Chapter 14
The doctor released me the next morning and told me to take a breathing treatment if I ever feel overwhelmed.
"This was a close one, missy. Don't let stress get to you that easily, if you do, it'll bring the worst times of your life." The doctor smiled.
"There are four boys waiting outside, should I let them in?" he asked.
"Is that even a question? Of course, let them in!" I laughed.
"Come on in boys, but don't be too loud." The doctor laughed.
Matt, Hayes, Nash, and Cam came in the room.
"How're you feeling?" Hayes asked.
"I'm good." I said.
"Bae, don't scare me like that." Cam said and tugged on my hair.
"Now boys, I hear Miss Alli is going on a tour with you. Take it easy on her. If she ever feels tired or sick, let her sleep." The doctor said and all of the guys quickly nodded their heads.
"You have fun now, okay? If you ever need anything, just call." The doctor said and patted my head.
He went out to talk to my mom and all the guys sat down.
"Hayes told us you're coming, are you excited?" Cam asked.
"Yes!" I said and smiled.
My mom came in the room and said that we could leave.
"I'm going home with Hayes and everyone, right?" I asked.
"Sure. If you need anything-"
"Just call, I know." I said.
I slowly got out of the bed and Matt took a hold if my hand to help me out.
I swear, there's electricity when we touch.
But no, I'm with Hayes.
I let Matt help me and then Hayes grabbed the hand Matt was holding.
"Come on, baby girl. Let's get back to the house." Hayes said.
We started to walk away and I looked back at Matt.
He looked straight in my eyes and I could see the sadness in his.
I stuck my lower lip out and mouthed 'sorry'.
"It's okay." He mouthed back.
We got in the car with Cam and Nash.
I sat by the window on the right and Hayes sat in the middle.
"I'm going to sit in the back." Matt said and climbed behind us.
On the ride home, Cam and Nash told Hayes how fun MagCon was going to be.
"Alli, you'll probably sit in the back room with the Bart and all of those guys. You could come on stage sometimes, too." Nash said and smiled at me.
Nash's smile is my favorite thing about him.
For most girls, it's his eyes. But for me, it's his smile.
It's so soft and delicate looking. His teeth are perfectly rounded and white. He just looks so friendly. It's cute, too.
Hayes has the same smile. Soft, but protective. Maybe a little too protective..
Cam turned on the radio and 'Say Something' was on.
Cam and Nash started singing and Hayes told them how terrible they were.
I was laughing and I snuck a look back at Matt.
A single tear was on his cheek.
My laughing stopped and I looked forward.
"What's wrong?" Hayes asked.
I looked at the promise ring.
I'm supposed to tell him my problems.
"Oh, nothing. I'm fine, really." I said.
"Okay, you sure? Should I call the doctor?" Hayes asked.
"Do we need to turn around?" Cam asked.
"No guys, I'm okay." I said, sounding unconvincing.
"You sure?" I heard Matt asked.
I turned and faced him.
"Yes." I said and he nodded.
We pulled up to Hayes' house and everyone started going inside.
"Come on baby girl, let's get you some down time." Hayes said.
"Okay, I'll be in in a minute." I said and Hayes nodded.
Matt crawled out of the back and he was in the middle row.
"Matt, why were you crying?" I asked him and got into the car beside him.
"Alli," he started.
"I- never mind." He said.
"Matt, what's on your mind? You can tell me." I said.
"No, it's nothing. I'm okay." Matt said, sounding even more unconvincing than I did.
"Okay, if you ever need to talk, I'm here. Hayes will eventually come around. He's just like that. He won't always be so distant. I promise." I said.
"Okay." Matt said and I hugged him.
His arms wrapped around my body and one of his hands went to the back of my head.
"I don't know what this is about but, it will all be okay, eventually." I said to him and he nodded.
"Thanks." he said.
We left the car and came inside.
Hayes looked at Matt when we went inside and Matt looked away.
"Let's go upstairs." I said and all of the guys followed.
Once we got upstairs, Hayes told me to lay down in his bed.
"Take a little nap." He said and tucked me in.
"The guys and I will be in the living room." He said and shut the lights off.
I fell asleep think about Matt and why he was crying. I never got to a solution before my eyelids gave up. I was out like a light.
I woke up 3 hours later and went to Hayes' room.
The guys were playing video games when I walked in.
"Hey, how was your nap?" Hayes asked, not looking away from the screen.
"It was fine." I said to him.
