After her show had ended,Alyssa got her stuff and got onto the guy's bus right away. She didn't want to load at the same time as them, so the fans wouldn't see her. She could only imagine the assumptions they would make if they saw her getting on the same bus as them.
She went straight to the back, to lay down and watch a little t.v. while she waited for the guys. As soon as she layed down, her body relaxed completely. She tried to fight off the sleep her body was screaming for, but her eyes began to feel heavier and heavier.
"OK, whatever you say man. You know that batman could beat superman any day, anytime..." Chris said as they ran up the steps of the bus, the door shutting behind them.
"NO way man, never!" Joey held onto the seat as the bus started. Everyone laughed watching Joey get upset. Chris was only doing it to see Joey's reaction, and everyone knew it.
"Uh.. yeah sure whatever!" Chris yelled running down the aisle of the bus and to the back. He stopped running when he saw Alyssa sleeping peacefully on the couch.
"We got a run away diva back here, Lance you may want to check out the situation!" Chris's voice echoed in the small bus. everyone rolled their eyes, walking back to see what Chris was talking about. Justin's expression softened when he saw her, his eye brows furrowing up in confusion.
"She's asleep? I need to talk to her, and it's kind of important," Lance thought about it a moment before looking over at Justin. He was watching her closely, as her chest rose and fell in perfect rhythm. "Will you wake her up?"
"Look how tired she looks, I don't wanna..." Justin looked at Lance again before sighing and shaking his head. "Yeah, I'll wake her up." He knelt down beside the couch slowly. Her arm was hanging off the side and he took her hand in his rubbing it softly. He shook her shoulder lightly, watching as her eyes fluttered open.
"Sweetie, you fell asleep..." he pushed a stray curl out of her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. She gave a sheepish smile rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"I am so sorry, I was so tired," She stood up stretching her arms out.
"Lance, what was it you needed to tell me?"
"Umm ... yeah. Maybe we can go talk in the kitchen or something?"
"Sure," Alyssa smiled following Lance to the small kitchenette in the middle of the bus. A small table and booth were against the wall, by a window. She pressed her hand against the glass pane, the rain still pounding against it.
"I've thought about this a lot, and it was a very hard decision..." Alyssa focused all of her attention onto Lance. It scared her how serious he was being, and the look of disappointment on his face. "Its a hard decision to make just being your manager. But, me also being your friend...made it terrible," Alyssa was now on pins and needles waiting for him to actually say what it was.
"I trust you lance, and I know you will do everything you can to assure my happiness, and success," Alyssa patted his shoulder giving him a reassuring smile. he looked like he was in total discomfort from the words in his mouth, and that scared her even more.
"Yeah, yeah I would Alyssa. That's why I made the decision I made. Jive has given me an offer, and its one I cant refuse for you. This WILL help your career a lot..." Lance's eyes hit the floor, his hands wringing together.
"What is it?"
"They want you to be an opening act for Britney Spears..."
"You mean, leave this tour..." Alyssa swallowed hard hoping that this wasn't what he meant.
"Yeah, C Note the opening act for her show now, was signed for 6 weeks. Which ends next weekend. They offered the spot to you..." Lance tried to delicately explain things to her. "And with her type of audience, it will be better for you. Those are the people you target more."
"You mean guys?" Lance sighed, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I mean guys. Alyssa, this is a career move you have to take. I know you don't want to leave, but as a friend... I have to tell Jive you accept,"Lance closed his eyes as Alyssa slowly digested all the information.
"OK..." Lance ran a hand through his hair looking over at her downcast face. He didn't want her to be upset, but as a manager he knew he had to do it. he slowly walked out of the kitchen and opened the doors to the back room.
Closing the door softly, he was surprised when it creaked back open. Alyssa came in quietly sitting on the floor next to JC. The rest of the guys were on the couch, and Joey was layed back in the recliner.
"Oh hey Lys. Lance was acting all serious, we thought he had bad news or something..." Justin laughed tossing a piece of popcorn at her. She smiled a little, forcing out a small laugh. "So.. what was it? They doing something different with your wardrobe? Recording another song?"
"I'm leaving the tour. Probably in the next week or so..." Her words were soft, as she pulled her knees up against her chest, like she always did when she was scared or upset.
"WHAT?" She jumped as Justin jumped up looking at her, then Lance.
"We decided it was best for her career, to be an opening act for the Britney tour..."Lance said slow, and calmly trying to soothe Justin's now triggered emotions.
"No, we didn't, you did Lance..."
