Secrets Unveiled

Chapter 9

Over the next few days, Sarah relished in the unique opportunity to immerse herself in the world of her favorite band. As she traveled alongside them from one city to the next, she marveled at the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a touring musician. From soundchecks to late-night jam sessions, Sarah embraced every moment with wide-eyed wonder, grateful for the chance to be a part of something she had only ever dreamed of. And though she may not have been an official member of the band, she felt a sense of belonging, knowing that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Despite Taylor's attempts to mediate, Natalie's animosity towards Sarah persisted, casting a shadow over the tour bus. Sarah found herself walking on eggshells, constantly wary of setting off another confrontation with Natalie. Despite her best efforts to avoid conflict, Natalie seemed determined to make every interaction with Sarah as difficult as possible.

Whether it was pointed remarks or passive-aggressive gestures, Natalie's hostility created a palpable tension that permeated the air. Sarah tried to maintain her composure, refusing to let Natalie's behavior dampen her spirits. But with each passing day, the strain of the constant friction took its toll, leaving Sarah feeling drained and discouraged.

Yet, amidst the turmoil, Sarah found solace in the support of the the boys, as well as Kate and Nikki. They rallied around her, offering words of encouragement and solidarity in the face of Natalie's hostility. And as they journeyed on together, Sarah drew strength from the bonds of friendship and the shared love of music that united them all, determined not to let Natalie's negativity overshadow the experience of a lifetime.

One night when they were in New York, Kate and Nikki managed to talk Sarah and Natalie into going out for drinks with them. Neither one was really that happy about spending time with the other, but they dressed up and went to a nearby bar.

Kate and Nikki each got beer while Natalie got a cosmopolitan and Sarah decided on an Angry Orchard. This was only the third time since she had been on tour with them that she had actually had a drink. She wasn't much of a drinker, especially since she had seen for herself what alcohol could do to a person. She had an alcholic uncle who she knew would never admit to having that problem.

The topics of conversation were carefully picked by Nikki and Kate, not wanting to upset Natalie. So they didn't talk much about when they were younger. They talked about vacations they had each been on, about their siblings, and about what they had wanted to do with their lives.

When Sarah admitted she had always wanted to be a writer, even Natalie was curious about that and asked her what she wrote about. She told them that when she wasn't writing short stories, that she used to write her daydreams down. Natalie did make a smart ass comment about it, and Sarah tried to not let it show that it upset her.

" Anyway, do you play any instruments, Sarah?" Kate asked, giving Natalie a look.

" No. My dad used to play guitar though, back when I was younger. He played a lot of Gordon Lightfoot and John Denver. I don't remember much of Gordon's music, but I've always loved John Denver."

" That's pretty cool." Nikki said. " He never asked if you wanted to learn?"

" No. I did ask him once to teach me, but he said there was nothing to it. But when he said that, I also heard what he didn't say outloud, that he didn't want to teach his disabled daughter to play." Sarah said sadly.

" I'm sorry, Sarah. I can't imagine what that felt like for you." Kate said, taking a sip of her beer. "And I can't imagine being so high functioning that you probably don't feel like you fit in anywhere."

" Yeah. It does suck. I wish I could have been born without this disability. Because that is exactly how it feels. Everyone else I've known with a disability has always been lower functioning. And except you guys, everyone else without a disability tends to make me feel like I am less."

" And the fact your dad treated you like that as well had to really hurt." Nikki said, feeling bad for her.

Sarah nodded. " Yeah. But I can't change it."

" I'm going to the restroom. And since we are going in pairs, who else has to go?" Natalie asked, as she stood up.

" I do." Sarah said, even though she would rather have gone with either Kate or Nikki. But she didn't want to wait until either of them decided they needed to.

Natalie rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. Instead, she quietly led the way to the bathroom. Sarah said nothing either, not even while they were in there.

Something happened though as soon as they walked out the door. Two guys came up to Sarah, one of them putting an arm around her.

" Hey, how are you doing, cutie?" The guy with the arm around her asked.

" Can you please not touch me?" She asked, trying to walk away from him. But he only tightened his grip on her.

" You can't possibly be telling me you don't want to hang out with me and my friend here." He said. " We know how to have fun and we could show you a great time."

" Let us buy you a few drinks. I promise you'll have a good time with us." The other guy said, grabbing her by the wrist when she tried again to pull away.

Natalie had noticed what was happening when she realized Sarah wasn't behind her anymore, and she could see the fear in Sarah's eyes as the two guys continued to harass her. As much as she didn't like her, she wasn't going to let anything happen to her either. She walked up to the two guys with a stern expression, her protective instincts kicking in. "Hey, back off," Natalie interjected firmly, her voice cutting through the tension. "The lady said she's not interested. Now, let her go." Her gaze narrowed, a steely determination glinting in her eyes as she stood her ground between Sarah and the two persistent men. Though her disdain for Sarah hadn't diminished, Natalie couldn't stand idly by and watch her be harassed. With a defiant stance, she silently dared the men to challenge her, ready to defend Sarah from any further advances.

The two guys exchanged uneasy glances, clearly taken aback by Natalie's sudden intervention. However, their initial surprise quickly gave way to irritation as they sized up the situation.

"Who do you think you are, lady?" the first guy retorted, his tone growing hostile. "This doesn't concern you."

"Yeah, mind your own business," the second guy added, his grip on Sarah's wrist tightening as he shot Natalie a defiant glare.

But Natalie stood her ground, her resolve unyielding as she refused to back down. "Actually, it does concern me," she countered, her voice steady despite the rising tension. "Now, let her go before things escalate."

The two men hesitated, weighing their options as they glanced between Natalie and Sarah. Sensing the growing standoff, Sarah's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes darting nervously between the men and Natalie. She silently prayed for a resolution to the escalating confrontation, hoping that Natalie's intervention would be enough to diffuse the situation before it spiraled out of control.