When the Leaves Begin to Fall

I shouldn’t have kissed him, but that’s the effect Niall seemed to have on me. Before I could see the disgusted look on his face, I bolted out the door and into the warm August night. Like always, the streets of LA were crazy busy. So many taxis driving around due to people’s excessive need to get drunk at random clubs, sleep with random people.

I hated it here, but with my dad being a music producer, we didn’t have much choice.

It didn’t surprise me when someone came after me, but who came after me did, in fact, surprise me.

“Wait, Oli,” Niall’s very sexy, very Irish voice said. “I wanted you to do that because I wanted to know what it felt like, at least just once.”

I exhaled sharply and turned to face him with tears in my eyes. “When I said that I was Denise’s niece, you freaked out. This freaks you out, doesn’t it?”

He shook his head. “It’s not me, Oli. It’s everyone else. I hate that things are this way, but come on. You’re my niece, I think? By marriage anyways. People have tendencies to freak out about this kinda thing. I just . . . I wanted to know what it was like at least once.”

“I didn’t,” I said quietly. “Not just once.”

1. 00. Blessing In Disguise

   Life is beautiful. Share a little love with the whole wide world.

2. 01. The Party

   I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty-two. Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you.

3. 02. Ultimate Party Crashers

   This could be great. This could be crazy. This could be the mother fucking party of the year.

4. 03. Connections

   Not really sure how to feel about it. Something in the way you move makes me feel like I can't live without you. It takes me all the way. I want you to stay.

5. 04. Declined Invitations

   Wake up to a sunny day, not a cloud up in the sky, and then it starts to rain. My defenses hit the ground, and they shatter all around, so open and exposed.

6. 05. Plans

   I'm getting pretty good at feeding them the lines they like, but I don't recognize the girl that I face each night . . . I'm gonna burn this theater down and pray to God for the strength to help me face the crowd. I wanna live like I lost the script and scream every line like, "This is it!"

7. 06. The Road to Happiness

   You can fight just like you've been taught. It won't undo the life you've got cause the pieces won't pick up themselves, you know. You're not running just enough of a wreck to hold the hurt heart everybody expects.

8. 07. The Only Safe Place

   And up until now I have sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness because none of it was ever worth the risk. Well you are the only exception.

9. 08. Perfect Match

   You come around and the armor falls, pierce the room like a cannonball. Now all we know is don't let go . . . So you were never a saint, and I’ve loved in shades of wrong. We learn to live with the pain, Mosaic broken hearts, but this love is brave and wild.

10. 09. Dropping the Bomb

    You held it all, and I was by your side, powerless.

11. 10. Annoying Attachment

    Now I'm here, and I can't get you alone.