Alexis

I've been staring at my clothes for half an hour, and I still haven't picked out anything to wear. It's a good thing I'm a dork who started three hours before he's picking me up. But seriously. I'm just paralyzed.

And it's not even a real date. It's not a date at all. It's just me going to hang out with my friend who might just happen to be a guy and I might just happen to like more than I've ever really liked someone in my life, because he asked me to, and I for some reason responded and said yes even though I hadn't to the last hundred texts he'd sent me.

And this proves my point. What happened to me? I'm the girl who doesn't give a... word I'm not supposed to say anymore... about what anybody thinks of me. The girl who's never afraid to look like a mess because she knows she's a lost cause anyway. The girl who knows that she has absolutely no shot with a guy like Aiden. So then, what's the big deal?

I shouldn't even change from what I've been wearing all day.

But... I just can't do that. And I don't know why.

Finally, I can't take it anymore.

Abruptly, I jump down from my bunk and leave the bus, walking straight to Moriah's bus.

Annie, Moriah, and Moriah's bandmates, Jesse, Julie, and Carrie, are all lounging in the main part of the bus, watching "Four Weddings" and flipping through magazines. I guess Mo already did soundcheck for the show tonight.

Moriah looks up as I come in, smiling at me.

"Hey, Lexi! Did the boys finally drive you insane?"

I shake my head, hesitating. "Um... no... I... I need you guys' help."

She raises an eyebrow. "Yeah? Well sure thing. What with?"

I look at the ceiling, feeling my cheeks beginning to turn pink. "Idon'tknowwhattoweartonight," I mumble, barely understanding the words myself.

Moriah raises an eyebrow, an amused smile on her face. "Come again?"

I exhale. "I don't know what to wear tonight," I say as quickly as I can spit it out. And I'm pretty sure my face is bright red.

Moriah's face breaks out in a grin. "Oh, for your date with Aiden! Girl, you have come to the right place."

I glare at her. "It's not a date."

She laughs. "Oh, excuse me. For your thing-with-Aiden-that-you-two-and-everyone-else-all-want-to-be-a-date-but-isn't-offically-beause-you're-both-too-scared-to-make-it-one. Well, you've still come to the right place."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, okay. Just tell me what to wear."

"Annie, go get her clothes," Moriah orders, and I feel my eyes widen.

"All of them?"

"Well yeah," Jesse puts in. "We have to see what we're working with. Though we could probably throw in something of Moriah's or Annie's if we needed it."

"True, I'll remember that," Moriah agrees as a grinning Annie scampers off to Colton's bus. "While they're putting all of that together, we'll do your nails."

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask.

"Come on, Girl, we have to do your nails!" Julie says, getting up and dragging me over to a couch before disappearing into the back of the bus. "I'll go get my stuff."

I let out a long sigh. What did I just get myself into?

Half an hour, and I have my fingernails done like I went to a salon... a really dark purple with anchors done in light blue on the thumbs. While the top coat is drying, they move on to makeup.

"So, we wanna stick with the style you like," Annie begins, and Moriah nods.

"So that's kinda edgy, kinda punk, a little emo..."

"And that is where Carrie comes in," Jesse finishes.

Carrie grins, coming over and examining the makeup box briefly before looking up.

"Let's keep it simple," she says. "Let's just go with eyeliner and mascara, and then some baby cat eyes on the eyeshadow, and a darker shade of lipstick."

"Yes, Ma'am," Moriah agrees, and, before I know it, they're done with my face too.

And I'm being half-dragged to the back of the bus, where Julie's been working on clothing this entire time.

"Whatcha got, Jules?" Moriah asks as we come back.

"Well, I've got a few different options," Julie replies, waving to the outfits she's laid out on the beds. "I tried to keep them all edgy, just like Lexi likes," she adds, smiling at me.

"Oh, you know what this means." Annie's beaming as she says the words.

Carrie shoots me a grin. "You get to put on a fashion show, Lex."

I groan. I am so in over my head here. But I don't really have much of a choice, so I snatch up the first outfit and head to the bathroom.

They finally decide on a pair of black, distressed skinny jeans and the red "Priceless" pullover that Joel gave me from their merch shop, with a black-and-grey plaid tied around the waist. They add Annie's anchor earrings, Moriah's sparkly sneakers, and the fancier of the two "Priceless" necklaces, which Joel also gave me, and declare me perfect.

"Lexi, you look so cute!" Annie says for about the millionth time.

I sigh. "Yeah, I heard you the first time, Ann."

Moriah grins. "It's just that true. When's he picking you up?"

I check my phone. "In about fifteen minutes."

"Man, we're good," Carrie laughs.

"Yeah, that was pretty good, wasn't it?" Julie agrees. "Are you too eating supper together, or should you eat before you go?"

"I don't think we're eating," I say uncertainly, my already-nervous stomach twisting even further at the thought of food. "But it's fine, I'll eat when I get back."

