Backstage by Mandy Bee (guided reading books TXT) 📕

use to living on a tour bus I can’t tell if we are moving or not anymore. I pull my phone out and call Chris.

“Where are you?” I ask after he answers.

“We are right outside, we stopped to eat and it was so nice out we decide to chill out here before having to head out again.”

“Okay, I came up front and couldn’t find anyone.” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“I tried to talk to you before we left but you were too into your work to even look up at me. Justin said you wouldn’t even talk to him while he was back there with you.”

“I had my earbuds in, I couldn’t hear anything but my music. Did you get me anything to eat or do I need to fix something?” I snap at him.

“Come on out I brought you a chicken salad.” He hangs up.

Jerk! I go and get my salad and bring it back on the bus. I don’t want to eat with them, I’m in a bad mood. I eat my lunch, take my cough syrup and head back to the back. I don’t even bother telling Chris I took my meds like I usually do when I’m sick. If he can be a butt so can I! I push my project away and don’t even open my computer. I curl up with my blanket and just lay there. I hate being sick, I hated having to tell Justin, and now I hate how much I wish he would come back here and be with me.

“Will you for once just listen to me!” Chris is screaming at me. The x-ray showed I have walking pneumonia, it came on fast but can be treated with some antibiotics. Chris wants me to stay on the bus while the show is going on. I want to go to the dressing rooms so I don’t have to be alone. Most of the time I would kill to be alone, but when I’m this sick I like to know someone is close by.

“I don’t want to be alone.” It came out almost as a whisper. He is not use to me begging to go with him. He flops down beside me, we are in the back room. Dave said he is going to get a sign that reads ‘Flower’s room’ and hang it on the door. I’m starting to like Dave, he is a nice guy.

“I don’t want you to get worse by over doing it, and it’s going to be cold tonight you don’t need the cold air in your lungs.”

“Please, I know everything you’re saying is true. And yes I should stay on the bus, but I don’t want to be alone, to be honest I’m kind of scared.” I can’t look at him, he just sighs and pats my leg.

“Let me see what I can do, just give me a few minutes.” He leaves but doesn’t shut the door all the way. The next thing I know Justin is busting through the door.

“You are not leaving this bus! Do you want to end up in the hospital?” He is almost growling at me.

“Oh, not you too!” I groan.

“I tried to stop him.” I hear Chris laughing from the door way.

“Look, let’s work out a plan. We can all stay on the bus until we absolutely have to leave, then we can get Tom or anyone you want to come sit with you. We will not hang around after the show, we will all come straight back here and we can take turns showering. Will that work?” He has kneeled in front of me, and I’m in awe of him right now. I have tears in my eyes and I’m getting all chocked up. I just nod at him while the tears start streaming down my face.

“Sis don’t cry, we’ll make it work.” Chris says standing behind Justin. “Want me to make you some tea with honey?” I shake my head yes and he leaves.

“Baby, please don’t cry, I promise it will be okay.” Justin says coming up to sit with me but pulls me onto his lap and rocks me. “Shhhh don’t cry, please, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.” He whispers in my ear. I slowly stop crying but I cuddle closer to him, and he just tightens his arms around me. I don’t know how long we had been sitting there but when I open my eyes I see Chris in front of me holding my tea.

I guess I looked like I was panicking because he started smiling. “It’s okay.” He walks over and hands me the cup. I’m still on Justin’s lap and he is by no means trying to move me. “Drink this then rest, I’ll check on you later.” He kisses my forehead then once again leaves me with Justin. I’m puzzled by Chris’s behavior, is he really okay with all this? Even when I don’t know what all this is? I slid off of his lap and start to drink my tea. Without missing a beat he just wraps his arms around me and holds me close to him. Either I have found the greatest friend in the world or I’m starting to fall for Justin Crow.

The walking pneumonia only lasted a week this time. After that I thought the boys would stop fussing over me, I was wrong. It almost got worse, that was until I told them off one night. Chris and Justin both started in on me about how I need to get some sleep and I shouldn’t stay up too late. I let my temper fly and told them they both could fuck off. The next day everything calmed down some, they still fuss over me but not as bad.

We have been on tour with Freak Street for three months now, and it has been the best tour of my life! The greatest part is, this will be the only band I