Dedication Takes a Lifetime (Jalex boyxboy)

viii. My Way Home Is Through You

“You know it would’ve been easier to just fly back,” Jack pointed out. We were still a couple of states away from Baltimore and it was nearing two AM. We had been hoping to get home by this morning, but due to the congested traffic getting out of the venue had set us back a couple of hours. This meant we got caught in the traffic during rush hours, which everyone hated and Matt had even tried to plan to avoid it.

“Guys, you’ve got a choice; we’re going to have to stop for the night because Steve needs to sleep. So you can either spend the night here on the bus, or I can pay for you to sleep in a bed as we’re gonna have to stop in a shitty motel car park,” Matty announced walking into the back lounge, where the majority of the band and crew were hanging out.

“I don’t mind,” Zack stated.

“If one more person says that, I will make the lot of you sleep on the streets tonight,” Matt threatened.

“What? Why?” I asked.

“Because you can have a decision with three people; if only two people answered then I can guarantee that you would pick both options because that’s the considerable little shits you are,” he replied with a smile.

“Lucky sod,” I muttered to Zack, who smiled while I punched his arm in a joking manner.

“So is anyone going to make a decision?”

“I'll stay on the bus,” Jack announced taking everyone by surprise. “What? I can’t be bothered to carry my stuff back and forth. Besides we’re going home, I don’t care what I look like,” he explained.

“Thank you Jack. Does everyone want to stay on the bus?” Zack, Rian and I agreed, while the crew decided to take a room in the motel.

“What, do you not like me?” I asked as they all piled out the doors.

“Nah, I like you too much,” my guitar tech replied seriously.

“What?”

“He’s winding you up,” Jack told me.

“All Time Low sleepover!” Rian called loudly like a twelve year old.

“It’s like working with children, I swear to God,” Matt muttered as he left the bus to go and book the rooms for the crew.

“You wanted to work with us!” Jack called as he disappeared down the steps.

“Don’t remind me.”

--

“Jack! No what are you doing?!” I near yelled as Jack picked me up causing me to drop my bags. The bus had arrived in Baltimore a few hours ago and we had only just made it back to my apartment.

“I’m carrying you over the threshold. What does it look like?” He asked leaning down and planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

“We’re not married,” I replied slowly.

“Yet.” He smiled. “Have you got your keys?” He asked.

“Erm somewhere,” I replied jumping down from his arms and started to pat down my pockets looking for where my keys were. They weren’t in my pockets. “Try that pocket,” I told him, pointing to a side pocket on the side of my main suitcase, while I went through my smaller hand luggage.

“Well isn’t this the romantic gesture,” Jack muttered.

“I promise you can carry me through the door if you really want to,” I told him.

“You bet your ass I will.”

“You know you could have just gone home and avoided this all together,” I pointed out to him.

“I could have,” he agreed. “But that’s not part of my plan.”

“Oh yeah and what’s this plan you have?”

“Slowly leaving all my stuff at your place.”

“So you’re always round bothering me,” I finished for him. “Why don’t you just move in?”

“Because I was waiting for that.”

“What? Me to realize what you were doing and ask you to officially move in with me?”

“Sure I’d love to move in with you Alex,” my boyfriend grinned at me.

“You’re a jerk and I hate you.”

“Aww babe, I love you to.”

“Come on, let’s just get inside before you start doing something embarrassing,” I told him as I finally found my house keys and opened the door. Jack stayed true to his word and picked me up again carrying me across the threshold to my, well I guess now our, apartment and I couldn’t be happier.

“Are you going to bring my bags in as well or am I pushing my luck?” I asked as he set me down, well threw me on the couch.

“You are pushing your luck, but you’re lucky I’m being a gentleman today, so I will go and get them for you. But don’t expect me to do anything with them once their inside.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to. Just dump them by the front door and I'll sort it out tomorrow.”