Don't Make This Easy

I woke up I smiled a bit when I realized Tony was still here. He had his arm draped over my back, as I had rolled onto my stomach at some point during the night, and was snoring lightly. I heard my door handle rattle as someone tried to open it and jumped, waking Tony up.

“Jacie? Why is your door locked.” Jaime asked as he knocked on the door.

“Hang on.” I said as I jumped out of bed. I grabbed Tony’s shirt and pants and threw them at him, hitting him in the face, then quickly grabbed my shorts and shirt and slipped them on. Once Tony was dressed I went over to the door, unlocked it, and swung it open.

“What's up Himes?” I asked, leaning on the doorframe casually.

“Uh, nothing, we've been trying to get ahold of you all day but you haven't answered your phone.” He said, looking around me into my room. “Jeez, your room is a mess.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“My phones been off and I've been sleeping.” I said. “Why have you guys been trying to get ahold of me?”

“We we're gonna head to the beach, maybe go to the bar afterwards, figured we'd see if you guys wanted to come.” He said.

“Yeah, we’ll meet you outside in a few minutes.” I said. I went close the door but Jaime caught it with his hand.

“Tony, why are your boxers on the floor?” He asked. I turned around and looked at the floor, my eyes wide.

“She spilled her tequila on me when we got back from the bar last night and I had to change.” Tony said causally. Jaime just shrugged and accepted his answer.

“Alright, well I'll be waiting outside when you guys are ready.” He said and then left.

I let out a sigh of relief as I closed the door, leaning against it. I really didn't want anyone finding out what had happened last night before Tony and I figured out whether it was just a one time thing or not.

I told Tony he could go shower if he wanted, while I cleaned up a bit. He grabbed some clothes out of the drawer that I had designated for his clothes. He stayed here a lot when he didn't feel like driving all the way from San Diego to Newport Beach or knew that they we're gonna be doing a lot of recording. Once he left to shower I started cleaning, putting my dirty laundry in the empty clothes basket in my closet, and throwing away the empty tequila bottle, bag of chips, and ice cream container.

When Tony came back in the room I grabbed my towel and then went to shower myself. I washed up quickly and got out. I wrapped my towel tightly around my chest and went back to my room. I laid back on my bed and sighed. Part of me really just wanted to stay in bed all day. The part of me that was sore and tired from last night.

“What's wrong?” Tony asked. I laughed and shook my head.

“Nothing.” I said as I sat up.

“Tell me.” He said, moving my hair off my neck, kissing it lightly.

“Nothing.” I said again as I turned around and kissed him. “Just kinda sore from last night.” He laughed and kissed me again, pushing me gently down onto the bed.

“I mean we could always just stay here. Cam is probably going with them so we'd have the whole place to ourselves.” He said and a suggestive look. I shook my head, pushing him away while I sat up.

“Nope, we’re going to the beach.” I said as I got up, holding my towel to my chest as it had started to fall off.

“Fine by me.” He said, laying in the bed, looking me up and down.

I went over to my dresser and grabbed maroon criss cross bikini. I put it on quickly and then grabbed a pair of shorts and one of my muscle tanks and put them on over it. I grabbed my phone and wallet and shoved them in my pockets, then we both grabbed clean towels and headed out to meet with Jaime.

“Hey, you're finally ready.” Jaime said, throwing his hands in the air excitedly as he leaned on his car. I laughed and nodded as Tony and I walked to his car.

“Yeah, let's get going. I need some sun.” I said as I got in Tony's car.

-

When we got to the beach, Vic, Mike, and Cammy were already there, sitting on their towels talking and laughing. We walked over to them and I laid my towel out next to Mike’s.

“Oh my god she's alive!” Mike yelled, jumping up and hugging me. I laughed and pushed him off of me.

“Yes, I'm very much alive.” I said as I sat down on my towel. Tony put his towel down next to mine and sat down too.

“Alright, now that we know you're alive, get that shirt off, we've been waiting almost a year to see your damn back piece, no more hiding it.” He said, clapping his hands together.

I laughed and shook my head as I pulled my shirt off and turned my back toward Mike and the rest of the guys.

“Dude, thats fucking amazing!” Jaime said.

“Looks nice.” Vic told me.

“Does it wrap all the way around the front of your hips?” Mike asked. I nodded in response. “That's fucking badass. Turn around so Tony can see it.”

