Lost Without Them (Ashton Irwin Story)

A million questions, few answers.

Michael's POV

I know he cares about her, we all do, but the way he cares is so much different to the way Cal and Luke do. Even just the way he looks at her is different.

While I wait for Paul to come round and pick us up to go to the venue I am trying to get my head around my current situation. I know I made him promise to look after her, but did I make the wrong decision? I always promised myself that I would let Storm make her own decisions and her own mistakes and only step in when she really needs me, but what am I meant to do, this is one of my best friends and my sister we're talking about. It's getting out of hand, and I can't sit back and pretend I don't see it, I'm not going to watch him hurt her later on and pretend I had no idea what he was capable of.

Storm's POV

I hear a knock on the door and run to open it before rushing over to my bag and throwing my things in.

"I woke up late, I'm sorry if I'm keeping you guys waiting." I rush out; looking around quickly to make sure I have everything I will need for the rest of the day.

"Trust me; you're not holding anyone up." A voice laughs. I turn around, having expected Paul to be the person that knocked, it turns out it was Mr Tomlinson himself. "We were a little early, call it second hand excitement as it is the first concert, since tour started up again, tonight and it's been a while since I had the chance to see the boys in their element." He explains, waiting by the door for me to get my things together.

"Fair enough." I mumble in reply, taking a final scan of the room as I stuff my phone in the bag, zipping it up and slinging it over my shoulder. "Let's go Tomlinson."

"And here I was thinking we were on first name bases by now but if that's how you wanna play it, then fine. I'm right behind you Clifford" He puts emphasis on my last name, following me out of the door and waiting as I check its locked.

I walk away, seeing Paul at the end of the corridor, running quietly up behind him and jumping onto his back, him instantly grabbing my legs to hold me up.

"One day, I'm not going to be able to catch you kid, what you going to do then, huh?" He laughs, readjusting his grip on me so he can walk without dropping me.

"Carry you of course." I joke, wrapping my arms tight around his shoulders and leaning my head next to his.

He turns his head slightly to see me before shaking his head, "Yeah, we'll see about that." He laughs.

"I have a great view right now." Someone teases from behind us, turning my head I see Calum smirking at me. I raise an eyebrow at him, "Too bad you're not getting any of this, and not only is it inappropriate but Michael would kill you before you got close enough. To forget to mention it would be awkward." I stick my tongue out at him.

"Like that wasn't rehearsed at all." He mumbles sarcastically, poking me in the ribs on the way past.

Once all the boys have assembled in the hallway, we make out way to the cars that will take us to the venue.

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"Pretty, huh?" A voice asks.

I don't turn around but register it as Niall. I nod, humming to show I heard him. He waits a second before sitting beside me on the edge of the stage, looking out towards where the audience of mostly teenage girls will be packed into later on.

"What's on ya' mind?" He turns his head towards me. "I don't know you that well but I heard that telling someone away from the situation what's on your mind can be helpful, they can give you advice that someone involved in the situation couldn't give you."

I nod because it's true, if I hadn't told a stranger my problems I wouldn't have met Zeke, Ry and Blaine so I understand what he is trying to say.

"My problems....they're too many to count. They're everything and nothing, yet both relevant and irrelevant all at the same time." I reply.

He stays quiet, I guess he knows that silence is something I need even if it's just to organise the flood of words that want to escape my mouth right now.

"When Mikey left before, everything I ever knew went with him...everything changed and I made mistakes." I take a deep breath. "But he came back, yet still nothing is right. So much has changed and I feel like the boys I knew have gone. Sometimes you see a flash of the boys I knew but just as quick as is there, it's gone again. I can't even recognise my brother anymore." I sniff.

He listens the whole time, nodding to show he is taking in the small amount of information I am offering up.

"We all mistakes," He starts, "some we will always regret, some we won't regret at all, so don't believe you're the only one who has made a mistake. As for everything changing... I can't tell you that you shouldn't have expected it because, well, that's what happens. We get pulled into this little world where people look up to us and we have to grow up fast, be the role models they see us as. Their still your boys in here, "He points to his heart and lifting my hand and placing on my heart. "Maybe they don't look the same baby faced boys that left or act like 2 year olds 24/7 but, from what I've seen; these boys would still do anything for you if you needed help." He takes deep breath, allowing me to take in the speech so far.

"Michael has changed, I'm not going to deny that but maybe he's not doing it all for himself. I think we all know you look up to him as more than just as a brother, he is everything to you, and he wants to prove that he is worth the position he has in your life. He grew up, sure, but if you wanted him then he would drop everything for you. I have never seen siblings with a relationship like yours... he wants to always be the person you tell everything to, the person you look up to... he wants what's best for you Storm."

I wipe my eyes, he's right. Maybe the answer to your problems aren't always obvious to you, sometimes you need someone else to show you. But he is right, Michael is my everything and now Niall puts it like that I can see what he means.

"Thank you Niall." I smile.

"Hey, I'm here for you too Storm, we all are. Maybe I can be our advice person on tour, huh?" He smiles, proud of himself for inventing such a 'great' role.

"Sure Niall." I laugh.

He checks his watch as we hear movement behind the stage. "Sound check starts in 20 minutes, both bands of course since we're all here. You staying up here or being our audience?" He asks as he gets up, dusting off his trousers and straightening his top.

"I'll stay up here as long as I don't get deafened." I reply.

He laughs as he helps staff, who have started appearing carrying varying size boxes, some on wheels, and some being carried by one or more people. The others boys also start appearing slowly, and help the crew who look thankfully at them as the boys help to set everything up.

"Yeah, no promises about that Storm." Niall calls over from the side of the stage, his head the only thing I can see as it pokes round the curtain.

I laugh as I watch the boys and flip off my brother when he calls me lazy when he looks to be carrying the lightest box there is, a fact I quickly point out to him causing his to stick his tongue out at me and scurry off in embarassment at being caught slacking.

Yeah, Niall's right, these boys haven't changed as much as it looks, even now my brother still finds a way to slack off and look like his doing his bit all at the same time.