Chapter 8
Weeks passed, and everyday Nick and I grew less apart.
A.J. had become my
new friend, so sweet and kind, while Nick had
PMS all the time. Krystal and I
talked every night before
going to sleep, and the tour bus was becoming my new
home…though I didn't mind. A.J. was on top, I was on the
bottom, Krys was
across from me, and Nick was across from A.J.
Every night we would have big
conversations about anything,
the 4 of us would just talk. Brian and I talked
a lot too, but the second
week we were on tour he brought his girlfriend on and
we haven't really
seen him much. Kevin and I talked whenever he or I had a problem,
he was so understanding and so cool to be around. Howie and I always
kid
around like we hate each other; he's so silly!
"So okay, Nick, A.J.,
what is up with this photo shoot?" Krystal asked
showing me the picture
as I busted out laughing.
"You guys look so gay!" I said in a fit
of laughter.
"Ha ha, we had to, it's not optional, you would know that
if you
had the looks," A.J. said as I stuck my tongue out at him.
"You
guys we're going to a truck stop!" The bus driver Garry said
as we leaped
up. We loved truck stops, we would always get
up to look at all the goofy stuff
you could get for the road.
"Come on Krys!" I said as we walked
inside. The restaurant
was packed, but the store next to it was empty, so we
ran over there.
"This is so cool look at this!" Krystal said holding
up a cool-looking water gun.
"Get me one!" I said as Krystal took
two from the rack.
"Oh I want to give Nick some of this," I said
holding up pepper gum.
"I would love to see the reaction on his face
if you buy that!" Krystal said as the guys
entered the store.
"Shh,
hide it under the water guns," I said handing the pack to her.
"Hey
A.J., you should get some of these shades!" I yelled to him holding
up clown
glasses.
"Hey Maranda get this it might help your mouth!" He said
holding up tape.
"Forget you!" I said with a laugh.
"Maranda?"
Krystal asked dragging me to the register.
"Do you have a thing for A.J.?"
"NO!"
I yelled as everyone looked at me. "Sorry," I said lowering
my voice.
"A.J. and I are just really, no were best of friends is all."
"What
about you and Nick?" She asked as the guy handed me the bag
of stuff.
"What
about it? He hasn't acted the same since we left, so I'm trying
my best to keep
myself from going home, is that so wrong?" I asked
as we got back onto the
bus.
"No I guess not, it's just so weird to see you and Nick no goofing
around as much anymore," she said lying on my bed beside me.
"Believe
me, I know. I miss Nick a lot, but A.J.'s there for
me. I never knew A.J. was
so caring," I said with a sigh.
"So you don't like A.J.?"
"Nope,
best friend promise," I said as I took the water guns
out of the package.
I filled them up with water and handed Krystal one.
"Alright people let's
move!" Garry said turning back on the bus.
"So what's up with you
and Nick?" I whispered.
"He still kisses me and holds me and stuff
but…it seems like
he's not really there," she said as I cringed inside.
I am best
friends with Krystal so I am there for her, but I do love Nick,
and
the thought of him kissing anyone but me just…killed me inside.
"Hey
you guys I'm going to bed," A.J. said sticking his head from above.
"Goodnight
A.J.!" I said as we kissed each other's cheeks.
"Goodnight A.J.,"
Krystal said waving as he got into bed.
"Nick are you alone up there?"
Krystal asked as Nick rolled over to see us.
"Nah, I'm tired, goodnight
guys," he said rolling back over. We looked at each
other and shrugged.
"Goodnight!"
We both whispered.
"I guess I'm turning in too," Krystal said hugging
me before hopping
into her bed. Everyone's curtains were shut, an immediate
'I'm
asleep' sign. Except Brian's…
I tiptoed my way to his bunk and whispered,
"Hey!"
"Hey Maranda!" He whispered patting a spot aside
him. "What's up?"
"Everyone's asleep, are you tired?"
"A
little, but I'll talk to you, I love you that much!" He said with a grin.
"Where's
Annie?" I asked referring to his girlfriend.
"She's below us,"
he said shutting the curtain. "What do you want to
talk about?"
"You're
Nick's best friend right? What's bugging him?" I whispered as
Brian sighed.
"He's
got a lot on his mind lately, he's been questioning everything."
"Why?"
"I
don't know, why what's wrong with you two?" He asked as I
played with his
blanket.
"We barely talk anymore, it makes me wonder why he even invited
me to come with him and Krys."
"Don't worry about it,"
he said hugging me as I sighed.
"Maybe I should just go home," I
said as Brian shook his head.
"Believe me, that would definitely make
things worse."
"Why?"
"Well Krystal will have no
one to talk to, Howie won't have anyone
to hate…"
"I heard that!"
Howie said as I giggled.
"Sorry!" Brian whispered. He spoke quieter,
"Kevin won't have
anyone to lecture, I won't have anyone to talk to when
I'm the
only one up, A.J. won't have anyone to goof around with, and Nick
won't
be able to see his best friend."
"The way things are going I don't
think I'm his best friend anymore," I
said with a sigh.
"Believe
me, you are and so much more," he said as I shrugged.
I kissed his cheek
and sighed.
"Goodnight B," I said with a slight grin.
"G'night
m'lady!" He said in his southern accent as I smiled.
I hopped down from
his bunk and hopped into mine, shutting the curtain
and pulling my poem book
from under my pillow. I took the pen
out of the spiral, and began writing:
I
never thought love would be this hard;
Make-ups, break-ups, everything's been
bombard.
I miss his smile, his laugh I crave;
But I have to be strong, I must
be brave.
I love him with all my heart;
I always have from the start,
Hopefully
one day everything will come about,
And our love will be aloud.
I never
thought I would see the day when someone found out
about my poem book, no one
ever knew about it and I liked it
that way. But when you live on a bus with 8
other
people, secrets become revealed.
