The smell of citrus and mint wafts around my nostrils alerting my eyes to flutter open. My hands' fan across my duvet on top of me... wait, since when is my duvet grey? I quickly sit up squinting at my surroundings. Black furniture lines the spacious room contrasting with the grey sheets on the king-size bed, there's an indent in the mattress next to me but no body.

Suddenly I remember why I'm in a strangers bed. Last night Colton didn't really want me to be alone and I didn't fancy it much either so instead of letting me cry myself to sleep alone he let me cry myself to sleep in his arms. Shit, my face is probably blotchy as fuck. I get up in search of a bathroom, still in my silk dress but now with a mammoth tour hoodie over the top, it still smelt of his cologne. I trundle into the on-suite and take a look at my appearance, my mascara is gathered under my eyes, almost matching my dark bags, my eyes themselves are puffy and red along with my blotchy face. The state of the outside didn't even begin to match the state of the inside. Feeling completely drained I splash some cold water onto my cheeks and tie my hair up into a messy bun then go in search for my phone.

Finding it on the bedside table, plugged in, I pick it up and weave my way out of the bedroom door quietly. Lord knows where Colton is, did he run away again? I walk through his suite in search of my heels, if he has run away at least I can leave before he comes back and I'm thrown into an even bigger state of humiliation.

Fuck me, you could get lost in the place, it's huge. I pass through the living area to be met with the smell of... waffles? Following the scent, I end up in the kitchen watching a very shirtless Colton cutting something up on a chopping board. His muscular back tensing as he brings the knife up each time to throw it back against the chopping board. I lean against the door frame listing to him sing quietly, a sound I could listen to forever. Catching me off guard he turns around smirking, two plates of waffles in his hands, each covered in strawberries, whipped cream and syrup.

"Happy birthday Spiller." He says placing them down onto the kitchen island and gesturing for me to take a set next to him. In the angst of last night, I'd completely forgotten it was my birthday.

Twenty-two.

As much as a shirtless Colton giving me waffles on my birthday makes me want to squeal in excitement, my chest still feels heavy, painful. Trying to push it away since he's made so much effort not for me to be a grump I smile at him,

"You cooked?" I question, taking the fork he hands me. He sends me a sheepish smile,

"Well... I room serviced, cut some strawberries and put a few candles ontop..." He winces, making me giggle. I smile at the five candles alight on the top of the waffle stack,

"Thank you." I grin at him, he returns the facial feature his eyes bright and excited.

"Well make a wish doll..." I stare at the candles, what the fuck do I wish for? A less messy life, functioning parents, a nicer body, a prettier face, less baggage, to be fucking sane?

I blow on the candles, watching the drifts of smoke disappear into the kitchen.

"What'd you wish for?" Colton asks, his mouth full of waffle.

Nothing.

"I can't tell you, it won't come true." I wink at him, shoving a cream-topped strawberry into my mouth. He then slides a take away cup full of ice tea across the surface, pursing his lips.

"CJ!!" I exclaim pushing the straw to my lips, my ice tea obsession needs to be therapised,

"Well, it's not every day you turn twenty-two... which is why we must listen to this..." He smirks pressing play on his phone. Twenty-two by Taylor Swift blares out of the speakers, what a massive cornball. We sing along and laugh at his cheesy ways, feeling lighter until the song ends,

"How are you doing though Gi?" He asks sincerely pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I sigh pulling my hands into the oversized hoodie.

"I'm sorry I dragged you there last night, twas quite the shit show." I chuckle awkwardly feeling the need to apologise.

"Shut up Gigi, I'm glad I was there and I'd do it over and over again if I had to... but that's not what I asked, how are you doing?"

How am I doing? That's a question I find myself taken slightly aback, not many people ask me how I am.

"Uh I don't know, I just feel heavy, I guess I just wanted to know what it felt like to have a functioning, supportive parent... one that didn't so heavily rely on me or even forget existed. I know that sounds stupid..." Colton shakes his head,

"It sounds stupid to want normal loving parents? That thought alone is stupid. It's okay to not know how you feel either, the last seventy-two hours have been a whirlwind for you and its okay to take time to try and understand how you feel, it's not a weakness to admit you need a little time out." His hand runs up and down my back " They don't deserve you anyway," he whispers, "However Today is the holy day the great Miss Lastra turns twenty-two and I will not allow it to be ruined by ignorant parents, malicious media hounds or Twitter tolls!" He argues triumphantly, "Gigi, I know I can be an ass and I'm probably not the first person you would want to confide in but... you've really become one of my best friends and I'm always here for you, please never doubt that."

My heart swells and my stomach flutters, I wrap my arms around his neck and launch myself onto him in a hug, he tightens his grip on me as he strokes my hair, tentatively I pull away. The thing he doesn't know is he is one of the only people I'd confide in.

"Who'd of thought Colton Jax was such a softie." I send a wink his way, which is met with an eye roll.

"Tell anyone and I take it all back!" He glares, making me chuckle.

