You're Not Alone

Goner

*about 2 weeks into the tour*

(Jen's POV)

I heard Tino began to whoop and holler as we crossed into New Orleans, Louisiana. "NOLA, NOLA, NOLA!" He chanted.

I took Mason by the hand over to the bus window. "Dad, is that the Mississippi River?" I asked with a smile, gazing at the massive stretch of water.

"Yeah, we're going on a boat tour of it tomorrow." He brushed my hair back off of my shoulders. "We're only in town for a couple of days, but that's why we're gonna make the most of it."

I smiled. "This city's so cool."

Mason gasped. "Jen, I need to take you around the French Quarter!"

We both turned to Austin. "Dad, can Mason show me around while you guys play tonight?"

Austin looked skeptical. "Jen, I don't know. This city's really sketchy at night and the people here can be real-"

"Mr. Carlile, I can assure you that Jen'll be safe with me. I'd never let anything happen to her."

Austin chuckled and punched Mason in the arm playfully. "Kid, I told you not to call me that. Makes me sound old." Austin sighed and looked at Mason, then at me. "Alright, Mason. I trust you." Mason and I looked at each other and smiled. "But be back on the bus by midnight or I'll pummel your ass."

I rolled my eyes and hugged Austin. "Thank you, Daddy!"

Austin laughed and hugged me back. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

As soon as the bus parked, Mason grabbed my hand and practically ran outside.

"Midnight!" Austin yelled from behind us. "And stay away from Bourbon Street!"

I gave him a thumbs up and ran into the warm late afternoon.

•••

The sky was painted an orange hue as the sun began to set.

"I can't believe you let that man cheat you out of 20 bucks!" I laughed.

Mason shrugged. "Hey, I got this sweet ass hat, didn't I?" He tipped his head down revealing the cheap baseball cap that he "won" from the con man. "And you got that sticker."

I looked down at the sticker the man bad given me, brandishing the words, Don't be a bitch in sparkly letters. I'd been given this when I refused to tell him how much I weighed.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Whatever." I wove my fingers between his and swung our hands back and forth as we continued down the sidewalk. "Food sounds really good right now, babe."

Mason chuckled. "Food always sounds good to you."

I nodded. "Very true. But it sounds especially good right now."

We walked on a little bit until we saw a little restaurant nestled in between a smoke shop and a psychic. We entered the quaint, but charming place only to find that we were the only two there. A waiter looked up from his phone and smiled at us.

"Just pick a table and I'll be right with you."

Mason led me to the table at the center of the room. Smooth jazz played over the stereo as Mason and I looked over the menu.

Mason reached across the table and took my hand in his. I looked up at him and smiled. He stared at me for a bit and a small smile crept onto his face.

"What?" I asked, looking down into my lap.

He just shook his head, still smiling. "Nothin'." He drew his hand back. "Just thinkin'."