Chapter 17

"Turkey is so beautiful!" I gasped as I stepped off the plane. "So beautiful." Matt agreed. "I can't believe it." "We got two days here and then we fly to Finland." Matt pushed me forwards which made me walk. "This tour is gonna fly." I noted. "Sadly, yes." Justin walked by my side. "But it's gonna be fun." Cody walked with Matt behind us and the rest of the crew followed.

"Let's just keep our lips to ourselves, aye, Cody?" Justin looked at him. I had to hide my smirk as Cody glared at him. "I think that means yes." I whispered to Justin. "Where's the hotel then?" Cody change the subject. "An hour's drive." Matt looked at the piece of paper he was holding.

"Yay! Cody gets to spend another hour with us!" Justin cheered. "Whoop whoop!" I added with the same excitement. "Oh boy." He groaned. "You love us." I smiled at him. Cody sent a sarcastic smile back. "I think she might die tonight." I heard him mutter to Matt. "Yeah, suicide if you carry on with this mood." I rolled my eyes.

When we got to the hotel, Cody and I were sharing a room as always. "I don't see the point in unpacking when we're only spending two days here." "Just do it." I watched Cody as he messed with his hair in the mirror. "Make me." "Why are you being so difficult?" "You're the one whose been acting weird for the last week." "There's a reason for everything." I sighed and walked out of the bedroom.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cody followed me. "Work it out yourself." I said and opened the door but he caught my wrist and pulled me back. "What's going on? Is this still about Dan? Just give him a fucking call if you're that bothered." "You don't even see what you did wrong. That worries me." I shook my head in disapproval.

"Tell me what's going on." "Ask yourself." I pushed his chest backwards and went back into the bedroom. "When did I do it?" He followed me. "You want me to unpack for you?" I picked up his suitcase. "Is this about what happened on Tuesday?" Cody sighed. "I'll do it anyway." I unzipped the case. "I'm right, aren't I?" He slid the case away from my reach.

"I don't want to talk about it." I folded my arms and stared at the suitcase. "Is this what's been making you act so weird all week?" I still didn't answer. "I was mad and I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean to scare you, I'd never mean to do that. I just wanted you really bad." "And that's the thing, Cody." "What is?" "What if I didn't get up?" I was scared to look at him.

"Baby, I'm not him." He came over and wrapped his arms around me. "I'm never going to be him. I don't want you to ever think that I'll ever touch you without your permission. I know how it must of been from your eyes and I get that but I'd never ever ever do that." "I just think we need to take a step backwards." I looked up at Cody.

"What do you mean?" His grip tightened on me. "You can't leav-" "No." I shook my head. "We're staying together. We worked too hard to get here and we're not going back. I just want to take one step back." "You mean no sex?" "That's exactly what I mean." I nodded. "We can do that. It's whatever you want." He kissed my forehead.

"If that's the case can we go to the nearest store and buy some pop tarts?" I grinned. "I'll go talk to Matt." "I'll unpack your things while you do that." "You don't need to!" "But I'm going to!" I copied the way he raised his voice. Cody laughed and then left the room.

The next day was the day of the first show. Everyone's rushing around the venue, making last minute arrangements and chattering about something or other. I'm sat in my dressing room on my phone checking twitter. I've had my hair and makeup done and have ten minutes before I go on stage.

"Lauuuuureeeeeen!" Justin sung as he came into the room. "Whaaaat?" I sung back. "Matt wants to see youuuuu!" "Stop singiiiing nowww!" "Okaaaaay!" I giggled at him and got up. "Come on then, Justy-Wusty." I held the door for him. "Let's skip." He linked his arm with mine. "I find it hard to believe that you're twenty." I laughed and skipped with him.

"What's up, Matt?" We came around the corner where Matt was stood, looking at his phone. "Have you seen Cody?" "Not since we arrived, why?" "He's no where to be seen." "Oh." "I thought he was with you but clearly he's not." "Have you checked everywhere?" "Yes, everyone's looking." "Maybe he's gone to see his fans outside?" I suggested.

"I've looked." "Well I don't know." I shrugged. "Can you call him?" "Haven't you tried that?" "Yes but if it's you he's more likely to pick up." "Well my phone's in the hotel room so I can't." "Damn it!" "But you have like an hour until Cody's due on stage. He'll be here, don't worry. He's probably just breathing." I smiled. "Let him be." I advised.

"Why do you have so much trust for a guy who has chea-" "Don't." I warned. "But don't you think that maybe he could be w-" "No." I turned on my heels. "You're on in five!" "Where do you think I'm going?" I asked over my shoulder. "Good luck!" "Yeah." "You mad?" Justin followed me. "Cody's not the subject of his mistakes." I said.

