Right Where We Belong (One Shot)

This kind of just randomly came to me. I wrote it pretty quickly, so I don’t know how good it really is. Enjoy though!

And thanks so much to Miss Katie for helping with suggestions and pushing me to write! You’re awesome :) 

Hayley looked around the radio studio she was in and began tapping her foot impatiently. This interview was taking far too long. It was the last day of tour and she was itching to get on stage, put on an amazing show and go home for a bit.

“Alright, who gets the craziest out of the five of you?” The interviewer asked.

“Hmm. Well, we’re all pretty crazy.” Hayley replied, debating who to actually pick.

“Well it’s definitely not me.” Josh said with a quiet laugh. “I’d pick Taylor or Zac I think.”

“Yeah, I can get pretty crazy.” Zac laughed. “Especially after shows. It’s not like… scary crazy, it’s just… I don’t know.”

“It’s funny crazy.” Hayley helped out. “Like, hyper crazy. Not destructive or anything. We all just have so much energy after shows and Zac can get a little caught up in it all. It’s pretty awesome actually.”

“Nothing wrong with that!” The interviewer smiled. “Alright, last question. If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would you want to wake up?”

“Ohhh! Good question.” Hayley smiled. “Man, where would I want to wake up? I have no idea!” She laughed, looking to Jeremy for help.

“I think I’d wake up at my mom’s house.” Zac said, answering first. “I love her pancakes.” He added with a quiet laugh. To emphasize his point, Zac’s stomach growled loudly in complaint.

“Wow, they must be good pancakes if your stomach is doing that.” The interviewer laughed. Zac nodded in agreement and blushed faintly.

“I know where I’d wake up.” Josh said boldly, getting the interview back on track. “I’d wake up right where I am.” He answered simply. “I’m happy right here.”

“Oh! Good answer.” Hayley smiled. “Hmm… I really don’t know. I guess I’d wake up in California or something. They have some awesome shops and great shows.”

“I agree with Josh, I’d stay right where I am.” Taylor spoke up. “Although, maybe I’d want to wake up in a crazy world where gnomes came to life. That would be interesting to see for like, a day.” He added with a boyish grin.

“I’d wake up somewhere where there’s really good food.” Jeremy grinned. “Ah, I’m so hungry right now. I can’t wait to get back home and eat everything in Franklin!”

A polite laughter filled the room as Jeremy answered and the radio show host turned back to his mic. “Well, there you have it, folks! I’d like to thank Paramore for stopping by the studio, and I hope you all come back soon!”

“Good interview, guys.” Andrew, Paramore’s tour manager, announced as the band piled back into the 12 passenger van that would take them back to the venue for their last show of tour.

“What kind of answer was that, Hayley!” Josh teased. “I’d like to wake up in California or something…” he imitated in a high voice.

“Even I had a better answer.” Zac said, raising an eyebrow.

“Shut up!” Hayley giggled. “I didn’t know what else to say.” She pouted.

“Uh huh.” Taylor smiled, rolling his eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Hayley demanded.

“Nothing!” Taylor replied, raising his arms in the air innocently. He was sure she’d rather wake up married to a certain someone if she could wake up anywhere. Hayley pushed him lightly and threw her back against the car seat, arms crossed in fake annoyance.

“Come on, you wouldn’t want to wake up back at home or anything?” Josh asked, nudging her with his elbow. A jolt sped through her body at the contact and she cleared her throat. She and Josh were over. They had both moved on. Just because neither of them was dating anyone didn’t mean she would allow herself to have feelings for him.

“I don’t know…” She said finally. “There isn’t really much there for me, is there? All my friends have their own families now.”

“We’re there…” Josh whispered, nodding to their bandmates.

“Yeah…” Hayley agreed. “But, I see you guys all the time anyway.” She pointed out.

“Uh huh.” Josh said, a hint of disdain in his voice.

“Excuse me?” Hayley asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing.” Josh sighed.

“Oh ok.” Hayley replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance. “Right where I am… what kind of answer is that anyway…” She mumbled.

“A good one!” Josh defended.

“No way!” Hayley argued. “That’s a cheat answer! You can’t possibly be completely happy right where you are. You miss home, right?”

“Well yeah.” Josh scoffed, as if this was completely obvious.

“Then wouldn’t you rather wake up at home?” Hayley said, crossing her arms in an ‘I told you so’ manner.

“Oh whatever. I just meant that in general I’m completely happy with my life.” Josh snorted.

“Liar.” Zac mumbled. His eyes darted to Hayley and he raised an eyebrow.

“No one asked you.” Josh said dangerously.

“Ok guys, calm yourselves.” Andrew interrupted with a chuckle. “Time for soundcheck.” Hayley looked out the van window as they pulled up to that night’s venue.

“If anyone cheated with that answer, it’s you Hayley.” Josh said, once he was sure no one else was listening. “Stop putting up walls. Let people in for a change.”

