Forever Warped

As if on a cue, Awsten started immediately with the interrogation, wanting to know what was going on. I ignored all the questions coming from my nosy cousin and I dramatically fell back onto the couch clutching a bottle of water in my hands. Once he finally got the hint that I had nothing to say to him, he threw his hands up in defeat before stalking back to the bunks while Otto said something about going to see Bindy at the merch tent, leaving me alone with the one person I didn’t even want to see, let alone talk to.

I felt his eyes on me, but I refused to look up from my phone. I wasn’t doing anything important, just aimlessly scrolling through Facebook, but it was pissing him off. He let out an angry groan as he took my phone out of my hands, forcing me to look at him.

"The fuck?! Do you want to catch these hands? Cause that's exactly what's going to happen if you don't give my phone back and stay the hell away."

“Look, it’s the first day of tour, Kat. Our first performance was fucked up, by the way, thanks for asking. How the fuck am I supposed to avoid you? Even if I wanted to ignore you, you are always going to be around and all I’m going to think about is kissing you and all the nights we spent together. You can’t tell me you don’t love how I make you feel, baby.”

“Fuck you, Geoff.” I hissed as I snatched my phone out of his hands before I splashed my water in his face. “Call your fucking fiance and check on your daughter.”



I stood tucked away to the side of the stage, waiting patiently for Andy’s band to take the stage. I had no idea who they were or what he played, but being here was better than being on the bus. From the corner of my eye, I saw a black blur rush past and five guys stopped, waiting for the right moment to take the stage. I immediately recognized Andy, who was looking around, and when his eyes met mine, he gave me a wink before joining the rest of his band on stage and I swear, my heart skipped a beat.

The crowd erupted as they finished their set and I couldn’t help but cheer along with them. Andy pulled me in for a sweaty hug as he got closer and I let out a laugh as he led me out with an arm slung around my shoulder as we followed the rest of his band. He introduced me as we walked towards the buses, but the others went straight back to the bus while Andy and I made our way to the pizza tent for some food. As we got closer, Geoff was walking towards us with a pizza in his hands. He didn’t say anything but definitely gave us both a dirty look before stalking off.

“So, Kat, is it?” Andy grinned as he shoved a piece of pizza in his mouth. “We never formally met earlier.”

“Riiiight. I’m essentially sitting on a stranger’s tour bus, eating pizza and watching Netflix with said stranger. Is this the part where I end up dead or…?”

“No!” He laughed at my lame joke, causing me to smile brightly. “So where are you from, Kat? Tell me all about you, then we’ll be strangers no more.”

“Not sure if that’s how it works, but alright.”

For the next fifteen minutes, he sat and listened to me babble about my boring life back home in Houston, Texas. From being the youngest child in the family, to my gap year turning into four, to my obsession with soft and fuzzy blankets, to my hatred of shrimp. Once I ran out of things to say, he hit back with just as many random and off the wall things about him. My phone loudly buzzed across the table, cutting Andy’s story short, and I apologized profusely as I read the text.

Awsten: Buses are leaving within the hour! Lucas wants you back at the bus ASAP

I groaned loudly as the thought of being stuck on the same bus with Geoff for the rest of the night entered my mind. The next stop was San Diego and it wasn’t that far away, so maybe I could steal a chair and sleep outside the bus or something. Anything would be better than being in the bunk across from him. I was pulled from my thoughts as a hand belonging to a confused Andy waved in front of my face.

“Oh, sorry. Uh, it’s my cousin. He said the buses are leaving soon and I’m being summoned back to the hell bus. I guess I’ll see you sometime tomorrow?”

“You don’t have to go. I mean, you can stay here if you want. We’ve got an extra bunk you’re more than welcome to. I don’t know what a hell bus is, but it doesn’t sound very nice or welcoming.”

“It’s a long story.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

“Alright, no worries. I’m gonna go take a quick mini shower before we get moving. I’ll show you to the bunks and you can decide or whatever.”

Andy pointed out each bunk before grabbing some clean clothes and disappearing into the bathroom. Christian poked his head out to see what was going on, only to give me a small nod before disappearing back into the darkness of his bunk. I quietly made my way back to the front of the bus, unsure of what to do. These guys were practically strangers, but I knew I’d rather take my chances with them than end up fighting with Geoff again, or worse... back in his bunk.

“You stayed.”