He was sitting on the couch with Nash and they were playing Call Of Duty Ghosts.
I sat next to Matt on a love seat.
Ironic, right?
He looked over at me and smiled.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm better." I smiled back.
"How about you?" I asked.
"I'm good." He said and we laughed.
Hayes paused their game and looked at us.
"Come and sit on my lap, baby." He patted his leg and looked at Matt.
"Bye best friend." I whispered and he waved.
I sat on Hayes' lap.
"Un-pause the freaking game." Nash said.
"Wait." Hayes said.
I looked at him and he smirked.
"Give me a good luck kiss." He said.
I kissed him and when we pulled away he looked back at Matt.
Matt got up and went up the stairs.
"What's his problem?" Hayes asked.
"Babe, stop." I said.
"Stop what?" He asked and smirked.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
Hayes sighed and un-paused the game.
-----
The next 5 days have basically been the exact same.
Hayes hasn't been the nicest person to Matt and Matt has just tried to stay away from him.
Matt gets quieter and quieter everyday.
Today is the day that we're getting in the plane to Boston. I have decided that I'm going to talk to Hayes about his attitude towards Matt today. I hope no one gets upset.
Matt, Cam, Nash, Hayes, and I are boarding the plane.
"Are you as excited as I am?"
Hayes laughed.
"Yes. I seriously cannot wait to see you perform! You're going to be great, babe." I said and Hayes put his arm around me.
When we sat down Hayes got the window seat and I sat in the middle.
I saw Matt and the seat beside me was open.
"We have an open seat, Matt. Come sit with us." I said.
He went to sit down and then looked at Hayes.
"No, I think it would be better if I sat somewhere else. I'll see you later, Alli." He said and walked on.
I sighed.
"Hayes, can I talk to you about something?" I asked.
"Yea, anything." He said.
"Well, do you remember the promise that I made where I tell you if something is going on so you can fix it?"
"Yes.."
"There's a problem." I said.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Okay, I know that you're upset with Matt and there's no reason you shouldn't be but, please don't let that kiss ruin your relationship with him. I know you two just met a couple weeks ago but you guys were good friends. He has already apologized and he said it wouldn't happen again, so please? I know you're not a mean person, you're not mean in any way, so could you two maybe makeup?" I asked and Hayes' face got serious.
"Alli, I'm sorry. I know you two are friends, too, it's just I'm the jealous type. And that won't ever change. I'm sorry. When I saw him kissing you I just got so mad. I actually wanted to choke him out. But I know that it would be better for everyone of we made up and he is a really good person. I'm sorry for taking this too far. I'll go apologize right now." Hayes said.
"Wow. Thank you so much." I hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"I love you Hayes." I said.
"I love you, too, baby girl." He said and kissed my lips.
He got up and went to Matts seat.
I was sitting in my row alone and Cam and Nash sat down.
"Did you talk to Hayes about it?" Nash asked.
"About what?" I asked.
"Matt! It's getting annoying that Hayes won't even talk to him." Cam said.
"Yea, they're making up right now." I said.
"Wow. We told Hayes to make up with him so many different times and he wouldn't." Nash said.
"How do you do it?" Cam asked and wiggled his eyebrows.
"You're stupid." I said to them and giggled.
They sat in the row beside the row Hayes and I were sitting in.
A few minutes Hayes and Matt came back together.
I clapped and squealed.
"Buddies yet?" I asked.
"You're such a girl." Matt said with a big smile on his face.
"I know." I shrugged.
Hayes sat down by the window and Matt was on the other side of me.
"My two favorite guys." I said and grabbed Hayes' hand.
"Excuse me?" Cam asked.
"Whoops my three favorite guys." I said.
"Um, I'm over here.." Nash said.
"Okay then. My four favorite guys." I said.
"Better." They all four said.
"Uh..." I said and we all laughed.
For the first time in a week I feel at peace.
The airplane started to take off and Hayes squeezed my hand.
"Here we go." He said and I kicked my feet.
I looked over at Matt and he was smiling for the first time in a while.
It was a real smile, too.
He looked over at me and winked.
-----
Two hours later, the plane arrived in Boston.
Matt got my carry on bag from the shelf over our heads and gave it to me.
"Thank you." I said and smiled.
"You're welcome." He smiled and looked into my eyes. He bit his lip and winked.
So cute, oh my gosh.
Our little group got off of the plane and a somewhat bearded man was at the gate.
"Cam, Nash, Matt. How have you been?" The man asked.
"We've been good." Cam said and the man looked at Hayes and I.
