Something's Gotta Give

CHAPTER ONE - BELLA

𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁𝒶

"This is your tour bus girls," Lindsey, my and Addie's manager explained as she led the two of us onto a decent sized bus. "Since there's only two of you, you have to share with Bea and Demi, but I'm sure you'll all get along. They're pretty chill."

I nodded along with Addie, watching as the slightly younger girl looked around with an expression of pure, open curiosity. 

"Are we allowed to like... unpack our things?" Addie had always been the more vocal of us two. While we're both considered pretty quiet, I wouldn't mind just not talking at all. Hell, I probably wouldn't talk to anyone besides Addie and my mom ever if this line of work didn't require it.

"Oh, of course sweetie. The bus is free rein. Just stay out of other people's stuff, you know, regular housemate rules," Lindsey explained, her smile still present as she waved her hand at Adelaide.  

With newly granted permission to roam about the bus, I wandered over to the bunks. There were three rows of bunks on either side of the wall and a small, hallway-esqe space in between them. Looking around and surveying each bunk, I chose a bottom one furthest from the entry-way to set my belongings on. 

Looking back at Addie, who was also looking around the small area at the bunks, I smirked. "I got the best one!" I cheered teasingly before walking over to a more open space as the walls felt just a bit too close. 

"How ya feeling, Bells?" I looked up at the sound of Addie's gentle voice. "Feeling any better now that you're on the bus?"

I shook my head slightly, sitting down on a black couch nearby. "I still feel nauseous and I don't think bein' on a bus is gonna help much," I explained, my voice still raspy from when my nerves had literally made me sick earlier. 

"Yeah, we'll be fine." It was obvious to me that Addie was trying to push her own feelings of uneasiness away for my benefit, and while I'm grateful to her I instantly felt bad. 

"And you? You're not exactly the epitome of calm either," I stated, knowing that it wasn't good for Addie to start forcing her feelings away, especially when we're about to be away from home for so long.

"Oh," she mumbled quietly, glancing down at her trembling hands that she had tried to hide. "You noticed?"

"Of course I noticed, Ad, you're practically my sister, I'm always gonna notice."

"It's just . . ." Adelaide paused for a second. "I'm excited Bells, I really am. I'm just also petrified. You know what I'm like with crowds and noise — just — what if I'm not good enough? People will probably like you more than me, and that's fine, but what if they force me out or what if they —"

I cut Addie off, grabbing her arm to get her to look at me. "No one's gonna force you out, Ad. And no one's gonna like me more than you either. We're a set pair, we come together or not at all. We're gonna kill every show, together, just like always," I stated, trying to encourage both of us, God knows going on tour isn't exactly the most peace inspiring thing ever. 

"Are you sure?" Addie asked as she anxiously fiddled with her hands and I nodded.

"Positive."

As Addie went to say something in response, I heard footsteps and semi-loud voices that made the other girl pause. 

"Anyone in here?" Almost as soon as I heard the voice echo through the tour bus, I shifted over closer to my best-friend/band mate and leaned into her causing her to rub the side of my arm soothingly. I know I'm supposed to be the older, more mature one, but I just can't deal with this today.

"Hi," Adelaide greeted, still rubbing my arm in a comforting manner as two girls appeared in our line of vision. One was around mine and Addie's age while the other looked to be in her early twenties. Demi and Bea, the people we're sharing this bus with.

"You must be our busmates!" The older of the two girls, Demi, grinned, holding out her hand for Addie and then me to shake politely.

"Yeah, I'm Ad-Adelaide. Addie for short. This is Bella," Addie introduced us and I shot her a smile, grateful that she hadn't made me say anything.

"I'm Demi. Full name Demetria, but if you address me as such, I will break your knees. Both of them."

Addie chuckled softly. "Good to know."

"Since we're presenting full names here, I'm Beatrice. Everyone calls me Bea. You could call me a brick and I'd probably respond anyway."

After everyone had been introduced, Bea came over and sat next to me, her smile never leaving her face.

"So Bella, yeah?" I nodded in confirmation and the girl continued. "Are you okay? You seem kinda quiet."

"I-uh, yeah. I'm good, just a bit nervous about being so far away from home," I explained, wincing to myself when my voice stuttered out painful. 

"And where exactly is home?" Bea questioned softly, obviously trying to make me feel more comfortable around her.

"Chicago, Illinois." 

"Nice! I'm from New Jersey myself," The blonde explained before getting serious again. "But seriously, if you need anything, I'm here, 'kay? I know it can all be super stressful, especially when you're starting out, but Demi and I, we're both here for you guys."

"Thanks."

"Hey guys — wanna play some ice breaker games tonight?!"

♡♡♡♡

"Okay, Bella. Your turn." Bea announced, a smirk on her face as she held her phone up, reading a question off of the screen. "If you had an endless supply of food, what would it be?"

I felt my face heat up as soon as I realized what my answer would be, and when Addie saw my red face, she shot me a knowing smirk and started giggling to herself.

"I know it's not food but... tea?" My voice came out in a questioning tone and everyone burst out laughing. 

"Tea?!"

I just smiled, my face still red, and as the game continued, I continued to snuggle up next to Addie, running my fingers along her arms and back. There was a fluffy blanket over the two of us, and while it was making me hot, especially with the long sleeves I was wearing, but there wasn't really much I could do about it. I was always hot and Addie always cold, and so while I did feel really warm, Addie's cool skin pressing against mine from where her head was resting on top of my neck was also helping to cool me down at the same time.

"Your turn, Addie," I giggled as I was pulled out of my thoughts and when Bea passed me her phone I read off the next question. "Who was your favorite superhero when you were little?"

"I mean, I literally wanted to be Ben 10 when I was about eight, but I think my favorite superhero was Spider-Man."

"Bea, what's your spirit animal?" Bea smirked mischievously before she even answered, and instantly I knew her answer was gonna be some kind of smartassed remark. 

"A bumble-bea!" The girl cackled, grabbing her stomach as she laughed.  "Just kidding. Maybe like. . . I don't know! A koala! They're cute, and lazy, but they have claws and will fight, just like me."

"Demo, Demi, Demogorgan!" Bea announced, earning a strange look from Demi, who raised her eyebrows confusedly at the girl. "If you were an ice cream, what flavour would you be?"

"You've played Dungeons and Dragons?" Demi asked, smirking cheekily. "Nerd alert! I would totally be raspberry ripple though."

"What the heck is raspberry ripple?" I questioned causing Demi to send me a playing offended look.

"Only the best ice-cream flavor, like EVER!" 

We continued late into the night, the bus filled with the sound of laughter and screaming as we all became closer and got to know one another. Maybe, this tour wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.