The time had come for the big promotional tour. I was excited, yet dreading it at the same time. On one hand I loved to travel, but on the other hand, I hated being cooped up in a tour bus all the time and having to deal with all the screaming fans. I don’t know how the guys can keep doing it.
I was standing by the rear of the bus, helping Isaac load instruments and suitcases in the big storage space. There were tour managers, roadies, and family members all over the place, trying to get things ready to go. We were behind schedule by about twenty minutes, which wasn’t good.
I grabbed the handle of a suitcase and went to lift it, but couldn’t. “What the hell?”
Isaac looked over at me. “What’s the problem?”
“This suitcase.” I tried lifting it again but to no avail. “My god, it weighs like a hundred pounds. Who’s is it anyway?”
“Yours maybe?”
“A-ha.” I said sarcastically, “Very funny.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well could you at least be a man and lift if for me?” I asked, standing with my hands on my hips.
“I suppose. I just hope my manly muscles don’t rip my sleeves when I lift it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, what a tragedy that’d be.”
He picked it up and set it back down again with a thud. “Oh wait, I think I know who’s it is.”
“Who’s?”
“That one girl who won the contest thing.”
“The WHAT?” Did he just say there was a contest winner?
“Yeah, the contest... oh wait, didn’t Zac tell you?”
“Nooo....”
“Um, yeah. We had a contest for Hanson.net members and whoever won got to come on tour with us for three weeks.”
My blood started to boil. I hated little teenies with a passion. “And just who exactly won?”
“These two girls. Hallie and Amanda I think are their names.”
“There’s TWO of them?!” I shrieked
“Yes but calm down. They’re really nice.”
“Oh well that makes it ten times better.” I said sarcastically. I began to pace back and forth. “I’m gonna shoot someone. I really am.”
“Kins, chill out. It’s no big deal.”
“Ike you know how much I hate teenies.” I whined, “And now I have to spend three WEEKS with them?”
“Maybe it won’t be so bad.” He tried to reason with me, “You just might get along with them.”
“No way in hell.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Look, I’m almost done here, so why don’t you just go sit on the bus and wait, okay? I’m sure Zac’s playing video games or something.”
“Fine.” I walked up to the front door and climbed the steps of the bus. I went straight to the back lounge and found Zac winding up a game controller. “How could you not tell me?” I asked him
He looked up at me. “Tell you about what?”
“About WHO is more like it.”
“Okay... tell you about WHO?”
“The contest winners!”
“Oh... them.” He nodded. “Yeah, I gotta go.” He tried to run through the doorway, but I reached my arm out and stopped him.
“Not so fast. You need to explain.”
“It’s no big deal. The only reason I didn’t tell you is because I knew you’d react like this.”
“I have my reasons.” I defended myself, “And they’re quite good.”
“Not really. You don’t even know them. You always do this, too. You make assumptions about people without even attempting to get to know them.”
“My so-called “assumptions” that I make are based upon past experiences. Therefore I think it’s okay to make assumptions.”
“Um, excuse me?” A tiny voice said
I turned around to find a blonde-headed girl, probably around eighteen standing there. She was no taller than me, and just as skinny. A bit of her tan stomach could be seen above her jean capri’s. The tight tank top she wore to show off what little cleavage she DID have made me want to groan. Yep, I was right. Another little teenie.
“What’s up Hallie?” Zac asked, peering at her over my shoulder.
I whipped my head around and shot Zac a dirty look. What was he talking to her for?
“I was just going to put some of my dvd’s in there.... if that’s okay...?” She raised her eyebrows and smiled coyly at him.
“Sure, go right ahead. Kins, why don’t you move so she can get by.”
I bit my tongue so hard I wanted to scream. I had to hold back the words that so badly wanted to come out. I plastered a fake smile on my face as I stepped back. “Actually I think I’m just gonna go find my bunk. Nice to met you though... Hallie?”
“Yeah.”
“Right. Catch you later.” I turned around and walked down the very narrow hall past the bunks. I found Jason in the front lounge... just the guy I was looking for.
“Hey there. You wouldn’t happen to know which bunk here is mine... would you?”
“I don’t think any of them are.” He said
My jaw dropped. “What?”
“I think all of them are taken. You could probably find an empty one on the other bus.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Sorry. Do you want me to ask someone from the other bus?”
“No! Jason, you KNOW I always sleep in the bunk right below Zac’s. Every tour that’s how it works. Why is this one different?”
“Well, we have two contest winners...”
I started to feel sick to my stomach. “Don’t even tell me one of those teenies got my bunk.”
He gave me a sympathetic look. “I think one of them did.”
I was seething with anger. “Fuck.” I muttered, “Just... fuck.”
“I’m sorry, Kinsey.”
