Carpe Aestatem (original)

Chapter 14

Sam

"You ready to rock and roll?" Dad asked as I sat down to breakfast, making oatmeal.

"As I'll ever be. I have my lucky drumsticks, and my percussion kit, I don't know what else I need."

"Your luggage, of course. And your passport." Michelle giggled. "And do you know who's bringing the acoustic guitar?"

"Jenna and Olivia are bringing the electric guitars, and Avery's bringing her bass. Do we still have that guitar from seven years ago when I started learning?" I asked.

"It's in the garage, why?" Mom replied.

"We said we wanted to bring an acoustic guitar in case we needed it. And each of us can only bring one guitar, and I'm only packing some of the essential percussion pieces I need. I didn't need to pack my entire drum kit. I just packed a few sets of my drumsticks, some shakers and a tambourine."

"We can quickly get the guitar out. I'll get it." Dad said.

Dad carried out the seven-year-old guitar. "It could seriously need some tuning." Dad said. "Why don't you finish your breakfast and then tune?"

I finished my oatmeal and grabbed the tuner. I replaced the tuner's battery, and tuned the guitar in 15 minutes. I brought the guitar to the front door. "Now that's done, I need to get dressed." I said.

My parents suggested that I eat breakfast in my pajamas because when I eat oatmeal, it tends to get messy, and I don't want to ruin the Demoni hoodie that Olivia gave me (and the rest of the group). She said it'd be easier for us to spot each other if we got separated and for the band to spot us at the arrivals area when we get to Ljubljana tomorrow afternoon. I had on my Eras Tour T-shirt, my adidas leggings, my Air Force sneakers and the Demoni hoodie. I then practiced on my drum kit for good luck. "Sam? It's only 6:45, please no drumming until 7." Mom said.

"I'm too excited, Mom! I don't know what to do besides come out here and drum," I complained."

I then headed back inside. And then my phone buzzed.

Carpe Diem Summer Tour

Jan:
Bojan lost his phone at the after party last night. We're trying to get him a new one before the show on Friday.

Jenna:
Oh no!

Kris:
But he made it back in one piece. He says hi. He's not in Finland with Jere, like a lot of people are saying. They were like tied to the hip since the Madrid pre-party.

Sam:
Jere?

Olivia:
Käärijä's real name. My mom met him.

Jure:
Was that your mother we spoke to? The one with a Northern Slovenian accent?

Olivia:
Yeah.

I then set my phone down and looked for something to remind me of home. All of us girls are doing that because being away from Nashville on a different continent for four months is a little daunting. Should I pack my yearbook? No. A pencil shaped like a drumstick I got at a music festival I performed at? No. I then looked at the charm bracelet Mrs. Moore bought all of us when she was in Italy for ESC in 2022. Mine had an 'S', a heart, a music note and a moon. "Hey Sammie?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah?"

"I got you another charm for your charm bracelet." She said.

The charm was a little silver drum kit. "Thank you, Shelly!" I exclaimed.

"I'm going to miss you. By the time you're home, I'll be in Michigan for my last year." Michelle sobbed.

"I won't see you until November." I cried.

"Tell me everything that happens."

"Even when we're six hours apart?"

"Even when we're six hours apart. Take this." She said, handing me a plush alpaca.

"You're making me pack Georgie?" I asked.

"Yep. She makes you feel more calm, right?"

I nodded. "Whenever you feel homesick, just hug Georgie. Or you can call me."

"I will."

"Sam? Michelle, we have to go!" Mom called.

I stuffed Georgie into my backpack, grabbed my suitcase and headed to the car. "You ready to go on what you've been waiting for for the past week?"

"Duh!" I said.