My desperate endeavor to find my whoever

8) 18 years, 7 months and 13 days

Alex

I couldn't find her anywhere. I'd been all around the centre three times now and I couldn't find her. Shit. What if she forgot? What if she couldn't remember what I looked like? Dammit...she'd probably just not bothered turning up. She probably flew home to be with her dad, or maybe her job started early.

"Fuck..." I sighed, slumping against the car.

"Y'know, it is rather rude to ignore someone when you've walked past them three times." a voice said; I could actually hear the smirk.

I looked up; Erin was stood next to me. That same old beautiful smile lit up her face as usual, and her lack of fancy clothes made me smile. She was always the same; never dressed up fancy for anything.

"Three times? Seriously?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"Okay well maybe it was only one," she admitted. "But still! It was rude! Americans..."

"Actually, I'm British..." I smirked.

Her smile dropped, as did her eyes. "I know you are," she muttered. "In fact, I know exactly who you are."

Shit. I knew this would be awkward for us. I shifted slightly closer to her, gently draping an arm across her shoulders. "I know exactly who you are too," I said quietly; she looked up. "C'mon. Let's go somewhere a little more private."

She nodded once or twice then got in the car. There was a really awkward silence between us, only broken when I groaned as I stopped the car; For Baltimore came on the radio for the millionth time since it was released. Damn the local radio stations and their pride for local bands! Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Erin smirking to herself. She thought I couldn't see her, but she saw me looking when she looked up.

"I um...Googled you." she blushed. "After you left, the memory of you sort of faded a bit. I remembered all the little things about you, but not the important stuff. Stuff like...your birthday and your surname. But when I asked my dad about you, he told me your surname. He told me everything I forgot about you. He also said you were in some band now and my suspicion became even stronger. So I Googled your name and everything about All Time Low came up, then I saw you on the pictures and I knew I was right. Y'know, I've actually heard of you guys around Kerrang!. Music's not half bad."

"I'm glad we have your approval." I laughed. "I did a similar thing to you actually. I had my suspicions after our...ahem...encounter at the airport. I called my parents and everything just came flooding back. I uh...I actually Googled you too."

"Creep." she hissed.

"Hey, you Googled me!"

"Well, what d'you expect me to do, mister world-famous rock star." she smirked.

"Touché..." I grinned.

"I uh...I haven't heard any mention of Tom for a while," she said sheepishly. "I know he had his ups and downs but, I mean, is he okay now? What's he doing nowadays?"

Erin looked at me just as I looked away again. I started to tear up at the mere mention of his name. I haven't talked to anyone except my parents about him, and it killed me inside to hear someone other than them say his name. Erin was getting more suspicious by the second. I had to tell her.

"He uh...Erin, I don't know how else to say this," I stammered. "But Tom's gone."

"No..." she gasped, instantly knowing what I meant. "No, not Tom. He...he wouldn't...he was stronger than that..."

"Well, he did." I snapped, instantly cringing. "I'm sorry. I just-"

"Alex I get it," she said. "It hurts. I was the same when Will left. Well...not the same but y'know."

"He left?"

"Yup," she said sadly. "Left one night without even saying goodbye. We haven't spoken since."

"Fuck..." I muttered. "Erin, I'm...I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she told me, shaking her head. "Will's an arsehole. He was wired to the moon pretty much every day from the age of 14, and I'll be honest, I'm glad we don't have to worry about him." Erin always used to adore her baby brother, always spoke so affectionately about him. Yet now her voice was full of spite. He really must be an asshole. "Anyway, that's not what we should be talking about," she said, suddenly perking up. "We have some serious catching up to do! I can't even remember how long it's been..."

I felt myself blush. "18 years, 7 months and 13 days," I mumbled. "Jesus Christ Erin, I've missed you so much. the only way I could cope was by counting the days. I always told everybody I met all about my best friend from England, and they always wanted to meet you. Well, now they can."

"You make me feel so crap for not knowing that." Erin sighed. "I also have something else to tell you."

"Elaborate," I said after an awkward silence.

"Well, you remember the job I mentioned?" I nodded. "Touring, with one of my favourite photographers ever? It's um...it's your tour."

"Are you serious?!" I asked excitedly; my face lit up. "You're the girl working with Adam?!"

"I am." she grinned.

This was too good to be true. I'd waited 18 years to see Erin again, and now she was on tour with me! Something inside was telling me that this wasn't going to run as smoothly as I hoped it would, but I ignored it. Nothing bad can come of this; at least I hope it can't.