Tour Stories

Andy opened one eye not entirely certain why he was awake. He couldn’t have been asleep that long. After the show they’d had enough time to shower and get really clean for the first time in a week and he’d savored every second of it. He hadn’t crashed in his bunk until almost two. Closing his eye he felt around for his phone and hit the button to check the time. The too bright numbers seared his eyes.

4:47 a.m.

Closing his eyes again he found sleep easy enough and started to settle back into a dreamless slumber.

Before he could get farther than a doze his mind woke him up again. Growling he lifted his head and rolled onto his back waiting for his brain to tell him why it wanted to be awake right now. They had to be up at nine for a very long day of press. Lying in the quiet bunk section his eyes closed and he started to drift off again when he heard the refrigerator close. Scrunching his forehead he listened harder for another sound. If it was just Jinxx grabbing water he was going to jam a Q-tip into his brain. No footsteps returned to the bunk section. Opening his eyes again he sighed and tossed his covers off cursing his rabid curiosity up and down.

Light shone under the door leading to the front lounge, but they never shut the door. Well, he didn’t, since Jake had a tendency to walk blindly toward the smell of coffee in the morning. Sometimes, if Ashley was awake too early and feeling feisty, he shut it.

Misery loves company.

Bracing himself for the assault of light Andy pushed the door open and poked his head into the lounge. He could hear the TV now, sounded like Spongebob, and quiet footsteps pacing up and down the carpet. That would be what had kicked him into wakefulness, the sound was just odd enough at ass o’clock in the morning to get his subconscious’ attention. Stepping further into the room he shut the door behind him and rubbed his eyes a couple more times to get rid of the sting.

CC sat on one of the kitchenette counters, not pacing but tapping his foot against a cabinet, a bottle of water in his hand. He stared unseeing at the cabinet across from him unaware of Andy.

“Chuppy?” Andy whispered, his voice harsh and low from a long night of singing. CC continued staring for another second before his head jerked around, he blinked a couple times and then gave Andy a lopsided smile. “Sorry,” he said just as quietly and the tapping stopped. Andy rolled his shoulders and walked over to him, “you okay?” he murmured when he was close enough. CC nodded, “thirsty,” he said absently twisting the unopened bottle in his hands.

Andy shook off more of the sleep clinging to him and looked CC over with more care. He had changed into pajama pants and a t-shirt but neither looked rumpled, his hair wasn’t wild with sleep, and his bloodshot eyes found a distant point on the floor to focus on. Andy slipped an arm around his waist making the drummer jump and then settle against him.

“Can’t sleep?” the vocalist murmured. CC’s shoulders jerked up and down once, “I’ll pass out in a couple hours. I’ll be fine.” The words were quick with his usual energy but Andy sighed, “Chuppy, we have to be up in a couple hours.”

“I’ll make coffee.”

“Did you have a nightmare?” Andy asked softly. CC’s body tensed and he almost dropped the bottle of water. He didn’t give any other answer. Andy stepped back and held out his hand, “you can sleep with me,” he murmured. CC shook his head, “I’m fine, I’ll just get some Red Bull or whatever. I’ll be fine.” He winced and shook himself like a dog.

“Chuppy, what’s wrong?” Andy stood next to him again and the drummer shrugged. “I’m just sore. I’m achy,” the soft misery in his voice chased away the rest of Andy’s sleepiness. Andy wrapped his arms around him pressing his cheek against the drummer’s shoulder, “come on, Chuppy, sleep with me,” he murmured, “I hate it when you don’t sleep, you’re miserable all day.”

“I’m okay,” CC insisted. Andy tightened his hold, “I promise I won’t let you have any nightmares.” It didn’t matter if he had to stay up until their wakeup call. “When’s the last time you slept?” he asked when CC didn’t respond. CC made a soft sound but didn’t answer. Andy pulled him off the counter and toward the couch. “Come on, I’ll stay up with you,” he said softly.

CC followed with shuffling steps and dropped onto the couch like a stone. His red eyes focused in the general direction of the television but didn’t track the movement of the bright sponge and starfish. Andy pulled CC against him, the drummer’s body slumped and a quiet whimper left him. He shifted around until Andy could wrap his arms around his shoulders and his eyes closed.

“No nightmares,” the drummer murmured. Andy leaned his head back and tightened his arms. “No nightmares,” he promised. “Get some sleep, Chuppy.” His own body was looking for sleep but when CC shivered Andy lifted his head and pulled the remote out from the cushions. Skipping through the channels he settled on a horror movie on low volume. CC gave a heavy sigh and his body melted against Andy’s when sleep finally took him.