Gem realized that had to fight for John, even if it meant fighting herself.

The next day, instead of ignoring John's messages, as she planned, she answered them.

He wanted to meet up with her, to explain, but she didn't want that. How could he possibly explain that his friends were idiots and that he had to act like one to fit in?

Instead of making him go through all that, she decided that they needed to do something fun. Some innocent fun was just what the doctor prescribed, no crazy friends, no weird isolation bubbles in her head, just plain fun.

So she texted him that she felt like going to a karaoke bar. Surprised as he was, he immediately agreed.

Karaoke bar was neutral territory, a place where couples could go but also friends. It was safe. No expectations, just pure fun. She wanted to give him a chance to help her. What she needed more than she would like to admit was to be saved.

However, she still needed a bit of time to get used to the idea that he wasn't the perfect guy she imagined him to be. He was first and foremost, human, and she needed to learn to accept him, warts and all.

She wanted to do it, she felt she owed him that much, but at the same time, she was terrified. Terrified of the risks involved in letting someone else become a part of her life.

How could someone's heart be in constant war with itself? What was worse, she was hurting both of them in the process of figuring out what the right thing to do was. Who was the right person to be?

Even her mother started noticing changes in her behavior and asking Gem more questions than she was ready to answer.

John's friends were able to smash the perfect snow globe that Gem's and John's little world was in, and now other people could slip in as well. The real world was back in its full effect. It wasn't just the two of them, alone in the world anymore, the ship in troubled waters and the lighthouse, beckoning it to safety.

Why did everything have to change? People say that change is good, but Gem wasn't so sure.

Before she met John, she was safe and comfortable under her little golden bell, and now she had to face the real world with all its pains and problems. She wasn't sure she was ready.

For years, she had been avoiding seeing the truth. It was just easier to hide away in the little shell of safety that was the world of her creation.

She snapped out of her self-doubt and reminiscing once she arrived in front of the karaoke bar, and upon seeing John. The look in his eyes was of one deep regret.

Those puppy eyes were looking at her, and at that moment she knew that one look from his regretful eyes was enough for her to forgive him almost anything.

Instead of letting him stew in guilt, she approached him and hugged him tightly. His warmth was the most comforting thing she had felt in a while. Being always cold, she knew how to appreciate the warmth.

That was what John was for her, warmth, and safety. She knew she shouldn't doubt that, but she also knew she would. It was in her nature.

Still, for the time being, she was content to just be engulfed in his strong embrace, the smell of his cologne and something deeper, his unique scent that was more pleasing than Gem thought possible.

The warmth started sipping into her own body, and she couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. The hug was more than enough to tell him that they were okay, but still, he tried to apologize.

"I am sor..." he started.

Gem put a finger to his mouth.

"Shh, there is nothing to apologize for. I am the one who overreacted. Sorry. I guess, I just didn't want to share you with anyone," she said.

Smiling at her, John took her hand gently in his.

"You don't ever have to apologize to me. I should be thanking you. What you just said is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," he said.

At that, she smiled looking at him under her eyelashes. They stood like that for a while longer, and then John led her inside the karaoke bar.

Soon enough, they learned that they were both terrible singers. John was the first one on stage, and he sang the old song, Dreamlover by Bobby Darin. 

His singing was so terrible, that many people could only stare at such a lack of musical talent. What he lacked in talent, he compensated for with emotion.

Gem had never seen anyone sing a song with such passion.

Even though he was just reciting the words of the song, he did it so passionately, that it made Gem feel the warmth spreading around her heart.

When he came to the part which said:

"Someday, I don't know how

I hope she'll hear my plea

Someway, I don't know how

She'll bring her love to me"

Gem couldn't help but blush because the intense gaze he gave her, told her that he sang to her, only to her. It was his way of expressing his emotions without her freaking out, and it was the sweetest thing ever.

No one had ever sung to her before, and she found it endearing and strangely invigorating. At the same time, it was ridiculous, and she was laughing her head off.

When it was her time to sing, Gem decided to follow John's example and choose an oldie. Her choice was Stand by Me by Ben E. King, and she was as bad at singing as John, but for different reasons. 

She was often off-key, and her voice sounded more like a shriek of despair than anything else, but she put her heart and soul in it.

She couldn't promise John anything, but she wanted to tell him that him standing by her, meant the world to her. That she could do anything, and go through anything as long as he stood by her.

Although she put her heart and soul into it, it didn't make her singing any better, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that small lights were lighting up in John's eyes as she sang to him.

They were able to express what they felt through music, much better than any words could accomplish. It didn't matter that they were both terrible singers. What mattered was that they were able to communicate once again, and have a lot of fun in the process.

For the first time, they relaxed and stopped worrying about what anyone might think, and it was fantastic. They screamed in their attempt to sing and laughed so hard that their bellies hurt. They even did a duet, which was so bad that some people left during their passionate performance.

Gem felt more alive than she ever felt before, and the same was true for John.