“I've already seen it.” Tony said in a somewhat smug tone, grinning at me. I felt my cheeks heat up and I put my shirt back on.

“Of course he's already seen it.” Mike sighed. “You can't show one of us and not the rest.” He whined. I turned so that I was sitting normally again and shrugged.

“I'm sorry that you guys didn't come to Newport Beach with us.” I said simply.

“Alright, well while you're being jealous that you didn't get to see Jacie’s tattoo first, I'm gonna get in the water. It's way too fucking hot outside.” Vic said as he got up and tossed his shirt on his towel. Cammy and Tony did the same and they all headed down to the water.

“It's nice to have you back with the living Jacie.” Jaime laughed.

“Yeah well I was going a little stir crazy.” I said with a slight laugh as I stood up. I dropped my shorts and pulled my shirt off.

“Damn Jacie, you get laid last night or something?” Mike asked. I looked at him confused and followed his gaze to my hips where there were four crescent shaped cuts. I felt my cheeks heat up and bit my lip.

“Ohhhh, you totally did.” Jaime laughed.

“You still swinging for the other team? Or did you hook up with a guy finally?” Mike asked. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“I'm not talking to you about this.” I said.

I ran down to the water and jumped onto Cammy’s back. She wasn't expecting it so she dropped, sending us both into the water. I jumped back up almost immediately.

“Holy fuck it's freezing!” I screamed.

“No it's nice, don't be a bitch.” Vic laughed, splashing water my way. I hid quickly behind Cammy, making sure she got the brunt of it.

“Jacie!” She screamed as she converted her face to avoid the water.

“Sorry Babes.” I laughed as I let go of her and splashed some water back at Vic.

“You've started a war now.” He laughed. I went to run out of the water and ran right into Tony, who picked me up and brought me toward Vic.

“Tony, I swear to god if you don't put me down right now-”

“What? You'll splash water at me?” He laughed. “I'm so scared.”

“Oh you'll find out later.” I said threateningly as I looked up at him.

“Is that a promise?” He asked suggestively. I glared up at him and slapped his arm as Vic splashed a bunch of water right in my face.

“You're dead, Vic.” I yelled as I wiped the salt water away from my eyes. I slipped out of Tony's grip and splashed a bunch of water back at him. Cammy did the same and then Mike and Jaime came running into the water with us.

“Water fight!” Jaime screamed.

~*~

After we were all tired out from the beach we decided to just go home and hit the bar tomorrow night. Tony drove me back to my apartment and we went inside.

“Do you think there's something going on with Cammy and Vic?” Tony asked as he fell back on the couch. I shrugged and I went to the fridge and grabbed two smirnoffs.

“I don't know. They've been hanging out a lot though.” I said as I handed him a bottle and sat down next to him.

Cammy and Vic had been hanging out a lot more than usual, and seeing how she never came home after going to the bar with him last night, and she was spending the night with him tonight, I could only guess that they at least banging, if not secretly dating.

“What about us?” He asked. I sighed and took a sip of my drink. “If you want to forget about last night I understand, we were both pretty drunk so-”

“No!” I said, cutting him off. He looked at me surprised. “I don't want to forget about last night. Do you?”

“No, definitely not.” He laughed. I felt a wave of relief wash over me

“So is this just gonna be a friends with benefits kind of thing, or something more?” I asked.

“What do you want it to be?” He asked me.

“I don't do friends with benefits.” I said, looking down at my hands as I picked at my nail polish. “I'm scared of it being something more though. I've gotten fucked over so many times it's ridiculous, and I know you're not like that but-”

“Then trust me.” He said softly, cutting me off. He took my drink from my hands and set it on the coffee table along with his, then intertwined his fingers with mine. “I'm not going to hurt you Jacie.”

“But what if it doesn't work out? What happens then?” I asked. I didn't want this to ruin our friendship.

“Then we go back to how things used to be. Jacie, we've been friends for six years. You're always gonna be one of my best friends, no matter what.” He promised. I nodded and grabbed my drink, taking a sip.

“Alright. Well if this is actually happening, I don't want to go completely public. Not yet.” I told him. “We don't have to hide it from the guys but I really don't know how to have the whole ‘hey, we’re dating now’ talk with them. And I don't think I can handle Mike's reaction when he finds out that you are who I slept with last night.”

