it's time to move on

chapter ten

Hearing a knock against the bedroom door, I grumbled and sat up in bed. It was James, letting us know that we had to get up.

"Sarah" I whispered over to the bed next to me.

No answer.

"Sarah" I whispered a little louder.

Still no answer.

I slipped out of bed and stood infront of her, I bent down at eye level and took a deep breath.

"Sarah!" I screamed.

She shot up immediately,

"What the fuck, Abe. Why? What? Can't a girl get some beauty sleep man?" she groaned at me, plopping her head back onto the pillow and pullin the covers over her head.

"Beauty sleep? For what? For Tris?" it went silent. A hand slowly crept out from under the covers, a middle finger raised in the air. We both began to giggle. Jumping onto her bed, I pulled the covers of her as we laughed in sync about the joke I made.

As our laughs died down, it fell silent again.

"So, what is actually happening between you two?" I piped up.

Sarah paused.

"N-nothing, why?" her cheeks flushed a reddish colour and went back to her usual skin tone.

"You can tell me y'know, it's not a problem. It's just- Id like to know rather than be confused..if you know what I mean"

She sighed before she spoke,

"Nothing, Abe. Seriously, there's

nothing to be confused about as there is nothing going on"

"Okay, thank you. For telling me"

Just then James interrupted out conversation,

"Anyone want a cuppa before we head out to get breakfast?" he called from the other side of the door.

"Yeah please" both me and Sarah said at the same time, causing us to giggle once more.

****

After demolishing my bacon sandwich, we all decided on having one last look around the city before we head to the airport for the next country for tomorrow's gig.

"I need a new pair of shorts, so us two could go clothes shopping while you guys shop for...whatever guys shop for" I laughed.

"And who says that maybe we would like to clothes shopping?" Connor said very high pitched, while the other guys began to act camp. Pretending to flick their hair and pouting, we all laughed loudly.

"You guys are so weird" I chimed in.

"Well you're weirder" Con and James replied in sync, snapping their fingers in a z formation.

"Well we'll be off to shop, just text us the time and place to meet when we need to go back to the hotel and whatnot"

"Sure thang sis" Tris said as we walked

out of the cafe and walked towards to main plaza shopping centre.

****

"That shirt is so nice, the price is nice too" Sarah giggled.

"Buy it then" I mumbled.

"What's got you down in the dumps?"

"N-nothing. The shirt will look nice with your multi-coloured shorts. Buy it" I smiled, changing the subject.

For some strange reason, Brad was the only thing my mind was focusing on. Nothing else. It was driving me insane.

Taking it off the hanger and walking towards the till, I followed Sarah to the other side if the shop, fixing my eyes on the floor. Getting lost in my thoughts, I nearly didn't notice that I had bit something hard.

"Sorry" it said.

I looked up to see that it was Brad. Dammit.

"Why are you here?"

"Well..my mum and dad did the deed and then out popped--"

"You know what I mean" I cut him off, crossing my arms and slouching to the side.

"I lost the guys after grabbing a smoothie"

I nodded, trying to not seem desperate to carry on the conversation. His voice was like music to my ears, his eyes making my knees weak and the occasional lick of his bottom lip gave me goosebumps everywhere.

"Wanna hang?" he said in half a whisper and half a normal tone.

Brad began to walk to the exit of the shop, I followed him, breathing quicker than usual I attempted at calming myself down. Just being in Brad's presence got me crazy. I couldn't help it.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket of my jeans, it was a text.

{ Sarah🍕 }

Have fun ;) Or at least sort things out between you two! I'll go meet the guys, see you soon :) xxxxx

The little shit.

****

After what seemed like 2 hours of talking while slurping on our milkshakes, I received a text from Tris.

"Half an hour, Nando's on Palm Street"

We had been chatting for hours and not once had we mentioned about the whole "awkward tension" thing. I need to get some answers from him.

I took a deep breath before opening my mouth,

"B-brad?" I blurted out.

"Yeah?"

"What was the reason for you to not talk to me, like at all?"

"I-I, W-well" he paused, putting his head in his hands. Rubbing his temples, he squinted his eyes then looked back at me.

"It wasn't my fault"

"It was mine?" I whispered.

"No, it wasn't either of our faults. It's just- it's just-" he couldn't spit it out. Digging his hands in his pockets he sighed and leant against the railing of the bridge.

It seemed fairly quiet and less crowded than usual in the shopping centre, as we were stood in the middle of it. On the bridge between the food court and the clothes shop section.

"I can't explain it. But-but I'm sorry. Ok, I'm sorry"

"You're not. You're not sorry. Otherwise you would tell me what the reason is"

He sighed once more before turning his back on me and taking a few small steps away from me, rubbing the back of his neck. I could tell he was getting frustrated but also upset.

"Why can't you just tell me?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Are you too much of a coward? A liar, perhaps? Or are you just too damn stupid to make a little "something" happen between us an the. pretend it never happened? Everyone has noticed. James, Con, even Joe for god sake! I can't believe you can't just tell me. Why are you so annoying and just plain irritating. You're probably not even listening right now. Please just tell me, I beg you. Brad. This has been driving me insane for these few days, it's the only thing on my mind, just tell-"

All of a sudden I was cut off, by Brad's lips. On mine.

Breathing in his scent and kissing him back, I felt him bringing me closer to him by my hips. Feeling his lips on mine were a feeling I was burning for. Every second got me more excited, for the next taste. His thumb brushed my cheek and he pulled away slowly.

"Abe, you have been driving me insane for the past few days. You have been the only thing on my mind" he whispered before pecking my lips and taking my hand in his. Pulling me with him towards the stairs to the downstairs level of the shopping centre, to go meet the others.