Chapter 8: Welcome To Tour Life

"We will be leaving tomorrow for tour."

Say what?

Turning my head to look at Harry, I felt his grip on my shoulder tightening, he was still watching the sunset. He was nibbling with his lips as he brings his head down and sighs, "Well.. tour is here," he whispers.

My eyes widened, I really thought I had just misheard it but I did not. Zenith is really leaving for tomorrow... Zenith is leaving for their tour... Zenith is going to be away for a month and a half... My hands slowly dropped to my sides, eyes were still big and wide.

"Wha-what did you say?" Harry looked down to his shoes, his hands inside the pockets of his coat. "You've got to be kidding me," I whispered to myself as I backed myself away from him. Shoving my phone back to the pocket of my jeggings, I walked past him.

I didn't want to believe that what I heard from Harry was true, as my eyes started to grow watery, and I remained my head low. But what am I feeling so sad about? It is only normal for them to go on tour- they are a band. Bands go on tour. Bands go from place to place to see their fans and plant smiles on their faces. As a band, that is their job; and they love their job. So why am I feeling like this? Why do I want them to stay? Why am I being so selfish all of a sudden?

"Lorien-" I heard Milo calling my name but I ignored him, I even slapped his hand away when he was about to touch me. Stomping on my feet, I get inside of the car. He put his hands up in the air, probably asking his youngest brother what just happened while Harry just shrugs- as if he doesn't even care about my feelings.

I groaned with a roll of my eyes. "Tybalt, can we go home?" I said, popping my head out of the car's window. The brunette then slowly turns himself around and just perked a brow at me, so I raised a brow at him as well as he shrugs and slips into the driver's seat.

I laid my head back with a sigh, and closing my eyes to prevent these tears from flowing down on my face. As I heard the backseat door opens, I opened up my eyes to see Rin getting himself inside from the rearview mirror. Leaning back on my seat once more, Tybalt has started the car's engine and drove off immediately.

For the whole ride, I just stayed quiet. This is the first time that I didn't want to start a conversation with them at all. Before, I was the one who has always wanted to have even the shortest conversation with any of the members of Zenith when I'm in the car with them. But not today, I'm not in the mood for a talk.

Why haven't they told me about this? Why does it have to be right now? Could it be, Harry had asked me to come along with them, is because this will be the last day that I could be with them? Tour is starting, they are leaving tomorrow. And what comes naturally after the touring? Isn't it working on for new music? They are going to get really busy. Does that really mean that this could really be my last day with them? Or do they really not want me to know that they're leaving?

With yet another sigh, I just had my eyes shut closed but I could feel Rin and Tybalt looking at me. I never spoke, but I turned my head to the side with my eyes still closed so they would just think that I'm asleep when I really am not.

After a few more minutes, Tybalt had stopped the car. I opened my eyes and saw that he has pulled over in front of my house, I immediately unbuckled myself and get off the car. But as I stepped inside of the gate, Tybalt has called out my name.

I breathed in and let out a deep sigh.

"What happened?" He asked as I turned around to face him.

"What?" I asked him back, raising up my shoulders as I added, "Nothing... nothing happened. Why do you ask?"

"Something must have happened," Rin answers. "You wouldn't have walked away if it was just nothing, Lorien. Did Harry tell you something.. that could have upset you? You suddenly needed to get home," he finishes as I looked down on my feet.

But then I raised my head back up and smiled at the boys in front of me. "No.. nothing really happened. I just suddenly felt... sick."

"Lorien-" Tybalt sighs, "We're being serious here, alright? What happened? Why did you suddenly wanted to go home? Did you not like it there?" Tybalt walks near me as I could feel him looking down to me with eyes full of worry. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I looked up to them, tucking my hair just behind my ear and started tearing up.

"Harry-... told me that you-" I started crying; slapping my hands on my face. I just couldn't help it, I feel so sad about it. I really want to spend more time with all of them.. I really want us to become closer than this... I really want to know more of them... but they are all going away. Tomorrow, they are going to be away for a month and a half. I won't be seeing them for a long while. Just thinking about it makes me feel really sad, I put my head down. Soon then covering my face with my arms, using my long sleeves to wipe away all of my tears. Then I felt arms on my shoulders, slowly pulling me closer to him until he rests my head against his chest.

