Austin's POV:

"Shut up!" Alan whined as we joked about his bad dancing from the night before.

"Nuh uh, I'll never forget the moves you broke out last night!" Phil laughed hysterically.

"Yeah dude, he's right. I think you twerking your butt all over Tarni was the highlight of it all," I chimed in. Alan kicked his feat childishly around the couch he was sitting in. We all laughed but it quickly stopped as we were abruptly interrupted by the sound of our hotel door slamming open and shut again. We all turned from the couches we sat in and watched Lani stomp through the room into the bathroom with Tarni on her tail. All the boys immediately looked at me as if I knew what was wrong.

"What are you looking at me for?" they rolled their eyes. I jumped from my seat before they could chastise me and went to my bedroom. I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened instagram. I snapped a quick photo of myself for the sake of the fans an uploaded it.

@austincarlile: Sydney get ready for tonight! I can't wait to get out of this cooped up hotel #saveme

Quickly the notifications rolled in but I couldn't help but push the phone to the side as the idea of Lani and Mike together crept back into my mind. I pulled the ring back out of my pocket and looked at it. Angry that I hadn't made my move first maybe last night she'd have been in my arms and not his. The door creaked open without warning leaving me without time to hide the ring. I looked up from the bed and saw Lani standing in the doorway staring down at the ring in my hand.

"You kept it?" it was barely a whisper but I could hear her croaky voice. I nodded and she walked over placing herself on the bed next to me. I studied her tear stained face and puffy, red eyes. I pushed the loose hairs that fell around her face from her bun behind her ears still staring in awe that someone so strong had finally broken down. "Austin," she whimpered out my name. I pulled her into my chest and held her, never questioning what was wrong.

"Can I put it back on?" I whispered into her hair.

"I, I don't think that's a good idea. Austin I'm so over this. Ever since I've gotten out all I've been around is guys in bands without even knowing and you're all the same!" Ouch. "I usually walk on eggshells, what the fuck is happening to me?" she cried into my chest, "I don't let my guard down like this and you're all so fucking cunning and sweep me off my feet so well, I just feel so exposed and open and I want to be closed," she wept as she drowned my shirt in tears. I slipped the ring back in my pocket only dreaming that one day I could put it back on her.

"Nothing's happening to you Lans, you're perfectly normal. You're just finding yourself in a more comfortable situation where you don't have to watch your back. Anyone would find it easy to get used to that," I explained as she nodded against me. She pulled away and looked at my shirt covered in her tears.

"Oh god, look at your shirt. I'm sorry," she laughed at herself. She pulled at my shirt and pulled it over my head making my breath catch. She looked up at me apologetically and I shook my head letting her know it was okay. She threw my shirt on top of my suitcase and looked back at me. Her hand reached out for my chest once again and her finger stroked down the length of my pink scar on my chest like the first time she'd seen me with my shirt off.

"Lani?" I whispered hoping she didn't take her hand away and she didn't.

"Yep?" she popped the 'p'.

"I'm sorry," she sighed.

"Don't be," she let out.

"No Lans I am. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean those things I said. I'm not scared of being with you or of what you did," I sighed before finishing my sentence. She'd told me so much about herself and I'd told her nothing, no wonder she felt so exposed. I exhaled before explaining my random outburst just a few nights before, "You were right," she looked up at me with her crystal green eyes that we filled with confusion, "I am afraid of commitment. So god damn scared of commitment, of getting hurt again," I continued to explain.

Leilani's POV:

"I am afraid of commitment. So god damn scared of commitment, of getting hurt again," Austin admitted to me.

"Again?" I questioned and he let out a sigh.

"I was married," I felt my heart sink and my eyes widen as my mouth formed an 'o' shape.

"Was or are?" I felt rude asking.

"Was. We haven't been together for a long time and since then I've never found myself willing to commit to someone since. Until I met you," my heart reformed and bounced inside my chest again, "I thought I could see myself with you too, I thought it was impossible to find a girl so perfect. You were so guarded and strong yet so fragile like porcelain and I wanted to be the person that was there for you to pick you up and put the pieces together when you fell apart. I was so sure of the thought of 'us' but I thought you didn't want that, I thought you would be too scared after everything and then in the shower you talked about liking me and seeing yourself with me and I don't know, it just triggered something. The memories of being committed and Gielle cheating on me, tearing my beating heart from my chest, it made me throw up a wall and ultimately that pushed you away," Gielle, I couldn't help but think what a pretty name it was. All his words fell out of his mouth so quickly they were all meshed together, it was cute how much he was rambling on.

"I know what that's like. Bryce met Cass while I was in prison. I understand that though. I don't see how someone could hurt someone as precious as you," I squeezed his hand tightly but he shook his head.

"No matter what I couldn't hurt you like that," the conversation brought back last nights events in Mike's hotel bed and I couldn't help but think I'd hurt Austin by sleeping with Mike. I know were not together but we were something.

"Austin," I agonised. He looked down at me and nodded indicating for me to finish, "It's probably obvious since I didn't come back last night but I feel like I have to say it. I, uh, I slept with Mike.." I trailed off waiting for him to explode in my face but he didn't.

"I know. Well I didn't for sure but I expected it. Mike is like that but don't feel bad we aren't together. Just spare me the details okay," he consoled me.

"But -" he cut me off when he smashed his lips into mine. I didn't even hesitate to kiss back as our lips moved in sync.

"But nothing it doesn't change how I feel about you Lans," he sung out after pulling away from the kiss.

"I really like you Aus," he smiled and so did I.

"Not as much as I like you," he responded making my cheeks flush a bright red. He looked down at his watch and sighed, "Go get ready for work, we have to leave for the show soon," I nodded and jumped off the bed heading towards the bathroom.

***

I walked out from the bathroom in my maxi skirt and brown crop top with my lace shrug thrown over my shoulders and walked into the lounge where all the guys were getting pumped for the show. Austin looked in my direction and laughed, more like snorted actually.

"What?" I retorted.

"I just don't understand your style, like one day you're in ripped jeans and band shirts and the next you're dressed like a hippie," he laughed and so did the others. Without a word I turned to back in the direction of the bedroom to change. "Wait, where you going?" he piped up again.

"To get changed, I mean I wanted to be comfortable while I was working but I wont be if I'm being judged," I spat and he ran over and turned me around. He placed a kiss on my head but I didn't look back up still offended.

"Don't do that, you look beautiful. I'm sorry," I shook my head.

"You're just saying that," I pushed him away.

"I would never," he placed another kiss on the back of my head as he pushed me towards the door, "now come on it's time to go," we all pushed out the door and got in the elevator.

***

When we arrived the tent was already set up and all I had to do was sell the merch. I was overly relieved when Tarni said she'd be working too, at least I'd know someone but luckily for me there was only one other person working at our stall and they'd not arrived yet.

"Hey girls, I'll be working with you in merch for the rest of the tour," the husky voice appeared from behind me and stopped me in my tracks. I turned on my feet to match the face with the voice I unnervingly recognised.

"Bryce?" I blubbered. A cowardly smile grew on his face.

"Found you Lei," he smirked.

Notes

Lani's Outfit