“It’s not your fault.” I said, making a bee-line for the door. I exited the bus and walked down to where Ike still was, lifting a suitcase into the storage compartment. I was sure red smoke was shooting out of my ears by now I was so mad. “So,” I announced, standing with my hands folded across my middle, “Guess who got MY bunk?”
Isaac turned around after setting the suitcase down. “Oh no. Let me guess... one of the “teenies?”“
“Yep. And you know, normally I wouldn’t be so mad if my “assumptions” as Zac calls them, were proven wrong. I just met one of the girls and I was right. A real teenie. Then she has the nerve to take my bunk. MY BUNK. The one right below Zac’s. My god Ike, everyone knows that’s mine.”
“Look, just find a bunk on the other bus for a couple weeks until the girls are gone.”
“And shack up with the roadies? I don’t THINK so.”
“Well what else are you gonna do?” He asked
“I guess I’ll just sleep in the lounge.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Yes I can.” I said, “I don’t have any other choice.”
* * *
I got up from the couch in the front lounge and headed towards the bunks. I pulled back the curtain of Zac’s bunk, expecting to find him in there, but he wasn’t. I suddenly heard giggling coming from behind the closed door of the back lounge.
“Oh you’ve GOT to be kidding me.” I said quietly. I opened the door and there on the couch was Zac, playfully shoving Hallie. I stood in the doorway and watched as the two flirted like 12 year-olds. I cleared my throat loudly and that’s when Zac looked up at me.
“Oh, hey Kins. We were just watching a movie, uh...” He looked around for the dvd case, but stopped when Hallie cut in.
“She’s All That.”
“Oh yeah.” He smiled, “She’s All That. You can join us if you want.”
“No thanks. I just need to talk to Zac for a minute... if that’s okay with Hallie.”
“Sure... don’t be gone too long, my favorite part is coming up.”
Zac got up off the couch. “I’ll be right back.”
Once he closed the door I lead him to the front lounge and sat down at the small table in the little kitchen area. He sat down across from me and raised his eyebrows in question when I didn’t start talking right away.
“What’s up?” He asked
“I guess I should be asking you the same thing.”
“Huh?”
“She’s All That?” I asked, pointing towards the back lounge. “Come on, you HATE that movie.”
“No I don’t.”
“Yes you do! You used to make fun of Ike’s ex-girlfriend because she watched it all the time. And now you’re sitting back there watching it? What gives?”
“Okay, so it’s not my favorite movie, but she asked me if I’d watch it with her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“What is this REALLY about?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I just wanted to cuddle up and talk to you, but when you weren’t in your bunk I got all pissed... or something.”
“Because I was watching a movie with her?”
“No! Geez, I’m not jealous.”
“Ha, oookay...”
“Ugh, forget it.” I stood up and went to lay down on the couch on the other side of the table. Zac sat there and stared at me for a minute before getting up and going back to watch the rest of the movie with Hallie.
Oh yes, the blood was boiling. Hardcore.
* * *
“Kins... Kinsey... wake up...”
I opened my eyes and saw Zac’s face hovering above mine. “Wha...”
“It’s 1:30 in the morning... are you planning on going to bed soon?”
“I was asleep until you woke me up... now leave me alone so I can go BACK to sleep. Thank you.” I pulled my blanket up under my chin and turned on my side, facing away from him.
“You can’t sleep out here, come on, I’ll help you to your bunk.”
I sighed and turned back over to face Zac. “That’s just it. I don’t HAVE a bunk.”
“What? Yes you do.”
“Nooo I don’t.”
“Who told you that?”
“Jason. I guess one of those teenies got my bunk.”
Zac looked towards all the bunks and then back at me. “Are you serious?”
“Uh... yeeeah.”
“So what, you’re just gonna sleep on the couch until they leave in three weeks?”
“I don’t really have any other choice.”
“Yes you do. You’ll sleep with me.”
Was he serious? I prayed he was, because if he wasn’t my poor heart wouldn’t be able to take it. I mean, sharing a bunk with Zac for three whole weeks? I could only be so lucky. “Seriously?” I asked, “You want me sleeping with you? What if I snore or steal the blanket from you or talk in my sleep or - “
“I think I can handle it. Remember I shared a room with Ike and Tay for all those years? I highly doubt you’re that bad.”
“Well, I know but - “
“No more but’s. You’re sharing a bunk with me. End of story.”
I wasn’t about to protest, so I got up off the couch, grabbed my blanket and followed him to his bunk. We both crawled up in it and laid down. I curled up next to him and rested my head on his chest. He kissed the top of my head before leaning his head against mine.
“Night, Kins.” He whispered
I closed my eyes and smiled. “Goodnight Zac.”
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