Chapter 9
Melissa:
It's our second full day on the tour. I never realized how much work these guys put into their careers.
Just then my cell phone rang. "Hi Melissa. It's Scott. Is Durbbie there?" he asked. Well, he sounded sober enough…
"Sure," I said. "Hold on." I turned to Durbbie and handed her the phone.
"Yeah?" Durbbie asked in her usual tone. I heard Scott yell and the conversation escalated from there. The screaming got to bad that Durbbie had to leave the bus. I offered to go with her because she was obviously upset, but she shrugged me off in the usual Durbbie fashion.
AJ came up to me. We haven't exactly been civil to each other lately. "Hey," I said quietly.
"Hey."
There was an awkward pause. "Listen, um, I believe you," I said.
"About what?"
"Scott."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you to being with," I said looking at him.
AJ smiled and put a reassuring arm around me. "It's OK."
I looked back out the window. "I just hope she'll be all right."
And, right on cue, Durbbie came storming back onto the bus.
Durbbie:
"I'm going for a run!" I called angrily as I changed into my shorts and blue running shirt. I clashed something fierce. Screw it.
Melissa knew me better than to get in my way. "Be back soon," she warned as I exited the bus and hit the open pavement.
"Mind if I join you?" AJ asked as he started jogging next to me.
"Whatever," I said. Whenever I go for a run, I'm frustrated and don't want to deal with anybody. So AJ was basically on an impossible mission. "You still here?" I asked after about five minutes."
"Right next to you," AJ responded.
"You're gonna have to do better than that," I said as I took off towards a park.
"Not so fast," AJ said catching up to me. "Let's take a rest. How about that?" he asked.
Well, I WAS getting a little winded. We ran over to an empty bench and I promptly crashed on top of it. I'm so clumsy.
"So," AJ started, "you want to talk about it?"
I shrugged. "Not really."
He looked at me with squinted eyes. "If he's doing all that stuff to you, why do you stay with him?" AJ asked. OK, how'd he find out about all the stuff that happened back home?
"Love," I replied simply.
"Is it really?" AJ asked with raised eyebrows.
OK, somebody's crossed a line. "Tell the others I'll be back later," I said getting up. "I just want to be alone."
"No you don't," AJ told me. "Why don't you talk to anyone about this?"
"OK, um, no?" I asked sarcastically. "How about you not telling me how I feel?"
"I was just trying to help!" AJ said. "Why won't you let me?"
"Because it's not your problem!" I said back heatedly.
AJ:
"Maybe it's about time I MADE it my problem!" I waged back. I can't believe I'm yelling at her.
Durbbie scoffed. "Maybe you should keep your nose out of it!"
I don't believe I'm in the conversation to being with… "Maybe you're wrong!"
That took both of us totally by surprise. She ran her hand through her hair and shook her head in disbelief. She glared at me with anger in her blazing green eyes, turned, and ran.
What have I done?! "Durbbie!" I called. "Oh come on!" I said running after her. "I didn't mean it!"
But it was too late: Durbbie was gone.
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