Alex and Annabelle crept into the same bunk when they arrived back at the bus, much to the rest of the band’s amazement. A few short words with the boys about Annabelle’s adventure, then she was curled up in Alex’s arms, fiddling with his big fingers. Alex’s lips were resting on her ear, and his gentle breath tickled. Occasionally he whispered sweet words, until, as he heard the movie start in the lounge area, he began nibbling on her ear. She swallowed, her weak point discovered, and her breath caught in her throat. She froze as his lips slowly trailed down her neck, biting and kissing. He slipped his hands from her grasp and rolled her, climbing on top of her. He looked down at her for a moment, admiring her slightly messed hair, her pink cheeks. Breathy and aroused, Annabelle grabbed his neck and pulled him toward her, hungrily biting at his lip. The slapping of lips, their heavy breathing and muffled shooting from the room next-door as Annabelle pulled off Alex’s t-shirt. He was briefly surprised at how forward she was, but her biting on his neck soon distracted him. She could feel his heat burning into her. His arms were trembling slightly, poised above her. She pulled off her shirt, he swallowed, his eyes roaming. Goosebumps sprouted on her pale, fragile skin. He licked his lips.

***

Annabelle woke up with Alex curled around her. Their skin was sticking with sweat. Annabelle smiled, her eyes still closed, savouring the moment of peace. They hadn’t had sex, Alex had been hovering over her just as the boys had come in, whispering excitedly about the movie. They had jumped under the covers and she had satisfied him with her hand while he had satisfied her with his.

Annabelle eventually got out of bed. Alex groaned slightly, and rolled over. On the toilet, she poked her thighs. She pulled her hair into a high pony-tail and made a face in the speckled mirror. She walked through to the kitchen, calling a hello to Rian who was eating cereal at the table. Alex walked through, his hair scruffy, and only wearing a pair of track-pants. He wrapped an arm around Annabelle’s waist as she poured juice, and pressed a kiss to he temple. She smiled, closing her eyes for a moment. Rian regarded them, struggling to hide his grin. Alex sat opposite him.
“Told ya so.” He whispered, smiling with milk seeping between his teeth.
“Dude.” Alex shied away from him, slightly disgusted, but grinning all the same. He didn't even care, the ecstasy of being with the girl overwhelmed the embarrassment of being proved wrong. Annabelle sat down next to him, leaning on his shoulder.
“Where are we now?” She asked, looking out at the parking lot outside.
“Portland.” Rian answered. “Zack’s already left to go to a gym or to go skate or whatever.”
Jack walked in, rubbing his hair. His shorts were falling off, and his dark snail-trail left Annabelle imagine what lay beyond his pointed hips, she felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. Jack giggled at the small girl and frontman, pointed at them and cried,

“They were doing naughty things last night!”
Annabelle’s blush deepened and Alex chuckled, throwing a spoon at him. It hit Jack in the side and he started complaining loudly. Alex threw his arm around Annabelle, pressing her to him. His sudden affection was startling. Jack snickered and sat down next to Rian, using the spoon to eat some of his friend’s cereal. Rian pushed him off of the chair and onto the ground, and Jack began whining loudly.

Alex glanced sidelong at Annabelle, she was smiling down at Jack who was rolling around. Alex didn’t want to be bugged by his bandmates. He wanted Annabelle to himself.
“Wanna come find coffee with me?” He whispered into her ear, to his delight she shivered, goosebumps appearing on her arms. She coughed and nodded, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
“We’re coffee-ing.” Alex announced, leading Annabelle with his palm pressed against her lower back. To let them know he didn’t want them to come he asked, “You derps want anything?”
Jack sat up, deciding to be a pain, and listed a painfully long list of random items. He laughed at the expression on Alex’s face, knowing full well the frontman thought he was serious. There had been an occasion where Jack had wanted a plethora of incredibly strange things, for a use which he had never told his best friend. But now, he was just playing around.
“I’m joking, just get me an Americano. Two shots.”
Alex nodded, and looked to Rian who shook his head, mouth full of cereal.
“Awesome! Laters!”
“Bye guys!” Annabelle called before Alex shut the bus door.