I started sobbing loudly, snaking my arms around his small waist as I gripped his jacket. "Why does it have to be so soon, Ty?" I cried as he was rubbing my back, shushing me. I could feel his arms tightening around me and I did the same. "We-we still haven't got to spend more time with each other. So.... why?"

"Oh Lorien, don't cry." Tybalt replied, gently stroking my hair as he sways us from side to side. "We cannot do anything about it, you know? It is not our fault tour is already coming. We wanted to spend a little more time with you, that was why we brought you there." He added, and I cried even more harder.

"So you really planned that?" I asked, "You really don't want me to know that you're leaving tomorrow for tour? You're really going to leave without letting me know?"

What am I saying? I definitely sound like a sad girlfriend, and I don't want them to leave. I want them to stay.

Tybalt has kept me in his arms and comforted me for a minute or two before finally letting me go. I adjusted my sweater, looking down on my feet with my lips on a straight line before wiping all of my tears away and letting out a heavy sigh.

"You-you can go now. I'm okay." I smiled up to the both of them but they shake their heads. Rin gently wrap his arms around me then rests his chin on my shoulder.

"We're sorry we didn't tell you anything," he whispers. "It's just- we know you're going to be like this."

I pushed him away lightly, smiling to them one more time. "I'm okay.. you can go."

"No, you know you're not, Lorien. I know you're not-" Tybalt answers. "We're really sorry for not telling you about the upcoming tour..."

"It's okay, Ty. You can go now." He stepped forwards but he stopped when I mumbled "Please.."

Rin taps Tybalt on his shoulder, nodding his head and turning to his back to get back inside of the car. As Tybalt, too, spins himself around, I faced my back and opened the gate to get inside of my house.

I heard the car groaning to life, I didn't bother looking back and watch them leave. Instead, I closed the door and made my way up to my room. Throwing my phone down to my bed, then running a hand through my hair and sitting down on it. I don't understand but I'm feeling really sad... it must be that they are my only friends here, maybe it was that, that I am feeling so sad about them leaving.

***

The loud ringing tone from my phone has woken me up, I didn't know that I had fallen asleep from crying. I might just be exaggerating, besides Zenith and I haven't been friends for a long while. It still feels like we have met just yesterday and I still don't know anything about them. I have hung out with them for a couple of times but that doesn't mean that I'm already close with them. There is no reason for me to feel this way.. I should not cry nor feel so sad just because they are going away.

The loud ringing of my phone snapped me away from my thoughts, I grabbed it from my nightstand and my eyes widened when I see Milo's name on the screen. Quickly, I slide my finger across it to answer his call.

"Mi-"

But he cuts me off. "Lorien, I'm at your house's door."

What?!

I swallowed, running towards my window and pulled my hair when I saw Milo standing beside his car just in front of my house. I hung up on him as I went to the bathroom to wash my face. I headed downstairs right away, but I made it as quiet as possible, or else I might wake my mother. As I opened the door, I almost screamed when I saw Milo standing right in front of me, but before I could do that, I was already in his arms.

"Milo?" I stuttered, completely shocked about what he did. I was even hesitating about hugging him back. "What happened?"

"Just- let me hug you for a while," he whispers into my ear then he rested his chin upon my shoulder. As soon as I relaxed, I hugged him back and started tapping him.

As he relieves another sigh, he pulled himself away from me but his hands were still on my shoulders. He looks down to me, I got a little uncomfortable so I looked down to my feet.

"Come with us," Milo blurted and I stared up at him in confusion.

I rubbed my eyes, perking a brow at him. "Uh-.. ehe, where are we going?"

"Tour."

My jaw drops right down to the ground when he answered me with that. But Milo looks serious- he was looking into my eyes, there is not a hint of joke from his voice and his hands were holding mine tightly.

"What-what did you-"

He cuts me off once again, "I want you to come on the tour with us."

