2015

The show in Ohio had ended and after freshening up in the dressing room, Alex gathered his belongings and headed back to the bus where Riley and Summer would be waiting.

After their chat in the hotel in Chicago, Riley sort of went back to normal. She hung around backstage for longer than just five minutes before All Time Low's Set started and the second they played the last note from Dear Maria and she tried to be more social with the guys. However, she still avoided Brian and the rest of The Summer Set like the plague, and for the time being, it seemed like the feeling was mutual.

"Hey kid," Alex greeted Summer as he climbed onto the bus. "Where's your mom?"

Summer looked up from whichever Disney movie she'd been watching on the big screen in the front lounge. "She's in the back."

"Thanks," Alex smiled, fluffing her hair as he made his way to the back lounge.

"You're welcome," Summer called after him before bringing her attention back to her movie.

"Hey babe?" Alex walked into the back to find Riley sitting cross legged on the couch with a sketch pad on her lap and a bunch of pencils and markers sprawled out next to her.

"Hey," she smiled, looking up from her work. "Great set tonight."

"Thanks," he smiled back, sitting next to her.

"What're you working on?"

"Nothing..." she said quickly, hugging her sketch pad to her chest.

"Oh, come on," Alex frowned. "I thought we were passed the point where you got bashful about showing me your work."

"We did. But this isn't work. It's just boredom," Riley shrugged. Alex narrowed his eyes at her.

"Okay. I see this going one of two ways, but both end with me seeing anyway."

"What ways are there?"

"The easy one is where you just show me. The less easy one is where I start to tickle you until you drop the pad..." Alex decided, (not so) subtly stretching his fingers out.

"Fine," she caved, passing the sketch pad to Alex. "Here."

Alex looked over the page carefully for a few seconds before glancing back at Riley. "Why would you be afraid to show me these?" he asked.

The page contained variations of All Time Low's logo in different shapes, sizes and coloring.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "I'm not suggesting you need to change your current logo or anything... I was just bored and feeling creative and this came to mind," she explained.

"I love it," he assured her, passing the pad back to her. "We're definitely hiring you to help design the next album cover. I can't believe I never thought of that before." Riley shook her head.

"No, that's totally crazy."

"It's totally not crazy. But it's also not something we have to think about right now since Future Hearts literally just came out. But trust me, that's happening.

Riley laughed. "You're sure you'd want me that involved in a new album?"

Alex shrugged. "You've already been pretty involved in the last two since a good chunk of them were about you."

Riley shook her head as she looked away, feeling her cheeks get hot. Alex writing songs about her always made her feel sort of embarrassed, but in a good way. "So, when you walked in here, it sounded like you had something to ask me..." she mentioned, changing the subject.

"Yes, that’s right. I did have something to ask you,” he said, sitting up a little straighter. “Since we have a late bus call tonight the guys, I think most of the guys on the tour actually, wanted to go out for a late dinner and grab a few drinks.

Riley’s eyebrows rose. “Most of the guys?”

"Yes,” Alex nodded. “Most of the guys and yes, I’m pretty sure that includes Brian.”

Riley let out a long sigh. “Please don’t tell me that you want me and Summer to come to dinner."

"No,” Alex said quickly.

"Wow,” Riley tilted her head to the side. “Did you even want to think about that for even a second?”

"I’m sorry,” Alex said, giving her knee a squeeze. “Normally, I would want you guys there. But… the place the guys picked isn’t exactly family friendly.”

"Alex,” Riley sighed. “Really? Hooters?"

"I never said that’s where we were going!”

She narrowed her eyes at him again. “Is it?”

"No,” Alex shook his head quickly. “It’s not…”

"Then where? Are there strip clubs in Ohio with all you can eat buffets?”

"I’m sure there are but we’re not going to a strip club either. We’re going to Twin Peaks.”

"Twin Peaks.” Riley repeated, reaching for her cell phone and doing a quick Google search. “Really?” she whined. “This place is basically Hooters in a log cabin.”

Alex laughed. “Babe, trust me. I didn’t pick it. As one of the very few guys on this tour in a serious relationship, I was outvoted six times over when I suggested any other place.”

Riley sighed dramatically before cracking a smile. "You know I'd never tell you that you couldn't go somewhere, right?" "I know," he smiled, pressing a small kiss to her cheek. "And that's why I love you."

Riley smiled before grabbing his hand and pressing a hard kiss to the inside of his wrist, leaving a pink, glossy lip print behind.

"Marking your territory?" Alex asked earning a nod from Riley. "Too bad it won't stay."

Riley raised an eyebrow before reaching for the markers next to her. " l can fix that," she declared before using the marker to color in the kiss she left behind.

"Are these permanent?" he laughed.

"They're supposed to be but I'm sure if you scrub hard enough in the shower, it will come off," she explained, completing her artwork by signing a small RH underneath the lips.

Alex looked down at his wrist again and raised an eyebrow at the letters.

"R H," Riley said. "Riley Hastings..."

"I know that," Alex shoved her gently. "I just didn't expect you to be this territorial."

Riley shrugged. "Every good artist signs their work."

"So, the initials have nothing to do with where I'm going for dinner?"

Riley shook her head. "Nope. They have nothing to do with how many pairs of boobs you'll be looking at tonight."

"Trust me. The only pair of boobs I want to be looking at are right here," he said, moving his gaze from her eyes slowly down to her chest.

Riley quickly crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, find us some privacy, and maybe you'll get a better look."

Alex frowned. "When I invited you to come on tour for the summer, I had no idea how difficult it would be to get laid."

Riley laughed. "Really? We're never alone. How did you think it would be easy?"

