I sat hunched over on my chair. My two best friends had their arms protectively surrounding me.
A man wearing a black suit approached us. Never did Ashton leave my side, but Mckenzie stood to confront him. She slightly stepped in front of me to shield me from view as I softly whimpered.
"Excuse me," the man began, "I believe your bus is waiting just outside the lobby."
Mckenzie thanked the man as he walked away.
Ashton knelt down to my ear. "Are you ready to go?" He asked soothingly.
I nodded, though my body still shook.
He clutched my hand in his while his other still held my waist firmly. We walked together through the lobby and out the front doors.
A mob of paparazzi greeted us with aggressive shouts. They reached their hands over the railing towards us, trying to grab our attention. The flashes of cameras were going crazy.
I pushed my face into Ashton's chest as we walked, relying on him to guide us to the bus. "Get out of our way!" He yelled to the rude photographers. "Move!"
Finally we got to the steps into the bus. I raced up them first with Ashton close behind. His hands laid lightly on my hips to steady me.
I took a deep breath before walking into the actual bus compartment. Mckenzie had already sat down in the booth table with Michael and Zayn.
Ashton sat next to Niall on a long couch that lined the bus. I followed. As I sat Ashton pulled me closer so he could wrap his arms around me. "I will always protect you." He whispered into my hair. I smiled and buried my face in his chest.
The lurch of the bus made everyone stumble until the speed was continuous. I sighed and watched out the window at the many passing trees.
Liam stood up from a chair he was seated in. "Alright. We've got a sound check in," he glanced at his watch, "forty five minutes. After we get an hour break then it's show time boys!" Everyone cheered and the atmosphere in the room heightened to excitement.
"Are you going to watch our sound check?" Ashton asked.
I shrugged, "I dunno what me and Kenz are gonna do yet. I guess we'll figure it out when we get there."
He nodded and gave me a quick kiss on the top of my head before standing. My face reddened quickly.
Niall chuckled towards me while wiggling his eyebrows. I glared at him and lightly slapped his arm. "Ow!" He yelped, as if I had actually hurt him. I giggled while watching him fall to the floor in a dead sprawl.
I got up from my spot and followed where Ashton had gone, leaving Niall to die. At the back of the bus there was a small kitchen with an oven, microwave, and fridge. He was busy making himself a ham sandwich.
"Wanna do halves?" He asked. I nodded and he cut the sandwich in two, giving me the smaller half. "Gee thanks." I muttered while staring at the small sandwich I held. He giggled and walked away.
As I shook my head I sat next to Michael in the booth. The group went eerily quiet when I sat. I munched on my sandwich, not much caring about the silence.
Zayn placed a hand on my shoulder, "Are you okay love?" He asked slowly, speaking for everyone.
I giggled, "Yeah I'm okay. Thanks you guys." Everyone grinned and the conversation picked back up.
Zayn was in the middle of a story from one of their earlier tours when I sat down so I was quite confused when he started talking about Liam running through a yacht naked.
Though I wanted to listen to Zayn's hilarious stories about the boys I just couldn't focus. My eyes watched out the window, my ears turning off everyone's voice. The recording of my Father's phone call played in my head on repeat. Each time sending shivers down my spine.
"Alice?" Someone distantly called, "Alice?" I was snapped from my thoughts by Ashton's calls. "Come with me." I obeyed and followed him through a curtain in the back of the bus, revealing several sets of bunk beds. "You should rest, you look like the walking dead out there." He giggled.
I nodded, "You're probably right. I'll catch a quick nap before sound check." Ashton nodded and watched me sit down on the closest bed. Just when he started to leave I called, "Ashton." He turned, "Stay with me." He smiled and laid down on the ground in front of the bunk.
When I climbed under the covers and laid down my hand found his and I was able to drift to sleep. I squeezed his hand ever so often when I thought of my Father.
His hand was warm and it felt nice to have his company. I was so grateful for this boy.