“Finally.” Alex heaved a sigh.
“What?” Annabelle replied, looking up at Alex who was pressing her against the side of the bus.
“I get to be alone with you.” He replied kissing her neck between words. Annabelle breathed heavily.

“You were alone with me a few moments ago!”
Alex paused in his kissing and looked at her, studying her face for a moment before pressing his lips to hers. Annabelle responded quickly, tangling her fingers in his hair. She pulled away.

“For being a legal adult, you sure are as horny as a fifteen year old.”
Alex regarded her for a moment.

“I’m a boy.”
She laughed, entwining her fingers with his and pulling him toward the exit, “let’s go.”

***

Annabelle was leaning on Alex, one of his arms lazily slung over her. She was reading a book, he was replying to e-mails on his laptop. They were in the changing room of the Portland venue.
“Hey!” Rian looked up from his laptop. The room turned to him. “Kara said she’d join us at Sacramento.”
“When’s that?” Annabelle asked Alex quietly.

“Next stop.” He smiled, then to Rian, “Dude, that’s great.”
“Yeah.” Annabelle agreed, “I get to meet your famous girlfriend.”
“But then you’ll have to put up with them canoodling constantly.” Zack hit his buddy playfully on the shoulder.
“And sex in the bunkroom.” Jack added.
Annabelle blushed scarlet and hid behind her book. Alex chuckled and tightened his grip around her. The other boys didn’t notice. Matt walked in, carrying the setlist for the night. Alex read it over. 

“Can we scrap Dear Maria?” 

“I like Dear Maria!” Annabelle protested.
“It’s a crowd favourite, Alex” Matt replied. Alex shrugged.
“I’m not in the mood for it tonight, can we play an older song?”
“Like what?”
“The Party Scene?”
Matt sighed, “Dude, no one knows that shit.” That was a lie, Annabelle knew it. She didn’t say this though. Alex slumped. Matt tried to compromise, “What about the home show, you can make up the set list?”
“Washington?” Alex saw Matt wavering, “Washington and the home show?”
Matt rolled his eyes, shrugging, “Whatever. You want my job?”

Alex laughed, reaching up to pat him on the shoulder, disgruntling Annabelle, “Lighten up, buddy. You’re the best manager around.”
Matt rolled his eyes leaving to go fix something, calling out, “You’re on in an hour.”

Annabelle wouldn’t be there for the Washington show, she realised, she was leaving in Birmingham. Back to the black hole of her home, her friends, her mother. She sighed.
“Shame I won’t see what you want to play.” She smiled sadly, looking up at him. Alex looked down, confused. It suddenly dawned on him that she wouldn’t be around forever, for the rest of the tour. He frowned. There must be some sort of way she could stay longer. He’d talk to Matt about it, after all, it was still the summer. Annabelle watched him, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
“It’s very narcissistic, don’t you think?” Alex suddenly asked her, thinking about the setlist he was to write.
“What is?”
“This, the music.” Alex paused, “I mean, fans don’t see it that way, but to play music you have to enjoy it. To like your own music enough to play it over and over and over, that’s narcissistic. Isn’t it?”
Annabelle bit her lip, thinking, “I guess, but everyone is narcissistic these days. We’re using the term very broadly. Do you crave admiration?”
“Everyone does.” He replied softly, picking up one of her slim hands and gently kissing each fingertip, his eyes on her tiny wrist. She smiled awkwardly, then, pulling away, pushed his hair back fondly. He leaned into her palm, which was sliding down his face. She picked up her book again, to escape his intense gaze.
“I think music is different.” She paused, looking around at the other boys all lost in their own worlds, finding words, “It’s not physical, like modelling, its about telling a story. It’s about infecting people with an idea.”
She opened the book, and he looked down at her with admiration.
He smiled. “You’re beautiful.”