( congratu-fucking-lations )

"I would like to propose a toast to the release of 'Youngblood'!" Ashton was standing on the table in the little, secluded room that was On The Rox while holding a shot glass up high. "Congratu-fucking-lations!" He then proceeded to down the shot.

They were back at The Roxy to celebrate Youngblood's release and Barrett didn't want to his light-weighted-ness to get in the way. He wasn't much of a drinker in the first place so he didn't want to know how it would end. So far, he was three shots downed and felt like he had to take a seat.

     Yeah. This was going to be an interesting night.

     He was sitting next to Luke, Ruby was sitting on Ashton's lap while Michael and his girlfriend Crystal were sitting side by side. "I can't believe this is my life," Barrett said. "Well, believe it, Bear. You're stuck with us. But more importantly, you're stuck with me." Luke wrapped an arm around Barrett's shoulders before kissing his temple. Thankfully the room was dimly lit so no one could see the heat rising in Barrett's cheeks. "I still can't believe you guys aren't an item." Crystal was awed. "I only subscribed to E! just to see what was happening between you two."

     "At least it wasn't DailyMail." Barrett chuckled and rested his head on Luke's shoulder. "Should I get you a bottle of water?" Ruby asked, noticing Barrett's partially fatigued face. "No, I've got it. Thank you, though." Barrett left the room to fetch himself a bottle of water, which was the perfect time to start grilling Luke.

     "Okay, when'd you start liking him?" Michael asked first. "Thought it'd be obvious." Luke shrugged before taking a swig of his beer. "I was the one to pick him, I was the one to contact him, I was the one who got him and Ruby at the airport, I was the one who got him up in the morning to get to the studio. Hell, I even got him breakfast the second day he was here."

"You went to Roscoe's? Dude, you are so far gone on Barrett I can't even see you," Ashton said in a "you're fucked" manner (Luke was surprised that Ashton didn't see the entire Twitter conversation thread about it). "What's the thing about Roscoe's?" asked Ruby, looking at Ashton, intrigued.

"The day Luke said 'I love you' was the day he took his then-girlfriend to Roscoe's. It was their four-year anniversary and it was also the day they broke up. That's when he realized he wasn't that even into girls and hasn't been to Roscoe's since," Ashton explained. "So to take Barrett to Roscoe's the second day he's here is one big step for Luke, and a giant step for mankind."

Before anyone could make a comment, Barrett came back with two water bottles, one full and the other half. "Sorry it took me so long. Getting through a crowd is a lot harder than it looks." He sat back down next to Luke and asked, "What'd I miss?"

They all looked at one another and shrugged like nothing happened. "So. . .I was thinking of heading to Roscoe's for a hangover cure tomorrow," he said and Michael did a spit-take, spraying whiskey all over the table. "There is something going on! Tell me." Barrett turned to Luke, knowing he'd be easier to crack than the rest of them. Luke finally broke and told the story to Barrett.

"In conclusion, I really do like you and I really want to go out with you." Luke looked at Barrett, searching his face for an answer. Barrett sat, processing everything he just heard. Luke went out with a girl for four years, said "I love you" on their four-year anniversary, and then broke up with her all on the same day just because he realized he wasn't that into her. He was terrified to see what would happen on their four-year anniversary and he didn't want to know. And that thought pretty much confirmed it.

He wanted to date Lucas Robert Hemmings — he found this through Google. He wasn't a creep. And to further confirm his answer, Barrett pulled Luke in by the back of his neck and kissed him. There were whoops and hollers and the sound of someone slamming down a shot glass (Michael) in celebration.

June fifteenth marked the start of something new and equally scary — in a good way.