Alan's pov:

Four whole months. That's how long it's been since I've seen Hazel Hendrix after going almost everyday seeing her. I never really did even get to say goodbye to her. And I think she got a new number or something because I tried an endless amount of times to get ahold of her.

I didn't even know where she went and once we release our new album, I was too busy to constantly try to figure out what was up with her. Until now.

My phone was pressed up against my ear, ringing as I bounced my leg up and down. "Hello?" Sam answered.

"Hey, man! It's Alan."

"Hey!" He said back, seeming a little excited that I called. Whew, that's a relief. I had no idea what kind of terms we were on. "What's up, dude?! How's it been going?"

"It's been real good. Busy, but good," I chuckle, rubbing at the stubble on my chin.

"Yeah, I heard about your new album you guys are about to release! Pretty exciting."

"Definitely. But how have things been with you? It's been a while..." I sigh the last part, I would have liked to keep in contact with him. But everything truly did fall apart that last day of Warped.

"It's been alright. Nothing too big like releasing a whole new album like you guys," he chuckles. "But still good."

"That's cool. How are things going with your band?" I was being vague with the question, but I still was interested.

"Eh, they're barely going. We've been basically just writing and recording some new stuff. Hopefully we can start releasing something soon, but with Hazel in Washington, it's hard to do over the phone," he laughs again, but I know he wishes Hazel wasn't so far away.

"Yeah... That's actually while I'm calling," I say lowly, peeking over at the bag that sits on my bed next to me before rubbing my fingers over my temple. "I'm actually headed out to Washington tomorrow for a funeral and I know it's short notice, but I was going to see if you guys needed a ride down there. I've got some news for you..."

*
So now here we were, sitting on Hazel's couch, talking to her sister who had just shoved Hazel out the door because we not only wanted to talk to her and her dad first, but also because Sydney was afraid Hazel wasn't ready to see us.

But that all went to shit when we heard the door open and footsteps hurry down towards us. "Syd! I forgot my wallet so I came back to-"

I almost forgot what Hazel's voice sounded like, but I didn't get to hear it much before she stopped dead in her tracks, staring at us with wide eyes and a slack jaw.

It was silent for a while, everyone waiting for someone else to say something, but no one knew what. So I took this time to actually look at Hazel.

She looked... different. In a good way.

Her hair was different, I can tell that, but I wasn't able to tell exactly how since it was in a messy bun at the top of her head. It looked almost more like she was a red head, the freckles that were more prominent on her face only second that. Had I not noticed them before? Or has it just been that long?
And from what I could tell, she was more heavily tattooed, too. I instantly wondered what new ones she got, but then got distracted by the tiny glint from one of her also, very new piercings. Damn.
She even looked like she was stronger.. Like not only is her stature a lot more strong and defined, but she doesn't look sick and unhealthy like she did the last time I saw her.

She looked really fucking good. And I missed her.

So I didn't stop from hopping out of my seat and running up to tackle her in a hug.


Hazel's pov:

I wasn't even able to process exactly what was happening until I was crushed into a hug by Alan who was smiling like an idiot. "Hazel!" He called out and then the next thing I know, Sammy, Kush, and Izzy are coming over, making it a giant group hug.

I could help the disbelieving laugh that slipped out of my lips as I was nearly crushed to death by them all. "Guys... Can't... Breathe..."

"Oh," they all laughed and backed away, giving me a chance to catch my breath. I looked at all of them, going from face to face. They all looked so different.

Kush must have been working out even more because I'm sure his arm was like the size of my head, Sammy must have been working out with him because he was definitely not as scrawny as before, Izzy died her hair and pushed her boobs up more, and Alan's hair was longer, swept to the side while he had a shadow of stubble on his chin and jaw.

Wow. I missed them.

"Wh-What are you guys doing here?" I ask, stuttering a bit as I looked to Alan especially. I understood why maybe my band came, but why him? Was he here?

I pushed the thought away as soon as I thought it. There's no way.

"What, we can't visit you?" Sammy asked, teasing as he lifted an eyebrow.

