What It Cost

Charged

The buzz of adrenaline and energy was high as the group crowded in the tour bus, the air was live with chatter. The boys felt as if tonights show had been the most energetic yet and spirits were high.

In the main area, Tasha was perched sideways on the couch, leaning toward Lilly as she flipped through a few shots Lilly had taken.

"Oh, my god," Tasha gasped, eyes wide with delight. "Look at this one... Noah looks so cool in this shot..."Her finger hovered above the small screen, tracing the silhouetted photo of the front man. Lilly flipped through a few more, Tasha stopping on a few to add more comments. "You HAVE to send me this one..." She said, a wide grin spread across her face as she pointed to a photo of Ruffilo playing bass, his hair messy in the photo.

Lilly grinned at the praise, "Oh, girl, I will send you that photo, trust." She shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But, thanks," she murmured, still feeling the buzz of adrenaline from the show. "It means a lot coming from you." Lilly turned to meet Tasha's eyes, the two grinning at each other.

Before long, Nicholas appeared at their side like a moth to a flame. "So," he drawled, hands stuffed into his pockets as he leaned toward Tasha, "what'd you think of the show?" A grin was spread across his face, one that Tasha immediately picked up on.

Tasha bit her bottom lip, eyes shimmering playfully. "Amazing..." She replied, voice low. "I couldn't seem to take my eyes off you." She placed a hand on his bicep, a flirtatious grin across her face.

Lilly bit the inside of her cheek to hide a grin as she slipped away to give them their privacy. She made her way to the bunks, slipping quietly passed the curtain as she let it fall shut behind her. The narrow hall toward the bunks was dim and cozy compared to the bright lounge. Lilly dug into her camera bag, her hands moving on autopilot as she unclipped the battery, slid it into its charger, and began repacking her gear.

Behind her, the curtain moved, letting a sliver of light spill in as someone entered the small hallway. She felt a shift in the air, knowing immediately who it was.

Noah appeared like a ghost, soundless and light as he filled the small hallway, his presence demanding. "What'd your best friend think of the show?" he asked, voice deep and soft.

A smile tugged at her lips, and she answered without looking up, her hands still focused on her gear. "Everyone seems awfully curious about that," she teased gently. "You could just ask her yourself, you know."

He leaned against the bunk opposite her, arms loosely crossed, gaze fixed on her like she was the most interesting thing in the room. "Ruffilo seems to be pretty busy with her," he mused. "And I don't want to mess up his vibe."

That earned a soft laugh as Lilly finally turned and glanced up at him. The hallway was narrower than she'd realized. Or maybe it was just him, the way his height filled the space with ease. "Oh," she murmured, amusement in her eyes. "You noticed that too?"

Noah chuckled, low and genuine, and his gaze drifted to her lips for one telling second.
"Kinda hard to miss," he replied. "He hasn't exactly been subtle about it."

Lilly bit her lip to stifle a laugh in response. "I support it, though." She put her hands up in mock-surrender. Lilly fought the urge to turn back to her camera for comfort, doing her best to ignore their closeness. 

The two laughed, enjoying the moment together. Once their laughter subsided, the air shifted into something charged. Lilly felt her heart trip against her ribs. Every breath became heavy and deep, as if her body was reaching for him. Noah uncrossed his arms, letting them hang slack at his side as they gazed into each others eyes.

Then, he moved slowly, so slow it made her ache, one large hand lifting to her face. Her eyes stayed glued to his, locked in the moment. She felt the heat radiate from his palm and into her cheek. His fingertips gently grazed her forehead as he brushed her hair back with his free hand, tucking it gently behind her ear.

Her body responded before her thoughts could catch up, heat sparking low in her belly as his thumb traced a careful path across her cheekbone.

"Noah..." she breathed, hardly a whisper. His name felt sweet on her tongue.

And that was all it took.

He bent toward her, his other hand slipping to her waist, urging her closer to him. She obeyed, stepping forward as her body met his. Lilly's hands found their way to his shirt, gripping him without thinking, every nerve alive. Her heart thudded so hard she was sure he could feel it as his face inched closer to hers. She felt lightheaded with anticipation, gripping tighter onto his shirt as if she was afraid of floating away.. She could feel him too close, his breath grazing her cheek, lips merely inches away from hers. Every part of her was on fire, vibrating with a need she had been fighting in herself.

And then...

The curtain was flung back with a noisy rustle.

"Hey, you guys...!" Ruffilo burst into the hallway, voice too loud.

Lilly jolted, hands flying from Noah's shirt as she spun around, face burning. Instinct took over and she busied herself with a camera lens, fingers trembling so badly she almost dropped it.

A sharp, frustrated exhale escaped Noah as he took a deliberate step back, dragging his hands through his hair, trying to scrub away the frustration from being interrupted.

Behind Ruffilo, Tasha's face appeared, already wincing. "I'm so sorry," she muttered as she grabbed Ruffilo's shoulders. "I tried to stop him..."

The realization dawned on Ruffilo, his eyes going wide as he took in the scene in front of him. "Oh, shit," he stammered, face flushing with guilt as Tasha tugged him backward. "Sorry. I'll just, uh... yeah."

And just like that, they were gone, leaving the hallway too quiet, too full of the moment that still burnt between them.

Neither of them spoke.

Lilly kept her gaze glued to her camera like it was the most fascinating thing in the world, feeling the heat creep up her neck as the charged silence stretched.

Finally, she swallowed, her voice quiet and unsteady. "We... we should probably go back out," she offered, not daring to look up.

Before Noah could answer, she was already moving past him, brushing by as quickly as she could without actually running.

Noah stayed where he was a long moment after she disappeared, hands dragging hard through his hair. A quiet, raw sound of frustration slipped past his lips before he finally followed her toward the distant voices of the lounge, his heart still pounding as if they'd actually kissed.