Adopted by The Warped Tour?!

Chapter Nine: Family Matters. And Kicks Ass

As far as pain goes, breaking your ribs is an 11/10 on that stupid pain scale. You can't breathe, move, and really you just don't want to be living.

It took me three weeks to recoup, after refusing to take anything for the pain and even more refusing to not move, I was better, and ready for more of this crazy thing called warped.

The family had stayed with my most of the time, taking turns as the set times changed and everything was switched around.

The most amazing thing was the other bands, the fact that I hadn't ever heard of some of these bands and they still came to make sure I was okay.

There was a stigma in modern culture that depicts punk men as being horrible people, but I had never once seen something as amazing as this come from another group of men. I have never seen another band in a different genre of music stop a concert for someone like me.
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"Is Tristan going with us? For tonight?" I heard Austin ask Oli.

"I don't know, I'm so scared she'll get hurt again." Oli whispered.

"Tristan's a big girl, I think she'll live. Plus, the doctor said she's all healed up, and after the display at that concert she's safe." Austin said, "I'm going to get her."

My door opened, and there Austin stood.

"Hey kid, ready for tonight?"

"Yeah, I want to go, I just don't want dad to get angry with me."

"He's not angry at you, T, he's upset that you got hurt and no one said anything. If anything he'll just want some extra people around making sure you're okay. It's not a bad thing, he just wants some friends there so that he knows you're okay." Austin said, his head in my bunk. "Now, tiny child, let's go kick some serious butt!"

Austin pulled me out of my bunk, throwing some clothes at me and letting me go change. It turned out to be his Create Music shirt and a pair of white shorts.
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Austin walked out with me, into the sweltering heat of the day. We had been playing for a few weeks now and each of us were pretty gross from lack of showers, but hey, it doesn't really matter.

"So, who do you want to go see first?" Austin said, as we stopped in front of the set list. "Since its your first day back on the grind I'll let you pick."

"What time is it?"

"Half past twelve."

"Hmm, well We Are the in Crowd are playing at the Kia Stage at four, and I'd like to see them. Also Parkway Drive tonight at six thirty. And Bring Me the Horizon at some point."

"So you're giving me free reign until four and then at six I have to leave you with someone else so that way we can go play. I assume you'll be side stage?"

"I wouldn't miss it. Who am I going with at six?"

"Luke and Winston I think, maybe Tay and Alex if they're around." Austin said, pulling me to the merch tents. "Go on kid, pick some stuff. You have a habit of stealing our shirts so you should get a few of your own too." He walked with me and I looked around, getting and Parkway Drive shirt, a Color Morale one, a few All Time Low shirts. Soon enough I had about fifteen between Austin and I. I payed for half and he payed for the other half, since I wasn't okay with him spending that amount on me.

"You know what? Let's ditch for a few. I saw a bookstore on the way in here."

"I'd like that. I've finished the ones I brought with me."

"Let's go then, I'll shoot a text to Oli. Just remember we have to be back here by three so we can go see We Are the In Crowd." Austin pulled me out of the venue pretty easily. Only having to stop a few times to sign stuff.

"Aren't you Tristan? Holy shit you're Oli's kid." A guy about seventeen turned me around.

"Oh, hey, yeah, that's me."

"Dude, that's kickass. I'm Vince, can I get a picture?" He said, pulling out his cell phone.

"Yeah, you're actually the first person who's ever asked me."

"Come here!" He pulled me into a side hug and snapped his picture. "Thanks, maybe I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, I should be back around three." I said, smiling.

"See you then!" He said, walking off.

"Well, looks like we've got a star in the making." Austin said, ruffling my hair. "That photo of the two of you is going on my Instagram."

"Whatever Aus, let's go." I said, smiling.

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"THEY HAVE IT! AUS THEY HAVE IT!" I yelled, grabbing the book.

"Dude, dude shush. There are other people here. What book is it?"

"Malice by John Gwynne. I've been looking all over for it. I tried to get Grace to order it for me." I said, proudly displaying it to him. "It's supposed to be fantastic."

"Then let's get it, maybe I'll read it after you finish it." He said, pulling me from the section of young adult novels with four other books in his hands.

"Delinquents." An old woman said behind us.

"They'll probably steal them." Another woman spat.

"Excuse me, ma'am." I said, turning on my heel.

"Yes?" She said with fake kindness.

"I do plan on paying for these books, and if you'd like I'll pay for yours as well, so you can get out of this establishment and stop contaminating it with your piss poor judgmental attitude to those you don't even know." I snapped.

"Young lady!" She exclaimed.

"Don't you fucking dare be so close minded and judgmental about others. It's not ladylike." I said, turning and walking away.

"Tris, holy shit kid." Austin said, pulling me into a hug.

"It needed to be said, now, let's go pay for some books." I said, taking them out of Austin's arms.

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Austin and I made it back to the venue by three thirty, damn the traffic.

We made our way to Bring Me the Horizon's merch tent where Katlyne, their merch girl sat, fanning herself.

"Hey kid! Had a good break?" She said, pulling me into the seat beside me.

"Yeah, I got five new books, they should be great." I said, pulling them out of my bag.

"I heard this was good!" She said, holding up Red Queen.

"It is, I started it in the car on the way back here, the way she writes is gorgeous."

"Tris!" I turned around to see Oli coming towards the tent. "Had fun with Austin, I assume?"

"You have no idea."

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