You Never Know What You'll Find Out On Tour

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

About 45 minutes of making sandwiches we’re finally done and have John, Jamie, Michael and Daniel taking stuff down to the buffet tables.

“Your brother’s here,” whispers Michael in my ear, I nod and grab a bowl of crisps barely breathing.

“I’ll go first ‘kay?” he nods and looks as nervous as I feel. I start walking down the stairs, going as slowly as I possibly can. “Michael where are they sitting?”

“Thankfully the other side of the room to the buffet tables, right next to the stage,” I feel relieved until I reach the bottom of the stairs.

“Michael pass me the sandwiches, people need served,” he hands me them and everything feels like the weight of the world. I look everywhere but where they are sitting until I eventually reach the buffet tables and set everything out. Someone taps me on the shoulder, I turn around slowly to find Harry (the regular old man that everyone loves) and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Oh, hello Emily, was just wondering when the buffet will be open?”

“Well Harry, guess what? Just because we all love you I'm going to open it right now,” he smiles and grabs a plate.

“’Chelle can you open the buffet now please?”

“Oh no problem. Buffet’s now open, help yourselves!” I walk away before the stampede of people or they can reach me and head towards Michael, standing behind the bar.

“Michael can I get a shot?”

“Sure, but make sure none of them see you,” he nods towards Ry's table “then I really won’t be here,” I look around to see if any of them are watching me. Ryan’s at the buffet table with Shane. Connor and Liam are sitting with the bands manager, I quickly pour myself a shot and knock it back.

“It’s a good job Ryan has his back turned,” I look behind me to find Johnathon-the manager-with a smirk on his face.

“One shot’s not going to hurt anyone.”

“Yeah, just your liver.”

“Yeah, my liver, no-one else’s its fine,” I say “are you waiting to be served?”

“Yep, my turn to get the round in,” I look up the bar and see Michael serving.

“I’m not supposed to do this but, to save you the wait, what do you want?” shock crosses his face, but then he smiles.

“Well if you're sure. I’ll have five of those vodka shots you’ve just had and two cans of Carlsberg and three pints of Fosters,” I had to say I’ll serve him. I grab five shot glasses as he makes conversation.

“Make yourself one of those shots,” I raise my eyebrows at him.

“Your money. My brother too,” he laughs as I pour another glass.

“So, what you doing here then? Run away again?” I also hate Johnathon.

“Nope, just staying at a friend’s.”

“Which friend?”

“Why do you care?”

“Well, considering you're supposed to be coming on tour with us, I feel I should know who you're staying with so you actually make it.”

“Or to be nosey,” I say under my breath “don’t worry I’ll be there, I'm only staying a week,” I say as I hand him the last two cans. “£15.50 please,” he hands me a twenty pound note and I head for the till.

“Ry' come and help me!” shit, I grab Johnathons change and try to get back to him before Ryan reaches him, no such luck.

“What’re you doing working behind a bar?”

“I’m not, I just thought instead of Johnathon waiting, I’ll serve him,” he nods and looks at the shot glasses.

“Why’s there six?”

“He bought me one,” I say and drink it before in one before he could take it off me. Now he looks angry.

“You didn’t have to drink that.”

“Its politeness and neither do you.”

“We live in England, I'm over 18, I can drink, legally, unlike you. No more,” no more? Surely he knows not to tell me I can’t have something, idiot. He walks off to join the rest of them, which are now all staring at us. I wait ‘til Ry' sits down before getting out a shot glass and pouring-what he thinks is vodka- but is really water into the glass and knock it back. He looks pissed and not in the drunk way, oh well, he always forgives me-touch wood-up until this day anyway. I see ‘Chelle hopping onto the stage.

“Right guys, we’re about to start the karaoke off with Harry, singing...Bryan Adams-Summer of 69,” oh god this’ll be funny, even though Harry does usually get everyone dancing.

As ‘Chelle helps Harry onto the stage I look around at the creamy coloured walls and light brown carpet, the old wooden chairs and oak tables. I realise how much time I've actually spent here in the two and a half years I've known Michael.

All the memories: me and ‘Chelle dancing on the table, yes we were a tad drunk; the time I pushed Michael down the stairs, he pulled me with him unfortunately; the first time I met ‘Chelle and John, they cracked me up that day telling me embarrassing stories of Michael;  the time me, Michael, Jamie, Daniel and John had a paint war, we were supposed to be painting the living room red (we looked like we had just been in a blood bath); the first time I showed up with my bags, ‘Chelle pulled me in for a hug and said I could stay as long as I wanted, while John and Michael had to get me a McDonalds (‘Chelle’s orders); when I met Jamie, Daniel, Holly and Chloe for the first time, Daniel tried to keg me, Jamie asked if I had a sister or any ‘hot’ friends, Holly and Chloe didn’t like me, until I whipped out my cooking skills; the night me and Michael decided to make Fridays our film nights, we head down to Blockbusters, choose a film we both like and if we can’t agree we flip a coin, right in the middle of Blockbusters, we get a few looks for this considering we both ended up on the floor one time when it rolled under a shelf and argued it was heads or tails, before getting out another coin.

Yeah you can say I've had a few memories here, and there’s a lot more than that, just check my bedroom wall with all the pictures. Oh and there will be more, including the tour, I’ll strap Michael to a chair or pack him into a suitcase if I have to.

Liam walks over to the bar “you trying to put your brother into an early coma? He’s pissed and no, not in the drunk way before you even say it, the angry way, so do me a favour and don’t have any more shots,” great he’s gone into Dad mode.

“Tell your band manager to stop buying me them then,” now he looks angry, he didn’t know.

“Didn’t know that bit huh? He just doesn’t want me to go on tour with you guys. Don’t come over here and shout at me when it’s Johnathon you should be angry with.

“And what the hell are you doing here? Thought you were going to say you didn’t know where I was?”

“Sorry I can’t keep Ry' on a chain,” he says coldly and storms back over to the table, just as Harry finishes. Everyone seems to be in high spirits-except me. We need to change that. I grab myself a bottle of vodka and head upstairs, hearing Michael and john serving and ‘Chelle announcing.