My Knight in Shining Armor

Chapter 18: Alexander

The film ended and everyone left to do their own thing. I stayed where I was since everyone else was gone. Amie's birthday was in two days and I still didn't know what I was going to get her. A party was out for two reasons—we weren't home and we had a concert. Not that she'd mind considering Amie was too big on partying. She didn't know it yet but we were all going to pull her onstage during the concert and sing to her. But I needed something for her from me. It came to me after a few minutes. A car. Even though she hadn't mentioned it since she told us that her parents were going to get her one, I knew she was disappointed that, once again, they didn't come through. That was it. I'd get Will to talk to them but if they didn't do it then I'd buy her one myself. I smiled, satisfied.

It was quiet when I walked into the bunk area as most of the gang had probably gone to bed. Tomorrow was a travel day so no need to get up early. I changed and was almost to my bunk when I heard someone. It didn't take long to figure out that the sound I'd heard had come from Amie's bunk. I pushed her curtain aside to find her in the farthest corner of her bunk. One look at her eyes told she was exhausted and scared. She climbed over to me almost as soon as I held my arms out to her but she didn't even begin to relax until we were both in my bunk and my hand had been running through her hair for several seconds. When she did, she hugged me once and fell asleep. I lay there running my hand through her hair over and over, until I too eventually succumbed to sleep.

The next morning, I awoke much warmer than I was used to. There was movement on my chest and I looked down to see Amie sprawled across my torso. That would explain the extra warmth. I absently started lightly running my hand up and down her back while I just enjoyed the moment. A while later Amie started to stir, indicating that she was waking up. She grumbled unhappily when I stopped my hand so I resumed gently running my hand up and down her back, chuckling softly. I was content to stay like this but knew that I needed to find out what had happened last night. After another few minutes, I broke the silence. "You want to tell me why I found you how I did last night?"

She seemed reluctant to answer. "I haven't been sleeping well."

"And why is that?" She blushed and mumbled something.

"What was that sunshine?"

"Scared." She mumbled louder.

"Scared? Of what?" She didn't answer but burrowed deeper into my side. I thought back over the last few days. The only thing that had changed was... "Amie, that wasn't your first horror movie was it? Sunshine, why didn't you say something? You really haven't seen one with us before?" I was surprised. Dylan and I loved scary films and Will and Christian liked them too so it wasn't unusual that we would watch one or even have a marathon of them every now and then.

She shrugged and turned her head so I could hear her. "Surprisingly, no. and I didn't say anything because it's the end of the tour and you guys were so into it."

"Why didn't you bunk with one of us then, if they scared you that much?"

"They seemed comfortable enough and I knew that they wouldn't have let me live it down." She answered, blushing lightly.

"And me?"

"You were...busy when I'd decided to ask."

I switched to tracing random, lazy patterns on her back and was quiet. I knew what night she was talking about. Two nights ago, I'd chosen to hit the bar for a quick hook up rather than watch that night's Saw movies. I'd been feeling restless and needed a release for the pent up energy. I didn't know what to say. "Don't hesitate next time." I said finally. Knowing I was done admonishing her, Amie relaxed and laid an arm across my waist. We stayed like that until Amie's stomach began to grumble loudly. I laughed and started to move. "Time for the little lady to eat."

Dylan was in the tiny kitchen when we walked in. "Aw, the two lovebirds decided to finally make an appearance." She cooed.

I flipped her the finger and Amie blushed slightly and stuck her tongue out. She just laughed and handed Amie a glass of apple juice. I fixed a bagel for Amie and coffee and leftover pizza for myself. Handing Amie the bagel, I sat down across from my sister who was nursing her own cup of coffee.

"So what's on the agenda today?" I asked around a mouthful of pizza.

"The four of us need to practice playing acoustically this afternoon because we haven't done that in a while and we have that radio appearance tomorrow. We reach the hotel tonight but that's it." Dylan answered me, scrunching her nose at me in disgust.

"We get a hotel?" Amie chimed in, surprised.

"Yes, because we'll be there for two nights even though this is the last stop before we head back home to England. But we will have to leave really early so we can catch the ferry," Will joined the conversation as he walked in. "Anyone up for Guitar Hero? Christian's setting it up."

Amie finished her bagel and followed Will back to the back room, leaving Dylan and I sitting at the table. "So," she said slyly once we were done, "how was your night Romeo?"

"Shut it." I groaned. "Nothing happened. I found her whimpering in her bunk so I just brought her in to mine so she would calm down and actually sleep. That's all."

"Mhm...are you sure that's all it was Alexander? Because I've seen the two of you the last few weeks and you two seem to be getting cosier than ever at times and then at other times, it's like she would rather not be anywhere near you. What is that about?"

I said nothing. It was true that we had been a little more hot and cold lately but I blamed that on these foreign feelings that would swoop through me and then her getting mad at me for seemingly no reason. "It's nothing Dylan."

"If you say so." She stood up. "But you'll learn." With that cryptic statement, she left me alone at the table. What did that mean?