What?

"Milo, you know I can't. I-I-"

"You don't want us to leave, do you?"

I nodded.

"You feel sad, don't you?"

I nodded my head for the second time.

"Then come with us. That way, we will all be together every single day. You will even get the chance to know us more."

"But Milo-" I groaned. "What about school? What about my mother? And aren't you supposed to leave tomorrow? How am I going to make it?"

"Let us handle that for you, Lorien. Just say you'll come."

I bit my lower lip, looking down on our hands then to my house. I really want to say yes. I really want to come with them. But I know that I just can't leave my mother alone.. I don't want to leave her all alone.

Then I chuckled, pulling my hands away from his. "You-you can't be serious, Milo. You want me to come with you? I-I'm-"

"Hey listen, you can still study while on tour," he whispers. "And your mom can always go to our house for some company, my mother would be there. Trust me... everything will be alright, just... say you'll come." Milo had eyes his closed as he begs, lifting up our hands and pressing his forehead against the back of my hands. I stared at him, as he returned his hands on my shoulders and then looking down on the cold hard ground.

"I... I just really want you to come with us," He repeated his words.

"You should go, sweetheart." A familiar voice spoke from behind me, Milo and I turned our heads and saw my mother standing by the door as she was hugging herself to lessen the cold she was feeling.

Mother smiles at me, walking near to Milo and I. He had removed his hands on my shoulders and smiles back to her, "Good evening, aunt Francheska."

"Good evening, young man," mom replied. "So you're here to ask my daughter to come with you guys on tour?" He puts his head down as my mom chuckles, we both raised our heads and looked at mom. Then she turned to me and rested her hands on my shoulders, "You can go, honey. Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"But mom- I can't.." she shakes her head with a smile.

"I'll be okay, trust me. I'll be fine. Just go."

"No.. mom, I'm not going anywhere, there's no way I'm ever going to leave you here all alone!" I averted my gaze to Milo, "Thank you very much for the kind offer but I have made my decision. You may go now."

"Lorien-"

"Thank you, good night." Mother was about to protest but I have pushed her back inside of the house, then shutting the door close and leaning my forehead against our wooden door. A few seconds later, I heard the car's door opened and closed as Milo went back to his own home. I closed my eyes, taking one deep breath, not letting any tear flow down my cheek without my permission.

"Why did you have to do that?" My eyes opened as mom asked me that question. She sounded unhappy.

I turned to her and answered. "You know why, mom. I don't want to leave you here."

"I know but he-"

I cut her off by putting my hands on her shoulders with a smile, "Let's not fight about this, mom, alright? Go back to sleep." I kissed her on the cheek and made my way back up into my room but mom spoke.

"You know you want to go - you're dying to go. Milo has even gone here himself swallowing his pride just to ask you to go with them. Honey, why did you have to do that to him?"

"Mom-"

"I told you not to worry about me. I'll be fine. And besides, Milo had said that I can always go to their house for company, oh I bet that their mother is really lovely."

I smiled, "Oh she really is."

"There you go," mom giggles. "Now, would you give Milo a call and tell him that you'll go?"

I groaned. "Still- I told you-"

"Go." She gave me her brightest smile.

I spun myself around as I hear my mother giggling softly. I walked upstairs and got inside of my room as I plopped down to my bed, staring at the ceiling. I really don't want to leave my mom alone, it is true that I'm dying to go and wanted spend more time with my friends but I would still choose my mother over anyone.

Ugh... this is really frustrating.

Should I really go?

I slowly sit back up, looking over my nightstand where my phone was placed. I reached for it then unlocked it and swallowed, I breathed in some air and let out a very deep sigh before dialling Milo's phone number.

"Hello?"

"Th-this is me." I stuttered.

He lets out a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you called. Uh, au-aunt Francheska... is-is she mad at me?"

I smiled, it makes me feel happy that he cares not only about my feelings but also my mother's. "No, she is not."

"Thank goodness," he lets out another sigh of relief as I giggled. "So why did you call?" He asks and I gulped. Yes, I'm that nervous.

"I-I-"

"Hm?"

