Free Bird

I Love You

"This is really pretty." I say as I look up at the stars.
Ashley and I decided to skip the after show festivities tonight and choose to enjoy the beauty of the night sky in Germany. My head is in his lap as we sit/lay on a bench outside the venue. Bus call isn't for another hour, so the guys and Juliet went out to drink, well except CC who is on the bus "talking" to Lauren. I really hope they don't break up like Shay predicted, but it doesn't sound good.
"Not as pretty as you." Ashley tells me
I laugh at his cheesy pick up line, "You want some wine and crackers with that cheese?"
He laughs at me and kisses my forehead. We gaze at the stars in comfortable silence until we hear Andy's loud voice...
"I am the Batman!"
Ashley and I laugh and take that as our cue to get on the bus with the rest of them. The party goers decide to head to bed, where CC must have retreated to some time ago because he's no where in site when we enter the bus. Ashley and I stay up a bit longer and play 20 questions.
"Favorite color?" he asks
"Purple"
"What is something about you that would shock me?" I ask
"Before I wanted to be a rock star I wanted to be the next Jackie Robinson." a small smile crosses his face
"Seriously!?!?!" I question
"No. But I shocked you didn't I?" he laughs at his horrible joke and I yawn. "Shall we go lay down beautiful?"
"Sure"
We head to his bunk and he says I can have the wall. I crawl in and he follows. He lays on his back and I curl up next to him, his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the beating of his heart. I enjoy the sound and it starts to lull me to sleep. Right before sleep takes me I hear Ashley whisper...
"I love you Neveah, you are my whole world. I will never let anybody hurt you."
It was so soft I don't know if he was saying it to me, himself, or if he was already asleep himself. But I don't have time to think about that, Sandman is here and he's about to take me on a journey.