"She's goin to die LO. The doctors say its only a matter of days."
"Inessa, please say this is all some big joke to try to get me to come
home."
"Laura I wish I could. You don't know how bad I wish I could. She's gonna
die LO. She's gonna die."
"How soon will you be there?"
"I'm flying out in a hour."
"Get packed. I don't think I can go. But I'll try my best."
"I call you later." I clicked off the phone. Nobody had heard my
conversation, and as I was walking to my bunk Nick called after me.
"What?" I yelled.
"Meeting ding-dong!" He called, sounding annoyed. I ignored him. "LAURA
COME HERE NOW!" He yelled. I turned around.
"WHAT?" I yelled.
"You are in the group too. You can't just let Jenny and Stephanie do all
the work. All the people on this bus have to work together. Making it a true
family."
"Then I'll play the part of the rebellious daughter who knows she's
adopted because there's no way in hell she's related to the dick head dad
otherwise known as Nick." The others looked at me in shock as I ran back to
my bunk. I looked out the window that had been put in my bunk. I had
requested it because I love just starin' out the window. It had just started
to rain. The rain matched my mood. I picked up my diary and began to write.
Dear diary,
I can't believe I'm going to lose another person. This time it's one of my
best friends. Shannon has been my best friend for over 17 years. She had an
accident. She only has a few days left. I don't know whether to wait two days
and the when I get to Columbus to see her or to go now. I have to play the
Columbus concert. It's my home town concert. I need to call Rachel. I'll keep
you posted.
LO
I picked up the phone and called Rachel.
"Hello?" Rachel sniffed out.
"Oh Rachel!" I cried. I let the tears run freely now.
"Inessa told you?"
"Yea. Rachel I don't know what to do."
"What do you mean?"
"I know I have to play the Columbus concert. That's a must. But should I
skip the Cleveland and Cincinatti concert? They say she has a few more days,
but Doctors aren't always right."
"She's been asking for you." That did it. I was coming home.
"Rach I'm coming home."
"When?"
"ASAP. I have to go. I'll call you when we stop."
"K."
"Rachel?"
She sniffed
"I love you Rachel." I cried
"I love you too." I hung up the phone and leaned my head against the
window. I traced the water lines on the window with my finger. I cried
silently for an hour. Then I hopped down from my bunk and heard voices in the
back of the bus. I sat with my ear close to the door listening.
"I don't know what's wrong. She's OK one minute, and then super bitch the
next." Nick said
"Is it John?" Howie asked.
"I don't think so. Hasn't said anything to me about it. Maybe she's
homesick." Stephanie said.
"Maybe we should go check on her." Jenny asked
"Yea." I ran to my bunk. I lay down facing the window and pretended to
sleep. I didn't want their pity.
"Laura?" Jenny said, softly shaking me.
"What?" I said, trying to hide the sadness in my voice.
"Laura, it's just me and Stephanie. You wanna talk?" She asked quietly.
"Oh you guys. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"What for?" Stephanie asked
"I know I've been a bitch. I just miss home, and oh God." I started to cry.
"LO, what is it?" Stephanie pushed gently
"Shannon. She's gonna... die." I whispered the word die. I had lost a lot
of people. My dad when I was five, my grandpa not to soon after my dad died,
my Uncle, my Grandma, two of my three great aunts, all these people I lost
before I was even 12.
"Laura why didn't you say anything?" Steph asked in a whisper.
"I couldn't. I just..." I mustered the sobs that wanted to escape from my
mouth.
"Laura, can you play the concerts?" Stephanie asked
"I will play the Columbus concert. But I need to see Shannon now."
"OK. We'll re-schedule the Cleveland and Cinnci dates. We'll do them two
days before we leave Columbus. I'll have to check with Kevin..."
"I don't want the boys to know why." I said
"I'll have to tell Kevin. I'll tell him NOT to tell anyone else. Not even
the rest of the BSB. OK?" Steph said
"OK." Steph and Jenny left. Steph to talk to Kevin. Jenny to keep the
boys busy while Steph talked to Kevin and while I got fixed up. I went to the
bathroom with my make up kit. I didn't look too bad. My eyes were red and a
little swollen. I held a cold wet cloth over both my eyes. The swelling and
redness were gone five minutes later, and I put on my make-up. Then I heard
someone knock on the door.
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