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I returned to the roos and two Ibuprofen forher head or not, but I figured she would need theover she probably had fro anyway

We sat quietly on the bed, sipping our coffee and staring out the big pictureat the back of the bus in the private bedrooen The bus drove slowly on the narrow roads as we passed block after block of low-rise buildings, s were architecturally stunning and painted a myriad of beautiful colors Church steeples punctuated the skyline between the yellow, burnt orange and aqua blue historic buildings Only a few modern hotels marred the quaint charm of the beautiful, historical city

Sienna and I were probably en We were scheduled to perform at an outdoor summer music festival instead of a typical theatre, unlike all the other venues on the tour It was one of Europe’s greatest rock es Before we departed, the tour inally scheduled to play on one of the ses, but the festival had just est of the six stages Apparently, the tour was gaining popularity as we traveled and they expected too e here thearea could accoers, Sienna and I had drea to the festival We’d even priced out tickets the year we turned eighteen, but neither of us had been able to afford it We loved the idea of playing at a big festival, but just being able to be a part of it as spectators was enough to be a drea for the tour busses was in the ca with the fans Unlike Justin and Kyle, most people still didn’t knoe were, so at least until it was our turn to play we could enjoy the festival in relative anonymity

Sienna and Kyle were especially excited at the stop, as they both planned to join the "nude run," an annual tradition held on the Saturday of the four day festival The run was an organized activity where people literally ran around the campsites buck nad and one male and one female would be selected to win tickets to the next year’s festival The two of the theht that activity would be more fun to observe

Sienna and I spent the entire day watching bands and eating food on sticks, some of which I wasn’t even sure what it was Some of the day we spent with Kyle and Justin and the other h the festival with so raphs and pictures More than a few lifted their shirts to reveal bare skin and requested that they each sign a breast, which the guys happily obliged The day was a lot of fun, although I did notice that Justin kept his distance fromfor fans with Double Strife, Sienna and I decided to ditch the theet, I doubted they would even notice for a few hours

The rest of the afternoon Sienna and I watched bands and danced together and I couldn’t have asked for a better, more laid-back day -- except, of course, if at the end of it I was going houys in ti how uys fro out Sienna was going to participate Sienna, of course, would be the only woroup, but that didn’t seem to bother her at all

Justin and I watched the nude run together, both laughing hysterically as drunk people ran around, falling often The run had becorounds were rassy campsite area slippery and muddy The messy conditions see

Although we didn’t talk ot to spend a little tihthearted fun There had definitely been a tension between us the last week and people on the tour had been starting to notice

After the nude run festivities wrapped up,at the beer tent I politely declined, as my throat had becoun to co, I thought it best to forego the evening festivities and call it an early night I was excited to play the next day and wanted everything to be perfect

Back on the tour bus I ht The ca area was loud outside, but a little soft oing on around me I called Jack and filled him in on the day’s antics and he toldin the ed as he toldin the sa that Jack unequivocally avoided at all costs

He planned to do a tento work off so to spend hours so close to his father He had basically disowned his father years ago when hisof cancer and his father had traipsed around toith a bevy ofwife Since then, he tolerated his father only when absolutely necessary and restricted any interactions to solely business Things had got progressively worse in the last few months, after Jack’s father had interfered innew had happened to cause the current ani told me that it was best left for another time, perhaps ere in person

We talked on the phone for over an hour, and as ere beginning to make plans to talk the next day, there was a knock at the bus door I stayed on the phone with Jack as I unlocked it, expecting to find a drunk Sienna on the other side But instead it was Justin Justin didn’t speak, he stood outside and waited for me to invite him in I told Jack that I would call hio over the plans, and we both said goodnight I hated to lie to Jack, but I kne he felt about Justin and he had enough on hisin the

Justin waited outside the door to the bus, withup the phone

"Can I come in, Syd?"

I was leery at first, but then stepped aside while still holding the door, silently accepting his request I knew Jack wouldn’t like ht be best to clear the tension between us I thought about my promise to Jack not to haveas we stayed in the coine that it would be possible to spend three more months on tour with Justin and not sit in the front of the bus together at some point It was best to clear the air and move forith less tension between us

Justin sat down and we both began to speak at the sahed, almost nervously, and an aard silence followed

"You first," he said

"I was just going to ask why you weren’t out at the beer tent partying with the others"

"Oh The beer party turned into an autograph signing party so I got out at the first lull in the line"

I suess so" Justin ran his fingers through his hair His body language let on that the constant attention actually bothered hi to say, Justin?"

Justin pushed his hands into his pocket and looked down, playing with a s at his feet His movement re to histo apologize for acting like a jackass lately" He looked up at limpse of the old Justin that I’d known