[TOUR] On The Road

[trez matthew steele]

Trez hauled the last bag of the group onto the trailer, gently shoving Alexander up the stairs of the bus. He murmured something to the driver, trying to be as upbeat as possible. He knew it was going to be long and fun, but he also knew it would be somber. Sean was sitting on the couch, staring at the floor. Trez sat down and hugged him tight, rubbing his back slowly as Zayne climbed in, thwapping Brandon upside the head. The two made a bolt for the beds.

Trez rested his chin on Sean's shoulder, waiting for his brother and the girls to get loaded up. "I know it's hard, Sean... Just try to have some fun okay?"

[harper reese lebeau]

"No, this way, Aubri." Harper said, pulling her by the arm. The girl just walked blankly to the bus, and up the steps, sitting down quietly by the door. "Aubri, there's chairs."

"I want my baby." She mumbled, and Harper pulled her arms again, getting her to the chair. AJ just followed slowly after them, her hand over her mouth.

"You don't have a baby, Aubri." Harper said, watching Aubri fall limply to the side. "You're like a corpse."

"Alex, come fix your rag doll." Harper called, stretching her arms over her head. AJ peered around the corner before she shrank back by Harper's side.

[trez matthew steele]

Trez sighed. "Come on you guys.. If we can't try and have some fun, we may as well cancell.." He stretched "Tomorrow afternoon is the first show."

Xander looked up, wandering toward Aubri. He lifted her and carried her to one of the bunks, lying down and hugging her close while he watched Brandon and Zayne stake claims, trying to lighten the mood.

"Why don't you get some sleep, Sean..?" It had been several days since the funeral and Sean had barely slept a wink, looked exhausted. He just curled up on the couch, head in Trez's lap.

[harper reese lebeau]

"Come on, shorty. Let's go cook for these idiot boys." Harper said with a nudge to AJ. She just stared blankly at Harper, and Harper sighed. "I'm on a bus with a bunch of zombies. I should have stayed home." She groaned, walking to the kitchen. AJ followed blankly after her, chewing on her thumb nail.

"Stop. That's gross." Harper said, and AJ dropped her hand.

"I want tacos." AJ said quietly.

"It speaks." Harper said, walking over to see what they had. "Go wash your hands and we'll make tacos." She told her, and AJ wandered quietly to the bathroom.

[trez matthew steele]

Trez waited for Sean's breaths to deepen, which was rather quick, and slid out from under him.

"And we're off!" Brandon sang annoyingly as the bus pulled out. Trez wandered to the kitchen, draping his arms over the shoulders of both girls. "Watcha making?" He drawled.

[harper reese lebeau]

"AJ if she doesn't stop biting her nails." Harper said, watching her carefully stir the meat, her hand back to her mouth. She looked up at the touch, then back down at her pot.

"I can't see." She said.

"Because you have no light." Harper said, reaching up to flip the light on. She went on cutting the lettuce she was working on, turning her head to kiss Trez's cheek. "Think Sean's going to be okay?" She asked, pushing it aside to start cutting peppers.

"NO." Aubri screamed from across the bus, and Harper shook her head.

[trez matthew steele]

Trez chuckled, biting his lip at the question. He shrugged, sighing some. "He'll pull off a facade in public eye, but that doesn't mean anything.."

He paused as Zayne nudged them, pointing towards the couch. Sean was clinging to the blanket throw, shifting his weight uneasily, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Harp... You want to sit with him..?" He knew they might not be on the friendliest terms, but maybe somebody like him could help better. "I can finish in here."

[harper reese lebeau]

Harper didn't dare say anything about not liking Sean, even if she didn't. She constantly felt like Trez liked him better. She nodded, walking to the sink to wash her hands before she walked over to the couch, sitting down carefully beside him. She gently ran her fingers through his hair, humming a tune under her breath. She leaned against the sofa, pulling her knees up as she closed her eyes.

"Harper had the shells in the oven for a minute.." AJ told him quietly so he knew they were in there.

[trez matthew steele]

Trez sighed, watching her go as Zayne disappeared into the bathroom.

Sean curled up, burying his face in her stomach as he cried. He opened his eyes after a moment, gazing up at her brokenly. There was no challenge against her though as he hid his face again.

"Alright," Trez murmured, finishing the pepper and reaching for a can of olives.

[harper reese lebeau]

Harper looked down as he moved, gently running her fingers through his hair. "It's okay to cry, Sean. No one's gonna judge you.." She said quietly. She shifted her weight a bit, leaning her head back again. She closed her eyes, running her fingers slowly through his hair. 'Stuck on a tour bus with someone I hate with every fiber of my being..' She thought bitterly, but didn't dare move him.

"You know Nash cared about you. You just gotta live each day and make him proud. Even if it blows. And maybe you'll get to see him one day." She said, gently rubbing his back.