Not So Normal

Chapter 35

   "Tyler, this is Jackson. He's on my studio team, and I think you guys will get along great," I say, making the two shake hands. Jackson looks even more excited than he did when he met me. And that's saying something.

   "Okay? Well it's, uh, nice to meet you Jackson," Tyler says awkwardly. I can sense his gaydar straining to figure out if Jackson's straight or not, but honestly, I would never think Jackson was straight. As soon as I saw him I knew he played for the other team.

   We take the Chinese food into the living room and all squish on the one couch that's left after Lindsey's furniture was gone. I make sure to sit on the edge of the couch so Jackson and Tyler have to be squished against each other. This relationship seriously needs to happen. I turn on Netflix and ask the guys what they want to watch.

   "Something with Channing Tatum," Jackson says excitedly. Tyler looks at him in surprise.

   "Oh my god, you are gay!" he exclaims. Jackson grins.

   "I sure am!"

   "Elissa, how come you didn't tell me you were inviting this guy? If I wasn't gay I would kiss you," Tyler says. I laugh and Jackson is blushing.

   "I wanted it to be a surprise. You guys should go out or something. Might as well give it a try," I tell them. They look at each other and smile.

   "Like, right now?" Tyler asks, getting excited. I nod.

   "Go, my little butterflies. Have a night of amazing adventure!"

   "Oh my god thank you so much!" Tyler exclaims, hugging me before he grabs Jackson's arm and drags him out the front door. They are going to have so much fun. And I am going to sit here by myself (with my Chinese food, of course) and watch Channing Tatum be sexy. Oh the life...

   At 10, I'm practically asleep on the couch when my phone goes off somewhere. I snap out of my stupor and scramble to find my phone. When I find it, I don't bother checking to see who it is.

   "Hello?" I ask groggily.

   "Oh did I wake you?" It's Niall. He sounds surprisingly sober for having gone out clubbing.

   "Oh, no, you're fine. I'm waiting for Tyler to get back from his date. I set him up with a guy I met today," I explain, slapping myself awake. I need to start taking sleeping pills or something. When I'm not with Niall I sleep like crap. I try to sleep a lot, but it doesn't help when I wake up every hour for what seems like forever.

   "Oh that's fun. I'm sure they'll get along great. How are you doing? Are you still stressed out about recording?" Niall asks. I love that he actually remembers what I tell him about my feelings and that he actually cares.

   "I'm alright. I haven't been getting a ton of sleep, but that's nothing new. And having Jackson, the guy Tyler's out with right now, as part of studio team made my nerves go away. I think I'll be fine for the rest of the days I'll be at the studio," I say.

   "Well that's good. Nerves really suck, don't they?" he says. I nod, but then I realize he can't see me so I just say yeah. We talk for a while, and then I hear the front door open. It must be Tyler, back from his date.

   "Tyler's back, so I'm gonna go, okay? I love you Ni," I say, shushing Tyler as he walks into the room. He silently sits down on the couch next to me, and I can tell that as soon as I hang up on Niall he's going to burst. Niall says bye and I hang up.

   "THAT WAS THE MOST AMAZING NIGHT OF MY LIFE!" Tyler yells. I lean away from him, my ear drums ringing. I never knew he could be so loud.

   "Tell me everything," I say. And he does.