Be There, chapter 11
We were back on tour again after our little sabbatical and we're arrived in Oklahoma about five hours ago, then tomorrow we're back on the road to Texas where Frankito, Estelle and Claudia will be joining us. Today had to be the most stressful day of touring, a show, the kids being along, interview and we were running late for everything. I was bustling back and forth all day getting everything set, all I know is the guys need at least two gofers. That's how busy it was without Tre as a distraction, topped with hiding this from Mike.
I can barely move from where I'm lying on the hotel couch. My cell phone rings, and I lose it, I take the TV remote and chuck at my purse before bursting into tears. It was bound to happen, I'm having an anxiety attack. Too many thoughts are whirling through my head at once as tears continue to flow from my eyes. I start rocking back and forth in the fetal position breathing heavily. I knew if this didn't stop, I was going to do something dangerous to myself. I manage to get up and I walk out into the hallway and slowly walk down it till I come to Tre's room. I don't know why I chose Tre; Mike and Billie are the one who knows how to handle anxiety attacks. I knock on the door and within seconds Tre opens it. He envelopes me in his arms as I cry into his strong chest.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." I say shaking my head.
"Shhh, Ramona's asleep." I nod as he leads me deeper into his suite into his bedroom. We lie on the bed and Tre just stares at me.
"Not tonight." I mumble. He nods as he wraps his arms around me in a comforting embrace. I felt feeble and he's protecting me from the psychoticness of what's going around, in and outside of my mind.
"Mike!" I call as I see the familiar figure turning a corner backstage of the concert arena.
"Myla." He says turning around and walking towards me. "I thought you were only coming later." He says as he hugs me.
"I made a mistake with the flight times." I say shrugging.
"Well umm, I was about to go to the washroom, so-"
"Oh go ahead." I say laughing. Mike disappears through a door and I'm left standing in the hallway alone until a really gorgeous guy walks past me. He turns around and stares at me.
"Excuse me, but I haven't seen you around the touring set before." He says still staring at me.
"Oh well, I'm just visiting." I pull out my backstage pass that Mike had sent me.
"Oh okay, well I'm Jim." He says extending his hand so I can shake it. "I was wondering if you'd like to grab a cup of coffee with me."
"Sorry, but I'm sort of busy," a look of disappointment crosses his face, "but how about we go for drinks tonight?"
"Yeah sure, what's your name by the way?"
"Myla."
"Myla, alright Myla." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pen and gum wrapper and writes something, "Here's my cell number call me when you're free."
"I will." I say taking the gum wrapper from him. Jim walks away leaving me all giddy in the hallway. Mike comes back from the washroom and sees the expression on my face.
"What happened?"
"I got asked out." I say flashing the phone number. "By some sort of manager or something."
"How very lovely, I can't even leave you alone for five minutes." He laughs.
Later, after spending the day with my beloved Green Day guys, I call Jim.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jim, it's Myla."
"I was wondering when you'd call."
"So are you still up for drinks?"
"Am I ever." He says chuckling, "Where are you?"
"Out back, in the parking lot. I needed some fresh air."
"Oh okay, I'm right there." He hangs up and within seconds the door opens and he joins me outside.
I wake up still in Tre's strong embrace. I exhale deeply, I can feel my eyes are swollen.
"Care to tell me what happened?" Tre whispers in my ear.
"Mmm." I say sitting up, Tre does the same and pulls me onto his lap.
"So?"
"I had an anxiety attack, I just burnt out. Yesterday was so hectic then I kept thinking Mike had figured us out and well I couldn't take it anymore." Tre wraps his arms around me.
"We've already had three gofers, that quit because they burnt out." Tre reassures me. "We should really get around to telling Mike."
"I know, it's just difficult." Tre mumbles into my neck, "You heard him when Jason and I were joking around about being with you."
"That was just us joking around." I sigh.
"Exactly, so you understand why I'm so afraid of Mike's reaction when we're serious."