"Um- uh, I-..."

"Go on, I'm all ears."

"Mom told me I should really, really go to tour with you guys.."

"Aaaand?"

"Aaaand.... that she'll be just fine on her own but she would really love to become friends with your mother."

"Okay.."

"And.. and.. and I think I should reconsider it."

"Ok- wait what? Really?" I stayed silent as I heard him laugh from the other line, "You're going right? Right?"

"I-I guess so.."

"Oh my God..." he whispered, "You-you made me so happy," he adds in.

"Well I'm happy that I made you happy. But um, well the thing is, we do not know if your manager would let me-"

"I told you so, didn't I? Let us handle that matter. You have nothing to worry about, just go get your things all packed up and you're all good."

"O-okay..."

"Good night, Yojan," he whispers and I could feel myself getting hot.

"Ye-yeah... go-good night, Milo," I immediately hung up on him. With a stupid smile on my face, I rolled to the left side of my bed as I hugged my human sized teddy bear and fell asleep peacefully.

***

And just like earlier, I was woken up by my loud ringtone.

"What?" I groaned, sitting up on my bed and scratching my head.

"Get ready, we'll pick you up in ten." My eyes flung open as I throw my phone back to the bed. I grabbed my bath towel and had a cold quick shower.

I pulled my white shirt out from my closet and put it on me, then grabbed my sweatpants and black jacket as I work with my shoes. I brushed my hair and let it fall all the way down my shoulders and finally went downstairs.

"Hi sweetie," mom greeted me with a lovely smile as my jaw drops. "You're up early," she told me.

"I should be the one telling you that," she giggles softly.

"Well, I knew you'd have to go as early as this so I have prepared you some breakfast before leaving," my eyes grew watery and I pulled her into a tight hug.

"Thank you mommy," I whispered into her ear then I added, "I love you so much... and I sure as hell am going to miss you so much too..."

She chuckles. "I love you too, honey, and me too... me too."

Mom pulls herself away from me when someone rings the doorbell. Mother rubs my arms up and down, "It's them. Open the door." I nodded then headed to the door and opened it as it reveals a very smiley Milo Ellis.

"Good morning, Lorien." He greeted, I smiled back to him then saw Harry and Tybalt and the others inside of the bus.

"Are you ready to go? Oh, good morning aunt Francheska!" Mom smiled to him as Tybalt and the others get down from the bus to greet her.

"I really am happy to have you with us on tour," Milo told me.

"You have been thanking me since last night," I laughed. "You have to stop it," I added.

"Sorry," he scratches the back of his head- so cute! "I was just so happy." He said.

"We're so happy to have you on tour, Lorien!" Harry exclaims and threw his gigantic arms around me, I almost choked if I did not tap him on his upper back.

I suddenly have a bad feeling about this.

Harry finally lets me go as Romeo walked up to me and gave me another hug, Rin did the same but he whispered into my ear, "Tell me, who begged you to come with us?"

"Oh please.." I groaned and he just laughed.

"Don't hesitate to tell me everything," he replied and lets me go, that cheeky smile on his face. I just rolled my eyes on him.

I sighted Tybalt. He was looking back at me, I smiled as he walked up to me and gently wrapped his arms around me.

"We're really, really happy to have you around."

"Thank you," I whispered back to him, "I really thought you would be unhappy though." I added.

"Why would I be unhappy?" He messed with my hair and unwrapped his arms around me as he laughed, "Silly girl."

"Are you guys ready to go?" A man asked us and we all nodded. I looked back to my mom and hugged her for the last time as a tear flows down on my cheek. I told myself I'm not going to cry... ugh.

"I'm going to really miss you, mommy."

"Silly, I'm going to miss you too. Take a very good care of yourself, do you hear me?"

"I will, and I will call you once we get there. I will call you every single day, I promise. Take good care of yourself too, okay?"

"I will, baby."

"I love you, mommy." I said and kissed her on her forehead and on her cheek.

"I love you too."

I felt the bus move and I sat comfortably on this couch having these five guys beside me.

Welcome to tour life, Lorien Daniel.