'Baby, you were incredible!' Zed beamed, pulling me in for a kiss.

'Too much PDA in the wings!' Jenni called out, pulling me away from Zed and into a hug. My husband rolled his eyes in response.

'Sky, Ed's on in ten. Do you want to get changed into your Everything has Changed outfit now so you can watch the set?' Nina said, appearing beside my husband and best friend.

'Sure.'

I followed Nina back to my dressing room, relieved to be in the cool air. My gorgeous outfit was sticking to the sweat on my skin and my hair was stuck to the back of my neck. I let out a sigh as we walked past the air conditionning unit.

'Hot out there, huh?'

'Absolutely.' I replied in agreement.

We walked into my dressing room and I grabbed a bottle of water, drinking half of it quickly. Much better.

'You've got a few minutes to shower.' Nina told me, throwing me a towel and a shower cap.

I was enjoying the shower until Nina almost broke the door down. I finished my shower quickly, drying myself off and putting on my underwear and the dress for my costume change; a baby blue, fifties-shape dress with pink flowers. I wore a petticoat underneath for extra volume. It was a vintage dream dress. I slipped into the white ballet pumps in my dressing room and Nina quickly adjusted my make-up and took my hair out of the loose bun. With a spritz of hairspray, I was ready to go.

Jenni and Zed were still waiting in the wings when I was back and Zed slipped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on top of my head. On the stage, Ed's set had just started and he was finishing his first song.

'You're on in ten.' A technician said to me, briefly. 'I'll bring over your mic in a bit.'

'Thank you!' Ed called to the crowd as they applauded his performance. 'I am so glad to be with you all on my opening night of tour. Are you enjoying yourselves?' The crowd cheered again. 'And what did you think of Sky? She's great, isn't she?' The crowd cheered and applauded and I found myself blushing. Zed squeezed my waist and kissed my forehead. 'Don't worry, she'll be back later. I hope you enjoy the show.' Ed started to play the intro to Thinking out Loud and Zed spun me around.

'May I have this dance?'

I looked up at him and smiled. 'Of course.'

There wasn't much room to dance in the wings, but it was still romantic, even with Jenni pretending to throw-up in the corner. Ten minutes later a microphone was thrust into my hand and it was show-time again. Ed started to play the opening to 'Everything has changed' and I walked onto the stage, ready to perform our number one single.

The opening night of our tour was fantastic. Zed, Jenni, Ed and I celebrated with an alcoholic beverage back at the house, before we all decided to head to bed. I was planning on taking Jenni and Zed for a walk along Sunset Boulevard the next morning and we were all feeling pretty tired. In my bedroom, I changed into a lace babydoll and matching knickers. It was going to be my last night with Zed for a while.

'Woah.' Zed closed the door behind him and put the glasses of water on the bedside table. 'Think I'm letting you go on tour now?'

I gave him a smile I hoped was flirtacious. 'I guess you'll have to see me more often, huh?'

Zed slipped off his jeans so that he was in his tight, black boxers and I knew I had the desired effect. He walked over to me, climbing on top of me. 'Well hello Mrs Benedict.'

As the tourbus arrived the following evening, I was overcome with emotion. The night before hadn't seemed like the tour was happening. It was just a show in a city I'd started to know quite well. Now, my husband and best friend had flown home and I was heading off without them. I was going to spend the next few weeks living in a hotel and on a tourbus. I had packed as light as I could, all things considered. I looked at the tourbus in front of me as I placed down my last piece of luggage. The tourbus was a large, black coach with blacked out windows.

Ed stuck his head out the door. 'We're heading off in a bit. Do you need a hand with your last bag?'

'No.' I replied as Ed climbed out of the coach. I picked up the bag and climbed up the steps as Ed headed back to the house.

My jaw dropped as I walked inside. It wasn't like a coach, despite looking like one from the outside. The steps led past the driver's seat and into an open-plan diner/kitchen/living space. There were comfy brown leather benches, with storage shelves underneath, and there was a small leather bench next to a black dining table. The kitchen space had a microwave, fridge and sink, with more storage units. There was also a flatscreen television hanging down from the ceiling. I placed my bag on the table and continued to walk up the bus. There were small pods, covered by curtains, each containing a bed with a shelf, light and a wall socket. There were six beds in total, four sets of bunkbeds. It didn't look particularly comfy but I didn't expect anything else. At the back of the bus was a small bathroom, with a toilet, sink and shower. The bathroom looked modern and clean, all that I could ask for.

