Why Wait?

8

      ~~~tour bus~~~
I checked the clock for what seemed like the millionth time that night.

I groan quietly. It's still 1:03 AM.

Literally one whole minute since the last time I checked.

Does that mean it's really late in the night or really early in the morning? Because it's past midnight so it's technically morning. But it's still night time. So I'm confused as to whether I'm up early or whether I stayed up late.

I spent a few moments looking it up online because I ended up confusing myself even more.

Then after I got my answer---though it didn't help at all---I look at the time again, letting out a louder groan this time.

1:05 AM.

After another minute of clearly struggling, I take my phone and a light jacket then leave the tour bus.

I have absolutely no idea where I'm going, seeing as though there's probably not a place that's open this late at night... or early in the morning? Ugh. I'm still not sure.

So I turn on the GPS in my phone and find out that there's a nearby Starbucks that's open all night long.

"What are you doing?" a sleepy voice asks behind me.

I jump and whirl around, dropping my phone in the process. But I see that it's only Alex who stood there.

He smiles at my reaction then bends over to pick up my phone. "Starbucks, huh?" he says, seeing the directions on my phone. "Where are your crutches?"

"I ditched them," I say, quietly. "They make too much noise."

"Well," he says, stifling a yawn. "I'm already up. Let's go."

Instead of following him, I just look at him, unsure that I should be spending time with him this late at night... or early in the morning.

He notices my hesitation and gives me an amused smile. "After ten months, you should trust me by now."

I laugh quietly, feeling myself relax a little, and let him take my hand.

"Just for show," he says when I look at him.

I smirk. "At one in the morning?"

He blushes a little. "Well, with your knee and all... I...uh, wouldn't want you to fall."

Rolling my eyes, I look down at my phone. "Let's just go."

     ~~~Starbucks~~~
Alex and I have been here for hours. And yes, I am aware that he has rehearsals in just a few hours and then a concert to perform in tonight. So I feel kind of bad for making him stay up with me, just like Austin. Though I hope he doesn't pass out from sleep deprivation. That would be really bad.

"Do you want to go back?" I ask him as he tried to keep his eyes from shutting yet again.

But he shakes his head. "It's fine, Kelli. I don't mind being here with you."

I look at the time. "It's 4:37. You have rehearsal in like forty minutes. We have to get you back."

"I'll just call my brother," he says sleepily.

I stifle a laugh as he lets his head fall forward. "I'll call him for you," I say softly. "You can just stay here and sleep for a few minutes."

I head outside as I dial Luke's number. The only member of the band that doesn't intimidate me that much. He answers after my third attempt at calling him.

"What do you want?" he demands into the phone.

"I need your help," I tell him, looking back inside and seeing that Alex took my advice and was sound asleep on the couch. "Can you come pick us up?"

He groans. "Kelli? What are you doing at four, almost five, in the morning?"

After I quickly tell him the whole story, he agrees to come and pick us up. I thank him and head back inside where Alex was curled into a ball. He looks so adorable when he's asleep. His features were calm and peaceful. I take a seat on the seat beside him, not wanting to wake him up, and start reading a book on my phone.

I got at least four chapters read when Luke walks in with Ty.

"Hey," Luke says sheepishly. "They wouldn't let me leave without at least one of them coming with me."

I give a small smile. "It's fine. The more the merrier."

Ty rolls his eyes. "If it weren't so early in the morning, I'd be furious right now. Do you know what time it is? Why did you guys even come here?"

I point to Alex, who was still sound asleep. "Can we discuss that later? When we're not in a public restaurant that get crowded by people really easily?"

Luke rolls his eyes but complies. "I wouldn't call this a restaurant. It's just a coffee shop."

Ty and Luke try to wake up Alex and he does, but it took a while.

I feel bad for calling them over here so early. I know they have a rehearsal in twenty minutes. I've apologized many times but Ty was right, they are very mad at me right now.

Austin was also mad when we pulled up to the tour busses. He yelled at me for a while, saying how I could've gotten hurt and that I should've never left in the first place.

I roll my eyes at him after a few minutes. "Austin, I'm fine," I say frustratedly. "Nothing bad happened. I'm clearly okay and Alex is also okay, just a little tired."

Anger flashes through his eyes and I know I crossed the line. I basically just told my extremely overprotective brother that he was overreacting, which he is, but it makes him really mad when I do that.

"Just go," he says, pointing to the bus. "You're lucky mom and dad are busy or you'd be in so much trouble right now."

I roll my eyes at him. "You know, I'm seventeen years old, Austin. I can take care of myself. I don't need you watching every move I make."

His features harden but he doesn't say anything. "We're not talking about this now. Go get ready."

I push past him before making my way inside the tour bus. I slam the back door and scream into my pillow.

He never understands. I couldn't sleep, so I left. There's nothing wrong with that, right? I mean, I was coming back. But he's making such a big deal out of this.

HEY!! I GOT AN UPDATE LIKE I SAID!!!

I REALLY HOPE YOU LOKE THIS ONE. I KIND OF CHANGED IT FROM WHAT I ORIGINALLY WROTE ON MY NOTEBOOK. ALTHOUGH YOU HAVENT READ THE ORIGINAL VERSION. BUT I STILL REALLY HOPE YOU LIKE THIS.

I GUESS I DONT HAVE MUCH TO SAY. THANKS FOR READING!! SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY!