You're the Secret (Jaime Preciado)

Chapter Twelve I Think I'm Gonna Marry You

I sat on the back deck of Jaime's house, or, our house. I wasn't exactly used to this yet, and I wasn't sure how it made me feel. I moved in with Jaime. I don't regret it necessarily, I just wish I would've put a little more thought into it.

I wasn't expecting it when he asked to see me after his set. Against popular belief, he and I didn't spend every waking minute of the day together. Emma and I had been working hard to get a new album worked out.

I thought he just missed me, and wanted to see me. I went to his bus and waited for him to get back from the showers.

He sat across from me in the lounge, smiling a sloppy smile before just asking. 'Will you move in with me?' 

I may have only said yes because I was afraid that if I didn't, Jaime and I would barely see each other after Warped. I knew I would be busy with the album, and I didn't know what Pierce the Veil planned on doing next.

I changed. I've changed from the time Jaime and I broke up. I wasn't as crazy when we were together. Once Jaime left I pretty much either had to be drunk or partying to keep from thinking about him. But, once my pain lessened, I didn't stop with what I was doing.

I was completely wrecking myself. I had lost close to twenty pounds in three months, a lot more than I should have lost. I was drinking myself to death. And honestly, I would have. I would have if it weren't for Hannah leaving the band; and me being one of the few who could step in.

The fans didn't know me as well when we were together. I wasn't in a band then, I didn't do interviews. They're used to me being so rowdy. I know the band won't say anything, they never will. Emmalynn only said one thing about me moving in with Jaime. She told me to watch myself. I knew what she meant. Anyone who had known me for a while could.

I was ready to throw myself in, and let myself go back to 'normal'. I was ready to go back to the under-spoken thing I was when Jaime and I first met.

~Flashback~

I was sitting in a booth at Starbucks, a book I've already read in my hands.

"She dies," a voice I've never heard says, causing me to look up from the book.

"I know. If I hadn't I would have punched you, most likely," I mutter to the spiky haired figure.

"Why would you read it then?"

"It was my mom's favorite. I read it every year on her birthday."

"Well, happy birthday to your mom. I'm Jaime," the guys says, sitting across from me and sticking his hand out.

"She's dead. I'm Lorraine, can I help you?"

"I'm sorry to hear that, and yes, Lorraine, you can. You see, you're a very pretty lady, and you're sitting all alone. I don't like to see pretty ladies sitting alone."

It was a lame line. I rolled my eyes and went back to reading. But Jaime was persistent. He refused to leave my booth. "If you're not careful, my boyfriend will see and he'll get upset," it was a lie, a terrible lie. 

"Now, Lorraine, I've been in here longer than you have. I know you came in alone, and have only talked to the barista."

"Fine, give me your phone, Jaime.," he handed me his phone and I put my name and number in.

~End of Flashback~

I never would have done that, if it weren't for that morning being the start of a tour, all of my friends leaving me. I needed someone I could talk to, and if Jaime was willing to come up to me in Starbucks, then he might have been what I needed as a friend.

"What are you doing, Rain?" I hear Jaime ask from behind me. I turn towards hims, smiling at his bed head and bare chest.

"Just thinking," I mutter, I knew it looked bad. It was three in the morning and I was sitting outside thinking.

"About what?" Jaime asked, getting down and sitting next to me, letting me lean my head against his shoulder. I couldn't reply. I didn't know how to say it without hurting Jaime, making it seem like I didn't want to live with him. "Hey, look at me, Rain," he takes my head in his hands, rubbing circles in my cheeks with his thumbs. "Talk to me."

"I've just changed a lot. I acted like I didn't care so that I could forget the pain, not let it bother me as much as it did."

"Pain makes people change. Nobody can blame you for that."

"Go back to bed, Hime. I'll be up soon," I say, kissing his cheek, smiling as he kisses my forehead, standing up and walking back into the house, pausing for a minute in the doorway.

I stood up, looking at the view I had from my position, there was a seemingly endless view of houses, their backyards. You could see the lights in the windows, the curtains, the silhouettes of mothers holding their crying babies.

I walked into the house, shutting the sliding glass door behind me. I walked up the stairs, into the bedroom. Jaime looked up at me with sad eyes, I laid in the bed next to him, curling up into him as he laid down with me.

~~~

I woke up to find an empty bed, a note on Jaime's pillow reading 'I'll be back by noon, I have to run a few errands. XOXO Jaime'

I sat up, walking out of the bedroom, down the stairs. I made it to the living room, just in time for the front door to open revealing Jaime.

"Come lay with me?" he says, not even shutting the door yet, looking at me, tilting his head to the side. I nod, walking over to the couch, sitting down, letting him lay his head on my lap, looking up at me.

"What's on your mind?" I ask, looking down at him, taking his facial expressions in, noticing changes from last time we had been together.

"I'm just thinking about us," he starts, taking me off guard. "You said yes to moving in with me. You wouldn't move in with me the first time 'round." He paused, turning onto his side, looking at me.

"I want to marry you. I'm not asking you now, but in a while, I'd like to ask you."

I smiled at him, hoping he could read my expression. We were moving fast. But hey, when something starts suddenly, it isn't going to stay slow.