"No, no, of course you can! I just... Wow, I wasn't expecting it," I breathe out, laughing a bit. "It's really good to see you guys," I shake my head and we all hug again, but this time individually.

"It's good to see you too," Izzy smiles. "Come sit down," she nods her head over to the couch in my living room and we head over there. We all pile down onto the couch and chairs, Syd moving to give everyone room.

"Did we actually need milk?" I ask her and she starts to laugh as she shakes her head no. I roll my eyes at her, sitting on the couch next to her with Sammy at my side. Alan sat across from me in one of the chairs while next to him on the small love seat was Kush and Izzy.

"So how have things been?" I ask, not knowing who to look at first.

"They've been good..." Sammy says, nodding. "What about you? How's it been?"

"Uh," I start, deciding what to say. "I've been really good, believe it or not," I smile. Okay, so maybe I left out how terrible things were at the beginning and completely forgot to mention rehab or the struggles here... But they still get the point.

"That's nice to hear," Izzy smiles, everyone nodding as we fall into a peculiar silence.

I squint my eyes at them, looking around to try and figure out what's up. They all are looking back at me in the silence that lingers, and by the awkwardness of it, I know that there is a reason they are here. "Okay, what is going on?" I ask, raising my eyes brows so they would explain.

They all look at each other before finally, someone speaks up.

"We have an offer for you, Hazel. And before you shut us down completely, we want to tell you now to keep an open mind. You don't have to give us an answer right away, but we still want you to hear us out," Sammy says, the seriousness in his voice making me very, very curious.

"Okay..." I mumble, looking around at all their faces to see if any of them would give away what they were about to say. They don't. Sammy just looks over to Alan, signaling to him that it's his turn to talk.

Okay. What the hell is happening?

"So I don't know if you know this, but my band and I are about to release a new album.." Alan starts and I nod, signaling for him to continue. "And that means we are going to be touring.."

"Okay, what's your point?" I ask quickly, anxious to know what's up and not really trying to think too hard about their new album. I knew about it, but wouldn't allow myself to listen to it. I'm not that stupid.

"Right now we have a headlining tour in America planned with Bring Me, Issues, and Let Live... But the thing is, We Came as Romans were supposed to be coming with us, but they aren't able to make it, which leaves a spot open on the tour..." Alan is slow with his words, careful because he doesn't know how I'll react.

Actually, I don't even know how to react. I'm just staring at him speechless.

"And our tour manager can't seem to find anyone to fill the spot... So I thought..."

"You thought you'd ask us," I finish for him, now completely staring off into space.

"Yeah.." he nods.

Holy shit.

"It's a great opportunity, Hazel," Kush adds. "Not only to get ourselves back on the wagon, but also to get our band out there and give the world a taste of us. It could be killer, just imagine... The American Dream Tour."

I gulp. A tour. Not any tour, but a tour with four very, very popular bands that would help get our band's name out there. I want so bad to just jump right at the opportunity and cheer and be excited, but there's a problem.

One of those bands is Of Mice and Men.

And one of those people is Austin.

Right.

"Hazel, can I talk to you for a minute?" Sydney asks, breaking the silence I left everybody in.

She didn't even give me a chance to respond before she grabs onto my upper arm and pulls me up from the couch, leading me down to where the staircase was so they couldn't hear us. "Hazel, look, I know this may be scary and crazy, but you've got to keep an open mind. This will be good for you. You should go."

I was a little shocked. Why was she so willing to let me go? "B-But what about you? And Dad? I can't leave you again. I can't just-"

"Hazel," she cut me off sternly, almost scolding me. "I love you."

Her words got me to sigh out, reaching up to pinch the bridge of my nose. "I love you, too, Syd. But-"

"No buts," she gave me a look, but then her face softened and she sighed. "I should tell you something..." She started, moving past me to go into my dad's office, reaching over his shoulder to grab something off of his desk. When she comes back, she hands it to me without a word.

I'm hesitant, looking to her with confusion, but then finally down to it. It's a brochure, what the hell? My eyebrows furrow together and I reach down to grab it, my eyes widening once I saw what it was.