"You must be Hayes Grier." The man said.
"Bart Bordelon. Creator of MagCon and I manage the boys. And this must be Alli. Cam told me you were coming." Bart said.
"Oh, yea." I said and shook his hand.
"Well, let's get your bags and get to the hotel to join the others." Bart said and we all went down to baggage claim.
Hayes and I held hands until we got there and when we had to get our bags Matt reached for mine.
I out my hand on top of his and jumped a little.
We looked at each other and he smiled.
"Oh, you don't have to get my bags, Matt. I can carry them." I said and took my hand away.
"You sure? I can carry them." Matt said.
"I'm fine." I giggled.
"Okay." He said.
"If you ever need help, come to me. Or Hayes." Matt said.
"I will." I nodded and grabbed my luggage.
We went to the van and Hayes, Matt, and I sat in the middle row and Nash and Cam sat in the back.
After 30 minutes of driving, we arrived at a big hotel.
"We're here." Bart said and started getting our bags out of the car.
I rolled my huge suitcase inside the doors and I saw a group of guys and a girl that looked familiar.
"Let me help you with that." A tall guy with brown hair and full, pink lips took my suitcase.
"I'm Shawn." He said.
He had a guitar case hanging off of his shoulder.
"I'm Alli." I said and Shawn picked his lips and smiled.
"Hey! Alli, right?" The familiar looking girl came up to me.
"Yes." I said.
That's the girl we FaceTimed.
"You're Mahogany, right?" I asked.
"Yea! I didn't know you were coming. You're even prettier in real life." She smiled.
"Thank you. You too!" I said.
Shawn cleared his throat.
"Oh, Shawn, this is Hayes' girlfriend." Mahogany introduced me.
"You're Hayes' girlfriend? Wow. Lucky guy, if you ask me." Shawn nodded.
"Thank you." I giggled.
Hayes came up behind me and kissed my neck.
"Hi, cutie." He said and I smiled.
Hayes looked at Shawn and saw that he had my luggage.
"Why does he have your stuff?" Hayes asked.
"Oh, I was helping her carry it." Shawn said.
"I'm Shawn." He introduced himself.
"I'm Hayes." Hayes shook Shawn's hand.
Matt came through the door with Nash and Cam and they all came over to us.
"I see you've met Bae, Shawn." Cam said.
"Yea. Looks like it." Shawn said and his cheeks got red.
"Well, she's my bae, so I guess you'll have to come up with your own nickname for her." Cam said and hugged me.
I rolled my eyes and pushed him away.
"She likes to play hard to get. Don't let it discourage you." Cam said and winked.
Nash and Cam left to talk to a guy with longer blackish brown hair.
"Who's that?" I asked and pointed to the guy they were talking to.
"That's Taylor." Shawn answered.
"The man-whore?" I asked and Matt, Shawn, and Hayes bursted with laughter.
"I guess you could say that." Shawn said, in between laughs.
"Okay, room assignments." Bart's voice came over a speaker.
"The Jacks are sharing suite 127 with Taylor, Aaron, Carter, and Jacob. Cameron is sharing room 129 with Nash, Hayes, Shawn, and Matthew. Alli, you and Mahogany will share room 131." He said.
I looked over at Mahogany and she gave me and thumbs up and and smiled.
"Since there are six people in The Jacks group, you get a suite. You will sleep in your room and in your room only. If I find out that you were sleeping in another room, consequences will happen. Everyone needs to be back in their own rooms by 11 every night and by 10 Wednesday night, because the event is the next day. Agreed?" Bart said.
"Agreed." Everyone said in unison.
"Dinner is at 6, go find your room and be back here by 5:45 sharp." Bart said and handed out room keys.
Mahogany came over to me.
"So, we're hotel room buddies now." She laughed.
"Yea." I shrugged.
"Let's go get everything unpacked and then let's find something to do." She said and we ran off to our room.
We both had our own bed and our own closet in our room.
"Do you think they deliver Starbucks to your room?" Mahogany asked.
"Ugh. I wish." I said and jumped on my bed.
"Want some soda?" She asked and tossed me a Sprite.
We each sat on our own beds and talked for a few minutes.
"So, who do you like out of the guys. They're all cute." I asked and wiggled my eyebrows.
"Nobody. Everyone seems to like you though." She said and smirked.
"No, not really." I laughed.
"You have to at least think one of the guys is cute." I said.
"Well, Jacob is sweet. He's cute, too. He has the most warm eyes and his voice is like Heaven." She said.
