Five Years

Today was the day that we started off the tour. I mean it was a travel day but the start of the tour no less. My bags were packed and sitting by the front door, it gave me an opportunity to get some food inside me before we hit the road. I made a bagel with cream cheese and some iced coffee.

“Merrick siblings!” Jack ran into the front door and tripped over my bags. “Jesus, whose bags are these?”

I walked out to the door with my food and drink in hand. “Sorry about that Jackie, I just left them at the door so I wouldn’t forget anything.”

He laughed and got up from the floor. “In that case, do you need any help taking these out to the bus?”

“Sure.” I smiled and watched him take a bag in each hand, leaving my backpack for me. We walked out to the bus together and once I stepped on I was greeted with yells and people saying my name.

“It’s good to see you guys too.” I laughed and Jack showed me to the bunks.

“We’re going to let you pick which one you want.” He explained and set down my bags. I went with a bottom bunk and set my stuff down inside it. I looked around and saw a mini DVD player, an outlet, and a small light at the end of the bunk.

“So you’re still a bottom?” Jack laughed.

“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes.

“Ah Miss Merrick,” Alex walked past me and went into the bunk right across from mine. “We’ve been expecting you.”

I looked at him as he lay in his bunk and looked up at the ceiling. “Is that your bunk?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yep, this baby has been my bunk since we got the bus.” He patted the mattress beneath him. “I see that we’re going to be bunk buddies this tour.” He pointed to my bunk.

“Yep,” I smiled and tried not to make things awkward. The last thing I wanted right now was to be ‘bunk buddies’ with Alex this tour. But then again, it has been five years and everyone deserves a second chance. After all, that is why I agreed to be friends with him again. Right?



Later on we stopped for dinner at a small diner near the city they were going to be playing at tomorrow night. We met up with a couple other bands that they would be touring with, Pierce The Veil and Tonight Alive. I was pretty excited because I was a huge fan of both bands, plus working at the magazine gave me exclusive details about upcoming tours and things like that. I’ve never met them before so this was going to be a super fun night.

“Well at least you’ll have another girl to bond with and talk to about your periods while we’re on tour.” Jack joked as we stepped through the doors. I laughed and hit his arm playfully. The two bands were already at a table and sitting with the ever so famous bald photographer Adam Elmakias.

“What’s up guys?” Zack smiled and took a seat down next to Jaime. The rest of us dispersed and I sat next to Jenna, seeing as her face lit up when she saw me.

While the guys around us continued a ridiculous conversation about who knows what, Jenna and I were busy giggling to ourselves. “It’s gonna be so nice having another girl on tour for once.” She laughed and took a sip of her drink. “Seriously, I’m so used to being around the guys that it’s just weird to have a gal pal with me on tour.”

“So does this mean that we’re instant friends?” I laughed and asked. Honestly, I was kind of fangirling on the inside. Being friends with Jenna McDougall would be so fun, not only was she a girl but she was so talented and not to mention healthy. She gave me so many tips and tricks to her vegetarian diet that it almost convinced me to drop meat from my life as well.

“Of course!” She smiled widely. “So how about tomorrow morning we make some smoothies and go on a walk around the venue?”

“That sounds awesome.” I agreed to it. I had to keep up the whole exercise thing even while we were on the road. Nothing as serious as Zack’s routine but I just wanted something to get me up and moving a few times a week at least.

The night went by pretty quick and then we were all back on our buses for the night. Almost immediately after we got on the bus Jack offered me a shot of Fireball and taunted me to get me to agree.

“We haven’t even played the first show yet and you’re already trying to get my sister drunk?” Zack rolled his eyes at the lanky guy in front of us.

“That’s a little low even for you Jack-o,” Alex patted his back. “Shay is a lady and should be treated as nothing less. If she doesn’t want any, then don’t shove it in her face.”

“Oh god what are you guys talking about?” Rian walked into the room with a disgusted and concerned look on his face. “I get that she’s the only girl on the bus but… Really?”

Jack gasped. “Dear Rian, you think that I would be so doglike as to get dear Shay here into bed? I would never do such a thing!” He took the shot and pulled me into his arms, both of us laughing. “I simply offered her a drink.”

“A shot actually,” I corrected him. “And I think I’ll actually take you up on that offer.”

“That’s my girl!” Jack laughed and poured me a shot. I looked over at Alex before Jack handed me the small glass. He looked upset, almost disappointed. He watched as I downed the warm liquid and handed Jack the glass back while giggling.

“Okay, let’s not do anything crazy.” Zack placed his arm around my shoulders. “I get that we’re trying to show Shay a good time but we have plenty of crazy nights ahead of us on this tour, okay?”

“I have to agree.” Alex nodded. “We should all rest up and be ready for the day tomorrow.”
Jack and I laughed and walked to the back lounge. “Whatever you say dads.” I laughed and grabbed my shower kit. I went into the bathroom and removed my makeup and put my hair up into a pony tail. I cursed to myself when I remembered that I didn’t bring in my pajamas and I quickly went back out to shuffle through my bag.

“Looking for something?” Alex asked from behind me. I turned to see him lying in his bunk again.

“Uh yeah, just some pajamas so then I can go off to bed to please the dads.” I said before turning back around to look through my bag before settling on a pair of running shorts and a tee shirt that Alex had gotten me years ago when he first started to become an affiliate with Glamour Kills.

“You still have that?” He laughed and got out of his bunk to stand beside me.

I shrugged and looked down at the shirt. “It’s comfortable.” And then I went back into the bathroom to change. I quickly slipped out of my old clothes from the day and put on the pajamas that I had taken out of my bag. I went back out to put the old clothes away and expected to see Alex there, ready to talk about something else but he was gone. I shrugged it off and went into the back lounge to see Jack sitting on the couch looking through Netflix.

“Is this seat taken?” I pointed down to the spot beside him and he shook his head. “Feel free to make yourself at home princess.” He said and patted couch.

“Care to watch a movie with me?” He turned to me and smiled once I was sitting down. I nodded and leaned onto him while the movie started. “Is something bothering you?” He asked.

“I don’t know,” I sighed. “Being around Alex again is just sort of weird. I mean, it almost makes me miss the times when we were together but then I remember why we broke up in the first place. And everything is so awkward. I just don’t know if I can make it through this tour while he’s here.”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. “Just remember that a lot can change to someone in a few months, let alone five years. You haven’t really talked to the guy yet so why don’t you just give him a chance. Besides, you’ll always have me to talk to if things go wrong and I could totally kick his ass for you if you ever need me to.”

“Thanks Jack.” I laughed and hugged him. “I’ve really missed you.”

“I missed you too.” He kissed my forehead and we watched the movie together.

Notes