I looked at the tour dates which were stuck to the fridge:

22 August 2015- Los Angeles, California

24 August 2015- Denver, Colorado

25 August 2015- Dallas, Texas

28 August 2015- Miami, Florida

31 August 2015 Atlanta, Georgia

1 September 2015 - Charlotte, North Carolina

3 September 2015- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4 September 2015- New York, New York

7 September 2015- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

8 September 2015- Detroit, Michigan

It was going to be a busy few weeks. I looked at the calendar on my phone, trying to work out when I would have a little bit of time off; Miami and New York. Not bad.

'All set?' Ed asked, placing his guitar down carefully on the leather seat.

'Yeah.' I replied with a smile, despite feeling a little overwhelmed by our work schedule.

'In which case; Denver, here we come.'

Nina, Marty, Leon, my guitarist (Owen) and a roadie (Jase) were the other people joining us on the tourbus alongside our driver, Dave. They headed to bed quite early, which wasn't a surprise considering the amount of wine which had been consumed, leaving Ed and I the only ones awake.

'You looking forward to this then?'

I looked across at Ed, who was busy scribbling in his notebook. 'Yes, but-'

'You're nervous.' He smiled, looking up. 'When you know you don't need to be.'

I blushed and bit my lip. 'Well one show down, nine to go and they're mainly in places I've never been before.'

'Denver's pretty sweet.' He paused for a second. 'Aren't you from around there?'

'Yeah,' I admitted with a blush. 'It's getting late. I think I'm going to get ready for bed.'

'Okay. Sweet dreams.'

'Sweet dreams.'

Saul and Karla came to see me in Denver, as it wasn't far from Wrickenridge. It was nice having friendly faces in the audiences and we caught up with a drink in my dressing room afterwards before we headed off to Texas.

'This bus is getting a little dull.' Nina moaned from beside me the morning after we had left Texas. I'd woken up stupidly early, as had the female friend I was lucky enough to be spending the trip with. Nina was sat in leggings and an over-sized Rolling Stones t-shirt, whilst I was sat in my plaid pyjama shorts and a tank top.

'Well we're not going to be there until lunchtime tomorrow.' I reminded her.

'But at least we get a proper bed tonight.' She beamed from across me.

We were going to reach Panama city around lunchtime and we were going to be spending the night in a proper hotel room. I was glad because although I hadn't told anyone, I wasn't sleeping great and my back was already hurting. A break in Miami was just what I needed.

Nina stood up, taking a quick class out of the window at the highway. She let out a big sigh. 'Fancy a bagel?'

Nina and Marty looked ready to kiss the ground when we arrived in Panama City. We had been caught in some awful traffic, so we were running a little behind schedule. Seeing Panama City appearing across the skyline was just what we needed. Skyscrapers were scattered, reaching for the sky and the ocean looked inviting next to the white sandy beach. We were all desperate to get off of the coach and I knew that Dave needed a long sleep. Plus it meant we only had another eight and a half hours to go until Miami.

Our hotel was perfect, although Nina and I would have settled for a motel on the highway. We were staying in a La Quinta Inn, one which was close enough to the beach and restaurants and had a big enough underground parking lot to hide our tourbus in. After checking in, we all headed straight up to our rooms with our overnight bags.

'Ah, a double bed each!' Nina cried out in excitement, collapsing on the bed. As the only two girls on tour, we had been placed in a room together. Not that I minded; Nina was good fun.

I collapsed on my bed, enjoying the comfy, memory-foam mattress sucking me in. 'Perfect.'

'So I'm thinking a nice nap by the poolside and then maybe we can go out later.'

'Out?' I raised an eyebrow. 'After a hellish coach journey? And another one tomorrow? You must be crazy.'

'Oh come on Sky, we're in Panama City! People come here for Spring Break to party!' She pleaded.

'Oh god, you are crazy.' I frowned, grabbing my back. 'Well I'm going downstairs to the pool to make the most of the fresh air.' I grabbed my bikini and headed to the bathroom.

Nina was fast asleep by the time I had changed. So much for girly time by the pool. I grabbed my towel, sunglasses and book and made my way to the pool by myself. The pool area was small and deserted, but the sun was shining and it was hot. I tied my hair up into a loose bun and laid back on a sunbed, enjoying the warmth and the fresh air.

'Sky! Sky!' Zed was calling my name but I couldn't see him.

I looked around at the many faces of the crowd, none of them recognisable, yet they were all chanting my name like they each knew me personally. Someone from behind grabbed my shoulder and I tried to wake them up. I couldn't. Their other hand clutched my shoulder tightly and I knew it would leave a mark. I tried to get free as I was pulled further and further away from the unrecognisable faces. Further away from the people calling my name.

