"I don't do band members!"

The set was awesome as always. I watched from side stage as the boys had the crowd going. Vic running across the stage to sing to the kids. Hands reaching up to touch him as he made contact with the fans.

Tony as usual was concentrated on playing, totally engulfed in the music, in between songs his eyes searched the side stage for me and he shot me a smile.
Urgh, why does he have to be so hot! Every time he looked at me I had this tugging feeling in my stomach and couldn't help a grin creeping on my face.

Jaime jumping around and grinning like mad, you could see this guy just has the time of his life and Mike working his ass off behind the drums sweating and somehow in his own world.

When they were done they came off stage and went to take a shower, Mike left after that with a couple of crew members going down town and Tony, Jaime, Vic and I had a quiet drink backstage.

I couldn't deny the feeling they would have partied harder without me being there. So when we entered the bus I got into Tonys bunk straight away leaving the guys chatting in the lounge.

Tony joined me about an hour later and we made out lazily until we both fell asleep.

I wake up a few hours later to quiet sounds and a light coming from the lounge. I try to go back to sleep but I can't, my mind starts worrying again. I decide it's no use cause once my thoughts are switched on I will not find sleep soon.
So I carefully peel Tony's arms off me and get up slowly trying not to make a noise and wake up the guys.

I rub my eyes and tip-toe to the lounge to see who is awake at this late hour. When I pass the bunk door I can see it's Mike sitting at the table with a whiskey bottle in one hand and a cigarette in the other. I hesitate for a moment thinking about just turning around and going back to my bunk when he looks up and notices me.

He rolls his eyes when he sees me and looks down at the table again. It would be awkward now to leave so I decide to try and talk it out with him. I sit down on the opposite side saying. "I thought smoking isn't allowed on the PTV bus." At least that's what Vic proclaims.

Mike holds up his hand taking a drag from his cigarette. "Look how many fucks I give." He murmurs darkly blowing out a huge cloud of smoke.

"Hey, Mike what is pissing you off with me staying on your bus. Honestly I don't know what I did to you." I lean forward my elbows on the table and my head propped up on my hands.

Mike looks up at me for a moment with an open gaze and I notice again how soft his eyes are before he frowns and they get clouded and he stares back at the table. He doesn't answer though. I wait for another moment but it doesn't seem as if he wants to talk.

"Mikey?" I lay my head on the table to be able to look in his eyes and get his attention.

He sighs exasperated. "Don't Mikey me. We are not even friends."

"What? What are you talking about? I don't know about you but I do absolutely consider you my friend. At least I have, before you started bitching at me for whatever reason I don't know."

I reach out and grab his arm from across the table and he doesn't pull it away, which I think is a good sign.

"Okay, if you really wanna know. I'm going to tell you!" He sits up a little straighter and pulls out another cigarette, he hold the pack out to me raising his eyebrows in a silent question. I hesitate but take a cigarette as well. I don't normally smoke but once in a while can't be that bad.
I put it between my lips and he nods and bends forward to give me a light. I see his hands shake as he holds out the burning match to me and I steady them with both my hands holding the tip of my cigarette into the flame while taking the first drag.

His eyes snap up to my face and I take the cigarette out of my mouth and blow out the match still holding onto his hand. He doesn't pull back but leaves his hand in mine. I look back into his eyes and raise my brows to demonstrate I am all ears for what he has to tell me.

"Oh fuck, okay, I was pretty pissed that you and Tony got together. I did not see that coming, I didn't even know when that happened. I actually- I- well I thought we would have- we could have a thing. And now being with you on the bus and seeing you and Tone all lovey-dovey is like-" he brakes up and takes another sip from his bottle and stares out the window.

I am totally surprised and I have to control myself to not laugh. "Really Mike? But you're a player! I don't go for those guys. That would have never worked! " I shake my head.

"But you and Ben .." He throws in.

"Exactly, Ben and I, we tried and it did not work. I know it might not look like it because when we eventually meet on the same tour we joke around and stuff but we don't have a relationship at all now. We never call, we never hang out, we don't hate each other but we don't care a lot either. I don't want that between you and I. I'd rather stay friends with you than be in a relationship where we only fight and yell and slap each other."

I see a smirk crawl onto his lips. "I wouldn't mind the slapping part, I like it rough."

"Urgh, Mike." I punch his arm but also have to giggle and hide my face in my hand.

"I could change." He mumbles looking like a little boy.

I smile and stroke his cheek. "I know you could, see Ben told me he wants to get married, so he changed but it took the right girl. He wouldn't change for me. And you will change when the right girl comes along but that's not me I am pretty sure of."

We sit there for a while in silence when he bends over the table closing the distance between us stopping a mere inch away from my face probably to give me the chance to draw back but I stay in place as he plants a soft and sweet kiss on my lips.
I kiss back feeling the coolness of his lip ring but it only lasts a moment.

I clear my throat and get up. " I should probably go back to bed now, see you tomorrow Mike."

He just looks at me and nods with a somewhat sad face.

I turn around and walk back to the bunks.

He will get over it. Soon.

Notes

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