The Roadie and Me

I tune my guitar and try to focus on the music, other than the girl who is on the couch. She's getting to my head without her even having to try. 

"Okay one more time from the top," I say and we kick into the seventh song.

Andy works quick. He is an insane musician. It's only been two hours and he's already perfected the first six songs off of the set list. Six more to go.

"Shit," David says as one of his bass strings snaps.

"And this is where we come in," the roadie with shaggy hair says. "You won't be doing any work for the bassist, but it's still good to know what to do in case something like this happens."

"Then who am I working for?" Isabelle asks following the other roadie who takes David's bass. 

"Stephen. They agreed it was best to have only one roadie for each member so they can know who to blame if something goes wrong."

"Great," She sighs.

"Thanks Johnny," David says. 

We go sit down on the couches while Johnny works on the bass. Isabelle Is carefully watching, then Johnny lets her do one. When she fails, they both laugh. They're lucky it's David's instrument their experimenting with. If it was Stephen's, one of them would be headless. 

Valerie comes to sit by me. She lays down and puts her head on my lap.

"Logan, I don't think it's right to have another girl on the tour bus." 

"Are you jealous?" I tease.

"Oh be quiet," she says and pulls my head down for a kiss. "A little," She admits.

"Well don't be."

"You don't think she's pretty?"

"Forget the looks, that attitude of hers makes her undesirable," I laugh.

"That's a yes," Valerie says. I lean down and kiss her again. And okay, maybe it is a yes. 

Once Johnny finishes with the bass we continue to work. We finish around two in the afternoon. Andy nailing all twelve songs in such short time amazes me. 

"That was amazing!" Alex shouts. "Maybe we could permanently replace Shane." He says. Only he laughs. There's an awkward silence before he finally notices how not funny his little joke was.

"Joking. I- uh. I didn't-"

"Next time keep your shitty jokes to yourself," I say. 

"Sorry," He says looking down at his shoes. "Look, to make it up how about we take the tour bus out for a test drive? We could go to a club and celebrate Andy!"

Isabelle fakes a cough to get Alex's attention. 

"Oh and Isabelle too!" He laughs. Her eyes light up and a smile stretches across her face as she laughs along with the others, except for Valerie who only rolls her eyes. 

We all agree and make our way to the bus. Valerie stops at the door. 

"Aren't you coming?" I ask. 

"I have work to do, but I'll catch you later on tonight. Have fun for me."

"Will do," I say. 

"But not to much," she says looking up at the bus window where Isabelle is visible. 

I roll my eyes and smile.

When I step into the bus I find everyone in the lounge area, some sitting on the long gray couch, and others sitting around the small table. Everyone's here except Isabelle and Ian

This bus is deffinatly an upgrade. The last bus we had only had regular bus seats. The walls of this one are a light green color, the old one had peeling white ones. I walk past the lounge area and small kitchen area into the narrow hallway like space of bunks. three on each side. There's nine of us, not including Valerie and one person who will drive.

"Alex?" I call out looking back into the lounging area.

"What's up?" He replies.

"Where exactly are the extra two people sleeping?" 

"There's a room in the back with two beds. Whoever claims it first, keeps it." He says. 

"I win," I say with a smirk. The others boo at me. 

I head back through the row of bunks and into the back room. I open the door and let myself in revealing the other winner. Isabelle has made herself comfortable on the bed on the far end of the small room. She's on her side, eyes closed. Probably woke up extra early and excited to meet a cool band, but instead she got me. What a let down that must've been for her. 

I walk out of the room and slam the door shut with no intention of being quiet. I hear her groan and smile at my win. 

The bus starts moving as I head back to the lounge. Ian must be driving since he's the only one still missing. Smart choice, that man is the best driver of the bunch. I sit on the corner of the couch that is divided into two parts. the long side with its back to the side of the bus with the windows, the other to the back of the wall that divides the lounge from the driver space.