The trip to the airport from Frankenmuth was again quite emotional followed by a lot of hugs and goodbyes once we arrived . The flight back wasn't too long,but we spent the entire flight talking about our crazy game of dirty Santa and how Jake kept trying to steal the 3 litter bottle of Jack Daniels even though we knew it was the gift that he bought for the game. And we all just agreed that he should have it because he wouldn't stop whining.
When we got back to Nash the girls headed out and we got some sleep because we had another promo shoot for the album the next day.
We got up way early probably around four or so and headed to some remote location that I felt as though I needed to be blindfolded to get to. It was a heavily forested area that was covered in gorgeous moss and waterfalls everywhere. We got out of the car and into the trailer for hair and makeup.
Josh and I spent the longest in the chairs getting ready while the boys were messing around and getting dressed .
Once I was done in the chair it was my turn to get dressed.
Now granted I gave suggestions and inspiration for my shoot outfit, but I had Danny sign off on the final product because I wanted to be surprised.
Maggie,one of the stage managers, opened the door to the dressing room and came in with me. I then turned around and saw the most beautiful dress on the entire fucking planet. My jaw hit the floor.
Maggie then put her finger underneath my chin to close my mouth and then helped me get into the masterpiece.
Once it was on I stepped in front of Josh's full length mirror and wow .... I felt like the most beautiful thing on earth. The dress had a slight sweetheart neckline with a corset style top and the most whimsical bell sleeves to mimic the draped moss outside. The dress also had a very soft gradient from a light baby pink to an elegant sage/forest green at the bottom of the dramatic a-line skirt, with soft tan flowers laced and embroidered into its tulle overlay. I now understood my half braided hair with dainty flowers scattered around my flower crown.
My eyes were starting to tear up due to how beautiful I felt in that moment, when Maggie started fanning me and trying to blot my tears.
"Two minutes till call" Drew projected through the trailer.
My tears instantly dissipated and then the fear of my first promo shoot kicked in.
Maggie then opened the door to the dressing room and I shifted to go out into the hallway. The four boys were all having a very loud but serious discussion until Danny's eyes locked with mine and the most precious smile stretched across his cheeks,which were now bright red.
My fear then melted away like ice cream in the sun.
"Daniel ,Dan?, hello?" Josh said trying to get his attention back until Jake nudged him and he turned to look at me also.
Their mouths all hit the floor while Daniel was completely still .. as if he was in a trace his smile still so big his cheeks must have hurt.
I slowly and carefully walked down the hallway and straight to Daniel ,all of the boys' eyes following me as I walked. It almost felt as though I was walking towards Danny down the aisle. In his eyes was my future, it was in that moment I knew that there was nothing else. I was his and he was mine and nothing was ever going to change that.
"You l-look ethereal." He said softly but breathing heavily as if he had just ran a mile.
"Thank you , I have never felt so beautiful." I started to cry again when he stopped my tear with his thumb and kissed my forehead
"So I did ok on the final call?" He asked nervously
"Better than ok." I winked and he smiled with relief
"Yeah Kya you look amazing." Jake said sweetly
Josh shook his head in agreement and I giggled
"Thank you guys!"
Drew then opened the door "alright divas time to go."
We all started walking out into the pale morning light; it was just after Dawn now,but we were up in the mountains and it was a cloudy and very misty morning . It took me and two of the other stage crew members to carry my dress without snagging it or dragging it in the west moss. We walked a little ways to a spot next to a waterfall where there was a clear tarp on the ground for us to stand on that had fake/dry moss on it so it would blend. We were then very precisely posed on this tarp for the first set of pictures.
We moved around and took so many pictures most very serious, but we couldn't help but giggle or smile every once in awhile.
We spent hours out there and because of the cloud coverage the lighting stayed consistent, it felt like a movie.
We took pictures all together,some just the boys, me with each of the boys and each some solo ones too.
At one point they had me almost completely pressed up against a waterfall .
By the end of the shoot we were all soaked and exhausted so we got changed packed up and headed home.
We got home,showered and passed out.
The whole next day we sat around and napped because we were still so exhausted from the day before.
But I had to be ready for the next day because it was Danny's birthday.
The next morning I got up way early and slid out of bed. I put Danny's gift on the bed next to him for when he woke up. It was a solid silver guitar pick for the new guitar Jake got him and a necklace with a pair of crossed drumsticks, one trinket for each of his main instruments.I then hustled downstairs and started to make his favorites for breakfast;Blueberry pancakes with Bacon and fresh cut fruit.
I then heard Daniel's light foot steps coming down the stairs. I felt his muscular arms wrap around my waist as he walked up behind me.
" happy birthday handsome." I smiled
"You didn't have to get me anything you know, but thank you I love them."
"I know but it is a special birthday because now I get to celebrate it with you." I said sweetly as I turned around to hug him.
We then ate breakfast and sat on the front porch like usual with our coffee. The rest of the gang came over around noon and we spent the rest of the day together getting too drunk. We played cards, games and overall were just trying to spend time together before we left.
The insane amount of running around and packing continued throughout the week trying to prepare for the tour.
It was now New Year's Eve and we were leaving in less than 24 hours. At around 11 we were all reminiscing about the past 8 months and how amazing it was to have such an awesome group, of what was now family,that we never thought would even be in the cards. We just sat and talked until it was almost midnight when we got the champagne ready. The ball dropped and we all got our new year's kisses and cheered. We toasted out the best year ever and toasted in the next chapter of all of our lives. We all hugged and tried not to cry. We all then realized how late it actually was and how early we had to leave for the airport,so we headed to bed and the twins,Cait and kk back to their house.
The next morning sprung and we were all exhausted from the night before but drug our asses out of bed. We got ready for our 14 hour flight and hauled all of our luggage downstairs. The twins and the other girls pulled up in the van for the last time, we then took our luggage and threw it in the back of the van and crawled into our usual seats.
When we reached the airport we all got out,walked inside, and the boys and I checked our luggage. We then had to say our goodbyes... it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. The girls all hugged me individually and then each of their boys, and then they came back to me for a group hug that the boys joined shortly after . Kk and I started crying first and then as soon as they saw me cry Meg and Cait started to cry too. We then all pulled away wiping our tears. The boys,Rose,Drew,the stage crew/managers and I then turned around and started for TSA.
The girls then hugged again and headed back to the van to go home.
I was in a daze all the way through security and right up until take off.
"Hey baby girl it is going to be ok, I promise." Danny grabbed my hand.
I then wrapped my arm around his and rested my head on his shoulder.
"I know it is just hard." I said starting to cry again
"I know love." He kissed me on the forehead and held me tighter
I stared out the window as the plane began to move towards the tarmac. I was leaving my girls and it sucked... but we had big plans and I knew it wouldn't be long until I saw them again even if they didn't know it.
The sequel will be called the tour chef and is being worked on currently.