"Damn Tre, why do we make things so complicated." I brush my lips against his.
"Just the way we are." He kisses my lips gently.
"I should go, before Ramona wakes up." I mumble as I slide off his lap and off the bed.
"See you on the bus." Tre murmurs as I creep out of his hotel suite.
"So do you wanna meet the other bands?" Mike asks casually.
"Yeah sure, you're touring with Blink 182 right?"
"Yeah and Jimmy Eats World."
"Cool." I say sort of excited, you'd think having Mike Dirnt as your brother you wouldn't get so start struck but I'm still a nervous wreck.
"I should warn you some of there fuckers are womanizers and like to go into detail of the groupies they pick up stuff like that."
"It's no different than Tre." Mike shakes his head.
"Tre just jokes around, a couple of these guys are kinda sick."
"Thanks for the heads up." We make our way to the lounging area where we spent most of yesterday.
On one of the sofas I see Tre and Travis Barker talking away, with Tre making elaborate arm movements. Mike goes his separate way to talk to some guys in the far end of the room. The sofa Mike went to was facing a TV.
"Argh Myla!" Billie yells from behind me, and before I can duck he's messing up my hair.
"Do you have to do that every time you see me?" I demand, he pretends to ponder this for a moment.
"Yes!"
"Myla?" a familiar voice says from the sofa on the far end. I see it's Jim.
"Oh hey." I say smiling.
"Is that the girl from last night?" the guy next to him asks.
"Yeah." Jim says waving me over. I see Mike look very uneasy for a moment then he attacks Jim. Next thing I know the two of them are rolling on the floor in a fist fight.
"Mike, what the fuck!" Jim demands trying to get away.
"You don't fucking mess with my sister!" Mike yells, throwing more punches as Tre comes and helps my brother out in the major ass whooping. I stand there paralyzed in disbelief.
"I didn't know she was your sister." Jim gasps.
"Alright, that's enough." Billie says pulling Mike off of Jim. Tre throws one final punch before standing up and walking away.
"Billie, you didn't hear-"
"He's not worth your time." Billie says still holding my brother back.
The day passes slowly, but the evening is all go, go, go. We spent the day on the road, then when we got to Texas we picked up Claudia, Frankito and Estelle up at the airport. I wanted to tell Mike about Tre and I but I couldn't because he was all happy that Stella was coming.
"Stella, be nice to Aunt Myla while I'm on stage okay?" Mike says as he's about to go warm up with everyone else.
"Yup!" the little girl says as she turns to me.
"C'mon kiddo, let's go watch TV with the others." She nods as we head off to the makeshift entertainment room back stage. I've been so busy all day, I barely got to spend time with my niece. "So when do you go back to school?"
"The day after I get home." She pouts.
"Awe well, school's not that bad is it?"
"Well, sometimes it's okay." She says as we enter the entertainment room.
"Joey! Jakob!" she squeals as she runs up to the boys and gives them each a hug.
"Argh, Stella." Jakob pouts as he pushes away the little girl.
"Jakob, be nice." Adie warns.
"But she hugged me!" I can't help but burst out laughing, same is with Adie and Claudia.
"Ha! She didn't hug me!" Frankito taunts.
"I don't care." Joey says shrugging. Later in the evening we take the kids back to the hotel so they can go to bed at a decent hour. Claudia and Frankito had one room, and Ramona was staying in Mike's suite with Stella. Leaving Adie and I to go back to the Toyota Center.
"Beer!" Billie yells as he comes charging towards me. Mike and Tre are laughing as they follow behind their alcohol hungry band mate. I hand them each a beer and Billie takes his rightful place next to Adie, with one arm over her shoulders.
"Let's go party, party, I wanna party, party." Mike says hopping around.
"Yeah, you guys need to shower." I say as I watch mass amounts of sweat drip from them.
"Seriously Billie, you're soaked." Adie says laughing.
