Popstar Chapter Eight Erik and Ashley changed buses two days later. It's now August first, and we're going to a club tonight to celebrate Ashley's birthday. I haven't talked to him much since his last night on the bus. Deep down, I really miss our conversations. The guys have come to accept the 'new' me and i've been a bit nicer to all of them. I realised that they are just people, and they didn't necessarily ask for the label of 'pop star'. The show went well tonight, and I'm becoming more and more comfortable on stage. I'm even starting to enjoy singing my own songs. At eleven, I met the guys, well, everyone except Ashley, at Rum Jungle. We're in New York for two days. Twenty minutes later, Ashley arrived. We all surprised him, and I gave a small smile when he looked in my direction. He nodded at me and turned his attention back to the other party guests. Some guests were gone within half an hour, guests like Ashley's grandpa, and his mom and dad, who had simply come to show Ashley they cared but weren't exactly the "Rum Jungle" crowd. I decided not to drink tonight, recalling the events that had occured the last time I chose to. So, I sat in the back with Dan and Jake while everyone else hit the dance floor. We talked for a while, before I decided to go to the bar to get a soda. That's when I saw him. Ashley was grinding with a tall brunette who was wearing a miniskirt and tank top. My first instinct was to run in the other direction, but I knew what I had to do. I wasn't sure if it was right, but I knew I had to do it. ********************** I wandered over to where the two were dancing and I tapped him on the shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?" I asked, and he smiled at the brunette as she wandered off to dance with someone else. "Actually, I kinda do." he said, once she was gone. I started dancing with him a bit. "Ashley, I miss you." I said. The DJ put on a ballad and he pulled me into his arms. "Don't say shit like that to me, Kerr, unless you mean it." I took a deep breath and savoured his scent. "I do mean it." I whispered. He stood back to look me in the eye. "If you're fucking with me, then...." I cut him off when I pressed my lips to his. "Happy Birthday." I breathed, when we broke apart. Ashley took my hand and led me off the dance floor to an empty booth way in the back. "Are you sure about this?" he asked. "I'm positive." I replied. "I don't want to endure the rest of this tour without talking to you." "What about after the tour? Then what?" he asked, not breaking the gaze. "We can figure it out when we get there, all I really know is now, Ash." I said, taking his hands in mine. "Aren't you scared?" he asked, quietly. "Very. Aren't you?" I replied. "Kind of. But Kerr, please, you have to trust me. Just know that I'm not him, because I'm not, okay? I'm not going to hurt you." I nodded as he pressed his lips to mine. Finally, things were beginning to work out for me.... and I was.... falling in love with a 'Pop Star'. ************** "Kerr?" I heard a voice call out behind me, bringing me back to reality. I turned around to find Dan. "Are you okay?" he asked, approaching me. "I'm fine... I was just...." I looked back at the dance floor, where Ashley was still dancing with the brunette girl. "Looking at someone." he finished for me. "Cmon, let's go get a drink." I followed Dan to the bar and we ordered. "So, Ashley eh? You have your eye on him?" "No... it's just... something happened between us a while ago and I know he's still mad at me." "Is that why he switched busses?" Dan asked, wondering where all of this was coming from. "Yes." I answered, looking at the ground. I knew I would end up explaining everything to Dan, during one of our talks. Our talks were becoming more and more frequent, and we often stayed up until the early hours of the morning, just getting to know each other. It was actually quite a relief. I had sort of sensed that Erik felt a bit left out, but he knew he was welcome to join us if he wanted to. "Hey.... are you almost ready to head back?" Dan asked, as the bartender handed us our drinks. "Yah, why don't we go drink these and then I'm gonna go." He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. "Kerr, don't worry, okay?" He kissed me on the cheek and I smiled. "Thanks." I whispered quietly. We sat down with the others in the back and in a few minutes, Ashley came and joined us, accompanied by the brunette. "Hey, everyone listen up!" he announced. Ashley had had a few drinks and he was slurring his words a little. "This is my brand new girl friend, Mia!" He laughed a bit and the girl by his side giggled. I just sat quietly, trying not to listen. However, when Ashley came and sat in the empty seat right beside me with his new girl on his lap, it was kind of hard to ignore. "Wow, I'm pretty tired." Dan said, getting up. "I think I'm going to call it a night." "Me too!" I quickly offered, getting my coat and my purse. I stood up and Dan came and put his arm around me. "Well, Happy Birthday, Ash! I'll see you in the morning, man. Try and get some sleep, okay?" We turned and we were about to walk away, when I heard Ashley say something about me. "What did you say?" I asked, turning around. "I said, Kerr and Dan are looking pretty cosy, but I always thought you were too scared to get involved." he repeated as Brunette moved into the empty seat next to him. "Whatever." I whispered, turning to leave. "That's all you ever say, Kerr! You can't deal with own emotions so you try and hide!" he yelled after me. I wheeled around to face him as the tears came down my cheeks. "You're drunk." I seethed. "Drunk... isn't that what got us into this problem in the first place? Only last time, I seem to remember it being you and not me." he got up out of his seat and was now face to face with me. "Don't do this to me, Ashley." I whispered, quietly. "Come on, Kerr." Dan gently grabbed my hand. "So you and Dan eh? That's why you 'couldn't handle' a relationship? You were too busy with Dan?" "Shut up, Ashley." I replied, tears now falling rapidly down my cheeks. "No, I really want to sort this out." he said, taking my other hand. "Why don't we go for a little walk and talk?" "I'm leaving." I pulled away from him and turned to Dan. "Let's go." "Yah, keep running away from the issues, Kerr!" Ashley called after us. Next... **********************