To the Ones Who Didn't Bow…
CHAPTER 1: Where Were We Again?
Oh. My. God! It is FINALLY here! You guys are going to enjoy this! I already have some things brewing in the next chapter! Eek, I am so excited!
JANUARY 31, 2009… SATURDAY
Has it been five months already? Wow, the time sure does fly by in the midst of all things Hollywood.
Who: Optional Rule and the Jonas Brothers
What: Pop Vs. Rock Tour
When: December 1, 2008- February 14, 2009
Where: all over the country
Why: 'cause we're awesome
"Carrie, we're gonna need more toothpaste!" Liz shouted from the bathroom.
I groaned sleepily from the lounge in front of the bedrooms on our tour bus. Ketchup snickered across from me on his laptop, probably updating our MySpace, and Casey didn't respond from her cell phone next to me. Texting Spencer whenever she could had been her motive for the past sixty-two days and it hadn't stopped. He was her boyfriend though so she was obliged to text and call him non-stop.
"Fine! Just add it to the list on the fridge!" I shouted back. It was my turn to shop for necessities soon. We each took turns picking up food, bathroom supplies, stuff like that, every week.
I bet you're wondering, "Ok, what the fuck?" But I do hope the youngsters are just puzzled. No swearing yet kiddies!
We, as in Casey, Ketchup, Liz, and I, have our own tour bus and crew that usually leaves before JB's crew after our set. JB's people follow us after the boys finish. So that means limited seeing boyfriend time. Liz and I only saw our hubbies, which Liz had taken to calling them, in passing. And even then it was short.
We just left four sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden a couple hours ago. Our driver, Johnny, told us we were headed to another sold-out show in Lowell, Massachusetts at the Tsongas Arena which actually wasn't very far from New York. Well, yeah it is, but compared to the other distances we've had to travel' it's not a lot.
Ah, good ol' Tsongas. Optional Rule's first huge show. Jingle Ball baby. Sold-out. Six long hours and we had forty-five minutes of it.
Forty-five minutes was amazing for us considering we were new and Kiss hadn't even started to play our songs yet.
Pft, they were now. That For Me, our first single, was currently number five on the charts. A Little Bit Longer was number four, some rap song was three, ANOTHER Rihanna song was number two, and Goodbye by screeching cat herself, Miley, was number one. How could Kiss betray us like that?! Even with the naked pictures circulating the gossip portion of the world's mind, she still ends up at the top! She does not deserve it.
"Joey!" Liz screeched from the bunk area. The rest of us didn't do as much as flinch since that had become normal.
I glanced up from my spot on the sofa with Casey and saw Liz pull her curtain closed. Yep, Joe and Liz were officially an item. A secret, non-public item at that but still a happy item. Only family and close friends knew. We didn't want another Nick and Miley now did we?
3…2…1… "Why don't you say so? I think I'm caught in between. The nights and days fly by when I'm lost on the streets and my eyes, they despise you for who I am. Why don't you say so? Why don't you say so?"
I smiled apologetically at Ketchup who shrugged, the only one to notice my cell phone ringing, and answered my phone.
"Hey Kev. How was the crowd on your end?" I greeted and followed Liz, collapsing on my bottom bunk beneath her. I would fall off in my sleep if I slept on top.
"Hello love of my life," I smiled at his new nickname for me. He had only been using it for a couple days now. "Crowd was amazing as usual. I still can't get over the fact that every show we have played at has been sold out. Including the lawn seats and really expensive VIP seats! Amazing!" he exclaimed. I smiled at his fast-paced talking. Most likely still pumped from the concert. He always called me after he got out of the concert.
"Ha! Kevin you're just going to have to realize that you're awesome! I counted at least twenty, 'I love you Kevin!' signs today!" I replied with the same tone. Everytime he called, I got like this. Or returned back to my hyper mode left over from the concert.
It was true though, Kevin's popularity had been going up lately as more fans realized his importance and sexiness. Ha. I've always noticed. Though it did mean more jealous glares for me, I was happy they were beginning to understand.
"I really miss you Carrie. I haven't seen you in days. And when I have it has either been in passing or on stage and that doesn't count," Kevin complained sadly. He was right again. Our busy conflicting schedules prevented us from seeing each other. It was horrible.
"I know but I think we have a week after tomorrows concert in Lowell until we leave for Philadelphia. We'll have a couple days together," I said relieved and happy. I actually just remembered that small, but in actuality, very large, detail.
"That's great! We are going home for those few days. I'm making you," I giggled at his joking tone. "I swear, if I play one more note, my fingers will have to get amputated. They're actually still numb right now."
"Oh jeez Kev. Put some ice on them then. Or ask Denise because she's a woman and she'll know what to do," I said with a grimace at Kevin's situation. I wanted to be with him.
"I already asked mom and I have ice wrapped around my hands right now. Nick, Garbo, and JT too. Jack has his hands wrapped from his drumsticks cutting into his hands. Joe is getting a leg massage on his leg from landing on it wrong and Ryan is getting a neck massage for bending over the keyboard so long. We're in pretty bad shape actually," he said tiredly.
