Perfectly Dysfunctional

My eyes shot wide open as a searing pain shot through my shoulder. "Jesus Christ Seev, watch where you're going," Someone above me whispered. I couldn't place who, though, because all I could concentrate on at first was how much pain my shoulder was in and then how all I could see was darkness and how I felt like it was crushing me. I felt something brush past my back and I was pulled in tighter, as if to let something or someone by, but it only made my shoulder worse and I involuntary yelped out in pain. "Shit! I'm sorry!"

I groaned and rolled a bit so I was more comfortable, "Don't worry about it," I said then looked up to see Nathan, and was expecting to be put down, but I wasn't. "Uh, you can... put me down now."

"Oh, sorry..." he paused for a moment before setting me on my feet. I smiled at him and caught Siva standing up at the back of the bus out of the corner of my eye and saw Nareesha sitting on the seat. Siva was walking over to the door and I caught Nareesha's eye. She gave me the 'keep-everyone-out-of-here' look, and I smiled encouragement at her. Siva reached the door and was about to tip it shut but noticed me.

"Sorry Jenny, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Don't worry about it; it's only a bullet wound, it'll heal eventually," I joked and he poked his tongue out before closing the door dramatically. I turned to look at Nathan, "Incidentally, any reason why you were trying to break it even more?" I joked again.

"I told you I was sorry," he said and put his hand to my arm to push me but decided against it and prodded my side instead. "And yes, actually, there was. I got told to take you to bed..." I paused and glanced up at him. The thought pattern 'don't say what you're thinking, and definitely don't laugh' ran through my head, but I laughed anyway. Without even having to say anything Nathan got what I meant and laughed too. "Well if that's they way we're playing it..." he grabbed my elbows and pushed me backwards and I laughed as I stumbled over pretty much everything on the floor.

"Anyways, what time is it?" I asked. "I'm not all that tired anymore," I yawned, contradicting what I'd said and making him laugh.

"Oh, sure you're not. And it's... I don't know, about one am? We just stopped at a petrol station; Jayne got off and is waiting for Martin and Big Kev; apparently the venue didn't pack everything up right, some stuff's missing, so she's waiting to give them a hand and they'll get us at the Hotel tomorrow." A confused look crossed his face before he shrugged it off, "So if you're not tired..." he said quirking his eyebrows and I sat down on my bunk and he sat on Nareesha's which was across from mine.

"Dream on, sunshine." I laughed and rested my head back on my shoulders. "Wait, where are the others?"

"Upstairs," he said, "Playing x-box. Couldn't you hear them?" he smiled as I shook my head.

"Hello, I apparently fell asleep," I laughed. "It's ridiculous, I hate my sleeping pattern."

"And it's not made much better by this all the time is it?"

"No, I enjoy this all! I'm actually really glad I'm here..." I said and he smiled at me.

"...Me too," he said after a moment.

"And I'm grateful," I said, and laughed a little nervously.

"Don't be. If I'd somehow managed to talk myself into leaving you there I'd have turned back about half an hour later, so no worries."

"I just don't know what I'm going to do after this."

"Well, you can-" He was cut off by my phone ringing and I searched around until I found it and answered it as Nathan muttered in the background, "Jeez, talk about frisking yourself..."

I pulled a face at him and reached out to kick him, "You love it really," I said before answering, "Bonjour, Ems!" I greeted Emma and she laughed.

"Don't call me that! Anyway, how're you? How's everything going?"

I laughed at what I knew her face would look like at me calling her Ems, "I'm good, everything's good. I've apparently fallen asleep again and- Where are you going?" I asked Nathan as he got up and walked back to where Nareesha and Siva were.

He had a frightened look on his face as he turned around slowly and pointed behind him, "Back... to see... Seev and... no?"

I panicked, "Two seconds Emma. Who said I was done talking to you? Who said Emma was done talking to you?"

"WHAT?" For as long as Emma had known I was on tour with The Wanted she hadn't spoken to them since that one time she called when I was in hospital and Jay answered, and I felt bad for throwing her in there like that.

"No, I'm joking, but I'm not done with you, sit down." I said and patted the space beside me as I couldn't be bothered to stretch over and pat where he'd been sitting before.

"Yes, ma'am!" he said, and sat down so fast beside me that I couldn't help but laugh. I spoke to Emma for another couple of minutes before Nathan disappeared behind me and got himself comfortable leaning against the wall, all the while making little remarks to himself that Emma could also hear. By the time he was 'comfy', we were pissing ourselves laughing. I turned around in time to catch the funniest look on his face and had to fall back on the bunk from laughing so hard.

"Emma, you have to be here!" I laughed some more, "This is so funny!" I said as I calmed and regained a normal breathing pattern. "I miss you." I pouted.

