Second Chances

Chapter 10 Showtime!!

I woke up and jumped in the shower. Ross said they'd pick me up in the tour bus out front at about 8am. I glanced at the clock that read 6:32. I dried myself off and stepped into my faded jean shorts, blue converse shoes and an edgy blue top with a simple black chain necklace. I stared at my face in the mirror as I took in the moment. I let out a gasp of breath and left the bathroom to make breakfast.

I cracked an egg in a bowl with milk and cinnamon and made some homemade French toast; another reminder of home. I thought of my older brother, Jordan, who always made me them on my birthday. Of all the people I missed the absolute most from my family it was Jordan. I thought of how he'd love Ross as I chewed my French toast and smiled to myself.

I turned on the tv and watched the news, something I wish I did more often.

Before I knew it it was 7:55 I left my apartment with my bag in hand and pulled my sunglasses over my eyes. I opened the front door to see the tour bus pull up. The doors opened and as I climbed up the top stair everyone cheered and laughed. I laughed along to avoid the awkward embarrassment.

Ross was sitting on a couch and moved over. I set my bag on the floor next to Rydel's bag and sat down on the couch with Ross. He put his arm on the back of the couch behind me and I quickly pulled my feet up on the couch and leaned against his chest. I listened to Riker talking to the guys about the schedule for setting up and then Ratliff got them off track and they started goofing off. Every time Ross's chest vibrated when he laughed I couldn't help but smile.

My eyes got heavy and before I knew it a must've fallen asleep because Ross was shaking me.

"Hey were here."

I opened my eyes to see him smiling at me.

"Come on my arms numb." He teased.

"Sorry how long was I out? I didn't mean to fall asleep." I sat up and tried to stretch a little as Ross stood up and stretched and tried to shake his arm awake.

"An hour maybe. You looked to peaceful to wake you up."

"Where is everybody?" I looked around at the empty bus.

"They're setting up. I told them I'd help when you woke up."

"Oh I'm sorry." I apologized.

Apparently it was funny to him cause he just stared at me with his arms folded waiting for me to stand up. He dropped his arms and held out his hand.

"Come on let's go see what they need help with."

"Ok"

He locked his hand with mine and led me off the bus. We went around the block to an area that was fenced off and there was a stage towards the back of the fenced off area.

We walked up the stairs to the stage. As soon as my foot hit the stage I looked out at the empty audience and smiled. Ross saw me smiling and just smiled at me then followed my gaze.

"We'll were all done setting up." Riker announced walking towards us.

"So what do we do until sound check?" Ross still held my hand tight and stepped closer to my side but slightly in front of me.

"We'll we could go out for frozen yogurt. Ridel has been annoying me all day asking." He said sarcastically and loud enough Rydel could hear him from the other side of the stage and she dropped her mouth open pretending to be offended.

We all started walking down the street looking for a place with frozen yogurt. Me and Ross stayed towards the back.

After walking for about twenty minutes Ridel started jumping up and down and spun around to shriek, "they have one!"

We all laughed at her childlike behavior and walked a little faster to keep up with her.

We all sat down at a table with raised stools and ate our frozen yogurt. After about two minutes the guys started talking and laughing while Ridel asked me some questions and we had our own conversation.

"So what do you like to do for fun?"

I couldn't help but smile at her excitement for everything. I've seriously never seen this girl mad or sad about anything. I mentally made a note that I wished I was more like her.

"Umm mostly write."

"Like music or what?"

"Yeah mostly lyrics. I have problems writing the music though."

"We'll its the opposite with us. You should definitely help us finish our EP when we get back to the studio next week."

"Yeah ill give it a shot." I smiled.

"So tell me more about yourself. I wanna know who my brothers dating." She glanced at Ross who tuned into our conversation at the word girlfriend.

"Not sure what to say my life's kinda boring I guess. Well I'm from a small town in Minnesota. I'm the second oldest of four kids. I have on older brother Jordan, a younger sister Haley and a little brother Jaiden. My mom works as a secretary at the hospital and my dad is a retired Air Force veteran and he owns his own small store."

"What does your older brother do?"

"He's going to tech school to be a mechanic."

"Cool" everyone has finished eating and we followed the guys outside and we walked back to the tour bus. We took a longer route and got there about three hours before the sound check. We hung out and talked some more. Ridel and me went to the back and shared stories and just talked. It made me miss having my best friend to tell everything to.

****

The band left to go to the sound check and I stayed in the bus. I tried to take a nap seeing as it'd be another two hours before the concert but I couldn't sleep. I opened up my laptop and checked social media. Ross was blowing up Instagram and twitter as usual before a concert. They kept there fans really connected. I saw he tagged me in a picture of me and Ridel laughing after we got done eating frozen yogurt. I checked my profile page and saw I had gained like 100 new followers since he tagged me in the photo.

****

I saw the concert started in half an hour. I heard a knock on the door, it opened to Ross who jumped up the stairs. He always got so excited before a concert.

"Hey come on we're almost on."

"Ok ok I'm coming." I said laughing at his goofy smile that plastered his face. He grabbed my hand and we sprinted to the back of the stage and into the dressing room. I watched standing back a ways with security. They got in a huddle and then ran on stage. I heard all the screaming and I couldn't stop smiling.

The thought that someday Ross would be backstage to support me made my heart pound. For the first time in a long time everything seemed perfect. Nothing could ruin this moment, this experience. I was the luckiest girl in the world. But before my thoughts even sank in the little voice cut my happy thoughts short and every once of doubt that had left my body came flooding back each bringing a new friend with a new fear to the party.