Falling Into Place (Jaime Preciado) (*PTV* Fanfic 1)

43. "its life."

-Munich-

*JAIME*

I walked out of the bus with the boys, grabbing my soccer ball from the underside compartment of the bus. It was raining outside.. and of course it was an outdoor venue. Thankfully its wasn't like a full on Downpour... more like a light drizzle. I dropped the ball and started making cheap-shots against the bus side, dribbling it back and forth by myself, getting out some steam around the parking lot, just me and my own thoughts, watching people pass by and other buzz from place to place. Vic and Mike were messing around in the back lounge while Tony was over at the Mice bus, crashing their interview with Casey.

I looked over to the ramp where everyone of the crew people was loading in still, seeing Laney get a road case out and start to push it up the steep ramp by herself. Her black Toms slipping on the slick metal ramp, maybe I should go and help her...

Sure, we have both been avoiding each other since I found out she was here on the tour, but now shes our Tour manager... and has been for the last week.. not like I can ignore her if shes around me more often than ever now. I was also the one who suggested Vic ask her to fill in for Kevin.. why? I will never know what goes on in my brain until after I say something. Its a definite chronic problem of mine. This girl never leaves my thought process no matter how hard I try to think about something else, though. It just won't happen. Like.. ever.

When I caught her as I crashed into her as she came out of the bus the other morning before Austin came, I ran after her to hopefully make some sort or amends between us. When I caught her... oh man.. holding her there, even if it was just for a moment, felt so perfect... there was no denying I still had all the love in the world for this girl and it was all confirmed in that split second I had her in my arms.

fuck this.

I dropped my soccer ball, letting it roll back to hit the trailer tire as I jogged over to the ramp, "Hey, let me help" I said quietly, not sure how she would react. I didn't want her to run away again.. that was for sure. But she turned her face and looked at me. I could tell she wasn't expecting me to be the one there by the way her body shot back about a foot away from me, causing the box to slide back about a foot before I caught a corner stopping it in its tracks.

"uh, thank you." was all she said as she put her head down, letting her black and blond hair fall in jagged pieces around her face and continued to push the large back-board case to the stage once again. I nodded absentmindedly and grabbed a handle, pulling it up the ramp the rest of the way. She bent down and locked the wheel then pushed her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ears. I coughed softly out of the choking awkward tension that was around us.

I looked around, Jordan was staring at me from the bus area, so were Tony, Austin, Casey, and Tino. All with deer in the headlights expressions as they waited for something to ensue between Laney and I... "uhm, so how have you been?" I asked casually leaning back on some amps that were hooked up, crossing my arms glancing at the stage lighting set up above our heads instead of at her. Awkward air was all around us, and I was never good in awkward situations.

She looked up at me and shrugged "i've been alright I guess. You know, the day to day converting oxygen to carbon dioxide." she nodded, cracking a small smile at her own joke. I let out a short laugh. "good one." I nodded smiling at her tiny smile, I caught myself, not wanting to be more awkward than I already was so I coughed, releasing the smile from my face and fixed the beanie on my head.

" uh.. uhm, what about you?" she asked, hopping up to sit on the road case behind her, crossing her legs indian style and set her fists in her lap, pursing her lips together.

"same old deal.. working on new stuff, living." I nodded. Sticking my hands in my pockets. Come on Hime... think of something... "so uh, would you want to go and grab some dinner after tonights set to, I don't know.. catch up a bit?" I asked nervously. No no no.. what was I saying?? ugh... It was the best I could come up with not thinking of my actions, the worst she could do was reject, right? And if she did that then I would know that nothing would ever become anything between us again. I would give up.. like I have a million times before, but honestly none of them meant as much as they did to me than she did, still got the scar to prove it too.