Austin's POV

It's been a couple hours since we left for the first stop on tour and picked up Callie. I was glad she was able to come, considering she has a pregnant sister. I couldn't help but wonder what Eleana meant when she whispered in my ear.

~Flashback~

I leaned in to hug Eleana. "Be careful with her. She's still in a fragile state. Please watch after her?" She whipsered in my ear. I knew Callie was looking at us and I didn't want to frown so I nodded my head yes.

All the information came head on in my brain. Something happened a while ago to make her feel so unprotected, so delicate. I didn't want to pressure her into telling me what happened; I mean I told her everything that happened to me over the last couple of years. She completely trust me and I trust her.

"Earth to Austin." Callie's giggle got me out of my state of thinking. "I'm sorry, Did you say something?" I asked with a smile on my face. "We're gonna get something to eat? You wanna come with us?" Callie asked shyly. I didn't realized the bus stop until Callie told me they were going to get something to eat.

"Yeah, I'll come" I got up and smiled at Callie. She smiled back. I walked towards the front lounge, before getting off I held my hand out for Callie to take. She took it and we headed towards the fast food joint together.

Callie's POV

I couldn't believe Austin was holding my hand right now. I've been waiting for this moment since we started hanging out. As stupid as that may sound but I think I'm really starting to have a full on crush on him. Not like a fangirl crush but a real one with the real butterflies and the sparks you get when he touches you.

I've really grown comfortable around Austin and I hope it will continue to grow trough time. We ordered what we wanted and then sat down with the rest of the boys at a table. I sat between Austin and Phil, while Aaron, Tino sat across from us with Alan in the middle. I believe it's been about 5 hours since we've been on the road and I've grown to get to know each of the guys more. The seem comfortable with a girl on board of their tour.

"So what kind of things does Austin say about me?" I asked the guys while taking a sip of my Coke. "How pretty you are." Tino replied. "How amaaaazzing you are." Alan emphasized the 'amazing'. "Okay guys, you can shut up now." Austin said and looked anywhere but at us. "It's okay Austin. I'm quite fond that you talk nice things behind my back." I said and smiled at him. He looked at me and smiled back.

The lady brought us our food on about three trays. We put the our fries on tray for us to all share. We carried on a casual conversation about anything before we headed back to the bus. Our first stop on tour was Arizona; another 4 hours to go on the road. The show was tonight and the crew was already there setting up the stage. We arrived at the venue after 4 hours and there was some kids in line early for the show. That was honestly true dedication.

The guys gathered their stuff they need for tonight and began to exit the bus. I exited right behind them to see Austin waited for me. I smiled. He grabbed my hand gently and I welcomed the warmth I felt when our hands touched. We entered backstage to the changing room. I was handed a lanyard with the words 'All access' written on the pass. The guys had to go to soundcheck in a few so before they went, they introduced me to some people.

I even met the merch guy and there was a new girl there named Hannah. We returned to the stage where they begun to warm up. I took some pictures of them and noticed Adam setting up flashes on the stage. How the hell did we miss him? I thought. He noticed me, came over and smiled. "I think you know who I am." He said. I nodded my head frantically. "Been a big fan of your work." I smiled. "Thanks." He laughed. "When they are done rehearsing, can I get a picture of you and the band together?" Adam asked. "Yeah, that would be awesome." I laughed.

We said our goodbyes to each other while I continued to watch the band do their magic. Twenty minutes later, after taking the pictures for Adam, the band had to do a meet and greet. "Callie, do you want to come?" Aaron asked with a soft smile. "Of course." I walked behind the guys till we reached the section where they will do the signings. I sat by Austin, trying hard not to get in the way of him meeting his fans. The way that Austin takes the time to talk to each and every one of them, ignoring what security was saying, it was like the most compassionate thing I have ever seen.

The way he smiled, the way he hugged, the way he would listen to the kids stories, that's the Austin Carlile I knew and I doubt that he would ever change.

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~After the show~

The boys were still on high adrenaline that was coursing through them when they arrived back in their dressing room. I hugged each of their sweaty bodies. "Great job, guys!" I said with full excitement. "You guys did amazing." The guys went to go get cleaned up on the bus one at a time while I sat in the back lounge watching tv. Austin plopped down next to me on the couch. "You guys really did an amazing job." I looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it." He smiled at me with his gleaming white teeth.

The was a moment of pause before Austin asked, "Do you wanna come with us to get drinks?" He asked quietly. I nodded my head. He got up and held out his hand for me to take. I did, along the way I grabbed my purse and cellphone out my bunk (which was across from Austin's in the middle section).

