Shit Happens (A Day to Remember)

9: Royals

Song: Royals - Otep. Fun fact: I went to an Otep show not too long ago and I met Otep! She was the coolest and the sweetest.

So, I know the guys have girlfriends irl and I know their names but I don't feel comfortable including them so I'm just using different names.

McKenna

It had been a week since I joined A Day to Remember. Things were going great. Neil had taken on the role of my new best friend and Jeremy had become a "crush," as the kids say, to me. I was falling for him and it was making me mad.

This morning we were in Detroit. Tomorrow we were leaving the country. I was terrified to say the least. The longest flight I'd ever been on was half an hour, this one would be 13 hours.

I looked down at my daily planner. Business Skype call at noon, interviews from 2:30 to 4, soundcheck at 5, meet and greet at 6, doors open at 7, they go on at 9. It was currently 10 am. For once, everyone was awake.

"Hey, McKenna." Jeremy whispered. He was sitting right next to me. "Walk with me?" He nodded his head towards the bus door. I smiled and stood up, following him off the bus. My heart was racing. What was this about?

"What's up, Jer?" I asked him as we started walking in the direction we thought we would be safest from fans.

"I wanted to ask you something." He said. My heart began to race even more.

"Okay..."

"So, my girlfriend is currently heading here on a flight from Florida. She's joining us in Europe. I didn't realize I was going to be so bus today. Do you think you could pick her up from the airport in an hour?" He asked. My heart dropped. He had a girlfriend.

"Yeah. Absolutely. I'll just catch a cab." I smiled. "What's her name?"

"Danielle." He answered. "She knows you're coming. What you look like and all that."

"Okay. Awesome." I sighed. "Just awesome." I said to myself.

Jeremy and I made our way around the area, talking about Danielle. I learned that their six month would be next week. From what he said, she sounded cool.

We got back to the bus and went our own ways. Sal needed some help with some paperwork, so I worked on that while the boys had their skype call. About twenty minutes into that, I got into a cab and started heading towards the airport.

I stood around for a little while when I got a text from an unknown number.

Hey its Danielle. Jer gave me your number. Just landing!

I went to the gates and waited for her. A few minutes later a strawberry blonde woman started walking towards me.

"Danielle?" I smiled.

"McKenna!" She gave me no warning before giving me a small hug. I didn't mind though. We chatted on the cab ride to the venue. She was funny and sweet.

I lead her into the building and into the backstage area where I knew all or most of the boys would be. Sure enough, everyone was in there.

"Hey, Jer! I brought you a present." I called when we walked in. He stood up and gave Danielle a hug.

"How'd you know it was just what I wanted?" He joked. I left them to it and sat on the couch next to Neil.

"So, you looking forward to Europe, Mikey?" Neil asked me. I snapped out of my thoughts, realizing I'd been staring intensely at the floor.

"Uh, yeah." I smiled. "I've never been."

"You're going to love it." He assured me. He told me a few stories about times they've been to Europe. I was half paying attention to what he was saying, half watching Jeremy and Danielle. They were so cute together.

"You okay, Mikey?" Neil stopped what he was saying.

"Huh? Yeah, why?"

"You just seem really out of it." He placed a hand on my knee in a comforting way. "Are you nervous about the flight?"

"Yeah." I admitted. That wasn't why I was 'off' but it wasn't a lie either. "I've never been on a plane that long and I'm scared of heights." I shrugged.

"We'll keep you away from the window then." He smiled, putting his arm around my shoulders.

"Okay." I smiled back. "What do you think the possibility of me sitting next to you on the plane would be?" I smirked.

"I'll make it happen." He chuckled. "Unless you're asking because you don't want to sit next to me. Then I won't make it happen."

"No, make it happen. It won't be as fun to make anyone else stay up the whole flight and entertain me."

"You're going to Europe?!" My mom shrieked in my ear.

"Yes, mom." I laughed.

"And you're not taking me?"

"Maybe next time." I rolled my eyes. It was after the show. All the guys were resting and waiting to go back out to the bus and I had snuck away to talk to my mom.

"So you're going to be gone for your birthday?" She asked, sounding slightly sad.

"I forgot that was so close." I chuckled. "Yeah. I'll be in the U.K. for my birthday."

"Okay, love. Bring me back a postcard or something."

"I will." I promised. I was walking up and down the hall, watching the boys play a card game every time I would pass the doorway. This particular time I passed, Jeremy saw me and smiled. God, he killed me.

"So how are you doing...you know, with the whole band situation?" My mom sounded nervous to ask.

"Better than I was last week." I leaned against the wall so I could watch them play their game.

"That's my girl." I could tell she was grinning. "How are you doing with the...the Sam thing?"

"Better than I was last week." I repeated. I watched Jeremy as I spoke. "I've kinda got my eye on someone already. He's just uh, not got his eye on me, so to speak." I bit my lip.

"He'll come to his senses eventually. If he's smart anyways."

"That's not what I mean-"

Neil threw down his cards.

"Fuck yeah! Mikey!" He yelled, looking at me. He had a guilty look on his face when he remembered I was on the phone. "Sorry!" He whisper-yelled. I laughed and gave him a thumbs up.

"Who was that? Was that him?" My mom asked.

"We're going to head back to the bus soon, mom. I'll call you when we get to London."

"Okay darling. Call me from a telephone booth!"

"Okay mom." I laughed. We said our goodbyes and ended the call. I walked into the room and sat down between Neil and Alex. "What were you yelling at me?" I asked Neil.

"Oh, I was just going to tell you I won."