Even If You Don't

Calum's POV

One month later, we were finally in Italy. Since the boys and I had never been to the country before, we were able to land a day off just to explore. But before that, we had two shows to play.

It was a typical morning: Early wake up calls for interviews, rushing back to the venue for soundcheck, and one...or four...pit stops at Starbucks along the way. The girls – much to the jealousy of my band – got to sleep in that morning and we made it back to the venue as they were getting ready to soundcheck.

Luke and Ashton went back to the hotel to take showers so Michael and I wouldn't have to wait for them to get done later. So he and I decided to go see if the girls needed help with anything on stage. We only found one of them – Mari – as she was setting up her drums, but Kaylynn came up behind us not long after. We didn't make our presences known, however – wanting to listen to Mari as she sang yet another Disney song to herself.

"All those days watching from the windows, all those years outside looking in, all that time never even knowing just how blind I'd been," Mari sang softly, "Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight. Now I'm here, suddenly, I see-" She paused her work to look out into the empty arena. "-Standing here, it's all so clear I'm where I'm meant to be." She smiled slightly to herself, "And at last, I see the light and it's like the fog has lifted. And at last, I see the light, and it's like the sky is new. And it's warm and real and bright and the world has somehow shifted. All at once, everything looks different now that I see you."

"Cal, go," Kaylynn whispered.

"Kaylynn," I mumbled.

"Come on!" she exclaimed softly, "I know you know this song! She's always wanted to slow dance to this!"

"I have two left feet, Kay!" I shook my head, "If I go out there, I'm gonna make myself look like an idiot!" While Kaylynn huffed under her breath, Michael rolled his eyes and walked out onstage and I could feel my chest get heavier.

"All those days chasing down a daydream, all those years living in a blur-" Mari turned to look over her shoulder and found Michael smiling goofily as he sang Flynn's part. "-all that time never truly seeing things the way they were. Now she's here, shining in the starlight. Now she's here, suddenly, I know if she's here, it's crystal clear I'm where I'm meant to go." She giggled softly when he held his hand down to her, signaling for her to take it. He pulled her up to her feet, wrapping his other arm around her waist as her hand laid on his shoulder.

As the two of them sang the song and slow danced in the middle of the stage, Mari didn't even notice anyone else watching. When I saw her lay her head on Michael's shoulder, there was something happening in my chest I hadn't really ever felt before. It was like a twisting feeling mixed with a bit of anger. And it was my fault; Kaylynn had tried to get me to dance with her instead, but I refused, afraid I'd screw something up. But now, there was something there that I was more afraid.

What if me being too afraid to admit my feelings for Mari drove her to someone else? What if Michael decided that since I was too afraid to ask her out, he would instead? Deep down, I'd like to think that Michael would never do that to me, but as I walked away – not wanting to watch them anymore – I couldn't help but wonder what if.

No... Wait... What's wrong with me? I've known this girl for what, a month? I can't possibly have this much of a crush on her already... Right? And even if I did, I would have to get her alone long enough to admit that I liked her. But how am I supposed to do that with a schedule that made it so impossible?

~

Mari's POV

Michael and I finished singing the song, but neither of us moved away from each other. While we all hugged each other numerous times a day, it just felt nice to be able to do it for longer than two seconds without someone else interrupting.

I did, however, move my arms down from Michael's neck to his waist so I could hug him more comfortably. His own arms repositioned themselves to hug my shoulders as I happily buried my face in his shirt.

"Kay tell you how much I love that song?" I asked him, my voice muffled slightly by the fabric.

"And that you've always wanted to slow dance to it?" he teased, "Yeah." He leaned in closer so he could whisper in my ear, "I think she was hinting more toward Calum coming out here and dancing with you, but he was too nervous." I blushed a bright shade of red, making him chuckle when he moved back and saw it.

"Why would he be nervous over me?" I sighed, "I'm no one to get nervous over."

"Come on, Mar. You're talented and hilarious and not to mention incredibly gorgeous," he said, "He'd be crazy to not be into you."

"That's just a thing people tell their friends," I shook my head, releasing my grip on him and going back to my drum kit.

"A thing people tell their friends when it's true, Mari," Michael followed me, standing beside the drums as I sat down to tune them.

"It doesn't have to be true, it's just to make them feel better."

"It's true and you know it," he stated, coming up behind me and plucking my drumsticks out of my hands.

"Michael!" I exclaimed, jumping up.

"Say it's true," he ordered, holding them above his head so I couldn't reach them.

"Michael!" I whined.

"Say it, Mari!"

I huffed lightly, but I wasn't waving the white flag that easily. I stepped up on my seat so I was taller than him, but he only moved his hand behind his back.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Michael Gordon, if you do not give me my sticks back right now, I swear to God, I'll send one right through your hand later."

"That's not very nice, Mari," he pouted.

"Then give them back!"

"You know what you have to do to get them back," he shook his head.

"I'm not going to say things that aren't true, Michael," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my stomach.

"Then I guess you're not getting these sticks back," he shrugged, sauntering away.

I sighed to myself, getting back down from the chair and going all the way to my dressing room so I could get an extra pair of sticks from my bag. I decided to take a break though, putting the sticks on the coffee table and flopping down on the couch. But I wasn't even give two minutes of peace and quiet before the door opened.

"Kenz, have you seen-" Luke cut himself off when he realized Kenzie wasn't even in the room, his eyes landing on me instead. "Oh, sorry, Mari," he said, "I didn't know you were resting."

"It's okay, Lu," I murmured, "Who are you looking for?"

"Mike. I heard he was onstage with you, but I just checked and he wasn't there. Do you know where he went?"

"Probably went to go annoy someone else." Luke looked at me for a moment before fully coming into the room, closing the door behind him. He came over to the couch, picking up my legs and sitting down so they were lying on his lap.

"What happened?" he asked, his fingers toying with one of the rips in my jeans.

"Nothing," I sighed, "He just stole my drumsticks and won't give them back."

"Sounds very Michael," Luke nodded, "Why'd he take them?"

"Because he enjoys being a prick?" I suggested, making him laugh.

"I think you just need a nap," he said, "I'm sure Ash wouldn't mind finishing setting up for you."

"A nap would be nice," I couldn't help but chuckle myself, "But there's no way it'd be quiet long enough for me to fall asleep."

"How about you go sleep on the bus? No one will be allowed on unless it's me coming to wake you up for show time." I thought for a moment.

"No one will come on?" I asked.

"No one," he confirmed, "I'll have Bryan guard the door if I have to." I giggled softly, making him smile. He stood up, turning around and holding his hands down to me so he could pull me to my feet.

"Thanks, Lu," I told him. He kissed my forehead, grabbing the drumsticks from the table and leading me out of the dressing room. He walked me to the back door then to the bus, opening the door for me.

"See you in a couple hours," he said as I climbed on before closing the door behind me and leaving to find Bryan.