After finally getting Jake to leave for their practice, I quick hopped in the shower and stared getting as ready as I could for our date tonight, without looking too dressed up to hang out with Josh today. I still had no idea what he had planned, or where he even wanted to go, but knowing him, it wouldn't be anywhere too crazy. He always talked about how "less is more," and how "the most beautiful things are often the most simple," and "things that are meant to be should never be forced."

I missed his little life mantras.

Soon enough, I heard his familiar knock at the door. I quickly made my way downstairs, opening the door to be faced with Josh smiling back at me, a single peach colored rose in hand. I felt my cheeks burn.

"W-what's this?" I asked as he held it out to me. He shrugged, giving me a gentle smile.

"Just cause I've missed you." He said softly. I hesitated before taking it, a smile escaping my lips.

"T-thank you."

"It's no problem, I know how much you like them. And.. you're helping me, so.. thank you."

"Do you.. want to come in? I gotta put this in water." I asked, motioning inside. He nodded, following me closely, shutting the door behind us.

He stayed quiet as we made our way into the kitchen. I dug through the cabinets until I found a small vase thin enough to hold one rose nicely. My dad had gotten my mom flowers like this all the time, so I knew we still had plenty.

Finally I found one, filling it halfway with water, placing it on the windowsill.

"You don't want it in your room?" He asked.

"Well, my moms coming home soon, so.. I'm sure she'd like to see it too." His smile grew.

"Oh, that's great." I nodded, smiling back at him.

"So.. where did you want to go?" I asked.

"I was thinking down the dirt path to the lake."

I lead us both out the back door and across their yard. He walked close, while still keeping a respectful distance, despite leaving his open hand dangling next to me. I tried my best to ignore it, but it was almost impossible.

"What made you want to shoot today?" I asked. He shrugged, pulling his camera out of his bag.

"Well, I've always loved getting scenery like this, and I know once we leave, it's gonna be all highway and cities. Which.. is a nice change of pace, but I wanted one last look at home before we left."

He looked up, filming the skies as they faded down into the dark green horizon filled with trees. Every now and then, I felt the camera on me, unable to contain my smile the longer he kept it on me. All of this around us, and he wanted to waste time on me?

When we reached the lake, he took my hand, carefully helping me over the broken logs and steep hills that eventually lead us down to the shore. The water was calm and peaceful, quiet, aside from the occasional rustling of the leaves in-between every light breeze.

"It really is beautiful." I sighed, pulling my legs up against my chest, admiring the view. He walked down to the edge of the shore, slowly panning around until he stopped on me again, slowly zooming in.

"What are you doing?" I laughed, holding up my hand to cover my face. He giggled to himself, shaking his head as he peaked over the camera.

"Don't hide." He said simply. "You're beautiful." My heart jumped, now feeling like my face was on fire. He smirked back at me, biting down on his lip before turning away, filming the water again.

"What are you gonna do with all this?" I asked. He shrugged, keeping his attention out.

"I was thinking of putting it all together, montage style, contrasting it with the visuals of life on the road. How home takes many forms. Like, this has been my home my whole life, and soon enough.. the road will be home." I couldn't help but smile, admiring him as he worked.

What I would give to know what goes on in his mind.

"That's beautiful." I muttered. He smiled back at me.

"Let's hope so." He laughed. "But.. when you get to spend your life around such beauty, it kind of writes itself."

"Don't be so modest." I said, getting up and going over to him. He smirked back at me.

"Well, I can't take all the credit when.. so many things inspire me."

"But you take them all and make this.. thing, this.. beautiful thing that didn't exist before you, and now.. because of you.." He shrugged again, looking away.

"I think we're all just pieces of what's around us. I can't take all the credit. We're just.. who and what we love. We're all pieces of each other."

I leaned my head on his shoulder, looking back out at the water. The sun glistened over the surface, shining back at us, leaving him in a gorgeous golden glow.

"Despite what happens with the band, I hope you always stick with this. I never want you to push aside what you love.. for the sake of other people. I want you to be happy too." I said softly.

"Thank you." He sighed, keeping his eyes forward. "I will."

"Even if I have to keep calling you to make sure you do." I laughed, wrapping my arm around his. I felt him move closer to me, gently leaning his head on mine.

"I hope you do call me when I'm gone." He whispered.

"I will."

Part of me felt like he wanted to ask what's been going on, what changed between us, but I was thankful that we both just got to enjoy right now, because this is what I missed. These moments with him, when the world didn't feel real and like we were the only two left on it.

And what a beautiful world that would be.

"I.. I think I got everything I wanted here." He finally said, breaking the silence. I nodded, slowly moving away from him as he continued filming the walk back. He stayed behind, keeping the camera on me as I walked in front of him, guiding us through the dirt path and back to the house. I finally peeked back at him, flashing him a wide grin.

"You're gonna have all that wasted footage of me and wished you would have used it on something better when it comes time to edit." I laughed. He shook his head, looking back down at his camera.

"There is nothing better." He muttered. My heart jumped.

He walked me to my back door, keeping his distance again.

"Thank you for helping me today." He said.

"I hardly think I helped." I laughed, leaning back against the door. He moved closer.

"You help more than you realize just by being here, Jaime." I felt my heart beat faster as he moved closer.

"Well, I can't wait to see it when it's all done."

"You may have a little while for that." He laughed. "But.. I can make you up something of.. just today." I nodded, biting down on my lip.

"I'd like that."

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes moving down to my lips before finally backing away.

"Okay, well, um.. I'll.. I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked hopefully. "We have to practice more as the tour gets closer so.. feel free to come by and listen." I nodded, holding my stare on him.

"Okay." I said, smiling back at him. His eyes moved back down to my lips one more time before eventually giving me a subtle nod, turning around and making his way back to his house. I stayed leaning up against the door, watching him until he went back inside.

I'm sure now it would only be a matter of minutes before I heard from Jake, who I had no doubt was listening from his bedroom the entire time, just waiting for Josh to get back home.

I really hoped he didn't ask about today, despite knowing he definitely would, so I wouldn't have to tell him just how amazing it really was, and how badly I wanted to do it again.