The next morning, I was brought back to reality by the sound of my cell phone ringing. I laid still listening to it, hoping whoever it was would decided that whatever they needed wasn’t so important, but I was not so lucky. After I failed to answer the first time, they persistently called again. I rubbed my eyes with my fingertips and reached across the table next to my bed until I felt my cell phone. With my eyes still half shut I flipped open my phone and reluctantly held it up to my ear.

“What do you want?” I asked, skipping a proper greeting.

“Hey, Jovie,” she started, but I cut her off.

“Kate. What do you want?” It was much too early for this. I rolled onto my back and let my eyelids shut again.

“Ah, I’m sorry did I wake you up?”

“Yeah, you did,” I replied trying not to sound too upset.

“Well, now that you’re up Me, Natalie and the kids are heading to the venue now, do you and Annie wanna come with us?” she asked, sounding far too cheerful.

“What kids?” I asked. I opened my eyes again and searched for the clock that should have been on top of the table, but wasn’t.

“Natalie and Taylor’s kids…Oh I forgot they were already asleep by the time we went over to our hotel. Ezra and Penelope. So are you coming?”

I rubbed my eyes, not really wanting to wake up. “Kate, what time is it?”

“Noon. Come on, please,” she begged.

I grunted and reluctantly sat up in my bed before scanning the hotel room. Lex and Topher were already gone, but Annie was still sound asleep in her bed.

“I’m gunna have to wake Annie up and get her all ready,” I whined, hoping she would tell me forget about it and meet her at the venue later. I was not so lucky.

“Great, then since you guys are closer to the venue me, Nat and the kids will swing by in like forty-five minutes to get you two! Be ready,” she said hanging up before I could protest.

I snapped my phone shut and looked back over at Annie who was sprawled out over her bed with her right arm hanging off the edge of the mattress. I shook my head, and then tossed my cell phone back on the table before I proceeded to get out of bed. I figured I would take a quick shower before I woke Annie up or else I wouldn’t get one. Ten minutes later I walked out of the bathroom with soaking wet hair.

Instead of waking Annie up the old fashioned way, I thought she would appreciate something more exciting. She is the spontaneous one, after all. I walked over to the side of her bed and twisted my hair above her head. She woke up in shock as soon as the cold water splashed on her face.

“Christopher. Sebastian. DeCappi!” She screamed wiping her eyes.

I laughed, “I didn’t know Tohper’s middle name was Sebastian.”

“Ah” she screamed, “I hate you Jovie!” realizing it was me, not Topher.

“Hate me later. We’ve got to be ready to leave in like 30 minutes. Kate, Nat and ‘the kids’” I said using air quotes, “are coming to get us.”

It took her awhile, but she managed to get out of the bed and slowly stagger to the bathroom. “What kids, where are we going, and what time is it?”

“Taylor’s kids, to the venue, twelve fifteen, and let me know before you come back out of the bathroom, I’m changing out here.” I said as I walked over to my backpack that was thrown on the floor at the foot of my bed. I unzipped the black bag and dug through it before finding a suitable outfit.

A few seconds later Annie shut the bathroom door behind her. “I thought Taylor was gay,” She yelled over the shower after she turned it on. I didn’t respond but laughed to myself.

I threw on a pair of Jeans, a snug fitting brown t-shirt and my olive green military Jacket. About 15 minutes later Annie emerged from the bathroom, and I went back into the bathroom to dry my hair. By the time I was done in the bathroom Annie was waiting by the door holding my green canvas messenger bag. I took the bag from her and we headed toward the elevators.

When we had reached the lobby we looked around to see that Kate and Natalie weren’t there yet, so we quickly ran across the street to a small coffee shop. I was just handed my iced cappuccino when I saw their Taxi pull up. I paid the woman behind the counter and ran outside flagging Kate down.

She was holding a little redheaded boy, apparently Ezra, and Natalie was holding Penelope.

“Oh my,” I said at the sight of Ezra, “where did that red hair come from?” Natalie and Kate just laughed. I turned to Kate and Natalie to formally introduce Annie to them. “Kate, Natalie, this is Annie, Annie, this is Natalie, Taylor’s wife, and Kate, Zac’s wife. You met Kate before,” I started but then corrected myself. “I’m sorry, you stumbled in drunk and Kate met you. Obviously you wouldn’t remember.”

The girls laughed and shook hands, and we decided that we would walk to the venue. The show wasn’t supposed to start until seven, but when we got there, there were already fans showing up. As we walked past the small forming crowd a few pictures were snapped. Natalie and Kate weren’t too happy about the pictures but Annie and I absolutely loved it. We laughed and posed for the “paparazzi.”

Annie’s a lot like me, and she’s really what keeps me sane while we’re on tour. She’s got long red and black hair that she doesn’t always brush, so half the time her hair is a wild mess, but she pulls off the crazy look quite nicely. When she isn’t going for the crazy, glamorous homeless woman look, she’s doing the whole 50’s pin up look instead.

When we finally got inside the venue Lex spotted us and jumped off the stage to come over and meet us. He greeted me with a hug and then ruffled Ezra’s hair.

“Man, Joves, why don’t you just sleep all day?” he asked with a hint of sarcasm wrapping his aright arm tightly around my waist.

“I was getting my beauty rest for the paparazzi outside.” I explained in a very matter of fact way, pushing my hair off my face.

“Right,” he said pretending to understand. He then proceeded to mess up my hair with his free hand, and added, “Apparently you didn’t get enough.”

I slapped his chest and pulled his arm off my waist. “You’re such a jerk, you know that, Lex?”

