STORIES TOLD, STORIES LIVED

Chapter 8

ARINA'S P.O.V

Orlando, Florida.

We have indeed arrived at, I didn't check, very early morning, like around three? Lonnie the driver picked us up and dropped us at the McDonough's. James and Anthony shared a bedroom downstairs. They gave me one bedroom upstairs, across from one of the guys' room, I wasn't really checking. Safe to say that we were literally knocked out. I woke up at four in the afternoon. Literally dead, except I set my alarm for praying time, and that's it.

Hungry now.

"Hi sweetie." A greet from the kitchen.

I gasped. As their fan, I clearly knew who she was. Joan was one of most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life. She gave me the most sincere smile.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. McDonough. I'm sorry for being so rude and not checking what time this is. Supposed to wake up way earlier than this."

"No, don't be sorry." I saw she's chopping veggies.

"Let me help you."

"Aw, that's very kind of you. Thank you, Arina."

"I thank you." I smiled.

We quickly became best friends. She literally was that nice. Joan made me homesick. I missed cooking with mom. The one I barely did, ever since I got in college.

"The boys have told me how they discover your poems. Those are very beautiful. I read them too."

"Oh my goodness. I'm honored. Thank you. They're literally nothing compared to people's, though."

"Definitely not. I'm glad James convinced the team to hire you. You'll like it, the tour."

"I'm sure I will." I washed the veggies left on my cutting board. "Are you coming along on tour?"

"I used to, lovely. But Mark's job requires my extra time here at home. We usually do some projects together. Besides, the boys are now taking care of themselves. We do come to their shows when we can make it."

"I see... What a supportive family you are."

"Just functioning as I should be." She winked.

"Oh, there you are!" Connor walked downstairs. "Arina, can we have a quick meeting?"

I glanced at Joan. "Sure! Uhm-"

"Go ahead, darling. You're not coming this far to only help me chopping stuff."

"Haha... Thank you Joan."

"Sure thing."

I followed Connor to his room, as perhaps it's one most solid basecamp that the band had, by far. I didn't notice that James and Anthony were there already, too. Toby later joined us. There was Riley strumming Connor's guitar from his working desk.

"Alright! We've done with the set list..., now it's time to talk about how Arina will function as our merch additional." Anthony picked his note and pen.

"Actually, I have an idea, only of course if it's possible to be executed." I raised my hand.

"Sure! Brief us." James put down his phone.

"I think, it would be amazing if I could pick one of your fans to be the 'fangirl' of each show. Here is how: you guys will hold a competition for every city, where the fans can mark their entries by, for example, showing proof that they have purchased your merch online. The winner will be picked randomly. For the price, I will have to conduct a further conversation, as her life story will be the plot that we will sell that day. Clearly she can tell me as much or as little as she wants. So yes, we'll be selling short fanfiction with different themes for each city. But it's also will be stored online as well, for the fans from other places to order." I tried to brief clearly in one breath. "Gosh, am I too fast here?"

"Holy sh-amazing!" Anthony swallowed that curse and hugged me instead. "You sure you can pull that off?"

"Yeah. Short story is way easier. All I need is little conversation with the winner, only to give me enough detail of her story. Every fan has struggled upon something; I want them to be published, so we can all make a difference."

"Sister!!!" Toby literally squeezed me inside those giant arms. "I love you!"

"Oh my gosh, Tobs, almost pass out here." I screamed.

"Sorry!" He rubbed my back. "Better now?"

"Yeah sort of." I rolled my eyes and all of them agreed.

"That's amazing! This is something new, Arina. As long as you're sure it won't gain you any difficulties, we absolutely agree with that." Connor nodded confidently.

"I have considered every move. It's easier for me to work on the plot I get from other people, to get inspired everyday, than have to rely everything on my imagination only. This is to avoid writers block, guys. Will come out handy, I promise."

"See? We chose the right person." James stick his tongue at them who perhaps once questioned me.

And that's a wrap. That's how I would roll on tour. I wasn't sure about how Riley would supervise. Obviously the fan would freak out the second they saw him, so I believe we should not put him and the fan in the same room. For later discussion, maybe.

"Smart." He whispered in my ear.

"Thanks?" I turned around.

"That's seriously smart. I'm blown away."

"It's not that big deal, Ri. But thank you."

He played me that stare game again, before Toby knocked on Connor's opened door to ask Riley to go downstairs. They should rehearse. So I stepped back for his wider door access.

"We should talk about how I will supervise you."

"Hmm?" I was a bit shocked. "Okay, whenever you're ready."

"Be sure to be here when I'm done rehearsing." Riley walked out from Connor's room; and winked at me.

Holy smoking gun he winked.