Just Like You

Waking up the next morning, I’m immediately aware of an arm wrapped around me and soft snoring close to my ear. Turning slightly, I look over at Oli’s sleeping face. He looks so peaceful and innocent. I kiss his cheek and his eyes flutter open. His brown eyes are smiling as he pulls me closer until we’re spooning.

“Good mornin’,” he mumbles as he kisses my bare skin. I tug the oversized t-shirt down a little and pull up the cloth boxers back over my hips. His bunk smells faintly like smoke and booze mixed with Oli’s own unique smell. I turn over in his arms so we’re facing each other.

“We got back…?” I trail off, not really remembering. He chuckles as he starts to wake up a little more.

“Your friends left before us and we took a taxi back. Your bus had already left for Dallas, so I took you on mine,” he explains and I nod, thinking it makes sense.

“Did you undress me?” I ask, a little embarrassed about the holes in my memory. I remember getting in the bunk in the shirt and boxers, but I don’t remember much else.

“You whipped off your dress right in front of me and started climbing into Nicholls’ bunk. I had to pull you out get you some of my clothes,” he explains with a chuckle. “You’ve no idea how hard it was to get you into those clothes.”

I groan in embarrassment and hide my eyes. He gently pulls my hands away and smiles at me. “You were all over me but I couldn’t take advantage of you.”

I smile a little and kiss him quick. “Not many guys would say no.”

“It was hard, trust me,” he grumbles a little, pouting. I chuckle and snuggle in closer, breathing in his smell. His hand cradles my head, holding me close in his arms.

“Oy, Oliver. It’s almost time for doors,” another voice calls from the front of the bus followed by the sound of the door closing.

“I guess we’re the last ones up,” I say and he chuckles. I start to pull out of his arms and he follows until he’s half out of the bunk and my feet are on the ground. “Come on, Oli. We gotta get ready,” I tease him a little, tugging him out more.

“No, let’s just hide out in here. I just wanna be with you,” he says sweetly. I kiss him on the cheek before dropping his arms. He grumbles, but follows me.

I collect my clothes as Oli stumbles into the bathroom, clearly still half asleep. Changing quickly, I look out the darken windows. To my shock, I see David emerging from the bus across from us, talking on his cell phone with a confused expression on his face. He looks over at the bus I’m in and makes a face. I duck down on the couch as Oli comes out of the bathroom.

“What are you doing, you daft girl?” he chuckles, shaking his head.

“Your bus is across from David’s!” I say, panicking. I bite my lower lip as I think about what to do. I peek over the couch and watch David walk away. Oli just laughs behind me and I reach back to hit him.

“The windows are tinted. No one can see in. You don’t have to hide,” he reminds me, but I can’t help but feel guilty.

“David thinks we’re a couple,” I mumble and Oli looks at me, his eyebrows raised.

“You’re not?” he sounds so surprised as I roll my eyes.

“Of course not. We’ve got no chemistry. He just doesn’t know it,” I say and Oli grins. He grabs me to pull me to him.

“You’ve no idea how glad I am of that,” he says and I chuckle. “I hate being the other man.”

“Come on, lemme go. I gotta get to my bus and change. I can’t go like I am now,” I say, pulling away slightly. Oli looks me over and smiles.

“Why not? You look gorgeous,” he pecks me on the cheek as I smile.

“I’m all messy and gross. I’m not gorgeous,” I poke my tongue out at him and he laughs. “I’m gonna go now.”

I head for the door and start to close it behind me when another door opens. I look up to see Kyle getting off the bus across from me. Our eyes lock and his eyes widen. He takes in my dishelved state and his jaw drops.

“Oy, Quinn, you forgot your shoes,” Oli says from behind me. I silently take them, avoiding Kyle’s accusing eyes. Oli sees Kyle watching us and smirks. He leans down and pulls me in for a kiss. I hear a door slam and quick footsteps walking away.

“Oli…that’s not how I wanted David to find out,” I poke his nose to try to stop him from grinning.

“Too late now,” he comments and I roll my eyes, “you better run along now and get even more gorgeous, I can hear the first sets starting.”

I do as he says and quickly find my bus. It’s empty so I quickly change into some disco shorts and a nude coloured tank. Grabbing a yellow vest and my purple beanie, I put them on. Adding some purple crystal earrings and a necklace, I slip my feet into some yellow Converse. Quickly washing my face of last night’s make up and brushing my teeth, I add some purple eye shadow before heading out.

As I walk into the venue, I put my hair up in a bun at the base of my skull. A guy runs past and then stops. John Gomez looks back and smiles at me.

“Hey Quinn, you coming to our set? It’s in…” he looks down at his watch before looking up with a panicked look on his face, “two minutes!”

Chuckling, I catch up to him and we run through the crowds to the amphitheater. His band is set up on the Smartpunk stage and looking around for him. He quickly joins them and they start their set. I hang back to the side of the stage, smiling a little, glad for the distraction.

I watch the Summer Set bounce around the stage while their catchy pop music fills the amphitheater. Chilling by myself to the side of the stage, I dance a little to their music, singing along to the parts I love.

They finish their set and we chat a little while they cool off and clear the stage of their instruments. John and I talk while laughter about some celebrity gossip while he packs away his guitar.

“I'm glad I caught you in time to drag you to our set,” he comments and I smile. He caught me coming off my bus and quickly pulled me along for his set. He's kind of like a little kid. His girlfriend, a girl named Taylor, comes over and pulls him away.

Jess, the tan, short Asian girl drummer, comes over and we start to catch up as she packs up her drums. We had met once when I went to one of their shows. We became friends and hung out when he could. Back then, she was the celebrity and I was a no-one. Now over roles have changed. Everyone's talking about my album and listening to my single. Their song Chelsea has had some popularity, but no where near what my Kiss N Tell has.

“Bitch,” a deep voice growls and I look up to see David walking by with a laptop in his hand and a keyboard in a case hanging from his shoulder. I gulp and look at Kyle. Pausing from setting up some amps, he glares at me.

“What was that for?” Jess asks, surprised.

“I deserved it, leading him on like I did,” I look over at Jess with a 'what-can-you-do' type of look. We walk off stage together, but I hang back when I see David walking over.

“Were you even going to tell me?” All niceties have obviously been thrown out of the window as he drags me back to a secluded area of the stage. I look up at David, waiting for him to continue, as he's clearly bursting to. “Has this been going on for the last two weeks? Did it start when I punched him? Why did you do that me to me?”

“I didn't mean to!” I interject. I can live with whatever else he wants to think of me, but I didn't purposely try to hurt him. I mean, sire, I went out with my friends with the intent of checking out the locals, but I never meant to actually hook p with someone. Especially not Oli.

“I didn't mean to,” I repeat hopelessly, but by the expression on his face, he doesn't believe me, “it just happened last night. I had no control what so ever.”

“Yeah right,” his bitter words hurt. I look up at him and catch the true sadness in his eyes.

“It's just... we have no chemistry,” I start, feeling a little unsure. “I mean, I can't be the only one who felt this way.”

“Are you saying I'm a bad kisser?!” he demands with a wounded pride, but I quickly disagree.

“It just didn't set anything off in me.” He looks off towards the stage, completely pissed off. He then starts to look determined and I get a little worried. “You're, you're not going to tell anyone, are you?”

He doesn't say anything, instead brushing past me to get to the stage. I don't watch him walk away, the horror of what's going to happen settling on me. I leave as I hear the crowd scream and David begin talking.