A Country Rebel Love Song

Chapter Seven

*one week later*
  Tour had officially started and we had one more band that would be joining us when we got to Nevada which is where we are heading tonight. They couldn't join us in LA because their lead singer was sick or something. I sighed and leaned my head against Brad's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me.
    "What's up, buttercup?"
He asked, chuckling at his wordplay.
    "I'm nervous that our fans are going to be upset that we are touring with rock artist instead of country artist."
I say with a sigh.
    "If they can't respect the descions of the band then they aren't a true fan. We decided as a whole to go on tour with these guys. It's not like we are being forced to do it or something."
He says.
    "I know but still."
I say with a sigh.
    "McKinley, don't worry about those people that are going to send hate. If they do, it means that they were never a true fan. If they can't respect that you are friends with a rock band and they invited you to go on tour and you accepted it then they can go and frick themselves."
He says.
  I giggle slightly at his words. He is used to being around his younger sister, Kaylie. His parents had a swear jar. I can say as a teenager me and him contributed alot to that jar, especially while playing video games. It was quite funny actually.
    "What'cha thinking about?"
Brad asks, nudging me.
    "That swear jar that your mom used to have when we were teenagers."
I say.
    "Aww man! That was the worst thing in creation!"
Alley whines.
  I giggled.
    "Agreed. I lost so much money to that thing. I have the mouth of a sailor."
I say.
  There was a knock on our bus door. I didn't even realize that we had stopped moving. Caleb moved to open the door. Andy peeked his head in.
    "Well, come on. You have to come meet the other band."
He says.
  I get up and slid on blue converse that are sitting by the door. I then throw my messy hair into a messy bun. I walk out and see five guys a little older than me.
    "Guys this is Of Mice & Men. We have Austin Carlile, Alan Ashby, Phil Mahansala, David Arteaga, and Aaron Pauley."
Andy said.
  They each waved as their names were called. I smiled.
    "Nice to meet you. I'm McKinley, this is Caleb, Brad, and Alley."
I say, going down the line.
    "Nice to meet you as well. Andy said that you were more of a solo act?"
Austin questioned.
    "Well, everyone in the band sings back-up from song to song so I don't count myself as a solo artist."
I say.
  He nodds.
    "That's understandable. So have you thought about maybe switching over to rock music and trying to pursue a career in rock music?"
The ginger haired one, Alan, asked.
  I shrugged.
    "I mean, the sound now is very similar to rock music to begin with. A lot of rock fans actually like our music."
I say.
  He nodds.
    "These goofs wouldn't stop talking about your music actually."
He says.
  I chuckle.
    "Yeah, they seem to all like it fairly well."
I say, shrugging.
  Andy then came and rested an arm on my shoulder.
    "So what are we going to do for the rest of the day since we have an off day?"
He asked.
    "I don't know. I'm probably going to hang out on the bus and work on some new songs. As soon as we get off tour, I'm sure my manager will want me back in the studio working on another album. He is really harsh on us guys sometimes."
I say.
  The rest of my band mumble in agreement.
    "If he is so harsh why do you stay with that company?"
Austin asked.
    "Because we have another year on our contract and we can't break it because we could get into a lot of trouble over it. It would be a big mess in the court and such and I don't like dealing with court systems."
I say.
    "Are you going to switch once your contract is over?"
Austin asks.
    "Yeah, we have talked to a couple of different companies and explained what is going on and they understand and they have offered us deals and we can stay at our recording studio if we want to."
I say.
    "That's good because we have dealt with jerk managers and they really don't get better. They just get worse. It's like they love to make your day worse or something and they try to make your life a living hell."
Austin says.
    "That's the truth. Back when we went on tour with my cousin, Brantley, when we had like off days or whatever he wouldn't let us leave the bus. He was like, I don't want you guys causing mischief while I'm supposed to be representing you."
I say.
    "Wow, thats so stupid. Is he the guy that you have now?"
Alan asks.
    "Oh no, thank goodness. This guy is off on tour with someone else right now so we had to get a different tour manager. The guy we have now is really nice. He is pretty lenient towards what we do and what not. He said as long as we didn't get arrested or left at a venue he didn't care."
Brad said, shrugging his shoulders.
  Everyone laughs. Austin and Alan were the only two left from Of Mice & Men that were still outside. The others had went back to the tour bus. We were all sitting on the main stage of the venue goofing off.
    "McKinley, truth or dare?"
Andy asks.
    "I did dare last so give me a truth."
I say.
    "Would you ever date one of your fans?"
He asks.
  I shrug.
    "I don't know, I guess it depends on his personality and how he treats me."
I say.
  I then turn to Alan.
    "Alan, truth or dare?"
    "Truth."
He says.
    "Weanie!!"
