Hold that thought

Just one Goddamn moment

I'm going insane 

I think

Aren't I?

You're my sabbatical

You're my hurricane

I love your storms

You don't wanna be the lonely one 

So let's party together

We'll make the impossible again

We'll ring out the year

Restart it together

I may never be the same tonight

As long as you're by my side

So lets toast away these mistakes

And say our prayers, Amen, hallelujah 

--unpublished lyrics by Orion Bauwens

"Hi Orion!"

My sister is waving to me over my cell phone.

The sleeping aid knocked me on my ass and I slept for fourteen hours straight. Even so, I still feel really groggy. Tristan said he checked on me repeatedly as I slept, but I told him to go away every time (which I don't remember). I finally dragged myself out of bed shortly before noon.

After shoving some food down my throat (added benefit of sleeping for that long, I guess? You wake up starving) I decided to call my sister. Because I miss her. Because fuck my life.

Well, my life hadn't been completely bad. Staying with Tristan was nice. It felt strangely normal for me. Plus I had spoiled him a little. Since he had refused to let me pay for his rent, I went and bought a car for him. I knew he would've killed me if it were something high end, so I got an economical car. It was the least I could do for him for being so perfect.

I wave at her. "Hey!"

I yawn and she laughs. "You just wake up?"

"Yeah...haven't been sleeping well."

"It's almost noon by you, yaknow."

I flip her off which makes her laugh.

"Who are you talking to Orio?" Tristan calls from the bedroom.

"My sister."

"Who's that? Wait--did he just call you Oreo? Like the cookie?"

Tristan is by my side then, pressing his cheek against mine. He waves. "Hi!"

"Oh! Hello!"

"I'm Tristan."

"Amy."

"And yes, I just called him Orio."

She laughs. "That's really funny."

Tristan shrugs. "I d'no. Jake and Ben call him Ori, so."

My sister squeals. "That's ADORABLE! I didn't know that! Can I call you that?"

"Sure," I reply. "I mean, it's reserved for only my closest friends, so yeah."

"You should drop that in an interview! Your fans will go NUTS!"

I glare a smidgen. "Like I said--reserved for close friends. Besides, I'm not giving interviews for awhile."

"Why?"

"I just want to lay low for awhile..."

She looks at Tristan and grins. "So! Where are you from?"

"Texas. And you're...what, Minnesota?"

"Yup."

"How is it? Never been."

Amy glances over her shoulder a second before replying. "It's fucking cold. And boring. Honestly I low-key hate it."

"If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?"

"Someplace warm."

"Like Texas?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

"Listen to me," I tell Amy, "you do not want to live in Texas. It's too hot."

"Yeah, blah blah blah," Tristan teases me a second. He then looks back at Amy. "I swear, that's all I hear. It's too hot, it's too hot, wah."

I grin and punch Tristan's shoulder.

"So do you wear a cowboy hat?" Amy asks.

Tristan laughs. "No. Never in my entire life. Don't want to, either."

"Aw, I think it'd be fun," I quickly whisper into Tristan's ear, and then give him a seductive smile.

He whispers back. "Maybe I will, just for you..."

"Hey!" she says, "no secrets!"

We both laugh.

"What about you Tristan? If you could live anywhere, where would you live?" she asks.

"Honestly? Texas. I love my home state. Anyway, I gotta make myself lunch. I haven't eaten yet, unlike sleeping beauty here who slept for fourteen hours and then devoured my kitchen..."

I flip him off.

"Nice meeting you, Amy."

She waves. "You too Tristan! Hope to talk again!"

"Oh, I'm sure we will."

Tristan leaves.

"Is he still there?" Amy asks quietly.

"No--why?"

"OH my GOD who was THAT? He's hot! I dig the southern accent."

"Down girl, he's my boyfriend."

Amy blinks. "Oh. I didn't--I didn't know you had one of those."

I raise my eyebrow. "Problem?"

