Eighteen // 5SOS

Chapter 2

The boys looked at each other, slightly bewildered, eyes widened. Calum certainly wasn't so exhausted anymore as the boys turned to Ashton. He was always the member of the group that knew what to say, partly being the oldest, and partly just being Ash. Staying true to this, he cleared his throat before speaking.

"Right... Well I guess we'd better introduce ourselves. I'm Ashton." Ashton placed a hand on his chest to reinforce this, "The guy with the hair is Michael, that's Calum, and there's Luke. So... Who are you guys? INTRODUCE YOURSELVES."

It was the smallest girl with long, dark hair who had spoken before that replied first, saying with a wave, "I'm Caitlin, but call me Caits." She then pointed to the girl next to her, saying, "And this is Lauren, but call her Lemon."

Calum looked taken aback, saying: "Lemon? Why is it Lemon?"

"There's a story behind it, but we'll get there," Lemon said with a giggle, waving her hand in dismissal, before looking at the tall, light-haired girl next to her.

"I'm Becky, or Bean," she said with a grin, which Ashton returned to her. "Hi Becky," he said, before looking expectantly at the girl beside her.

"I'm Isla, or call me Iggy," she said with a smile.

"I'm Megs, short for Megan," Megs said.

"I'm Lucy, but call me Luc," said Luc, sitting next to her.

The boys were nodding quietly throughout these introductions, trying to memorize names to faces, before diverting their eyes to the opposite side of the couch, where a further two girls were.

"I'm Steph," one with orange hair said, with a small wave.

"I'm Moonisah, but everyone calls me Moon," Moon said, and Ashton cheered.

"That's a really cute name," Ashton said to Moon, giving her a grin before addressing everyone.

"Right... So now that is out of the way, we've gathered that there's quite a lot of you. I'm definitely not gonna remember all your names but dammit, i'm gonna try. Do any of you boys have anything to add?"

Luke, who had been quiet during this introduction ceremony, finally stepped forward, "Uh, hi everyone, I'm really sorry but I'm not sure if -" however he was interrupted by a swift kick in the shins by Michael, who shouted: "BAND MEETING."

The boys huddled together, talking quietly so as they were not overheard by the girls.

"What was that for?!" Luke hissed at Michael, trying to aim a kick back at him in revenge.

"Not now Luke," Michael replied, before looking at each of the boys in turn as he spoke. "Guys, do we not see the opportunity here?! We have been touring for so long, the same old stuff, lets live a little for once!"

"I think he's right!" Ashton surprised Calum and Luke by saying. "We're not gonna be in Scotland again for ages, we're young, lets enjoy ourselves tonight while we can!"

"Guys we don't know these people, what if they roofie us while we're vulnerable? I've seen the hangover!" Luke said anxiously.

"Well, don't let anyone roofie you then!" Michael slapped Luke on the back.

"Stop hitting me Michael!" Luke replied, before the boys broke out of their huddle and stood separately in a line to face the group.

Luke stood forward again. "Okay, so we're gonna stay, but there's just one thing I'd like to know." he looked at the banners above the window that definitely did read "Happy Birthday Luke" before speaking. "What is this for? Were you expecting us?"

"Oh we were," the voice came from behind them, and to Michael's delight, Kakkii walked torwards them from the drivers section. "We all thought your eighteenth birthday was a really special occasion, Luke, so wanted to celebrate, if that's okay with you guys."

"Yeah it's true," Iggy voiced, "We like you guys' music, and have tickets for the show tomorrow. We thought this would be fun, with you guys not coming back here for a while."

Luke nodded, taking in the room once more before sitting down next to Caits. He may as well make the most of tonight, after all, it was only a bus ride. How could anything go wrong? The other boys had similar ideas, all sitting down in various empty seats around the room. Michael and Calum were eyeing the stripper pole with wonder, before both catching each other and laughing. Kakkii disappeared for a moment, before returning with a bottle of clear liquid.

"How does this bus drive when you keep disappearing?" Michael said curiously.

"And where are we actually going? Just the hotel, right" Luke asked.

"I'm not the only driver up there, you idiot," Kakkii grinned at Michael, which he returned, before playing nervously with his hands. To Luke, she then said, "It's a surprise, isn't it? But first..."

Kakkii then lifted some shot glasses from a cupboard beside her, and gave some to Luke and Ashton to pass down their rows of people. Then she lifted out another bottle, instructing everyone to pour themselves a drink as she filled her own glass.

It was Moon who was the first to lift her glass in a toast. "To Luke being eighteen, and for a fun night for us all!" Everyone raised their own glasses in agreement, before the whole room drank.