looked down at her phone. She was so tempted to go out and escape the noisy household but she was just far too tired and desperately needed to sleep. She poured herself a glass of water, taking a sip as she walked around the small island in the room, contemplating her response to Luke’s message. She still hadn’t thought of a reply by the time she finished her drink and decided against replying for now given that she would most likely see him upstairs in a few minutes. She placed the glass in the sink, mentally making a reminder to wash it in the morning and made her way out of the kitchen, heading down the hallway to the small square area between the front door and the staircase. Spotting her small suitcase beside the foot of the stairs she walked over to it. Gripping her hand around the handle, her fingertips underneath it, she lifted the case up and proceeded up the stairs and down the hallway. A door on her right creaked open and she was met with the eyes of a grinning Luke.

“Hey!”

“Hey! Did you get my text?”

“I did,” she nodded, “I’m just so tired though so… another night?”

His grin briefly disappeared before reappearing a little less bright, “Oh, OK. Sure; we can totally hang another night.”

She frowned slightly, “Are you OK?”

He nodded, “I’m fine. We can talk some other time.”

“Are you sure? I can stay up for a bit longer if you want me to,” she set her case down.

He hesitated but shook his head, “No; it’s fine. You go get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”

She snorted, “I’ll try. The others are downstairs playing video games and you know how that goes. I’m hoping that if I go down in my jammies then they’ll take the hint and bugger off. Remind me to thank your mum for insisting to your handlers that I sleep downstairs and not in your room.”

He cracked a laugh, “She’s not that bad.”

“I know.”

“You know… the handlers won’t be back until at least ten so if the noise gets too much you could always sleep with me. I mean, in my bed – separately,” he was getting flustered and turning red, “Or I can sleep on the floor; I don’t mind.”

“You’re sweet,” she walked towards him with her arms outstretched. He opened his door a smidge more, dropping his hand back down. She circled her arms around his waist; their height difference even more apparent. Luke wrapped his arms around her shoulders, placing his right hand on her head as she rested it against his chest mumbling, “so very sweet.”

They held each other for a minute or so, the fragrance of her apple conditioner tickling his nose. It was a familiar and comforting smell. Luke’s own scent wafted at her nostrils, making her feel giddy.

She looked up at him, “Promise you’ll come find me if you change your mind about talking?”

He nodded down at her, “I promise.”

She squeezed him for just a second longer before releasing him, “I’m gonna go get changed. See you later?”

“Later,” he confirmed.

She backed away, exchanging a final smile with him as he waved slowly at her and closed the door over. Picking her case back up, she padded a couple of feet down the hallway to the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, locking it tight; she didn’t want to risk anyone walking in on her, even if all she was doing was getting changed and brushing her teeth. She knew the lads liked to joke around and try to catch people off guard and she really didn’t want to end up all over Snapchat in her underwear thanks to a “slip up”. She flipped her case onto its back and unzipped it. Inside were various items of clothing all neatly folded and stacked. On the underside of the lid was a mesh compartment which contained only two things; concealer and a toothbrush in a Ziplock bag. She took out her pyjamas and replaced them with the clothes she had been wearing, quickly changing. Next she took out her toothbrush and ran it under the tap for a few seconds just letting the cool water hit it. In a way she hoped that she could just go back to Luke’s room but with no excuse she felt a bit weird about knocking on his door again. She sighed as she squeezed a blob of toothpaste onto the brush. She brushed her teeth quickly to avoid having to wait any longer before going to sleep. When she was done she put her toothbrush in next to the lads’ ones in the pink spotty mug they kept theirs in. She zipped her case back up and unlocked the bathroom door, making her way back down to the living room.

“! You’re back! Where did you go?” Michael yelled unable to tear his eyes away from the screen. He was currently battling Calum at some game she didn’t know the name of. Ashton looked up at her from his seat. None of them had moved an inch since she’d left.

“I went to go get changed for bed seeing as it’s…” she glanced up at the large silver clock that hung on the wall to the right of the television, “after one in the morning.”

Ashton looked up at the clock and grimaced. He hadn’t realised what the time was. He looked back at her and she raised her eyebrows.

