Bringing Them Back- An R5 Fanfiction

Chapter 15: Style Swap

It was the middle of the night, and Rydel tapped me on the shoulder lightly. I sat up and bumped my head on the ceiling. "SH!" I got down from my bunk, rubbing my head, and followed her to the bus door. The bus was parked in the venue parking lot for our first midday show in Colorado. Stormie waited outside a white van, the back completely filled with clothes racks.

"Morning!" She called quietly. We walked over and helped her unload. The racks were officially in the parking lot, and only then did I realize how there were seven racks, each with preset outfits, marked with a date. "I organized all of them for you guys! The orange ribbons are for you, Sarah!" Each of them had different color ribbons with the dates. Genius. "I need to go now. Mark doesn't like me supporting you rebels!" She laughed. "You're all my kids. I can't just give up." Rydel pulled her in for a hug, and when Stormie pulled away, Rydel pulled her back.

"Mom, please stay. At least for this show. I haven't seen you in months."

"Delly, I can't. Your father-"

"Mom, please." Stormie sighed.

"I can't say no to you. I'll stay for just this stop."

"YES! Riker would love to see you! Sarah, why don't you talk to Mom for a bit? I gotta load these onto the bus." I nodded and led her into the bus. Everyone was still asleep, but quite frankly, I couldn't sleep. It was four AM.

"Hold on. I'll be right back." I walked back to the bunks, and checked Riker's bunk. The shades were closed tight, and he was snoring quietly. Opening them a crack, I could see that he had his back on a pillow, and he was looking at the album open on his lap until he fell asleep. I moved the album slowly off of his lap, and closed the shades again. I brought the album out to Stormie and handed it to her. "Sorry about that. Riker looks at this every night."

"Let him keep it, hun. I know he's hurting. Their father refuses to support them anymore because of how Ross ran away. Hopefully someday he'll come around."

"Hopefully." I walked back to Riker's bunk and put it on his lap. "So, is it really an issue to tell the fans that Ross and I are together?" I asked her.

"Yes. The fans either will support you or not support you. It's not worth the risk." I nodded. "You can stay together, but you have to keep it under wraps. I'll talk to Ross."

"I'm going back to sleep. If you want to sleep too, there's blankets, pillows, and other stuff in the closet over there. There's an open bunk across from Ry. Night." I climbed back into my bunk and hit the light.

The concert that day was incredibly easy for my part. Stormie already seemed to have a style set aside for me, and I wasn't against it at all. However, I hated hiding my relationship with Ross. It took everything I had not to tell the fans about Ross and I. I was sulking behind the merch stand counter with Ryland when I heard a voice speak up in front of me. It wasn't a fan's. Not even close. It was deep and manly, and I knew right away who's it was when Ryland stood up to assist them before I could. He seemed to be hiding me protectively. My dread was confirmed when Ryland took the man behind the counter and down the hall to backstage. Out of all the possible people it could be, it had to be Mark Lynch.

When we got back to the bus, everything was tidy, and sitting on the couch was Mark and Stormie. Mark addressed all of us.

"We're continuing the tour with you, if you'll let us. Seeing all of you perform tonight made me realize how much I had missed being your manager, agent, and most importantly, your dad. So, if it's okay with you guys, can we join the tour?"

Riker jumped at the opportunity. "Of course. I missed you guys." Every single one of us nodded in agreement. "Welcome to the tour."