***** “ What in the Hell possessed you to fly to Seattle, Skylee?” Kevin yelled when she walked into the room. It was after the concert and Kevin had sent someone to pick Sky up from the airport. “ Hi, Kevin,” She muttered sarcastically, her voice slightly cloudy from the tears that had fallen on the plane. “ ‘Hi, Kevin.’ Is that all you can come up with? You had me worried as Hell! How about an apology? Oh, but no, that wouldn’t be in you, would it, Skylee?” He began pacing and at the same while, chewing her out for ‘pulling a stunt like that.’ “ Ok, Kevin! I get the point!” She finally snapped and he turned to face her, his eyes blazing. “ How dare you. I don’t believe you, Skylee. What in the Hell has happened to you, huh? You need to realize that me and Mom are not going to be around all the time to clean up after your shit. You need to get over Dad! I know it’s hard but goddammit, he’s DEAD, Skylee!” Skylee felt the familiar tears and she closed her eyes to keep them from coming. “ I know that, Kevin,” She answered, her voice drained. “ Do you? Then why are you doing this? It’s not going to bring him back. Anything you do won’t ehlp the situation. Help yourself and let go, Skylee.” He finished angrily and there was a knock at the door. “ Hey, the busses are leaving.” Brian said, opening the door. “ You’re back,” He nodded and left. “ Get your stuff,” Kevin said harshly and she picked up her bag before following him. She could understand why he was angry as they walked outside and onto the bus. He took a seat on one of the booth chairs in the main part of the bus and Skylee walked to the back where she presumed Nick was. “ Hi,” She said cautiously when she got to the doorway to find Nick and AJ sitting, watching tv. “ Hey, you’re back,” AJ gave her a small smile, a weary one but Nick merely glanced at her. “ God. Are you mad at me too?” She asked Nick. “ What difference does it make, Skylee?” He said angrily. “ A lot of difference,” “ Not in my book. You don’t give a shit about anyone on this tour and why should you? You’re leaving the first chance you get, right? Who cares what I say and think, right, Skylee? It doesn’t matter if I stay up the whole fucking night and worry about YOU. As long as you’re doing what you want to do,” He turned back to the tv and AJ stood up, brushing past Skylee in the doorway. “ Nick- I wasn’t thinking-” “ I know, Skylee. No need to explain anymore because I don’t care anymore. Because I CAN’T care anymore.” “ You are being ridiculous,” “ No, you know what’s ridiculous? You listen to the Jackass AJ and leave. Don’t listen to what Nick says, your FRIEND who should hold a higher place than what your- your fucking enemy says. All he’s looking to do is to start trouble,” “ I don’t believe you. What a terrific friend you are, Nick,” She said disgustedly. “ I am a good friend, Skylee, which is why I spent my night worrying about where you were,” “ That’s not what I’m talking about, Nick! I’m talking about what you just said about AJ. He’s practically your brother but you talk behind his back? That’s not being a good friend. Why are you going to let me, some friend you’ve known for two years, come between your friend of eight years? You are a complete ass,” Nick stared at her before standing up and walking out of the room. Skylee sighed and dropped her bag onto the seat. She sat down and pulled out her headphones and sketching pad, needing to be distracted... ***** Skylee was flipping the channels on the t.v when AJ opened the door to the entertainment room and walked in. “ Can’t sleep either?” He asked, dropping onto the couch, a seat away from Skylee. “ Nope,” She answered, eyes still on the tv screen. “ Is everyone else asleep?” She asked, looking at him for a response. “ Yeah.” “ Why are you awake then?” “ Because I have too much on my mind to sleep,” He replied, meeting her eyes. “ I bet that’s why you’re awake at three fifteen tonight,” He endeavored, trying to get past that act of hers yet again. “ I guess you could say that,” More channel flipping. “ So did Kevin get really ticked off at you?” “ Yeah,” She answered, her voice easily mistaken for regret. Or maybe that was the undertone. “ Did he enforce any new rule upon you?” “ Not really,” “ So why did you go back home instead of running away,” “ I wanted to see my Mom.” AJ nodded and silence followed except for the conversation the couple in the show were having. “...Skylee, I know how you feel-...” He burst out, looking at her with a cross of reflection and intensity. “ What are you talking about?” She asked, sighing. “ Cut the bullshit. Be real with me for once. Who do you have on your side right now?” She looked away and he turned off the tv. “ Skylee...Don’t do this to yourself...I understand you’re hurting and I swear to you, it feels a lot better to get it out instead of dwelling on it on the inside,” She felt her eyes automatically tear up and she fought against them. “ Look, this is only the beginning of tour. There’s a long way to go...Maybe if you had someone to talk to, someone who wouldn’t judge you, it’d be better...” His words hung in the air and he pretended he didn’t see the stray tear that fell from her eye as she focused on the wall, looking as if she wanted to say something but uncertain she should. The silence grew and she finally met his eyes, looking at him as if for the first time again. “ Remember, the offer’ll always stand, Skylee,” He said quietly before standing up and exiting the entertainment room. “ AJ,” He reappeared in the doorway and she stood up before wrapping him in a hug. “ I’m sorry,” She said remorsefully when they pulled apart. His eyes searched her’s and he nodded. “ Don’t worry about it,” He looked at the clock. “ You should get some sleep, Sky,” He said, awkward with the situation. She nodded and swiped at her eyes. “ Goodnight,” She mumbled. “ ‘Night,” He watched as she walked away and he sat down on the couch, his whole bout of insomnia not going away for the night...
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