"Sweat is sexy." Tre says nodding proudly, Billie and Mike raise their bottles in agreement.
"You keep thinking that." I say rolling my eyes.
"Fine! We'll shower." Mike pouts, "To the hotel at once!"
The five of us cram into a taxi, and the smell of body odor fills the tight space.
"Thank god!" I exclaim as the taxi pulls up to the hotel. Being crammed in between the car door and Mike isn't my idea of fun.
"Meet you down here in about half an hour." Billie states as we all go our separate ways.
I get to my room and take a quick shower and get dressed to go back out. Someone starts knocking at my door, I hustle across the room to open it.
"Hey baby." Tre says smirking evilly. "Showered and sexy."
"I see that." I mumble as I pull him into the room and move my hand through his damp hair. "You smell good."
"As do you." he says, his lips against my neck causing tantalizing vibrations. We stumble onto the sofa as I burst out laughing. "Giggley tonight?"
"Maybe." I say as I sling my arms around his neck and pull his lips onto mine.
"Hey Myla, your door was open and I was just wondering-oh shit I'm sorry!" Billie exclaims embarrassed as Tre and I separate, "Tre?"
"Fuck." Tre mumbles as Billie practically leaps for him.
"You.... Can't.... Do..... This!" Billie grunts as the two of them are caught in a wrestling match, "She's..... Mike's.... Sis... Ter!" Billie gets the upper hand and ends up sitting on Tre's chest.
"Get off, get off." Tre gasps.
"Billie, fuck, get off of him."
"Myla, no!" Billie says sternly. "How the fuck can you do this! It's Myla! You can't fucking use her as a booty call no matter how fucking convenient it is to you! Couldn't you fucking get with someone else, anyone else, not Mike's fucking sister!"
"It's not a booty call, it was more than just sex." Tre gasps, "I love her." I stand there shocked beyond my wits, apparently so is Billie.
"Wait, how long has this been going on?"
"Since we started touring." I squeak.
"Holy fuck!" Billie says getting up, he was obviously lost. "Why the fuck haven't you told Mike?!"
"Because he'd react the same way you did!" Tre says getting up still trying to catch his breath.
"Well he has every right to!" he says stressed out, "You have to tell Mike, or I will."
"Can you two just leave." I say freaked out by the whole walk in and Tre saying he loved me, it's just all too much.
"More that happy to." Billie says frustrated.
"I'm sorry Myla." Tre says quietly.
The next morning in the tour bus not a word is spoken between Tre, Billie, Mike and I. Everyone else is going about as usual trying to decide on what movie to watch or trying to find the missing box of cookies.
"Why are you three so silent?" Mike asks pointing at Billie, Tre and I.
"No reason, we just-"
"Fuck Myla, either you tell him now or I will!" Billie outbursts, getting stares from the seven other people aboard the bus.
"Tell me what?" Mike asks glancing between the three of us while along with everyone else.
"Mike, well, Myla and I." Tre starts, "Myla and I have been seeing each other."
"You-you-you what?" Mike says running his hands through his hair in disbelief.
"Maybe you should take this into the next room." Adie suggests motioning there are children present. Mike grunts angrily and storms into the sleeping quarters, Tre and I follow behind like kids heading into the principals office.
"Billie you too!" Mike yells. Billie Joe walks into the small division of the bus and shuts the door behind him. He tries to look at Tre and I but ends up averting his eyes. "Billie why the hell didn't you tell me before?"
"I only found out last night, I walked in on them, well."
"Alright!" Mike yells, "How long has this been going on?"
"Soon after we started touring." I say quietly.
"Jesus Christ! How could you do this Tre?! This goes against everything, you can't just start hooking up with my sister!"
"Mike! I know!" Tre yells. "I know what you're going to say!"
"I don't care! I've, I've punched guys out! The Jimmy Eats World guy! I never thought you'd be at the receiving end of a punch!" Mike's hands are in fists and he's turning red. He stares at Tre for a long while.