"Well, no, I just kinda assumed you were straight. I mean in your interviews you talk about women..."

"The press doesn't need to know the ins and outs of my personal life. Plus it's never been explicitly asked about in interviews. If it ever came up I'd talk about it. But it doesn't, so I don't."

"That's fair. So!" she says excitedly then. "I wanna see your mansion! Gimme the grand tour!"

"Er, I can't," I say, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Aw come on, don't be shy!"

"It's not that. Something...really messed up happened recently. I'm at Tristan's place."

"Oh. Are you alright?"

"Kinda. I mean yeah, I will be."

"What happened?"

"Pretty sure I have a stalker..."

"Oh Lord. For real?"

"Yes, unfortunately. So I'm staying here for a while."

"Has that ever happened before?"

"No. This is a first."

"Are you safe at Tristan's?"

I was told I can't mix my anxiety meds with the sleeping pill. Fuck me, I could use one right now. I smile faintly. "I should be. Thanks for being concerned."

"You're my brother and you have a stalker--of course I'm worried!"

"You're a really sweet person, Amy."

"Aw, thanks!"

I laugh then and wiggle my finger at her. "Staying out of trouble?"

She makes a halo over her head and presses her palms together. "Of course, dearest brother!"

"You better be."

"Hey," she says seriously then, "if anything else weird happens you can come here for a while, okay?"

"I wouldn't want to impose--"

"Shut up. I'm sure mom would want you to be safe." She winks. "So would I."

"Thanks Amy."

"I gotta go. You'll be happy--gotta practice my flute."

I grin. "'Atta girl! Keep up with it."

"We'll talk longer next time, okay?"

"Sure thing. Just wanted to say hi."

She waves. "Hi! Bye!"

"Bye-bye Amy."

When I end the call and put down my phone, I notice Tristan is leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk on his face. I raise my eyebrow. He looks fucking sexy like that.

"Can I help you?"

"You called me your boyfriend."

Oh shit. I did, didn't I? Just like I said to my therapist. Well, cats out of the bag now I guess. I slide out of my seat, walking slowly to him somewhat seductively.

"I did. Is there a problem?"

He grins. When I walk up to him, he pulls me to his chest. "Nope. No problem here. Just didn't know that's what I was to you."

I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing our faces closer together. When I speak, it's softly. "Yeah, I think that's what we are."

We kiss tenderly. Followed by a series of small pecks that make me smile. Afterwards we go over to his couch and sit. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me close, and takes up the TV remote. "What do you want to do today?"

I ignore the question. "Hey Tristan?"

He looks at me. "What?"

"Um. Since--since you're officially my boyfriend now and everything, I was wondering if you could do something for me, if it's not too much of a bother."

He puts down the remote again and views me seriously. "Of course. What is it?"

"Well...my therapy yesterday was really rough and I was a wreck. That's why I came back so late."

He briefly runs his hand through my hair, moving my fringe away from my glasses. "I'm sorry to hear that."

I bite my lip. "So I was wondering--"

He gently moves my lip out of my teeth. "Stop it."

I feel myself color a little. "I was wondering if you could come with me to my therapy sessions, and wait for me?" I look down. "It would make me feel better."

He pulls me into a tight hug. "Of course, Orio. If you think it would help, I'd be honored. It's no trouble at all."

I let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks Tristan."

He pulls away, fussing over my hair again. "Of course."

"Hey Tristan?"

"Hmm?"

"One more favor?"

"Anything."

"Cut my hair."

He laughs. "What?"

"Please," I say, overly dramatically, clasping my hands together and giving him my best puppy-dog eyes. "It's driving me fucking crazy. I don't care what it looks like, I just want it shorter."

He laughs, ruffling my hair until it's all back in my face. I growl at him and cross my arms, blowing it out of my face.

"Sure. If ya trust me...lets go."

Of course I trust him to do something as simple as cut my hair.