The guys and I walked to the bar that was right beside the venue. We walked in and it wasn't really packed which was good. Since Austin was the only one who knew that I'm 19, I couldn't drink so I got a soda. Alan was already drunk and we haven't even been in here for ten minutes. He was dancing crazy and singing loudly to the song playing on he overhead speakers.

I was sitting at the bar when my phone started to ring to show the caller ID picture as my sister. I looked towards Austin. "Austin, I'll be back." He nodded with a smile and started to laugh at Alan. I walked outside to take the call. "Hello?" I asked. "Hey, I just wanted to check on you." Eleana said with a cheery voice. "I'm fine. The show was amazing and now we're at a bar." I said. "You're not-" Eleana started. "No, I'm not drinking anything other than Mountain Dew." I laughed.

"Good." Eleana laughed. "I'll leave you to socialize with the boys. I love you and miss you already." I smiled. "I love and miss you too, goodnight." I hung up. I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to see a guy drunk off his ass walking towards me. "Hey pretty lady." The guy slurred. He was closer to me than ever. "Excuse me." I said quietly and started to walk around him but didn't get too far. "Where the hell do you think your going?" He slurred angrily as he held a tight grip on my wrist.

"Please, let me go." I began to cry. This reminded me so much of what happened in my past. Then he touched me in a place no man should touch a woman without their permission. "I'm gonna teach you something." He whispered in my ear. "HELP." I yelled as loud as I could before the guy slapped me hard and I fell on the ground.

My vision was blurry and all of a sudden I heard muffled noises, I saw Austin on the guy. Punching him repeatedly; this wasn't supposed to happen. I was still crying but I had the energy to get up and try to stop Austin. "Austin, please." I shouted. "If you ever touch her again, I swear to fucking god I will kill you." He growled toward the man. He stopped punching him and picked me up quickly carrying me to the bus. He opened the door with no difficulty while holding me. He sat me down in the back lounge. I started to cry into his shoulder. I couldn't believe it, my first night with the band and I was almost molested.

"Callie, it's okay, you're safe now." Austin whispered in my ear. I believed his words but I couldn't stop crying. Horrible, horrible thoughts were coming to my head. They wouldn't stop coming. "Callie, look at me please?" Austin asked quietly. I looked at him. He wiped the tears away and said, "What happened?" I calmed down long enough to tell him.

"Eleana called, she was checking on me and we said goodnight to each other and I was on my way back inside and he appeared out of nowhere. Then he touched me briefly down there and then you came." I said without looking at him. "He was lucky I didn't kill him." He muttered. "It reminded me of what happened.." I started to trail off.

Was I ready to tell him? I mean he was the man who saved my life back then and saved my life now. "Callie." The tone of his voice made me look at him in an instant. It was the tone of compassion. "You can tell me anything." He said softly. I took a deep breath. "I um.. My dad raped me." I said quietly while looking at my hands. It was quiet for a couple of minutes. "I'm so sorry." He said quietly.

"I was only 15. I didn't deserve that. Everytime I think about it, I can't stop thinking about how horrible it was. He physically and mentally hurt me. I remember how depressed I was after that. How my sister was upset to see me hurting. to see my mom.." I trailed off again. I shook my head. "He's in jail now and has been for four years now and probably won't get out anytime soon because he had a drinking and drug problem." I said quietly. "That's when I turned to your music. You music saved me Austin. It brought me back to life."

I just now noticed that Austin didn't say anything for awhile. I looked at him to see he was looking at me. He had tears in his eyes. "Why would anyone do something like that.. to a girl like you?" Austin said quietly. His voice cracked a little. I hugged him, tighter than I think I could hug anyone. "My mom died too." I said. He pulled away to look at me.

"My mom.. she passed away when I was 17 too." I said, looking into his eyes. He kissed my forehead. "There's something we have in common." He said. I giggled a little. "I'm glad my music saved your life. You didn't deserve any of that shit you had to go through but it's better now. More than ever because now you have me, the guys, your sister, Andrew, and even your mom is looking down on you. I promised your sister to keep you safe and that's what I attend to do." He smiled.

I smiled back and hugged him. His grip on me tightened. He kissed my forehead. I honestly felt better getting that information off my chest and giving it to him. I've been wanting to for awhile and I'm glad I did. He's the one. I was officially in love with Austin Carlile than ever before.

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Notes