Austin teases.
  He flips Austin off and pushes him. Then clears his throat and gestures for me to continue.
    "Alan, is it true that you and Austin had matching cat onesies that you wore reliously?"
I say.
  Alan's cheeks turn red.
    "Actually yes it is. I found them at target and I wore mine everyday. To shows, out to eat, bars, you name it I probably wore a bright orange cat onesie there."
He says.
  Our game is soon interuppted by Alley and Ashley come running through. Alley plops down beside Austin and Ashley beside Andy.
    "The rest of us are about to go out and eat if you guys want to come. You are more than welcome."
Alley says, playing with her new nose piercing.
  Andy stands up and helps me up.
    "I'm game."
He says.
    "Same."
Everyone else choruses. We went back to the buses to get ready. I walked to my suitcase and grabbed a light weight black hoodie, black ripped jeans, and black converse. Since I met Andy my style has changed a little bit. I got changed and went to the bathroom. I let my hair stay in its curly form and added a bit of makeup to my tanned skin. I walked out and the rest of the band was ready. We walked outside and Andy was immediately by my side. Ashley had called and gotten two rental big rental vans and him and Alley would be driving since they knew where we were going. We all piled into the vans and I was in between Andy and Alan. I looked out the window as we turned into where we were going. It was Buffalo Wild Wings. I smiled, this is one of Alley's favorite restaurants and we always ate here when it was her turn to pick where we go. We inside and went to the bar area which was the only place open. We ordered and waited for our food. Everyone was laughing and carrying on and having a considerably good time. We were like a big family in a way. Our food was then brought out and we ate. Everything was going well, until Juliet walked in with a man wrapped around her arm. Andy's eyes caught mine. They were stormy. I knew that things were about to get bad. He stood up and raced out of the restrurant. I handed Alley my card.
    "Pay for mine and Andy's food. I have to go get Andy before something bad happens."
I say.
  She doesn't say anything, but nodds her head. I race outside. I see Andy halfway down the street. I race after him. He makes a turn towards the bridge. My breathing becomes more uneven and my heart thumps harder in my chest. When I make it there, he is sitting on the edge, his face buried in his knees.
    "Andy, please get down."
I say, my voice comes out hoarse as I fight back tears.
  He looks up at me and tears are on his cheeks.
    "What's the point? I'm a useless shell of a man without her. You saw how happy she was without me. I thought I was over her and then I saw her, and I realize now that I will never be able to get over her. This is the only way."
He say, looking out to the water.
  It takes everything in my body not to fall to my knees. Instead, I climb up beside him and let my legs hang over the bridge edge. He looks at me in shock.
    "What are you doing?"
He chokes out.
    "You are my best friend, Andy. If you jump, I jump."
I say.
    "I can't let you do that."
He says.
    "Well, then come off the bridge and talk to me Andy. That's the only way. If you were feeling like this, you should have came and talked to me. I would have listened."
I say.
  I then get down and hold my hand out for him to take. It looks at it and then grips it like it's a lifeline and climbs down. He then hugs me tightly and buries his face into my neck. I immediately feel his tears hit my neck. I gently run my fingers through the hair at the back of his head.
    "Its going to be okay, Andy. We don't have to go back. I'll call a cab and we can go back to the buses. I'll stay with you tonight. We'll watch Batman and eat ice cream and drink soda to your heart's content. I'll let you cry as long as you want, but you've got to try and get her off her mind."
I say.
  He pulls away and I gently wipe the tears from his face with my fingers.
    "Can we just walk back to the buses? I really need to clear my head some."
He says.
  I nodd. He then grabs my hand in his, I don't say anything because we are best friends and best friends hold hands right? We walk back to the bus and the others hadn't made it back yet, which in a way is a good thing. I pull Andy to the bathroom and remove the streaked eyeliner from his cheeks. He gives me a weak smile. I then grab the whole container of ice cream from the freezer and two spoons and cans upon cans of soda. I then grab Andy's box set of the Batman movies. I pull him back to the backroom and make him pile up in the blankets. I giggle slightly because he looks like a blanket monster. I pop in the first Batman movie and crawl in beside him. He cuddles into my side and sniffles. I look over and light tears are on his face again. I sigh and open the ice cream. I hand him a spoon and grab my own.
    "Come on Biersack, let's get fat together."
I say, jokingly.
  He dips his spoon into the chocolate ice cream and takes a huge bite. I smile and do the same. Three Batman movies later, we had eaten the entire tub of ice cream and drank many cans of soda. I put in the next Batman movie and Andy movements are more tired than before. He rests his head on my chest and I play with his hair on the back of his neck. He lets out a content sigh and falls asleep. Halfway into the movie, I feel my eyes get heavy and I fall asleep.