We continue eating our breakfast singing along to the shuffle of songs playing through the kitchen.

"So what are you doing today?" He asks from his mug. I sigh, to be honest with everything going on recently I've actually not even thought about it, I guess Sofias going to pull me out somewhere, that's what usually happens but I can't deny I'm not somewhat disappointed I'm not spending it with Colton. Being on tour we practically spend every day together so I suppose its only natural I'll miss him...?

"Honestly I have no clue, I haven't really had time to think about it. Sofia will probably drag me out to lunch or something." Usually, when either one of our group grows up a year we go out for breakfast or lunch then go out clubbing in the evening, "Actually, I completely forgot to thank you for flying them out here, it really does mean the world to have them here right now," I direct at Colton whose just sat there smirking, " Anyway, what are you up to today?" I ask curiously.

"Just going down to the studio with Will to lay down some bits and pieces, I would have asked if you wanted to come but I didn't want you to spend your birthday hanging about bored," He shrugs. Spending my birthday with Colton listing to him make music... yeah totally going to bore me. My smile falters a bit but not so he notices.

Suddenly the front doors blown open to reveal Jacob, Sofia and Jayden trailing in.

"HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY YOU MOTHERFUCKING BITCH." Sofia screams, deafening me slightly. Classy is she.

"How are you, my love?" She asks cautiously wrapping her arms around my shoulders, I just nod at her with a smile, I don't want to ruin the day for her, she seems too peppy.

"I don't believe you but I want to hear all the juicy gossip later after... our... shopping trip." She squeals stealing a strawberry, me and Jacob groan collectively. Fuck, not how I wanted to spend my birthday.

"What's wrong, I thought all girls like shopping and shit?" Jayden shrugs, hugging me from behind.

"One I'm going to ignore that highly sexist comment and two don't get me wrong, I love shopping, I could easily spend hours on Oxford street but shopping with Sofia... it's a whole new ball game... she can shop for England, it's like a competitive sport with her."

"I can't cope, I still haven't recovered from the last time." Jacob shakes his head in pain making me giggle.

"Oh shut up you pussys! Anyway, you need a new outfit.." She wiggles her brows,

"Why...?" I question hesitantly,

"Because we are going out tonight." I internally groan, the last thing I want to do is go out right now.

Five large designer shopping bags later and we finally make it back to the hotel, Sofia rather proud with having bought me three new designer outfits, I protested profusely but she insisted, called it her birthday present... condolences to Bleu's credit card...

"I'll just go grab my make-up bag and I'll be down." I nod at Sofia as I step out of the lift with Jacob. Him nearly collapsing in the process. We trudge down the hall towards my hotel room,

"I'm seriously going to need therapy! It hurts, mentally and physically how long she spends trying on a pair of shoes." I chuckle at his dramatic antics, I actually really enjoyed it, sure it was hot long and tiring but I've missed my best friends and the trek around Rome gave me something else to focus on. I reach my door shoving the key card in the reader.

I wonder how Colts getting on? He hasn't text all day, not even a stupid Snapchat, if it wasn't for breakfast I'd think he's avoiding me. He can't even go two hours without sending me some sort of meme or a video of him eating food.

A gush of cold air brushes past our skin and we revel in the aircon as we chuck the bags onto the floor, I turn around to launch myself onto the bed when I see a bouquet of white roses placed at the top of the bed along with my white acoustic and a small box wrapped in a blue ribbon.

"What's this?" I turn to Jacob who's sunk into the chair in the corner, he just shrugs leaning forward on this knees to see better. I lean over and grab the bouquet that was bigger than one of the pillows. A small envelope is tucked neatly into the top, unnamed. I pull the small note out and study the cursive writing;

Spiller,

Thanks for being my light and my friend.

A little birdy told me white roses are your favourite ;)

Hope you have a good day Doll,

CJ x

With a smile spreading across my face my heart thumps wildly in my chest, heat spreading up my neck onto my cheeks. Bloody white roses, no one's ever bought me roses before. I can't believe he got me anything at all, warmth fills my chest. I look at the guitar, slightly puzzled as to why it was there, a note attached to the neck;

Turn me over

I tun the white acoustic over in my hands and scan down the back of the body, carved delicately into the back was the date,

18.03.20

Eighteenth of march twenty-twenty. My first show on this tour. He'd had it carved into the back of my guitar, the one we play on together. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me, those six numbers on my guitar may seem so small and simple but to me, they mean the world. My heart thumps more erratically as I trace my fingers along the markings. Setting it down carefully I go for the last item on the bed, a small box perfectly wrapped in a baby blue bow. I slowly remove the bow and lift the lid off the box, inside lay a thin white gold chain bracelet, clasped with three charms. I pull the box closer to my eyes to study the charms, there's a tiny guitar topped with blue diamonds, a treble clef and a lighthouse...? I study the lighthouse charm, the stripes in gold along with the light. Why a lighthouse? It's gorgeous, so gorgeous and thoughtful, but why a lighthouse. Jacob takes the bracelet from me and fastens it around my wrist, admiring it with me.

