Tour the way: Book 2

Would You Rather

Avi's POV

It had been a few days since I had that late night conversation with Erica. I could only guess that she was feeling better. It was a show night and I was with the other guys. We were getting ready in our dressing room and I couldn't help but look at my phone. I had placed it on the counter since it was practically burning a hole in my pocket. She wasn't answering my calls or my text. If she did text me back, the conversations would be short and not nearly as in depth as usual. The last time we really talked was the night she still had a little jet lag. I didn't wan't to say it. I was hoping I could suffer in silence but this wasn't like her. I remember when she would answer my calls on the second ring. I was starting to get a little worried. She couldn't still be miffed at me for what happened in Paris.

"Are you still staring at your phone?" Mitch asked ripping me from my own thoughts. He was asking from the other side of the dressing room. "As much as I ship you two, you two cannot be in constant contact" he teased.

"Cut him some slack Mitchy, they're so deeply, madly and sickeningly  in love." Scott chimed in.

"Give it some time, She's probably just a little busy or maybe she's still a little jet lag and is sleeping it off." Kevin said. I nodded at their words and took them into consideration. My thoughts were interrupted when we heard the door open.

"You guys need to get into position. We have 10 minuets." one of the crew members said and just as quickly make his exit. I took one last look at my phone and went with the others.

"I would much rather be talking to her right now." I thought.

End POV

"Erica, You have a missed call." Lena said as she was looking at the screen on my phone. I was in the bathroom combing my hair. Bruno had gotten tickets to a concert and the two of us would hang out backstage afterwards. I hadn't told Lena even though I wanted so desperately to. She's my best friend. How could I not, but at the same time I kept thinking about what she said to me when we all went out. "He's into you." I could still hear those words in my head. They had almost been burned across my memory. I had made my way out of the bathroom and started looking through my closet for my favorite pair of boots. "It looks like you have quite a few missed text too actually." she continued.

"It's probably Avi, but I'm gonna call him back later." I told her.

"Really? Later?" she asked me in disbelief. "I'm surprised you aren't attacking me for the phone." she said laughingly. "You two are so disgustingly in love." she continued. I threw one of my pillows at her.

"He has a show tonight. There would be no point in calling him if I know he can't answer." I told her.

"Where are you going anyway?" she asked me. I hesitated for a second.

"I'm going to see Alex. He needs help with a few dance moves for something he's working on." I lied. I hated lying to her. It was like acid in my mouth. I was sneaking off to see Bruno again and it was actually eating at me a little. I knew what Lena thought was going on, but I didn't want to hear it. I just wanted to have a little fun without having someone tell me I was doing everything wrong. It was just two friends hanging out and I wasn't doing anything wrong. Despite my lie, I had a feeling that deep down, Lena knew it wasn't true. I think there was a part of her that knew what was happening. I grabbed my bag and headed towards the door.

"Erica?" Lena called after me. I turned to look at her.

"Yeah Lena?" I said as I paused for what seemed like an eternity. "Why doesn't she just call me out on it" I asked myself. "Send my plans crashing down!" I screamed inside.

"Be careful. Please." she said. It was short and simple.

"I will." I replied back. I turned back and closed the door behind me. As I stepped out into the hallway my phone buzzed and I was only just now noticing the missed texts that I had from Avi. I sighed and placed my phone in my pocket. "I'm sorry Avi, but I'll text you back later. I promise." I thought to myself and placing my phone in my purse.

Lena's POV

She was lying. I knew she was. I didn't need to call Alex to know. I just knew. I let Erica walk out that door like nothing was wrong. It was as if she wasn't dancing with devil and she was in no danger of having her feet stepped on. Its not that Bruno is a bad guy. I had nothing against him as a person.  I was just worried that she was putting a lot of the things she had at risk and she was loosing sight of her priorities. Just then, my phone began to buzz in my pocket. I looked at it after removing from my jeans pocket and saw that Jack had sent me a text.

"You. Me. My place." I read. I smiled to myself but quickly snapped back to my current situation. I didn't want to just leave in case she came back. At the same time, you can only give so much advice to someone and I would rather spend my time on someone who actually listened to what I have to say. With that in mind, I got dressed and was on my way.

Later, I was knocking on the door of Jack's apartment. The door had opened only to reveal Jack who was in only a towel. "Hey." he said warmly. "Let me get dressed."

"You don't have to." I said winking. He grinned at me and kissed me on the cheek and proceeded to his room. I put my stuff down on the kitchen table.

"It's Friday night." He called from the other room. "Why isn't Erica with you." he asked. I slightly rolled my eyes.

"She's off with her other boyfriend." I said snidely but I kind of felt bad about it.

"What does that mean?" he asked exiting his room in a pair of jeans and a black t shirt. I bit my lip at my words and was kicking myself for what I had just said. I hadn't exactly told Jack what was happening. Deep down, I thought it would just be another reason for him to put his concern for her above everything else and I mean everything else.

"Well, I know you've seen that video of her dancing with Bruno Mars when she was Europe." I started. He nodded.

"Yeah. Who hasn't" He asked. "She killed it" He added but I ignored the last part.

"Well, He's in New York right now and ever since he got here, Erica spends a lot of time with him" I continued.

"How much time?" he asked.

"They stay out late all the time doing who-knows-what." I told him. Jack didn't say anything. He leaned back against a counter and let out a huge sigh.

"She's your best friend. Can't you make her listen to you?" he asked with stern eyes.

"I can't 'make' her do anything Jack. I can give my advice and step in when things start to get bad." I told him.

"You don't think things are bad now?" he asked standing up strait. I noticed the change in his demeanor. I felt my heart sink a little. All he had to do was that small gesture and my suspicions only ran deeper and began to prove even more true. 

"Why are you yelling at me like it's my job to know what or who she's doing every minute of every day" I blurted out. I paused as I surprised myself at what I said. Jack's face went a little pale. "She's an adult Jack. You may not like it, but she can make her own choices!" I said starting to gather my things.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"You ask as if you care." I said turning the knob of the front door. "Why don't you ask Erica? At least then you'll get to talk to the girl you would rather be talking to." I said with an attitude slamming the door behind me. I left with a huff but also knowing that Jack made a good point. She's my best friend and perhaps I could be doing more to get her to listen to me. "What a drag" I said wiping a tear from my eye with my index finger while walking down the hallway.