“So my parents talked to your parents and they said that it would be up to you and well…I want you to come back on tour with me,” Taylor sighed with his long body sprawled out on the couch of the tour bus with the phone held to his ear.
The female voice on the other end of the phone laughed, “I don’t know…what about school?”
“By the time we get to Tulsa you will be out of school, and we can get you home schooled for the fall,” By now Taylor had his fingers crossed and his eyes closed waiting for her reply.
“How much of the tour have I missed already?” She asked.
“None of it, we haven’t even started, you just missed promo stuff, but that’s all over now,” Taylor told her.
“Hmm…to go on tour or not to go on tour,” She played around with the idea. The suspense was killing him and she knew it. “So what time will you be here to pick me up?” She asked.
“You mean you’re coming?” Taylor asked smiling, he was starting to doubt her answer since she had waited so long to reply.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” She laughed.
“YES!” Taylor exclaimed.
“I miss you! You need to hurry!” She laughed.
“I miss you too Jen,” He sighed closing his eyes feeling the steady motion of the tour bus, he knew it was night- around 11 and they were on the highway.
“Hey Tay, move! We wanna play video games,” Zac ran in hand in hand with a giggling brunette that stood at about 5’6”, 115lb with blond highlights and hazel brown eyes. Zac was smiling, something that before he had met this girl he hadn’t done a lot since Ashly had left. Her name was Marissa Bray. They had met during a promo concert in Ontario, Canada. Zac claimed it was love at first site…and asked her to join her on the tour, she of course – said yes.
Taylor sighed, he hadn’t met much of Marissa but from what he had known of her he liked. She was nice…and she was loud like Zac. Potentially his next partner in crime, but he knew one thing- when they arrived in Tulsa…it wouldn’t be good.
“Have fun,” Tay replied rubbing his tired eyes, he was ready to go to bed.
“Night Tay,” Marissa smiled, she was already in her pajamas.
“Yeah, good night Tay,” Zac waved to his older brother as he got out the Playstation controllers.
“Good night,” Taylor gave them a hopeless smile. He wanted to get home…and see Jen, hang out with his friends, sleep in his own bed for a night; he just wanted to get home…Walking to his bunk he passed Ike typing on his laptop.
“Going to bed already Tay?” He asked.
“Yeah…” Taylor scratched the back of his head and stretched out yawning. His hair had been cut short…he missed his long hair but he liked that hair cut better.
“Get a hold on Jen?” Ike asked taking a second to stop typing and glance up at his brother.
“Yeah,” Taylor smiled drifting off a bit.
“And…” Ike urged him to continue.
“And she’s coming,” Taylor shrugged and smiled.
“Good,” Ike seemed satisfied.
“What about Carolyn?” Taylor yawned.
“I talked to her- before I could even finish answering the question she screamed yes,” Ike laughed recalling the memory of what had happened earlier that afternoon.
“I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be just like old times,” Taylor laughed.
Just then Zac and Marissa’s voices interrupted their conversation from where they were playing video games.
“I BEAT YOU ZAC!” Marissa laughed.
“No way! I beat you!” Zac disagreed laughing.
Taylor and Isaac looking at each other simultaneously.
“I’m not sure if it will be like old times,” Ike sighed.
Taylor took a seat across from Isaac in the booth his brother was sitting in.
“He didn’t bother to invite Ashly did he?” Taylor asked.
“He lied to us Tay, you don’t really think they have talked since her dad died do you?” Isaac kept his voice low so Zac wouldn’t hear them.
“I feel bad,” Tay said running a hand through his hair, “We couldn’t even come to the funeral…”
“I feel bad because she meant a lot to Zac and he just pushed it away,” Ike raised his eyebrows. Taylor stuck his head out a little to see what was going on further down the tour bus, Zac had Marissa pinned down tickling her.
“So much for the video games,” Taylor rolled his eyes.
“Guess they kicked you out for a reason,” Ike said starting to type again.
Taylor ignored the comment, “What’s this?” He asked picking up a couple of sheets on typed up paper.
“The final set list – unless we decide to add to it,” Ike told him.
“Whoa…we’ve got a long concert,” Taylor nodded skimming the songs, “I like it.”
“Yeah, I think it’s cool that we’ve got new song, old songs, and we are doing covers,” Ike nodded.
“What happened to Madeline? I thought that was going to be right before ‘Thinking Of You’?” Taylor asked.
“Zac called management and made them change it,” Ike bit his lip looking up at his brother.
“Not even for the Tulsa show?” Taylor yawned raising an eyebrow.
“Not even for the Tulsa show.” Ike said.
“Ashly will be there though…you know she will,” Taylor replied.
“It’s not like we can do anything about it,” Ike shrugged shutting down his laptop.
“Well, I’m going to sleep,” Taylor shrugged getting up and getting into his bunk letting the steady movement of the tour bus rock him to sleep like it had done so many times before…