"Oh, so you do like someone." I said and laughed.
"I haven't met him yet but I'm sure he's everything you say he is." I added.
"Shawn sings, too. And he looked pretty into you." She said.
"He seems nice and we will probably end up friends but I'm with Hayes. He's so sweet to me." I said and smiled.
"If you weren't with Hayes, who would you want to date?" She asked.
"Honestly, Matt. He's so down to Earth and just plain cute. I know I could trust him." I said and shrugged.
"We're besties, though." I said and smiled.
"Yea, sure." She smirked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He obviously adores you, Alli. Every time you talk, he listens to you with more than his ears. He looks at you with a certain sparkle." She said.
"It's adorable to watch." She giggled.
Wow. I hadn't noticed. I wonder if he really does that..
I laughed and there was a knock at the door.
"Alli, want to come swimming?" Matt said as I answered the door.
"Sure, who all is going?" I asked.
"Everybody." He said.
"Okay, sounds good." I said.
"Hayes is going to meet us there." Matt said.
"Okay." I said.
"Let me change. Come on in." I let Matt in our room and I went to the bathroom. I got changed into a pink bandeau bikini top and black bottoms.
I pulled my hair into a messy bun and walked out.
Matt looked up at me and swallowed spit.
"Alright, well let's go." He smiled and opened the door.
I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped into the hallway.
"I'm coming later, okay? Jacob is going to walk down with me." Mahogany said and I gave her a thumbs up.
Matt and I got into the hallway and started walking.
"Are you excited for Boston?" I asked him and he smiled.
"Yes! I'm happy you get to watch me perform." He said.
"I'm glad to get to watch you guys! It looks so fun to be out there on stage." I said.
"It is." He said and smiled.
Our hands were both by our sides and then they touched.
We both looked at each other, quickly.
Matt smiled. I half-smiled back and looked at my feet.
Right now, I just wish I could jump into his arms and he could carry me to the pool where I would sit on his lap in the hot tub and talk about our lives while holding hands. His thumb would trace across my knuckles and he'd kiss my cheek. We would smile at each other and I would kiss his un-chapped lips and we would go back to the room and cuddle.
I know it's wrong to have these thoughts while I'm dating-
"Hey, baby." Hayes came up to us with soaking wet hair.
"Thanks for bringing her down Matt." Hayes said.
"No problem." Matt said and smiled.
"Who wants to get wet?" Hayes yelled and picked me up.
"Wait, not my hair!" I screamed as Hayes ran off with me on his back.
I looked at Matt and he waved and laughed.
Hayes threw me in the freezing cold water and a guy with dark brown hair was doing a back flip right where I landed.
He was in the air and I heard Matt yell.
"Alli!" he yelled and jumped in the water.
When he jumped, it was like slow motion.
His arm wrapped around my waist and he pulled me away from the scene right when the guy hit the water.
"Woah." I said, Matt still holding me.
"Alli! Sweetie, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Hayes ran over to me.
"Yea, I'm fine. It's okay." I said and Matt let go.
"Thank you so much, Matt."
I hugged him and realized he still had his shirt on.
I laughed and he squeezed me.
He let go of me and we looked at each other for half a second and he winked.
"Wow, are you okay?" A tall, dark guy with amazingly shaped eyebrows put a hand on my shoulder.
"Yes, I'm fine. You?" I said.
"I'm fine. I'm really sorry, too." He said and his face got red.
"Oh no, it's fine." I said.
Hayes got into the pool and swam up to me.
"Alli, this is Jack. Gilinsky. That over there, is Jack Johnson." Hayes said.
"Oh, well nice to meet you Jack Gilinsky. I'm Alli." I said and smiled.
"Hello, Alli. Care to dance?" Jack held his hand out and I shook my head.
"I would, but I have a boyfriend." I said and Hayes hugged me.
"Who knew Hayes could get such a pretty girl?" Jack said and we laughed.
That night, before we left the pool I had met The Jacks, Aaron, Carter, and Taylor.
Mahogany never did come with Jacob.
After dinner, I went back to my room and Mahogany had left a note.
"Jacob wants to take me out for dinner, wish me luck." It read.
I sat in the room by myself because Hayes went to shoot a YouTube video with Nash and Cameron.
A while later, I heard a knock on my door.
Please be Matt. I thought.
"It's your best friend." Matts voice came from the door.
"Coming." I said and smiled.
I checked my hair on the way to the door.
