Grace woke to find herself snuggly held within Howie's arms. She smiled. The past few days had been great. She and Howie had been spending as much time together as possible. To the point of almost, well, outright ignoring her other friends on the tour. Grace glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. It's choppy red numbers showed 4:30 am. She didn't have to be up for another two hours.
Contented, Grace slid back down under the tangled blankets. She could feel Howie's warm body beside her, and feel his breath against the back of her neck. She tried to roll over, but found that his arms were tightly fastened in place. She squirmed a little, and wriggled down until she was able to squeeze herself down and out of his embrace. She sat up at the end of the bed and stared at him. He looked so peaceful, with his face squashed into his pillow. Grace repressed a giggle. He looked so cute in his sleep.
As quietly as she could manage, Grace dressed, brushed her hair, jotted a note, and silently left the room.
Alison was near tears as she walked into the tiny cafe just down the street from the hotel. She was a little surprised that it was open at this hour, even more surprised that there were actually quite a few people in it. She found a spot by the window, and opened her menu. Her hands were shaking.
What was I doing? What was I thinking? Her thoughts shrieked. I can't leave the group . . . How could I even think . . . Even consider . . .How am I going to-
Alison's rambling thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a server. "Can I take yer order ma'am?" The server requested, with a snap of her gum.
"Um . . . I'm not ready yet . . . sorry," Alison muttered.
"That's alright," she replied, "Can I get ya somethin' ta drink?"
"N-n-no, um, actually, wait! Yes," Alison said quickly. "I'll have a- never mind . . . just coffee, thanks." The server smiled and nodded. Alison sighed as the girl walked away.
Grace walked slowly down the long hall, to the room she hoped was Andrew's. She knocked very lightly on the door. Nothing. She tried again.
"Andrew?" Grace asked, just hoping she was right.
She was just about to knock again, when a very grouchy, very tired Andrew opened the door. "You better be an extremely gorgeous womyn or I'm going to stuff-"
"Andrew!" Grace cried, throwing her arms around his neck in a friendly hug. "How are you sweetie?"
"Grace," Andrew smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "I missed you! Come in, come in! Sit down." He smiled, motioning to a chair. "Do you want me to order us some breakfast?"
"Oh, that sounds wonderful," Grace replied. "You have to tell me everything! I want the whole scoop about everything this past month - and about what I've missed since I got here. What happened with Victoria? I mean, I heard about it, and Alison talked to me about Victoria being psychic, but, I mean, you were there weren't you?"
"Grace, Grace," Andrew chastised teasingly, "interested in gossip are we?" He laughed, as he picked up the phone to order some food.
Kristen walked into the little cafe alone, and was surprised to see Alison sitting by herself in a small booth by the window. Curious, and feeling a bit lonely, she walked over.
"Alison?" Kristen asked. Alison turned sharply, startled. She had a very strained look of worry on her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Do you mind if I join you?"
Alison raised her eyebrows. "I - I don't mind at all!"
Kristen smiled, and sat down in front of her. "What's wrong? You seem anxious." Alison looked up from examining her nails, and started to shake her head, until she saw the look of genuine concern on Kristen's face.
Alison sighed. "Can I tell you something? Can you promise me that you won't tell anyone else? No one, especially not my friends . . ." Alison seemed near tears. She brushed at her red hair.
"Of course," Kristen said quickly.
At just that moment the server returned with Alison's coffee. "Hello," the server smiled at Kristen. "Can I get you something?"
"Thank you," Alison murmured as the clean, black mug of coffee was placed in front of her.
"Orange juice please," Kristen ordered, not so much as glancing at the server.
"Alison," Kristen continued as the server walked away, "you can tell me anything. I promise you, I won't tell your friends, or anyone else for that matter. I'm good with secrets."
Alison sighed. "I'm leaving the group. As soon as the tour is over I'm leaving. I've already made an agreement to sign on with a record company called Righteous Babe Records. I'm going solo." She told her bluntly.
