At Their Very Best

Part 2

"How'd you get this job anyway?"

You'd been waiting for this question. One of the ways you tried to remain professional was by not revealing much about yourself. You knew from firsthand experience that not everyone wanted to know the ins and outs of your life, so you always tread carefully around direct questions.

When your best friend told you she had submitted your name for the Executive Tour Assistant role, you had protested immediately. Logistically, you would need to sell all your belongings to be based out of London. It also meant you wouldn't be able to see the woman who held you together every day for the last year. Panic had settled inside you at the thought before she sat you down and told you some of the hardest things you'd ever need to hear.

The bus finally pulled into Atlanta, it's passengers on board hoping never to do such a long drive day again while nursing their hangovers. Sitting in the lobby, you impatiently waited for your rooms to be ready, desperate for a shower. You'd called ahead to alert the hotel of your impending arrival, but they clearly didn't understand the memo.

"A friend of mine worked with Jamie a while ago. He reached out asking if she knew anyone who had the time to go on tour with the band."

You shrug, "she suggested me."

Polly nodded her understanding. "What did you do before this?"

You wave off her question, "you know, a bit of everything."

Polly furrowed her brows at your non-answer. "Yeah, but what exactly- "

George's deep voice rang out, "Are we going out tonight?"

The group cheered their agreements and your conversation with Polly was effectively finished for now.

"Wanna see a movie?" John suggested and the crew quietly murmured to each other about his proposal, nobody overly sold on the idea.

"Karaoke?" Adam offered instead.

The group became boisterous once again and you laugh at the change in demeanour.

"Will you come out with us tonight?" Polly asks, her eyes pleading.

Looking at her wide eyes and pouting lips, you consider it. Your unexpected friendship with Polly was slowly becoming your saving grace on tour. She often would indulge you in conversations about films and whatever show you were currently obsessed with ("Seriously, when the fuck is Ted Lasso season three coming out?"). and you allowed her to come to you with her insecurities. You think of your friend back home in Australia, Ravenna, and how she and Polly would get along like they'd known each other their whole lives.

Your mind whirs through the checklist of tasks left to finish for the evening, last-minute emails from venues, and content needing to be posted. The band didn't have a gig tonight. Karaoke seemed a safe option compared to a bar crawl the boys had hinted at in the last month.

"Yeah. I'd love to."

~~~

It's dark as you walk with the group to the karaoke bar a few blocks down from your hotel. You'd turned your nose up when Adam had suggested this particular venue as it was a hole-in-the-wall type joint with less than stellar reviews, but trusting in his judgement you made the booking. You grimace as you walk through the entrance, heels sticking to the floor.

"That's how you know the place is good," John Waugh comments with a laugh, squeezing past you into the private room.

Polly grabs your hand and drags you to the screen to pick some music. The drinks are flowing and the laughter rambunctious, the group full of energy after being on the bus all day. You're laughing loudly over the tunes and picking embarrassing songs for others to sing when it's their turn.