"I miss you too..."

I gasped as an idea hit me, "You should come down!"

"I've actually been saving up and stuff, and-"

"Don't be daft; I'll get your ticket! I mean, obviously when I find a place to live and shit, but you should come down! Spend the rest of summer here!"

"There's not much left of summer, Jenny," Emma laughed.

"Yeah, in Scotland, but you won't be in Scotland..." I trailed off and she laughed.

"You make a very good point."

"That and you'll be starting college which goes back later than schools."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Isn't it a little past your bedtime?" I joked and I heard her scoff.

"I had to drive Caleb home from a party and now he's crashed out in our guest room and he's snoring so loud," She didn't sound amused. "If he doesn't shut up I'm going to hit him with a brick..." She paused.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side, okay? Poor Caleb!" Caleb was Emma’s cousin who was younger than her by about a month who I'd met a couple of times before.

"He'd get over it," she brushed her comment off, "Oh, by the way, any more death threats or whatever?" she laughed but I knew she was being somewhat serious, "Or," she lowered her voice, "Did you ever find out what they were talking about when you woke up in hospital?"

I allowed my mind to wander back and I stayed still, "No, I didn't... But I'm going to." I decided. Sometimes it entered my mind, and sometimes I forgot about it for days on end, but I didn't feel comfortable enough bringing it up with anyone yet, "But I'll call you and let you know as soon as I do. Well I'll let you go so long as you promise not to kill your cousin with a brick to the face, okay? Promise me!" I laughed when she did promise, "Good. Bye, I miss you!"

I pressed the 'End' button and lay there for a moment before I pulled my feet up over Nathan's legs and sighed. He pushed my legs off and tugged on my t-shirt for me to sit up, which I did. When I did he tugged on it again to pull me back and sit against the wall and he pulled my head in to rest on his shoulders gently so as to avoid hurting my arm again.

"You'll figure something out." He said and lightly kissed my head. After I figured he was talking about finding somewhere to live, my heart died.

"Here's hoping," I laughed.

"You will. But until you do, you're staying with me and Jay. And Emma can come down and stay, too, so you can tell her that next time she calls, or you call her. Also, she can only stay if she promises not to kill anyone with a brick..."

I laughed, "I'm sure she wouldn't have it in her to kill any of you guys no matter how much you annoyed her." I sat up and stared at him, "Don't be silly though-" He shushed me multiple times until I could no longer argue back. "You just don't quit, do you?" I laughed and he grinned.

"Nope," He pulled me back gently again and I complied, snuggling down a little further. "Well, this is cosy." He remarked after a short period of time and I couldn't help but burst into fits of laughter. "What?" He questioned my laughter but all I could do was laugh harder. "What's so funny?" He asked again.

"You," I said through my gasps for air.

"Is that so?" he said then jabbed my sides again, pushing me down so he could tower over me and jab his fingers into my sides.

I pleaded with him to stop but he didn't show any mercy. At least not until the bus shook horribly giving us a fright. I grabbed his hands and moved them to the side of me so that I could sit up a little, "What the Hell was that?" I asked.

"I don't know... Seems to be alright now though," he said from above me as he looked down at me. I suddenly became very aware of the fact that I was still holding his hands down by my sides so he couldn't attack me again, and I was also suddenly aware of the very confined space we were in. Our breathing became shallower as we stared at each other, but before much else could happen, the bus shook again; yeah, 'alright'. My stomach hit my feet; something about this whole thing didn't feel right. "What the Hell is that?" Nathan asked and moved himself off of me and up into the aisle. I tried to calm myself down after what had nearly or nearly not happened and quickly followed suit and we walked towards the back of the bus where Nareesha and Siva were just opening the door, a concerned look spread on their faces, but I saw they were holding hands and Siva had his arm around her waist, his hand resting slightly to the side of her stomach. I quickly glanced at Nareesha with questioning eyes and she smiled widely and nodded, and I grinned at her.

"What's going on?" Max asked as he jogged downstairs behind Jay, followed by Tom.

"No idea..." Siva said.

"Wait..." Nareesha said and looked at me. Then it hit me like a tonne of bricks. "Oh shit," she mumbled.

"Someone messed around with the engine..."

"Seriously, can't we catch a break?!" Nathan yelled at no one in particular and I frowned. What the fuck was that supposed to mean? What Emma said on the phone quickly sprang into my mind, but before I had time to ask him what he meant there was this crash and a scrape of metal and the bus sped onto the grass at the side of the road. Seven bodies tangled together as we fell over each other and clung to each other for dear life, and just before the bus came to a stop it tippled onto its side, sending everyone and everything crashing back towards the side Nathan, Max and I were closest to; where the bunks were. All we could do was hold on to each other and pray we'd all be okay. Oh, and scream.