The next morning I wake with a terrible headache. I carefully get out of bed and walk out the bedroom door.
"Morning sunshine." Leo chuckles. Everyone is up and eating, I must've slept pretty late.
I reply with a groan and grab a bottle of advil.
"Are you gonna compliment me again?" Hudson asks dryly. I ignore his existence completely and go back to bed.
After napping off and on, I begin getting ready for sound check. I take my usual pictures before heading backstage to hangout for a bit. I want to get more shots of the guys off stage to add to my collection of photos.
"Hey Jo." Larson approaches me. I almost forgot about him after the mess of the last few weeks. I've kinda been in a haze while working.
"Hey." I smile and wait for him to walk away. When he doesn't, I feel a bit awkward.
"I was wondering if you want to go out tomorrow?" He scratches the back of his head and seems to be nervous. Does he mean like a date?
"Hey guys." Hudson appears at the worst time in the universe. I narrow my eyes and him as a warning to get lost.
When he decides to stick around, I ignore him completely.
"Sure, where were you thinking?" I focus my attention solely on Larson, despite Hudson glaring at the two of us.
"Maybe dinner? We could explore the area." He grins. He seems to have taken to ignoring Hudson as well.
Once I agree and give him my number, he gets called to help with more set up.
"Yesterday you were telling me how beautiful my eyes are and now you're going on a date with him?" Hudson says bitterly. How can he possibly be mad at me right now?
"It's not like you're gonna take me on one." I shrug. The second the words leave my mouth, I widen my eyes in shock. Why did I say that?!
"Is that a challenge?" A small smirk grows on his face. I cant help but feel sad at his sudden interest. He wants nothing to do with me until someone else is on my radar.
"I'm not a conquest Hudson." I say bitterly and walk away. Where does he get off choosing what I do for me?
He doesn't like me, he just wants to make me miserable in any way he can. I'm done with the nice act, I can't take this anymore.
It feels like years before the concert is over and I can head back to the bus.
I change into more comfortable clothes and grab my laptop. I put in my airpods and hit play on fantastic mr fox. It's always made me feel so comfortable and nostalgic. I need a bit of comfort right now.
Shortly after, Hudson walks through the door.
"Don't go." He says breathlessly. You've got to be fucking kidding me.
"I'm not doing this right now." I focus back on the screen. One night of flirtation doesn't mean I belong to him. He stills acts like an asshole nearly every time we interact.
"Please Josephine." I look back up to see his desperate expression.
"What do you want from me? You switch between being tolerable and an asshole. Now you are begging me not to go on a date?" I stand up, so that I can be eye level. Well, as close as I can get to eye level.
"I'm not good at this stuff." He replies. That's it? He's not good at this stuff?
"There is nothing even going on! You seem to be determined to make me miserable. You don't want anything to do with me, you just want to see me unhappy!" I exclaim. The door opens and Noah's eyes widen. He turns around and disappears again.
"I don't want you hanging out with other guys." He says quietly. His eyes rest on our feet rather than my face.
"Why?" I am shocked that he's even talking to me this much.
"Do I have to spell it out for you?" He laughs sarcastically. I am going to deck him right now. I swear I will do it.
"Yes Hudson, spell it out for me." I need him to say whatever is on his mind, so I know what's going on. This "confession" is so random.
"I, uh.." He trails off, still staring at his feet. For someone who exudes arrogance, he couldn't look more petrified.
"Josephine! Where did you run off to?" Brendan opens the door and jumps to give me a hug. I keep my gaze on Hudson as he takes a few steps back. He turns around and walks out of the bus, leaving me here with 100 questions.
"Brendan I said to wait!" Noah gives me a sympathetic smile. I return Brendan's embrace, so that he will let go sooner.
I take my laptop with me to bed and close the curtain.
I grab my phone to try and call my mom before she goes to sleep. When I get her voicemail, I know I have just missed her.
"Hey mom, I really miss you. I wish I was at home. Call me when you get a chance, I love you." I leave the voicemail and take a deep breath. I cant seem to catch a break.
I give up on watching a movie and head to sleep early. When I wake up, I can feel the familiar movement of the bus moving. I get out of bed and quietly head out of the bedroom. The sun is barely rising as we go down a highway.
I check my phone to see a text from Larson.
'Still on for tomorrow night?'
I think about what Hudson said and try to decide what to do. I have one guy that clearly likes me and wants to spend time with me. The other rarely acknowledges me and most of the time it is to berate me.
I type a quick "yes" before putting my phone down. I grab my book from the table and decide to read for a few hours.
Once Noah and Leo clamber into the room, I begin making breakfast.
"Thank you beautiful." Leo grins and digs in. Noah goes to wake up Brendan and Hudson before returning. He shoots me a tired smile and makes a plate.
The rest of the day is spent anxiously anticipating the date. Hudson goes back to ignoring me, confusing me even more.
I hope I made the right choice..
•••••••
juicy
YOU ARE READING
Through her lense
Romance19 year old Josephine has the opportunity of a lifetime. All she has ever wanted is to be taken seriously as a photographer. When a popular band asks for her to join as their tour photographer, how can she say no? She quickly accustoms to life on a...
