10 Days

~4~

Ashton went up to his hotel room where the other three were standing outside his room in the hallway. They all gave me wimpy smiles and then Calum and Michael followed Ashton into the hotel room. I stayed in the hall on my phone. Luke was on his phone, texting.

“Hey.” I said, trying to act cool.

“Hey.” Luke said back non-committed. After a minute, he looked up at me like he was disgusted. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

Okay, that was kind of rude. “I’m Aiden. I’m Kari’s brother. We met, at the rehearsal. I stood directly to your right. “

“Oh, yeah,” Luke said, and then answered a call on his phone.

“Babe.” He said on the phone. “Babe, it’s not a big deal. I won’t-Well yes there will be, but Samantha, know that…babe you’re the girl I’m dating, please…” He then said under his breath, “She hung up on me.”

“So…Arzaylea’s real name is Samantha?” I asked, feeling like I hit a gold mine with this information. I assumed he was on the phone with her since he kept saying babe. I then realized that probably was not the best thing to say. Luke had no clue who I was and I probably came off as one of those fans that calls Arzaylea a bitch all the time.

I mean, I am, but not that I would want him to know that.

He looked at me confused, dumbfounded, and angrily, like I just triggered him or something.

“Time for strippers!” Michael cheered as he came out of the hotel room and into the hallway with Calum and Ashton. Oh God, this really was going to be a strip club.

“Let’s go!” Calum said.

As we walked down the hall, into the elevator, out of the elevator, into the lobby, and out the door, I kept debating if I actually wanted to do this. I don’t like girls like that. Why would I do this to myself?

When we left the hotel, we started walking towards the strip club. There were a few photographers taking our pictures. Is this what it’s like to be famous?

We got in, and there were five seats by the stage that we took. The place was very dark and smelt like the back of a Spencer’s store. I sat on the very end with Ashton to my left and everyone else to his left.

“What can I get you boys to drink?” A waitress wearing basically no top asked us.

“Round of shots!” Michael cheered.

Damn, not 21. Oh, that’s right, I can drink in this country.

After a few minutes of not looking directly at the strippers and downing a shot and a half, and having them make fun of me for struggling to take a full shot without needing a chaser, I decided to leave. I thought the whole reason I was doing this was because we were supposed to get to know each other. But none of them were giving me the time of day. I guess I should’ve expected that.

“Thanks for the invite.” I shouted to Ashton over the music as I got up to leave.

“Dude, you’re leaving?” Ashton asked. “Why so early?”

“Apart form the fact that I don’t like girls?” I said, realizing that what I said was bitchy because it was like I was mad at him for inviting me. I looked at the “OH” expression on his face slowly fade.

“And besides.” I said. “All my one dollar bills are American dollars. But thank you for the invite, I really appreciate it.”

He smiled at me as I left.

I walked out and back to the hotel, realizing that I just sat in a strip club with my favorite band. I just sat in a strip club with 5SOS.

Notes