The Dysfunction Of Evan: Books 1-3 Collection

36. Rebel

The plane landed. I looked out the window, it was insanely bright. I looked over at Jake, who was still snoring. I poked his shoulder. 

"Pssst. Jake." I whispered loudly in his ear. "We're here." 

I shook his shoulder and he jolted awake. 

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." I said with a smile. 

"Mornin', darlin. Did you sleep at all?" He asked.

"Nope. I've been fueling up on coffee for the past two hours, though. I'm gonna be a big ball of fun!" I said excitedly. 

"Oh joy." He replied. 

I turned my attention back to the window, searching for wild roaming kangaroos beyond the fence of the airport. 

When we got off the plane and found the the baggage claim, Luke was there waiting for us. I waved excitedly as Jake grabbed our bags. 

"You just got off a twenty two hour flight, how are you so bouncy?" He asked as I rushed over to him. 

"She's fueled up on lack of sleep and coffee." Jake answered. 

"Ah, yes. Her favorite cocktail." Luke replied. "I've got a car waiting outside." 

My face was plastered to the window as we drove to the hotel. Tom was already on set for the day. I was supposed to have come with him, but I had student orientation at King's University, so I came three days later. Luke tried handing me a packet of legal paperwork that I needed to fill out, but I handed it to Jake. 

"I'll look at it later. I'm in fucking Australia!" I said. I rolled down the window and stuck my face out. 

"Astrid, this paperwork needs to be filled out before the end of the day. You've put it off too long. If you want to move to London in August, it needs to be faxed home tonight." Luke said. 

"Okay. I get it. I'll fill out out later." I said waving a hand at him. 

"Luke, lay off. She's on vacation and she's someplace she's always wanted to be. Let her revel." Jake said, taking my side. I looked back and smiled at him. "I've got you."

"Hey, Rebel has a show here tonight!" I said, suddenly remembering. 

"I know. I already talked to them. You've got a stage pass waiting for you." 

I got wide eyed and flung myself into his arms. "You are the best!" I said, kissing his cheek. 

"I spoke with their manager, the band has no clue you are coming. It'll be a nice surprise for them." He said. 

"They probably don't even remember me." I said, returning to my seat. 

"No, they do. You made quite the impression on all of us." He said with a laugh. 

"Tonight? Ah, I think Tom had plans." Luke said, cutting in. "He said something about a surprise for her."  

"Yeah, this." Jake said. "As soon as I got things arranged, I called Tom." 

"Ah, alright." Luke said. His phone rang and he answered it. 

Once I was showered and settled in at the hotel, Jake came in with lunch. Real Australian barbecue. It was divine. The chicken fell off the bone and melted in my mouth, the sauce was tangy and filled with flavors I'd never tasted before. I was hooked. After lunch, I filled out the paperwork Luke needed.

Tom came in around two, looking exhausted. I was bouncing around  in excitement, telling him all the things I wanted to do while we were here. His responses were all one or two words, and finally, he put his hand on my head, kissed my nose, and locked himself in the bedroom, telling Jake to keep me quiet so he could nap. Jake's solution was to take me shopping for an outfit to wear to the concert.