Rochester, On the way to Columbus, Ohio - 2013

The bus was still moving, radiating thrilled energy along the first mile. But after 6 hours into a drive you will get cranky in some way. RJ already passed out in his bunk, Josh was mending his bass guitar and I sat still, watching him with a beer in my hand.

Joe? Well, he was in the TV room, probably watching episodes of Game Of Thrones or something. Lately I don’t feel like we’re in a serious relationship. He’s still my best friend that will catch me whenever I fall, and he’s still there to give me a piece of advice if I get stuck somewhere. But I just don’t see him as a lover.

Well, serves me right because I was the one betting myself 4 years ago that I would find anyone to make me forget about Matt. Poor Joe. It wasn’t his fault. I feel ache for not returning his feeling because he’d liked me for so long. He knew me inside and out, and I knew him too well that we are so used to each other.

“So..what’s up with you and Joe, really?”

I glanced up from watching Josh’s fingers slapping on the thick strings to his gray eyes. He was always the one who can read my fucking mind whenever I feel sad or anguish.

“Nothing. We’re great.” Still, I lied to his face and denying what’s happening in my heart.

“Then why do I feel like you’re both not talking to each other?”

“Says who? We talked! Hey Joe! Joeeee! Can you come here for a sec please?”

I heard RJ grunted in his sleep when he heard my voice yelling throughout the bus. Seconds later Joe came to us, raising his eyebrows in a puzzled look.

“Can you come and sit here with me, dear?”

He frowned at me and tilted his head a bit before leaning down next to me and rested his back on the leather couch. He took the beer in my hand and drank it, while I flung my arm around his shoulder. Our eyes locked for a while and he threw that puzzled glare again.

“What?”

“Josh said that we’re not talking to each other. Are we?”

Joe shrugged and glanced at Josh who narrowed his eyes down to us. “Aren’t we talking right now?”

“Exactly, buddy.”

“AHA!” Josh said suddenly. He even put away his bass guitar to prove his invisible point.

“What?” I blinked at his sudden reaction while Joe casually put his arm around me too, mimicking my action.

“You just called him ‘buddy’. You guys don’t look like you’re dating.”

I swallowed deep and bit my tongue. This is getting obvious isn’t it? That I never had a serious feeling for Joe. It was just a mutual likeness for each other.

“Oh come on. She called me buddy all the time, right buddy?”

“Yeah, man. All the time.”

We stared into each other’s eyes, for quite a long time. Both trying to depict what is it that has been playing in our mind. I guessed he suspected something out of me but he played it cool and didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. And I thank him for that.

“Okay, while you two are having a flirty staring contest, I’m gonna crash. Good – evening to you.”

We didn’t acknowledge Josh leaving the space, especially when I felt Joe’s fingers slowly rubbing my shoulders and his face came near to mine. I didn’t move, I couldn’t. He stopped, our lips inches away from touching.

“Yeah we should really talk about us.”

Yeah we should. But not right now. His begging eyes and soft touches were making me confused. When his lips gently touch mine I granted him access, with his hand snaked to the back of my neck while the other rested around my shoulder.

Just this once, Lzzy. Just this once, forget what you felt for ‘him’ and focused on what you have now.

~*.*~


Wesley Edwards was her name, the tour manager that Atlantic Records sent and she had been standing in front of us, explaining about our merch and signing booth, our hotel bookings and the interviews that we’ll have to endure during our stay in Rock On The Range festival here.

Yes, Wesley is a girl. I was shocked too because her name resembled nothing womanly about her. But trust me, she is one pretty gal. Her hair although a bit disheveled, but it shines in a beautiful brown color. She wore glasses and she looked nothing near to a metal head.

“So, Lzzy. You’ll be rooming with me, since as you can see we both have vaginas.” She snorted and pushed the rim of her glasses.

I laughed shortly and exchanged looks with the guys. They stifled a laugh too but pretty discreetly.

“And the boys can split into two rooms, you guys pick your own sleeping partner.”

“Dibs on Josh!” RJ shrieked. I just knew that he and Josh would always be together. Well, maybe since they both are married and Josh was expecting a baby so they pretty much have the same head right now.

I looked at Joe who looked at me back. Usually, ever since we started dating he would be rooming with me but now with Wesley around, he had to share a room with the bus driver. I threw him an apologetic glance.

“Okay, here all your keys. Your bus will be parked behind the hotel and Ron, you’re gonna have to hang by until their schedule is over.”

Ron, the bus driver nodded. He had gotten used to this anyway.

“Alright. I’d say kick some ass out there, Halestorm!”

Wesley stretched out her hand and we joined in, piling our palms on top of each other. I feel like we’re about to get into a football match or something. This tour manager sure is interesting.

“Go Halestorm!” she shouted. And we murmured the same chant but not as loud because people were fucking watching. We’re not really used to these things and we never did any before-stage rituals. Maybe Wesley was starting to sport one? Jeez, I dunno.

We carried our luggage to the hotel lobby and guess who I bumped into.

“Well well well, look who’s here.”

“Hello Larry Jacobson, President of World Audience.”

“Charming Lzzy. Hello to you too. Look at you guys. All dressed up in fancy leathers, finally you made it through huh.”

“Larry, let’s just forget the past and concentrate on the present, okay.”

Larry shrugged and held up both of his palms. “Alright. If you say so. So who is this? Care to introduce me here?”

“Wesley, this is Larry. Larry, Wesley, our tour manager.”

Larry raised his eyebrows and shook Wesley’s hand.

“Hello sir. Nice to meet you.” Wesley greeted with the brightest smile on her face. I’m gonna have to guess that her personality is perky and gullible. But I shouldn’t judge people before I know them, right?

“Hello there. Sure you can handle these guys? I heard they’re quite a handful.”

I glared sharply at him. Way to scare a girl on her first day. But Wesley didn’t seem to take a note on that at all. She smiled brightly at me and the boys before replying.

“Oh I heard very differently. They’re quite easy to handle if someone doesn’t mess with them.”

We stared at her in disbelief. My God, I like this girl already! After that Larry smiled bitterly at her and gave a sudden wave at someone behind us. I turned around and from afar I can recognize that height, that long hair, that aviator and that dimpled smile.

He was towering over Larry, shaking his hand with his band mates beside him, sporting a set of sunglasses on their faces too. There was a new face I didn’t recognize. A skinny young man, probably three or four years younger than me and he wore a beanie over his head. That was probably their new drummer replacing Jimmy.

“Lzzy?”

“Yeah?” I glanced to my side and saw that RJ, Josh, Joe and Ron had gone to the elevator, leaving me and Wesley there.

“Let’s go. You guys have a radio interview before dinner.”

“Oh, okay.”

I clicked my heels away from the lobby, making sure that the Avenged boys didn’t see me but it was too late. Before I knew it, Matt was running up towards me, calling my name. I quickly went into the elevator and pushed the close button when the six of us were in, and I just watched as Matt’s face fade away when the elevator door closed.

“Wow. Still running away from him, sis?” RJ spoke after a moment of silence roamed between us.

“Shut up RJ.”

Notes

A/N: oh hehehe...comments guys XD!