“Ready, Rae?”

An arm slung around my shoulder and I turned to see Alan smiling brightly at me through his sunglasses.

“Why do you reek?” I asked scrunching my nose at the foul odor coming from his mouth.

“I had onions in my omelet this morning.” He giggled. “Is it that bad?”

“Yeah, stop!” I said pushing him off me as he tried even hard to breathe on me.

“You two are fighting already!” Tino asked as he walked by carrying three duffle bags towards the bus. “It’s going to be a long two months!”

“I’m only here a week!” I said crossing my arms in defense.

Alan laughed giving me a push on the shoulder as Maddie pulled up a few parking spaces down. He ran off to greet her and help her with her bags. Sighing and adjusted my Vera Bradley backpack on my shoulders and made my way onto the bus. Space was certainly going to be tight with everyone’s girlfriend on board for the next week, but I knew we’d be able to manage.

“Raegan, that backpack is so cute.” I turned to see Amanda, Aaron’s girlfriend smiling brightly.

“Thank you!” I said excited she had noticed.

“Babe, I put your guitar in the back lounge.” Austin said coming towards us and pointing over his shoulder.

“Thanks,” I said smiling at him.

“I’m glad you’re here.” He said pushing my hair away from my shoulders. Even though everyone was bustling around us getting ready for the bus to leave, I couldn’t help but feel like Austin and I were completely alone.

The tour started without a hitch. We made it up to Seattle and the show was insane. It was so great to be side stage again, watching the boys in action. I was glad that Maddie and I had become friends finally and I was even happier that she was there along with Amanda, Jenn, and Anouk. The five of us spent the days going out to eat and shopping while the boys were doing press stuff. It was great to feel a part of a family again and almost kept my mind away from my anxiety. Almost.

I was trying my best not to use, and I had been doing well so far but was finding the temptation getting stronger and stronger. I came around to the front of the venue where they had just let the fans in. I needed air and some space from everyone. There was a young girl sitting on the curb outside, tears streaming down her face as she tried desperately to wipe them away.

“Hey,” I said slowly walking up to her. She looked up to me sniffling her nose and trying her best to stop crying.

“Hi…”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Helen…”

“What’s wrong Helen?” I slowly sank down on the curb next to her. “Are you here for the show?”

She laughed and shook her head. “I was.”

“What do you mean?”

“My mom drove me two hours to this. I was supposed to meet a friend and I got here and she wouldn’t give me the ticket I paid for. She had her new boyfriend with her and she gave him my fucking ticket!”

Tears racked her body again.

“Are you kidding me? Hey, don’t worry. I’ll take care of this.” I said pulling out my phone.

“What are you going to do?” She scoffed.

But I was already on the phone with Justin, the tour manager asking if there was a way I could get a laminate for the night. He directed me to the venue security and after I begged they still said no.

“Alright, come on.” I said standing up and dusting off my pants.

“Where are we going?”

“Don’t ask questions, follow me, and pretend you know what you’re doing.” I said with a smile.

She gave me a questioning look but followed my lead as we walked back into the parking area where
the buses were.

“We can’t go back here.” She hissed at me as I marched through waving at one of the security guys I had talked to earlier when we had first arrived.

“You don’t know who I am do you?” I asked feeling amused that finally there was an Of Mice & Men fan who didn’t instantly recognize me.

“You look familiar…” Helen admitted keeping her gaze down.

I stopped and turned to her. “I’m Raegan.” I said shaking her hand. “It’s really nice to be a stranger to someone again.”

She gave me a weird smile not quite understanding yet but went along with me. I opened the door of the venue and peeked my head in looking both ways.

“Come on!” I said hurrying her inside. We made our way down the dark hallway towards the green room before I realized something. “Do you want anything from the merch table?”

“I was going to get something…” Helen admitted.

Turning on my heel I headed in the opposite direction.

“Raegan, where are we going!” Helen asked.

“Rae?....” Justin was heading towards us and he stopped in his tracks as we met in the hallway. “Is
that?...”

“Shhh…” I said with a smile.

“Did you sneak her in here?” He asked dropping his voice.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you guys later but Austin and the guys wouldn’t have wanted her to sit outside the venue crying all night.”

“Don’t get us caught, please, for the love of god.” Justin mumbled continuing on his way.

“You’re Austin’s girlfriend…aren’t you?” Helen asked trying to catch up with me.

“Yeah.” I laughed.

We arrived at the merch table where I told the guys working to let her do get whatever she wanted, with discount. Helen picked out a few things smiling so wide, the smile on her face making me feel at ease for once.

“Helen?!”

We both looked up to see a chubby girl with an unfortunate looking boy holding her hand standing in line for the merch table.

“Oh hi, Sam!” Helen mocked. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“How the fuck did you get in here?”

“Come on Helen!” I interjected before things got ugly. “We have to go meet the band in the green room before they go on!”

I sent Sam a little wave as I directed Helen back towards the hallway we had come down leaving Sam standing in utter shock.

“This is the best night ever!” Helen gushed as I knocked on the green room door. I peeked my head in attempting to make sure they weren’t doing an interview.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Phil asked with a laugh making everyone turn to look and allowing
Tino to win whatever Xbox game he was playing against Alan.

“YES!” Tino screamed. "UR BOI WINS AGAIN!"

“You lost me the game, Rae! Thanks for being a weirdo!”

“I was making sure you weren’t doing an interview! I have someone for you to meet!” I said opening the door wide and stepping into the room and allowing Helen to come in after me. “Guys, this is Helen. Helen, this is Of Mice & Men.”

Helen burst into tears a moment later and Austin stood up pulling her into a hug and asking her to stop crying with a laugh. Slowly she regained her composure and began to chat idly with the guys.

“Where did you meet this girl?” Alan whispered only loud enough for Austin and I to hear.

“I found her crying, sitting on the curb outside the venue. Her mom drove her two hours to be here and her douchebag friend gave her ticket to someone else. I couldn’t leave her outside and I couldn’t get her a pass or a ticket so I snuck her in.” I shrugged. Austin smiled wide and kissed my temple.
Helen and I stood side stage for the show; she was practically in tears the whole night. Austin even had her come out and sing Second & Sebring with him. I couldn’t help but giggle at what Sam was thinking now.

After the show I walked her out to where her mom was parked and she explained to her mom everything that I had done for her. Helen gave me a big hug before getting into the car.

I turned slowly on my heel and started making my way back to where the buses were. Austin was standing by the gates in the darkness, a smile on his face.

“That was pretty rad you did that today.” He said as I came closer to him.

“It was really anything.” I said with a shrug.

“Well it means a lot to me that you take care of my fans like that.” He explained. “It’s just another reason for me to love you.” He pulled me into his arms placing a kiss on the tip of his nose. “’Cause you’re so perfect.”