"Mike, it was as much my choice as it was his."
"Well you've never been known for your good judgment." He spits as he takes a seat at the edge of one of the lower bunks.
We stand in silence for what seems like eternity, until Billie clears his throat.
"Well, it's Tre, she could've hooked up with a roadie or someone. You should be happy that she chose Tre, I mean he's a decent guy and-"
"Billie Joe, shut up." Mike mutters as he runs his hands through his hair once more to calm his nerves, "Myla, I think you should go home. We'll get along without a gofer, just go home."
"Alright." I manage to say as Tre stares at me with big eyes, "I'll leave as soon as we get to Dallas."
"Now leave me alone." Mike mutters, we all file out of the sleeping quarters and receive awkward stares from Adie and Claudia, this kids are watching the movie silently. We take our seats and Stella comes up to me.
"Why is my Dad mad at you?" she whispers. I wipe the tears from my eyes.
"Because I started liking Tre again."
"So? Why's he mad?"
"Because I kept it secret from him."
"Oh." She nods, "Can't you just say sorry?"
"No Stella it's not that simple, I can say sorry all I want but he'll still be mad." She walks away to the back of the bus, where the sleeping quarters are. I can't even look up at everyone else, not even Tre.
I get up from my seat and head to the front of the bus where the driver is. I take a seat on the steps and pull out my cell phone. I call the airline and book my flight back to Oakland. I spend the remainder of my time on the bus there, crying quietly. The tour bus pulls up to the hotel and we all get out. I don't talk to anyone as I gather my luggage and walk up to the taxis.
"Myla wait!" Tre yells, I can't face him or anyone else so I ignore him, "Myla, fuck, Myla wait." He runs up to me and grabs my shoulder.
"I'm sorry." I say shaking me head, "I'm sorry, I can't talk to you."
"What?" he says standing there shocked as the taxi driver puts my bags in the trunk of the car. "Myla, please."
"No, Mike wants me gone, I think that's best." I pause, "For now anyway."
"If that's all Miss." The driver says clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry." Is all I say as I get into the taxi.
"Airport?" he asks, I nod. As the taxi drives away I see Tre's reflection, he doesn't move from his spot as the taxi drives away.
I can barely move from where I'm lying on the hotel couch. My cell phone rings, and I lose it, I take the TV remote and chuck at my purse before bursting into tears. It was bound to happen, I'm having an anxiety attack. Too many thoughts are whirling through my head at once as tears continue to flow from my eyes. I start rocking back and forth in the fetal position breathing heavily. I knew if this didn't stop, I was going to do something dangerous to myself. I manage to get up and I walk out into the hallway and slowly walk down it till I come to Tre's room. I don't know why I chose Tre; Mike and Billie are the one who knows how to handle anxiety attacks. I knock on the door and within seconds Tre opens it. He envelopes me in his arms as I cry into his strong chest.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." I say shaking my head.
"Shhh, Ramona's asleep." I nod as he leads me deeper into his suite into his bedroom. We lie on the bed and Tre just stares at me.
"Not tonight." I mumble. He nods as he wraps his arms around me in a comforting embrace. I felt feeble and he's protecting me from the psychoticness of what's going around, in and outside of my mind.
"Mike!" I call as I see the familiar figure turning a corner backstage of the concert arena.
"Myla." He says turning around and walking towards me. "I thought you were only coming later." He says as he hugs me.
"I made a mistake with the flight times." I say shrugging.
"Well umm, I was about to go to the washroom, so-"
"Oh go ahead." I say laughing. Mike disappears through a door and I'm left standing in the hallway alone until a really gorgeous guy walks past me. He turns around and stares at me.
"Excuse me, but I haven't seen you around the touring set before." He says still staring at me.
"Oh well, I'm just visiting." I pull out my backstage pass that Mike had sent me.
"Oh okay, well I'm Jim." He says extending his hand so I can shake it. "I was wondering if you'd like to grab a cup of coffee with me."
