Carpe Diem

“Taylor? Taylor wake up.” Hayden said as she shook my shoulders roughly.

“Wh-What time is it?” I mumbled as I opened my eyes slowly.

“Four Thirty, Kid. I figured I’d wake you up now so you could make sure you had everything for yourself and Kade, plus you have time to have a few coffees before we leave.” She chuckled as she let go of my shoulders.

“Oh, aren’t you considerate.” I grinned as I sat up.

“Very much so, now get up and get excited, we’re going on tour!” She exclaimed.

We were going on tour.

I chuckled as I rolled my eyes playfully before pushing the covers off me and making my way to my wardrobe and opened it, pulling out the remaining pair of sweatpants and Hollister hoodie I’d left in there, along with my Chuck Taylors, I was only going to go back to sleep, there was no need to make an effort so early in the morning.

“I’ll meet you downstairs in five.” I grinned as I spun on my heel and walked into my bathroom to change.

I brushed my teeth quickly so I wouldn’t need to do it later and packed up my toothbrush and all the other necessities I’d need for the next three weeks, as well as my make-up. I decided against putting it on so early as I’d only be going back to sleep anyway. I walked back into my room and shoved my shorts and tank top in my suitcase, as well as my makeup bag and all the other bits and pieces before zipping it up for the final time. I slung my backpack over my left shoulder and picked up my two suitcases in each hand before making my way to the door, managing to open it somehow and sliding out quickly, making my way across the stairway and down the stairs. I didn’t see the point in waking Kade up yet, considering we still had over an hour.

“You have TWO suitcases?!” Hayden exclaimed as she walked over to me with a mug of coffee in her hand.

“Hey! Only one of them is for me, the other’s filled with all of Kade‘s clothes and necessities, and a few toys.” I laughed.

She laughed and shook her head, outstretching the mug in her hand “Here” She said as she handed me the mug.

“Thank you!” I grinned as I drank some of the hot liquid.

“You rely too much on Caffeine.” She said as she rolled her eyes playfully.

“It’s the love of my life.” I laughed.

She chuckled in response. “How are you feeling now?” She questioned.

“I’m okay, I guess it’d happen someday, regardless of this tour.” I shrugged, trying to think optimistically.

“Precisely, this tour is going to be so good! I can’t wait to see everyone again.” She exclaimed as she jumped up and down excitedly.

“You and me both! Hey, don’t you find it strange how Adam’s in a long term relationship? He’s like the one person who’s incapable of holding one down.” I laughed.

“You’re not jealous, are you?” She smirked.

“Of course I’m not jealous, it’s been four years Hayden, four years!” I scoffed.

“Mhm.” She winked.

“Don’t “mhm” me! I’m not jealous, I have nothing to be jealous about!” I defended.

“Riiiight.” She continued.

“If you don’t shut the fuck up there’s going to be war.” I warned playfully.

“But come on, you must feel..something? I know you didn’t tell him Taylor, but you were in love with him too.” She stated.

“I’m happy for him, I left and maybe I shouldn’t have just left like that, but it’s done, I can’t change it. I admit I did feel something for him, yeah.” I sighed.

“That’s not good enough. You loved him, Taylor.”

I knew she wasn’t going to quit anytime soon.

“Fine, okay? Fine. I loved him!” I exclaimed.

“Loved who?” Collin asked as he shut the door behind him quietly. Damnit, I forgot we’d given him a spare key, I’d never regretted it so much than in that instant.

“No-one of importance.” I laughed.

Obviously I’d told Collin about Adam, but not to the extent that the feelings between us were mutual, I just didn’t feel it was relevant, after all it was a long time ago and those feelings were buried, he was happy and so was I, there was nothing more to it.

“Oh you’re going to start keeping things from me again, are you?” He scoffed playfully.

“No Collin, it’s just not important. It was a long time ago.” I laughed.

“Then there’s no reason to hide it, come on, please?” He whined.

“I’m going to go and get Kade up.” I winked as I ran out of the kitchen.

“Taylor!” Collin yelled after me as I chuckled to myself, walking up the stairs.

I opened the door of Kade’s room quietly to see him stir and sit up.

“Mommy why are you awake? The sun isn’t up.” He mumbled as he rubbed his eyes with his small fists.

“I know the sun’s not up baby, but we’re going somewhere.” I chuckled as I made my way over to him and lifted him up into my arms.

“Where Mommy?”

“Well we are going to watch Uncle Collin and Uncle Matt make music for a while.” I smiled as he wrapped his arms around my neck.

“Uncle Matt’s coming?” He mumbled.

“Yeah he is, you‘ll get to see everyone.” I said softly as he yawned.

I didn’t get a reply after that as he’d fallen back asleep on my shoulder. I chuckled to myself softly, Kade fell asleep with a click of fingers. I opened the door quietly and walked down the stairs as quietly as I could, careful not to wake Kade.

“Aww, how cute is he?” Hayden cooed as she glanced at Kade.

“Yeah adorable, Can you hold him for a minute? I need to pee!” I whined as I moved my legs back and fo.

“I’ll do it.” Collin laughed as he gently took Kade out of my arms.

“I love how you’d happily announce it to the world, very lady-like, Tay.” Hayden scoffed.

