Finding Grace

I was excited and nervous as we waited in the gravel parking lot for our tour bus to roll up.
Vale was standing impatiently, on the phone with CC, who was already on the road with Warped. They'd probably already performed once, but we hadn't been scheduled immediately so it would take us a few days to catch up with them.
Clarke was casually leaning against his car, texting, and I strolled over to him, leaning beside him. I cut my eyes down hastily, but he was slipping his phone in his pocket before I could see the name other then it started with C.
I sighed.
"Are you ever going to introduce us?" I grumbled, nudging him. "I wanna meet her."
"You might, eventually." Clarke shrugged, slipping his arm around my shoulder as I leaned on him. He was like my big brother, as if I didn't have enough already, and like Vale, he was always there for me. He'd stuck with the band even though he hadn't wanted to be in it initially, wanting to go to school to become some kind of professor or something.
He still could, technically, we would just have to find a new bassist, which is something I never wanted to do. We were family, and I didn't want anything to break us up.
"Look!" Nate suddenly burst, sitting up where he had been stretched along the hood of the car. "The bus! Finally!"
"We've only been waiting a few minutes," Vale sighed.
The tour bus turned into the parking lot, and our band manager grunted as he sat his suitcase down.
"All you kids got your things, right? Phones, chargers, any medication, laptops, tablets, makeup, clothing --- warm and cold --- snacks ---."
"Yes, Dad, we're all packed," Vale rolled her eyes. "Can we go now?"
Craig sighed dramatically. "You, Valerie, are the reason I didn't procreate. Yes, get on the bus."
Clarke and I grinned at each other, amd then we both took off.
"I call dibs on first bunk!" I burst, bolting onto the bus and diving into the one I wanted.
"Leah, come on, you got that one last time!"
"Early bird gets the worm!" I told him with a grin, and pulled my phone out of my pocket.
I dialed Andy. Maybe he wouldn't be performing right now. "Hey, babe!" he answered after a couple rings. "You guys on the road yet?"
"In a few. The bus just got here. We'll been there in a couple days."
"Cool. You'll love Warp," he told me, and I could hear the crowd in the background, almost drowning out his voice. He said something else I couldn't hear, and I sighed.
"Clarke, I will cut your fucking balls off!" Vale suddenly shouted. "Don't touch my fucking iPad!"
"Where's my phone?" he demanded. "What the hell, Vale? First you stalk me on my date now you freaking take my phone?"
Sweet goodness.
"I'll call you back," I told Andy, hearing him laugh. "Love you!"


~~~~~~~~~~~


"Babe!" Andys face filled up the phone screen as I Skyped him from the bus stop. I could see he was on the couch, and had his back turned to Ashley and CC where they sat behind him, and I think they were playing patty cake.
"Hey! We'll be there tomorrow," I told him brightly, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Are they playing patty cake?"
"Yeah, don't ask," Andy shook his head. "Some girl today was talking about it and CC got it in his head that he was a master of it and ---."
"BOOM! Who's the patty cake king now, bitches?" CC suddenly burst in the background, and Ashley had a chagrined expression.
I laughed, propping my chin in my hand. "How is it so far? I hate that we're so far behind!"
"You're not too far! And it's great. The crowds are really pumped. There's a couple haters here and there ---."
"Yeah, I already saw the video where you broke bad on someone on stage."
"Oh." he blushed slightly. "Well, kid was being an major asshole, he needed to be put in his place."
"Andy ---."
"I'm serious!"
"I know you are, I wasn't gonna say anything bad," I said hastily, seeing his brows draw down like when he was getting upset. "Really."
"Well, what time do you think you'll be here tomorrow?" he asked, changing the subject, and I relaxed.
"Um, probably noonish I guess. We're scheduled for around two so we want to get there pretty quick. I hate we're so far behind." I mumbled, knowing I was repeating myself.
I hated this; it was like we could go days having a good time, and then all of a sudden an off comment would escalate into a fight. I didn't even know what to say to him sometimes.
"It's not your fault," he said, glancing behind him as somone beat on the bus door.
"Yo, assholes, open up!" I heard someone shout, and I recognized the voice.
"Is that Ronnie Radke?" I asked, wishing Andy would angle his phone so I could see the door.
"Yeah. We were gonna do Asshole in a few, so I probably better go." Andy shifted. "I'll call you later."
"Ok," I watched sadly as his face disconnected.
I hadn't seen him in three days and I was missing him terribly, like way more then usual.
even with all his mood swings.
I mean, I missed him when I didn't see him, but this was like a "oh my god I miss him like crazy I'm gonna jump him in front of everyone" kind of feel.
Which was odd for me.
I frowned.
Dr. Roma had warned me mixing birth control with my anxiety meds would have some adverse effects, especially with me not having a period anymore, but I hadn't expected this.
At one point I freaked out because my shampoo bottle was turned the wrong way.
Who does that?
Or the time when I dropped my spoon last week and cried because I was going to have to get another one.
I sighed, tugging on my hair.
I needed to stop being so needy.
Or change my meds again because if I burst into tears on stage because I felt bad for some poor kid in the hot sun I would never get over it.

Notes

Stupid meds, right?
And whats up with Andy?
Who's Clarkes new catch of the week?
Vote and comment!:)