Wicked Ties Chapter 3_(1)

Laura tried to shield the phone from the obscenely loud music coming from the entertainment room, or ‘The ER’ as it was dubbed. “Yeah, Jeff, things have been good.”

“Really? Is that why it sounds like someone sound tracked the apocalypse?”

She winced. She really was a terrible liar, and Jeff had a knack for catching her every single time.

“It’s not that bad. Most of the time I just wear earplugs. It turns the sound from pig slaughter to a cat being drowned.”

She heard Jeff laughing on the other end. “I knew you’d be miserable! Tell me again, why did you take this job?”

Because I’m being blackmailed by a deranged sex god who’s currently freelancing as Cobain wannabe, her mind
supplied.

“I don’t know, for the experience.” She tried. “Plus, all my expenses are covered and I don’t even need to make this into a puff piece.”

“Any rock stars come on to you yet?”

“JEFF!” Laura chastised him. “Where the hell did that come from?”

He chuckled. “I was just wondering, seeing as you are the newest addition to their family of groupies…”

“I’m not a groupie.” Laura firmly corrected him. “Besides, most of them are bunking in the second bus.”

It was true. Two days into the tour, Laura hadn’t gotten to know almost anyone. She’d met Daniel, the bands’ manager and Derek’s younger brother on the first day, and he’d quickly familiarized her on the routine. She was hit with flashbacks of the very moment.

(Two days ago)

As she approached the first chrome-colored monstrosity, she started feeling nervous for the first time. She wasn’t nervous about the tour itself, but about seeing Derek. What did he even expect of her? She wasn’t going to sleep with him again! She hoped it wouldn’t come up, though knowing him…
Laura stood before the larger of the two buses, unsure of what to do. Was she supposed to knock? Before she could make an educated guess, the doors opened, and a man with spiked, honey-colored hair walked out. As she looked him over, she immediately recognized him as the man who’d chased Derek’s blonde floozie at their first New York gig.

“Hey!” He said, waving at her awkwardly.

She raised an eyebrow. Clad in a leather jacket, skinny jeans, and a pair of combat boots, he had no right to sound so unsure of himself.

Laura waved back at him sarcastically, “Hey!”

The man looked down, his hazel eyes suddenly filled with discomfort, and Laura actually felt bad for him. Why was she being such a bitch? Just because Derek had wronged her, didn’t mean she had the right to take it out on others.

She sighed, “I’m sorry. I’m being so rude. I’m Laura.”

The young man looked back up with a new spark in his eyes, “I’m Daniel…”

She smirked. “Derek’s brother, 22 years old. You graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale with a degree in business, only to become a manager at your brother’s band. How’d that happen?”

He chuckled. “Looks like I don’t have to fill you in after all. To answer your question, I wanted to help out.”

“That’s noble of you. Playing big brother to your big brother just so he can practice his stage diving.” Laura noted dryly, she had no qualms about being rude when it came to Derek.

He shook his head, amused. “It isn’t that bad. I like the freedom it brings me.”

“How so?” She narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to decipher his words.

Daniel shrugged. “Derek lets me do whatever I want, as long as it’s good for business. Thanks for convincing him to bring you along. I owe you big time for that.”

Laura looked at him in shock, “I did what?”

“He told us that you gave him an incentive of some kind…?” Daniel seemed to appear more and more confused.

Laura felt her cheeks grow red. “Yeah, I just gave him a speech about how important this article is, and the exposure it’ll bring him.”

Daniel smiled happily, and Laura didn’t know if she felt worse for lying, or worse for him being gullible enough to believe her. He was like…A cartoon character, too innocent for his own good. How he shared DNA with Derek, she would never know.

“Great!” He said. “Let me take you inside, I’ll introduce you to the crew. Here, I can take your bags.”
Laura let him take them for her, her arms hurting after carrying them for a while. She followed him up the stairs, until they reach a long, wide passage. Her eyes widened. She’d had no idea how spacious the bus truly was.

She immediately picked up on the differences between a normal bus and their tour bus. She spotted a few foam mattresses, and several couches for lounging around, where the bus seats were supposed to be. She also paid attention to the closed doors she could see surrounding her on both sides.

“How can you guys afford these things?” She asked, unable to resist.

Daniel smiled as he urged her to follow him. “I can drive a decent bargain.”

She rolled her eyes. At first glance, the man walking heading of her was quite possibly the least argumentative individual she’d ever met. He was like a mix between Gandhi and a Care Bear. “I’ll bet.”

“This is our common space.” He motioned to the bean bags, couches, and mattresses lying around on the sides. “See those doors on the right side? Small bedrooms. On the right, is the bathroom.”

“Wow.” Laura said, taking in the grungy but vast interior. It was like she’d stepped into Wonderland, or possibly a Harry Potter novel.

“Come on, the guys are in the entertainment room.” He said, pointing to the door right at the end of common space.

Laura cringed. She had no interest in meeting them. If they were anything like Derek…She shook the thought out of her head and steeled herself. As they reached the end of the passage, Daniel pushed the door open.