STORIES TOLD, STORIES LIVED

Chapter 16

ARINA'S P.O.V

"Wrap that up!"

"Oh wait! This one's suppose to be in that bag. C'mon Toby open it back!"

"No no no, that's should be with me."

I opened my eyes. Still in the same hotel room. I barely could hear, but definitely some people were arguing, just outside my door.

Oh snap. That's James' voice.

And that's Toby.

That one's Connor.

I literally jumped out of bed. I fell asleep like a baby just after that crew lunch we just had few hours ago. I supposed to write my one last work for tonight's venue, but since Riley hasn't given my laptop back, I decided to point it down on my journal. Turns out, journal was left untouched, and I was knocked out.

"Guys! Oh my gosh I'm so sorry I was-"

"Me too." Toby ate his candy bar.

"What?" I lowkey tried to confirm his reaction because I thought we were not on the same page. "Never mind. I'll get my stuff."

"Riley will help! He's still in the room!" Connor shouted from across the room where the elevators were.

"Okay!" I replied in short.

Okay? Was that really okay?

I walked back to my room, got my bags with me, and waited for Riley. At this point, I had no choice. I couldn't leave him alone because there were only two of us left. Trying to be polite here. So I sat on the ground, wrote something on my journal - this time for real.

When can I change this two-mirror to a mere piece of transparent glass?
When can I break the glass and reach you?
Tell me how to be the one that captures your eyes and your heart.
- Arina Shaw

Too weak. I cried to my lowest point. Maybe people couldn't see it, but doesn't mean I didn't. Just a matter of time until my trip back home. By a matter of time, I seriously meant it would be a blink away.

"Why don't you knock?" Riley finally walked toward me.

"Oh, hey." I closed my journal. "Ready?"

"Questions, questions." He sighed.

"Okay. I'm sorry. I just don't think it's polite to knock. You're maybe busy packing. I didn't want to- Well, yeah."

"You're just..." He pressed the elevator button.

I didn't want to ask. Let's leave it there. This was how we talked, honestly. There were so many unspoken words that we both decided to swallow. And none of us was that eager to ask. I guess that's one thing we had in common; we're two complicated humans.

"You have my laptop?" I asked Riley as we packed these last bags.

"Yes, but I still need it."

"That's okay. I might need it later for the session. But go ahead and use while you still can."

"Thank you."

All set. Lonnie's ready to take us to the last venue of tour. My heart was beating so fast. Sad. I wish I could turn back time. Why couldn't we all stay on the road forever?

I spent my time in my bunk, writing. About an hour later, because traffic jam, we arrived at the venue. I saw Riley, he's still busy typing on my laptop. So I let him. I helped the duo instead. Together with James and Anthony, we're switching our busy mode on. I ran here and there helping to set the merch table. James helped Connor and Toby with the sound system. We all were doing something, except Riley, he was doing something specific.

Hours and hours passed, I realized I haven't done my session. The weirdest thing? Anthony wasn't freaking out either.

"Gosh! Am I the only one losing track of time? It's almost VIP line and I haven't done it!" I screamed to the merch wall.

"Girl! Hey! Where you going?" Anthony stopped me.

"I should get my laptop from Riley and drag that girl to the session room!" I waved.

And bam.

"Ouch!" My knees met the ground.

"Are you okay?" Riley gently caught me and helped to stand.

"Yeah yeah. Just, uh... Oh, my laptop!" I was a mess, not focus at all.

"It's done. The guy's printing it out as we're speaking." Riley brought me to their changing room.

"What? You met the featured girl? Holy snap, it's not part of the contract! Why covering me up?"

"Easy there... We've discussed it. This is the last show of tour. We want to sell the copies beyond this world. They figured, my name on it would be a perfect reason for fans to buy. So don't worry; it's not about covering you."

"Oh, thank goodness. You almost made me feel like I didn't do my job well." I sighed, relieved.

"You did a tremendous job. So proud of you." Riley winked as he got me a glass of water.

Stop doing that, please.

"Thank you." I took the water.

"Arinaaaaa!" Toby showed up from the changing room's toilet, just finished changing.

"Tobyyyyyy!" I matched his game.

"Don't, please, we have enough loud voice in this room, enough to echo the entire LA." Connor desperatedly pouted.

"Sounds like a lifetime trap, Con." I smirked.

"Damn right." He rolled his eyes.

I don't know, today's disaster turned happy in a matter of minute. I sat here in the changing room, helping these guys to get ready. Still confused of why they asked Riley to write the last fan fiction instead, but it's okay. He's the employer.

"So sick, it's working!" Anthony burst came into the room.

"What?" I quickly stood up.

"The fan fiction. Whoa damn, sold out."

I nodded at Riley, appreciating his amazing work. "Salute to the master."

"Ah, no, it's just the name, perhaps. They don't even read what's inside. Hahaha." He replied happily.

"Definitely because of the cover." Toby, with I don't know what else food was in his mouth, added.

"The cover? Is it that good? Can I see it?" I excitedly asked Anthony. "You have it?"

"Ha." Anthony looked nervous the second I asked it. Literally like drained out. We have nothing left. At all."

"Wow." I shook my head. "A total success. Congrats, guys!"

"Thank you!" Connor smirked.

"You're welcome." Toby waved with his silly face.

And the show was started. They killed it. Tonight, as the last night of tour, I chose to sneak out of the backstage and join them fans. They perhaps didn't even realize I was there. Yeah, I just wanted to take some pictures from the fans' point of view.

The scream. The flashlights. The drum rolls. The hope.

The almost goodbye.