"Sorry, but I'm sort of busy," a look of disappointment crosses his face, "but how about we go for drinks tonight?"
"Yeah sure, what's your name by the way?"
"Myla."
"Myla, alright Myla." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pen and gum wrapper and writes something, "Here's my cell number call me when you're free."
"I will." I say taking the gum wrapper from him. Jim walks away leaving me all giddy in the hallway. Mike comes back from the washroom and sees the expression on my face.
"What happened?"
"I got asked out." I say flashing the phone number. "By some sort of manager or something."
"How very lovely, I can't even leave you alone for five minutes." He laughs.
Later, after spending the day with my beloved Green Day guys, I call Jim.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jim, it's Myla."
"I was wondering when you'd call."
"So are you still up for drinks?"
"Am I ever." He says chuckling, "Where are you?"
"Out back, in the parking lot. I needed some fresh air."
"Oh okay, I'm right there." He hangs up and within seconds the door opens and he joins me outside.
I wake up still in Tre's strong embrace. I exhale deeply, I can feel my eyes are swollen.
"Care to tell me what happened?" Tre whispers in my ear.
"Mmm." I say sitting up, Tre does the same and pulls me onto his lap.
"So?"
"I had an anxiety attack, I just burnt out. Yesterday was so hectic then I kept thinking Mike had figured us out and well I couldn't take it anymore." Tre wraps his arms around me.
"We've already had three gofers, that quit because they burnt out." Tre reassures me. "We should really get around to telling Mike."
"I know, it's just difficult." Tre mumbles into my neck, "You heard him when Jason and I were joking around about being with you."
"That was just us joking around." I sigh.
"Exactly, so you understand why I'm so afraid of Mike's reaction when we're serious."
"Damn Tre, why do we make things so complicated." I brush my lips against his.
"Just the way we are." He kisses my lips gently.
"I should go, before Ramona wakes up." I mumble as I slide off his lap and off the bed.
"See you on the bus." Tre murmurs as I creep out of his hotel suite.
"So do you wanna meet the other bands?" Mike asks casually.
"Yeah sure, you're touring with Blink 182 right?"
"Yeah and Jimmy Eats World."
"Cool." I say sort of excited, you'd think having Mike Dirnt as your brother you wouldn't get so start struck but I'm still a nervous wreck.
"I should warn you some of there fuckers are womanizers and like to go into detail of the groupies they pick up stuff like that."
"It's no different than Tre." Mike shakes his head.
"Tre just jokes around, a couple of these guys are kinda sick."
"Thanks for the heads up." We make our way to the lounging area where we spent most of yesterday.
On one of the sofas I see Tre and Travis Barker talking away, with Tre making elaborate arm movements. Mike goes his separate way to talk to some guys in the far end of the room. The sofa Mike went to was facing a TV.
"Argh Myla!" Billie yells from behind me, and before I can duck he's messing up my hair.
"Do you have to do that every time you see me?" I demand, he pretends to ponder this for a moment.
"Yes!"
"Myla?" a familiar voice says from the sofa on the far end. I see it's Jim.
"Oh hey." I say smiling.
"Is that the girl from last night?" the guy next to him asks.
"Yeah." Jim says waving me over. I see Mike look very uneasy for a moment then he attacks Jim. Next thing I know the two of them are rolling on the floor in a fist fight.
"Mike, what the fuck!" Jim demands trying to get away.
"You don't fucking mess with my sister!" Mike yells, throwing more punches as Tre comes and helps my brother out in the major ass whooping. I stand there paralyzed in disbelief.
"I didn't know she was your sister." Jim gasps.
"Alright, that's enough." Billie says pulling Mike off of Jim. Tre throws one final punch before standing up and walking away.
"Billie, you didn't hear-"
"He's not worth your time." Billie says still holding my brother back.
