It Can Only Get Better From Here

Chapter Five

RAPHAEL'S POV

I walked back through the van and sat on one of the chairs by the TV. I picked up the remote and started listlessly flipping through the channels. My mind wandered, and the channel surfing only satisfied my ADHD. Katt said she had a sister... Mikayla she said her name was. Why does that sound so familiar? I'm sure that I have heard the name on TV... on the news?

"Hey, Raph! Earth to Raph!" A hand waved in front of my face, making me jump.

"What are you doing? You've passed by the same show about eight times." I looked up and saw Xaivier leaning over me, grinning. "You've always been absent minded, but it seems worse lately. What's bothering you?"

I sighed and stopped on the news channel. "Well, you know how Katt said she had a sister? I think I've heard something about a chick named Mikayla... I'm not sure where..." my  eyes wandered to the TV. The story today was about a 20 year old woman who was the world's best guitarist. I sighed and pulled my phone out. We should be at the hotel by 8:00 am then we had to be at the stadium to perform at 9. The show wasn't until noon, but we need to practice. I tucked my phone back in my pocket. Another hour to go.

"Hey, that girl kind of looks like Katt!" Anderson's shocked voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up and saw the girl. The name underneath it was... Mikayla Jackson. World's best guitarist.

"Katiana! Get out here and look at this!" Jack's voice was high pitched with surprise.

Katt limped over to us. "What am I looking at?" She glanced expectantly at the TV. Then her eyes widened. She rubbed them and looked again, her mouth an "o" of surprise.

"That... that's.... that's my sister!" She squealed in delight. She laughed, then stopped. Then laughed again. "I can't believe this. She's okay... I can't believe it." She looked like she was going to pass out, and swayed on her feet. Xaivier caught her by the arm.

"You should try to get some more sleep. There's still an hour until we get to the hotel." He led her to her bunk and stood beside her as she lay back down. He pulled a blanket over her shoulders. "Once we get there, we should probably take you to a hospital. I bet your knee and ribs are aching."

I noticed that his voice had a certain tone to it, the one he uses when he talks to his girlfriend.

Katt yawned. She closed her eyes. Xaivier walked back over to the group and Heith snorted. "You have a girlfriend, Xaivier." He climbed into his own bunk and pulled the curtain for privacy.

"I'm sorry..." Katt muttered. "You guys are fighting because of me. Don't fight. I'm not worth fighting over."

"Never say that again, Katt. Everyone is worth something." Xaivier's voice was soft again.Katiana sighed, then her breathing deepened. She looked so relaxed, all traces of anger, sadness, and fear erased. I thought of her sister again, and the corners of my mouth pulled upwards.

"What are you smiling about, Raph?" Anderson chuckled.

"Hmm.... nothing. It doesn't matter." I sat next to the back window. Too bad that the news station was in Toronto. There's no chance we could meet up randomly with Mikayla.

I felt a tingling sensation in my stomach when I thought of her. What's going on? I stood up and began pacing, hoping that the feeling would wear off.

Xaivier stood up and put his hand on my shoulder. "Dude... chill out. We're almost at the hotel." He checked his watch. "20 minutes." He looked me right in the eyes. "What's bothering you?"

I took a deep breath. "I feel weird. My stomach is tingling, and my heart is racing. Am I getting sick?" Xaivier thought for a moment. "What have you been thinking about?"