Roadtrip Oneshots

Rack, Late Night Chat

Rye

Sitting out in the hallway with Jack was becoming one of my favourite past times.

The first time it happened, I was woken up by the front door quietly clicking shut, and my eyes snapped open, thinking that someone had broken in because we'd forgotten to lock the door. Careful to not wake Harvey up, I silently made my way over to our bedroom door and stood, listening with bated breath, phone clutched tightly in my hand, my fingers hovering over the emergency number.

Nothing. All I could hear was my own heavy breathing, and my heart thumping Wildly, blood pounding in my ears. Taking a deep breath, I pulled the door open, eyes fixating on the darkness before me.
Not even a silhouette.

I exhaled shakily, my shoulders drooping as I realised that we weren't in any danger.
So who had left the flat then? It was nearing 2AM!

I froze as I heard Harvey stir in the room, waiting for him to turn over, which he did seconds later. I then proceeded to pull our bedroom door shut, hoping that it would prevent him from stirring again.

I then tiptoed over to the front door, careful not to knock against the keys, and pulled it open.
Jack was huddled on the step, arms wrapped around his knees in the darkness.

"Jack?" I whispered as I pushed the door shut, cringing slightly when it clicked.

Hopefully none of the boys woke up.

I saw his head whip around, eyes wide in shock. "Rye?"

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, moving so that I could sit down beside him, placing my phone on the floor behind me.

"I don't know really... just needed to think. Did I wake you?" He mumbled quietly, and I yawned.

"No no you're fine. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I'm not sure yet." He hesitated. "Can you... can you sit with me?"

I smiled softly, even though he couldn't see me.

"Sure mate." I reassured, and he sighed in what I assumed was relief.

It was nice. Just the two of us, with none of the other boys, just quietly thinking things through. The silence was comfortable and welcoming, and all I could hear was the two of us breathing in unison.

"Rye, you'll be honest with me... right?" I heard Jack ask in a small voice, and I turned to look at his shadow.

"I'd never lie to you." I promised, wondering what on earth he wanted to talk about.

"Okay, here me out before you say anything... but... since you've joined the band, wait, I know you've been here way longer than I have... but, since joining the band, do you feel like you've changed. Like, as a person, or do you feel like you've changed for other people, to be who they want you to be." Jack stumbled through, and surprisingly I understood every word he said.

"What brought this on mate?" I asked softly, my thoughts already closing around to an answer. An honest answer.

I couldn't lie now.

"I just... I don't know how I've changed, but... I know that I have, in a weird way, does that make sense?" He answered, uncurling his arms and resting his elbows on his knees.

"Yes." I said, my voice barely above a whisper. If I'm being honest, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say to him, or what he wanted to hear.

And then I understood what he was asking.