Backstage by Mandy Bee (guided reading books TXT) 📕

you.” He softly laughs. “So I asked my mom what would be a good gift. She picked it out, and gave it to me to give to you.”

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you. I love it.” We are whispering but I’m keeping an eye on Chris’s curtain, I don’t know how he would react to Justin talking to me at my bunk at this hour of the night.

“I’m glad, well I’m going to be watching some TV upfront if you want to join me. If not I’ll try to keep to the volume low so you can read.” He gets up and walks back to the front of the bus. I lay there for a minute, I don’t know why but I want to go up there with him. I pull on my hoodie that I keep with me incase I need to get up in the middle of the night. I flip off my light and look over at Chris’s bunk, no movement so I should be okay. I take a deep breath and climb out of bed.

When I get to the front of the bus I want to die laughing, he is watching The Golden Girls! I slide into the booth and rest my head in my hands. He is watching me from the sofa that is across from me. I smirk at him and look back at the TV. When it cuts to commercial I look back over at him, he is still watching me.

“I would have never dreamed you to be a Golden Girl’s fan.” I say trying to whisper.

“My grandmother loved the show, it’s all we would watch when we would stay with her.” I hate how he is watching me, it makes me want to run back to my bunk, but I don’t. “Are you a fan?”

“Oh yes, growing up like I did old reruns become your best friends. The Golden Girls, The Nanny, Home Improvement, MASH, and Friends are some of my favorites.” I reach over and take a banana from the counter top and start peeling it.

“Do you have a home?” He asks walking over and sitting across from me in the booth.

“Well that’s an odd question, but yes I have a home. We have a house in Sacramento, that’s where we are from. After our parents died the house went to Chris, we stay there between tours.” Our house is nothing fancy, but it’s our home.

“Why do you come on tour with Chris? Is there no one that you can stay with, family or friends?” He doesn’t want me here, that’s what this is. My heart sinks, he is trying to get rid of me!

“Chris is the only family I have, and I don’t have friends because I like being alone. I’m not old enough to stay at home by myself while he is touring. Sorry Justin but you’re suck with me.” I grunt and head back to my bunk. I get in, shut the curtain and pray that I can survive six months without killing someone.

When I wake up we aren’t moving so I guess we are at the next stop on the tour. I don’t care what city we are in, never have on the other tours. I never get to go site seeing or go shopping, not that I like to shop but still. I go from the bus to the arena, and maybe a fast food place, but that’s it. So why should I care what city we’re in, I’m never going to see it. I lay in bed for a minute thinking about what happened last night with Justin, both times. The first time he was nice, almost sweet. Then he was questioning why I was here, like if he could find a reason for me to leave and go somewhere else he would. Chris would never let that happen but I have to play nice, I can’t let my anger hurt Chris’s job.

I get some clothes from my storage slot and head for the bathroom. This bus is pretty cool, it has a big stand alone shower on one side of the bus and a nice size bathroom on the other. John, Dave, Scot and Chris up front playing video games, this just makes me laugh. I love when Chris can have fun, he worries too much and mostly about me.

“Hey, you’re up.” Chris says jumping up to give me a hug.

“Yeah, I’m going to shower if that’s okay.” I look at the other guys and they just nod.

“Sure, lock the door. We have to be at a radio interview in about a half an hour. There is skim milk in the fridge, you’ll have to make some more coffee, everything is in the cabinets, oh and Justin left this for you.” He hands me a note while looking at me with a ’what are you up to’ face.

“Thanks,” I hug him then turn to go get my shower. “have fun at the interview.” I yell as I close and lock the door.

After a wonderfully long, hot shower I feel relaxed and hungry. I changed into a pair of jean shorts and a tank top. I can’t wear this to the show tonight because Chris will flip but just around the bus should be fine. Chris doesn’t like it when I show too much skin, and with the type of the people that hang around on the tour it is not a great idea for a seventeen year old to look like a slut. Ever since I started to grow into my body I have been noticing that guys look at me differently. I’m not a model type but I’m fit. I always wear my hair up in a pony tail or in a clip, my long legs are always smooth but that’s because I think it is gross to have hairy legs. I don’t have large breast but I’m not flat cheated either. I’m wouldn’t say I’m hot, but I don’t try