"Hey, best friend." I said and he came in.
Matt sat on my bed and I sat next to him.
"So, you're not out on the town with Hayes?" Matt asked.
"No, he went to shoot a YouTube video. So I'm just here by myself." I shrugged.
"Well, a girl like you cannot be by herself. Ever. Let's catch a cab and go do something." Matt said.
"What? Are you sure?" I asked.
"Totally. We could watch a movie or something. Bart won't care as long as we're back by 11." Matt said.
"I don't know. What if we're late?"
"Trust me, Alli. We won't be." Matt said and put his hand on my back.
Matt and I walked outside of the hotel and he called a cab.
"Where do you wanna go?" The cab driver asked.
"Anywhere special." Matt said and the driver started driving.
We drove for 15 minutes and then the cab driver told us this was our stop.
I didn't know exactly where we were but it was pretty.
There were huge fountains everywhere and the moonlight poured through holes in the treetops making the granite walkways shine.
"This place is beautiful." I said.
"It really is." Matt said and we walked along the paths.
We walked in silence, taking in the gorgeous scenery when we saw an elderly couple on a bench.
"Look, George. Don't you remember when we were young and in love?" The woman asked her husband.
"You two are just adorable." She said as we walked passed.
"Oh, we're not-" I said.
"Shhh." Matt said to me.
"Thank you." Matt smiled at the the woman and her husband.
"I think we are, too." He said and we kept walking.
We got to an enclosed area with a small pond and stopped walking.
I decided to ask him a risky question.
"Matt, what was she like?" I asked.
"Who?"
"Your girlfriend."
"Oh."
Matt looked at his shoes.
Why did I ask that? Stupid.
"She was beautiful. Just like you." He said.
"She had the best sense of humor you could find anywhere." He smiled.
I put my hand on top of his.
"Her name was Veronica." He said.
"I like that name." I said.
"Her hair was a little darker than yours and a little shorter. When she laughed, she snorted." He chuckled.
"We were going to dinner one night and she was running late so she was rushing. She didn't see the car coming up in her left and she tried to pass over. The car hit hers and sent it spinning across the freeway and off the bridge.." He said and a tear fell from his cheek.
"Oh my God, Matt." I said and hugged him.
"I loved her so much. I should've told her not to rush." He said.
"It wasn't your fault." I said.
My head was on his chest and his head was on top of mine. His arms were wrapped around my back.
"That's why I didn't want to lose you, because you're the only person I have loved since her passing and I couldn't stand to lose you. Even though we weren't that close, I felt a connection. And now it is bigger than ever and you're with someone."
"Matt- I don't know what to say." I said and I looked at him.
"Say that one day, I'll be able to do this and not feel guilty." Matt said.
"Do what?" I said and then Matt lowered his head and kissed me.
My body went limp as his fingers slowly traced across my neck.
He pulled away and half-smiled.
"I'm sorry. I just had to. It's so tempting." He said.
I didn't say anything back, I just hugged him.
His arms squeezed me tightly to his body.
"I don't know what to do. I can't make this decision. I need more time, Matt. I'm sorry." I said after a while if hugging.
"Don't be. I understand. If Hayes is the one for you, I'll be happy for you, because that's what best friends do." Matt said and he held my hand as we walked back to the road.
When the taxi dropped us off at the hotel, it was 10:56 and Hayes, Nash, Cam, and Shawn were in the lobby.
"Where were you? I was so worried." Hayes ran up to me and hugged me.
"It's okay, I'm fine. Matt and I were bored so we went to the park. I'm okay, babe." I said and smiled.
Hayes kissed me and hugged me again.
"Hayes, babe, I'm really okay. You don't have to worry. Matt would've protected me for you, if he needed to." I said and laughed.
"Okay. I was just worried." Hayes said and kissed my neck.
Right where Matt was touching it.
I shivered.
"Let's get you to your room, Alli."
Shawn said and smiled with his cute, little, pink cheeks.
"Guess who gets a piggy back ride?" Cam said and bended down in front of me.
I got on his back and he carried me to my room.
Mahogany still wasn't there.
"Do you want us to stay with you?" Nash asked.
"I'll be fine." I said and Hayes kissed me.
I snuck a quick look at Matt and he smiled.
I washed up and then I snuggled up underneath my warm blankets.
We were supposed to be in the rooms 5 minutes ago and I could still hear them going down the hall.
They're all so stupidly amazing. They're dumb.
They're annoying.
But they're becoming family.
