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16

Packing for tour was definitely different for me, that's for sure. Even though Josh reminded me over and over that if I forgot anything we could buy it again at the airport, I still wanted to make sure that I had absolutely everything.

"Ri," Tyler called. Everyone seemed to have taken their own nickname for me at this point. To Josh I was 'Ari', to Tyler I was 'Ri', and to Jenna I was 'A' — though sometimes she did call me Ari. I didn't mind — Honestly, I think I preferred all three of the nicknames over my full name. I was more likely to respond to them, that's for sure.

"Ri!" Tyler called once again.

I stood up and walked from my room to where Tyler's voice had come from. The bathroom.

"There you are," Tyler sighed. "Take one of these in your bags."

I took the bottle of seemingly clear liquid in my hands and looked at the label. It looked to be some sort of antiseptic liquid, to clean cuts and wounds.

"I've got the other one as a spare." Tyler said, pointing to the other bottle up on the counter.

"Why have you got these?" I asked curiously.

"I bought them a few weeks ago as a just in case thing, and completely forgot about it until last night." Tyler answered, grabbing the shampoo and conditioner from the shower next to him.

I nodded to show I heard him and grabbed my toothbrush and other things that belonged to me and placed them into a bag that Tyler had handed me.

"Where exactly are we actually going?" I asked.

"First we're going to LA so Josh can film something with Hayley Williams, then South America for some shows."

I smiled excitedly. "I can't wait."

"A, have you got everything?" Jenna asked, popping her head through the door. "Ashley's here to pick us up."

"Uh," I looked over my things one more time. "I think so."

"If you've forgotten something we can get it again at the duty free stores, alright?"

"Okay."

It seemed strange that I had been here for only a few weeks, and now I was leaving again. I was staying with the same people, but I wasn't going to be staying in the same room each night.

On the topic of school, that was going to have to wait until April when we get back home from touring. That way I wouldn't miss any schools when the Columbus shows were running as we wouldn't have to travel far. Not that I was complaining — I'm not exactly looking forward to school, that's for sure.

I zipped up the last pocket of my suitcase and grabbed my phone which was sitting beside it, shoving it into my pocket along with my earplugs which would come in handy for the flight.

"I sincerely hope you don't become some technology dependent, moody teenager, because you won't exactly want to hang out with me anymore will you?" Jenna asked with a chuckle.

"I'll forever be your best friend Jenna Joseph, until the end of time."

"Good to hear. Don't want to be abandoned anytime soon."

"Please, do you really think I'd stay sane if I didn't have you around? I'd be made to play Mario Kart all day."

"That's a good point."

By 5pm that evening, we were all seated beside each other on the plane to LA, waiting for the plane to take off.

"Pretty lucky how we all got seats next to each other hey? I was hoping Tyler was going to have to sit alone." Josh teased, a smirk pulling at his lips.

"Be nice," I scolded playfully, chuckling.

As the last few people boarded, I heard an announcement. "We are ready for take off. If all passengers could please fasten their seat belts and turn off electronics while we get into the air, that would be much appreciated. Another announcement will sound when you may switch your devices back on."

I felt the nerves run through my body as I buckled up my seatbelt and turned off my phone, placing it back in my pocket again.

"You're nervous," Josh realised.

"I've never been on a plane before."

"Oh, that's right." Josh scratched his neck. "I've travelled so much lately I forgot how it feels as a first-time flyer."

Josh grabbed hold of my hand which was trembling slightly, and we waited for the plane to take off.

When it did, I felt it. I felt it in my stomach, my my chest, everywhere. But the worst was over in no time. When the seatbelt signal was turned off and the captain announced that our mobile devices were allowed to be turned back on, I was much happier. It was weird, I thought that you weren't allowed to have mobiles on at all, but apparently if its on aeroplane mode, they're totally okay with it. Doesn't mess with the signals or something.

I pulled out my earphones and clicked them into my phone, preparing to listen to music, when Tyler placed his hand out for me to give him my phone. I placed it in his hand and he connected it to his computer.

A few moments later he handed me my phone back. "Look through your music." He had said.

Opening the music app, I saw a whole bunch of new songs. They were all of Tyler's songs, plus the band's other albums.

"Regional at Best actually isn't released. Neither are my songs. But I think they'll help you."

I scrolled through once again, smiling. "Thank you."

And I placed my earplugs into my ears, listening to Tyler's voice and Josh's drumming, slowly falling asleep against Josh's shoulder.