Ross Gets Dumped (An R5 Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

A Brand New Day isn’t supposed to start with your manager boarding the bus to tell you that the opening band your label requested you to bring on tour is quitting said tour after tonight’s show, but that’s how mine started.

Of course my entire family, including the ones who weren’t around for my evil twin’s escapade yesterday, know that Line Drive is leaving on account of me. I’m not sure if it was Rydel or Rocky that told the rest of the family what went down, and it definitely doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we’re about to be out of an opening band and probably a record label, thanks to me.

Tour buses don’t run on music, so we have to make at least one gas stop between every two cities. Usually during those gas stops, I’m asleep or I pretend to be. I don’t think I’ve ever actually left the bus at a stop in the however many years we’ve been touring (when you do this for a while, you forget how much time has passed and life feels like one long string of experiences without any breaks in between).

Today I’m expected to Fix This by talking Line Drive into staying on the tour. I’m pretty sure my family won’t allow me back on the bus unless the band agrees. No pressure.

When I get to the Line Drive bus, I hear the strumming of a guitar coming from inside, accompanied by a whispered singer. It’s quiet but beautiful. I watched their set last night, so I know Sophia Lynn has an incredible voice, but this is different. The songs they sing are, I don’t know, lame. It seems like the three men in the band are trying too hard to be seen and they’re overpowering Sophia, who, in my honest musical opinion, is their most valuable asset.

Oh, I met a boy who said he loved me

Then found out he was with my friend

Why oh why does it happen this way

Tell me tell me what does it take

To be happy, just wanna feel something

Other than

Tear soaked and worn down

Yeah for once it’d be nice to be happy

Sophia sings the words like she’s already nominated for a Grammy. I almost don’t want to knock, but gas stops don’t last forever and I’m running out of time.

The music stops abruptly when my knuckles tap the door. A few seconds later, Sophia Lynn opens up and immediately spits “What do you want?”

Ignoring her, I step onto the bus. “That song was amazing. Did you write it?”

She stares at me like she’s trying to decide if I’m going to patronize her the way I did yesterday. She either decides I’m here offering peace or that she doesn’t care, and says, “Yeah.”

“I really like it. Why don’t you guys play that in your set?”

Sophia Lynn laughs. “The guys don’t let me write our songs. They think they’re too girly.”

“But you’re a girl…” I point out.

“No shit Sherlock!”

“Well, for the record, I think the song is awesome.” There’s an awkward silence, so it’s now or never. “Sophia Lynn, I…”

“Just call me Sophia.”

“What?”

“I don’t know why I told you my name is Sophia Lynn. I hate going by my full first name. I usually just go by Sophia, but meeting you guys made me nervous. And then you were…”

“An ass?”

She smirks. “Yeah, you were an ass.”

“I know, and I am so sorry. I wasn’t myself.”