THE sound of talking and such made me wake up, when I didn't want to. I blinked until my eyes could fully open, noticing that everyone was getting up and getting their things out from the top. Had we already landed?
I slowly realized that my head was titled and not straight-up, like when I fell asleep. My head was laying on something that was hard and somewhat soft, too. That's when I discovered that I was laying on Tommaso's shoulder with my left arm wrapped with his right.
He slowly pulled his head to the right and blinked his arms open. As he was waking up, too, I quickly tried to snatch my arm out from the tight grip that it had with his. However, I wasn't so lucky as he pulled his eyebrows together in question after looking at our arms together and, then, he looked up at me.
"Before you ask," I gulped out with my index finger up from my right hand, "I have no idea how that happened. I just woke up, too."
"Well, get off of me," he snapped and snatched his arm from the loop that ours were just in. He unbuckled himself and stood up.
At first, he tried to stretch out — even with the people trying to get out around him — and, then, he opened the top compartment. He took down my suitcase and handed it to me. I took it and went off to the side while Tommaso was kind enough to hand the suit's suitcase to him while I got away quickly.
Once Tommaso had his things, I followed him off the plane until we were out in the airport. As soon as we were there, he took off and I tried to grab his arm. "Tommaso, wait—" Of course, he wouldn't and just disappeared.
"Nik?!" I heard Candice say and, as I turned around to face her, she came up to me and hugged me. "There you are."
"Here I am," I said with little to no emotion at all to it.
She must of caught on to it because, when she separated us, she had a stern look on her face. "What's wrong? Did he hurt your feelings?"
"No," I lied, quickly spitting it out. "Anyways, where's Johnny?"
"Getting the rest of our luggage," she said and placed her arm over my shoulders. "C'mon, let's go find him."
She dragged me along with her until we saw Johnny, who had both his and Candice's luggage under his arms. "Here you go, babe," he grunted out, handing Candice her suitcase. I already had mine, since I only packed one bag. "What's wrong, Nik?"
"Tommaso hurt her feelings, like he always does," Candice told Johnny and my mouth fell. What the fuck did I just tell her?!
"No, he didn't," I claimed, debating on rather or not if I was defending him or not. "We talked and we're better now. I swear."
"Whatever, you liar," Candice suddenly said, her eyes squinted together before she rolled them and looked at Johnny. "I have a feeling that he did."
I sighed and rolled my eyes, too, but at her. She took her suitcase and led the way. Johnny and I followed closely behind her, and I could already tell that Johnny wanted to talk.
"So," he breathed out with gritted teeth, "did he hurt your feelings?"
I sighed and shook my head. "No, I promise, Johnny," I reassured him with a shrug. "Everything that he said was honest. I can respect that."
Johnny, somehow, knew to leave it just as it was. Because, truthfully, I didn't want to tell him anything about it because he would tell Candice and she would be back in my Kool-Aid about it again. We promised one another to always be honest and, for the most part, I was being honest — just without all the minor details.
ONCE we were all in our hotel rooms, we didn't have much to do until tomorrow night's show in Philly. Candice, Johnny, and I were all sharing one room together. Obviously since they're married and they can sleep with each other while I have my own bed by myself.
While Johnny and Candice were readjusting their suitcases, I took a deep breath and asked: "Johnny, do you have Tommaso's number?"
"What?!" Both him and Candice questioned in unison. Why was it such a surprise for? By himself, Johnny asked: "I mean, uh... Why do you want it for? He hasn't given it to you yet?"
I shook my head and replied: "No, 'cause he doesn't like to talk to me. Still, I want it. Mind if I have it?"
Johnny looked at me before sliding his phone out of his pocket, unlocking his phone, and tapping and swiping through it. "Normally, I wouldn't give out anyone's number, but," he paused and handed me his phone, "this could be like a prank to him, so have at it."
I nodded, respecting that, before I glanced at his phone and saw Tommaso's contact number. I typed it into my phone before locking Johnny's phone and tossing it onto his and Candice's bed. "Thanks, Johnny. You won't regret it." He just chuckled in response.
I spun around on my bed and began to type away at my phone to Tommaso's number. I wrote: Hello, Tommaso. Have you missed me?
The three bubbles popped up before he had replied: Fuck. I really hate Johnny.
I rolled my eyes and growled under my breath. Why does he have to be so complicated for? I just wanted to officially talk this out. We have so much to discuss.
I really thought that he was serious, so I just shook my head simply replied with: Fine. Have it YOUR way, like you ALWAYS do. He didn't respond and, for once, I didn't care that he did.
"So," Johnny breathed out and picked up his phone from his bed, putting it back in his pocket. "How's it going?"
"He threatened to block me," I huffed out, throwing my phone to the pillows. "I don't really understand his problem with me. What did I ever legitimately do to him?"
"Well, you did lie to an old lady, just so you could sit by him," Johnny pointed out, shrugging. "Other than that, I don't know, Nik. It's probably more him than it is you, to be honest."
I squinted my eyes together and pressed: "What do you mean?"
"Well, y'know," he shrugged, looking away after he realized his mistake. "Shit. Um, I gotta go take a shower and—"
"Hold it, Johnny," I interrupted and was up, ready to take him down if I had to. Candice stood there in question. "What's that mean?"
"I-It's nothing," he tried telling me. "This is a real secret that I cannot tell you, Nik. You can't make me tell you, either. If you want to know anything about Tommaso, you have to go and ask him — not me. Not anymore."
Somehow, I respected that, so I nodded and backed away. "Alright," I said, pursing my lips together. "I get it and respect that, Johnny. As a matter of fact, I'm proud of you for not telling me. Never thought that you would do it."
I was proud of Johnny, but I wasn't proud of the fact that he told Tommaso everything about myself behind my back. It's not like I wanted Tommaso — out of all people — to know everything about me to a point that he is holding it all against both myself and Pete, too.
I am just so tired of living with this burden...
• And... That's it! Like the text messages up there? Should I include them more? Let me know 😘 Also, you guys will probably completely DIE in the next chap because... I'm not gonna tell you 🙃 You'll figure it out soon... 💋 ALSO, GUYS... I have a NEW fan-fic out now for (wait for it) Pete Dunne that has NOTHING to do with this series AT ALL! So, it's not like you HAVE TO read this one to understand that one. Get it? Awesome! All the love .xx •