3,000 Miles

Chapter 22

Two weeks in and I was already remembering why I didn't want this life. The media was running rampant with rumors, and hate mail was now a daily thing. Not to mention I couldn't even walk down the street without being mobbed by teenage girls, most of which just wanted to tell me how they were a better girl for Wesley. I dreaded waking up now, and it was getting overwhelming. I don't know why I even agreed to this in the first place, until I wake up and look over and who is beside me. When I see Wesley sleeping there beside me with a smile permanently sewed on his lips, I can't imagine being anywhere else.

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and just turn and watch him. I watch the way he breathes and the way his chest rises and falls. I watch the way his nose twitches when he has a bad dream, and I hold him a little tighter. Sometimes he wakes, and sees me watching, but he doesn't mind. He just smiles and pulls me closer. I like to watch him sleep, it's peaceful, and reassuring. It's nice just to see him there, beside me. Sometimes this life gets hard, honestly it does, people constantly knocking you down gets hard, but after a long day it's nice to wrap up in his arms and nuzzle my face into his neck, and smell that familiar small, that now comforts me.

Even in the whirling hurricane that is life now, I feel secure in his arms, a type of sanctuary, and even though we're far from home, his arms have become my home.

Tonight I laid in our bunk, waiting for Wes to come to bed. As I waited I did something I instantly regretted, I checked my twitter feed. A thousand messages from people I didn't know, telling me how worthless I was. I watched Wesley and they boys get hate all the time and they simple brushed it off, I longed for that ability. I always wanted to be someone who didn't care what other people thought, but I just don't think I am. I continued to scroll, reading, and overthinking things as I often did. I didn't know what was taking Wesley so long but I wished he come to bed before I completely lost it. I read news articles, they were rumors, that's all they were. I had a sudden desire to be back home, my mothers beating was better than this.

Wesley pulled back the bunk curtain and I down at him with tear brimmed eyes. he grabbed my phone.

"I know what you're doing, stop it, stop reading these lies." he said tossing my phone onto the couch.

"No, Wes, they're right." I choked out.

"Don't, don't you dare say that, you're not a single ounce less than perfect, and all this crap is lies." he said cupping my face in his hand tilting it to his.

"Hey, I got an idea, lets go get some coffee." he suggested.

"Wes...its eleven thirty." I laughed.

"Never stopped you before" he said pulling me from the bunk onto his back. He gave me a piggy back ride all the way down the block, until I insisted he put me down.

When we got into the coffee shop we stood in line, as we did a girl and her little sister came up to us. The girl tapped on Wesley's shoulder.

"Umm-hi-umm arr-are you Wes-Wesley Ash-Ashworth?" she stuttered nervously.

He smiled and nodded.

"And you-you're An-Anna?" she stuttered again. I also nodded.

"I love you guys" she said with a sudden burst of confidence. We looked at each other and smiled.

"I think you're really pretty." The little girl said to me.

"Yes! completely, I want you and Wesley to stay together forever!" The older girl rambled.

"She is pretty perfect, isn't she?" Wes giggled kissing the side of my head. Wesley signed an autograph and we both took a picture with the girls.

It was at that moment I realized how Wesley did it, I had been looking at this whole situation the wrong way. When you compare the two, there are way more people for us, than against us. As we drank our coffee I watched Wesley. He was beautiful, in every way possible, and I decided then, I'd do anything just to stay by his side.

I was reminded of my words at the airport,

"Hand in hand we can concur the world"

I believed it now more than ever.

When we got back to the bus, I was hyped up on coffee, but I had to get into bed. I snugged up into Wesley.

"We've got a special party I thought you might like to attend tomorrow." he whispered.

"Party? what kind of party?" I asked suddenly interested.

"Oh ya know...and A list celebrity house party. Any chance you'd be interested in going?" He teased.

"Uhh duh!" I squeaked.

"Good." he said. I laid my head back down.

A few minutes passed and he spoke again,

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you who's party it was." I shot up

"Who?!" I asked eagerly.

"Jackson Thorton." He exclaimed.

I screamed so hard I rolled out of the bunk and hit the floor with a thunk. All the bunk curtains flew open and the boys all laughed at the sight.

"Well," Wesley laughed, "I think she took that well."