Someday? Never?

Leave It Alone

Throw me aside and I'll leave it alone
So I can bury my own
I tear at this pain, this darkness I've known
This time it has won
Retreat inside until the threat is gone
Oh how we've buried our way
Throw me aside and I'll leave it alone

As expected, Tim just about had a heart attack when Mark told him what happened. Of course, it was really out of his hands what could be done and he could only go with the flow at that point. He couldn't believe the magnitude of the drama with Mark and Victoria, but he hoped everything would work out in Mark's favor. He just couldn't put his finger on when Victoria went off the rails.

In the meantime, Mark made sure to tell the boys that he wanted to spend more time with them, so that's why they got left with him. He was unsure how to explain that their mother had gone batshit crazy and abandoned them with him. Hopefully they wouldn't ask too many questions. The main thing was school. They were just getting Austen enrolled and school would start towards the end of the tour, meaning he would miss at least the first month. Mark hoped the divorce would be finalized by then and custody would be sorted out. Though at this rate, Mark was gonna fight for full custody.

Everyone had been a huge help the first night and, with a little coaxing, Pearson also warmed up to Estelle and the girls. Once he saw that Austen was okay with them, he relaxed. They all spent most of the time in the dressing room, but moved to the bus to play Estelle's game. She let them take turns before they started getting sleepy. They tried to hold out until Mark got back, but the sleep overpowered them.

They fell asleep on the back lounge couches and about an hour or two later, Mark was looking for them. Estelle made her way back to the front of the bus to meet him at the door. He was clad in red and black flannel print pajama pants, a black t shirt and a pair of flip flops. From the looks of it, buddy was free balling too.

"Hey," she smiled, "ready for bed ain't ya?"

"Hey yeah, this bus ride is like eight hours! You oughta be glad I put on pajama pants at all. They asleep?"

"Yeah, so be quiet," she laughed, leading him to the back.

He popped his head in to check on them and they were sound asleep. He hated to wake them.

"Thank you so much, Stella," he said, giving her a side hug.

"You're welcome. They weren't any trouble really. I just gave them food and the games and they were fine."

"I hate that this is the way they're getting to know you though," he said, leading her back to the front of the bus, "I had different plans for that."

She raised her eyebrows and gave a small "mm" in understanding.

"Also, I want to apologize for the other night," he said rubbing his neck, "that was way outta line and honestly? I was jealous."

"Yeah I know, that was the point," she said sheepishly, "I was hoping you'd see us together."

He looked dumbfounded.

"Well shit, you sure succeeded. You had me thinking that that was your boyfriend!"

"No, but- well I guess I may as well be transparent now," she sighed, "he's my best friend, but we were friends with benefits."

He just nodded, motioning for her to continue.

"Nothing emotional, just dick every now and then. He has a girlfriend now and she's pregnant, so we're purely friends."

"I see.... Why are you telling me this?"

"To go on and get it out of the way I guess. I felt you should know," she shrugged.

She plopped down on the front lounge couch and buried her feet in one of the cushions. Mark sat beside her, took them out and plopped them in his lap. She just let him. It was either that or they'd get crushed under his weight.