understated || a.i.

i. out of my limit

“Fuck, Ella, have you see my other shoe anywhere?”

I rolled my eyes as I walked into the stingy excuse of a “dressing room." The boys were playing at some bar and I hadn’t even been there for two minutes before Michael was already looking for me to take care of him.  Sometimes I think Michael thinks of me as his mother and not his stepsister.

“Well, considering I literally just walked in two seconds ago? No, I haven’t seen it, Michael.” There was a scowl on my face as I entered further into the cramped room, feeling annoyed by the small space.

 “Well, jeez, you don’t have to be mean about it. Grumpy pants.”

I sighed as I shot him my best “not now” look. As I pushed the discarded clothes and bags on the floor away with my feet, beginning to look for the missing shoe, I tried to calm myself. Michael didn’t have anything to do with the bad day I’d had. He didn’t forget to turn my alarm on, causing me to be late to work, which caused me to be yelled at by my boss. It wasn’t Michael’s fault that my overzealous roommate Hannah was coming to the show tonight and was expecting backstage access, even though I insisted that 5 Seconds of Summer was definitely not famous enough for “backstage access” to be exclusive. Anyone could walk up to the boys after the show and talk to them, so why did she keep badgering me about it? Michael didn’t deserve my annoyance, but he was the only one in the room, and therefore in my line of fire. 

“Sorry,” I muttered as I threw the worn Nike across the room. I guess I hadn’t really been looking when I threw it, because I ended up hitting Calum as he walked into the room with Luke and Ashton in tow. I hadn’t even noticed them come in until Calum let out a surprised squeal.

Ashton, as always, made it a bigger deal out of it than it really was. “Help, someone help us! We’re being attacked by a crazy stepsister! She’s using smelly shoes as her weapon! Calum, hide behind the couch, I’ll save you!” Then he flung himself in front of a giggling Calum and landed in front of the couch, groaning as his back hit the floor. I rolled my eyes again.

Okay, so maybe there was another thing that was annoying me. Hannah had told me the night before that she had plans to get with Ashton, the drummer of the band. It wasn’t that I had dibs on him or anything, I just didn’t think they’d mesh well together. Ashton was loud and silly and Hannah was loud and… Well, eccentric. I knew it wouldn’t work out, but I was powerless to say anything. I didn’t feel like watching them flirt backstage, either, where I would be forced to stay until Michael was ready. The perks of having to drive your stepbrother everywhere.

A sigh emitted my lips as I felt a buzz in my pocket. There were thirty minutes to go until the band went on and there was no doubt in my mind that Hannah was texting me in a frenzy, anxious to know when she’d be able to come into the room. I had half a mind to tell her that the show had been cancelled and that she should just find other plans for the night, but I knew that would have been rude. She’d probably have a way of finding out I’d lied eventually, anyway, and Hannah’s wrath was something I definitely didn’t want to feel. I sighed heavily and texted her that she would have to wait until the end of the set. That would buy me some time.

“What’s wrong, Grumpy Gills?”

What was it with that nickname tonight?

I looked over at Ashton and bit down on my bottom lip. He was still resting in front of the couch, except that now his back was leaning against it. “Nothing, I just have a bit of a headache.” A small smile crossed my face as I sat down on the floor beside him. There wasn’t really any reason for me to be in the dressing room anymore, now that Michael had the water bottle he’d left in the car and made me go get for him. It was just that I didn’t really want to go into the bar where Hannah inevitably sat, anxiously pulling at her too-short skirt, waiting for Ashton to drool over her. Plus, Ashton was fun to talk to, and I figured he’d be able to cheer me up. “My friend wants to meet you tonight.”