Tour Life (An Ashton Irwin imagine)

There was an odd silence on this bus as it sat here in the hotel parking lot. I tilted my head and listened for any sounds but nothing came. It wasn't often that Liz and I were the last ones up but tonight had been one of the boys' biggest shows yet, so they were all quite tired. Now we were just sitting in the backlot of a luxurious hotel, waiting for the driver and security to come back and say if we'd be sleeping inside or on the bus tonight. I was really hoping it would be in the hotel, my back was kinda sore and a real bed would feel good. Finally, there's a noise outside the back room I've taken over.

"Alright," the head security guy, Dan said, "Wake the 'em up, looks like most of the girls went home, if they're not staying in the hotel."

"Okay, did you get the room keys?" Liz asks.

"Yeah, here, they all got their own this time."

I can't see Liz or Dan but I can imagine they're both smiling pretty big; this bus isn't the most comfortable thing for anyone to sleep on (not that Dan has to). But after a few seconds I hear someone pushing back a curtain and then Liz's voice again saying,

"Come on Luke, wake up, we gotta get you lot into the hotel, yeah?"

There's some sort of rustling (probably Luke blocking the light with his arms now) and moaning but Liz moves on to the next bunks. Slowly, I hear all the boys wake up (or at least seem to) and drag themselves out of their bunks. They all had put on sweats and t-shirts; last I saw them. Dan comes back and asks if they've got everything. The boys give some sort of "mhmm" answer, when suddenly Ashton says,

"Oh shit, is Valerie still asleep in the back?"

"Oh I completely forgot about her! She was quiet as a tomb!" Liz says dumbfounded.

"Ooh, can I wake her up?!" Calum asks.

"No!" Ashton replies in a tired, "don't-bug-me" tone.

A few seconds later, there are soft footsteps outside the lounge-room then I feel someone shaking me.

"Val? Wake up, babe, we're here." He says in that amazing Australian accent of his.

My eyes flutter a little but slowly open enough for me to see his dimpled little half-smile.

"Hi." He says laughing.

"How are you even this social right now?" I ask in a groggy voice.

"Oh believe me, I'm tired as shit, I promise."

"Ugh, do I have to get up?"

"Yeah, sorry, babe."

"Remind me never to date a rock star again."

Ashton pulls a sad face.

"Totally kidding, Ash, I still love you sooo much!"

"Don't say things like that, I don't wanna lose you!" He whines.

I begrudgingly get up from the bench and slip on Ashton's hoodie and beanie, (which I've been "borrowing" for weeks now) following him out of the bus. The rest of the boys, Liz and Dan are already outside and waiting for us. I feel a little embarrassed but Ashton just laces his fingers with mine and squeezes my hand.

"Aww, aren't they just adorable?" Calum says.

"Awwww!" Luke and Michael say in unison.

"Fuck off!" Ashton fires back, obviously feeling tired and irritable again.

When the security team has made sure it's alright, we go in and head straight for the elevators. I assume I'll be staying in Liz's room again which is fine, I just really wish I could stay with Ash sometimes. I mean, he is my boyfriend and let's be honest, what girl wouldn't wanna stay with her boyfriend over his friend's mom? But, they usually only get two rooms for the boys and I was not about to stay with Ashton in the same room as one of the other boys!