I looked up to see Andy leaned against the wall with a small smile, a pair of black basketball shorts hung on his hips, while his wet hair caused droplets to roll down his chest. To say he looked good was an extreme understatement. He looked like something out of my teenage fantasy, something I could only dream of.

Somehow I managed to push the thoughts to the side long enough to beat Andy’s ass in Mario Kart a handful of times while he only won once, and that was only because I felt sorry for him and intentionally drove off Rainbow Road. I couldn’t stop laughing as he let out a slew of curse words as he hit yet another banana peel then ran into a cow. We spent the entire drive from Pomona to San Diego trash talking and throwing chips at each other, anything to try to distract the other.

“Hey, uh, would you mind if I take a shower? I feel like I smell and I definitely don’t want to sleep in the bunk being all dirty. I don’t think I’m quite cut out for this tour lifestyle.”

“Oh yeah, go ahead. You can use Ashley’s hair stuff, he’s got that good shit. Just don't tell him I let you use it. I’ll find you something comfy to sleep in.”

“Oh wow, my hero! I am forever indebted to you.”

Andy dug through his clothes and pulled out a batman shirt and a pair of boxers for me to wear. I graciously accepted before hurrying to the bathroom, ready to wash the grime off me and get some sleep. Bindy would most likely leave me at the merch tent all day tomorrow to get back at me for leaving her so I would definitely need my rest. I wasted no time or water, taking what was most definitely the quickest shower of my life.

Much to my surprise Andy was no longer on the couch, but had moved back to his bunk, obviously just as tired as I was. I placed my dirty clothes at the foot of the guest bunk I was going to sleep in and just as I went to crawl in, Andy cleared his throat and patted the bed beside him, causing me to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

“I think Jake stole the extra pillows and blanket from the guest bunk. I’m sorry. You can try to take it back from him, but it probably won’t end well. He’s a blanket hog, the worst actually.”

“Oh… it’s fine, I can manage without a blanket or pillow for the night. It wouldn't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. No worries.”

“Kat.” He grimaced with a slight annoyance in his voice as he sat up a little. “Just get in my damn bunk. Now.”

I gave him a crooked smile and quickly did what I was told only to be immediately met with a warm bunk and an almost heavenly smell. It took me a second to realize it was Andy himself. Cologne, body wash, deodorant- whatever it was, it was wonderful. He opened his laptop and started a movie for us, but with the gorgeous man a few mere inches away, I was having a hard time concentrating.

“You good, Kat?”

“Yeah, just tired.”

I straight lied through my teeth as he asked if I was sure, but it wasn’t like I could tell him what was going through my mind. I had only just met him a few hours ago and here I was in his bunk, thinking about how much I wanted to cuddle with him and sneak a few kisses too. It was weird, creepy, and wrong on all levels… Right?

“Does it have something to do with your boyfriend…?” He asked as he turned his focus back to the movie.

“My boyfriend? I don’t follow. I don’t have a boyfriend. If I did, I can almost guarantee I wouldn’t be laying in your bunk right now.”

“The guy from earlier? The one that kept glaring daggers at me when he wasn’t staring at you? I just figured he was your boyfriend and you were mad at him.”

“Oh no, Geoff’s definitely not my boyfriend. He’s got a kid and fiance back home. Hang on... you thought I was just hanging out with you to piss him off?” I waited a second for an answer, but his silence told me enough. “I’m here because you’re one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. I mean, I don’t really know you, but I know enough to like you- like being around you.”

“So… you don’t have a boyfriend?”

“Pretty sure that’s what all that meant, Andy.”

“Okay, good. Now I won’t feel so weird if I ask to kiss you later.” He said nonchalantly as he stared at the computer screen where someone was currently getting killed.

“Wait… what? Are you asking if you can kiss me? Cause if you are, the answer would be yeah, absolutely, anytime.”

He didn’t say anything, but I could see him smirk in the faint light coming from the movie. I let out a yawn before pulling the blanket up to my neck, knowing it was only a matter of time before I ended up falling asleep. Andy turned the movie off then got under the blanket with me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body and felt how close his hand was to mine. Before I knew what was happening, he pulled me closer to him.

“Is this okay?”

I mumbled a small yes as I laid my head on his chest. His heart was racing just as fast mine was and I couldn’t help but smile. He kissed my forehead, and without a second thought, I leaned up and placed a small kiss on his lips. He grinned so brightly before kissing me back, only it was way better than the little peck. We finally pulled away, almost breathless, blushing, and a little embarrassed.

“Good night, doll face.” He whispered through a yawn before sleep took us both.