"This is stunning." He gawks, I just nod in awe. It's even more stunning the amount of thought that he's put into this. I pull my phone out and type a quick text to Colton.

You are the fucking sweetest CJ... Thank you so much :) xx

He quickly replies with,

Ah it was nothing doll, have a good night ;) x

I roll my eyes at the text as Sofia bursts into my room, Destiny, Nessie and ruby trailing behind her, all with arms full of clothes and various pairs of shoes.

"Right bitches, lets glammm." She sings throwing her various items onto my bed, I turn to Jacob who's back in the chair and shake my head at him, he shrugs and smirks crossing his legs.

"Ooo who are the roses from?" She questions picking up several skin-tight dresses in her signature red shade.

"Yeah, we can do this..." I whisper to myself looking in the bathroom mirror, feeling slightly uncomfortable in my outfit but at the same time sexy as hell. I'd decided on a light purple silk dress that hugs my curves nicely, the fabric twists in the middle of my boobs putting my midriff on show and pushes my boobs up to a nice level, the shoulders are slightly padded out leading into long sleeves that cover down to my wrists, leaving my newest bracelet on show. The dress is simply gorgeous, the fabric alone cost an arm and a leg. I glide my hands across the fabric, smoothing it across my thighs. My highlighted strands of hair flow down my back in subtle waves exactly like Jennifer Lopez's hair in Hustlers. I lastly add a swipe of pinky-beige to my lips before slipping into a pair of Louboutins purchased today. Crystals start at the pointed tip and disperse into the transparent PVC body part of the shoe, the heel itself is covered in block glitter. I smile as I slip them over my recently painted toenails, I love shoes... shoes and bags are my worst enemy and my best friend, I'm sure I have an addiction issue when I comes to them.... and ice tea...

I look at myself in the mirror once more, feeling completely put together on the outside but less so on the inside, my hands trembling slightly. I love the dress, the shoes, the hair but does it love me? I guess the pictures and tabloids will tell tomorrow morning... I sigh in defeat.

Clacking forces itself into my ears as Sofia appears in the doorway dressed in a tight, red, strapless PVC dress that stops at her thighs, her hair's pulled back into a ponytail and the clacking comes from a pair of back and crimson ombre Louboutins.

"Sof you look absolutely stunning, so sexy!" I grin at her in awe, that is my best friend, the sexy loudmouthed brunette.

She just stands there, open-mouthed staring, making me nervous,

"Have I got something on my dress?" I quickly rush back to the mirror to assess the expensive fabric.

"God your so beautiful Gi," She sighs, pulling me into a hug. Her cinnamon scent filling my nose.

"Both my girls are stunning sexy mammas," Jacob adds making our hug a group hug. We all giggle in the bathroom, it may have only been a few months but I really did miss them, they are my family and they've been right next to me for years metaphorically and physically holding my hand.

"Are you sure I don't look fat?" I whisper, there's a slap on my back, ouch!

"It's not even fair how amazingly beautiful you are Giovanna, I will not hear any of that okay? Bloody hell I'm meant to be the fashion student but you look even better than I do... and that is the highest form of a compliment I can ever give you," I chuckle, its true Sof prides herself on being the best dressed everywhere

so for her to dethrone herself... I must be doing something right?

"Y'all are actually the cutest!" We hear a squeal from the door. Ruby, Destiny and Nessie are all gawking at us, "She's right though Gi, you look fucking smoking!" Ruby says wiggling her brows.

"I'm sure there's one boy, in particular, that would think so too...," Nessie winks causing my cheeks to fire up. Why would I care if he liked it anyway? I doubt he'd actually care anyway, he's probably seen tonnes of prettier girls around the studio today.

Jacob opens the door to the back of the SUV and holds all our hands as we climb out of the vehicle in our heels, we've pulled up on one of the most bustling streets I've ever seen in Rome, club-goers fill the streets and loud music echos off the buildings. We enter a club headed with a fluorescent blue LED sign, Rockshots.

Walking inside the bar its deserted, purple and blue LED lights carry the theme throughout the space, being the only source of light. It's filled with fancy booths and a massive stage at the far end... we're in a karaoke bar. A fucking karaoke bar, my smile spreads wider than the Nile river only to be replaced with shock horror when,

"SURPRISE!!"

Hey guys!! We're so so close to 3K reads!! So please please please vote! Add too your reading lists and give me a follow!!

Thank you all so much for your support! I really hope you enjoy the chapters I'm putting out at the moment! This was a bit of a filler chapter but I feel like Gigi needs some fun after the last few days!

She's finally 22 and... getting on with Colton ;)

I hope you're all okay! We're going into a second lockdown here but schools are staying open and so is my work so looks like I'm still just as busy, especially with my Alevel and BTEC mocks and assessments coming up. I'm in the midst of applying for Unis right now and it's literally so stressful but I promise I'm still working hard to push out weekly updates!

As always thank you so much for reading!
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Iz x