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

Chapter 24 Heart Of Gold

*James*

I get woken up right before people begin to filter in for the afterparty. Julia isn't in the room so she must be with Nate or Paul but everyone else is here. Including that guy, Noah. I don't know what I think of him yet. Or why he's even here. Is Nate looking for a new friend? Is he trying to set Trisha up? Because by the looks of it Trisha is VERY into Noah and Noah seems to be into Trisha. 

"It'll be nice to sightsee for a few days before we need to travel again." Casey chats it up with me and Jonah while we eat a little. She helps me with my food seeing as Julia is MIA but I can't help watching Trisha flirt with this guy. He's a good-looking guy so I'm not surprised but there's a tiny part of me that's a little jealous right now.

"Yeah," I answer with my eyes still on Trisha.

"You don't sound very excited." Jonah chuckles with a mouthful of food. This dude is always eating.

"It'll be great. I guess I'm just a simple man. I don't need to go off and see the world. I'm content in my own little world." I admit and look away when Noah puts his hand on Trisha's knee, laughing at something funny she said.

"Yeah, I understand that. Are you enjoying yourself or are you getting a little homesick already?" Casey asks and I shrug. 

"I don't know. Yeah. I miss my family. But I'm also having a good time too. The soccer game was fun. I guess I'm just more worried about Julia more than anything else."

"Tomorrow evening when we get back from the guided tour thing Jeremy said he wants to meet with Julia virtually. I'm going to bring up how he wants us to start detoxing her. Maybe she will feel back to herself once she's off this shit." Jonah looks up and stops talking as Julia and Nate enter the room now.

"Hey, great job out there. Thanks again for everything today. I'm probably going to head out soon but wanted to wait to thank you first." Noah stands up and throws his hand out for Nate to shake and Julia sits next to me.

"You're welcome to stay, have some food and stuff. Sorry no real drinks are offered. I can't be around that shit." Nate says to Noah.

"No worries, neither can I. Kinda how I lost the whole wife and kids and dog and house and....well you get the jist of it." He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks down at the ground.

"I get it. Well, man. It was great getting to know you today. You oddly kinda fit right in with this crowd of clowns. Seriously. Stay, get some good. flirt with that blonde a little." Nate ticks his head to Trisha who is sitting down now talking to one of his bandmates. Nate leaves to grab some food and Noah goes back to Trisha. But one thing I notice. 
His eyes are always on Julia when she's in the room. I don't even think she notices but I do and wonder if Nate does too by the way he glances over at Noah every once in a while.

Julia lays her head on my shoulder and yawns as we watch Casey put Maggie harness on to take the dog out one last time before we leave.

"I'm so tired." She whispers to me, not exactly enjoying the afterparty. I nod in agreement, ready to leave and go to the hotel. "And I'm a piece of shit."

"Huh?" I lift my head and look down at Julia.

"I've been avoiding Nate all day. You were sleeping but in the middle of the concert he sang a sad song and dedicated it to his dad. Apparently today is the anniversary of his father's death."

"Oh shit. I had no idea. I knew Hollan seemed a little off today." 

"Yeah. I can't believe I haven't been here for him today. You and I both know how hard this day is every year." She continues and I nod my head.