There's A Big Crowd Looking

The rain was pouring outside, making a thundering noise on the metal roof of the tour bus. The droplets ran down the windows too fast for a child to imagine a race between them. The heavy clouds made the previously sunny day appear like nighttime.

The band had to scramble to get everyone inside the tour bus and the instruments and equipment safely and securely put away. The electronics had to be covered with plastic so the rain wouldn't completely ruin them. An argument could be heard outside as a couple crew members tried to figure out how to store everything.

Adam pulled himself up onto his top bunk, sighing as he laid down on the stiff mattress. His bedding was from home, so his pillow was fluffy and his blankets were soft, but there wasn't much he could do about the mattress. It was like being at a summer camp.

Adam pulled the curtain in front of his bunk closed, and pulled off his damp shirt as the bus lurched forward towards their next venue. Adam set his shirt aside and gently traced his finger along the small scars on his chest. They weren't completely healed yet- it would take a few more months for that. While they'd been on break from touring, Adam got his recommendation letter for surgery, and scheduled it as soon as possible. It had been long enough that he didn't need his compression binder anymore, or bandages, and he could move his arms however he wanted. But the scars were still easily visible.

"Adam?"

The curtain yanked back and Adam snatched it out of the hands of whoever was invading his privacy.

"Jack!"

Adam hissed, covering himself with his blanket. His youngest brother was standing outside his bed.

"Jeez, sorry. Just wanted to know if you were in there. You're not naked, are you?"

"No! What do you need?"

Jack shrugged. He was soaked, probably from and rain. Usually it would be sweat. They shouldn't have bothered to dry off and change in their dressing room after the show- their final act needed them to be drenched to make it look like they'd been underwater. Adam could see his little brother shivering slightly.

"Do you have a sweatshirt I can borrow? All of mine stink."

"It's because you stink. Start doing your laundry."

Adam closed the curtain again and told Jack to look in his suitcase. He dried his long, wavy hair with the towel he'd brought up. Years ago he would've been mortified at the idea of having hair this long, but since the pandemic he'd been growing more comfortable with the idea. And the fans loved it.

"Our next show is in Milwaukee tomorrow,"

Jack reminded him.

"Yup, I know."

"They've got that Pridefest thing going on next door."

"Oh, really? That's cool."

Adam wondered if any fans would be at the festival. It would be nice to meet them. Jack removed his shirt and slipped on the sweatshirt.

"You should probably dry off before y-"

"Shhhh. I know what I'm doing."

Adam chuckled as Jack continued to shiver.

**********

Adam was rudely woken by the bus pulled into the unloading zone and hitting a huge bump. He closed his eyes tightly and sighed as he looked out the window. More gray sky. Probably more rain. Great.