Deanna's eyes threatened to close as she typed furiously on her laptop. She had to get her paper done. Her roommate was coming home soon, and she wouldn't be able to finish it then. She typed the last couple of sentences, got up from her chair, stretched and pressed print on the computer. Grabbing her pajamas, she walked into the bathroom.
As she was brushing her teeth, the front door downstairs opened, "Dee? Are you home?" A voice called.
"Up here, Shayna!" Deanna heard footsteps briskly run up the stairs and from the corner of the mirror, she saw her roommate come into view.
"Whatcha up to?" Shayna took her curly, brown hair out of its ponytail and turned to Deanna.
Deanna shrugged, "Getting ready for bed."
"Dee, it's only 8:30! You're going to bed at 8:30 on a Friday night?"
"Nothing better to do."
"Oh, yes there is," Shayna left and walked towards Deanna's room. Only slightly curious, Deanna followed.
Searching Deanna's closet, Shayna brought out a low-cut, silk red flowery top with a black tie that fitted just under the bust line and ties up at the back, along with loose, black kapris, "You're coming to a party with me. We've been roommates for two and a half months and I'm sick and tired of you moping around here all day. You hardly ever go out, only to class. You are coming with me."
"But, I really am tired, Shay," Deanna snatched the clothes and threw them carelessly back into the closet.
"We don't have to stay for too long. Come on, Deanna, loosen up," Shayna paused for a second, a thoughtful look on her face, "Hey, isn't today the day that John guy comes home?"
"It's Jack. And yeah, it is," Deanna's tone was surprised. She didn't think Shayna would remember about Jack; she had mentioned Jack maybe once or twice. She hadn't gone into detail, just said that they wanted different things, and broken up. She had forgotten today was the day the boys were due back. She hadn't talked to any of the boys since they went their separate ways.
"Are you going to talk to him?"
"I- I don't know. I haven't talked to any of the guys in three months."
Shayna grabbed the clothes back from the closet, "Alright, you can talk to him later, but tonight you are coming to this party with me. There is no way I am going there alone."
Deanna took the clothes but held them at her side. She tilted her head at her friend, "Isn't Richard coming?" She was referring to Shayna's boyfriend.
"He's working 'till 12 tonight. So get ready, and we'll be leaving in… 45 minutes sound good?"
Deanna sighed, "Fine, but if I have to drag your drunken body home again, I'm not going to another party with you," she shook her finger sternly at Shayna.
Shayna rolled her eyes and laughed, "Okay. You can call a cab."
Deanna laughed and pushed her friend out of her room, "I'll be ready in about half an hour."
-------------------------------
"Jack, we're here," Jack's friend and one of his band mate Alex's voice chirped through the bunk area.
Jack groaned sleepily, "Here where?"
"Here, Maryland. As in here, home," Jack's other band mate Rian's head popped through the curtain on Jack's bunk.
As soon as Jack heard the word home, he sat up and climbed out of his bunk. He had been counting down the days until he would be here since the end of last month. He wasn't saying he didn't like tour. He loved it. He just wanted to sleep in his own bed with privacy, see his mom, eat her delicious home cooking, and most of all see her.
