8:00 p.m
We pulled up into Levi’s driveway. My heart was pounding and my ears were ringing. Lights turned over the keys in the ignition and I hopped out the car, letting my feet hit the ground with a thud. Beau left my Jeep and got in with his pregnant wife, both of them waving me goodbye as they backed out.

Every step closer to his door was every step that I was making a fool out of myself. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears and the everyday noises of the world was drained out with my nervous heartbeat.

The beating stop when I came face to face with the door. My hand nervously balled up to a fist and tapped on the door. A few seconds later, Levi’s face appeared and my heartbeat quickened.

He still looks the same. Blonde hair, brown roots, fierce brown eyes. my mouth became very dry and my mind was blank. His eyes stared right back into mine, a battle between brown and grey, the brown slowly winning.

“Well, are we just gonna keep staring or what mate? Get the bags.” I smiled weakly and walked back to my jeep with Levi trailing behind me. It took one trip for my stuff.

“There’s a spare bedroom across the living room.” He pointed to the west side of the living room where a hall laid with one bedroom and one bathroom.

“Thank you Levi.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“I know you would do the same.” And I would. I would help any of them.

Levi followed me down to the hall where I opened the room and saw a mattress on top of a box-spring. The room was painted a neon blue and had a drawer next to it.

“Uh, sorry it’s empty. I usually use it for if my girlfriend comes over.” I nod. We began setting my boxes and bag down on the floor. I would probably only sleep on this bed once out of my stay here. Tour starts tomorrow and afterwards, I’m pretty sure I’m moving on to the next place. “I’ll let you unpack. Towels in the bathroom. I’m in the kitchen if you need me.” I had completely forgot about my soaking wet clothes state and shivered at the thought of being back in the ocean. I grabbed the small bag and began proceeding to the bathroom across the hall from me.

I noticed Levi had a poster up of our band.

I had my feminine products in a bag and was going to put them in the bathroom until the door flew open to reveal a woman. She looked me up and down, a small smile playing her lips, confusion written all over her face. She then looked behind me to the poster and the small look became a look of disgust.

“Why the hell are you here?” She sneered. She shoved past me to face me from the hallway. I drop my bag and marched up to her face when Levi walked by. I wasn’t taking anyone’s shit, especially if I don’t know you.

“Kayla! You met my best mate and band mate Jillian, she’s staying with us for a while.” Levi exclaimed, noticing the tension between us. The chick ‘Kayla’ glared at me. The sun was just setting behind the horizon and already my night is being ruined.

“I don’t like you. You’re nothing but a whore.” And she walked away. I began to trail after her when Levi grabbed my arm and spun me around.

“Chill out.” He said.

“Me?! She’s the one with the tude!” I exclaimed.

“That’s my girlfriend, show some respect for her.”

“Show some respect my ass. I’ll show some respect as soon as she stops acting like a total bitch. I just drove 3,000 miles and I may be tired as hell, but it won’t stop me from beating her butt.” I said.

“Well boo-hoo you. You drove 3,000 miles and completely forgot about the band you’re you formed.”

“I didn’t forget.” I snapped, anger flooding within my veins. “But I won’t take any of hers or your bullshit.” I said with a serious tone. Never in my life have I ever, ever gotten angry with Levi. But when you say I don’t care for the band that I formed and poured my sanity into, then you must be out of your mind to say you know me.

So I glared at Levi as he glared right back at me. “Look, you don’t have to stay here.” He said. I snort.

“Your totally right mate. I don’t have to stay here.” I jerked my arm away and jogged down the stairs to the front door. Kayla stood nearby with a smirk on her face as she watches the fight unfold.

“Jill! Come back!” I ignored him, grabbed my purse, and marched out the house and into my car.

---

The night is young and already I had made him pissed at me. I did not drive 3,000 miles across the county to be yelled by some bimbo. I groaned in frustration and sped to a nearby bar.

Although I knew drinking wasn’t going to help my problem like last time, it was something to get the night off my mind. Something to rid my mind of the dick move I made. After making an emergency trip to a nearby Old Navy to rid myself of my wet clothes and to use a hair dryer, I have to say, I deserve a drink.

So I pulled up to a local bar and went in, sitting by myself drinking Absolut Raspberry. I stared at the drink with uncertainty. I can’t drown my problem with Levi like I did with Cameron. This is a sensitive matter and as usual I ran from it. I ran away from it in Australia, I ran away from it in Sydney, I ran away from with with Cameron and I’m running away now. It’s no wonder they chose our house to rob so many years ago, knowing my family did nothing but run from our problems. It’s genetic.

And this is why I drink alcohol. It makes me loosen way too much. It burdens my head with even more problems that probably won't be worth stressing over in the morning, versus the real problem at hand.

So I continued to intoxicate my body with the burning liquid. Hoping that if I drank more than usual, I would drown my senses. Around my third cup, I was feeling a little reckless and decided to join the dance floor. The bar had flashy probe lights playing and most people were already grabbing guys and chicks to take home in between the sheets.

Ignoring my single state, I didn’t let a worry bother me for a while as I danced by myself to the soft, but yet heavy much music that came from a band I know all too well, Passion Pit. A few songs into the night, I felt a presence wash behind me. My thought was correct as hands gripped my waist and I was pulled into a body. I turned around and smiled at the man before me, snaking my arms around his neck. Although it was dark, I could tell the alcohol had a huge influence on him as well. Through the small light, I saw a Monroe piercing by the corner of his right eye.

“I’m Tony.” He exclaimed. His hands moved down to my hips as he pulled me close.

“Hi!” I called over the music.

“You have an accent. I like that Little Australian One.” I giggle. We dance together to the music and for once, a guy treated me like I was the only girl he wanted to be with. He kept a strong grip on my hips and swayed to the music with me. As we got further into a couple more songs, my arms pulled him tighter and placed whole body against his. Nothing didn’t matter but this guy in my arms now. Soon after a couple dances, we went to sit back at the bar. This guy was radiating a weird signal. I don’t know what it is about him, but I just want to be with him.

He caught me staring at him, catching my gaze with his own. He wasn’t like any other person I met at a bar, not even the women were this mysterious. I suddenly found myself wanting to know more of this man. What kind of job he has, what he likes to do for free time, has he ever been heart-broken before. I wanted to know him.

“Want to leave?” He asked. I checked the time and sighed. One in the morning and not a single call or text from Levi. So let it be.

I nodded my head silently, accepting his invitation before grabbing my bag and rising from the bar as he did the same.

"I drove here, I can't leave my car here," I explained, giggling a little bit at the end of my sentence as I felt all the alcohol rush straight to my head.

"I'm right there with you," Tony laughed while placing hand on the small of my back. The contact of his hand made me shiver. He guided me towards the front door of the bar, opening the door for me and leading me into the parking lot.

Notes