Always [Jack Barakat]

Prologue *in third person*

It was a chilly October Saturday night in Baltimore but the nightlife was still busy as usual. Jack entered The Rockwell, the bar that he co-owns with his good friend Bryan Burkert. Jack smiled as he took in the scene in front of him. It was a busy night. All the tables and booths were filled as were the stools at the bar. It was filled and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Jack walked up to the bar to see one of his favorite bartenders, , mixing drinks. "How are the drinks coming?" Jack asked. Adam quickly looked at Jack and smiled.

"They're coming great boss." Adam responded as he set a Jack with Coke and a Screwdriver on the bar. "Here ya go." Adam flirtatiously smiled causing Jack to become curious. Jack turned his head to see a young woman. Early twenties he's guessing, brown hair that fades to blonde as it barely pass her shoulders. Light brown eyes and a small nose a nose hoop on her right side. Small pink lips and barely crooked teeth. 'Beautiful smile' thought Jack. She was wearing a forest green v-neck and a brown leather jacket. She obviously just got here since she still had it on. Dark skinnies covered her legs and brown combat boots covered her feet. She reached for the drinks and smiled at Adam. She said a polite thank you as she turned around giving Jack the opportunity to check out her ass. Jack smirked. This girl is definitely coming home with him tonight. He watched as she walked up to a booth. Another young woman was sitting there. Brown hair with chunky blonde highlights. Blueish greenish eyes. Jack laughed as he thought how if his best friend was here, he would be staring at this girl non-stop. Jack decided its time to go talk to these girls. He walked up to their booth and crossed his arms.

"I don't know hone-" Blue eyes trailed off as she looked up at Jack confused. Brown eyes also looked up at Jack and gave him a look that Jack found rather adorable.

"Can we help you?" Brown eyes asked as she looked Jack up and down. Jack nodded

"Yeah, can I see your IDs please? I'm trying to be a good owner."

"You own Rockwell?" blue eyes asked as she took out her ID from her wallet and handed it to Jack. Jack nodded as he took her ID.

"Co-own it with a good friend of mine." He responded as he started to Skim through her ID. Lux Cassidy Lauritsen. Date of Birth: 08 - 07 - 1991. Making her 23. Jack smiled as he handed it back to Lux. "You know, no one likes you when you're twenty-three." Jack joked hoping they'll catch on. Lux laughed as brown eyes smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I know. Sixteen held such better days." Lux joked back causing Jack to let out a small laugh as brown eyes handed him her ID. Jack took it and skimmed through it. Arabelle Marie Rand. Date of Birth: 08 - 14 - 1992. Making her 22. 'Perfect' Jack thought.

"Thank you Arabelle." Jack said as he handed her ID back to her.

"You can call me Ara." Ara responded. Jack smiled.

"So you guys like Blink?"

"Yeah. We love them." Lux responded. Ara scooted in more in the booth allowing Jack to sit next to them.

"Well, fun fact: I'm actuall friends with Mark Hoppus." Jack smirked. Ara scoffed.

"Bullshit."

"Nope. He helped my band record some things."

"You're in a band?" Lux asked.

"Yup. All Time Low. You guys should check us out." Jack winked at Ara. Ara smirked at Jack and Jack smirked back. They kept it up for a good minute until Jack whispered: "Aren't you suppose to be googling my band?"

"I'm pretty sure Lux already is." Ara whispered back as her hand lightly brushed Jack's thigh, causing him to shiver. Ara turned to Lux who was giggling which made Ara raise an eyebrow. "What's up?"

"Just.. look." Lux laughed as she handed Ara her phone. Ara laughed too causing Jack to become confused.

"What?"

"Nice tighty whities." Ara laughed as she handed Lux's phone to Jack. Jack silently cursed at the godforsaken photo shoot him and his best friends did when they're becoming something.

"Shut up. We were nineteen." Jack mumbled as he handed Lux her phone back. Lux smile dropped and turned to Ara.

"Ara. We should go." Lux said quickly. Ara gave her a weird look as so did Jack.

"Wh - oh, no." Ara groaned. "Go get the car and I'll meet you outside." Ara instructed Lux. Lux nodded and turned to Jack.

"It was nice meeting you -"

"Jack. You too Lux. Hope to see you around." Jack smiled. Lux smiled back before she left. Jack then turned to Ara who was taking out her wallet. "Everything okay Ara?" Jack asked as he slipped out of the booth, letting Ara to slip out too.

"Uh, yeah. Just some school shit. How much is it for a jack with coke and screwdriver?" Ara asked. Jack would usually press for the more information but decided to drop the subject for her sake. She seemed panicked. So he decided to flirt to take it off her mind and maybe he can score a number right now and maybe a casual fuck later on.

"Nothing if you give me your phone number." Jack smirked. Ara let out a small laugh.

"You gotta try harder than that rock star. I hope to see you around." Ara smirked as she put $20 on the table before grabbing her bag and running out the bar. Jack laughed and thought to himself: She's going to be a piece of work.

***

New story! Hopefully I'll go through with this one! So yeah kinda a sucky chapter but whatever. Please help me think of a better title and also if you can make a cover for me. That would be awesome :)