it's time to move on

chapter eight

I woke up to the sound of honking cars and revving engines.

Rolling over in my bed, I reached for my phone and sat up, my legs dangling over the edge of the bed.

"Abe?" a familiar voice called.

"Yeah?" I called back, confused at who it was. I couldn't really put a name to the voice for some reason, it seemed different.

"I'm making James some breakfast cos' he feels abit ill, would you like something?" the voice said back, I walked out of my room to have a look at who it was. It was Brad.

I flinched back behind the door seeing that he was extremely close to my face from leaning on the door frame and I only had a baggy sweatshirt and cheer shorts on.

Why does he have to be here?

"I'm not hungry" I bluntly replied which caused him to sigh.

"Are you being like that because I didn't help you up last night when I accidentally knocked you over?" he asked crossly.

"Yeah, that" I sarcastically said, slamming the door shut in his face.

Just as I sat on my bed, my phone echoed the room with a ping and lightening up the darkened room. It was a text, from Sarah.

{ Sarah🍕 }

Yo, how's things going? eyy :)) xxxxxx

{ Me }

Great actually! I've bought you a little present too :) How's school without me? ;) aha xxxxxx

{ Sarah🍕 }

Great actually! ;) I joke I joke. And ooh, tell me what it is?!xxxxxx

{ Me }

Nuh uh uh✋ Anyways I better get dressed, first gig tonight and I guess we're gonna be busy and shizz today..talk later dude!xxxxxx

{ Sarah🍕 }

Okey! Have fun! See ya later :) xxxxxx

I'm already missing Sarah, and it's only been two and a half days! We have such banter, it's great. It would've been cool if she could of joined us, but obviously Tris and the band couldn't let everybody tag along, I suppose.

Just then my thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Go away you asshole" I shouted in frustration.

"Hey, what have I done?!" James shouted with a sad tone to his voice.

I rushed to the door and opened it.

"I'm so sorry," I hugged him, feeling guilty.

"I thought you were Brad" I sighed and placed my palm on his forehead.

"Wow, you are like boiling hot dude!"

"And you're not just talking about my temperature" he laughed, trying to play it cool.

"Yee, ok. If you say so m'dear" I scooted past him and towards the kettle, flicking it on.

"Wanna brew?" I asked him.

"No thanks m'dear," he mimicked me.

"Brad was nice enough to nip out and get me a healthy fitness sort of smoothie drink"

Finally, something he did which was nice.

----------------------------------------------

The boys and Joe had the day planned, go through the set for tonight's gig, an interview, sight see for a couple of hours and then head back to the venue to sound check. Seems okay.

****

"Would you like to go get some dinner this aft, my treat?" James perked up from next to me.

"Yeah sure thang dude" he smiled to himself, turning a light shade of pink.

"James, would you please just come over here for a minute?" Joe called from the next room. Making his way to the door which lead to the room he was called from, Brad took a seat infront of me. Pulling my phone out from my pocket, I started pretending to check things and act busy to avoid conversation with him. Ping.

Some random number had text me,

You're going to dinner with James, seems cool. B.

Brad. Eurgh.

{ Me }

How did you get my number?

{ Brad }

I have my ways, are you actually going to dinner with him?

{ Me }

What's it to you?

"Whatcha doing on your phone pal?" Tris asked Brad, raising an eyebrow at him. How long was he watching us? He must of noticed somehow. Can he just stop. It's his fault in the first place that Brad is being an ass.

"Twitter stuff" he mumbled back, quickly locking his phone and shoving it back in his pocket.

***

Arriving at the posh restaurant looking cafe which James had in mind to have our dinner at, the waiter kindly took our jackets and asked for our drink orders.

"Just a water with ice please" I politely asked for, giving her a smile. Leaving us at a cosy little booth table in the far corner.

Examining the delicate paintings and art decor surrounding the walls around me, I smiled, this was a nice thing for James to suggest. To get away from Brad's ass mood and Tris' protective habits.

"What are you smiling at darling?"

"You. Being a life saver."

"Life saver?"

"Doesn't matter." I shrugged and tried

to think of a subject I could possibly change the conversation about. As I opened my mouth to compliment the weather, James spoke.

"Brad, maybe?"

I glared at him. So it wasn't just me who noticed his attitude and mood change.

"And if it is?"

"Forget about it. Forget about him. You can do better. Much better"

I was curious.

"And who would that be?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

James looked at me, not saying a word. Staring into my eyes, with a dreamy look on his face. He pursed his lips, like he was going to answer my question as he got interrupted by the waiter.

****

Well, dinner was..eventful and slightly confusing.

Piling into the van, we all chatted about how excited we were for the first gig of the tour. When I say all, I mean everyone besides Brad.

He's such a god damn moody ass.

Reaching the venue, I was overwhelmed with the amount of fans attempting to take photos and push past the security, shouting their names including mine, trying to get our attention.

"I love you Abe, you're beautiful"

I smiled at the girl who screamed the compliment out to me.

"You are" a voice whispered in my ear, turning my head at a tilt, I saw that it was James.

Gob smacked, I smiled at him and shrugged it off. He was only being friendly, I thought to myself. But

my heart fluttered when he said that. Maybe he was being a bit more

than friendly.