Something's Gotta Give

CHAPTER EIGHT - ADELAIDE

𝔸𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖

It was a few days before Christmas, our Albuquerque show done and dusted with everyone now sitting around on our tour bus. The Fifth Harmony girls had decided to join us, making it a pretty crowded bus, to say the least. I didn't mind it too much, however, as a large majority of us had all either retired to the bunks to hang out or sleep, or were being respectful of those who had chosen to call it a night. I was sitting half on-half off of Lauren's lap while she braided my hair for me, the pair of us sitting alone in the corner while everyone else was gathered around Bella's phone across the room.

"What are they even watching?" I asked Lauren with a chuckle, having no interest in actually going over to see for myself.

"Some Christmas movie. A Nanny For Christmas, I think. I swear Bella and Camila are excited enough for Christmas for all of us."

"Definitely." I nodded with a smile, agreeing with the girl. "I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet, and it's literally the day before Christmas Eve. Is that bad?"

"Eh, not the worst, but understandable. We've kind of been stuck on a bus for the last three weeks. We can probably all go do some shopping now, if you're in the mood. The mall is open for 36 hours until like 3am on Christmas Day for last-minute shopping."

"Wait. . . Am I completely insane saying that going to a mall in the middle of the night would be fucking awesome?"

Lauren chuckled lightly, tying the end of the second braid she had created to secure it before responding. "Not at all. Let's do it."

As Lauren proposed the idea to the group, they all seemed on board with the idea as all 9 of us musicians and a few of the managers and crew members decided to come with. In total, there were about 13 of us that decided to walk for nearly a half-hour to the closest mall. It didn't at all feel like it took that long though, with us all laughing and poking fun at each other, so by the time we got there, it felt like we had only just left.

As everyone began making plans of where they were going, and who they would be shopping for, I went over to Bella as I realised that I would have to shop without her at some point.

"Bells, I gotta go shop for you and I don't want you to know what I got you. So I'm gonna go get your presents first and then I'll message you to find out where you are."

"Alrighty. Go do what you gotta do, Addie."

Just as I went to turn to leave, I felt two hands squeeze my shoulders gently, my head swivelling around to see Lauren standing there.

"There you are," Lauren smiled. "I was looking all over for you two."

"Lauren, can you go with Addie to do a bit of shopping without me?" Bella asked. "I'm worried this loser is going to get herself lost or something."

"Hey! I will not get —" I was cut off almost immediately, Lauren dismissing what I was saying with a laugh as she jumped in.

"Of course I'll go with you, babe." Lauren squeezed my shoulders once again, still chuckling to herself.

"Look after her," Bella said finally, looking towards Lauren as the older girl nodded, the three of us splitting up finally as the blonde headed off with a few of the others. "Last time I let her go somewhere by herself I had to pick her up from the police station."