'm sure you've heard that hundreds of times already, but it's the truth. Love makes you buy several dozens of flowers to place in her living room when she's having a bad day. Love makes you step up in front of a mugger and do everything in your power to make sure that she doesn't get hurt, even if it means risking your own life.

Love makes you sit back and watch her have an affair with one of your best friends.

Well … maybe affair is too strong a word. Nick didn't know that I was dating Autumn as well. Wanna know how that happened? Yeah, I'd like to know myself.

You walk around in your own perfect bubble, thinking that everything is fine and dandy. The relationship is still so new that just the mere mention of her name puts a smile on your face. That's when you suddenly see them walking down the street together.

Holding hands.

Smiling.

Kissing.

That's when your world crashes.

So why didn't I confront her with this, you ask?

I don't really have an answer for that.

Love makes you do crazy things.

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The next morning, after waking up in an empty bed, I made my way to the lobby where we would all be picked up and driven to the studio.

Nick was already there, reading a newspaper with his glasses carelessly placed on the bridge of his nose. His right foot tapped on the carpeted floor impatiently, waiting for someone to come and keep him company. Apparently I was that person.

"Hey, man," he greeted and dropped the newspaper down on the couch. "You look exhausted."

"I am," I replied briefly and sat down next to him, running a hand through my tousled hair. "I just wish this day was already over."

"It can't be that bad," he grinned and nudged my side gently. "Me, I had a great night. Autumn came over and spent the night."

"Oh, so that's why you got that grin permanently attached to your face," I commented flatly, not even remotely interested in hearing the 5 minute summary I knew was coming.

"Up yours, Bri," Nick replied jokingly, not the least bit affected by my lack of interest. "She's amazing, you know? I mean fucking amazing. She knows how to do this thing with her tongue that just-"

I drowned out the rest of the speech, already feeling the blood boiling in my veins and an invisible hand gripping around my heart. The last thing I needed was a mental image of what my girlfriend and Nick did behind closed doors.

My girlfriend. Maybe that was too strong a word as well. Maybe I was just a replacement of what she couldn't get with Nick. Or maybe she just didn't have the heart to tell me that she didn't want me anymore.

Maybe. Too many questions, and I was too much of a coward to get an answer for any of them.

Or maybe I was too much in love.

"I really want you to meet her," Nick said, cutting through my line of thoughts. "I mean, we've been together for a long time now, and you still haven't seen her."

"Yeah, I'd like to meet her, too," I nodded, smiling halfheartedly. "Maybe someday when we're not so busy."

He nodded in agreement, biting slowly on his lower lip. "You know," he then whispered, leaning closer as if he was about to share a deep secret with me. "I don't remember ever feeling this way before, Rok. I just … I wanna be with her all the time. She's so real and unaffected by our lifestyle, you know? I love that about her." He paused for a moment, looking down to his fidgeting hands before looking up again. "I think I might love her. Does that sound stupid?"

Alarm bells ringing, a male voice screaming and glass shattering against the walls.

Well … in my head at least.

This was Nick, my best friend and confidant, a guy who barely ever used the word ‘love'. Yet he knew that he wanted her, fully and completely. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that he was sure about this.

About her. That thought alone sent cold shivers down my spine.

I remember how passionate he was about everything. Not a day went by when I didn't admire him for his dedication and determination, both on and off the stage. He had a way of filling me with newfound energy when I was positive that I couldn't go on any longer. He was my constant reminder of why I didn't just throw in the towel and went back to the only kind of ‘normal' life I could have.

I loved this just as much as he did. He was just better at showing it.

Now he wanted Autumn. Just as much as I did.

"Nah," I replied and shook my head, offering him a comforting smile. "It doesn't sound stupid at all. I know what it's like to fall hard."

Relief crossed his face as he smiled lightly, nodding in agreement. "I'm glad to hear you say that," he grinned. "Speaking of which, when am I gonna see your mystery girlfriend?"

I sighed softly and lifted my gaze to the elevator, watching the numbers light up in neon whenever a floor was passed. "Soon, I hope," I said quietly. "She … she lives in Washington, and we go there in a couple of weeks, so…"

"Cool," Nick nodded, satisfied with my answer. "You've been seeing her for a while now, haven't you?"

"5 months," I replied absentmindedly, having already spotted AJ coming out of the elevator. "AJ," I called out to catch his attention. "Over here."

He spotted us and grinned slightly as he walked over to us and sat down between us. "What's up, guys?"

"Not much," Nick shrugged, placing his glasses in his hair. "Just talking about girlfriends."

AJ groaned and rolled his eyes. "You and your monogamy shit," he chuckled and folded his hands behind his head. "Long distance relationships are a bitch, I'm telling you. I'm taking a long break from that."

"Man, you're so full of it," Nick grinned and shook his head. "If you find the right girl, you'll want to make it work."

"I'm not gonna find the right girl for another 10 years," AJ stated. "Until then I just wanna have fun."

Even I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Right, J, like you can control when you find the right person."

He grinned cheekily and shrugged slightly. "I can control when I feel it's time to settle down. And I might as well break it to you, Rok, that won't happen for a long time."

"Big surprise there," I remarked sarcastically, laughing at the shocked expression on his face.

"Bite me, church boy."

"Sorry, Bone, already been there and done that."

Nick started laughing along with me when the look on AJ's face turned from shock to disgust. "For real, guys," he said, smiling lightly. "Relationships really change your priorities. When you find the right girl, J, you won't even care that you're giving up single life. She's gonna make you happier than any other man in the world."

A small smile spread across my face at his words. Autumn seemed to have matured him a great deal. Then again, maybe she just had a way of making people turn their lives upside down in order to be with her.

How was I supposed to blame him for my misery? After all, he was just a man in love.

A man in love with the greatest woman in the world.

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