Renegade (a One Direction fanfiction)

Prologue

“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.”

Ok, fine, I went to a few small parties and got a little drunk and maybe a little high. Ground me until I’m drinking age? Sure. Take away my cell phone forever? I can deal with that. Lock me in a tower for the rest of my life? No problem. But force me to ride in a bus with some no-names across the country for a whole summer? That’s absolutely insane.

Let me explain. My name’s Erin Scalding, daughter of Ann Scalding, who works as a tour manager for different bands. Every summer, for two months, she accompanies that specific band on their tour, to keep up with ticket sales, merchandise, yadda yadda yadda. Usually I stay with my lovely (insert sarcasm here) stepdad, George, who just happens to be an accountant for a living. But this time, due to my ‘scandalous’ behavior this month, she’s making me come with her to tour with this ‘mystery band’. Sounds fun, right? Not when you’re grounded.

I am only allowed to leave the tour bus to eat, take a crap, and occasionally get some vitamin d. I don’t get to go to any shows. Not that I’d want to. The only description of the band she decided to give me was, and I quote, ‘a boy band’. Ew.

“It’ll be good for you,” she said, not looking up from the papers she was shuffling.

“Good for me? I’ll go absolutely insane!” I shouted angrily, and she briefly glanced up from her work to give me a stern look. I glared right back and sank into the leathery business chair. For a tour manager, the formal atmosphere of her office seemed almost inappropriate.

Finally accepting my horrifying fate, I asked quietly, “When are we leaving?”

My mother’s mouth twitched slightly, as if she was trying not to smile at the fact that she’d gotten her way. “One week. Until then, no cell phone, no parties, no nothing.”

I groaned. “Will I at least have something to do on the bus?”

“I’m sure with 5 boys there’ll be plenty of trash to pick up.”

I was ready to scream. I mean, really? Not only was I confined to a tour bus, I had to clean up after 5 strangers, too?

“You’ve gone absolutely crazy, mom. Absolutely freaking crazy,” I mumbled before stomping out of her office and slamming the door.