"I know it's past the starting date, but they said they were still taking applications since it's just a community college," as she speaks, my eyes are glued at the paper. "So... I sent mine in..."

My eyes snapped up to her, mouth finding it hard to get the words out. "You.. Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. I wasn't hurt, just confused. This was all happening so fast.

Syd graduated from high school right before I went to Warped last year, so technically, she should be in college right now. But she refused to go, said she wasn't planning to in the first place because she said she had to take care of dad. That's one of the main reasons I'm taking all the responsibility; so she can go to college eventually.

"I didn't know how to tell you," she looks down at her feet. "I didn't want you to be mad."

I back down to the brochure in disbelief. "Syd, I could never be mad about this. This is great."

Syd looks back up to me with hopeful eyes, grinning. "It's just a start until I can get everything together. I'll go for just the year, and then, hopefully, I can get into somewhere better."

This is actually so fucking awesome. I smile a bit, but then it walls when one thing weighs on my mind heavily. "What about dad?"

Syd sighs, hesitant to look back up at me. "Hazel, you know if anything, he's just getting worse," her words make me frown, but I nod. I know, I just don't like to talk about it. "He's getting past our level of care and we both know it. He needs something better and I know a place that he can get it," she speaks quietly so he didn't hear, but also because it's hard to say. Deep down I already know what she will say; I've thought it myself. "The hospital has a great facility for the physically and mentally ill.. They're really nice there and they'll take good care of him... There are lots of people with problems like dad's Schizophrenia and he really needs it. He needs to be watched over 24/7 and we can't always do that Hazel. We can't take care of him like they can, not anymore."

Her words have me bitting my lip to keep back tears, especially when I notice the ones rimming her eyes. I nod, trying to stop the bastards from falling.

"If we really love him and want him to stay better, we have to do this for him," she says so quietly, her voice trembling as tears pour over her eyes. It's so fucking hard to say, even think. I mean, he's our dad... We've tried this whole time to rid our minds of the fact that he's getting so bad, but we can't do that anymore. It's not good for any of us.

"I know," my lip trembles and I nod, which Syd returns right before we both crush each other in a hug.

"Everything's going to work out, Hazel. It will all be fine," she speaks softly into my ear, stuttering a bit. I nod again, squeezing my baby sister tight to me. We hugged for a while, neither of us willing to let go because we both know things are going to be changing soon, and quickly at that.

But finally we both lean away, laughing as we wipe off our eyes.

"Go on this tour, Hazel. Do it for me," she says and I take in a deep breath at her words.

I have no reason not to go at this point. Well, besides Aus-

No.

Why am I letting this effect me? Why am I letting him effect me?

I'm strong. I've moved past him. I've survived without him so he should have no impact on my life or my happiness anymore. He's not gona ruin this for me or my band. I won't let him.

I. Will. Not. Let. Him.

"Okay," I speak, almost in a whisper as I nod.

"OKAY?!" I hear Kush, Izzy, Alan, and Sammy all yell at the same time, making me jump nearly a foot in the air as I spun to see them standing at the other end of the hallway. I couldn't even be mad at them for eavesdropping.

I laughed aloud, nodding a bunch of times. "Okay! I said okay! We're going on the fucking American Dream Tour!" I throw my arms up into the air and they all cheer, running over to tackle Syd and I into a giant hug that nearly knocks us off our feet.

"We're going on the American Dream Tour!" We all yell out again in pure excitement. This is happening.

I said I was ready for something new, and well, I got it.

Notes

The American Dream Tour!!! Woo! How do you think that will go down?

I totally uploaded this chapter on a limb guys I hope it's not too bad I'm just in a rush to go out and wanted to get something up for y'all:)

Sorry for the lack of Austin, but he will be coming in very soon! I just want to do another chapter or two getting things sorted out with Hazel before she heads off! Hopefully you guys wont mind some time with Alan? :p

Thank you all so much for the comments and votes! They are seriously the best motivation to write ever so keep 'em up! I hope you guys enjoy!:)