•Lost• (Palaye Royale X Fan)

•Chapter Fifteen•

Backstage. The room immediately filled with the stench of sweat. The room was thick with it but another essence lingered and it was a positive one. Morgan was able to identify it as quick as a flash. The boys were jumping in the air cheering and hugging eachother. The essence was love.

Bottles of ginn and cans of beer were cracked open as they talked about the previous show. The high energy of each performance palaye gave would always remain for a while, sometimes keeping them up at night. But for Morgan - the newest addition to the team, to the family-was foreign to the celebration and kept to herself seated in the corner onto of Emersons empty drum box, fiddling through her camera.

As she deleted the shots that were way to blurry and unwanted she smiled to herself at the ones that she had take of Remington. Every time her vision was upon the blond vampires smile she smiled in return and a warm fuzzy feeling lit up inside of her. Little did she know that the same man that made herself smile was smiling across the room at her but was distracted by the concerts energy as well as his brothers.

Morgans thoughts were interrupted by a tipsy Austin as he leant against the drum box beside her. He had finally returned from the merch table and was grinning as he peered over at the photos Morgan had taken. "You should get a few shots of the famous merch stand at tomorrow's show" he stated,
"I think I will," she grinned but as Morgan recalled of her new presence and how she had only been with the band a day her smile faded, overthinking all the problems, all her anxietys, all the thoughts and inner voices that screamed she didnt belong. By her facial expression Austin could see clearly how she was feeling and decided to cheer the photographer up. "You know what?" He didnt give time for her to answer "you Morgan are a member of this team. No matter how long you have been with us or how long you shall stay you're always welcome." He beamed
"Thank you Austin, I really needed to hear that" she explained. "Have this..." he produced a small can of beer "it's the last one I have but you need it more than me" he didnt give Morgan an opportunity to refuse and placed it in her lap. Morgan reclaimed her thanks once again and packed her camera away, following this a familiar bald headed man appeared in the doorway, speaking his familiar humourous tone; "Right boys....and lady" he nodded towards Morgan, she smiled, "What a show, great energy, great laughs and statements, you all needed that after last night's shenanigans" his dark humour returned, then faded quickly "We need to travel a while so no hotel for tonight, could you help pack away your instrument and make sure you have all your stuff and be on the coach by midnight!" He exclaimed looking each member in the eye "and Morgan" she shuddered, still adjusting to her new position " keep the photos stored and I will take copies tomorrow" he winked, she returned it with a smile. "right beat it you guys the hall is clear" and they scuttered out of backstage like toddlers.

Remington assumed his place with Morgan and explained he didnt have any instrument to put away and so would walk her back to the bus later and wanted to see the concert photos: "...I have a surprise, a small one for you later" Remington explained to Morgan giggling."what?" She questioned confused of their fast growing relationship even after a day. "After what you've done to fill in for Luis its nothing" he continued to giggle.
"Well thank you! You didn't have to do nothing," she replied but was eerie about the continued giggles coming from the rock star.
Watching the crew pack up the rest of the equipment and Austin clear the merch into boxes, the pair took a break and sat in the middle of hall that was showered with confetti looking through some of the best shots Morgan had taken. They really were magical, as evident buy the growing smiles from the vampire.

Eventually it was time to depart the venue. Remington and Morgan helped Austin carry the last boxes to the trailer attached to bus, placing them in safely. They were all loaded in and it was time to lock the door, it appeared stiff and hard to shut "the door needs oiling tomorrow" exclaimed Austin as he eyed the hinges "I can see that" Remington laughed and they helped together to close the doors and lock it. As they struggled Morgan stood aback to view the funny pair. But out of the corner of her eye a notable figure stood leaning against the venue exit, not features or skin tone was identifiable but by the broad shoulders and height it was safe to assume the hooded figure was male and intimidating. Morgan quickly reached for her camera to use the flash to her advantage but when she set her eyes back to the exit, the figure had vanished into thin air. Who was he? What did he want? Where did he come from? But the questions that lingered in the photographers brain was was he real? And was he related to the disappearance of Luis?

The tensions of overthinking passed when Remington called for Morgan to catch up to the bus, she hadn't noticed he finished with the door. She quickly paced to his location and joined the others inside the tour bus. Testosterone stung her nose, eventually she would get use to the stench and continued up the stairs to her bunker. "Oh here wait your surprise," Remington exclaimed stopping her in her tracks, "go have a look at you bunker," he ordered softly. She obliged and eagerly walked to her bed and drew back the thick black curtains to find the light inscrewed from the wall and unplugged. "Thought you'd be more comfortable without the hazard" he giggled.
" oh wow, it is actually an amazing suprise" she said half sarcastically as she recalled this mornings terrorized incident with her haystack hair. The pair laughed it off as Remington removed the light from her bed and placed it in the corner of the bus on a unused shelf. "I'm gonna head to bed, thank so much for today helping me out in every way possible" she thanked him,
"You're absolutely welcome, you're apart of the family afterall" he grinned, "I'll see you in the morning,"
"See you then" she smiled, and then was left alone as the party continued downstairs, she still didnt feel entirely welcome after a day and so used the escape 'I need sleep' phrase. It had worked and Morgan prepared herself for bed, keeping a mental note that she needed new clothes tomorrow. She slightly struggled to climb to her bed but managed and tucked herself in drawing her curtains. The last thoughts remaining in her head included the highlights of the concert, the connecting with Remington but most important the unknown figure that lurked in the shadows and with that disturbing last thought she drifted off to sleep in her own bed...