“Oh Jovie,” he said as he pulled me into a tight hug, “you know I love you.” I rolled my eyes and pushed him off me. “Are you gunna sing with us tonight?” He asked me, then turned to Kate and explained, “it’s a reel big fish cover, ‘she has a girlfriend now’ Jovie sings with us and it’s basically the best thing ever. She’s at least good for one thing.”

Kate’s eyes grew wide when she heard the title of the song, but I reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’m not into girls at all.” I let a devilish grin escape before adding, “Annie though, she’s a whole ‘nother story.” Annie was amused by my comment, but Kate and Natalie looked uncomfortable.

A little while later, after Belladonna’s sound check Lex found me in the balcony. He apparently ran up the stairs because he was slightly out of breath. “Hey, you,” he greeted me; “No one,” cough, “Taylor,” cough “told us that we’re gunna leave from the venue tonight and just fuckin’ drive to Detroit over night. So since we’re done we’re gunna run back to the hotel and pack all our shit up. You can stay here if you want though, we should be able to handle it.”

“Are you sure,” I asked “Are you gunna be back here in time? I can just run back to the hotel if you don’t want to. It’s fine.” I grabbed my bag and started to stand up but he stopped me.

“No, really its cool, it shouldn’t take us that long.” With that said he turned and started running down the stairs. “Be back before the show, promise. See ya, Joves”

“Love you” I said as he headed down the stairs, but heard no response. Natalie, who was still holding Penelope rolled her eyes and mumbled something about boys. I wasn’t exactly sure what she said but I nodded in agreement.

“And now, we have a very special treat for you all,” I heard from my spot off stage, “Joves, come out here.” I took a deep breath before I walked onstage and was instantly taken back by the bright lights. I heard my name being screamed followed by catcalls and realized it was a mixture of Kate Natalie and Annie from their spot in the balcony.

“Lex, our drummer,” Topher motioned toward Lex who stopped wiping sweat off his forehead to wave his left hand in the air from his spot behind the drums, “has got a pretty little lady here, Jovie, who is going to be singing with us on this one. Everyone say hi to Jovie.”

At that the crowd semi-unanimously replied “Hi Jovie”

“You guys are too nice,” I said into the microphone Topher handed me. A second later the music started and instantly I was singing and dancing around the stage with the same amount of comfort as if alone in my bedroom. It’s not something that I would like to do every night, but it is fun to just get on stage every once in awhile. The butterflies leading up to the big moment are a little too much for me to handle, but its fun nonetheless.

After Love of Belladonna played their set, I made my way up to the balcony to find Natalie sitting without Kate. Natalie explained that Kate wasn’t feeling well and could barely keep her eyes open so she went out to the bus to try to sleep a little.

The rest of the night was amazing. Hanson played one of their best shows ever, and Annie I couldn’t help but laugh as Natalie swooned over her sweaty husband. As the show came to a close I made my way back stage to try to find Lex, but I had no such luck. Annie found Topher and I lost them in the bodies backstage. A few minutes later I saw Zac looking just as lost as I did.

“Jovie!” Zac yelled when he saw me. “Where the heck is Kate?”

“Natalie said she wasn’t feeling good so she went out to the bus to relax,” I explained. Zac nodded, and wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his wrist.

“Hey,” I started “have you seen Lex? I went out to the balcony after they played and now he’s gone.”

Zac shook his head, “Nope, haven’t seen him. Hey you did great out there by the way.” He said patting me on the back.

“Thanks, wanna help me find Lex?” I asked walking away. We looked for a good ten minutes before we decided he must have gone out to the bus.

Zac and I walked outside and I was instantly taken aback by the shriek I heard when the doors opened. Zac thanked everyone for coming out to the show and explained that unfortunately he didn’t have time to stay out there and chat. They girls frowned and I noticed one was even crying. I stared at the girl and was about to say something, but Zac shook his head no, grabbed me by the arm and pulled me with him onto the bus.

Once we were on the bus we found Kate sitting behind the table on her laptop. Her hair was all messed up and her skin was flushed. She looked up at us when we walked onto the bus and gave us a sad smile.

“Kate, are you okay, you look terrible.” I stated sitting down across from her.

She shook her head and croaked out “No, I keep throwing up.”

Zac put his hand on her forehead and said she felt warm and suggested maybe she go lay down.

She shook her head no before explaining, “I’ve tried that, I can’t get comfortable.”

“Maybe you’re pregnant,” I suggested, but as soon as the words escaped my mouth I was met with two sets of glaring eyes. I put up my hands in the air and apologized, “Sorry. Touchy subject?” I asked with an uncomfortable laugh and an attempt to lighten to mood.

Zac forced a smile, “We can’t afford to have another kid on the road with us. Especially at the rate Taylor and Natalie are going.”

He stood up to get Kate something to drink and I walked over to the window. I looked out of it at the growing group of fans. From the window I could see Love of Belladonna’s van and I could just barely make out the shape of a mohawked head. He was leaning up against the window appearing to be asleep.

I rolled my eyes and let out a grunt of disgust. Zac and Kate both looked over to me at the window. “The asshole is asleep,” I explained “like he leaves me inside the venue and goes out and freaking falls asleep without even making sure I make it to the van safe. God, he’s ridiculous.” I complained out loud. I was absolutely pissed. It was just like him.

Zac had returned to the table with Kate’s drink when he spoke, “Joves, you wanna just sleep on our bus tonight. He’s already asleep, I don’t think he’d mind and we’ve got extra room. It’ll probably be more comfortable and we’ve got a long night ahead of us.”

“You guys don’t mind?” I asked looking from Zac to Kate. Both of them shook their heads no. “I guess. I’ll go get my stuff.” I said walking toward the door.

Zac stood up and stopped me, “No its okay, you can stay here. I’ve got to go help pack up and shit. I can grab your stuff on the way back.”

I nodded and thanked him. A second later he disappeared off the bus.