Change My Ways

"Are you alright?" Brian asks me, as we arrive at the bar.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired." I smile at him.

"Come on, fine lady, we are going to get you a drink." Jimmy says, grabbing my hand, and practically dragging me into the bar. He walks us up to the bar, and orders two drinks for us.

"You could've ordered drinks for us, too, asshole." Johnny says to him.

"Do I look like your bitch?" He says, as he grabs our drinks. I can't help but laugh at them. I've missed these guys. They helped to get me out of one of the roughest situations of my life, even though they didn't know me that well, and they've been nothing but kind to me, though I've basically pushed them all away the past four months. Jimmy takes us over to a corner booth, and slides in, pulling me in next to him. He puts an arm over my shoulders. "Elody, you may not know us extremely well, but just know one thing, before we get too far into tonight... We like our liquor." He says, and smiles, as the rest of the guys pile into the booth.

"More like love!" Johnny exclaims.

"You make us sound like a bunch of alcoholics." Matt says, taking a drink.

"Are we not?" Jimmy laughs.

"I'm sorry." I say to no one in particular.

"For what?" Zack asks.

"You guys have been really nice to me, and have only offered your help, but I've been constantly pushing you away. I'm really sorry for that. I don't know you guys that well, and you don't know me that well. Your first impression of me was a slutty office worker, who slept with her boss, and that's not what I want to be known for. I'd love to get to know you guys better, and for you to get to know me, it's just difficult for me to open up to people, especially after what happened."

"You don't have to be sorry for anything, Elody. We understand." Brian says, looking at me concerned.

"One more thing you should know about us..." Matt starts. "We are not only kind, but we are forgiving." He smiles.

"And loyal." Jimmy adds, side hugging me. I can't help but smile. These guys might just be the best friends I'll ever make.

For the next few hours, we go through story after story. The boys tell me more about their pasts, their families, and how the band got started. I'm genuinely intrigued by all of the stories I'm hearing. These guys may never cease to amaze me. I can't stop locking eyes with Brian, while everyone is talking. I know he's concerned about me, and I guess he has the right to be.

"Now do you want to tell us more about yourself?" Brian asks, smiling at me. Gosh, this man could steal hearts.

"Well... I grew up in Orange Beach, Alabama. My mom was a kindergarten teacher. My dad owned a seafood restaurant. I am an only child. My mother was killed in a car accident when I was nine. My father died of Cancer two years ago. I really have no family that I'm close with. I left Orange Beach after my father's death, to come here to California. I met Juliet, working with her at a bar. Once she found out I was staying at some slummy hotel, she offered me her second bedroom. Not too long after I moved in, Liam offered me a job, working as his secretary. I took it, and mistakenly fell for him. I should've known better. I met you guys, and now I'm here. The end."

"Wow. What an invigorating story." Jimmy is the first to speak.

"That was a short story." Johnny says, and Brian nudges him in the arm.

"I'm guessing you want to know more, Johnny? I am quite an interesting person, if I may say so myself."

"Really?" Jimmy smiles at me. "Tell us more, interesting person."

"Let's see... I took ballet from age 7 to age 12."

"Why'd you stop?"

"I decided it wasn't for me. I started gymnastics instead. I did competitive cheerleading in high school."

"Wow. You must be very... uh... flexible." Johnny laughs.

"Seriously?" Brian elbows him.

"What?"

"If you must know... I really am." I wink at Johnny, and start laughing.

"Oh man..." Jimmy takes his arm from my shoulders. "Things are heating up."

"You know it." I smirk, and get up. "I'm going to go get another drink."

Brian's POV

"She was totally hinting at you there, Bri." Jimmy says.

"I think she was actually hinting toward me." Johnny says, and Jimmy slaps him upside the head. "What was that for?"

"Shut it, short shit.."

"I think you're eyes about popped out of your head, when she came downstairs earlier." Matt speaks up.

"Oh, please. I'm not that bad."

"Well..." Jimmy starts to say something. "Nevermind."

"What's going on?" Elody asks, as she comes back over with her drink, which is already half gone.

"We were just talking about Brian, is all. Please, do sit back down, and tell us more." Jimmy says to her.

"Actually, I was going to maybe dance... I didn't know if you'd want to join me?" She looks at me questioningly.

"I'll dance with you." Jimmy hops up.

"Sit back down, you ass, she was talking to me." I smirk at him, and push my way out of the booth. She leads me to the dance floor. "I'm not extremely good at dancing, I must say."

"I didn't expect much." She laughs.

"Oh, is that so?" I tickle her side, and she turns around, facing away from me. She starts grinding her hips against me, to the beat of the music, and I can barely contain myself. I look over to the booth, and the guys are all staring, and giving thumbs up. I flip them off, and look away, concentrating on containing myself. I must seem tense, because Elody turns back to me.

"Are you alright?" She asks.

"Never better." I smile. "I... um. I'll be right back." I say, and walk back towards the bathrooms.

I come back out, only to see Elody slow-dancing with Zacky. I walk over to the table, and sit back down, taking a swig of my drink.

"You're not going to go steal back your girl?" Matt asks me.

"Technically she isn't my girl. I don't know what she wants, or who for that matter." I say, staring out at them on the dancefloor. Maybe the night wasn't going as well as I'd thought.

Notes