"After-show food is the best anyway," Jesse giggles. "Have fun, Lexi!"

"Thanks," I mutter, and leave the bus.

Now I just have to obsessively pace until he gets here.

Luke's coming out of the fK&C bus, and when he sees me, he jogs over, smiling at me.

"Darling, you look absolutely lovely."

I stare at the ground. "Um... thanks. I guess."

He places a hand on my shoulder, leaning down so that our eyes are level.

"Now, remember, Love, if he tries anything, don't be afraid to tell him to stop, alright? And if he doesn't listen and is making you uncomfortable, call me, and someone will come and pick you up."

"Ok," I whisper, still not meeting his eyes. "But it's not a date, Luke. And anyway, I'd probably freak out if he did something anyway... cause... you know..."

"I know, Lexi. And that's okay. Keep your boundaries, alright? Even if it seems harmless."

I nod, but I still don't look up at him.

"And, Darling, look at me," he adds gently.

Slowly, I make my eyes do the painful transfer to his.

"You're priceless," he says seriously, but with a small smile. "Don't ever forget it."

"Thanks." It comes out a whisper, and I fight to keep tears from messing up my makeup.

He pulls me into a quick hug before releasing me. "Is it okay if I wait with you until he comes?" he asks. "We could play a few rounds of Nertz or something."

"Uh, sure, whatever," I agree hesitantly, and we head to Colton's bus and get out two decks of cards.

We play pretty evenly, and I get so focused on the game that I lose track of time.

Until a hesitant knock sounds on the door of the bus. I jump at the sound, and begin to rise to answer it, but Luke stops me with an upraised hand.

"I'll get it, Love."

I drop back into my seat, and it finally dawns on me at least part of the reason why Luke wanted to be here. Fantastic.

The table's behind a sort-of half-wall that's in between us and the door, so I can't see them, but I can hear them.

The sound of the door opening, and then Luke's voice.

"G'day, Aiden."

I'm surprised to hear the nervousness in Aiden's tone.

"Uh... hey, Mr. Small..."

Luke cuts him off. "Just Luke."

I hear Aiden take a deep breath. "Right. Luke. Thanks."

The door closes, before Luke speaks up again.

"Alright, I'm going to get straight to the point, Mate. Do you think of what you're doing with Lexi tonight as a date?"

He didn't. I barely suppress a groan, letting my head drop to the table.

Aiden hesitates. "I... um... I'm not sure, Sir... er... Luke."

Well, it wasn't a straight up no. But he probably just thought he'd get in trouble for saying that. I guess.

"Alright, how about this," Luke amends. "Would you like it to be a date?"

Once again, there's a pause before Aiden speaks. "I... I don't think it would be a good idea to lie to you, Luke, so I'm going to have to be honest. Yes, I would like that."

Wait... what? He... he likes me to? How? What on earth could he possibly see in me?

"I'm okay with that," Luke replies. "She's an extraordinary girl."

"Yes, she is."

No, I'm not!

"In that case, though," Luke continues, "I want you to listen to me."

"Ok." Aiden sounds seriously scared.

"Lexi has already been through way too much," Luke says quietly, "and that breaks my heart. So, if you do anything to hurt her more, you will have me, my brother, and a handful of other men to answer to, is that understood?"

"Yes."

Luke's probably being more intense than I've ever seen in him before, and I can't help but admit that it's incredibly sweet.

"And also, Aiden," he adds, "don't love ordinarily. Love extraordinarily. Respect and honor, am I understood?"

"Yes," Aiden repeats, taking a deep breath.

"Once again, because of what Lexi's been through, I mean that even more," Luke presses. "Hands to yourself, Mate." I'm assuming Aiden's nodding. "And," Luke adds, with a bit of a smile in his voice, "I'm a man too, and I know it's hard, but could you please at least try to make your mind behave too?"

"I'll try," he replies, still sounding nervous, but with a smile hinted in his tone, too.

"Good man." I hear the sound of Luke clapping him on the back, and then another that's probably them shaking hands.

"I'll go get Lexi," Luke says, and he, in a few seconds, he appears around the corner, beckoning me his way. "He's ready now," he says with a smirk.

I glare at him, though I can feel the corners of my mouth twitching upwards. "That was not necessary, Luke Smallbone."

"Oh, yes it was, my dear," he replies, his smirk changing to a smile. "And you know why? Because I love you."

I roll my eyes. "Whatever."

And follow him to the door.

The second my eyes land on Aiden, I feel all of my nervousness return.

"Hey," I say quietly.

He smiles. "Hey, Lexi."

Luke gives me a gentle push forward then observes the two of us before pointing to me and looking me in the eye. "You are priceless..." He does the same to Aiden. "Respect and honor." And, with a small smile for us both, he points to the door. "Have fun."

u=DC UHK-