Backstage by Mandy Bee (guided reading books TXT) 📕

to make all this happen. The car, the backdoor drop off, the private room, it is all really sweet.

Over lunch we talk about our families, well mainly his. Other then John he has a brother named Jeff who is in the Navy. His parents would have rather Jeff do something with music but he loved the idea of serving his country. Justin beams with pride when he talks about him. Hearing him talk about all the love in his family makes me a bit sad. I love Chris, he is the best big brother a girl could ask for, and takes very good care of me. But sometimes it does get lonely with just the two of us.

As we are eating our triple chocolate crumb cake, Justin asks me if I have any hobbies that keep me busy. I tell him about my cross stitching and that it is too hard to bring stuff like that on the road so it is something I only get to do when we are at home. So on the road my hobbies are music and reading.

“What is cross stitching?” He asks as we climb back into the white car, we had to go out the back again but I like it that way.

“It is an form of art to me. You have fabric, thread, a needle and a pattern. With each color the pattern comes to life on the fabric. I have some pictures on my phone wanna see?” I pull out my phone and go to my cross stitch album. I show him my stained glass cross, a few designs I had done for people Chris knew who were having babies. But it was the one I did of a red rose that made him gasp.

“Oh wow! That looks like a real rose.” He says taking the phone out of my hand and studying the picture closely.

“Thanks, it was an easy pattern, I do this type of stuff just for fun.” We flip through a few more before we pull back up to the buses.

“Why didn’t you bring your stuff with you? If you like it so much I would think you would want to work on some patterns or something.” He asks as we exit the white car and he slips the driver a fifty dollar bill.

“It’s too much to carry around, plus Chris would hate me hogging his computer. Most of my patterns are on there, I prefer using a computer for my patterns instead of looking at the book. Plus I don’t think my craft bag would fit in my bunk.” I laugh and sit down on one of the couches on the bus. Lunch with Justin was so relaxing, it amazes me how much I like to be with him.

“Do you and Chris share a computer?” He asks handing me a bottle of water.

“Yeah, I had one but it was ‘misplaced’ a few tours back. I know who took it but I didn’t want to cause a fight.” I just roll my eyes, it was easier to just finish the tour, which was only three week total then cause a big stink and get Chris fired.

“Let me guess a girl took it because you wouldn’t help her hook up with your brother?”

“Yup, but we share his laptop now and it’s no big deal. When he is on break at home he mostly tries to hang out with the few friends he keeps in touch with, so it is pretty much mine then.” I don’t know why but it is so easy to talk to him.

“You know if you wanted to we could find a craft store and get you a few things so you can cross stitch. I know you probably have tons of stuff at home but if it’s something you like doing, then why not get a few things for you to work with?” He is sitting right beside me with his arm around me.

“I don’t know where I would put any of it. Plus that means more to pack when we head overseas.” It would be nice to be able just to plug my music in and get lost in a pattern, but I don’t know if Chris would like it much.

“Don’t worry about any of that. The backroom is yours to do what you want with. If we do have meetings I think you should be in there anyways seeing as you are to be with us for the whole tour. As for the packing, we get a few days off before heading overseas. Our last concert is in LA, you guys could fly to Sacramento then just pick out what you think you could take with you. We can look up what is and isn’t allowed on the airplanes, then you can make a choice as what to bring with you.”

“I don’t know, I’ll ask Chris what he thinks first.” I grab the remote and turn on the TV, no Golden Girls but Law & Order is on. We are both relaxing together when Chris, Dave, Scot, and the roadie who’s name is Peter comes back onto the bus. I jump up because the way Justin and I were sitting wouldn’t have went over well with Chris. His arm was still around me but I had let my head rest on his shoulder while watching TV.

“Hey, you look nice!” Chris hugs me. “Did you enjoy lunch? Where did you go?”

“Thank you, he took me to a pub owned by a friend of his, and yes I enjoyed myself.” I look over at Justin who is now talking to Peter. “How did the practice go?” I whisper to him.

“Good, he is even better then John.” He whispers back.

“Okay everyone we need to have a meeting, back room guys now.” Justin heads back there with all the guys following him. I just smile and shake my head. He’s so young but so in control. “Flower? I said it’s meeting time, that means you too sweetie.”