Once In A Lifetime

There's Nothing I Can Say

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the way they kiss. The many emotions, hidden thoughts and undiscovered features of someone are suddenly revealed to you when your lips meet. A tangible current of raw energy is exchanged between you and them, and the aftermath of that fruitful exchange is pure bliss and sudden familiarity.

After kissing Brandon I feel that I know everything about him. Looking into his electric eyes I know he feels the same. I feel like I know how he works and why he does what he does. This revelation only heightens my love for him.

I pull back and say, "This is really stupid and cliché and stuff, but I feel like I've known you all my life."

His face turns into a grin and he places his hands on my cheeks. He looks deep into my pupils and whispers, "They say that's when you've found the right one."

I melt in his hands and push my lips against his. I kiss him with a renewed vigor as he lowers his hands down my back.

My phone buzzes and we stop, upset at having been interrupted. I grab it out of my pocket and see that it is Emma. I press answer and put the phone up to my ear. I stare at Brandon while I'm talking.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Hey, it's Emma. Where are you?"

"Oh, we went walking around for a little. Show him around."

"We? Him?" Emma asks, confused.

"Oh, Brandon. We left to show him around."

A small pause happens and then Emma responds. "Me and Ronnie are looking for you."

"Oh don't, we'll walk back. I'll see you in like 15 minutes."

Emma grumbles a quick "Hurry" and then hangs up on me. She has never done that before. I wonder why she's acting so weird when I feel him wrap himself around me from behind and plant his lips on my jaw. He gently nudges his head against mine and asks, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing, Emma's just acting strange."

He burrows his brows and looks at me. "Your friend?"

"Yeah, I have no idea why..." And that was the truth.

"I told her that we were heading back." I turn my head towards Brandon and he plants a kiss on my lips. My face starts heating up and I'm ready for round two.

He pulls back too soon and says, "C'mon, let's go before they start to worry."

I silently agree with him and grab his bicep again. He stands up straighter, and with a smug look on his face we start walking. I guide him back to the club as we are several blocks away, and twice we stop to make out against a building.

When we finally reach the bar, I see a grumpy Emma and an equally grumpy Ronnie outside the door. They both walk quickly towards us and ask to go.

"Let's go Brando." Ronnie grabs a confused Brandon. Brandon looks at me and has a sad frown.

"C'mon Julia.." Emma also grabs me and begins walking away. I resist but her grip is very strong.

"Wait, we just got back..." I hear Brandon say. He tugs against Ronnie but like Emma he has also found untapped strength tonight.

"Brandon!" I exclaim and he looks at me. My heart breaks at seeing his face and I remember something very crucial.

"Stop! I forgot to ask for his phone number!" I yell at Emma. She stops and glares at me. "Neither did I." She says. I scowl at her and move my arm out of her hold. I run back to Brandon in Ronnie's grip.

"Wait, I need your number." Ronnie stops and releases Brandon. Brandon is making a hurt face but smiles when he sees me. He slowly raises his hand to my chin and rubs my lips with his thumb. He smirks and says, "Of course."

I whip out my phone and go to my contacts. Brandon recites his number for me and I save it. I grab his phone as he says he doesn't know how to use it and put my number in for him. I return it back to him and he grabs it, looking at me the whole time. He reaches his arms out with a, "C'mere," and I fall into his embrace. we hug tightly like the world would fall apart without each other, and I feel a lump in the back of my throat. Not wanting to be weak, I squeeze his hoodie and he rubs my back gently. We hold this position for several seconds, as I bury my face in his neck.

"I guess this is goodbye." I mumble into his neck.

"No, don't say that. This is a 'see you soon'." Brandon whispers in my ear. I feel Ronnie pat Brandon and say, "We gotta go, we have to be back on the bus by 2."

We slowly pull away from each other's embrace, and I feel like I left my heart with that hug. I give Brandon a small kiss on the cheek and then a long one on his lips, and then we finally let go of each other. I wave goodbye to Ronnie and then turn around back to Emma. She has an impatient look on her face, and looks at me coldly. "Let's go," is all she says and then she heads back towards the car. I continue walking behind her wondering where I messed up.

It takes us about a half hour to reach the car, and we walk in silence. We finally reach the parking lot outside the venue then enter my car. Emma doesn't say anything, but enters the driver seat and starts the car. I hesitantly open the car door and sit in the drivers seat, and look straight ahead.

We drive back to my house in silence, and she walks me into my house. Normally we would have been buzzing with excitement after such an eventful day, but now I feel dead and tired. Emma continues her silence, and when I enter my house she mumbles a goodbye and begins to walk away. I get frustrated and yell at her.

"Hey!"

She turns slowly and glares at me. "What?"

"You know what! You've been acting weird tonight!"

She just shrugs and continues her nonemotional face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't act stupid! You're upset!"

Her face gets angrier and she yells, "Well maybe if I had known tonight would've been as crappy as it was I would have never gotten you those tickets!"

"What do you mean?" I ask. She gets even angrier.

"Now look who's acting stupid! You had the time of your life tonight while I got stuck third wheeling!"

I still was confused, but then it all clicked in my head, the explanation rushing to the forefront of my mind. She was in love with Brandon Flowers.

"You're... jealous?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Yes! It's not fair! You've only know him since today, and I've been his fan for years! Years! I should have got his attention! I've been going to countless shows, devoting hours of my life to support him and his career, and he picks you, a non-Victim who HATED The Killers until I dragged you into this concert! Don't act all surprised! I knew the second you saw the tickets you hated it, but it was a lot of money and I wanted to make you happy! Then all of a sudden you fall in love with him, and he snatches you off of your feet! It's not right! You don't deserve it, you don't deserve it..."

She breaks down and starts bawling on the floor. I feel guilt but don't know how to respond. I slowly approach her and kneel down next to her. I place my hand on her back as she continues bawling.

"I'm... I'm so sorry Emma..." I gently apologize.

She sniffles and jerks back away from me.

"You're not sorry, and you don't deserve him!" She gets up and starts marching back towards the car. I call after her.

"Emma! Emma! I'm sorry! I am..."

She slams her door shut and races away as I look on. A flash of light, a rumble of tires, and I've lost my best friend forever.