Let's Try it Again

[7]

The tour was winding down, and the attendance for each concert was getting less, and less. The guys were getting discouraged, so Catie came up with an idea.

Since the next stop was the two girls home town of Phoenix, Arizona, She and Dick agreed that a decent home cooked meal, and comfortable beds, just might help with morale.

Somewhere near Nevada, Donnie, Jordan and Caite were playing a game of poker. Jon was asleep on the couch, with headphones on, and Joe and Danny were asleep in the bunks, and Amelia had fallen asleep on the other couch, where She had been watching them play poker and soon found her self growing sleepy.

While Jordan and Caite were busy "arguing" about who was cheating, Donnie looked over on the couch to see her curled up in a fetal position, her hand underneath her chin. She looked so peaceful and beautiful laying there. He continued with the game. A few minutes later, he heard her mumbling in her sleep, the mumbles getting louder. She whispered.

"Stop please, no..."

Donnie put his cards down and walked over to the couch and knelt down and gently shook her. "Ellis, wake up, you're dreaming."

She thrashed her head. "Don't please..I don't want to do this." She cried.

Donnie looked over at Caite, who gave him a concerned look. "Ellis, hey, Shorty, wake up."

Her eyes flew open and she found herself staring into a familiar pair of hazel eyes. "Uh?"

"You were having a bad dream."

She closed her eyes again, and Donnie went to get up but she grabbed his arm. "Don't go."

He looked at her, wondering if she was still groggy from sleep. "Ok." He sat on the couch and she positioned herself so her head was on his lap, her body turned towards him. She closed her eyes, as he began talking to Jordan and Caite, his deep voice lulling her to sleep and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

Donnie looked down at her sleeping and gently brushed a piece of hair out her face, his fingers touching her soft face. He was falling so hard for her, he hated to be the way he was with her, maybe if he understood why she was being the way she was. He could show her how gentle love is supposed to be. If only she'd let him in.

Several hours late, the tour bus rolled into Phoenix, the sun just setting behind the mountains. Amelia directed the bus driver the way to Gilbert, a growing bustling suburb.

The bus stopped at the end of a cul de sac, in front of a two story stucco house, surrounded by palm trees.

As soon as Amelia stepped off the bus, she heard her mom's voice. "Oh Amelia! It's so good to see you!"

Amelia wrapped her arms around a woman that was her height, giving her a huge hug. Upon arriving to Phoenix, she called her mom to let her know. Of course her mom insisted that the guys stay at their house, there was plenty of room.

"I've missed you so much mom." They entered the house and Amelia turned to the guys. "Mom, this is Jordan..Joe..Danny..Jon..and Donnie."

Kathy smiled and extended her hand. "So nice to meet you. I'm Kathy. Caite and Amelia have been huge fans of yours for so long."

Donnie was the last to shake her hand and smiled. The resemblance to Amelia was striking. They could have passed as sisters. The only difference, Kathy didn't have Amelia's beautiful green eyes. "Nice to meet you."

Kathy looked Donnie over for a minute, than smiled. "OK. There are two guest bedrooms up stairs and two down here. Freshen up, dinner's in an hour. "

Donnie watched as Amelia disappeared into the kitchen with her mom, trying not to think about tonight. At the hotel, they were always separated, walls between them. Tonight, they were going to be in the same house.

He took the time to look around the living room at the various pictures scattered about. There were a few wedding photos of her two sisters and brother. A few baby pictures, and Donnie smiled as he realized they were of her. Several photos of her and Caite through the years. From upstairs, Came the eruption of laughter.

He went upstairs and walked down the hallways, where more family pictures hung. The laughter was coming from a door at the far end of the hallway. He noticed the guys as he stepped inside the room. He let out a moan as he realized this was Amelia's  room. All over the walls, were pictures of the group. On one wall was a collage of him. He smiled.

"Nice."

Caite gasped and turned around. "Oh..how embarrassing."

Donnie looked around the room, getting a feel for her, trying to figure out this girl. On her desk in the corner of the room, was a journal and several notebooks.

Caite noticed Donnie looking at them. "She's a very good writer. Those are some of her creative writing. Her school asked her to submit some for the newspaper."

Above the desk was a cork board and taped around the material, were several pictures. They were of Amelia and several of her friends. A ribbon for track, student counsel and SAAD made up the rest of the board. Looking at her life, he vowed right then and there to break down that wall of hers and allow for her to heal.