Wanted (A Restless Road Fanfiction)

Goodbye

CHAPTER 32

Goodbye

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." ~Winnie the Pooh

I woke up the next morning at about 9. We only had about an hour left before we would depart on our separate ways for a while. I walked out into the main room and looked at Zach, Andrew, and Colton's serious faces.

"What?" I asked.

"I have something to tell you," Colton said after a while.

"Okay, well, what is it?"

"I..." he started. "I'm leaving the band."

"What?! Why?!" I asked, shocked.

"I've always wanted to be a solo artist, and you know that. So, I think the best thing for me right now is to follow my heart and be who I want to be, that being a solo country artist."

"Oh," I said finally. "So... What about the tour?"

"We're still doing the tour," Zach said.

"But we're going to find a new member. And we only have a month to find the right one and to have him learn all of the choreography," Andrew said.

"But we're not going to let the fans down and cancel the tour. I don't care what it takes, I'm going to perform at every single one of those shows," Zach said.

"Good," I said. "I'm proud of you two. And you as well, Colton, for doing what feels right for you." They all smiled, and we continued on as if nothing had happened at all.

Sixty minutes came and passed quickly, and then we were going our separate ways. Saying goodbye was hard, even though I knew I'd see them soon enough. I was able to spend a few minutes with each of them, though.

"Hey," I turned around and saw Colton.

"Hi," I said.

"I'm sad to say that this might be the last time we see each other for a while," he said.

"Me, too," I replied. "But I wish you all the best with your solo career and I know you're going to go far."

"You're not mad, are you?"

"Mad? Why would I be mad? No, I'm really happy for you."

"I'm getting a lot of hate."

"Well, they aren't true fans anyway. A real Roadie is there for all 3 of you, no matter what. It doesn't matter if you break up, or if you all start solo careers, they will be here for each and every one of you no matter what."

"Thanks, Katie. That made me feel a lot better. And you're right," he said.

"Anytime."

"Hey, it's my turn now," Andrew said, walking over to us. I said my last goodbye to Colton and then turned to Andrew.

"God, I'm going to miss you," he said, hugging me. "I can't even imagine how Zach's feeling right now."

Zach. I wouldn't see him for a month, at least. I knew they were going to be busy, I mean, they had to find a new member and teach him all the choreography and everything, and I knew it was going to be tough to fit just that in in a month.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I mean, he'll see me soon enough, so..."

"You really love him, don't you?"

"I... Yeah. Yeah, I do," I said, and I meant it. He smiled.

"I'll let Zach have the rest of your time, then. Bye, Katie, see you soon." He walked away and I followed shortly after, looking for Zach.

"There you are," I heard him say behind me. I turned around and saw him standing there. He pulled me into a hug and neither of us said anything for a few minutes. It was all a bit too much for me, and although I tried to hold it in, I felt a few tears leak out of my eyes. Zach pulled away and frowned when he saw me.

"Hey, don't cry," he said, wiping away my tears. "We're going to be fine, okay? It's only a month, maybe even sooner if I can convince them to give me some time off to see you. And we'll be able to FaceTime, and you can call me every night before you go to sleep..."

"I-I know, I'm j-just going to miss y-you."

"I'm going to miss you, too, more than anything." He hugged me once more and we stood there until it was time for him to go. "Be strong, okay? I love you." He pressed his lips into mine and I could tell that he meant every word. He pulled away and let me go, and we went our separate ways, he to Pennsylvania, and I back to Chicago.

He stood outside his car and I watched him as I drove away, away from the tour, away from my friends, and away from the love of my life.