I could see the dread in Ashton's eyes as we left the bathroom. He kept his head down as we were forced to walk back towards where we had left the man.
When we returned the only sign there had been a fight was the blood that stained a huge part of the carpet.
"Where'd he go?" I asked a bit shakily to the other boys. They were inside their dressing room sitting on the couch nervously.
"When the other guards came down they kind of freaked out. We explained what had happened, you guys won't need to confront anyone about the situation." Calum began.
Luke then butted in, "He was taken away, and I assume fired. They didn't want to call the police, thinking it would look bad if the press got to it."
I nodded while listening intently. I wouldn't want the police to get involved in this either in fear that Ashton would get in trouble.
"It's okay Ash." I said while grabbing onto his arm. "It's all over."
Ashton nodded and attempted to crack a smile.
"C'mon let's go back to the bus, I don't wanna be here anymore." Ashton muttered after a moment of silence. I nodded and grabbed his hand.
We walked aimlessly until we found an exit. It was on the opposite side of the stadium from where we were supposed to meet the bus.
Ashton groaned and punched the wall next to the door. "Hey! Ashton don't hurt yourself!" I yelled while grabbing his hand away from the wall. I assumed his knuckles were bleeding underneath the bandaids.
"No!" He exclaimed, catching me off guard.
"No what?" I replied quietly. I slid myself between the brick and him, making sure he wouldn't hurt himself again.
He watched the floor while mumbling, "I'm such an idiot."
"Why Ashton?" He was being so confusing and it was scaring me.
"What if they had called the police? What if I got 5 Seconds of Summer kicked out of the tour! I was being so stupid and I wasn't thinking!" Ashton yelled loudly.
"Enough with the what ifs Ash. You did the right thing, stop thinking about it like what you did was a bad thing. Yes the situation was bad, but no you did not make it worse. Just stop it!" I exclaimed.
He nodded and took deep breaths. "Okay. I'll stop."
"Good. Now let's go find the bus and get out of here." I walked away from the wall, assuming Ashton would follow me.
The bus was already running when we saw it in the distance. We could hear the low rumble of the engine. "C'mon Ashton!" I screamed and began to run to the bus.
"Where the hell have you two been?!" Zayn yelled when we walked through the bus doors.
"Don't right now." Ashton replied coldly. I apologized for him while following Ashton to the back of the bus.
Ashton took a moment to pick a bed and then trudge to the farthest one down. "You taking a nap?" I asked when he opened the curtain and sat.
He nodded and slid off his shoes. Then climbed under the covers.
"Alright I will too." I sat on the bed across from his and took my shoes off too.
When I laid down Ashton's cold eyes watched mine. I smiled and held out my hand. He took it after a few seconds. "It's okay Ashton." I replied before closing my eyes and drifting to sleep.
I thought I would be able to sleep soundly until someone's fingers brushed through my hair. I popped one eye open to see what was happening.
Ashton towered over me. One hand still was linked with mine but the other brushed through some of my hair.
"May I help you?" I asked sleepily.
Ashton bit his lip. He seemed nervous about what he was about to say. "Can we sleep together?"
"WHAT?" I exclaimed while bolting to a sitting position.
He jumped back while shaking his head. "That's not what I meant! Oh my god no, that's not what I meant!"
My heart stopped beating in my throat. "Then what did you mean Irwin?"
"I meant like- Never mind, just forget about it." His face had turned bright red.
He began to turn back to his bunk before I caught his wrist. "No Ashton, what did you mean."
"I'm still worried about you Alice. I just want to hold you." He seemed confused as he spoke his words. I could feel my face turn red but I smiled.
"If you want to Ashton. I don't mind." I scooted over to make room for him.
For the first time in awhile Ashton genuinely smiled. He slid under the blankets and laid his head down on my pillow.
"How are we gonna do this?" Ashton giggled and held his arms out to me. I crawled to him until my head was comfortably resting on his shoulder and my arms could fold onto his chest.
He wrapped his arms around my torso, lacing his fingers together.
"Mmmmm." He breathed while closing his eyes and smiling. "Your hair smells good."
I laughed and covered my mouth with my hand. "Thanks, I guess."
"You are very welcome." Ashton giggled. He shifted so he was laying on his side. My face was pressed against his chest. The strong sent of his cologne filled my nose.
"G'night Alice." Ashton mumbled. He tightened his grip before falling asleep.
I expected nightmares to haunt my dreams. But, they didn't.
I was relieved when I snapped awake several hours later. I was still wrapped in Ashton's arms. His face nuzzled into my hair. I closed my eyes and savored the moments of peace there was between us.
"Is it morning yet?" Ashton asked groggily when he awoke. I smiled up at him. His eyes were still half closed.
"I dunno. Maybe." I replied.
"Oh okay." He was still very sleepy.
Ashton's tired voice and the way he crinkled his nose when he was waking up was so adorable.
"I'm hungry." He said after a few minutes of silence.
I laughed and nodded. "Then go get some food!"
"But I'm too tired!" He groaned. I shook my head, he's so lazy.
"What in God's name are you two doing?" Someone screeched from the other side of the curtain. My eyes widened when I heard the voice.
When Ashton pulled back the curtain and we came face to face with Louis I couldn't help but imagine all the things he was going to tell everyone.
"Nothing Louis." Ashton laughed. He then sat up and got out of the bunk.
Louis narrowed his eyes at us once Ashton was standing and I was sitting up. "I've decided that this shall be our little secret."
"What little secret? We weren't doing anything!" I exclaimed.
"Whatever you say Allie." Louis muttered while walking away.
"Oh my god." I whispered.
Ashton just laughed and walked out to get food. I laid back down and opened my phone. I didn't really feel like talking to people at the moment.
It wasn't long before Mckenzie came to sit with me. "So, uh, what were you and Ashton doing?"
"Nothing." I replied without looking up from my phone.
"Well, Louis is telling a different story." She replied, lightly laughing.
"He such an ass." I muttered while laughing. I then yelled, "I will punch you in the face Louis Tomlinson!" Loud enough so Louis could hear.
Everyone laughed and Louis screamed. I couldn't believe I was already best friends with the boys and it was only their first concert.
