People often say that when you're anticipating something, time moves slower, but for me, time was anything but. The days I had between the opening of Scott's to my interview in LA were passing too quickly, and before I knew it, I was standing outside lugging my suitcase into the trunk of my car. If anything, time ran too quickly.
"Well, that's all of it, I think," Michael announced, closing the trunk to the car firmly and knocking on the glass of the rear window.
We were all heading out today, me for LA with Reese accompanying me. Kayla was joining us too, but we would be dropping her off at home in Santa Barbara. Even the boys wouldn't be home. For the next three days, they'd be going north for a mini tour before the concert in the city. They'd be busy, doing two acoustic shows each day - including one radio show - and a full show in lounges each night.
"That's it? That didn't take very long." Calum looked over at where Reese, Michael, Ashton, and I were gathered.
"Well, yeah, you think so because you haven't been doing anything to help," Luke muttered, flicking Calum in the back of the head as he strode past where Calum and Kayla sat immersed in conversation and playing with each other's hands. Officially, they weren't together. But then again, apparently they weren't official in Santa Cruz either. They just made out. A lot. They didn't bother with the long distance thing. At least it was obvious they liked each other. Reese seemed to be pulling Luke along like some lovesick puppy.
"I carried down two bags," Calum defended himself half-heartedly, barely getting the sentence out before continuing his conversation with Kayla.
"Yeah! The snacks and Kayla's suitcase!" Luke said exasperatedly but didn't pursue the topic any further, seeing as Calum wasn't even paying attention. He sighed and turned to us. "Reese, you got everything?" And then catching himself, he added, "What about you, Lana?"
"Got it all," Reese replied simply, barely glancing at Luke. He nodded subtly and averted his eyes to me. It was barely noticeable, but I was able to pick up the small sense of defeat Luke felt.
"You good?" he asked again.
"Yeah, I think I have everything..." I peeked in the window of the car and checked myself. "Wait, no. I just have to go get a jacket."
"No no no, I got it," Michael reached for my elbow as I started off towards my building. "I put my jacket in there. It's in the front, I think."
"Oh," I stopped and brushed my hair behind my ear, my arm tingling from where he touched it. "Thanks."
"Mhm," he nodded with a shrug, putting his hands in his pockets. He didn't say anythig else, but his green eyes still watched me intently with an entire spectrum that made them unreadable.
"Hey, Lana?" Ashton suddenly piped up. He was so often off in his own world looking at our surroundings and probably having a happy time that I almost forgot he was there. I don'r mean to say Ashton wasn't social, that boy wouldn't shut up sometimes, especially once you got him giggling. But he was just so aware of everything around him, it was like he was taking mental pictures all that he saw. Someone needed to get that kid a camera.
"Yeah?" I asked, turning away and squirming a little under Michael's unwavering gaze.
"LA has a lot of street art, and I didn't get to see it last time we were there. I know I'll get the chance to see it myself eventually, but would you mind taking a few pictures while you're down there?" he asked, his hazel eyes not even on me, but scanning buildings around us.
"Oh, yeah, of course," I nodded and gave him a small smile. Go figure. If the band didn't make it - that wasn't even an option - Ashton could probably be a photographer.
