groupie; afi

thirteen

I'm honestly used the the cycle between going from hotel room to bus then back to hotel room. It's a normal part of my routine now. It doesn't feel weird on the bus like it used to when I didn't like Luke or Calum, not that Calum and I are anywhere near being friends. But now that things have sort of calmed down, I can chill out in the main room without feeling awkward.

It's just Michael and I in the lounge room for right now. Ashton's in the bunks with Luke and Calum playing some video game. I'm surprised Michael hasn't joined them, he usually jumps at opportunities to play a game.

Oh yeah, I was gonna ask him about those looks.

"Hey Mikey? What was up with the stares last night?" I nudge his arm.

Michael scoffed and smiled at me. "You really wanna know?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't," I say back.

"You and Ashton are so obvious. If you're gonna try to hide a relationship then maybe don't cuddle up together like that," He laughs a little.

What is he talking about? Hiding a relationship?

"What? Ashton and I aren't together," I explain.

"If you aren't together then you might as well be. You guys like each other but won't admit it. I can see right through you though," He shrugs his shoulders.

"Not true. Ashton is just my friend," I say. I can't believe he genuinely thinks that, not that it's a bad thing I suppose.

"Babe, give it a few more days and you'll finally realize," He says, reaching over to cup my face. Our eyes lock on each other when he does this.

"We'll see about that one, babe," I say, mocking his accent during the word "babe."

     "Are you mocking me?" Michael raises his eyebrows.

     "Are you mocking me?" I repeat. You'd think that being surrounded by Australians would make my fake accent better.

     "You're gonna regret that one," Michael chuckles.

     He leans over and starts to tickle my stomach. By our positions on the couch, me laying with my knees up and Michael learning over me, made it impossible for me to escape. I try to hold in my laughter but I eventually give in to the feeling. I squirm around on the couch while Michael continues tickling me.

     He pauses for a moment and I attempt to catch up on my breathing. I feel out of breath from the laughing.

     "Say you're sorry and I'll stop," Michael says, hovering his hands over me.

     "Okay, okay. I'm sorry," I say between breaths.

     "Now say, Michael is extremely hot and talented," Michael smiles.

     "Michael is decent looking and just okay at guitar?" I smirk, knowing he's probably going to do something about that response.

     "You pronounced it wrong," Michael lowers his hands and rests them on the lower parts of my ribs, "I'll tickle you again if you don't do it right."

     "Fine. Michael is extremely hot and talented. Happy?" I roll my eyes.

     "Very," Michael says. He's still leaning over me except his hands aren't resting on my ribs anymore.

    Michael goes back down in his seat, still smiling. I start to think about what he's saying. To me, it doesn't really make sense. I don't think Ashton and I come off as a couple, we're just close. And do I like Ashton? Yes but not in that way. At least I think it's not in that way.