s m i l e

7: touring

Brendon's POV:

I knew I had to tell her sometime. Sometime soon. The date was coming up, and I couldn't just leave her here. She didn't have anyone to stay with, and it lasted almost four months! I'm going to tell her. Right now. C'mon Brendon. Go. Tell her.

It was about 7:00 pm, we had just finished eating dinner and Natalie had already made her way back to her room. I creeped up the stairs, trying not to make any loud noises. When I had made my way to Nat's bedroom door, I gave it a couple soft knocks before Nat opened the door.

"Hey, if you aren't busy, can I talk to you about something?" I asked quietly.

Her expression went from interest to worry. "I-uh, sure."

"Okay," I said as I sat down next to her on her bed, "I know that you are really new to all this, but this has to happen. The band is going on tour."

Her eyes widened, and I was sure she might cry. But then her expression changed. To one of confusion.

"Oh. A-am I going with you?" she questioned.

"I mean, I guess you kinda have to, there's not really anywhere else for you to stay. Unless you really don't want to go, then I can try to figure out something for you."

"I want to go with you." She gave me a small smile and grabbed my hand. I stood up, her doing the same. I pulled her into a hug.

"I can't wait to spend the next few months traveling across the United States with you, Brendon."

"Me neither."

Two weeks later

"Hurry up Natalie! We have to get on the bus!"

"I'm coming!"

"That's what she said."

"Ew, gross! I heard that Brendon!"

Natalie had burst out of her room when she had gotten the two bags and the suitcase she was bringing. I understand that girls needed their extra outfits and makeup and stuff, but Natalie wasn't like that. She didn't really like to wear makeup, and normally if she was sitting around at the house, she would just wear like a hoodie and leggings. She was very stylish though, and she did chose her outfits carefully, so I just assumed she was a little over prepared. It was her first tour, so I understand.

"Got everything you need?" I asked, scanning over everything she had brought with her. She had also grabbed her pillow and a little throw blanket that she nabbed from my room a few weeks ago. I don't know why, but she really liked that blanket.

"Yep," she said excitedly, popping the 'p', "I have blanky, I have my pillow, and my clothes and stuff."

"Okie dokie." I said, giving her a playful wink.

"Heyyyy, that's my thing, you stinker!" she said before hopping on my back. I turned her around and placed her back in her feet before tickling her before she told me, and I quote, to 'heck off'.

"Heck off?" I chuckled at her version of cussing. She always censored herself. "You know you are allowed to cuss, so be free child! You don't have to censor yourself."

"I know, it just feels weird." she said, scrunching up her nose.

"There will be times where you will really want to cuss on tour, plus I get crazy on tour, so it'll be fun. Here, try it. Right now. Just say it once. Whichever one you want to say, that way you'll get used to it." I persuaded.

"...Fuck." she whispered.

"Louder."

"Fuck." she said, raising her voice slightly.

"C'mon, louder."

"Fuck." Progress. She was now at regular speaking volume, but she had to really want to say it before I let her get away.

"Louder!" I said playfully.

"Fuck!" she yelled, giving me our signature goofy smile, as she really looked like she meant it.

"Do you feel better about it now?" I asked.

"Yeah. That was fun."

"Okay. Let's get this tour started!" I shouted, making Nat squeal in excitement.

We both grabbed our things and raced to the bus, and I won. I had significantly less stuff to bring with me, as I was a guy and I had already put most of my things on the bus. Dallon, Dan, and Kenny joined us on the bus later. We all slept when we got on the bus, but most of us woke up after a couple hours. It was the night before the first show, we were all to excited to sleep. We all decided- 'all' including me, Nat, Dallon, and Dan, because Kenny was trying to sort out personal things and Zack was trying to make sure everything went well tomorrow- to play a game of monopoly.

"Damnit!" I yelled as I landed on another one of Nat's properties. She was very obviously going to win, as she had both of the utilities, two of the train stations, and a multitude of properties.

"Fork it over, pretty boy." she said as she held out her hand, waiting for me to hand her another fat stack of cash.

"Why are you so good at this damn game?" I pouted as I handed her what little money I had left.

"I am excellent at managing my money." she said in a snooty tone.

"How. You are literally 13. There is no way." Zach said flatly. He was always very blunt, but you could tell that he cared for Natalie quite a lot.

"I've played this game a thousand times. I just have a good strategy, or maybe you guys just suck." she said with a smirk.

"I'm gonna get you for that." Dallon said, as he stood up to get Natalie. But by the time he had actually stood up, Natalie had already gotten up and ran to the back of the bus. Dallon chased after her and cornered her, but she slid between his legs and ran back to where me and Zack still sat by the game board.

"It's no use, she is literally Houdini. You can't catch her." I stated. Dallon simply ignored me. Nat gave me a smirk and a quick wink, which meant that she was about to either do something really funny or really stupid, another thing we had in common.

"Okay, I give up." she said, pretending to be worn out.

"Come here, you." Dallon said, walking towards Natalie. That's when Natalie, again, slipped between his legs. This time, she leaped onto Dallon's back and forced him to carry her around. If he tried to put her down, she would latch onto him tighter, but she finally let him escape when he wanted to sit down.

Tour hasn't even started, and I already know this is going to be the best one yet.