“Okay, do it.”
It was Wednesday in Annabelle’s second week, she was due to return home on Friday. She fiddled with the phone on the table, watching it with worry. Alex squeezed her other hand, which was in her lap. She swallowed. Annabelle picked up her phone and dialed the number.
One ring, two rings, three rings. Seven rings.
‘Hello?’ A croaky voice arrived on the end of the line. It was not her mother, it was a man. Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows, suddenly furious.
“Hello there, can I speak to Christine?” She asked curtly. Alex was taken aback by her aggressive tone, and how she called her mother by her first name. There was a pause, muffled talking, an atmosphere of panic on the other end of the phone. She could hear fumbling.
Finally, her mother picked up, ‘Hello?! Darling?!’
Annabelle noted that she was spoke with the voice she used when being obsequious, as opposed to being angry that Annabelle had interrupted whatever she and the man were doing. Annabelle spoke pleasantly, but not fondly.
“Hello, Christine.”
She looked up at Jack and Rian on the opposite side of the table, Matt was standing behind them, they waited hopefully.
“The band and I were wondering whether I could finish the tour with them.” She stated. Anger was fuelling her confidence. Alex looked down at their tightly clasped hands. If she wasn’t allowed to stay, he did not know what he would do. He wanted her, needed her with him. If she was taken away now, it would be wildly unfair.
“What?”
Alex could only hear the one side of the conversation, and he bit his lip hopefully at the slight Annabelle’s surprise.
“Yeah. Bye.” Annabelle’s excitement dropped slightly as she hung up. She licked her lips, looking at the anticipation across the boys' faces, “She said I can stay.”

The boys jumped around joyously, and Alex pressed kisses onto her face. She stayed quiet, fiddling with the phone once again. Her hand was trembling.
“What is it?” Alex asked.
“Well, I can’t help but wonder why she would let me stay longer...” Annabelle sighed. The answer was a new man. Annabelle was so used to it, but it still pissed her off.
“Is she usually harsh?”
“Eh” Annabelle shrugged, putting the phone down and folding both her hands in her lap. “I guess not, but, sometimes I wish she was. She can get really angry about fickle things, and take it all out on me. Most of the time she’ll suck up to me, usually if she has another boyfriend.”
“Has she h-hit you?” Alex asked concernedly. Annabelle shrugged.
“Once or twice.” She smiled slightly, “But I hit her back.”

Alex, shocked, pulled her into a hug. Over his shoulder she watched the boys chattering excitedly about the end of tour party, about the next show. Matt had already retreated to his laptop, organising things for the girl. Alex pulled away, Annabelle smiled. She didn’t really feel like smiling, but she hated the look that was pulling at his lips and furrowing his eyebrows. He managed to lift a corner of his mouth for her, still wrapped in concern. Annabelle kissed him gently. He smiled slightly wider.

Jack bounced over and pulled Annabelle up from her stable seat. He jumped up and down, causing her to jump as well. She laughed with him. When they stopped jumping, so Jack could talk excitedly to the girl, she felt the blood drain from her face and her vision blacken. Her head spun. She stumbled. Jack caught her, her vision returned as he righted her.
“Are you okay?” Jack asked, causing Alex to turn his head away from Zack and check on Annabelle. She nodded.
“Just a bit of vertigo.” She grinned, “Nothing to worry about!”
Alex frowned, he had noticed that this was something that happened to Annabelle a lot. He was no doctor, but knew it was to do with how little she ate. Annabelle glanced at Alex, who must have looked worried again, because she shot him a reassuring smile. Alex stood up and took her hand. He leaned down.

“Walk with me?” He breathed into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. He loved the way she reacted. She smiled, leaning back into him. They pulled apart.
“Hey, I’m stealing Annabelle.” Alex announced to Jack, who was still chattering excitedly to the unaware adolescent.
“You always steal her! Why can’t I have her today?!”
“Because she’s my girlfriend!” Alex replied smugly.

Annabelle went cold, frozen in place by that word. Was that what she was? His girlfriend? She didn’t know whether she wanted that. Fooling around, okay, snuggling, okay...but girlfriend? The label knocked the air out of her for a moment. Alex tugged at her gently, looking at her with concern. She willed herself to move and followed him blindly out of the bus. The door wheezed closed. Annabelle would not let this fester for even a moment.
“Is that really what I am?” He turned to look at her, she met his eyes, “your girlfriend?”
The word caught in Annabelle’s throat, and she coughed to clear it, swallowing it down.
Alex saw the uneasiness in Annabelle and rushed to soothe her,
“Only if you want to be!” He rubbed his neck, looking at their conjoined hands. “I mean, I really like you,” he stepped closer, “would you like to be....?”
Annabelle didn't like the term 'girlfriend'. For her, at least, it seemed to harbour bad-luck. She let the idea sink in for a moment, and then she began internally chastising herself for hesitating. Alex Gaskarth just asked her to be his fucking girlfriend. She couldn't even comprehend it. He wasn't any other adolescent asshole that she knew. He was Alex. She bit her lip and stepped toward him. She pressed herself to him, kissing him fervently. He smiled into the kiss, and they both ended up giggling. Alex wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head.

They pulled apart as they heard the bus door open, Matt popped his head out.
“Hey, Annabelle.”
Annabelle turned, smiling. “Yeah?”
“So, how are we paying for the rest of your stay?” Matt grinned cheekily as Annabelle visibly paled, Alex thought she might fall over again, and he held onto her. He was about to tell Matt to pay using his own savings, but Matt spoke before he could.
“I was thinking...You could give us your photos, in exchange for the rest of your visit. Would that be okay?”
Annabelle pulled away from Alex and jumped onto Matt.
“Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you!” She squealed. Matt smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
“We’d have to draw up a temporary contract so you’re covered as a member of our crew, insurance wise. Incase, God forbid, a speaker drop on you, or you manage to get into a fist-fight.”
Annabelle pulled away, and left a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you so much, Matt! You’re the greatest.”

***

That night, after the show, Annabelle was lying in bed reading. Alex opened the curtain.
“The boys have gone out for drinks.”
“You didn’t go?” She put down her book.
“I wanted to be alone with you.” Alex kicked off his shoes.
“Oh....-Oh!” Annabelle blushed, understanding.
“You’re so cute when you blush.” Alex chuckled, climbing in on top of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, touching his lips with hers.
“You are so gorgeous all the time” She replied, loving the feel of his breath mixing with her own. He kissed her gently, gradually increasing pressure and passion. She could feel him against her leg, and could not wait any longer, but he was enjoying himself by teasing her. Her breathing increased as his hand drew up her thigh, barely touching the place that she needed so badly to be touched. He occupied himself undoing the buttons on her shirt; one that he well knew he could pull over her head. They had time tonight, and he wanted to savour her flesh, and her warmth, and her scent. Annabelle pulled off his shirt as soon has he had pulled the last button away. She awkwardly took off her own bra, willing things to move faster, blushing as he looked down at her. His self control dissipated.