"We are literally alone every night when we go to sleep,"

Alex argued. Riley laughed again. "With my daughter no less than three feet away."

"I suppose that's a good point," Alex groaned. "We'll just have to keep finding ways to sneak off and find somewhere sort of private."

Riley rolled her eyes. "How romantic..."

"Right?" Alex smirked before he leaned over and pressed his lips to her.

The second Riley let her arms wrap around his neck and deepened the kiss, Jack came barreling into the back yelling for Alex.

"So, is the warden letting you out tonight?" Jack asked, disregarding what Alex and Riley had been doing completely.

"Warden?" Riley repeated, shrugging Alex off of her. "Is that what you refer to me as?"

"No!" Alex yelled, shooting a glare at Jack who started laughing. "I have never referred to you as that in my entire life!"

"He's lying," Jack taunted.

Riley raised an eyebrow and tried her best not to laugh. She knew Jack was joking but it was fun to make Alex squirm a bit.

"Jack, shut up, dick!" Alex grunted through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry," Riley shot Alex a smile. "You've been released tonight on good behavior."

"Sweet!" Jack exclaimed. "It's going to be awesome. There's always hot girls at Twin Peaks restaurants but for some reason they're always hotter in Ohio."

"Hotter in Ohio, huh?" Riley asked, glancing over at Alex.

"Not as hot as you," he smiled, leaning over to kiss her.

"You better hope so."

"Get your shit together. The cars will be here in ten minutes," Jack said before leaving the back lounge.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" Alex asked.

"Of course," Riley nodded. "You go have fun with your friends. Just try and stay out of trouble," she warned with a knowing glance.

"I'll try," he said, standing from the couch and leaning down to kiss her. "Love you."

Riley leaned up to meet his kiss. "Have a good time."
----

Once the guys had finally all left the bus, Riley let Summer know she was just going to change her clothes and clean up the back and then she'd join her watching a movie. Just as Riley was putting her art stuff away, Summer called her from the front saying that there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Riley assured her, rushing to the front, assuming it was one of the guys who forgot something important. When she opened the door she was greeted by Derek, the singer from one of the opening bands on the tour, State Champs, and his girlfriend Angela.

"Hey guys," Riley smiled. "What's up?"

"We were about to take a walk down the street to get some ice cream and thought Summer might want to come along."

"Not interested in fried food, beers and boobs like everyone else?" Riley smirked.

"Uh, not this time," Derek replied, awkwardly gesturing to Angela.

"I told him to go, but he refused." Angela chimed in.

"That's sweet." Riley smiled. "And it's sweet of you guys to think of Summer but-"

Riley was cut off from Summer clearing her throat from the top of the steps. "Can I go, mom? Please!"

"I don't know, baby, it's really late," Riley said.

She was actually less concerned about how late it was and feeling bad that again, another couple on the tour felt the need to include Summer instead of having alone time.

"We'll be gone for no longer than one hour," Derek assured Riley.

"And don't worry about our experience with children. I have three younger siblings and we both come from huge families so we've helped raise like hundreds of kids," Angela added.

"Okay," Riley caved. "It was really nice of you guys to think of her."

Before Riley could even tell her to, Summer was rushing off to put on shoes and was back in no time.

"Ready to go?" Derek asked when Summer climbed down the steps.

"Yep!" she beamed.

"Oh, hang on, let me go grab you some money," Riley said but before she could walk away Derek grabbed her arm.

"It's our treat," he said.

"No, it's okay. I'll just be a second."

Derek reached for her arm again to stop her.

"Really, I insist."

"Well, thank you," Riley smiled. "Sum, you be good and stay close to them, okay?" Summer nodded, sticking herself between Derek and Angela and holding onto each of their hand.

"Okay!"

"Good. Have fun," Riley smiled.

"Do you want me to bring you back something?" Summer asked.

"No, thank you. You enjoy."

"Bye mommy," Summer smiled, waving at her mom and the three of them crossed the parking lot.

Riley stepped back on the bus and was just about to put on a different movie when there was another knock at the door.

"Who now?" Riley asked out loud to herself as she went back to the door. She didn't expect who she saw standing behind it.

"Hi Riley."

"Uh, hey, Jess. What's up?" Riley stammered.

"Well, I knew all the guys were gone to dinner and I just saw Summer leave with Derek and Angela so we thought maybe you could use some company," Jess explained, inching her way onto the bus.

"We?" Riley questioned, not seeing anyone else with her. Jess raised a bottle of Jameson from behind her back. "Yes, we."

Riley laughed. "Wow, okay then..."

"I thought we could talk..."

Riley winced slightly. "Yeah? What about?" she asked stupidly.

Jess found two clean glasses on the counter in the kitchen area and poured two generous servings of the Jameson. "You and Alex."

"Oh?" Riley raised an eyebrow, taking one of the cups from the girl, who next to Brian, had been her best friend back in Arizona.

"Well, obviously I'm just dying to know what the hell really happened between you and Brian. But I feel like it wouldn't be right to find all that out before he actually does."

"Trust me, that's not for lack of trying on my part," Riley said, taking a small sip from her drink and sitting on one side of the couch.

"I know," Jess said, sitting across from her. "And right now he's still just trying to process things. He'll come around eventually."

Riley shrugged and took another small sip from her drink. "And when are you going to come around?"

"I'm here, aren't I?" she pointed out, taking a long sip from her drink. "So, you and Alex..."

"What about us?"

"How did you meet?" Jess asked.

"Oh," Riley laughed slightly. "It's kind of a long story."
***

Notes

Story Title: All Time Low - Dirty Laundry