The sound of their voices was drowned out by a painful whisper. 'Sky.'

I gasped and opened my eyes.

'Sky are you okay?'

I looked over to the pool, which was no longer empty. Instead, Ed was in it, a concerned look on his face.

'Bad dream.' I replied.

He climbed out of the pool, drying his face and his hair on his towel. 'It looked like it. Are you okay?'

'Yeah.' I breathed, trying to slow down my heart rate. 'Yeah I'm fine.'

It was the first time in a long time where I'd had a bad dream. Especially one like that.

We all met for dinner that night, before heading back to our rooms. Nina sat on her bed pouting.

'What is wrong with you?'

'I wanted to party.' She frowned. 'We're only here one night! And I hoped it would mean I was tired enough to sleep through the bus journey tomorrow.'

She was right about that. I stretched out my arms and legs. 'Where did you want to go?'

'Just somewhere.' She smiled, the corners of her mouth twitching. 'Marty said he'd come if you did.'

I raised an eyebrow at her. 'Why don't the two of you just go?'

'Safety in numbers.'

'I'm five foot. I'm hardly safety.' I laughed.

'Please Sky. As you missed my birthday.'

I wondered why people always guilt-tripped me about their birthdays. This was how my whole singing career had started. To please a birthday girl. I sighed. 'Fine.'

'Good. We'll need to get changed though.'

I looked down at my white sundress. 'What's wrong with this?'

'It doesn't suit where we're going.'

Half an hour later and the cab had dropped us off at our venue for the evening, although I was too busy feeling nervous about my outfit to notice where we were. I was wearing my boots, denim hotpants, a white crop top and a plaid red shirt, which I had been convinced to tie so that I was showing my belly button, and my blonde hair had been straightened. Nina was wearing black jeans and a black crop top, Marty in a blue plaid shirt and jeans. We walked into the saloon, where there was a long, wooden, polished bar, red-topped stools and a load of lights. That's when I saw the sign; Coyote Ugly.

'See why we're dressed this way now, huh?'

I looked at Nina like she was insane. Scrap that, she was insane. 'Nina, why are we here?'

'I've always wanted to come here since I saw the film. It looks like so much fun!'

I looked around at the mainly-male audience, trying to pull down my croptop but failing to do so. 'Maybe, but I'm totally self-conscious right now.'

'You look hot, babe.' Marty beamed. He leaned over to talk to the girl behind the bar. 'Three beers please.'

I wanted to say I wasn't old enough to drink legally in this state, but it was too late. The girl smiled at the three of us before handing us each a beer. Marty paid and we clinked our bottles together. 'Cheers.'

'I saw him dancing there by the record machine

I knew he must have been about seventeen

The beat was going strong

Playing my favorite song.'

The four girls from behind the bar jumped onto it in their tight trousers and cropped tops.

'And I could tell it wouldn't be long till he was with me, yeah me

And I could tell it wouldn't be long till he was with me, yeah me.

Singing, I love rock and roll

So put another dime in the jukebox, baby

I love rock and roll

So come and take your time and dance with me

Ow!'

We watched the dance routine with Marty and Nina cheering and I soon found myself singing along, joining in. At the end of the dance, they returned to handing out more drinks.

'I'll get the next round.' I told my friends, hoping I would be served.

'Can we have shots?' Nina grinned from beside me.

I knew I'd probably regret it later, but I looked at the time. 11pm. It wasn't that late, I still had time to sober up. 'Fine.' I walked over to the bar and the girl in the tight jeans and black fringed crop top smiled at me.

'What can I get ya?'

'Three shots please.'

'Sure.' She grabbed the bottle, pouring the drink into the shot glasses and not worrying about any spillages. 'You look awful familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?'

'No.' I replied, innocently. My hair and smokey make-up was a bit of a throw-off, thankfully. I'd hardly recognised myself in the mirror. 'One of those faces.'

'You're cute.' She smiled. Not the reaction I was looking for. 'That's eight dollars.' I handed her the cash and she took it from me. 'Thanks, have a good night.'

Nina and Marty had luckily walked over to join me, so that I wasn't risking spilling the drinks. I passed them each a shot and they beamed.

'To the rest of the tour!' Marty called.

'And my belated birthday!' Nina added, winking at me.

'To tour and your birthday!' Marty and I chorused. We swallowed the drinks and I let out a deep breath as the liquid tingled as it travelled down my throat.