Now, don't get me wrong. Kevin's a very strong guy. He has to be for his brothers. But even he gets tired and stressed sometimes. He knows he can talk to me about it.
I winced at how much pain the band must be going through. The two full years of touring , with minimal breaks, was finally starting to show physically.
"Kev," I said sighing tiredly as well. "You should get some sleep. Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow," I heard him sigh, exhausted as well.
"I guess," I could see the frown on his face. "I just don't like how we're even too tired to talk to each other. It's frustrating," he said with a tired edge.
"I know Kev. Only fourteen days left though. Then we can live life as the cutest young couple out there," I said trying to raise the atmosphere. My wish was granted for Kevin gave a laugh and replied,
"We will rule the Hollywood couples!" he exclaimed. I could almost see his arm pumping in the air. I giggled and said,
"Of course. Now get to bed young man!" I scolded with a smile.
"Um, Carrie? I'm older than you. And I'm an adult. I can go to bed whenever I want to!" he exclaimed but his exhaustion gave him away as he yawned over the phone.
"Yeah ok Kev. You're going to bed now," I said sternly.
"Fine mother. Goodnight Carrie," he said defeated. I chuckled and replied,
"Goodnight Kev. Love you."
"I'll always love you," he said with a sudden sincerity that it almost made me drop my phone. I smiled at his words though.
"I know Kevin. Bye."
"Bye Carrie." I waited for a click before hanging up as well.
As I laid in bed, I recalled the conversation I had with Pete this afternoon. Our faithful, awesome tour manager tried to check up on us everyday.
"Hey Pete," I greeted.
"Hey Carrie. I have some news for you." He sounded like a little kid who found his parents going at it. Crude but true.
"Oh, what?" I asked curiously.
"We just finished putting "The Task At Hand" together. We're thinking it's going to be released around February thirteenth. It's an awesome debut album Kid. I'm expecting great things from this," he replied proudly.
"Sweet! I'll make sure to tell the guys," I had told them right after I hung up. We told the fans at the concert too.
"Good. How's the video log coming?" he asked.
"Really well. We finished episode five this morning. I got a prank call from William and Adam yesterday. Something about kidnapping Ketchup and holding him as ransom or something," I said with a roll of my eyes. Pete laughed on the other end.
"Cool. I'll try to arrange it," he replied sarcastically.
"Hey, how's Jasper? I miss my little ball of fur!" I asked excitedly. Jasper was my husky puppy Kevin got me for Christmas. The MCR boys were taking care of him for me. Yes, I named him after my favorite vampire. Live with it.
"Hyper and teething. He really is your puppy," Pete replied. "Ray told me Frank put him in time out yesterday for making Gerard bleed. He said it was hilarious," I laughed affectionately for my puppy.
"How are they?" I asked, concerned. Ashley had pretty much gone insane when she found out about Gerard and Frank. She did absolutely everything to make them incredibly miserable. She ratted them out to the press first and then spread rumors about the relationship. She continued by stalking them in her car so much that they finally got a restraining order against her. The last I hear about her, she was sending them threatening emails and letters.
"As disgustingly in love as two guys can get. They're still not fazed about what people think. Though Gerard seems to be getting a little annoyed at the press. What can you expect though? A rumor started by them actually came true. It's a dream come true for them."
"That's true. Tell everyone we send our love-in Ketchup's case, a man hug- because I have to go to sound check now," Pete laughed and we said our goodbyes before hanging up.
I sighed tiredly again knowing quite well I wouldn't be able to fall asleep till at least twelve even though I was exhausted beyond measure. I guess it was one of those tour things.
I heard Casey and Ketchup climb into their designated bunks; Casey on bottom across from me and Ketchup on top across from Liz.
I knew for a fact that Casey would text Spencer for another hour tops, Liz would be heard playing her iPod to help her fall asleep, and Ketchup would softly play his acoustic. We all would eventually listen in and let Ketchup's soft playing to lull us to sleep. I would go first, followed by Casey, then Liz, and finally Ketchup.
No one would admit it because we were too stubborn, but Ketchup had become our rock. He had the most stage presence and experience so he would get the crowd riled up for us. He listened to all our problems- missing our boyfriends or just plain homesick- he would listen quietly and then comfort us as that was the only thing he could usually do. He would make us laugh in difficult or awkward situations. He would cover OUR questions when they were too difficult or personal to answer in interviews. He could make food out of anything. He was our pillow. He was our blanket. He was there for us when no one else could be. He put us to sleep after hard days like today. He was a great friend.
And yes ladies, after all those perfect traits and talents I just listed, he was still single. Happily at that. He always declined the girls that practically threw themselves at him politely. That boy was every girls dream but I could only see him as a friend. Maybe even a brother. Another one, I know.
Speaking of single men, Nick was still very much single. But, as he told his friends, family, and the media, he had stopped looking for awhile. He just wanted to focus on his music for now. He wasn't happy about it, but he managed to forget about her almost all the time. Nick had a hard time getting over girls.
I sighed at my melancholy thoughts and allowed Ketchup's soft guitar playing to put me to sleep once again.
END OF JANUARY 31, 2009… SATURDAY
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