The day passes slowly, but the evening is all go, go, go. We spent the day on the road, then when we got to Texas we picked up Claudia, Frankito and Estelle up at the airport. I wanted to tell Mike about Tre and I but I couldn't because he was all happy that Stella was coming.
"Stella, be nice to Aunt Myla while I'm on stage okay?" Mike says as he's about to go warm up with everyone else.
"Yup!" the little girl says as she turns to me.
"C'mon kiddo, let's go watch TV with the others." She nods as we head off to the makeshift entertainment room back stage. I've been so busy all day, I barely got to spend time with my niece. "So when do you go back to school?"
"The day after I get home." She pouts.
"Awe well, school's not that bad is it?"
"Well, sometimes it's okay." She says as we enter the entertainment room.
"Joey! Jakob!" she squeals as she runs up to the boys and gives them each a hug.
"Argh, Stella." Jakob pouts as he pushes away the little girl.
"Jakob, be nice." Adie warns.
"But she hugged me!" I can't help but burst out laughing, same is with Adie and Claudia.
"Ha! She didn't hug me!" Frankito taunts.
"I don't care." Joey says shrugging. Later in the evening we take the kids back to the hotel so they can go to bed at a decent hour. Claudia and Frankito had one room, and Ramona was staying in Mike's suite with Stella. Leaving Adie and I to go back to the Toyota Center.
"Beer!" Billie yells as he comes charging towards me. Mike and Tre are laughing as they follow behind their alcohol hungry band mate. I hand them each a beer and Billie takes his rightful place next to Adie, with one arm over her shoulders.
"Let's go party, party, I wanna party, party." Mike says hopping around.
"Yeah, you guys need to shower." I say as I watch mass amounts of sweat drip from them.
"Seriously Billie, you're soaked." Adie says laughing.
"Sweat is sexy." Tre says nodding proudly, Billie and Mike raise their bottles in agreement.
"You keep thinking that." I say rolling my eyes.
"Fine! We'll shower." Mike pouts, "To the hotel at once!"
The five of us cram into a taxi, and the smell of body odor fills the tight space.
"Thank god!" I exclaim as the taxi pulls up to the hotel. Being crammed in between the car door and Mike isn't my idea of fun.
"Meet you down here in about half an hour." Billie states as we all go our separate ways.
I get to my room and take a quick shower and get dressed to go back out. Someone starts knocking at my door, I hustle across the room to open it.
"Hey baby." Tre says smirking evilly. "Showered and sexy."
"I see that." I mumble as I pull him into the room and move my hand through his damp hair. "You smell good."
"As do you." he says, his lips against my neck causing tantalizing vibrations. We stumble onto the sofa as I burst out laughing. "Giggley tonight?"
"Maybe." I say as I sling my arms around his neck and pull his lips onto mine.
"Hey Myla, your door was open and I was just wondering-oh shit I'm sorry!" Billie exclaims embarrassed as Tre and I separate, "Tre?"
"Fuck." Tre mumbles as Billie practically leaps for him.
"You.... Can't.... Do..... This!" Billie grunts as the two of them are caught in a wrestling match, "She's..... Mike's.... Sis... Ter!" Billie gets the upper hand and ends up sitting on Tre's chest.
"Get off, get off." Tre gasps.
"Billie, fuck, get off of him."
"Myla, no!" Billie says sternly. "How the fuck can you do this! It's Myla! You can't fucking use her as a booty call no matter how fucking convenient it is to you! Couldn't you fucking get with someone else, anyone else, not Mike's fucking sister!"
"It's not a booty call, it was more than just sex." Tre gasps, "I love her." I stand there shocked beyond my wits, apparently so is Billie.
"Wait, how long has this been going on?"
"Since we started touring." I squeak.
"Holy fuck!" Billie says getting up, he was obviously lost. "Why the fuck haven't you told Mike?!"
"Because he'd react the same way you did!" Tre says getting up still trying to catch his breath.
"Well he has every right to!" he says stressed out, "You have to tell Mike, or I will."
