Assistant manager- [M.S]

21

June 12.

I woke up to several missed texts from last night.

I cried until my eyes burned. Until I could build up the strength to tell myself that I was being stupid. Letting Matt's words have such an impact on me is stupid and it only proves his point.

When I heard everyone come onto the bus after the show, I quickly turned to face the wall of my bunk, my back facing the aisle, shutting my eyes to pretend I was asleep. I didn't want to explain to anyone what had happened and I needed time to filter through the story so my mom wouldn't say anything to Matt about it. Although he is to blame, I don't need my mother making it any worse.

I fell asleep shortly after that.

When I woke up this morning, my mom didn't ask any questions

I had six missed text messages from Chris:

Where were you during the show?

Is everything alright?

You're starting to worry me.

Will you text me when you see these?

I'm sorry if we did something.

Goodnight. I'll talk to you in the morning.

Then there were two from Nick:

Alyssa where were u?

Everything ok?

I tossed my phone back down, ignoring the messages.

'Double A?'

I grabbed my phone again and unlocked it to reveal the messages again, half-smiling at the nickname Nick had come up with for me.
I guess they did notice.

Around ten in the morning we checked into a hotel in Chicago.

This was probably the nicest hotel we've been in so far. It's definitely the nicest I've ever seen.
The lobby is beautiful.

The floor is tiled intricately with a white and black marble, the detailing on the walls so gentle that I can see the strokes of the paintbrush used to decorate.

The elevators are see-through, allowing a total view of the interior from the outside. There are four placed in the center of the hotel so you can walk around them. They look like a tube.

I took myself to my room. Usually our rooms would all be around each other, but because this hotel was almost booked out and absolutely massive, we're all scattered across the hotel in our rooms.

We're in Chicago for three days. Today we have a free day, tomorrow a show, and another show the day after.

To pass the time, I sat at the window of my hotel room, looking below to the people carrying their bags through the lobby. I noticed there were many rooms and small shops inside the hotel, and my eyes wandered onto the people inside.

I could see a bar down the lobby as well as a gift shop holding all kinds of Chicago merchandise.
I might have to stop in there to grab something for my siblings.

My room was big. It has a king-sized bed and a large television hung on the wall across the room. To the right of the room, there is a sitting area with a small couch and two thick cushioned chairs. I sat on the couch as I watched the people walking around.

My room was on the twenty-second floor, giving me a view overlooking everyone. I can see everything from up here.

The bathroom is decorated with a glossy white finish. Everything is so shiny and polished I'm afraid to touch anything and get a nasty smudge on it.