A Rock & Roll Romance

Chapter Four

"Alice you're not seriously letting her sit in a car for 14 hours are you?" "She's crew. What do you want me to do?" "Surely you can make an exception for family? Fucking hell she's your niece" Johnny said before taking a long drag of his cigarette. "Guys I am right here and I get what it's like on tour. I'll be fine." Meghan said folding her arms.

The tour had been going incredibly well but today would be the first day that they would be travelling overnight to the next location as the next few shows were back to back and therefore a few large tour buses were laid on for the band and most important members of staff, whilst minibuses, SUV's and the stage trucks would follow behind driving throughout the night to the next location. The band and a few others were stood out the back of that evening's venue working out logistics. "Please I insist, take my bed on the bus and I'll bunk on the security bus." "Johnny don't be silly, honest I'll be fine." "Come off it, we can't put her in a mini bus with all the roadies, she will arrive at the next city covered in tattoos and spitting like a sailor." Tommy chuckled. "Oh my god, guys I'm grabbing my bag and then I'm going, I'll be fine!" Meghan said as she began to walk away. "Meg, Hold it, hang on. I am sure our bus sleeps 10. There's room for her." Alice said counting up people. Meghan rolled her eyes, she didn't want special treatment, that's the last thing she wanted. "Yeah that should work. There's 5 sets of bunks. Leaving one for the luggage, we should be able to make that work." Alice continued before climbing up the steps and beckoning his niece. "Look you really..." "Don't say a word. I'm sorry I didn't think about it earlier." She smiled and followed him onto the bus, as Joe, Johnny and Tommy did the same.

After an hour or so, the bus was making good timing onto the next venue. Meghan felt awkward like she was gatecrashing guy time so tried to stay out the way. She grabbed her book out her bag and curled up on the couch with her legs under her and began to read whilst Alice and Joe were conversing about the upcoming set list, Tommy was making his third sandwich and Johnny was sat at the makeshift table sketching. "Megs, do you want one?" Tommy held up a giant sandwich that looked like it had every traditional filling you could find. "I'm good thanks Tommy." "Yeah I guess you don't get that figure from eating 3 of these do you?" He smirked. "Nope.. just running and Pilates." She giggled before continuing to read. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Johnny lean back into his seat and stretch. "What are you reading doll?" He asked. Everyone else seemed lost in their various conversations as she marked her spot and looked up. "Promise not to laugh?" "Darling, I rarely find literature funny. There's no right or wrong." "It's a romantic drama. It's a little obscure, a man believes his wife to be dead so finally moves on, he eventually falls in love with somebody else, but then later finds out his wife faked her own death. I've literally just got to that bit now." "Wow... is the author a favourite of yours?" "I've only just discovered her actually. My cousin recommended her." "Sounds interesting. Will you let me know why she faked her own death?" "You can borrow it after if you like?" "Ha. I do love to read but I'm not sure I'll get much time on tour." "Ok well I'll debrief you when I finish then.." "Sounds good to me." "What is it you're sketching?" "Anything, everything." "I love that. No real subject?" "Nope just to unwind. Doodles mainly." Meghan smiled before standing. "It's getting late.. I should umm.." she gestured towards the back of the bus to the stairs where the bunks were. She headed towards the furthest one, where her Uncle had so kindly placed her holdall earlier. This bag carried all of her essentials, and her cases were somewhere on a truck a few vehicles behind. She grabbed what she needed and dived into the tiny little shower room and changed. She had slightly regretted the short short pyjamas and cami top believing she would be sleeping either in her clothes in a car or on her own in a hotel room, but luckily she had the foresight to grab her newly purchased Hollywood Vampires sweatshirt from the merch stand a week or so ago and donned that. Although it was summer in Europe being on the bus wasn't that warm at 2:30am. She quickly took her make up off and dived out and into her bunk yelling goodnight to the guys who all sweetly greeted her back before she pulled the curtain shut and rolled over.

Heading to sleep now babe, hope you've had a good day. Catch up tomorrow. Love you x x x

Sweet dreams sexy. Am out for a few beers with the boys so not sure what time I'll be awake tomorrow. Love you too x x x

Meghan cosied up and drifted off to sleep with the quiet chatter in the background from the rest of the residents on board providing an unusual lullaby.

It was late, Meghan rolled over as she heard the privacy curtain be pulled back. She opened her eyes and noticed the lights in the bus were all off but she could make out a silhouette stood beside her bunk, the street lights zooming past provided a perfect little halo round the person. "Meghan.." she heard in a whisper as she felt a hand grab hers. Although it felt unfamiliar, it felt safe, inviting, like it was made to fit hers. She slowly climbed out of the bed and was led to the very front of the bus away from the other sleeping individuals. Their light snores giving away that they were in a deep slumber. Her hand was held tight but in a comforting way by the person, as a thumb began to stroke the back of her hand. The person stopped and span on the spot. They were now stood in close proximity with one another as she looked up, trying to work out who the person was. As the hand that was holding hers moved upwards and cupped her cheek, she felt the cold metal of various rings on the person's fingers. That was a dead tell alongside the faint scent of tobacco, Sauvage and whiskey. "Johnny?" She questioned in a painfully quiet whisper. He simply responded by tipping her chin and capturing his lips with her own, in a toe curling kiss. Fireworks erupted in her tummy as she struggled to breath or even think. This kiss had to be one of the very best she had ever partook in. It was soft, yet passionate, lustful but felt like there was serious emotion behind it. She felt hands in her hair, as her own hands had a mind of their own and pulled his body close to hers so they were practically leaning on one another. Then out of nowhere, a disturbance shocked her.

"Sorry!" Tommy whispered loudly. It appeared he had jumped off the top bunk opposite Meghan's where he had been residing and got his foot caught in her curtain waking her up. She sat up and her eyes were as wide as saucers, she pulled the blanket up to her chin before realising what and who it was. "I'm not a great sleeper, and once I'm awake I'm done for." "That's ok! Don't worry." Meghan whispered back before grabbing her phone and seeing the time. It was 7am. "Coffee?" Tommy whispered and she nodded. Still very much dumbfounded from her bizarre dream. Why would she dream of kissing Johnny? Was it her mind playing tricks on her? It must be, after-all he was the last person she spoke to before falling asleep so that must be it, and combined with their awkward encounter the first night they met, clearly it meant nothing. She grabbed her large Hollywood Vampires sweatshirt, donned it and quietly headed into the living area of the tour bus leaving the other three to sleep.