Remington
"Ok, let's fucking go people," Sebastian yelled, "we have to leave in an hour, and I'm the only one who has my bags loaded!"
We were heading to our first stop of tour today. Our first show wasn't until tomorrow but, Sebastian wanted to get their early so he could walk around the city. Don't ask me why, it's not like we've never been to Phoenix before.
"Good morning my sweetness," I smiled softly towards Austyn when she passed me in the hallway with the three bags she had packed, "happy tour day."
She nodded tiredly and spoke through a yawn, "Tour day. Happy. Yay."
Emerson chuckled deliriously, "I'm glad I'm not the only one suffering."
"Come on people! Get a move on!" Sebastian cheered.
"I can feel the smile on his face." I groaned.
"How is one so optimistic at," Emerson paused to look down at the clock in his phone screen, "Sebastian what the fuck? It's three in the morning!"
Austyn and I chuckled lightly at the sight of my little brother stomping down the stairs, surely on his way to chew Sebastian out for having us up so early when it really wasn't necessary.
"Are you excited?" I yawned, taking one of her bags, and kissing her cheek.
"I'm exhausted," She smiled, "but yeah, I'm excited."
We all packed our bags into the the trailer hooked up to the caravan in a comfortable silence.
"Dibs on a bottom bunk." Austyn mumbled.
"Dibs on the other bottom bunk." I said quickly.
There were six bunks, and only five people riding along. My brothers and I, Austyn, and Chelsea, who we for some reason didn't end up firing.
"I'll take a top one." Emerson shrugged.
"I'll just pick from whatever's left," Sebastian shrugged, "I have to drive so, it doesn't really matter anyhow."
We all climbed into the vehicle, Sebastian situating himself in the driver's seat, the rest of us throwing our backpacks on our claimed bunk.
"I'm going to go draw." Emerson mumbled quietly, and before anyone could respond, he locked himself in the room that was at the back of the caravan.
"That took no time at all." I chuckled lightly.
"So, what should we do?" Austyn mumbled.
"I'm going back to sleep so, keep it down." Chelsea grumbled.
I rolled my eyes at her attitude but, kept my comment to myself, for the sake of not starting another argument.
"We could watch a movie or something," I shrugged, "there's not much to do until we're actually stopped."
"Movie it is." Austyn smiled, warranting me to grab the remote to the front tv, and sitting on the sofa. Austyn settled in next to me.
"Why are you so far away?" I chuckled.
She shrugged, and I pulled her into my side, instantly making myself more comfortable, and smiling lightly when she snuggled into me, and I caught the scent of her shampoo.
"You know what," She questioned, bringing my eyes to her's, "a Marvel marathon sounds kind of nice."
My mouth dropped, "Really?"
"I mean, I think so-"
"Have I told you I love you recently?"
Austyn laughed at my words, and even though I was finally saying them, it stung that I couldn't put them in the right context. My focus glued to the remote as I opened the streaming app, and put on the first movie, going in timeline order.
"Captain America is my favorite marvel character." Austyn confessed.
"Really," I chuckled, earning a nod, "and why is that?"
"Well Dam- my brother was really into Marvel and uh," She took a deep breath, and kept her focus on the tv. I could see that her eyes were fighting tears but, I chose to ignore it for sake of her comfort. I instead, started tracing circles on the back of her hand, "he took me to see this movie when it came out. I told him I'd go with him if he bought me popcorn."
I laid my head on her shoulder, and she sighed shakily, "I'm sorry."
"Me too," She whispered, "I just miss him a lot sometimes."
"Don't apologize," I sighed as I looked her in her eyes, "it's not you fault, nor his death or how you're feeling."
I leaned in a pecked her nose, causing her to giggle. We got about halfway through the movie, before we heard a loud crash.
"Guys," Emerson barged through the door and down the aisle hurriedly, with a panicked look on his face, "have you- have you seen my graphite pencil?"
I sat up straight at the tone in his voice.
"No," I chuckled, "it's your's, I haven't kept track of it."
"I swear I put it in my bag, and now it's not there," The smile on my face dropped slowly. He was freaking out. His art meant everything to him so, something that seemed so insignificant like not having a pencil that he wanted, might just be enough to push him over the edge, "I think I left it at home. Can we go back for it?"
"Em we've been on the road for like an hour and a half," Sebastian called out, without losing focus of the road in front of him, "it's too late to turn around."
"Sorry." I mumbled towards my younger brother.
Emerson just about collapsed onto the sofa across from me and, Austyn rushing to his side.
"Hey," She spoke softly, and I ran my hands through my hair anxiously, "Em can you try to look at me? Let's just take a couple deep breaths ok?"
My mind went straight back to that day when I was on her sofa, having a panic attack over Carmen kissing me. She knew what to do. Almost like she'd done it a hundred times before. Emerson followed the instructions, being lead by her example, and soft reassurances.
"I can help you look for it ok," Austyn smiled when he nodded his head slowly, "and if we can't find it, then first things first after we're parked, we'll go try to find a new one, alright?"
"Ok." Emerson breathed out.
Austyn took his hand and lead him to his bunk, where they began going through his backpack together. I almost smiled at how much she was helping all of us by simply being here. How she was so quick to calm him down, and was right there when both of us needed her to be. She let out a small sigh of relief as she pulled the pencil out of the bottom of his bag. He must've skipped over it, in a panic.
"Look at that!" She cheered.
Emerson wrapped his arms around her tightly, and rocked them back and forth a couple times, "Thank you. Thank you."
His voice was still shaky, and his eyes were watery.
"It's ok," Austyn smiled kindly, "don't worry about it."
"Jesus, I feel like an idiot now," Emerson scoffed, "sorry for being so stupid."
"It's not stupid at all," Austyn explained, placing her hands on his shoulders to reassure him, "everyone needs something that means the world to them. A way to escape reality when it gets to be too much and their soul just needs a break. It's something that, yes you could survive without but, you wouldn't be able to live. Art's that thing for you. It's your passion, and it's what brings light into your world. So don't be sorry that you're scared to let it go."
I grinned brightly at her words, and even though his back was facing me, I knew he was smiling as well. He pulled her in for another tight hug, and I was sent back into deep thought. Something that brought light into my world. Something that gave my soul a break. I couldn't live without her, and at times I wasn't sure if I could survive. I didn't know but, I didn't plan on finding out. She made waking up worth it, and I was terrified of her slipping away. Like a dream that you forget minutes after you wake. I never wanted this to end but, no matter how tight your grip is, you can only hold on for so long, before your hands give out.
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Question: what's something (or someone) you couldn't live without
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