Carry On. || Calum Hood

v.

"Okay, well, it's not much, but this is our tour bus!" the nice one explained, gesturing his arms out to the rest of the vehicle. I managed to not trip over the several high steps and looked around, my eyes widening at the sight.

Lined across the top of the ceiling were fairy lights flashing different colors, a good six inches above my head. Leather couches lay on the sides of the bus, a sink and a not-so-mini fridge sitting at the end. A curtain separated what I assumed the front from the rest of the bunks and bathroom. Not much my butt.

"Woah," I said as I slowly walked through the bus. I turned back to the hippie. "You lie,  Ashton," I sassed with a smile and the prayers that that was actually his name.

He obviously wasn't expecting me to tease him so quickly, his face breaking out into a full-toothed grin. Go me, I made him smile. And I got his name right. Then, he did something I never expected someone like him the do. He giggled. Not just a manly shake of the shoulders or quiet laughing; He literally just giggled. Like a school girl. "Hey, I'm not gonna apologize for it," he replied, throwing his hands up in surrender. I smiled back, glad that he wasn't treating me like some fragile character.

"It's really not much," a voice mumbled from the opening of the bus, clearly meaning to say it without my hearing. I furrowed my brows as the non-Asian one came up the stairs and brushed passed me, saying, "I'm taking a nap."

"God knows you need one!" Michael yelled at him, joining my side as he threw an arm around my shoulders. "I'd show you the rest, but Mr. Krabby pants needs his beauty sleep alone," he winked, squeezing my arm. He got a smile out of me before grabbing my bags and carrying them towards the back. "I've got this! Don't worry."

I saw Ashton shake his head and I turned to him. "Is he always this. . .forward?"

"Eh, I haven't seen him this flirty in a while. He must be interested in you," he winked as well, leaning to grab his own things. "Make yourself at home! We're starting the North American leg of our tour today, so might wanna get some rest?"

"Thanks," I smiled as he headed towards the back, too. Overwhelmed with the words he just said so casually, I sighed and looked around again before falling on the couch. Meeting people was exhausting.

The door opened once more and I jolted upwards, my eyes meeting a pair of light blue ones. His deep voice rang through my ears, "Um, sorry, I thought you might've been in the back already."

"Oh no! You're fine, don't worry. Uh, yeah, you're good. . ." I trailed off, biting my lip as I looked down at my lap. He made it inside, his towering height almost causing him to hit his head on the ceiling. He's so tall. . .

Only after a few moments did I realize an awkward silence was surrounding us as he just kind of stood there, not saying anything. He scratched the back of his head before looking around the space.

I cleared my throat, tired of the tension. "Look, I don't want to make anything weird or awkward at all. I'm sorry if this whole thing is uncomfortable for you. . ."

"Oh, what? No, no," he shook his head, moving to sit on the couch across from me. He appeared to be in thought for a little bit, feeling his scruffy beard with his fingers. "I guess I should be the one that's sorry, I bet you weren't expecting to meet someone you're going to live with to be so. . .cold."

I scoffed a little before mentally slapping myself, probably sounding stuck up. "Are you kidding? You have every right to be distant. I'd be pissed to find out some random person was going to live with me for almost a year too, especially if your management gave you as short of a notice as mine did."