The Divine One- A Perrentes Love Story

-8-

I stared at the top of Andy's bunk, my heart in my stomach. He lay on his side next to me, facing the wall and fast asleep.

"Freak accident on I-7: semi jackknifes, causing heavy traffic along the highway..."
The television across the room softly relayed the news, sounding empty and isolated in the otherwise silent atmosphere.

The grey, drizzly morning had consisted of me, laying here next to Andy, unmoving. I hurt all over.

I knew what had happened the previous night, and I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to remember.

What am I going to do? I thought.
My friends surely hated me, so I obviously couldn't go back to our bus.
I couldn't stay here and face Andy, either. He had become my last resort, my drug.

There was nowhere for me to go.

So, I thought, I'll go away.

I silently rolled out of the bunk and landed softly on the floor, picking up pieces of my clothing that had been strewn across the floor. I had to go get my things from our bus, so I quietly dressed, careful not to wake Andy or any of the others. Maybe I could make it in and out before anyone woke up.

We were parked in a grassy area, towards the outside of the circle of buses and equipment trucks.

I stepped softly off of the bus and into the cold, soggy grass. The air was wet and chilling, and a thin layer of fog hung low over the vehicles. It must have been about six thirty, as it was still slightly dark.

I wandered aimlessly into the circle of buses, surveying the side of every one for that familiar world tour symbol that I knew so well. All I wanted was to get my stuff and go.

I didn't know where I would go or how I would get there. All I knew was that I didn't want to be here anymore. I couldn't face the disappointment in my brother's eyes or the fear in my best friend's.

I had made a complete circle around the clump of buses, wandering for about twenty minutes by now.

Where could it be? I wondered. The murky sky had brightened into a soft silver, and fat, sparse drops of rain began to fall.

My head ached, and I sat on the sopping ground, frustrated at my inability to find the bus.

I could call Tim, the bus driver. True, Tim probably didn't know what was going on between us. I pulled out my phone, unlocking it.

Mom (14 missed calls)

"What?" I muttered to myself. Sure, Mom called me on tour, but not fourteen times in a row.

I realized then, that it must have been important. My heart sank.

Vic must have told her that I'm gay.

My phone began to buzz again in my hand. Mom. I knew that I had to face her eventually, and she deserved answers.

Nervous, I tapped answer and held a shaky hand up to my ear.

"Mike!" My mom sobbed into the phone, sounding exhausted and scared.

"Mom, I know you probably already know, and I just want to say that I love you and the last thing I want is for you to be disappointed in me and-"

"Mike, baby, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"Uh... no, no I'm not hurt. Mom, what are you talking about?"

"Niño, what are you talking about? I've been trying to get ahold of you all night! Is everyone okay? Is nobody hurt?"

"Mom, I have a feeling we aren't on the same page. What happened? Why would I be hurt?"

"Baby, the accident- Oh God, you've got a brain injury." She began to rapidly pray in Spanish.

"Mom! Mom, no..." She started to sob. "Mom, what accident?" All I heard from the other end was wailing.

I hung up. Something was off. Something was very wrong.

It was eerily silent as I weaved my way through the circular maze, breaking into a run.

I finally came to Andy's bus. I had to find out what was going on. I climbed on, suddenly not caring how much noise I made.

"...Our very own Lane Adams at the scene of the crash- Lane, what's it look like out there on I-7?" The television was significantly louder, and as I looked around, everyone on the bus was awake and staring intently and silently at it.

"...Well, Rob, it's not looking good over here. Scores of emergency vehicles have arrived at the scene and are still trying to extinguish the fires. Officials say that a minor explosion was caused when the coach bus flipped over the jackknifed semi. The state coroner has confirmed that the driver of the bus was instantly killed on impact. Still no word on the conditions of the other three passengers. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, although the bus was believed to be on its way to Warped Tour..."

Silence. Every head in the room turned to look at me.

Impossible. It's not them. It's not them.

Never have I been so wrong.