The next morning, when she climbed tiredly out of Rian’s bunk, she opted for pretending nothing had happened the night before in case he was embarrassed. She walked into the lounge, suddenly embarrassed she was wearing her pajamas; nothing but a huge t-shirt. Luckily, Zack was the only one in there, playing Call of Duty next to a bowl of soggy, possibly forgotten, cereal. Annabelle wondered where the others were, but she supposed that it must be too early for them to wake up.
“Mornin’” She called from the fridge, retrieving a cup of juice for herself.
“Hello!” Zack replied, glancing at her momentarily before returning to his game. She plopped herself down on the couch and watched the game intently, sipping her juice slowly. When she had finished, she stood up and pulled at her t-shirt, concluding that Call of Duty was only fun for those who were playing.
“Zack, can I use the shower in the bathroom?”
He nodded, glancing at her, “Only for, like, 45 seconds max.”
It was better than nothing, and she grabbed her towel, new clothes and her toiletries, and hopped into the bathroom.

Alex woke up just as the bathroom door clicked closed. He cursed his dry mouth, trying to go back to sleep, but failing. He needed water. He blearily crawled out of his bunk, noticed Jack’s arm hanging out of his own bed, and found Zack in the lounge. He filled a cup and skulled it, then filled it again.
“Good night last night?” Zack asked from his position on the floor, leaning against the couch. Alex regarded him, remembered Rian explaining Zack went to the bus early, remembered Annabelle holding him up, shook his head.
“Yeah, dunno, think so.” He stood watching the game, sipping the second cup. He remembered sloppy, heated kissing in a corridor, “I hooked up with some hot chick.” That was the sort of stuff Zack wanted to hear.
“Sounds like a good time.” Zack shot a commando in the chest, turned around in time to knife another.
“Yeah. How come you left so early?” Alex asked. Zack paused the game and looked up at the singer.
“You know me, man.” He grinned, “Waking up early and working out and staying healthy.”
Alex chuckled and rubbed his eyes. It was true, on more than one occasion he had woken up early to vomit or for water, or had stumbled back to the bus after spending the night at a girl’s house, and had found Zack counting press-ups, sit ups, or pumping dumbbells in the bus lounge. The guy was a fitness fanatic.

Alex suddenly noticed the muffled sound of the shower.

“Who’s in there?” He asked Zack, who had un-paused his game and was lying in the snow behind a pile of tires. He threw a grenade.
“Annabelle.”
Alex remembered being forced water, being tucked into bed. He rubbed his head. Leaning against a brick-wall, his head on her shoulder. He put it empty cup by the sink, walked back into the bunk area and pulled off his dirty clothes. Puking in a gutter. He had just pulled off his pants when Annabelle walked in holding a t-shirt.
“Crap! S-sorry!” She turned around and walked back the way she had come. Alex felt like crawling back into bed. He changed, went back into the lounge. Zack was trying to teach Annabelle how to play Call of Duty. He smiled to himself as he watched her freak-out about trying to aim the gun.
“I’m no good at these games, Zack!” She laughed as she got stabbed in the back, “Me and tactics equal bad. I’m better at hacking zombies with axes.”
She noticed Alex standing in the doorway.
“Good morning.” She smiled shyly, nodding slightly. Alex took this to mean that she was going to act normally if he would. She wouldn’t embarrass him in front of his friends. He nodded back, sending her a crooked smile in way of thanks.
“Dude, where’s Rian?” He suddenly remembered the drummer setting up the couch for sleeping.
“We’ve stopped, man. It’s only four hours to Toronto from Detroit, you know.” Zack chuckled, “I’ve already been for a run around downtown. Rian went out for food.”
Alex rolled his eyes at Zack, smiling.
“I want ramen.”
Annabelle laughed.
“What time is it?” Alex asked.
“Eleven seventeen.” Zack replied.
“Come get ramen with me.” Alex sounded like he was asking Zack, but his eyes bore into the girl.
“Take Annabelle, I wanna finish this campaign.” He had already exited Annabelle’s attempt and had gone back to whatever he was doing in the snow. Alex nodded at the girl, indicating the bus door. She stood up, smiling brightly.

***

“I’ve never seen a ramen shop before and within the first ten minutes of being in a new city you find one.” Annabelle shook her head in disbelief at Alex who was hungrily searching the menu. He looked up briefly.
“Don’t worry, I found this place last time we were in Toronto...” He paused, smiling, “within the first ten minutes."
Annabelle chuckled.
“Are you having something?” He asked, looking at the closed menu in front of her.
“No, I’ve already had breakfast.” She smiled, “I’m just here for the fantastic company.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere.” Alex narrowed his eyes.
“No, I meant fantastic company for you.” She winked. He laughed. The silence swelled for a moment. Alex felt like it would burst, but the girl in front of him seemed content at trying to spin a chopstick around her thumb. The chopstick clattered onto the table, Annabelle looked up, noticing he was watching her. She smiled at him. He coughed, opened his mouth.
“I’m-I...Thank you.” He bit his lip, “For last night, I mean.”
“No problem. It happens all the time.” She shrugged it off, but her eyes crinkled as she grinned and he knew that she was grateful.

