I'll Be The Anchor - Michael Clifford

Oh Well, Oh Well.

The show was amazing, just as I knew it would be. I was extremely surprised when 5 Seconds of Summer lugged instruments on stage. I'd expected another boyband act, but I got something quite different. Gorgeous harmonies over beautiful instruments. I was extremely impressed with Ashton and his drumming.

Of course I stayed side stage with "my boys", as Lisa referred to 5SOS, to watch One Direction as well.

"Lennon, you toured with them last go they had in the states, right?" Calum asked, not diverting his glance from the boys on stage.

"Yeah." I answered simply.

"We haven't gotten to get to know them too well but we hear they're an absolute riot." Ashton piped.

"They are. Jokes all around, good guys." I said, biting back my urge to cut the conversation short. I didn't want to get into my history with Harry just yet. They didn't need to know.

"How'd you get your job?" Ashton went on to ask.

"Well, I go to university, I'm studying economics and management. I applied with the managing firm and they hired me... Then, they stuck me on a tour bus. Something about me being young enough to enjoy the hype but brainy enough to keep things calm." I explained.

"Huh, so you're pretty lucky then?" Calum asked.

"I guess so. Most teenage girls would kill for this job, wouldn't they?" I chuckled. I was lucky, that's for sure. That being said things didn't always go my way.

"How old are you?" Luke asked me with bright eyes, over the loud music of Kiss You.

"I'm nineteen." I said, strongly. I hadn't really wanted them to know I was their age yet.

"You're older than all of us." Luke whined.

What. I thought. These boys had to have been eighteen at least.

"How old are y'all?" I asked.

Michael let out a snort and a laugh at me. I gave him a look of confusion and noticed he wasn't the only one laughing.

"What?" I asked, pouting.

"Y'all?" Michael said through laughter.

"Yes........" I said, not getting the joke.

"That's so cute." Ashton grinned, and Michael agreed.

"Your accent is priceless and adorable." He said, smirking and wiggling his eyebrows.

"Nobody answered my question!" I said, glaring and giggling a bit.

"I've just turned eighteen, Ashton has been eighteen, Luke is sixteen, and Calum is seventeen." Michael answered. (Note: I know the ages don't work but I have reasoning for doing them so.)

"Whoah. I'm old." I laughed, looking to my feet.

"It's okay, we'll go easy on you old lady." Calum joked and winked.

"Oh gee Calum, that's so sweet of you." I said rolling my eyes. "Are y'all gonna watch the whole set?" I asked.

"Nah, I'm about to hit the showers actually." Ashton remarked.

"Will you have time before they finish?" I asked, curious about if I'd be able to fit in a quick shower as well.

"Let me ask Lisa. That's a great idea Ash." Luke agreed.

"Sorry I didn't get a schedule today to help..." I murmured.

Michael then poked me in the shoulder. "It's okay Len, we forgive you. This time."

"This time?" I laughed.

"Yep." He said adding emphasis to the p.

Luke came running back to our small group with promising news.

"Lisa said we have time about an hour. Just no more than that as we're leaving before their set is over." He said, lightly out of breath.

"Sweeeeeeeeet." I said. "Do y'all know which way to the buses?"

"Already wanting to shower with us, Len?" Michael said suggestively.

"Very funny... I figured that there's a girls bathroom too..." I replied.

"Aw man, no fun Lennon!" Calum said snapping his fingers.

I began to follow the four boys and they twisted and turned through several corridors talking about how epic night one was, the cute girls in the front row, and so on. I smiled at their excitement and remembered the great happiness this kind of energy brought me. I couldn't wait for more tour nights.

Once we'd reached outside I stumbled through my mind to remember which bus was for crew. It was too dark to read the signs.

"Erm, which bus is for crew?" I asked... Feeling quite inadequate.

"Three down, but why are you staying there?" Ashton asked as Calum wrenched their bus door open.

"I'm supposed to. I'm managing you but I guess they don't think it's right for me to be on your bus." I answered as professionally as I could without saying 'oh ya know I just had a relationship with Harry last tour and they don't want a repeat'.

"Oh. See ya in a bit a guess. We always do games after the shows, you're welcome to join." Ashton said as he followed the others in.

I walked alone to the bus that was for crew and made my way in finding Henry wide awake watching football.

"Hey Henry. Just grabbing some stuff and I'll be back in a bit." I said, offering him a greeting.

"Do you like your boys?" He asked.

"Yeah, they're really sweet." I smiled.

"Hopefully so." He concluded, in a knowing voice.

I ran back to the luggage area and grabbed a pair of black leggings and an old band tee that was so faded you could barely read A Day To Remember. I also picked up my cosmetics bag full of shampoo and such. Leaving out of the bus I caught the four boys about twenty feet ahead of me and watched as they joked with one another. A energy filled Luke jumping on a tolerant Michael, and Calum singing some random song.

I never caught up to them, and didn't really want to as I entered the venue, located the locker room, treated myself to a shower, changed, and dried my hair. I began my journey back to the crew bus.

"Lennon! Lennon!" I heard my name being called in a thick accented voice.

"Hey guys. Y'all were quick, what's up?" I asked.

"Having a go with a bit of football." Calum yelled, kicking a ball with immense force towards Michael. Michael trapped the ball and sent it my way. Luckily I had some skills and sent the ball to Luke.

"Ya up for a game?" Ashton asked.

"Aren't we due to leave?" I asked.

"In twenty." Luke replied.

"Y'all really got this down... You don't need me." I laughed.

"We're alright." Michael agreed.

"I think I'm gonna just go to sleep, I'm a bit exhausted and I wanna be able to hangout with y'all all proper and such tomorrow." I said, letting them down easy.

"Oh Lennon, such a girl." Calum said.

"I know." I chuckled and headed for the crew bus.

"We will hold ya to that, you know?" Michael threatened.

"Of course. Y'all go inside though, okay? They're going to be ready soon." I warned.

"Yes mom!" Yelled Luke.

I shook my head to myself as I made it into the bus, past Henry and into my bunk.

I seriously hoped every night was just as easy.