Chapter 2: A Drop in The Ocean
TJ honestly was stoked, but there was one person he was hesitant to tell: his girlfriend, Rhea Clarke.
TJ & Rhea were high-school sweethearts. Inseparable since freshman year. He fell in love with her because she had a sense of humor, was the best listener, she was tall, had blonde hair, and these gorgeous piercing blue eyes.
From the time he joined Motionless in White, TJ saw how she struggled with not having him there all the time. She would pretend to be fine when they had a chance to Skype, and she would be happy to when he came home. TJ just knew she won't be able to handle a long distance relationship, this time.
Rhea was coming over, because he told her they needed to talk.
He ran through in his mind what he was going to say a thousand times. He paced back and forth until the door bell rang. He took a deep breath, and opened the door to his apartment.
"Hey, baby." She said as she greeted him with a kiss.
TJ lead her to the couch, she put her head on his lap, and they stared at each other for a while.
Rhea knew something was wrong, and felt tears well up.
"You said you needed to tell me something?" She asked, trying not to let a tear fall.
TJ knew it was the moment of truth.
"Rhea, I love you. You're a great girlfriend. I don't know how you feel, but I've decided to join Escape the Fate as a full time member."
She sat up, looked at him, then covered her eyes & cried.
TJ held her, she buried her head in his chest.
"What am I supposed to do?" She asked him.
TJ let a few tears fall, he really dreaded what he was going to say next.
"I already know how me touring affects you, so I'm offering you an out."
Rhea got up, turned to him, and said with anger, "Thomas Joseph Bell, are you trying to break-up with me?"
"No, I was just offering you an out because I didn't want you to get lonely while I was gone."
Rhea then felt embarrassed for yelling at him.
TJ got up, hugged her, she started crying again, and TJ told her everything was going to be alright.