Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 9 Safe Haven

*Trisha*

"We're keeping the plans. That's it. Everyone is coming on tour. Julia's not gonna get better at The Avalon with Jeremy there. She needs to get away." Nate declares while sipping his tea, finally able to talk.

Julia is at The Avalon with Jonah while the rest of us are having an agenda meeting together in the living room. I don't agree with Nate's decision to bring the tornado on tour with us but I don't have much pull. The decision is made and when Nate makes a decision, there's no getting him to change his mind.

"And if she flips out?" I ask. "What's the plan? You need a plan Nate."

"I'll handle it." Paul puts his coffee down and gives Nate a nod.

"Nate. You need to focus on performing. You can't be worrying about this shit." I ignore the bodyguard but he stands his ground.

"I said- I'll handle it."

"Listen, I know everyone is worried. But we're gonna be busy. And having fun. There will be no Jeremy Donovan. No Dave Brennan. Nobody to worry about, yeah? James and the dog is gonna stay with me so James isn't in a hotel room alone." Nate nods to James, reassuring him once again, he will be taken care of. Casey pats James shoulder. It's not James I'm worried about. It's Julia.

"Trish. I need this. You know I do. I'm thirty-one years old with heart disease. I don't know how many more tours I will be able to go on. This could be my last one and I know I'm being selfish. Believe me, I fucking know, doll. But I need Julia to come with me."

Emotion fills the room hearing Nate say this. I can't handle it when he talks like this because I know it's true. My eyes tear up instantly at the thought of losing my best friend.

"I just want to make the best of it, yeah? I've been waiting over two years. I'm excited." He nudges me and I nod while wiping my eyes. "Now go help Gallo pack."

"C'mon hotpants." I get up and James follows me. Once in his room I pull out the suitcase from under his bed and place it open on top of the bed. James sits down on the corner.

"It's really that bad, huh? Nate's heart.." James starts and I nod.

"I guess so. He doesn't like talking about it around me much so for him to mention it like that to everyone.." My voice cracks from me trying to hold back the tears.

"Hey, it's ok.." James sees me about to break down, stands and hugs me. "He's here right now. Try not to think too far ahead, ok?" 

James tries to cheer me up by rubbing my back. He's a great hugger.

"You know what? Lets not do this right now. I need to get out of this house. Wanna go grab a smoothie or something?" I pull away and he nods.

We ditch the packing and spend the morning together.

******

*James*

We ditch the packing and spend the morning together. Trisha buys me my healthy spinach smoothie and gets herself a fruitier one filled with sugar.

"You know that kinda defeats the purpose." I laugh at her pink cup of sugar and kneel down to pet Maggie. Trisha holds on to her leash while we sit at a picnic table in Griffith Park.

"There's fruit in there...somewhere." She raises her brows while taking a large sip of her smoothie. "Better than...what the hell is that again?"

"Kale-spinach." I fumble with my cup and Trisha helps me hold it. "Ugh. I hate when my hands don't work. Sorry."