Next Morning.

Ŧ Ella.

I wake up and there is no one else up. We are driving in the tour bus on our way back to Clearwater, the trip will be over later this evening, and then our first concert in Miami tomorrow. I realized that only Gustav had already been awake, he was preparing a cup of coffee as he watched TV. I quickly greeted him as I brushed my hair and started going through messages on my phone. During the time Gustav and I talked about plans for the band's stage theme and the future of the tour's technical options, Gustav wanted a strobe light that whenever he played or hit a certain drum, the light would go off. He also commented on how it was nice to finally have someone who woke up early enough for him to share a conversation with.

I grab a box of Cheerio's and a carton of milk. I search for a clean bowl, but there are none, so I grab a cup and content myself by eating my cereal out of it, when I finish eating I walk up to the front of the bus.

"Morning Ron," I said to our bus driver. Typical guy, normal looking middle aged, with a wife and three daughters. All younger than eight.

"Good Morning Ella."

"Can I get you anything?" I asked.

"You are always so nice. I sure wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee." I laugh.

"Alright Ron, I'll make some now." I walk back to the kitchen area and turn on the coffee pot. Then I turn on the tap and begin to fill the sink with hot, soapy water. I wash the dishes and put them on the drying rack, at least the others can eat out of a bowl, even if I can't. I pour two mugs of coffee and walk back up to the front.

"Here you are Ron," I say, handing him a mug of coffee with milk and two sugars, while I sip my own black coffee.

"Many thanks, Ella." He gulps some down.

"No problem," I said. "See you later." He nods and I walk to sit down at the table, looking through my pyrotechnics book and staring at my coffee.

I look up when Tom comes into the room, his dreadlocks hanging limply around his face and I try to hold back a laugh.

"Good morning sunshine," I said.

"Morning. Is there any coffee left?"

"Yeah. It's in the pot."

"Thanks." Tom and me have been unusually polite to each other. They are mostly about random things, like what breakfast cereal there is and whether or not we slept well and other things.

I watch Tom as he grabbed a clean bowl and a box of Corn Flakes and douses them with milk and sits down next to me. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

About four hours later, eleven o'clock, Bill woke up. He was groggy and his hair was going everywhere. He spread his fingers through it and looked at me. He said if he had realized I was awake he would have never made it so obvious of his personality first thing in the morning.

For the third time in three days, I had caught the twins staring at me again. "Hey Ella," Tom called. "When's your birthday?"

"May 15th 1990. Why?"

"No reason." Perfect legal drinking age . . . well in my book.

"I'm going to take a shower," I said getting up. "Do you need the bathroom before I get in?"

"No. I'm fine for now."

I nodded and walked into the bathroom, which was absolutely beautiful even though it was probably one of the smallest ones I've ever been in. I grab a towel and hang it outside the shower as I get in, and I soon realize that we're going back to Clearwater soon and I get to see James again. We're making a final stop after Miami so we can get everything sorted out before we really go on the road.

I towel dried and pulled my hair out of the towel, letting the damp wet locks hang lightly above my shoulders. I quickly put on a pair of grey sweatpants and a white tank before I went back into the rest of the bus.

Bill, Gustav, and Georg are now sitting at the table eating their breakfast, and I reached into my pocket and pulled out my black cell phone.

"Hey guys," I said as I passed by the table, so I could sit in the lounge away from everyone else. I hate eavesdroppers.

"Hey," they all reply at the same time, before turning back to their breakfasts. I curl up in an extremely comfy chair, scroll through my contact list, and press send.

"Hello?"

"Hey James. It's Ella." I smiled at the sound of his voice. It was a little different not hearing from him.

"Ella? Hey. Could you call back later? Now isn't a good time." I am confused. James never tells me to call back when I call him, he is usually so excited when we talk. I suddenly hear another voice through the phone.

"Jamesie? Who is it? Come back over here . . . please?" A female voice.

"I'll be a minute. Just, go lay back down or something," James said in a voice that was not meant for me to hear. My eyes burn and I try to cover the angry shouts and curse words that are threatening to come forth.

"Ella? Are you still there? Look. I've got to go but when you come back in later we have to get together, okay? I love you sweetie."

"Bye. Love you." I said blankly.

All empty words.