My Knight in Shining Armor

Chapter 9: Amie

It's been a few days since the photo shoot I'd accidentally slept through and we were once again in a different city. This time we were in Germany and able to get a hotel since we were here for a few days. The concert was last night and there was a CD signing this morning. Tomorrow we'd be back on the road, but not until about noon or so. At the moment the five of us were all piled into a large black car on the way to the CD signing. Mark was driving.

The line went around the corner of the store and we could hear screaming as soon as the car was spotted. Local police were helping our regular security in keeping the crowd back enough to allow us a narrow path to squeeze through and into the store. Mark led the way and somehow managed to shut the door once we were all inside without hurting any fan's fingers. Store employees flitted about anxiously while the band got situated. I could stand or sit near them if I wished or I could go to the back. Usually I started out front with them and ended up in the back by the end. Today was no different. I started out behind the band but all the screaming quickly gave me a headache so I told Mark to let them know that I was in the back.

I sat down on a couch and grabbed Alexander'slaptop—I didn't think he would mind. Even though I'd checked my email a fewdays ago, I checked it again. Surprisingly, I had another email from myparents. It was a short message, simply telling me to feel better andsuggesting I see a doctor. I didn't bother sending a reply. Logging out, Iplayed Solitaire for who knows how long. I was starting to get tired but I wasdetermined to stay awake like a normal person. To try and stay awake I put somemusic on and decided to try looking up my symptoms again. Like last time, thesearch results turned up a lot of sleep disorder-related sites so I triedplaying around with the wording. That turned up a few things but not much. Iwas just about to type in one last search when I heard footsteps. I looked upto see Alexander standing in the doorway drinking water. My eyes widenedslightly and I exited the search on the screen before shutting his laptop. 

"I didn't think you would mind." I explained.

He shook his head. "I don't. The guys will be in soon. The signing's over so we're going to wait until the crowd disperses a bit before heading back to the hotel."

I nodded my okay and carefully set his computer down before getting up. "Be back." I left the room and went down the narrow hallway to the bathroom. When I was finished, I washed my hands quickly, trying not to look at my reflection in the mirror. I didn't want to see how bad I looked. When I walked back into the room, everybody else was there.

"Hey Ams. We're thinking of going out for dinner. How's that sound?" Dylan asked me as I took a seat near her.

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay. Then I guess we'll meet in the lobby of the hotel around...what time is it now?"

Christian was the one to answer him. "Five-thirty."

Dylan nodded her thanks, thinking out loud. "Five-thirty, so say...around seven-thirty?"

"Okay."

Just then Mark walked in. "Okay gang, the car is here."

We all gathered our stuff and started for the front of the store. Alexander was engrossed in his computer and didn't hear Mark until he repeated himself. Then Alexander's head snapped up and he closed his laptop before grabbing the rest of his stuff. The front of the store was still fairly crowded but it wasn't nearly as packed as it had been. Everyone made it to the car without incident and Mark drove us back to the hotel.

Once back at the hotel, we all went to our respective rooms. I looked at the clock. Not a lot of time to change and reapply my makeup. I decided to wear a pair of dark wash jeans, a raspberry long-sleeve tee, and a black halter vest. As for my shoes, I chose to wear a pair of motorcycle boots. Too lazy to do anything fancy with my hair, I left it down and went into the bathroom to reapply my makeup. I'd just washed off the old stuff when I heard Alexander knocking on my door. Panicked, I quickly shut the bathroom door and hurried through my routine. When I came out, I found Alexander lying on my bed dressed in a pair of jeans, long sleeve tee, and jacket. For once he wasn't wearing a long shirt but instead sported a fitted Henley.

"Ready?" he asked. His eyes had followed me since I walked out of the bathroom. Now they followed me as I walked over to the bed.

"Come on." I held a hand out and helped pull him to his feet. We made our way over to the elevators at the end of the hall where we were joined by Christian and Will just as the door opened. Dylan was late, as usual. For someone who's style consisted of ripped skinny jeans, boots, and some sort of basic shirt or band tee, Dylan sure took forever getting ready. It was seven-forty according to the big clock behind the front desk in the lobby before Dylan appeared. She'd changed clothes and put on a little more makeup. Her hair was teased into a toned down Mohawk.

"So where are we going?" Dylan asked.

"Well, now that we're all finally here," Alexander addressed his sister, "I— "

"Hey, it takes time to look this good." Dylan protested.

"Whatever you say baby sis. As I was saying, I saw this place on the way to the signing. It's some pizza place not too far from here—seven blocks or so." I tried not to look as distressed as I felt.

The pizza place that Alexander had picked was nice. It was dimly lit, small, and had a nice homey, local feel to it—and I was so happy when we finally reached it. I was more knackered than normal because I'd been determined not to sleep again during the day.