Alex's POV

"Vylad, are you sure going to practice today is a good idea? We can always take a day off."

He shakes his head at me at the mere thought of having a day off. Instead of agreeing with me, he insists that he's simply tired and a good night's rest is what he needs. Then he brings up the fact that we will be traveling at the end of the week for another concert, and we cannot miss another practice before then.

I sigh, giving into his words. While I don't believe that what he says is fully correct, I know that Vylad is just as stubborn as I am and no one will win this conversation unless someone gives up. I've decided to give up for now, but that doesn't mean that I will not bring it up to the other two.

He smiles at me and grabs onto my hand and swings it back and forth. "That's a good girlfriend. Besides, a good night's worth of sleep will allow for this boyfriend to take his girlfriend out to dinner tomorrow after practice for her birthday."

I playfully nudge him with my shoulder. "It's not everyday that girlfriends turn seventeen." He side eyes me at my words, playfully rolling them before nudging me back, quickly sneaking a kiss against my cheek. "But I'm more worried about your health than my birthday."

"I'm fine!"

Y/N walks over with Laurance, and I make a sly comment about the new couple gracing us with their presence. Laurance seems rather annoyed with my comment, as I have been doing them fairly often since Friday, and flips me off. Y/N on the other hand seems confused. "What's Vylad going off about?"

I go to answer before Vylad places his hand over my mouth to muffle my words. He claims I'm crazy and that we were talking about something dirty, but he quickly retracts his hand away from me as I lick it. He glares at me, scolding me on how unsanitary my actions are.

This boy. We make out but yet me licking his hand is unsanitary.

"Vylad seems like he's getting sick, but he's claiming it's just tiredness."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Vylad seemed like his bright and healthy self the next day. It appears that I was wrong when I assumed that Vylad was coming down with some form of sickness. It's early March, so the idea wasn't foriegn to me. I thought it was probable, but it seems that Vylad really just needed a few extra hours of sleep.

"If we end up on a magazine cover, I blame you," I joke, glancing at Vylad from the corner of my eye. He opens the door of the restaurant for me and follows behind. He pushes off my comment with a shrug and talks to the hostess about our reservation for two. No Y/N. No Laurance. Just Alex and Vylad. "And I'm surprised Leo let us out early today. He didn't do that with Y/N's birthday."

Vylad pulls out my chair and pushes it back in once I'm firmly sitting in it. I watch as he walks over to his own and sits down. "We don't have to talk about the band tonight, you know. It's just you and I."

I slowly nod my head and reach for the cup of water in front of me. I lift it to my lips to take a sip and notice the brief smudge of lipstick against its rim. Vylad is already looking down into his menu, and it's oddly silent between us.

I feel awkward for bringing up the band and for Vylad's reaction regarding it. I didn't think that he's react to it in that way. He's normally so calm and collected when it comes to the band, and he typically enjoys the topic. But then again, it's our job, and this is our date outside of it.

Sometimes it's like the band is all we are. We aren't siblings or friends. We aren't students (Laurance most definitely isn't but that doesn't matter) or everyday people. There's a label branded over our heads for life.

Minutes pass and our order is taken. It's now where the awkward tension between us is gone and Vylad looks up at me. I feel a blush creep onto my cheeks as I admire his features.

"What do you want to do after we're done with music? Like, what will your future look like?"

Vylad seems taken aback for a moment as he thinks to himself. He stares at the glass in front of him before his attention is back on me. He smiles, moving his hair out of his eyes. "I want to travel. Go to all the well known places and save time to appreciate those that don't get as much attention."

"So you want to sleep on park benches?" I joke, laughing at my own words even if it sounds lame. He chuckles at this, so I don't worry about how stupid I sound. "Just do me a favor. Don't go on a luxury ship that sails across the world just because of a lucky hand of poker. We've seen how that's gone. I'd say take me with you, but I don't think both of us would fit on that door."

Vylad shakes his head at me. We both have our thoughts about that scene on the door. I'm highly convinced that they wouldn't have survived if they both were on it, and Vylad was set on proving me right and wrong for a little while. He likes to dip his toes into both sides of things when he gathers information.

"Oh trust me," he says. "Poker was never my cup of tea. But we'll do it. You'll join me as we travel the world. Together."