"You excited?" asked Julie as they walked through the airport.
"Yeah. More nervous than anything," said Bri.
"Don't worry about it. You'll fit right in," said Julie.
Bri shrugged her shoulders and sat down and waited for her flight. She closed her eyes to catch a few more hours of sleep.
"You can't get away that easily," said a voice.
Bri jumped and looked to her left. Shane was chuckling in the seat next to her. She rolled her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck.
"How long have you been there?" she asked.
"Not long," said Karen walking over with a coffee cup. "Here."
"Thanks," said Bri taking the cup from her.
"You excited?" asked Shane.
"A bit, yeah," she said. "Hold on," she said pulling her phone out of her pocket. "Hello?"
"I thought that was you," said the voice.
"What are you talking about?" she said looking around.
"Look to your left," he said. "You're other left."
Bri followed the instructions and about came unglued when she saw the body that belonged to the voice. She hung up and tossed her phone to Shane and ran across the waiting area. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Long time no see," he said.
"Yeah. Very long time," she replied.
'What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"Waiting on a flight," she said stating the obvious.
"I knew that much. Where you going?" he asked.
"San Diego," she said.
"Why San Diego?" he asked.
"Because I'm part of the RAW roster now?" she said taking her coffee back from Karen.
"Abrielle Marie!" he said.
"What?" she said turning to look at him.
"Does your mom know?" he asked.
"Don't know, don't care," she said. "The important people know, and that's all that matters."
"Bret," said Shane.
Bret nodded at Bri. "Did you know about this?"
"I found out about it about two weeks ago," said Shane. "Apparently she's been doing indie shows for the past year and a half."
"Really?" said Bret looking at the girl.
"What?" she said looking back at him. "Gotta start somewhere."
Bret shook his head as he took the seat next to her.
'What are you doing here anyway?" she asked.
"I was coming to see you," he said. "But I didn't have to go far, it seems."
Bri shrugged she shoulders as they continued to talk. It wasn't long before her flight was called. She grabbed her bags and said her goodbyes. She handed her ticket over and boarded the plane. She found her seat and sat down. The captain came over the speaker system a few minutes later and they were in the air. She closed her eyes and took slow deep breaths as the plane took off.
"Don't fly often?" asked a voice.
"No," she replied.
"Relax and you will be fine," said the voice.
Bri nodded her head and soon the plane leveled out and it was smooth sailing.
The plane landed in San Diego. Bri grabbed her bags and found her way to the rental car station. She got the cheapest car she could afford and made her way to the hotel. She dropped her things at the front desk and rang the bell.
"Can I help you?" asked the lady.
"I'm checking in," she said.
"Name?"
"Abrielle Helms," she said.
The lady typed it into the computer. She smiled as she grabbed the room key.
"Here you are. There is a breakfast in the ballroom in the morning. Enjoy your stay."
"Thanks," she said taking the key.
Bri grabbed her bags and headed to the elevator. She pushed the button and waited. A few more people walked over. There was a ding and the doors opened. Bri stepped on and pushed the button for floor seven. Other buttons were pushed and soon it was moving. Once the doors opened on the seventh floor she stepped out and made her way down the hall. She found her room and unlocked it.
The room had a queen sized bed, a large window and a stock chest of drawers. She set her bags down and flopped back on her bed. She was on the verge of sleep when there was a knock at her door. She groaned and walked over to it. She looked through the peephole and saw Vince standing outside her door. She unlocked it and opened it up.
"Hello," she said.
"Good, you got here okay," he said walking into the room. "This is my son-in-law Paul. He will help you out while you get on your feet."
"Thanks," she said closing the door. "Excuse the mess. I've only just arrived."
"It's fine. How was your flight?" asked Vince.
"It was good. Not fond of flying," she said.
Vince chuckled and sat down at the desk. "This is your itinerary for the next two days. We have you doing a few signings around town and a few interviews with local radio."
Bri took the paper and looked at it. She would have to get up at four in the morning at least to be ready to go by six for her first interview of the morning.
"Do you have any questions?" asked Vince.
"At the moment, no," she said laying the paper down on the dresser.
"Right. Paul's number is on there as well as mine. If you have and problems or questions let us know," he said.
"I will, and again thank you for this opportunity," she said.
Vince nodded and walked out of the room. Bri looked at the clock. It was four in the afternoon and she didn't have anything to do until the next day. She opened her bag and grabbed her gym clothes and got changed. She grabbed her iPod and pulled her hair back into a ponytail and headed down to the gym.
The gym was practically empty. She made her way over to the Elliptical and got everything set up. She turned her music on and started her workout. Over the next few minutes a few more people came into the gym. Bri was completely oblivious to them. When she finished on the Elliptical she moved over to the treadmill. She set it up and started off running, again completely oblivious to the other people in gym.
After a half hour of being in the gym she did a cool down run and moved over to the bike. She wiped some sweat from her face and set it for a cardio workout. She changed the song on her iPod.
"Who is that?" asked one of the guys.
"Don't know," said another. "Must be another guest or something."
"Who knows. Just as long as she stays out of our way it doesn't matter," said a third.
Bri was completely oblivious to the entire conversation. But she has seen all three men looking at her. When she finished with her laps on the bike she grabbed her things and headed for the door. She didn't feel comfortable with them in there. She was almost to the door when it swung open and a large man walked in. She looked up at him and sighed. She secretly hoped she would get by him without him noticing her. She was almost in the clear when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around and saw it was him.
"Bri?" he questioned.
"Hi, Kevin," she said taking her ear buds out.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Is your mom here too?"
"Um, no she's not. And I have to get going," she said pulling her arm free.
Bri all but ran from the gym and to the elevator. She pushed the button more times than necessary until the doors opened. She jammed the button for the seventh floor and willed the doors to close faster. Soon it was just her in the elevator by herself. She sighed as the doors opened and walked down the hall to her room. This day couldn't get any worse.
