Annabelle woke up to knocking on her door. She opened her eyes a crack and was immediately met with pounding in her head. Her camera was staring at her from her bed-side table. She realised that last night she had forgotten it, some one must have brought it in. The knocking came again. She threw the tangled covers off, nearly blacking out as she stood up. She swayed, her vision came back, and she staggered to the door, her hand rubbing her eyes in attempt to wake them up.
“Hey!” Rian was outside, looking fresh and happy. Annabelle mumbled a reply, forcing a smile.
“You look...” Ryan started.
“Don’t” Annabelle cut him off, “wanna know.”
He grinned and Annabelle shook her head, realised it was a mistake as she swayed again. Rian caught her, shock clear on his face.
“How much did you have?”
“Not much.” She laughed, leaning on the doorframe, “I’m just a light-weight.”
“I’m not surprised.” Rian regarded the small girl, “Anyway, we’re all down for breakfast...or brunch, and I just wanted to make sure you were awake so you could come with us.”
She nodded, food was the last thing on her mind right now, but she could go for a coffee, “Give me ten minutes?”
He nodded, she opened the door further, letting him in. She grabbed a singlet and a pair of jeans, a belt, and retreated into the bathroom.

It gave her infinite amounts of pleasure dismembering the pretty presentation of soaps and shampoos. She stepped into the hot shower and tried to wake up. Soap ran down her body and she shaved under her arms and her legs. For a minute she stood with her face in the direct spray, wobbling on her feet. Rian yelled through the door.
“Hurry up! I’m hungry.”
She turned off the water, quickly dried herself off and jumped into her clothes. Rian was lying on her bed, his arms stretched above him. She felt her hair soaking through her singlet.
“Wow.” Rian sat up, “You look significantly better.”
“Oh, thanks.” Annabelle replied sarcastically before being tugged out of the room.

Alex was sitting down with Gavin, Matt, David, Zack, Jack, and two other members from the Dogs, Carlos, and Emery. Alex thought Emery was a bit wet. He was rhythm guitar and when he talked, Alex had an urge to punch him in the face. He was just one of those guys. Carlos looked like a Mexican bulldog. He was the drummer, and had two sleeves of tattoos, knuckles that spelled LOVE and HATE. Alex thought he was okay, but he seemed to be on drugs the majority of the time. The waitress came over and asked what they wanted. Alex waved her away.
“We’re actually waiting on a couple more people.”
She nodded and left. Behind the counter she whispered to a fellow waitress. Alex felt their eyes on him while he looked at the menu.
“Nah, Zack, I really think you would like it.” Carlos blinked slowly, leaning on Zack’s shoulder.
“I told you, man, I’m not into synthetic shit.” Zack laughed, “I’m all natural.”
Alex snorted. Zack believed in ‘all natural’ drugs. Shrooms and weed. If it was natural, no harm done, right? Alex thought it was bollocks. When Alex smoked up, he was aware he was killing his brain. Zack was like that though. Sometimes he would wake up and announce that he was going to be vegan, a day later he would be eating a large steak. Matt was talking to Jack about this episode of Family Guy he had watched. Gavin was staring at the menu, and David tried to engage Alex in a conversation about some hot girl from the night before.

The bell over the door of the cafe rung. Annabelle and Rian walked in. They caused a break in the mummer of conversation. Annabelle sat opposite Alex, next to Zack. Rian sat at the head of the table in between Annabelle and Alex. The waitress came over again. The table ordered.

“And what would you like?” She asked Annabelle in a voice that made her squirm. Annabelle shook her head. “Just a latte, thanks.”
“You sure?”
“Yep, thank you.” She replied sharply.
Alex looked at her.

“That’s all you’re having?” He asked incredulously, after ordering a pile of hotcakes with bacon. Annabelle nodded.
“I told you, I’m never hungry when I just wake up.”
“Yeah, or when you haven’t done exercise, have a headache, have taken paracetamol, are drunk...” Alex listed, “I’m actually going to force a hotcake down your throat if you’re not careful. I think the most I’ve seen you eat since you’ve been here is half a slice of pizza!”
Annabelle swallowed, “It was a large slice!”
Alex shook his head. Annabelle couldn’t imagine anything worse than having a hotcake shoved into her mouth. She was saved by the arrival of her coffee. Breathing deep, she carefully mixed in two spoonfuls of sugar. Alex was watching.
“They say people who put sugar in their coffees are weak.” Annabelle chuckled, “I say that its double the hit! Caffeine and sugar! What more could you need?”
Alex laughed, “Yeah, because two teaspoonfuls is really going to make a difference.”

