WHY DON'T WE

4 AM

It takes awhile to get back on the bus, and by the time we arrive, it's 12 AM. We all sit down at the kitchen table, but I fall asleep on Jonah's lap. But then, I start to wake up a little, but pretend like I am still asleep. I hear Corbyn, "I can't keep hiding my feelings for her. I've tried, Jonah, ever since we've known her, I've tried to hide them. But it isn't working- especially lately. I love her." He takes a deep breath.
"Yeah, I love her too, Corbyn, but it doesn't mean I'm gonna freaking kiss her against her will in the middle of a clothing shop in Melbourne while we are on tour AND Jonah isn't present. You made sure you would go where Emily went, so that you could kiss her. But it didn't work." I hear Daniel say firmly, but calm.
"Agreed." Zach joins in.
"I'm not comfortable with you being around her alone now. I don't want you near her." Jonah says. What he said is a little harsh, but I'm appreciative of how much he cares.
"No. No, you can't. No, Jonah. I won't stop talking to her or being around her." He said getting fired up.
"Look, I won't kiss her again, but I had to see if she felt the same way."
"DUDE. You have a girlfriend!! You cheated on her and you wanted to make Emily cheat on me, your best friend." He raises his voice, but isn't yelling.
"Jonah, we broke up. I told you that literally 2 months ago." Corb sighs and Jonah huffs.
All of a sudden, I feel him rubbing my hair. That feels so good. I nuzzle against him and he pulls me closer. I hear some of the boys saying Shhhhh.
"I'll be right back. Let me put her in her bed." Jonah says and then he starts to lift me and he carefully places me in bed. This is my chance to talk to Jonah alone so I open my eyes. "Jonah?" I say like I'm clueless as to what is happening. "Hey, baby." He whispers to me, "I'm just putting you in bed." I sigh gently. "Will you lay with me?" I ask him, and his face goes from stressed to happy in a second. That makes me happy. "I'd love that." He squeezes in my bunk with me and I cuddle up against his chest and he rests his chin on the top of my head. I fall asleep in his arms and soon I wake up to the engine of the bus starting. We must be leaving, which means it's 4 AM. Jonah is still next to me, in the same position, asleep, but I still here the boys talking. Geez, do they sleep? I crawl over J to get to the walkway between all the bunks. He whispers to me, still half asleep, "Where are you going?" I tell him I'm going to the bathroom and he falls back asleep a few seconds later. I go to the kitchen and the boys are surprised when they see me. "You're up." Corbyn says surprised. "Yeah, the engine woke me. So what did y'all decide?" I asked wanting to know if they wanted me to leave or something. They look at me and smile, "Em, everything is fine. Jonah fell asleep with you, so we never really came up with a final conclusion about some of our... relationships... together." Jack says. "No one is leaving, though, if that's what you were meaning." He says reassuring me. Phew. "Good. I'd hate to have to leave because of some stupid kiss." I say with a bit of sarcasm. They all laugh and Corbyn just looks tired and hurt. "Have y'all slept?" I'm curious. They all shake their heads no. "Guys, go to bed! We have a long day on the road tomorrow so that we can hang out together. I'd love to catch up with y'all more." They all smile through their tiredness. "Yeah, guys, she's right. We have to get to bed." Corbyn says. They all get up from the table and walk past me. I give them all pats on the back and I giggle as Zach trips on a piece of furniture because he's so tired. "OW!" He yells. But it literally phases nobody. Corbyn passes by me last, "I don't know how many times I will have apologized to you before this tour is over, but I'm sorry in advance. I'm trying hard, E. I just want the best for you." He smiles and hugs me goodnight. "I know you do, Corb. I want the best for you too. Goodnight." He passes me and we all eventually get settled in our bunks and I cuddle back up against Jonah. I give him a kiss on the lips.
"Goodnight, J."