"Thank you for having me! You guys were amazing tonight!" I waved to the audience and walked off stage. "Hey! They found you!" I bumped into Cody. "You did a good set." He hugged me. "Thank you. You look good, all dressed up." I straightened his clothes. "I always do." He shot me a cocky smile. "I'm gonna go get undressed." "I can come if you want." His smile didn't fade.

"Nice try. Good luck if I don't see you before you go on." I kissed his lips and went off towards my dressing room. After I was changed I fell onto the couch and decided to ring home. "Lauren!" Lilly's voice answered. "Hey! How are you?" "I'm okay. I'm having a sleepover tonight, I wish you could be here to play with us though." "I wish I could be too." "But are you having fun?" "Yes. I just got off stage." "I'm still coming to see you in England, yeah?" "Of course!" "Yay!"

We spoke for a while and then I spoke to everyone else. The phone call was coming up to being an two and a half hours long. "I gotta go now, but I was asked to give you a message." Dad said. "By who?" "Daniel." "Dan?" "Yes." "Wh- What did he say?" "He called and asked to speak to you. I told him you were away with Cody but he doesn't have your number so he left his and asked me to give it to you." "Um.. Okay.." I awaited the number.

Dad gave me Dan's number and we hung up shortly after. I sat in silence staring at the piece of paper with Dan's number written on it. Do I call him or not? I know it seems like a stupid thing to worry this much over but Dan wasn't the average friend. He's my best friend and he just left me alone, never spoke to me and blocked me out like it was nothing.

"Hey, are you ready to g- What's that?" Cody cut himself off. I quickly put the paper in my pocket. "Huh?" "What was on the piece of paper?" "Nothing." I smiled and got up. "No, what was on it? You look like you've been crying." He noticed my teary eyes. "Don't be silly. It's just a message from a fan." I walked past him. "Okay.." He didn't buy it. "Well we're leaving now." He said.

"Can you take me to like a restaurant tonight?" I asked. "It's like eleven o'clock." Cody checked his watch. "I don't care." I smiled. "That smile.." Cody shook his head as he tutted. "Please." I batted my eyelashes. "Get out." He pushed me out the dressing room. "I'll be your best friend." "Why should I be nice and take you places if I get nothing in return?" He asked. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm joking! I told you, that's not me." He took my hand. "I don't believe you." I narrowed my eyes. "How do I prove it?" "You take me out. Somewhere fancy." "Fancy, aye?" "Real fancy." "You better dress fancy too." "As long as you do as well." "I plan to." He kissed my temple.

When we got back to the hotel I showered and started to get dressed. "This one or this one." I held two dresses up as I stood facing the mirror. Cody looked up from his phone. He was sat on the bed. One was a simple, royal blue skater dress. The other was a white, lace skater dress with a brown belt around the waist.

"Umm.. The white one." He said and looked back at his phone. "Shall I curl my hair or leave it straight?" "I like it natural." He didn't look up. "I've already straightened it." "Uh-" He looked up. "Wavy." "That wasn't an option." "Well it's what I'm suggesting." He said and went into the bathroom.

I did as he suggested with my hair and applied some natural makeup before putting on the white dress. Cody came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist as usual. "Codes, can you zip me up?" "Sure." He moved all my hair to one shoulder and held the dress together as he slowly moved the zip to the top of the dress.

"Thanks." I smiled at him in the mirror. Cody's hands held my waist tightly. "You look good, baby." He whispered in my ear without breaking eye contact through the mirror. I felt my breath become heavier. I turned around to face him. "Thank you." Cody lifted my chin and lowered his head to kiss my lips. Just before our lips could touch he pulled away slightly causing me to open my eyes.

"So good." He repeated his words. "Why don't you get dressed while I find myself some shoes to wear, huh?" I suggested. "I think that's a good idea." He kissed my lips softly. I tried to pull away after a few seconds but he cupped my face as he depened the kiss.

I followed his lead by wrapping my arms around his neck. Cody's hands slid from my face to my waist before he pulled away. "Come on then. Let me get dressed, stop kissing me." He smirked and kissed my lips one last time. "Stop kissing you?" "That's what I said." He smiled and let go of my waist.

I picked out some white heels and put them on before sitting on the bed and waiting for Cody. "I look okay, yeah?" He asked. "Yeah. You look nice." I smiled. "Okay let's go. We gotta be up at seven and it's just gone midnight." He said while looking at it watch. "You can't let time own you. You gotta losen up. Go with the flow. Live for the moment." I walked towards the door.