Hayley raised an eyebrow and scowled. “Josh, I honestly don’t know where I want to wake up.” She sighed after a few moments of silence.

“Now that is an answer.” Josh said with a small smile. Hayley groaned in frustration and crossed her arms.

Josh laughed lightly and nudged her with his elbow. “The place you want to be right as you’re falling asleep is generally a good starting point for where you want to wake up.” He hinted.

“Alright, well seeing how you’re the expert…” She started, voice trailing off. She climbed over him and threw the door of the van open as the vehicle came to a stop. She needed to get away. She was at the point on the tour where everything Josh said or did pissed her off. She hated getting to that point. It made her feel like she liked Josh and that just couldn’t happen.

~*~

Hayley sunk into her bed with a smile. It was good to be home, but she was exhausted. She shut her eyes and sighed. She wrapped her arms around her fluffy pillow and buried her face in it, inhaling the scent. It smelled a bit like… Josh? Oh, right, he had stolen her pillow for the drive back to Franklin.

“Josh…” Hayley whispered into the dark. She smiled and turned around in her sleepy haze, swearing he was in the bed with her. She frowned when she realized he wasn’t there and felt a heavy weight in her chest. Something was missing.

She crawled out of bed and curled her toes against the cool carpet in her bedroom. She slipped some jeans over her pajama shorts and pulled a hoodie over her thin tank top. She was on a long overdue mission.

“I’m coming! Jeez!” Zac grumbled tiredly. Who the hell knocked on the door at two thirty in the morning?!

“Hayley?” Zac said, squinting at the tiny redhead in his doorway.

“Josh here?” She asked, looking around nervously.

“Sleeping. Just like I was.” Zac replied gruffly. “Oh, yeah, ok. Come right in. That’s alright.” He added as Hayley squeezed by and hurried through the house.

“Thanks!” Hayley smiled.

“New song idea?” Zac asked as he closed the door once more.

“Nope!” Hayley called over her shoulder as she hurried toward Josh’s room.

“Finally.” Zac grinned, knowing exactly what Hayley was going to do.

She snuck into Josh’s room and smiled. He looked so peaceful when he slept. She pulled back the blankets carefully and climbed in, pressing her body against Josh’s. She heard him sigh in his sleep and before she knew it, his arm was around her possessively. She thought she might feel odd once she actually got into the bed, but she actually felt quite the opposite. It felt comfortable, it made sense and it was long overdue.

~*~

Josh groaned and covered his face with his arm. The damn birds were chirping right outside his window, signaling the dawn of a new day. It was far too early for this. Not matter how beautiful the sunrise was…

He rolled away from the window and nearly jumped out of his skin. Apparently he hadn’t been sleeping alone. His momentary fright turned into happiness and he grinned widely as he recognized a strand of vivid red hair contrasting against his cream white pillowcase.

“Took you long enough.” He mumbled in a scratchy voice. He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Hayley’s forehead. Her eyes instantly fluttered open and she blushed deeply.

“Uh… hi.” She squeaked. “I uh… didn’t want to wake you up last night. I –”

“Shh.” Josh hushed. He draped his arm over her waist lazily and pulled her toward him. He licked his dry lips and waited to see what Hayley’s next move would be. Was she there because she wanted to be with him or because she simply missed him?

Hayley wasted no time and pressed her lips to his courageously. Josh moaned quietly and deepened the kiss. Hayley tangled her fingers in his hair and threw every ounce of emotion she had into the kiss. She felt her heart race a billion times faster as Josh pressed his torso against hers and ran his calloused fingers along her back. He had wanted this for so long. He had just needed to wait for Hayley to admit she wanted it too.

“Wow…” Hayley whispered as the two broke for air. “That was…”

“Worth the wait.” Josh finished with a smile.

“You’re… you’re ok with this?” Hayley asked. She bit her lip, almost dreading the answer.

“Of course.” He replied with a smile.

He pressed his forehead against Hayley’s and brushed his lips lightly against hers. Hayley moved in to kiss him once more, but each time she tried, Josh pulled away slightly. She whimpered in complaint and punched him lightly in the chest.

“Ouch!” Josh yelped with a laugh. Hayley took advantage of his distraction and pressed her lips to his gently.

“Come here.” Josh whispered, as they broke apart. Hayley smiled and moved so she was lying next to him. “Now sleep.” He ordered. “We can make up for lost time later.”

“Yes sir.” Hayley giggled quietly. She traced soft patterns on Josh’s stomach with her fingers until she heard his breathing slow down, signaling that he was once again asleep. She twisted her head to look at him and felt her heart swell.

“This, mister radio man, is where I want to wake up.” She whispered. “Sorry it took so long.”

Sorry for the wait. Hope it was at least a little bit worth it. I'll try to have something new up soon.

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