What It Cost

Finding a Rhythm

The soft hum of the bus and the rising sun's glow marked the quiet hours of the morning. Jolly stretched and stepped out of his bunk, blinking sleepily as he made his way to the small kitchen area. He rubbed a hand over his face, suppressing a yawn as he glanced around the dim interior of the bus. The faint shuffle of his movements stirred the stillness, and his eyes drifted to the small table by the kitchenette.

His brows furrowed at the sight before him. Noah sat slumped against the wall, his head tilted back at an awkward angle, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Lilly leaned heavily against him, her head fully resting on his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. One of her arms draped loosely over his waist, the gentle rise and fall of her breathing a clear sign she was still fast asleep.

Jolly tilted his head, a confused expression spreading across his face. He crossed his arms, trying to piece together how they'd ended up in such a position. Clearing his throat softly, he took a step closer. "Hey," he called, his voice low but enough to break the silence. He gave Noah's shoulder a light shake.

Noah stirred, groaning as his head lifted slightly. His eyes cracked open, squinting against the dim light. He winced and immediately brought a hand to his neck, massaging it with a pained grimace. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.

Lilly blinked awake a moment later, her lashes fluttering as she adjusted to the faint light. The realization of her position hit her like a freight train. Her head was on Noah's chest. Her arm was across his waist. Heat flooded her face, her cheeks blazing red as she bolted upright, the quick motion causing her head to stir.

"Oh my God," she mumbled, her voice barely audible as her hands flew to her head. She couldn't meet Noah's gaze.

"Did you two sleep here?" Jolly asked, his voice confused as he gestured toward the table.

Lilly's eyes darted to Jolly, her face still flushed. Words tumbled out in a disorganized rush. "Oh, um, no! I mean, yes, but... well, I was... we were..." She trailed off, her embarrassment only growing with every word.

Noah cut in, his voice calm and low, laced with a hint of amusement at Lilly's embarrassment. "Neither of us could sleep," he explained, sitting up straighter despite his clear discomfort. "Guess we just... fell asleep here."

Jolly's confusion lingered for a beat, but he shrugged it off and turned to grab a bowl from the cabinet. He poured cereal casually, as if seeing bandmates asleep together in awkward positions was just another part of tour life.

Meanwhile, Lilly's eyes shifted to her closed laptop on the table. Her stomach dropped with sudden panic. "My photos," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. She reached for the laptop, her mind racing. "What if my laptop died?"

Before she could open it, Noah reached out and placed his hand over hers. The gesture was gentle but firm, grounding her spiraling thoughts. "I saved your work and shut it off," he said simply, his voice steady.

She froze, her wide eyes staring at his hand over hers then lifting to meet his gaze. A wave of relief washed over her, and she exhaled, her voice coming out as a breathy. "Thank you."

Jolly, now munching on his cereal with an almost comical level of nonchalance, glanced between the two. "You two should get some real sleep before the day starts," he advised through a mouthful of food, nodding toward the hallway leading to the bunks.

Lilly and Noah exchanged a glance, their expressions mirroring a mix of exhaustion and awkwardness. Standing, they moved toward the hallway together, careful not to wake Ruffilo or Nick, who were still fast asleep.

The narrow hallway between the bunks forced them to pause, standing closer than they normally would. The silence between them was palpable.

"Sorry for... falling asleep on you," Lilly whispered, her voice barely above a breath. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.