On Tour

Chapter 23 - Lights

LEXY

Going back into the routine of touring feels comforting and almost normal. Although I've avoided spending more time than necessary with Joel. He's tried to pick up the conversation with me, even tried to call me and I fielded his calls. It's not right to try to get things to back to where they were when he can't accept me the way I am. My plan is to keep things friendly during the time we'll be together and hopefully he'll forget about it. We've talked while waiting to board the plane and he even got me a coffee, my favorite. He must have gotten the hint, because all he had to say was stuff about music.

Gabriella has been a busy bee since we got here, but she's been her kind self to everyone in the band and crew. I saw Joel talking to her earlier and it makes me hopeful that things will be different between them during this leg of the tour. The only thing I'm not looking for is going out on the road in the buses. The coaches are spacious, but not when you are sharing them with six to eight people at all times. It can get crowded, messy and smelly quickly. I believe Alec is the only one who manages to keep his things in order at all times. Ozzie is the worst and leaves stinky shoes and sweaty clothes everywhere. You know exactly where he has been sitting previously. In the previous leg, I even wondered why Gabriella and Erica don't get a bus to themselves. There wasn't a day or night when they weren't glued to their laptops and surrounded by papers. How they managed to get a printer aboard the bus fascinates me.

"How are we doing Gabriella?" I ask her across the path after I saw her put her laptop away.

"Everything seems to be on time. I couldn't check further because the wi-fi was crap. All I know from before we boarded is that airport staff will meet us at the plane door so that we can avoid the gate. From there they will bring us to a waiting area where we will be reunited with our luggage. The buses should be ready to depart when we have everything and everyone."

"Any changes on the sleeping arrangements?" 

"If you mean, do we still need to share the bus with Ozzie, then the unfortunate answer is yes," she says and scrunches her nose.

I understand why we can't go to the gate after landing. We did it a few times in the last cities we played at and turned too many heads. Then upon exiting the secured area of the airport, swarms of fans blocked our way to the transport. We love them and we are who we are because of their love and dedication to support our music, but when someone gets hysterical at your sight or tries to rip a piece of your clothes, it can get very scary. I know our last album did well and there's plenty of engagement on social media about us, but it wasn't until those moments that I realized how much we've grown in popularity.

"Looking forward to seeing Daan?" I ask Gabriella.

"For sure. I went to say goodbye a week ago before he left with the first convoy. The amount of freight trucks carrying the stage and equipment is so impressive. Imagine all of them put together! He was going to onboard the new crew and will meet us on site."

The notification to put our belts turns on and the flight attendants make everything ready to land. Once we arrive at the gate door, we are received by the city promoter and some airport staff who lead us down a staircase and into a shuttle bus. When we receive our suitcases, we are then escorted to the area where the tour buses await. I'm quite pleased that this one has a big kitchen area and an extra bathroom at the back. 

"What do you think?" Erica says when she comes in. "We women needed our own bathroom."

"I'm eternally grateful," I say right before Ozzie lets out the loudest burp ever. "Very grateful," I add while Erica looks at him with disapproval.

Gabriella places her carry on in a bunk bed and then sits with her pink bag and laptop right behind the chauffer. I guess she was desperate to check her communication.