It had almost been sixteen hours in the car and I could tell Alex was getting tired. His eyelids would drop ever so often, his eyes seem to have taken to a red colour and dark circles began to develope under then. He would shift uncomfortably ever so ofter, he wouldn't even look at me because he knew that I'd convince him to stop but I was going to do it anyway.

"When's the next pit stop?" I asked, Alex shrugged and continued on driving. I then took the my phone out and started looking for one myself, but to my knowledge there was only a truck stop in three quarter miles. But that would do, we could sleep in the car and continue on in the morning. "There is a truck stop in three quarter miles, we're going to stop there and sleep"

"Since when were you in charge?" Alex snapped, he was definitely tired and grumpy.

"Since you decided to get snippy, pull over Alex or I swear I'll turn the car around and go back" I stated loudly, Alex jumped at my sudden mood change and when the Truck stop came into view, he changed into the exiting lane and got off the free way. "Good boy"

Alex stayed silent, just parked the car and muttered something about going to the washroom. I really hope he wasn't really mad at me and was just tired. I watched Alex disappear into the convience store then come out with the key to the wash room. I felt bad for snapping at him, he seemed tense this whole car ride and I wanted to know why but I knew what he'd say. Something like 'I have no idea what you are talking about' 'nothing just stress from touring' or the famous 'just thinking, nothing you need to worry about'. It was like I was his mother or something.

Finally when Alex came into view, he had his hands in his pockets and his head was down. Guilt washed over me when he looked at me with tired eyes and then he climbed in. Immediately he closed to cover to the car and we both sat there in silence.

"Sorry about-"

"No need, we're both tired and grumpy, you're right I need a littke nap" Alex interupted, putting his seat back a bit and turning his head away from me. That meant he really didn't want to talk, I respected that but what I did next may have triggered the initial plot to this story.

I lay my head down on Alex's lap, letting my hair fall out from the bun and I faced the steering wheel. I felt Alex sit up right just after I did this, then I situated my legs comfortably and let out a big sigh.

"Good night Alex" I just about whispered, for a minute I hear nothing.

"Good night soph, I love you" The last part he muttered, almost unaudible but I caught on and I thought nothing of it as just a brother/sister friendly thing.

~

I woke up to a knocking on the car window, Alex was still asleep as I was still in his lap and I carefully sat up to look out the window. But when I did, my first instinct was to scream as loud as I could and cover my eyes. But what I did see was Alex jumped from the reclined seat, look straight at me and then out the window at what almost caused me a heart attack.

An old man, with a ratty old beard and ripped clothing held up a cigarette in his hand. I thought Alex was going to roll down the window and tell the man that neither of us smoked but to my surprise Alex opened up the glove box, where two boxes of cigarettes were and a lighter. I just stared quietly as Alex lit up the mans cigaretter.

"Thank you sir, sorry for scaring you m'am" The old man said, his voice coarse and dry. It was pretty hot out and he was wearing so much clothes. I then did out of guilt took our ten dollars from my purse and handed it to him.

"Get some shelter, it's hot out there" I sweetly said and smiling at him.

"Thank you so much m'am"

We both watched as the old man went into the convience store, I guess he could be getting more drugs or something but it really didn't matter to me. I was just so stunned at what I had seen in the glove box, that I sat back into my seat and waited as we turned onto the high way once again.

"I think we're about five hours away" Alex stated, obviously nervous at what I had seen and didn't want to speak. The awkwardness just rised up two thousand percent when I coughed in response. "They're not mine"

"That's what you said when your Mom found the condoms under your bed when you were seventeen" I stated angerly looking out the window.

"I'm really stressed right now Soph, you'd understand that right?" He stated and I scoffed.

"You were stressed when we had SAT's coming up Alex, that's always your response when you're in a bad mood and now you're smoking?!" I exclaimed and shook my head.

"I know, it bad I just had no where else to go"

"What about me? Your best friend!" I yelled, my eyes watering.