I flipped her off in response and made my way back up the stairs and into my bedroom, practically running into the bathroom. I know it wasn’t the quickest way to get to a toilet as we did have a bathroom in our house, but I had a thing about using mine, yeah, I know you really wanted to know all that interesting information.

I pushed my bangs out of my face and looked at my appearance in the mirror, I looked awful without make up. I sighed as the nervous began to rise in my stomach again. In a way, I looking forward to finally seeing Adam, not that I expected him to feel the same about seeing me, considering I left and all, but there was a part of me that hoped we could just forget about it and officially move on. I knew this day was going to come eventually, I just hoped it went okay and didn’t end up a catastrophe. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d changed, I mean, he must have in a sense in order to be in a long-term relationship, but then I also remembered he was only an ass to me, not anyone else, so he probably wouldn’t have had to do much to make the girl fall for him. I found it weird to think of the ’what if’s’ such as what if Adam and I had gotten together, would we still be together then? Four years later? But then I couldn’t help but think if I’d made that choice, a lot wouldn’t have happened. I might not have moved to Ohio with Hayden, and if I didn’t I wouldn’t have met Hit The Lights, and if I didn’t meet Hit The Lights I wouldn’t have gone to that party, if I hadn’t have gone to that Party I wouldn’t have Kade. I took a breath and sighed, it was weird to think that when you make one decision everything that followed would be because of that decision, then if you hadn’t have made said decision everything would be different and you would never know what could’ve been.
I was interrupted from my train of thoughts by a loud knock at the door.

“Yeah?” I called out as I splashed water on my face.

“We’re getting ready to go, Tay. It’s ten till six.” Hayden replied.

Wow, I really needed to stop spending so much time contemplating.

I quickly wiped my face and scanned the bathroom to see if I’d left anything behind in there, but considering I hadn’t I took a deep breath and opened the door to reveal Hayden.

“Are you okay?” She asked, concerned.

“I’m fine, just thinking.” I smiled half heartedly.

She raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t convinced.

“Is that all?”

“Yeah that’s it, I’m fine, really.” I reassured.

“Okay well, we’re going, so come on.” She grinned as she pulled me out of my bedroom.

“Wait a minute! I can’t forget my acoustic.” I chuckled as I broke free from her grasp and ran over to my acoustic, picking it up.

“Okay now we’re going.” She laughed as she grabbed my arm once more as she pulled me down the stairs as fast as she could and into the kitchen.

“You see how lovely I am? I’ve taken all your luggage onto the bus for you, you owe me.” She smirked.

“Actually, I took Taylor’s things on the bus, how dare you take my credit!” Nathan exclaimed.

“Yeah, but I helped!” She scoffed.

“Guys, it’s not even six yet and you’re arguing already, don’t make me slap you.” I groaned as I rubbed my head.

“Cheer up, Taylor! WE’RE GOING ON TOUR!” Nathan exclaimed.

I grinned in response as Collin walked through the front door without Kade in his arms.

“Where’s Kade?” I questioned.

“I’ve put him in a bunk on the bus so he could sleep, is that okay?” He asked.

I nodded “Yeah that’s fine, thanks Collin.” I grinned once more.

“You’re welcome, you need to come and see our bus, it’s huge!” He exclaimed as he ran over to me and grabbed my arm, giving me enough time to grab Hayden’s and pull her along with me.

“Come on come on come on!” He whined as he pulled us down the pathway and in front of the big blue tour bus parked in front of the house.

“Holy shit that is huge!” I exclaimed as I looked up at it.

“You’ve not seen anything yet!” Collin grinned as he pulled us to the side of the bus where the steps to get on were, and pulled us on.

Needless to say I was shocked, Collin wasn’t kidding when he said the bus was huge. Right in front of on the left and right were a row of seats with a flat screen TV at the far end on the wall, just before you entered the kitchen. Beyond that though was a spiral staircase, leading up to another section of the bus which I assumed was where the bunks were. I looked up to see lights illuminating around the outlines of the wood around the windows, as well as across the outline of the top of the bus, I was truly amazed.

“I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven.” I laughed, admiring everything.

“You and me both, Rubano. That‘s not it yet, though! I have to show you upstairs” Collin squealed as he was once again dragging me along, who pulled Hayden.

Collin pulled us through the bus quickly as I tried to take in everything around me, before dragging me up the spiral staircase as fast as he could.

“Collin, slow down!” I laughed.

“No! I have to show you!” He complained.

“You know if you slow down it’s not going to disappear, right?” Hayden scoffed.

“Shut up, Mackay! Walk faster!” He demanded as we neared the top.

He suddenly came to a stop and pulled us past him to see what he was so excited about.

“LOOK!” He squealed once more.

I found myself looking down a long room with bunks on the left and right sides which were outlined by wood and three little lights right in the middle of it, with dark blue curtains to be pulled across for privacy. As well as a trail of lights running across the ceiling. At the far end of the room was some sort of compartment to put luggage, which also had a curtain, as well as a draw underneath it, I was truly gob smacked.

“Holy shit, now I can tell this is going to be one hell of a tour!” I exclaimed.

“High five to that!” Collin grinned as he held his hand up for a high-five, which I gladly accepted.

“So it’s what, a seven hour drive to Newark from here? Keeping occupied is not going to be a problem.” Hayden smirked.

“Not at all! Lets get this show on the road.” Collin cheered.

“Amen!” I grinned.

Newark, here we come.