"Can you two just leave." I say freaked out by the whole walk in and Tre saying he loved me, it's just all too much.
"More that happy to." Billie says frustrated.
"I'm sorry Myla." Tre says quietly.
The next morning in the tour bus not a word is spoken between Tre, Billie, Mike and I. Everyone else is going about as usual trying to decide on what movie to watch or trying to find the missing box of cookies.
"Why are you three so silent?" Mike asks pointing at Billie, Tre and I.
"No reason, we just-"
"Fuck Myla, either you tell him now or I will!" Billie outbursts, getting stares from the seven other people aboard the bus.
"Tell me what?" Mike asks glancing between the three of us while along with everyone else.
"Mike, well, Myla and I." Tre starts, "Myla and I have been seeing each other."
"You-you-you what?" Mike says running his hands through his hair in disbelief.
"Maybe you should take this into the next room." Adie suggests motioning there are children present. Mike grunts angrily and storms into the sleeping quarters, Tre and I follow behind like kids heading into the principals office.
"Billie you too!" Mike yells. Billie Joe walks into the small division of the bus and shuts the door behind him. He tries to look at Tre and I but ends up averting his eyes. "Billie why the hell didn't you tell me before?"
"I only found out last night, I walked in on them, well."
"Alright!" Mike yells, "How long has this been going on?"
"Soon after we started touring." I say quietly.
"Jesus Christ! How could you do this Tre?! This goes against everything, you can't just start hooking up with my sister!"
"Mike! I know!" Tre yells. "I know what you're going to say!"
"I don't care! I've, I've punched guys out! The Jimmy Eats World guy! I never thought you'd be at the receiving end of a punch!" Mike's hands are in fists and he's turning red. He stares at Tre for a long while.
"Mike, it was as much my choice as it was his."
"Well you've never been known for your good judgment." He spits as he takes a seat at the edge of one of the lower bunks.
We stand in silence for what seems like eternity, until Billie clears his throat.
"Well, it's Tre, she could've hooked up with a roadie or someone. You should be happy that she chose Tre, I mean he's a decent guy and-"
"Billie Joe, shut up." Mike mutters as he runs his hands through his hair once more to calm his nerves, "Myla, I think you should go home. We'll get along without a gofer, just go home."
"Alright." I manage to say as Tre stares at me with big eyes, "I'll leave as soon as we get to Dallas."
"Now leave me alone." Mike mutters, we all file out of the sleeping quarters and receive awkward stares from Adie and Claudia, this kids are watching the movie silently. We take our seats and Stella comes up to me.
"Why is my Dad mad at you?" she whispers. I wipe the tears from my eyes.
"Because I started liking Tre again."
"So? Why's he mad?"
"Because I kept it secret from him."
"Oh." She nods, "Can't you just say sorry?"
"No Stella it's not that simple, I can say sorry all I want but he'll still be mad." She walks away to the back of the bus, where the sleeping quarters are. I can't even look up at everyone else, not even Tre.
I get up from my seat and head to the front of the bus where the driver is. I take a seat on the steps and pull out my cell phone. I call the airline and book my flight back to Oakland. I spend the remainder of my time on the bus there, crying quietly. The tour bus pulls up to the hotel and we all get out. I don't talk to anyone as I gather my luggage and walk up to the taxis.
"Myla wait!" Tre yells, I can't face him or anyone else so I ignore him, "Myla, fuck, Myla wait." He runs up to me and grabs my shoulder.
"I'm sorry." I say shaking me head, "I'm sorry, I can't talk to you."
"What?" he says standing there shocked as the taxi driver puts my bags in the trunk of the car. "Myla, please."
"No, Mike wants me gone, I think that's best." I pause, "For now anyway."
"If that's all Miss." The driver says clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry." Is all I say as I get into the taxi.
"Airport?" he asks, I nod. As the taxi drives away I see Tre's reflection, he doesn't move from his spot as the taxi drives away.
