Jane woke up with the same urge as always, to leave the hotel and explore the city by herself, but just as she was about to remove Rob’s appendages from her body, she froze. Her mind wandered to how he felt waking up alone each time he had gone to bed with her, waking up with nothing to hold on to or to absorb warmth from, and she realized that it had been selfish of her to do it every time. 

Instead of getting up, she turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face into him, taking in his scent. 

In that moment, she became aware of how softened she had become with him. A sense of vulnerability was always lingering in the corners of her mind now whenever she was in his presence. The loss of confidence was terrifying, but simultaneously, it was also thrilling. A new sensation to Jane – one where she was uncertain about the future and, for the first time, worried about it. Uncertain of what it would hold.

She had eventually drifted off to sleep once again, but this time, the tables had turned. Rob was the one leaving her in the morning. The deep sleep she was in only allowed her to groan in reply to his farewell, and she stayed in bed for another few minutes before finally rising and throwing on clothing: a large shirt that hung loosely off her shoulders and her pajama shorts.

Warm sunlight was pouring into the hotel room, bouncing off the white furniture like a mirror. It was silent and empty as well, which made Jane shiver at the realization. She felt like she hadn’t heard [i]nothing[/i] since they’ve left Long Beach, and she didn’t enjoy it.

She whipped out her phone and shot a text out.
Jane: [b]Come over.[/b]
Austin: [b]Give me 5 minutes.[/b]

Jane’s nimble fingers were carefully constructing something to smoke when a knock sounded at the door, to which she scurried to and swung open, the freshly rolled joint hanging out of her mouth. “Just in time!” 

“Hey,” Austin smiled as he walked in and closed the door behind him. “No Rob?”
Jane shook her head. “Not sure where he’s off to.” 
“Sam’s gone, too,” Austin replied as a curious expression took over their face. “That’s weird.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I need help smoking this thing. Come on.” 

Jane walked over to the sliding glass door that led out to the patio and lit the joint, sighing with relief and smoke. Her phone, which was shuffling music through a Bluetooth speaker she had brought, began to play [url=https://youtu.be/BR1VGEmqNKk]She Rex by Sleepy Sun[/url], and she sang along until they got situated in the chairs outside. 

“I’ve gotta ask you, what did you mean at the show last night? What do you think is gonna happen?” Jane asked as she handed him the joint. 
“J, don’t worry about it. You seem like you’re enjoying yourself,” he admitted as his voice struggled to communicate while he held in the smoke.
“I am. I [i]really[/i] am. We’re having fun. The sex is great.” Jane winced as she said it. “Sorry.” 
Austin waved a hand at her, as if to tell her what she admitted didn’t bother him. “I get it. But what next?” 
She was about to reply when she paused in thought. “What’s [i]next[/i]?  Does there have to be a next?”
Austin smirked as he released the smoke from his lungs and handed it back to her. “I don’t know, J. What if you wanna hook up with someone else, huh? A cute guy or girl is at a show and you find them irresistible. What will you do?”
“I’m not a fucking animal, Austin. Besides, I don’t really have any interest in sleeping with anyone else right now. I even told Lena last night what was happening.” 
Austin nodded. “I know you’re not. But, this high – what you’re feeling right now – won’t last forever. It never does. I wanna know what you’re gonna do once your initial wave of feelings wear off.”
She sighed. “What if it doesn’t?” She rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. “What if everything stays the same? Or, what if we…” Jane trailed off in uncertainty of what she was going to say next. “This is what I was worried about.” 
Austin rubbed her shoulder. “I know, dude. I think maybe you should talk to him. See what exactly he wants out of all this.” 
“Fuck, I hate talking,” she laughed, Austin joining her. 
“You’ll be fine.” 

Jane perked up as she heard the door open and kept herself from running to it. “Hey,” she greeted Rob as Austin walked up behind her.
“We thought you guys ran off. We already found a new drummer and guitarist,” Austin smirked. He nudged Jane’s shoulder. “I’m gonna head out. See you later.” 

After Austin shut the door and Rob finished tinkering with the coffee maker, Jane wrapped her arms around his torso and looked up at him with her chin resting on his sternum, the highest it could reach. “I’ve gotta find somewhere to do some laundry. You should come with.”

A half an hour later, they found themselves at a Laundromat in the city. It was small and busy, people bustling around with carts full of laundry, many talking amongst themselves. After loading her clothes in one of the washers, Jane struggled to climb up and sit on one, and she found herself watching the other patrons, attempting to listen in on what they were speaking of. Her thoughts flashed to one of her favorite song’s [url=https://youtu.be/wGvIaKygKs8]music video[/url] until Rob finished what he was doing and crossed her path. 

She grabbed an arm and pulled him in between her legs and put her hands on his shoulders. “I, uh, do you mind if I ask you something?” Jane’s mouth was already working against her, fumbling her words. “I don’t know, I think that article is still getting to me. That, and Austin.  He’s like the dad I never had,” she chuckled nervously, then her voice lowered. “I’m also fucking stoned.”

[i]”Out with it, Jane.”[/i]

“I’ve been having fun with you. [i]A lot of fun[/i] with you. I don’t want anything to change. But, uh, I guess what I’m wondering if,” she swallowed, “if this is all you want. Or what you're expecting from me. I'm so bad at reading between the lines that I don't even think to.” 

She removed her hands off of his shoulders and moved one to the back of his neck. “There’s no right or wrong answer or anything. I just need, I don’t know.” Jane sighed and shook her head. “I bet I sound stupid, yeah?” The strands of hair that had fallen in her face were removed with her fingers as she looked back up to him and smiled faintly. She knew that she could talk to him about anything, but it didn't make it any easier. 

The fingers that were on the back of his neck moved up slightly into his hair as her fingernails lightly grazed along the skin, and Austin's words replayed in her head. [b]"This high won’t last forever."[/b]