His mouth formed an “o” shape and he jumped up, “I’m going to bed. Later, guys.” He squeezed her shoulder as he walked past her to the door way. She mouthed a “thank you” at him and he gave her a two fingered wave as he disappeared up to his room. sighed and took up the seat that Ashton had vacated. She was going to give Calum and Michael half an hour to take the hint before she gave up and took Luke up on his offer. Time seemed to go by ever so slowly with the boys showing no signs of growing tired. She, however, was and was finding it increasingly harder to stay awake.

Twenty five minutes passed and was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She hoisted herself out of the chair and made her way up the stairs. She knocked on Luke’s door only to be met with silence. She ducked her head around the door. There was enough light from the hallway to just illuminate his sleeping features. He looked so sweet and innocent in the glow. His face twitched slightly from the exposure and she closed the door back over to avoid waking him up. She sighed. She didn’t want to disturb him by climbing into his bed so decided to leave him be. She stood back and thought about her options; she really didn’t want to go all the way back downstairs again. She looked down the hallway and saw Ashton’s door. As she walked up to it she could hear him conversing – most probably on the phone – and again decided against disturbing another of her friends. She also didn’t want to risk him potentially talking to a future date and have her get the wrong idea over her just needing a quiet place to sleep. She turned to face the other way again. She really didn’t know what to do. She noticed Michael’s door was ajar and a sudden thought struck her. She pulled her mobile out and typed out a text to him.

You’ve just lost your bed. Tough luck 😛

She nudged the door open and slunk into the room, closing it behind her. She knew Michael wouldn’t completely mind her being in there and she really couldn’t be bothered climbing the stairs to get to Calum’s room. Her phone lit up with a text message, conveniently lighting the way on the short walk over to the bed. She was surprised when she didn’t trip over anything clothing, noting that the room was fairly clean for it being Michael’s. She placed her case near his bedside table and opened up the text.

Be up soon. Keep it warm for me? 😉

She laughed and rolled her eyes. She threw back the duvet, sitting on top of the mattress and covering herself over. She slid down under covers, her right arm peeking out so that she could look through the contents of her phone. She was grateful that he had upgraded from a single bed to a double one since the last time she had visited. She knew from experience that he liked to spread out and take up as much space as possible so she was glad that there would be some extra room for her much shorter limbs.

She was scrolling through her Instagram feed when the door opened slowly, letting in a sliver of light from the hallway. She turned on the flashlight app on her phone, scaring Michael in the process. She giggled as he pressed his hand to his chest.

“Jesus! I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

“It’s , actually, and I would be had some imp and his buddy had not been making so much noise in my temporary bedroom.”

He gave her a sheepish grin, walking towards her. He took off his t-shirt and black skinny jeans leaving only his boxers on. pulled back the duvet and scooted backwards towards the wall to let him in beside her. She felt the mattress dip slightly as he sat down and slung his legs under the duvet pulling it over him as he slid further down the bed. She reached over him and placed her phone on the small table.

“So you’re bunking with me tonight. I’m guessing you couldn’t stand being away from this fine specimen,” he gestured at his body, waving his hand up towards his face.

She rolled her eyes, “Whatever gets you through the night, Mikey. Actually; Luke’s asleep, Ash is – I’m guessing – on the phone, and Cal’s room is all the way up there so…” she pointed towards the ceiling as she spoke.

“So I’m the convenient option, then?” he didn’t sound too happy at being her last choice.

She put her hand on his forearm and gave it a squeeze, “You are more than just convenient. You are a source of comfort for me…” She stopped herself from getting too sentimental, “Plus you’re kind of the reason why I can’t sleep so it’s only fair that you share your bed.”

He laughed, “I guess it is only fair. I’m certainly not going to complain; there’s a pretty girl in my bed.”

“You’re a dork,” she smirked at him. She yawned, her eyes watering.

“And you’re tired,” he grinned “booping” her on the nose as she scrunched it up, “Go to sleep.”

“Yes, dad,” she turned over onto her right side, facing the wall; it was the only way she could sleep. She sounded so tired and Michael couldn’t help but feel guilty. He sighed and moved closer to her. He delicately draped his right arm over her.

She murmured barely awake, “You OK?”

“Uh, yeah,” he quickly removed his arm but she pulled it back around her.

“Goodnight, Mikey.”

He smiled to himself, “Goodnight babe.”