'I'm going out tonight-I'm feelin' alright

Gonna let it all hang out

Wanna make some noise-really raise my voice

Yeah, I wanna scream and shout.'

'Oh my god, I love this song!' Nina called over the music as the barmaids got back onto the bar. Nina let out a cheer and sang along, moving her body in time to the music.

'The best thing about being a woman

Is the prerogative to have a little fun.'

Nina grabbed my hand and spun me around as we sang the lyrics of the chorus together.

'Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady

Men's shirts-short skirts

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style

Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction

Color my hair-do what I dare

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel

Man! I feel like a woman!'

The bar girl who had served me not too long ago looked at me and beckoned me over with her hand. As I reached her, she grabbed my hand and pulled me up to the bar. I wasn't going solo; I grabbed Nina quickly and she joined me. She shot me an excited grin and I knew what she was thinking; we were dancing on the bar at the Coyote Ugly. I suddenly felt nervous, like Violet in the movie.

'The best thing about being a woman

Is the prerogative to have a little fun.'

Nina grabbed my hands and we danced together, before turning around and getting involved with the music, grinding and twerking with all our might.

'Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady

Men's shirts-short skirts

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style'

xx-xx-xx

Ed.

Nina and Marty had invited us out for drinks, but Owen and I had decided to grab a whiskey in the hotel bar before coming to join them. Coyote Ugly had seemed like an unusual choice, not that I minded seeing girls in tight clothes and crop tops. What I wasn't expecting when I walked through the bar was to see Nina and Sky dancing on the bar. Actually, maybe I was expecting Nina. She loved a good party. But Sky...

I looked up at the bar as she danced around, shaking her hips, running her hands through her hair... Crap. And she was wearing tiny denim shorts, boots and tied up plaid shirt.

'Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction

Color my hair-do what I dare

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel

Man! I feel like a woman!'

I swallowed, still looking at her in disbelief.

'Man, is that Sky?' Owen said from beside me as he handed me a beer.

'Yeah.' I croaked out.

'Look at her go! Dude, it really is a shame she's married.'

My eyes widened and I gave Owen a stern 'back off' look. Yeah... if she wasn't married. If only.

'The best thing about being a woman

Is the prerogative to have a little fun (fun, fun)

Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady

Men's shirts-short skirts

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style

Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction

Color my hair-do what I dare

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel

Man! I feel like a woman!

I get totally crazy

Can you feel it

Come, come, come on baby

I feel like a woman.'

The song ended and the bar errupted with cheers and applause. A brunette bar girl high-fived Sky and then she and Nina climbed down into the crowd. A few guys spoke to them and Nina was on flirt duty, twisting her hair around a finger. She pulled out a phone and one of them typed in a number. Sky smiled and spoke to them, before spotting me. She gave me a quick wave and then headed over, Nina and Marty shortly behind her.

'Hey.' She smiled.

'Hey yourself.' I replied. 'Look at you taking Coyote Ugly by a storm.'

'Weren't we great?!' Nina beamed. 'That was so cool! Best birthday ever!'

'Your birthday was weeks ago!' I replied, shaking my head.

'But you guys weren't around!' She pouted. 'And it was worth the wait.'

'Can I get you a drink, Sky?' Owen asked as she pushed her hair back off her shoulders.

'Sure.' She smiled as I wanted to hit him. She followed Owen to the bar and I tried to keep my cool.

'I hope Sky doesn't kill me.' Marty grinned, wickedly.

'What did you do?' I asked, raising a wary eyebrow.

'I may be uploading a few photos to Facebook.'

'Yeah, mate, she's definitely going to kill you.'

xx-xx-xx

Sky.

A good night's sleep in a proper bed was refreshing and getting onto the tourbus the next day didn't seem like such a big deal, especially as I managed to sleep for a lot of the ride. I woke up, feeling disorientated, on one of the leather chairs. I took the thin blanket off of me and looked across the bus, where Nina and Ed had headphones on and were watching something on his Apple Mac. I reached for my phone, having not checked it yet for the day.

Hey beautiful, how are you? I'm missing you and wishing you were here to cuddle and kiss in bed. Z xxx

I smiled, sending a quick reply. Then I saw the Facebook notifications. I opened them up and my eyes widened. Three photos of me dancing on the bar in Coyote Ugly. It hardly looked like me and the photos looked weirdly professional, but they were still photographs of me dancing on a bar.

I launched a pillow at Marty, who was sat a few feet away from me. 'Sleep with one eye open!'

Ed looked up at us and smiled. 'Told you so.'