Callie's POV
Brandon and I have been getting ready for the tour, and he couldn't be more excited about it. I'm glad he has this opportunity; it could really help him with get into Juilliard. They're looking for students who are not only passionate about what they do, but students who do something with that passion. The tour could be the perfect thing to help him get in. I'm so proud of him, and I'm happy that I decided to go on tour with him. He hasn't told Mike about the tour yet, and I know he's nervous to tell him. I don't think Mike will disapprove, but I think he'll be disappointed that Brandon isn't staying here and working before he goes to college. Brandon says that he doesn't want to tell his moms about the tour, but I think he should. They would want to know about something this huge, and he can't keep that from them. They would be crushed, and we don't need to give them another reason to hate us right now. Brandon is supposed to be telling the rest of the band that I'm going on tour with them, and I don't want to think about how that's going to go. I know Lou will be pissed, and Mat will be upset that I'm going and Mariana isn't. I guess he asked Stef and Lena if Mariana could come with them on tour, but they said no. Brandon said that it was because they think Mariana is too young to be going on a two month long tour with her boyfriend, but I know it has something to do with Brandon and I. Deep down, I have a feeling that Stef and Lena know that Brandon invited me to go on tour, and obviously they know that I'll agree to go, so they won't let Mariana go because they don't want her being around the two of us. When it comes down to Brandon and I and any of their other kids, Brandon and I come last. The wouldn't want Brandon and I influencing them in any way possible.
Brandon's POV
"So Callie agreed to come on tour with us," I say after we're wrapping up practice. "Didn't you guys just fight about this?" Mat asks me. "Yeah, we did. But we worked out our differences, and she agreed to come with us. She got everything worked out with her job, and wer'e going to be meeting her father later for dinner," I reply. "Look, I'm totally cool with your girlfriend coming on tour with us, but I was serious when I told you that she's gone after the first distraction she gives you," Lou says. "Lou, she's my girlfriend. Obviously she's going to distract me while we're on tour, but she won't distract me enough to keep my head out of performing," I reply. "Good," she says. "Because we need you focused when we're on stage. Producers come to some of these shows, and if they happen to come to one of our shows, it might be our chance to record an album. I don't care what you do with Callie during our freetime, but when you're onstage, she can't be your girlfriend. She has to be a fan of the band and that's it." "Oh come on, I'm not going to lie to the audience if she's near us before we go on stage. I'm going to tell them she's my girlfriend. I'm not lying about that; I've lied about it enough already, and I won't do it anymore," I say. "I'm not saying you have to lie about knowing her. But if someone from the audience asks you who she is, just tell them she's a fan of the band. You can't tell them she's your girlfriend," she replies. "Why not?" I ask. "Because it will cause distractions, Brandon. If the audience knows that she's your girlfriend, it'll take their attention away from our performance. They'll be all over her, and they'll fish for information. We don't need that when we're on tour," she says. "No," I say. "Absolutely not. I won't lie and say she isn't my girlfriend. I'm sorry, but we aren't rockstars. We aren't famous, and we don't have paparazzi following us around. I'm not going to risk losing my relationship with Callie for the tour. I won't do that, and it's not fair of you to ask me to lie about what we are." "Brandon's right, Lou. We can't expect him to lie about who Callie is to him. She'll be hurt. She's agreeing to come on tour with us, and that's really cool. Most girlfriends wouldn't be cool with that," Mat says. "Fine," Lou says. "Tell them whatever you want. But if she starts messing with our success on tour, she's gone. And I mean it."
Callie's POV
I told my dad that Brandon and I would meet him outside of work when I got done with my shift, and Brandon got here before our scheduled meeting time. "You're early," I say as I get in his car. "Sorry," he says. "I just wanted to make sure we were on time for dinner," he replies. "It won't take me that long to change," I say. "I know," he says. "I was just saying." "Is everything alright?" I ask. "Yeah, everythings great," he replies, not meeting my eyes. "Look, I know you're nervous about tonight, but don't sweat it. Seriously. Robert is really cool, and he's going to love you. I promise," I say. "It's not tonight I'm worried about," he replies. "Then what's wrong?" I ask. "Nothing," he replies. "Just go get changed and we'll talk about this later." I don't offer up anything else before getting back out of the car and walking toward the bathroom so I can change. Once I'm finished changing, I call Mariana so I can talk to her quickly. "Hey stranger," she says when she answers. "Hey. What's going on?" I ask. "Not much, just hanging with Mat," she replies. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was over there. I can call you back if you later if you want," I say. "Nonsense," she replies. "What's up?" "Nothing really. Brandon and I are getting ready to meet Robert for dinner," I reply. "Oh my God! That's huge," she says. "Yeah, it is," I agree. "So why don't you sound excited about that?" she asks. "I am, really. I'm really excited for Brandon to meet my dad. It's just that, Brandon is acting weird, and I have no idea why," I say. "What do you mean he's acting weird?" she asks. "I don't know. He came to get me after work before we meet Robert here in a few minutes, and he's just in a weird mood. I tried asking him what was wrong, but he brushed me off and told me we would talk about it later. I've never seen him like this before," I say. "It might have something to do with what happened at practice earlier," I hear Mat say. "What happened at practice?" I ask. "Brandon told us how you're coming on tour with us, and Lou told him that if you become a distraction while we're on tour, you would have to leave. Brandon said you wouldn't be a distraction at all, and then Lou told him that he can't tell anyone that you're his girlfriend when we're on tour. She basically told him to keep it a secret from anyone who asks about you, and Brandon got really defensive. He brushed it off once he spoke his mind, but I had no idea he would still be pissed about it."