“How does he know you slept with someone last night?” He laughed. I raised an eyebrow at him as I lifted my shirt and pulled the waistband of my shorts down a bit. Tony saw the marks on my hips and just shook his head, laughing a bit.

“I'm sorry.” He said, laughing as he kissed me.

“It's okay.” I laughed. “Are you staying here again tonight?” I asked. He nodded and raised his bottle a bit.

“You kinda tricked me into it.” He laughed.

“Well I mean if you don't want to stay here you just have to wait an hour after you finished that.” I said as I got up to head to my room. Tony grabbed my hand and pulled me back to him.

“The only way I'm going home, is if you're going with me.” He said. I smiled and kissed him. “However I'd much rather stay here and have the house entirely to ourselves, rather than having Jaxin being all up in our shit.”

“I agree. Plus, he’ll probably yell at me for stealing you again.” I said.

“Yeah, there's that too.” He laughed.

Last time I had gone up to Tony and Jaxin’s place, it was a week after tour had ended and Tony had spent the first week at my place. The second I walked into the house Jaxin screamed at me, only half joking, telling me to and I quote, ‘step off his man.’ Needless to say I never went over there after Tony had spent an extended period of time at my place.

“You wanna go to my room?” I asked. He nodded and as soon as we got up the front door opened, then slammed shut and Cammy came storming in.

“I need girl time.” She said angrily as she went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. I sighed but told her I would meet her in her room in a minute. She went down the hall too her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

“Looks like I am going home after all.” Tony laughed.

“Unfortunately.” I sighed. “I'll come up tomorrow though.” I said.

“Sounds good to me. I'll try to get Jaxin and Natalie out of the house for a little while.” He said. I smiled and stood on my toes to kiss him.

“Jacie! I'm serious. I need you!” Cammy screamed from down the hall and then slammed her door shut again.

“Drive safe. Don't get pulled over.” I said. Tony laughed and shook his head as he headed to the door.

“I had like two sips of my drink, I think I'm good.” He said.

Once he left I went to Cammy's room and sat down on the bed next to her. She shoved the bottle into my hands, catching me off guard.

“Drink with me.” She said. I shook my head and handed the bottle back to her. “Fine. More for me.”

“So, why'd you storm in here all pissed off?” I asked as she took four big gulps of whiskey.

“So I slept with Vic last week after your giant meltdown.” She started. I held up my hand, stopping her from continuing.

“I'm sorry, you did what?” I asked.

“Yeah. Exactly.” She said, taking another sip from the bottle. “But anyways. We've been hanging out, I've spent the night a few times and stuff. Well when we got back to his place tonight he decided to ask me if this was going anywhere or if we were just fucking around. And I told him I don't know because I'm not really looking for anything serious. Which is a lie, I don't even know why I said it, and he just kicked me out.”

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Cammy, just fucking call him and tell him you panicked and want something real. I really don't know what else to tell you.” I said. “Just whatever you do, don't string him on if you don't actually want a relationship. He's been hurt enough.”

“Really? That's all the love guru has to to say? No big inspirational speech about following my heart?” I laughed and shook my head.

“No, not tonight. I'm tired, I just want to go to bed.” I said.

“Right, I forgot you were out all night last night, even though you denied my offer to go to the bar with me.” She said, sounding somewhat offended. I guess Mike had told her the lie that I told him.

“Yeah I wasn't out all night. Tony and I didn't go anywhere.” I told her. She looked at me confused.

“But Mike said you went to the bar and got laid.” She said. I laughed and shook my head. She was going to find out sooner or later so I decided to just tell her.

“Yeah only half of that is true.” I said. She sat there for a minute thinking, then her eyes went wide and she jumped up and started jumping on the bed.

“Oh my god!” She screamed. “You had sex with Tony!” I Laughed and got up off the bed.

“G’night Cam.” I said.

“Oh no!” She said, jumping off the bed and grabbing my arm, stopping me from leaving. “You're not going anywhere until you tell me everything.” She said eagerly. “And that includes how weird it was to have sex with a guy for the first time in years, and not just any guy. Your best fucking friend!” I laughed and shook my head.

“Nope, no details, I'm going to bed.” I said.

“Finnnee.” She whined. “But you're telling me tomorrow.”

“Maybe when I get home. Now goodnight.” I said, finally escaping her grasp.

Notes