When I blinked my eyes open, I noticed two things.

First: Austin was gone. Second: The bus had stopped moving.

The familiar hum of the tires had disappeared and I was left alone in my bunk. The warm arms around me that had carried on through my dreams were gone and I was snuggled up in the black blanket Bells had given to me.

Wiggling around, I found a PIANO OR DIE shirt tucked at the corner of my bunk. It was stuffed between my two charging laptops. Changing into the grey top, I twisted around and found a clean pair of shorts before settling back down and checking my texts. There was nothing new besides the fact I had a coupon for Chili’s. With a sigh, I closed my email.

I started to climb out of bed and yawn. Sitting on the edge of my bunk, I debated either just going back to sleep or moving to the front lounge and sleeping. The front seemed nice so I stumbled there and plopped down on the black seats.

“Well it’s good to see you’re up!” Aaron said. I looked over to see the man making a bowl of cereal. He shook out the noisy frosted flakes as I closed my eyes again.

“Almost up.” I laughed weakly. I could hear everyone move around the bus.

“So we’re in Portland and it’s nine in the morning.” Alan mumbled as he entered the room.

“Cereal?” Aaron offered both of us. I shook my head, not feeling hungry.

“Oh, R, Jack called and said he had to cancel coffee. He feels bad but they’re running a little behind schedule.” The ginger glanced up from his phone. I frowned. The coffee meeting was going to be the highlight of the day!

“Oh darn.” I quickly responded, trying to hide the disappointment from my voice. Alan through me a small smile and I closed my eyes again. Austin came from his bunk. It looked like he had just showered, changed, and had been reading any tweets.

“Hey, Aus.” I grumbled. He smiled and sat on the couch next to me.

“Hey. I heard your meeting with Jack got canceled.” He said sadly. I nodded, trying not to think about it. Jack and Alex had been pretty good friends throughout the entire Warped Tour and I was missing them already!

“Yeah.” I muttered.

“So we have a surprise for you today, since coffee got canceled.” Austin responded, trying to take a more optimistic approach. The clouds looked rainy and threatening today.

“Oh really? Would this be the surprise that you took my laptop for?” I grumbled, peering up to him.

“Maybe….” Phil chuckled from beside the microwave. I was a little curious now. I sat up, peering at Aus and begging to know what it was.

“Patience, eager beaver!” He grinned and ruffled my hair. I groaned at the anticipation but resolved myself for waiting in anxiousness.

So when the door knocked an hour later, I immediately perked up as the bus fell quiet. Aaron checked his watch.

“I believe that’s the surprise….” He trailed off, winking to me. Who could it be? The door opened, letting in a gust of cold air. Nubby the nub tingled faintly.

Something hit the first step of the bus and sneezed.

“Is that….” I gasped in amazement. No, could I really get my hopes up? Thudding sounds followed as something heavy bounced up the three steps and into the front lounge

Jake da Pug stood there, looking blind, fat, and confused.

“JAKE!” I screeched. His curly little tail wiggled in excitement as his dark eyes searched for me. I hoped he didn’t fall down the stairs again! Jack and Alex appeared, grinning at the sight.

“WOOF!” He barked loudly and I leapt off the couch. Jake heard my advancing steps and started panting in excitement. He sneezed a couple of times.

It was pug speak for, I missed you so much!

I felt hot tears prick at my eyes as I knelt down and Jake felt for my general direction. As soon as he got close enough, I picked the fat pug into my arm and held him on my lap. He sneezed into my PIANO OR DIE shirt and then tucked his flat nose into my shoulder, butt still wiggling happily. When Jake got overly excited, his tail didn’t just wiggle, his entire back end did a little shake.

“Oh bud, I missed you!” I muttered into his fur, holding him tightly.

“We missed you to!” Jack and Alex laughed. I smiled up to them, pushing back all the feelings of longing for my dog. He was finally here with me!

“Hey guys. So I’m guessing coffee is still canceled?” I laughed merrily. Jake sneezed at the prospect of the liquid energy. Blind pugs plus caffeine didn’t mix well!

“Well, we actually brought coffee with us!” Alex said and set down a tray of drinks. Jake relaxed in my arm, the laziness returning to his system. I had to wrap my entire right arm around him to support the heavy weight.

“Yay for caffeine!” Aaron cheered. He always enjoyed a good shot now and then. Jake put his head on my left shoulder and I used all the strength in Nubby the nub to try and hold him still.

“So how have you been?” Jack asked, finally sitting down in one of the chairs and glancing to me. His eyes went wide. Alex quickly followed suit as they saw my lack of a left arm.

I ducked my head in Jake’s fur and mumbled my answer. “Good.” I responded softly. Nobody answered. I could tell that Austin was staring at the two ATL boys. We all wondered what they would say.

“Well, that’s awesome! Austin said that you could use a special friend and since we were already coming from Maryland, we said that we could pick him up!” Jack answered brightly, as if nothing had happened. I smiled a little.

“So this is what you were using my laptop for?” I laughed. Austin exhaled his held breath and nodded.

“We Skyped Arestino and then got in contact with these guys!” He explained. I nodded and snuggled Jake closer to me. He sneezed and then sighed.

“So we got you your new member for the band!” Alex joined in. They really didn’t care what I looked like or what I was missing! I was relieved at that.

“Wait, Jake is permanent?” I asked. Tino nodded viciously. He always loved the pug, ever since he saw Jake napping in the window of the restaurant.

“Well of course!” Aaron laughed. I smiled.

“We got the rest of his stuff in the car. Dog bed, collar, leash, treats….” Alex listed off.

“Wait, treats?” I asked. Jake perked up, his nose twitching at the sound.

“Yeah, we picked him up some in Utah.” Jack said. I sighed.

“They spoiled you, didn’t they, bug?” I asked. Jake just sneezed, like he was guilty of a crime. Jack and Alex looked away, pretending like they hadn’t just given my dog a whole box of treats.

“So much flub to love.” I muttered. Well, there goes a few weeks of walks down the drain. I tried not to give Jake too many treats because of his weight.

“Jake is our official mascot for the band.” Austin declared firmly. I still couldn’t believe that they had stolen my laptop, contacted Arestino, the boys, and had gotten my dog here! Jake sniffed again, as if reading my thoughts.

“So how old is Jake?” Alex asked me. The pug squirmed out of my arms and teetered around the carpet, sniffing the couch while his curly tail spun in circles.

“Only about eight.” I responded. The dog pushed into Alan’s leg, looking up in the general direction of the man.

“Jake, from State Farm.” Alan muttered, pleased with the new addition.

“He wears kakis.” I responded.

“Well he sounds hideous.” Phil added. We were all trying to hide our smirks and laughs.

“Well, he is a PUG, so…” And with us finished quoting a commercial, our small group laughed. Jake sneezed and panted, the corners of his mouth turned up in a pug smile.

For a moment, it seemed as if nothing was wrong and I had no more worries.

Notes

So I finished up this chapter today and we get to know what the surprise is!!! Jake da Pug is now the official dog for OM&M! I owe a big thanks to I_Ship_KalanXD for writing me a one shot (Which you should really check out. It's called One Shots for the One and Only You!) It really made my day and made me laugh a lot. So thanks!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I'll try to write more later!!