You're Not Alone...

Why? Why did you...?

Victoria slept soundly for a long time in Ashley's arms. But she wasn't the only one sleeping. Ash fell asleep too. But only after 15 or so minutes of whispering to sleeping Victoria that he would always protect her.

When the sun shone through the tourbus's blinds, Victoria woke up with a small groan. She lurched to the floor & stretched a bit before looking at her surroundings. She realized soon that the only part of her surroundings she recognized was her idol, Ashley Purdy, laying on the couch, asleep. She backed away, only to trip over a boot. Presumably Ash's. He stirred & leaned on one arm, "Hey, did you sleep well?" Victoria nodded, looking up at him from her spot on the floor. "Will you speak?" Ash looked at her caringly, "Or shall I just ask yes or no questions?" 

Victoria started to laugh, "I talk. Don't worry. But um... Why... Why did you...?" 

"Do you remember last night?" She looked clueless, but shortly started to nod, "Y-yeah... I do... Um, thanks for that..." She glowed a bright pink colour, embarrassed Ash had seen her be vulnerable. 

"Please don't be embarrassed," he reached for her hand, but she pulled away. "Do you not fully trust me?" 

Victoria felt bad to admit it, "I just... I don't know you really..." 

Ashley sat up, "Well I'm Ashley. I think you at least know that," he smiled warmly. "Your name?" 

"Victoria..." She stayed on the floor, only to be tripped over by Andy. "Ow!" She crawled to the couch, a stricken look on her face. Andy was concerned, "Sorry! I didn't expect...? Okay then... I didn't expect some girl to be sitting on the floor... Ash... What did you do?" 

"I didn't do anything but be helpful!" 

"You know as well as I, that by LOOKING at her, she's too young-" 

"I know!! I fucking saved her, man!!" Ash was fed up with Andy assuming Victoria was just another one-night stand. Andy raised an eyebrow skeptically, but it was Victoria that broke the icy demeanor of the two bandmates, "He's telling the truth... I was waiting to be picked up... But a man came... Ashley saved me..."

"Oh... Uh, sorry, Man. I didn't know." Andy felt bad about thinking so lowly of his own brother. But Ash understood, "It's fine. I would've assumed it if I were you. Now... Victoria..." She looked up. "Breakfast?" Ash touched her cheek gingerly. She refused to make eye-contact. She felt inferior to her idol, "Yes, please..."

"Do you want me to attempt cooking, or do you want cereal?"

Her voice came out a squeak, "Whatever's easier and whatever everyone else is having..."

Ash stood up, "Waffles it is," he smiled. He wasn't going to let her just have some crappy food you could get in a school cafeteria. Victoria felt weird letting Ash make her food. She felt almost as if she should just go to ease the troubles. But she was too scared to go back out there alone. What if that man was still there?

Ashley went over to find the waffle-making stuff and Andy followed him, "Dude, if I didn't know any better, I'd say-"

"No. I'm being nice. No girl deserves to go through that. She needs someone to care for her. I mean, if her parents cared, they would have called her when she didn't come home last night. Stop thinking what you are," he glanced over at Victoria, "I don't feel that way..."

Andy wasn't convinced. Not fully, anyway. He knew the look that was on Ash's face. Even if Ash didn't know it himself, Andy was sure, deep down, there was something. "If you say so. But how long are we gonna keep her here?"

"Until her parents call, or until I think she'll be safe."

"So never?" Andy smirked.

"No, I'm sure her parents will call. Who just abandons their daughter? Especially when-..." He stopped himself. He refused to continue.