"You were busy, being engaged" He said, muttering the last part and rolling his eyes a bit. My heart stung as the tone in his voice hit me like a train.

"So this is my fault? For getting engaged, having a life? You weren't there years ago when I needed you because you were on tour and I understood that" I spoke sterning and carefully picking out my words carefully.

"No, I just didn't want to but in on your 'happy ever after' shit"

"Shit? Alex you're smoking, you're trying to cut your life short and not to mention kill your career!" I yelled and he shook his head. "Alex, I would do anything for you to be safe because you're my best friend and this is me telling you my life is not shit"

I grabbed the two boxes of cigarette and dropped them out the window. I cringed at the thought of trashing the high way but it was the only way to show Alex how serious I was.

"You owe me thirty dollars" He muttered.

"I think you owe me actually" I stated

And that's the last time we spoke for those next five hours, I picked a very angry song from my playlist and put the song on loud. I drown out Alex's figure and focused on the road. From song to song all I could think about was if I had never done that and he had continued, that his voice would have gone to shit and there would be no more All Time Low.

The next time we spoke was when a sign caught my eye, my eyes widened and the guy's plan came clear to me.

Welcome to Nevada - Las Vegas - 3 miles.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me Alex!" I yelled in anger.

"I thought our conversation was over!" He yelled back and I shook my head.

"You guys are taking me to Las Vegas, you guys have to be out of your fucking mind" I muttered and yanked my phone from the car doc.

"We thought you'd be estatic"

"I'm hysteric, what are you guys trying to do? Get me drunk?" I asked, and he smirked.

"At least drunk Soph likes to have fun, unlike you"

"It's called being responsible Alex, something you'll never understand" I shot back and Alex rolled his eyes. "I want to go home"

"Too bad"

"Alex, you're not acting like my best friend - you're are acting like a douchebag" I spat, Alex's arms tensed on the steering wheel.

"And you're being a bitch!" He screamed, I cowarded back and sunk in my seat. I'm usually fine with Alex calling me a bitch because it's usually playful but this time it sure wasn't. I looked out the window once again and watched as the desserts became buildings.

The way he said it made me think of my Dad when my Mom and him used to fight. I remember coming home from school one day when I was six, it was before I even knew Alex and they were fighting. I had then asked if it were okay if I had a snack and my father snatched me and continued calling me a brat and a bitch. Just the tone in his voice matched Alex's a few minutes ago. I really wanted to go home.

Thinking about this I didn't notice I had began to cry, not only was the memories of my Dad coming back but I was ruining the week that my bestfriends had put together and I was being stupid. I also didn't notice that we had pulled over to the side of the road. Alex got out of the car, over to my side and opened the door. He then held out his hand, which I took and he pulled me into a big hug.

"Shit Sophie, I'm so sorry and you're right I am acting like a douchebag" He whispered in my ear, holding my back on my head as I let my tears stained his shirt. "I also shouldn't have yelled at you, I know what that does to you and I never wanted to hurt you"

"It's okay" I sobbed and Alex shook his head.

"No it's not, and I know I should have gone to you when I was stressed instead of smoking and I swear I'll try and stop"

"I'm sorry that this trip is starting off shit" I stated and Alex laughed a bit.

"I think we both need to let off some unsolved steam on each other, I really have missed you Soph and I hope I make up for lost time on this trip" He stated interwining our fingers together and pushed me up against the car a bit. "I hope you still want to go..."

I laughed and nodded. Alex kissed my head slowly, pulled me into one last big hug and spun me around. He then helped me back into the car and then got in on his side. Alex rested his hand on the shift gear and I rested mind on his hoping it was ease the mood. Alex smiling his beautiful smiling and pulled off the side of the road. Then I saw it.

Welcome to viva Las Vegas!

Notes

I hope this made up for lost time, I had some major writers block but anyway. I know there was a lot of drama in this but it will all make sense in the end. And again, I know Alex does not smoke but again it's going to tie into the end.

xxxx