"Awe, I love it when you guys dress up!" I cooed as I came into PTV's designated green room at the awards show.
Jaime smiled wide and Tony looked miserable as usual. He especially didn't want to dress up...it's his least favorite thing. My brother's just used to wearing tanks and skinny jeans...his whole life.
"It's a rare sight, soak it up!" Vic patted me on the back as I heard Mike chuckling lowly behind me with a bottle pressed to his lips.
"Well, you look might fine yourself." Jaime smiled wider, rocking on his heels enthusiastically. Tony nudged him harshly and I gave my brother a hostile look.
"Thanks, Jaime." I blushed, pushing my hair behind my ears and looking at my feet. It's almost like fetal position standing up if you think about it. Any time Jaime complimented me I'd find my heart fluttering crazily.
"I love it back here." Mike sighed. I glanced behind me. He had his feet up on the bar and the third bottle in his hand. "I don't want to go back on that bus."
"Right!" I agreed. It was always too cramped. I hated bunking with my brother...he was like a fungus...attached at my hip while we sleep.
"Hey, don't complain. You wanted to come." Tony pointed at me seriously. I rolled my eyes at him and flattened out my dress.
"Hush." I crossed my arms and glanced at Jaime. He was loosely smiling in a dream-like state.
We got to the room, round tables scattered the floor. I could just go home if I really wanted to, tour was long but it was only halfway over and we were back in Cali for the show. Erin grabbed Tony's hand and squeezed. They finally had an apartment together. Jaime and I were the only ones without a partner. I felt bad for him...being with Jess for so long and then...that's it.
The lights dimmed and the stage lights started to create sweat beads on the host's forehead. His voice echoed away until it was nothing as the daydreaming began. My brain was somehow begging for Jaime in a way that I never had before. We were so tightly packed at a round table, I was shoulder to shoulder with him.
Jaime shifted uncomfortably in his seat. I looked at him quickly through the glow of the stage lights. His face was twisted up in knots and I glanced at his lap. His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were turning white under his tan skin.
I smiled devilishly to myself and slipped my foot from my high heel. My stocking-ed foot trailed up his ankle, his pant leg rising. I glanced at Jaime once more, his face twisting and contorting. I could tell he was trying to hide a smile. Our hands, hidden by the tablecloth, started to intertwine and my heart fluttered so hard I could see my chest thumping in the dim light. I noticed Jaime breathing heavily and sweating lightly.
The band won a few awards and our brief separation had no part in disturbing the heart clenching awkwardness of wanting to tackle him in the middle of that auditorium. The show quickly ended and it was back on the bus...
"You sure you want to stay? You don't want me to call a cab home?" My brother asked me nervously. I was hiding my hand that was intertwined with Jaime's behind my back as he suspiciously stood behind me.
"I have a good reason to stay." I smiled.
"What are you hiding?" Tony squinted his eyes at me.
"What are you talking about?" I shrugged as we started to cautiously walk outside.
"What the fucking hell?!" Tony angrily shouted after leaning back to find our sweaty palms stuck together.
"What?!" Jaime shouted back. I became frightened, I'd never seen him explode before.
"That's my sister!" Tony shouted.
"Hey, guys...calm down...she's grown." Mike tried to drunkenly split the two up.
"I don't give a shit! Why don't you get back with Jess?!" Tony ripped me away from his friend.
"Because she left me!" Jaime's voice was shaking. "I've been hiding it forever...but I've loved your fucking sister for a long time, Tony!" Other bands were starting to stare as we started to angrily make our way to the sidewalk.
"Tony, just calm down...it's her life, not yours." Vic was quiet. He always hated arguments. His friends were his life.
"Please...just let me go." I begged him, slight 'feel bad for me' tears escaped my eyes.
"One shot." Tony ground his teeth together. "Preciado, you fuck up and your life is over."
"Got it." Jaime winked at him and then happily looked down at me, pecking my forehead lightly.
"You missed." I smiled up at him. We were all awkwardly standing on the sidewalk in front of the bus, cooling down from the argument.
"What?" He gave me a strange look.
"I said, you missed." I felt my emotions bubbling up. I just wanted to jump around and bounce off the walls in excitement.
"Oh..." He grinned devilishly and leaned down.
Our lips met lightly, nervously, as many sounds of playful disgust muttered around us. Our hearts pounded close together, synchronizing easily. Everything was at peace.
