It's Always You!

Going on Tour...

Today is the day, we are going on tour!! I have all my bags packed, waiting at the bottom of the stairs for us.

My manager and Kaitlyn have called me to confirm everything and we have twenty minutes until the tour bus turns up to pick us all up and start the long 9-hour drive to campus.

After the fallout I had with Chris we haven't spoken. I was adamant I wasn't making the first move and I guess he was being just as stubborn. As much as I love Ty I refuse to allow my annoyance with his best friend to come between us or him.

'Come on guys. Get your asses down here! We have to leave soon' I shout from the bottom of the staircase. I swear if they aren't down here soon I'm going to start deducting money, I can't afford to arrive late I need time to practice ahead of tryouts.

'Dom's helping Chris pack his things now, babe' Tyler tells me as he reaches the bottom of the stairs. He pushes his suitcase beside mine next to the front door before turning back to me, wrapping his around me. Hugging me to his chest.

'Are they seriously not ready yet?' Bryan mumbles as he makes his way down the hall from the kitchen. A bottle of water in one hand and his phone in the other. 'How's Sky doing with the tour?' I ask him, knowing that's who he's been talking to just now. I feel insane to think about them being engaged so young, for me that sounds and feels like insanity.

'She's doing incredible as expected. I just wish we didn't have to be apart for three months. Being in a long-distance relationship isn't easy.' He tells me his voice strained as he tries his back to fight his own emotions. If there is one thing I've learnt about Bryan it's that he wears his heart on his sleeve whilst struggling on the daily to hold back and hide his emotions from everyone. Including those who care about him.

'Just think you only have another month to go before Sky's back. Plus we are going to be on tour for most of that time so it will make it all go faster. Not to mention Sky's a huge fan of surprises who knows what she has planned' I say trying to offer some positivity and calm him with the idea that Sky already has something planned. I'm not going to ruin the surprise and tell him exactly what the surprise is as they would break my promise with Sky but I don't like seeing him so said.

He smiles and nods before going back to his phone. Ten minutes later and we are all gathered downstairs listening to Mel give us the 'Don't get into trouble and get anyone pregnant' conversation.

The tour bus arrives and the boys start loading up our cases. 'Be safe my girl. Don't take too big a risk okay? I want you to come back fit and healthy in 4 weeks you hear?' She tells me her eyes watery with unshed tears. Please don't cry Aunt Mel I plead mentally. I hate this feeling inside my chest - having to say goodbye to someone you love even if it's only temporary.

'I promise to look after myself and not push myself beyond my limits' I say my voice giving out on me as a few tears fall freely. Smiling weakly I pull her into a bear hug 'Thank you for every think' I whisper before kissing her cheek and breaking away. Met her eyes for one last time before turning around and closing the door. Joining Tyler and the others on the bus.

The boys are all settled into their seats when I walk into the bus. All busy in their conversations to notice my state. I pull up the hood of Tyler's hoodie and brush past them, walking into the back master room. I take a few breaths before pulling back the covers of the bed and snuggling deep inside. The covers up to my nose and the hood of the hoodie covering over my eyes. My body is wrapped tightly together, almost in the fetal position as my shoulders shake and tears fall down my face.

At some point, I must have cried myself to sleep as when I woke back up the sky outside was dark and a small lamp had been turned on inside the room. Shuffling up on the bed I look around the room, stopping when I see a handwritten note on the bedside table.

'Tyler' I whisper, leaning over and picking up the note.

'Gone out for food with the boys. Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow. Tyler x'

With a sigh, I roll out of bed and walk into the bathroom. Turn on the shower to allow the water to heat up. I walk back into the bedroom and grab my skateboarding gear and take it with me into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later I'm showered, dried and dressed to the nines in my skateboarding gear. I know I probably shouldn't leave the bus this late alone, especially when the arena is a ten-minute walk from here but I can't help myself. My head feels like I'm on the verge of a panic attack and I know that the only way I can fix this feeling is by practising.

With my phone, air pods and skateboard hooked beneath my arm I walk down the steps of the bus and head across the lot towards the private competitor's arena. Time to burn off some steam.

'Alyssa? Alyssa Jordan?' I hear being shouted at me from down below. I lift my board and walk over to the railing. Down below is non-other than 'Holly Dixon' the girl who I spent many summers with at Skateboarding Club in LA. A real friend amongst sharks.

'I thought it was you! Who would have thought we'd be meeting up again at a worldwide competition!' She giggled as she made her way across to me, her black and red skateboard hooked beneath her left arm. The straps of her helmet flapped beneath her chin with each step.

'Right. The world works in mysterious ways' I say laughing. We hug briefly before setting up our boards along the edge. 'Which grade are you competing in?' I ask her, righting my helmet. '2. Your in 1 right?' 'Yeah. Kinda making a comeback after going to uni.'

'Oh right, I read about that. You studied at Harvard.' Damn, she has been researching me. It's right that I find that uncomfortable, right?

'Yeah. That's why I took a break for a few years. Needed to focus on my degree.' She nods along as I speak a warm genuine smile on her face.

'Well, the break doesn't seem to have killed your skill. I've seen those TikToks and videos of you practising. Your still remarkable.' At some point during our conversation, we'd walk into the arena and up to one of the high ramps and secure all of our gear.

Smiling and laughing I shake my head in disagreement before we both push off and glide down the steep ramp. Each of us broke off into our tricks. Mine built upon speed, technique and air time. Whilst hers is primarily focused on technique over all else.

A/N

I know it's been a while since I updated this story and I don't want to make any false promises about when I will be able to update again. So instead enjoy and I hope to have something else ready for you soon. I'm struggling to write this story and I don't like to post anything half-arsed.

If you would like to check out any other of my works then I recommend the 'Our Secret Dream' series - books 1 and 2 are completed and book 3 is ongoing but updates are regular.