Annabelle had only just finished her coffee when everybody’s food appeared. Everything that they had ordered seemed to be swimming in grease, or syrup. A shudder ran through her. Alex had syrup dribbling down his chin when he offered her a bite. She forced a smile, and shook her head. She felt ill.
“Hey, are you okay?” Rian asked, looking up from his eggs and bacon. Annabelle nodded. “You look a bit green.”
She started salivating in a way that could only mean she was about to vomit. She covered her mouth and scrambled out of the chair to a sign that read ‘bathroom’. She managed to make it before emptying the liquid in her stomach. Heaving until she was crying. She hated vomiting, always had. She sat in the cubicle for a while, her back against the door. She waiting for the quivering in her hands to subside and went to wash out her mouth. Her face was blotchy and red, and very pale. She felt vaguely better now that she had vomited, so maybe there had been left over alcohol in her stomach. She washed her face, dried it with a hand towel. She looked a little better. On her way back she asked the waitress for a glass of water.

“What happened to Annabelle?” Matt leaned over and asked. He shrugged.
“I think she was sick.”
Alex watched her from across the room, she didn’t look good at all, she was shaking slightly, and was too pale. She smiled as she approached. He bit his lip. Wait. He didn’t care....right? No. He did. He cared. Screw not caring, if she was sick, of course he’d take care of her. The poor girl.
“I wonder what you ate...” Rian swallowed bacon thoughtfully, “I mean what else could it be apart from bad food?”
Annabelle shrugged. “I feel better now that I’ve emptied my stomach.”
“Do you want me to take you back to the hotel?” Alex asked, concern clear on his features. Annabelle hesitated. She didn’t want anyone to worry about her, but she could do with lying down for a while. She didn’t want to ruin Alex’s breakfast, though.
“I’ll take myself back.” She smiled, and started to get up.
“Rubbish. I’ll come.” Alex scooped the last fork-full into his mouth. Annabelle placed a couple of dollars in front of Rian.
“For my coffee.” She explained. He shrugged, nodding. They exited the cafe. Gavin watched them go.
“What’s up with them?” Zack asked. Rian shrugged again.
“I think Annabelle just threw up.”
“Ew.” Emery wrinkled his nose, “Why?”
Rian shrugged again and switched to Alex’s place so he didn’t have to be alone at the top of the table.

When they got up to Annabelle’s room, she hit her bed, sighing happily. She didn’t think she had been ready to get up when Rian came to get her. She looked up at Alex who was standing awkwardly by the door. She moved to once side of the bed and grabbed the remote for the TV opposite.

“You wanna watch TV?” She indicated to the space next to her. He smiled, and spotted the camera.

“I see you got your camera back.” He raised his eyebrows while he walked over.

“Did you...?” Annabelle asked. He nodded. “Thanks!”
She handed the remote to him. 
“You can choose what to watch.”
He flipped through the channels and landed on MTV. “Hey, look, its me.”
Six Feet Under the Stars was playing.
“I always liked the video to this.” Annabelle replied, trying to tie down her surprise at seeing the man sitting next to her on the TV in front of her.
“Its ‘cause my hair is especially sexy in it.”
“Y’know, that must be it.” 
They laughed.
“I hate the end, though.” Alex said, switching the channel before the song was over. “I look so awkward.”
“Yeah but its okay, right?”
Alex looked down at her. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re a sexy mo-fo so no one really cares.” Annabelle laughed. She snuggled down under the duvet as Alex chuckled, settling on cartoons. Annabelle didn’t recognise what they were watching, but then again, she didn’t watch much TV. Alex opened his arm.
“Hey, you looked after me, I look after you.” He indicated that she should snuggle up to him. "Returning the favour. So I don't owe you, y'know."
She rolled her eyes, pretending that she wasn’t ecstatic. Alex’s shoulder was warm, comforting. She felt safe with his arm wrapped around her back, his hand pressing her tightly to him. They lazily watched TV together for the next hour, Alex occasionally commentating which caused Annabelle to giggle.

Annabelle woke up to a note next to her on the pillow. ‘Sound-checking’ was all it said in small, scrawled handwriting. She flipped it over and there were directions on the back. She snorted. Like she couldn’t remember the way to the venue three blocks away. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and grabbed her bag, putting her camera away into it. She took photos of Toronto as she walked, making, what she hoped was a detour, and going for a bit of an explore. She should have woken up early and not bummed around getting breakfast so she could spend more time looking around. She popped into a couple of shops for a look, but nothing interested her, so she made her way slowly to the venue. She went in through the back way, like the night before, giving a cheery ‘good afternoon’ to the security guard.

She found All Time Low in their dressing room, munching on cheese Doritos. They greeted her.

“Feeling better?” Matt asked. Annabelle nodded.
“Much. Thanks.”
“Want any chips?” Zack offered her the bag with fingers powdered with cheese flavouring. She shook her head.
“No thanks... I-I better take it easy.” She patted her flat tummy and picked up a water bottle sitting on a bench, “Can I take this?”
They shrugged, nodding. She sat next to Jack.
“How was that girl last night?” She winked.
“She ran off because I wasn’t attractive enough.” Jack pouted. Annabelle looked at him incredulously.
“Joking, I totally scored.” He hi-fived Alex. Annabelle laughed. She heard the distant sound of the Dogs being sound-checked. She gulped down some water. Alex was twiddling his thumbs.
“I’m bored.”