Waiting for My Sun to Shine

"That's all he said?" Lily asked in disbelief.

"Well, yeah... everyone came onto the bus by that point." Hallie shrugged.

Lily Matthews flew out to Seattle, Washington to spend time with her boyfriend Kennedy and her best friend Hallie. The boys spent three hundred days out of the year touring, sometimes even more and being in a long distance relationship had its trials and tribulations. The boys were setting up their gear on stage and preparing for sound check, while the girls sat on the balcony in the VIP section overlooking all three bands.

"Stop looking at me like that." Hallie warned. She had explained to Lily about what had happened to her and Mia a week ago and what John had said to her on the bus after the night had ended.

"It doesn't bother you that he hasn't said anything to you all week? And the week before that he was drunk-"

"No, it doesn't bother me." Hallie interjected. "Tour's almost over. I'll be back in New York and everything goes back to normal."

"I really wish you wouldn't..." Lily paused and rested her head on her best friends shoulder. "Me and Kadi miss you, and I know Kennedy won't say anything but he doesn't want you in New York all by yourself, neither do your parents."

"It's the best thing for me right now. I'm happy with my job, I actually love the city life and as much as I want to be home in Arizona with you and Kadi, I just don't want to run into Ash-" She choked on her last word when John appeared in front of her.

"C-Can we talk..." By the tone in John's voice, it made Hallie's whole body tremble. Lily got up from her seat taking her beer with her and down the stairs she disappeared joining Kennedy and the rest of the boys. He nervously stepped towards the railing to look down at the stage, before bringing his attention back to Hallie, he leaned against the rails and opened his mouth. "You make me really uncomfortable."

"That makes two of us." She said more to herself but loud enough for him to hear.

"I use to be able to say anything I want to you without a care." He paused. "It makes me uncomfortable."

"You said that already." She told him.

"It really bothers me that I can't be myself around you..." He looked down at the dirt on his cowboy boots before looking up at her. "Why did you agree to this? Did you take on this job just to screw with me?"

"What?!" Hallie nearly fell off her chair with disdain.

Just when she thought he was going to come around and apologize for the awkward distance caused mostly by him, he changes his angle. How could John stoop that low to think that she would willingly choose to take on the role of Tour Manager just to get close to him. Maybe it was selfish of John to think that Hallie was there only because of him, but he couldn't help but feel that way.

"I didn't take this job because I want to get closer to you!" She got up from her seat. "I was forced to do this, I had no choice. And contrary to what you may be thinking in that narrow minded head of yours, I am not here for you!"

"Where are you going?" He followed behind her as she stomped her feet down the stairs.

"To get some fresh air!" Her voice was filled with venom now. "You and your ego are taking up this entire club I can hardly breathe!"



Kennedy managed to leave the venue without being seen by any fans who were lined up waiting for the doors to open. Thankfully, it wasn't as cold as any of the places on the East Coast they've traveled to on tour, so he walked down the street without freezing up. He entered a small bar where he spotted his sister from the window, the only reason he knew she would be there was because he took Lily and Hallie there last night when they arrived in the city.

"I didn't know you smoked." He took the cigarette from her hand and put it out in the ashtray.

"I don't." She crossed her arms and rested them on the table. "I just do it sometimes to calm my nerves."

"Might as well have sex instead." He joked, but Hallie looked at him awkwardly. "Sorry, I completely forgot I was talking to my little sister. It's a testosterone filled tour, I forget sometimes even when I'm with Lily."

"It's okay." She laughed.

"I don't want you smoking and I don't want you having sex either. You're my sister and it's just weird to think-"

"Please, stop." Hallie pleaded.

The only reason his sister was at the bar was to get away from everyone, including Kennedy. As much as she loved being around him and her friends she needed a breather. After what happened earlier with John she was very upset and needed time to sort out her irrational thoughts. However, Kennedy didn't think it was wise to let his sister wander the streets by herself in a foreign city.

"So... you gonna tell me why you stormed out the club?" He finally asked after a long silence.

"We should get back now..." She got up from the table. "Austin and the guys go on soon."

Even though she changed the subject, Kennedy got up anyway and the two walked back to the venue together. They didn't have to sneak in without being seen because by the time they got back all the fans were already inside waiting for the first set to start. Hallie found Lily and the two stood at the side of the stage as the lights when down. While John stood further away from them next to Jared as he quickly tuned his guitar. He wanted to finish his conversation before Hallie abruptly left, but as he took a few steps forward a hand caught him by the arm.

"Leave her, man." Eric stopped him.

"Halvo, I'm not gonna yell at her I just-"

"You what?" He pulled him to the side so that Jared couldn't hear them. "What more could you possible have to tell her? You'll be burning bridges at this point."

Before this tour John had burned every bridge with Hallie, so it didn't matter to him if he was pushing his limits. Hallie sang along to every song Austin sang during his set, she did this so she could keep her attention on something other than strangling John by the neck. Although, she tried very hard to concentrate on the stage, she couldn't help but look back to see John walking away from Eric. John walked down the hallway and back into the dressing room to answer his buzzing phone.

"Hey, Ash." He spoke.

"Just wanted to wish you luck before your show, baby." Ashley paused. "Also, I've been talking to my parents and they got me thinking..."

"What?" John didn't like where this was going.

"How about we talk about this when I see you in person on the thirteenth." Just like that, she brushed him off and their conversation ended. He didn't know what to think, Ashley was always doing this and it made it harder for him to have a personal conversation with her when he was on tour.

"How dare you..." John was startled when he turned around to find Hallie in the doorway. She couldn't stand it anymore, she had to follow him to the dressing room, she needed to give him a piece of her mind. "What gives you the right to just accuse me of being here only for you, how conceited are you? If I had my way I would never ever see your face again."

"If you had your way, we'd be together." He crossed his arms and stared at Hallie with confidence while she took a bullet to the heart from his words. "You didn't get what you wanted, so New York was the perfect place to get away from it all... to get away from me."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Her eyes were welling up with tears at this point.

John stepped forward closer and closer to her until their was no space between them. He caught the tear that fell down her cheek wiping it away with his thumb. Next thing Hallie knew John gently pressed his lips against hers while both his hands cupped her face. But as their lips moved in unison, Hallie broke away from the kiss and pushed him back. She took her right hand and slapped him across the face. Even though John knew it was coming he couldn't help but hold his cheek with shock as Hallie ran out of the room.