Masked Risks

Chapter 10

The following weeks flew by pretty fast.

We filmed and posted the Fine China video, and the response was pretty positive, to both the choreography and the new member. Erik chose a chicken head mask and the comments were all in support of a new member.

I spent a lot of time with Erik before spring break, and it was a little sad that I was going away for the week, but it turned out that his family was taking a vacation, too. Plus, we didn’t need to be together every second of the day.

At school, Lindsay didn’t take to Erik’s parting from her rein too well, especially when she saw that we were together, but neither of us spent much time, if any, dwelling on her displeasure. Meanwhile, Avery and Pepper were dished all the details, as requested, and Chad and Kevin seemed to open their bromance to him as the new crew member and their best friend’s boyfriend.

So, that left the six of our crew members in pairs in happy relationships. It seemed to be working out well to me.

My parents and Erik’s parents were “delighted” (Erik’s mom’s words) that Erik and I had gotten so close so fast. Only my dad was a little protective when I told him we were more than just friends, but that was just fatherly instinct. It was heartwarming and hilarious all at once.

The only person I didn’t tell was Owen, which was why I stood in my bathroom, finishing last minute packing, with a pit in my stomach.

As my older brother, Owen was much more protective than my dad. He hated how upset I was when Zack moved away, and I think a part of him wanted to hurt him when I told him about how distant Zack was being.

I jumped at the sharp knock on the door frame. “Oops, didn’t mean to spook you,” Owen laughed.

“Hey,” I put my toothbrush and toothpaste into a plastic bag.

It was 6 in the morning and our flight was leaving at 8. As someone who slept in until noon, this was early and I was most definitely not a morning person. There probably wouldn’t be much conversation from me until we landed in Chicago, which would be around 2:00 there. I was definitely going to be cranky and jet lagged.

“Almost ready to go?”

I brushed past him to put my remaining things in my carry-on back. “Yup,” I answered, throwing my bag over my shoulder. I nodded at the two suitcases near the door. “Can you help me with that?”

He picked one up. “Jeez, Olivia, what do you have in here?”

“I like to be prepared. What if one of my bags gets lost?” I put a hand on my hip and arched an eyebrow.

“Whatever,” he rolled his eyes, laughing as he started to exit the room.

I lifted the other suitcase, which was lighter than the other because I left some empty space for souvenirs. I smiled to myself mischievously as I struggled to get the bulky item down the stairs.

My dad and brother were loading all of the suitcases into the Cadillac Escalade. I looked through the open front door to see Erik helping his dad do the same thing across the street.

“I think that’s everything,” my mom said lightly, heading my way from the kitchen. “I convinced your father to stop for coffee. Lord knows there’s no way I’ll make it through these time differences without caffeine.”

She saw me looking out the door and smirked. “Go say goodbye.”

I gave smiled at her thankfully and rolled my suitcase out the door and down the stone path to the driveway.

I opened the back door and threw in my carry on, knowing I would need my iPod in there to get through the hour drive to the airport. I left my last suitcase next to Owen and said, “Be right back,” before I scurried across the street.