Before It's Over

It's hard to explain the euphoria you feel when you're asked to play the most successful traveling music festival in the United States. When my band mates and I found out our band, The Forgetting Curve, was playing Warped Tour, all four boys preceded to scream like thirteen year old fan-girls. Don't get me wrong, I was excited too. I just chose to express it by screaming 'holy fuck' at the top of my lungs then standing motionless in my spot.

"Avery," Adam had said. "We're playing Warped! Fucking Warped!" His vocalization brought me out of my trance and I began celebrating with the rest of the guys.

That was two months ago. Now, Adam, Ross, Shane, and my brother Aiden were seated in our newly decorated van, ready to head out on tour. The first venue was in Pomona, California, over one-thousand miles away from our home in Longview, Texas. The drive would last a continuous twenty-one hours with no traffic or pit-stops. So it was mandatory that we leave a day before.

The boys were already rowdy. Adam, who had first driving shift, was bouncing up and down and banging his hands on the steering wheel to The Maine.

Oh, Adam Gallagher. He was our guitarist, and a mighty good one at that. He was Aiden's best friend growing up, and the first to join the band when I started it. He was sort of the nerd in our circle of friends, but, aside from Ross, he had the biggest fan following. I couldn't blame him. Adam had three great attributes that made him so likable. First, Adam was good-looking. He had perfect hair and a cute nose, and he had eyes that would make any girl swoon. They were a light green color and kindness was easily visible in them. Second, he was unbelievably kind. Adam was the most fan-oriented person out of all of us. He tried to meet as many people as he could at every show and was polite and friendly to each fan he met. Not only was he kind to fans, but he got along with just about every band we've toured with so far. I don't think it's possible for Adam to hate anyone, or anyone to hate Adam for that matter. Finally, Adam was talented. Not only did he play guitar, but he also acted as our lyricist and designed merch. Adam was also an amazing photographer and artist. It was not unusual for Adam to ask Ross and I to model for a last minute shoot. Overall, Adam was a great guy.

Shane and Ross were taking turns throwing Gobstoppers across the backseat into each other's mouths and yelling whenever one made it in.

Ross Cessford, vocalist of The Forgetting Curve, also doubled as my best friend since the sixth grade. He was definitely cute, and, therefore, had the biggest fan following out of all of us, I'm sure. His hair was long and styled in an Oli Sykes fashion, and he had blue-gray eyes that held an attractive, mischievous sparkle to them. I would never see him in any other way than platonic. He was like my twin. I could talk to him about anything, and he would listen. He may know me better than my brother does. He has an ability to know what I'm thinking, doing, or thinking about doing. Ross was the most high-spirited of all of us. He is always ready to tour, and the life style fits him like no other. I think he always knew that would happen though. He always wanted to be a musician. I've known him long enough to know that.

Aiden, our manager, merch guy, as well as my brother, was talking animatedly to an oblivious Shane.

Shane Hemming, the last addition to the band, played bass. He always had a tough guy demeanor, though his blond, surfer hair and cutesy lips may off set it. When he auditioned for the band, he kind of scared me. His voice was deep and his eyes were set with an intimidating determination. I had thought he was too hard, too intense to get along with the rest of the band. But through a lucky connection with Adam's girlfriend, we got to meet him again, at a party, and see what a good guy he was. Shane was tough, yes, but when you got to know him, he was more of a fatherly tough. He probably gave off the fatherly vibe because of his family situation. Shane's now widowed mother had twin girls at an elderly age. Shane's little sisters, Jamie and Mackenzie, soon became his top priority. He wanted to help raise them as much as possible. When he came to audition, he was struggling with a part time job and school. He said he loved music and that, even though he seemed busy, he would take the band seriously. He needed this, to make him happier. He was ecstatic when we told him he'd made it in. So, Shane was the 'Band Dad.' Well, that's what I saw him as.

As I sat between the two pairings, dodging flying Gobstoppers, I couldn't help but wish the rowdiness would wear off soon.

;;

"Avery!" My brother's voice said over the music blaring from my headphones. I pulled them down around my neck and looked up to the passenger seat where he was looking at me expectantly.

"Aiden!" I mocked.

"We need to cover a few things before we all start going to bed. Seeing as you're part of the band, you're included, unfortunately," Aiden explained.

I stuck my tongue out at him and he sent me a playful glare. "Wait bed?" I then looked out the front window of the van to see that it was dark outside. It was hard to believe time had passed so quickly. I hoped that these long drives would always seem this short.

"Alright, guys. First on the agenda is driving shifts. Here's the deal. Adam's first today, obviously. Then it's Shane, then me, then Avery, then Ross. We'll have to rotate the schedule twice though, since it’s a long ride. Then tomorrow, Shane will be first and Adam will be last. And so on and so on. The shorter the drive, the shorter your shift. Fourth shift is responsible for gas. Everyone got that?" We nodded collectively. "Awesome. Okay, next. We don't know when we'll be playing so be up early enough to make doors. Van call is determined everyday by yours truly. Be in the van, or we leave you to find your own way. Finally, you guys have yet to figure out a set list. You'll only have enough time for about five songs." When Aiden finished have gave all of us his 'get-it-done' look before turning around in his seat and placing buds in his ears.

My brother was always a huge part of my life. He was there for me at the hardest of times and I loved him for it. Then there were times, of course, when Aiden not only got on my nerves, but the rest of the band's as well. He was bossy at times and bit too organized for our taste. I knew he wanted us to be successful. I also knew that he wanted to be out here on tour so he could protect me. Aiden's biggest flaw, in my book, is his cliche need to protect me. At 23, Aiden was 4 years older than me. He obviously saw the need to watch over me, protect me from not-good-enough-for-Avery boys, and to keep me from hurting myself. But I didn't need him to. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I told him that, he never changed. So, I was here.

I was on this tour. I was going to play my ass off, and help give an amazing live show. I was going to help sell tons of merch with Adam. And I was going to prove to my brother that I could handle this, that I could be an exceptional musician. I was going to prove to him that I didn't need him to watch over me anymore, that I didn't need him anymore.