After he ordered he wondered what times she was referring to. Incidents in her life, or just generally? He watched her spin the chopstick and realised he wasn’t being mean. She had won, but she wasn’t flaunting it. Maybe he had underestimated her maturity. His soup came and he slurped up the noodles. Annabelle watched with distaste, but he didn’t notice.
“Want some?” He asked, mopping up splattered broth around his mouth. She shook her head with a smile.
“I’m right.”

***

That night they were staying in Toronto, as they had a second show the next afternoon in the same venue. This meant huge party in the hotel. Annabelle was scrolling through her photos on her camera in the corner when Alex approached her. The room was crowded with crew, the two bands, and a whole lot of people Alex had never seen before, when he spotted the girl in the corner it was almost a relief.
“Come on, let’s dance!” Alex said. She looked down at the camera pointedly, pouting slightly, “You’re baby will be fine if we put him up here.” He gently took the camera from her and placed it on the top of a cabinet, up where Annabelle couldn’t reach.
“Let’s go, come on.” He tugged her from her sitting position.

“I can’t dance!” She laughed as he pulled her into the centre of a makeshift dance floor.
“So I’ll teach you some moves.” He laughed and put his hands around her waist. She lied when she said she couldn’t dance, she had done ballet for years. Alex didn’t know this, however, and was surprised by how well her body moved under his hands. He licked his lips.
“Just as long as you don’t puke on me.” She laughed, winking to let him know she was being playful. He stopped for a moment, placing his right hand on his heart.
“I solemnly swear I have not consumed an alcoholic substance as of yet.”
“That makes one of us.” She called over the music as he took her hand and twirled her around.

Too soon Annabelle had been swept away by another pair of hands, lost in the crowd of moving bodies. Alex retreated to the edge of the room and decided he deserved a beer. He spotted Gavin standing with Zack and Johnny, who was the guitar tech, and walked over to them, bottle in hand.
“What’s up?” Alex clapped Johnny’s hand, then Gavin’s.
“Just checkin’ out da ladies.” Gavin laughed, Zack joined in. They were both drunk. Johnny smiled, shaking his head at them.
“Got your eye on anyone?” Alex nudged the other singer. Gavin raised a finger and pointed.
“That one.”
Alex couldn’t tell at who he was indicating, “Which one?”
“She’s sort of in the middle of everyone...” Gavin dropped his finger and leaned against the wall, not drawing his eyes away from the gap in the moving bodies where he could see that slice of flesh.

Annabelle had found Jack in the crowd, and the two danced together for some time, until Jack was pulled away by some other girl. She didn’t mind, she just danced by herself. She felt hands on her waist and opened her eyes. Greasy Gavin was staring down at her. She knew that look; the drunk desire. She grinned politely, waving awkwardly at him. He smiled back, licked his lips. She had to get out. She leaned up to him.
“I have to go pee!” She screamed over the music. He didn’t react apart from loosening his grip on her waist.
“Dude!”
He spun around, Zack was right behind him.
“Dude! Weed! Let’s go!” Zack pulled him out of the crowd.

Annabelle made her way to the bathroom, in case Gavin was watching. It was occupied. She heard the flush, the washing of hands. Alex stepped out.
“Oh, hey!” He smiled, “I lost you!”
“Yeah, you did!” She replied accusingly. He pouted.
“But I’ve got you now.” He stepped closer to her. Annabelle smiled, swallowing at the proximity of the singer.

“I have to-” She looked at the bathroom, and slipped past Alex, shutting the door behind her. She pulled up her skirt, and sat on the toilet. She had always hated pissing when she was drunk. It was like a cruel slice of reality in amongst a surreal night of smoke and bodies and dancing. The light in this bathroom was soft. She finished, and washed her hands. She looked at the perfectly lined little bottles of shampoo and conditioner, wobbling on her feet. She was surprised at how drunk she was. She left the bathroom. Alex was waiting outside. He held his hands out to her. She took them hesitantly. Alex’s fingers were rough and big and warm. She felt tiny in front of him. He stared at her intently.

“So...” Annabelle coughed slightly. Alex made no sign of replying, just watching her. She grew more and more uncomfortable under his gaze, “I was thinking about going back to my room, y’know, responsible me.” She laughed nervously. He nodded.
“Sure.”
She slowly pulled her hands away.

She managed to squeeze through the crowd and made it back to her room. She didn’t have to share, luckily. It was lovely to be on her own. She crashed on the double bed, nestled into its softness, and immediately fell asleep.

Alex walked briskly down the hall. Annabelle must have been drunk if she had forgotten her camera. He found her room, the door was unlocked, and he crept inside. She was already fast asleep. He smiled. The girl had tangled the duvet around her in a nest, and was cuddling a pillow. He placed the camera on the bedside table and watched her for a moment. He suddenly realised what he was doing, shook his head and quickly retreated from enthralling girl.