Dark affairs

Jack gets up from his bunk and comes walking towards us with a smile.

I watch him closely because I still feel guilty doing something with Alex when Jack's around but he seems relaxed and genuinely happy.

He reaches for Alex with one arm and pulls him in a sideway hug. Alex immediately letting his head drop onto his shoulders.

"Dude it's time for us to go to the green room and prepare for the show." He nudges Alex cheek with his nose then turning to me.

"What about you Mickey, you coming with us?" He asks and pulls me close with his free arm.

"No, I will pretend to actually work and go to the foyer to help out setting up the Merch area. That's about the only thing Brian will let me do, he is pretty protective of his job." I reply while snuggling into his chest. "I will watch you guys from side stage later."

"Okay then, we head over, see you later babes." Jack says and ducks down to kiss me.

Alex gives me a glance and walks down the aisle of the bus. Jack is about to leave too, when he turns back to me and pulls me close whispering in my ear.

"Do you think it's weird that I'm incredibly turned on by the fact I can taste where your mouth has been just then." He growls.

I push myself away from him in shock and clap my hands in front of my mouth.

"Oh, my, God!" I'm mortified "Yes! Yes I think it's weird. Barakat! You filthy filthy animal, you!" I am hitting his chest hard and run for the bathroom again. I take a big swig of the mouthwash and gurgle it around while I hear Jack laughing hysterically before he leaves the bus.

After I have recovered from his embarrassing comment, I leave the bus as well and make my way to the foyer of the venue.

When I arrive I look for the people who set up the band merch and spot a tall girl with long brown hair. She is busy unpacking boxes and hanging up shirts on the walls of the stall and I haven't seen her before so I assume she is an employee of the venue.

"Hey, I'm Mickey, I'm working for Hopeless Records and I'm here to help." I introduce myself.
"I don't think we have met before, are you working for Vinny?" I ask while holding out my hand for her to shake.

She looks up startled but then she smiles and gets up and grabs my hand.

"Hey, My name's Linda, lovely to meet you and no, I'm not working for Vinny, I'm taking over his job on this tour."

"Oh cool, finally some girls on the crew!" I cheer and punch the air. "So, tell me what I can do to help."

We set up the stall together and I get my copies of the latest Hopeless CD samplers and other promotional material I have brought along and lay them out on the tables. The whole time we chat about all and nothing and I have to admit Linda is really nice and funny.

She is also super tough as she lives on the crew bus as the only girl amongst all the guys. I can see us becoming friends and am looking forward to be working with her for the week.

We are finished and there's still time until the doors open so we go outside because Linda needs a cigarette break.

I normally don't smoke but join her because one cigarette once in a while doesn't hurt, I guess.

As soon as we step outside, the fans that are already queuing behind the barriers notice us and start calling over. We wave back but continue talking amongst ourselve because, we are not what the fans want to see, they hope the band members might come out.

One girl shouts over though. "Hey, you're friends with Jack aren't you? I've seen you in pictures together." I shrug but nod.

"Can you please ask him to come out?" Her friend now calls.

I shake my head and make a sorry face.

"Is that true? You're friends with Jack?" Linda asks.

I hesitate. Jack never has a problem to call me his girlfriend in front of his friends but I don't want to seem conceited and brag about it. So I mumble and hope she doesn't get all of it. "Uhm, yeah, so he's, like, kind of my boyfriend."

"What?" She screeches, of course she heard me. "That is so cool!" She says without any hint of jealousy. "I personally have set my eyes on Alex, I would really like to get him into my bed."

I gulp, I did NOT expect that. "You're aware he is married?" I ask her.

She shrugs and replies. "Yeah, but the boys say that he is constantly sleeping around. So why not with me?"

I nod wordlessly. This really bugs me. Is that true? Is he only faking affection to get me and Jack in his bed and then kick us to the curb to go for someone new? I decide I want to get to the bottom of that but will have to think of a clever way to do so.

Anyway, we have to get back in because the doors will open soon and I want to bug Phil and the rest of the sound guys a bit as that is my actual field of expertise.
......

The show was great and we are all squeezed onto the bus for the after party.
Jack is already a few drinks down when he joins Alex and I in the little kitchen area where we are inventing new cocktails. They were all tasting horrible but serving the purpose of making us drunk.

"So how are the sleeping arrangements, Mickey? We have a spare bunk but it's full of our shit, we would have to clear that first." Jack shouts over the music at me.

Alex yells, "we could also transform the couch in the back lounge for you."

I giggle and pat both the boys on the shoulders, "that's awfully nice of you guys, but hey, I'm a Hopeless representative, I travel with you on the bus but I have hotel rooms booked for the whole tour."

"What?" Jack who was just about to take another gulp, spills his drink down his shirt in shock. Ewww, he is such a slob sometimes.

"You have a hotel room booked? Well, I know where I'm sleeping tonight." He grins widely.

I decide to mess with him and take a step back crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"Oh, really? And where would that be?" I ask with a cocked brow.

But he is way to excited to react to my teasing. "With my gurlfreeend in a real bed of course, in a real room in a real house and not on this. Stinking. Bus." He screams into the crowd of people.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go baby!" He yells grabbing my waist and starts pushing me through the crowd towards the door.

"Jack, can I come with you guys?" Alex asks looking between Jack and I.

Jack quickly turns around to his best friend and his face gets an apologetic look.

"Not tonight Al, I haven't seen her in three weeks. Let us have this night together and tomorrow I promise we'll spend the day just the three of us, okay?" He soothes Alex rubbing his shoulders.

Alex hangs his head but nods in agreement. Jack quickly looks around if someone is watching but deems it safe enough to duck down and press a short kiss to his band mates lips.

Oh, so apparently the rest of the guys don't know about the bromance going on between the two, I think. Then Jack is back and practically shoves me out the door while he orders an Uber to take us to my hotel.

Notes

I'm having so much fun with this story atm, I hope you like it too.
I might chuck out some more chapters the next days.
have a lovely day!