Run from your problems, but you cannot run from yourself.

The sun peeked through the blinds to check on how we fared. I could feel warm arms draped over me, and at their touch, the memories all came flooding back. Just when the sun seemed warm and inviting, it started to be suffocating.

I gasped as the broke through in my mind. Austin startled next to me and bolted up. His hair was a mess, just like mine. When my breathing turned back to normal, he pulled me into him. I felt his tall, lanky frame engulf my smaller body.

"It's okay." He stroked my hair softly. I nodded and curled into his chest, burying my face into his neck.

"I know." I murmured. He smiled as I calmed down. No, nothing would take him away from me.

"You know what makes me feel better?"

"What?"

"A park." He smiled. I laughed lightly. Austin could always make light of the situation.

"That sounds fun."

"The diva would want to tag along." Austin reminded me. I thought back to my sister and wondered if she had messaged Alan back. Maybe she left her phone somewhere. Austin turned me around to face him and peppered my jaw line with kisses, making his way up to my lips, where he smothered my worry with his calm.

"I love you, Rae. Don't worry about me." He confirmed. I smiled to him.

"I believe you." I answered. Austin finally smiled a genuine, early in the morning, tired-but-damn-i-still-look-hot, crooked grin.

"I have a surprise for you." He tussled my hair gently. I batted his hands away, folding my fingers, crossing them against his.

"What is it?" I asked him. He grinned slyly.

"Saturday, do you have any plans?" He asked me, although he already knew the answer.

"I was planning on visiting this pickle farm for the day." I started. His face fell.

"Really?"

"No, Aus!" I leaned over and kissed the tip of his nose. He shook it away poke me in the side, where I giggled from the tickling.

"Well, Of Mice and Men are performing at a last minute concert, and I just want you to come and get a taste of a California concert." He grinned. I burst out in smiles.

Maybe today would be an awesome day. It was time to put yesterday in the past. Maybe it was empty words. I had to focus on the now.

"That sounds awesome!" I wrapped him in a bear hug. He pulled me from the bed, and I had to wrap my legs around his waist as he got up and started moving downstairs.

"Great, because I've already got you a pit pass, and you can't go to that pickle farm."

"Oh darn." I snapped my fingers. Echo bounced up to me. I stroked her shiny fur as Austin made breakfast.

An hour later, we were driving to the park near the studio. Alan was sitting at the swings, looking kind of lonely. He was happy as he came up to meet us. A few people gave us passing glances as we walked and took up three of the four swings. I kicked my legs, pumping myself into a bit of a motion.

"Hide and seek!" Alan cried unexpectedly. Austin and I looked at him, wondering why he said that.

"You're never to old for a game." He defended. We shrugged.

"NOT IT!" Aus cried out. We followed suit. I was left counting to forty. When I was done, the two overgrown children were no where to be found. It took me a good twenty minutes before I found Aus up a tree and Alan hanging like a spider monkey under the slide. When Austin, I hid by the pond that was near by.

"Rae!" Alan and Austin both called. Aus must've found the ginger pretty quickly. Ten minutes later, they discovered me beneath the bench near the pond.

"I wish I was small enough to fit in there." Aus grumbled. We continued like that until all three of us collapsed on the stairs to the play set. After a moment, Alan decided he had enough energy to slide down five different slides.

As we sat on a hill over looking the pond at the large park, I heard rushing footsteps behind us but thought nothing of it. Aus turned around and sprinted away, I was not so lucky.

"TAG! YOU'RE IT!!" Tino screamed as my he touched my head and went off. An extreme game of tag between Tino (Who had appeared randomly and I still don't know how he found us or what he was doing at the park), Phil who had also randomly appeared, Alan, Aus, and I. I managed to catch Phil as he was slowing down. Phil tagged Aus who got Alan and Alan tagged Tino.

The five of us eventually fell around the pond, each wary of the other. For the moment, I didn't worry that Alan still didn't receive a text from LP, I hadn't gotten word from home, and Austin had got the worrisome letter.

Just relax, Rae. It'll be okay. I told myself over and over. By staring at my band family around me, it seemed like it would be.

Notes

So Rae is completely unaware and oblivious....oh Rae....
LP is stuck in a truck....
Mom is...(We'll see in the next chapter!)

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