Kristen gasped.
"I don't know how to tell them," Alison moaned. "I have no idea how to tell them. They're going to be so angry with me!"
Kristen thought for a moment. "They are going to be angry with you," she said carefully, "but they will forgive you, and I know they will understand."
"Do you really think so?" Alison asked, her eyebrows creased with worry.
"You know them better than I do," Kristen replied, "but I know they are kind people. They couldn't stay angry with you forever. I understand wanting to get away from a group . . . or from your life as it stands now. I can't wait to get off this tour. I just feel so drained."
Alison smiled slightly. "I know how you feel. Do you sing as well?" She wondered out of curiosity.
"Yeah, actually," Kristen smiled, "Well, I used to do musical theater, and sing in talent shows, but I haven't done it in a long time. I got into some music videos. I came up to Toronto, and did some work there. Then I moved back to Florida, and here I am."
"Would you ever want to be in a singing group?" Alison said, almost to herself.
But Kristen did hear her. "Take your place?" She asked, Alison's idea forming in her own mind.
"You sing . . . You want a change . . . You like the other girls," Alison spoke very quietly. "Don't you?"
Kristen's eyes met Alison's eyes. "Do you think they would . . .?"
"I think they might . . ." Alison's voice trailed off. The two womyn sat in silence at the table, staring at each other. A new idea, a new path, had just presented itself.
"I'm sorry," Grace said quietly, after hearing Andrew's story.
Andrew wrinkled his nose. "Why should you be sorry? It's my own damn fault!" He muttered loudly, as he walked to the door to set the empty food trays outside.
"I know," Grace responded softly, as he sat down in front of her. "But I'm still sorry that it happened to you. I know it must have been difficult."
Andrew sighed. "I just feel like such an asshole. I thought only jerks treated womyn so badly. . ."
Grace gave him a small sympathetic smile. "You made a mistake, and you did a bad thing. Jerks do them all the time, you did one bad thing. I mean, you were deserving of the reaction you got, but doing one stupid, jerky thing does not condemn you to being a jerk for the rest of your life." Andrew gave her a hopeful look. "You've learned from it, I hope, and now you'll never do it again . . .or if you do, you'll at least know what to expect." Andrew grimaced. "It could be a lot worse." She finished quietly.
"Give me a hug," Andrew requested. Grace's lips cracked into a wide smile. She jumped up from her chair and tackled him in a huge hug.
"Don't worry Andrew," Grace smiled, as she gave him a squeeze. "I still think you're a good guy."
Howie woke with a start as the alarm clock buzzed. He sat up quickly, panic rushing through him. He threw on his robe, not even bothering with shoes, and dashed out of the room. Already people on the tour were waking, packing, and exiting their rooms.
"Have you seen Grace? Has anyone seen Grace?" He asked to anyone in ear shot. Howie was absolutely panicked.
Just then, Andrew's door swung open, and Grace stepped right into Howie's path. Out of instinct, Grace stepped quickly sideways. Howie came to an abrupt stop, just barely managing to keep his balance.
"Howie!" Grace exclaimed, surprised.
"Grace!" Howie smiled, grabbing her, and hugging her.
"What is it?" Grace asked, hugging him back, still a little shocked.
Howie pulled away, looking at her. "I just, I woke up, and you weren't . . ." He suddenly realized how silly he had acted. He could have just looked by the door to see her bags still sitting there, waiting for her return.
"Oh," Grace nodded quietly. "You didn't see the note I left you?"
"No," Howie shook his head, feeling utterly embarrassed, but still grateful to hold his beloved girlfriend in his arms.
"I'm sorry you were worried," Grace told him softly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "But I'm not going anywhere."
Howie nodded mutely. Grace smiled at him, and linking arms, they walked back to their room.
Alison and Kristen returned minutes later, their new idea still in tow. After packing up, and getting on the bus, the tour turned north, heading across the border to Canada.
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