Lucky One
Chapter 1
I woke up to the feeling of our tour bus coming to a stop. Glancing at my phone I saw it was 2:23 a.m.
Curiosity got the best of me as I pulled back the window curtain to look outside. We were parked next to semi-trucks.
Something caught my attention and I looked towards the gasoline pumps. A mid-size sport-utility vehicle sat parked, its owner standing next to the nozzle and waiting for the tank to fill.
Looking away from the driver I noticed the vehicle was covered with a huge sticker that had our faces on it. It didn’t take a genius to figure out it was a fan who was following us.
My breath caught in my throat as I instantly recognized the small figure. I didn’t waste any time as I rolled out of my bunk and dressed quickly.
Our bus driver Jerry was laying his seat back as I walked past him, “Going somewhere, Seb?”
I nodded my head, “Bathroom, I should be back in a few minutes.”
Jerry just shrugged his shoulders and laid back as I opened up the door and stepped out, I instantly regretted not grabbing a jacket as I quickly made my way towards the diner that was connected to the gas station.
The SUV was no longer parked next to the pumps, but instead moved towards the opposite end of the gas station next to a few other vehicles that were staying for the night.
When I opened the door and walked in, a few people turned their heads to look at me. None showed they truly acknowledged me as my presence was forgotten when I walked up to the counter and sat on the bar stool next to the one person I did recognize.
The waitress walked up to me immediately asking me what I would like to order, “A medium glass of apple juice, please”
She came back a moment later and placed the cold glass in front of me before excusing herself to take care of another customer.
“What keeps you awake at this hour, Sebastien?” Nichole turned her attention towards me, a small chuckle escaped my lips as I seen she had a similar look on her face that showed lack of sleep as did mine.
I shrugged my shoulders, “The tour bus stopping is what woke me, and then I saw you.”
A small smile formed from the corner of her lips, she shook her head and looked down. “I’m no different compared to the thousands of faces you see a year.”
I picked up my glass and took a few sips of my drink before licking my lips and looking down at my hands, “I’d say you’re different. You’re the only one who gave up a chance to spend time with me, not many fans would pass up that opportunity, let alone give it back without selling it for a high profit.”
We both lifted our heads and looked at each other, “Sorry to disappoint, I figured a true fan wouldn’t brag or take advantage of the opportunity to make themselves rich. I hate people who call themselves fans who get something signed and then sell it on eBay for an outrageous price.”
“Do you know many people who do that?” I asked her.
“I’m the one who usually buys the items if they seem hard to come by.” she laughed.
I sat up straighter and turned in my seat, Nichole did the same. “In all honesty, why did you give me my guitar pick back?”
Nichole looked taken aback as she faced towards the counter once more, “Like I said, I figured I had an idea of what you were going to say. So instead of embarrassing both of us, I took the hit of rejection.”
I shook my head slowly, “I wouldn’t have said no to you, Nichole.”
She turned back to me and looked directly into my eyes, looking back into hers as well I could see tears beginning to form. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but even if the opportunity came up multiple times I would’ve still said no. I don’t want my first date to be with an international punk-rock star who tells me he wouldn’t say no just because I’m a fan.”
I sighed, sadness seemed to overcome my entire body as I watched Nichole wipe away the few tears that had escaped.
“If I’m going out with anyone, I’d want him to come up to me and ask not because he has to. I would say yes if he actually went out on a date with me because he wanted to.”
My foot tapped lightly on the edge of the bar stool out of nervousness, “Well, I’m sitting here with you right now drinking apple juice. On my own being.”
Nichole laughed, she sniffled before crossing her arms and laying them on the counter. “Yea I guess you are.”
“It may not be a date, but I would call it…an introduction.” I nodded, satisfied with my answer.
It was then I extended my hand out to her, a smile on my face. “My name is Sebastien Lefebvre, I’m twenty-three years old and I sing back vocals and play as the rhythm guitarist of a band called Simple Plan.”
Nichole reached her hand out as well, I closed my hand around hers and shook gently. “My name is Nichole Morris, I’m twenty and I’m a service technician at an automotive shop back home.”
I raised my eye brows hearing the age she was, “I knew you weren’t sixteen years old. You would’ve jumped one of us in a heart beat if you were.”
Nichole shrugged, “Looks can be deceiving. Besides, what sixteen year old could drive to a concert and back without a parent?”
I raised my glass in agreement before finishing my drink, “Seeing your favorite band is a lot more fun without parents! They would never let you get away with half the shit that happens at shows anyways.”
We sat together for a little over an hour, at the moment we were the only two people crazy enough to be awake while everyone else slept.
The instant connection I felt towards Nichole was indescribable, it didn’t feel like it was the first time we were having a conversation. Just old friends reuniting from being apart for a few years.
I didn’t realize how much time had past until Nichole yawned, raising her arms above her head and stretching. “I better get some sleep before the drive I gotta do in the morning, Sebastien.”
I stood up from my seat as Nichole did the same, “We’re going to the same destination anyways, if I recall correctly we’re only thirty minutes or so away from the venue we’re playing tonight.”
Nichole looked away from me as she grabbed her jacket and put it around her shoulders, “I’m afraid I’ll only be passing through Milwaukee, not stopping. You’ll be going more East as I’ll be going North.”
I frowned realizing she truly wasn’t following our tour bus, and this may possibly be the last time I saw her.
“Where are you headed if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Back to reality, not all of us are millionaire’s Seb.” she smiled sadly.
She began to walk past me and towards the front door before I stepped in her path and looked down at her. “Will I ever get to see you again?”
Nichole nodded her head, “You will, but by the time you see me again you probably won’t even remember what happened here this morning, let alone my name.”
I shook my head as I took a step closer and pulled her in for a hug. I felt her tense up by my action, knowing she wasn’t sure about it, but I knew that it didn’t matter to her as I felt her arms go around my neck, head pressing into my chest.
I kissed the top of her head before sighing quietly, “I will never forget this moment, Nichole. If anything, I hope that when I wake up I’ll see your vehicle parked somewhere near the tour bus and that you have followed me into Wisconsin to see me at the next show.”
She took a step back and looked up at me, “Take care of yourself, Sebastien.” I felt her lips press against my chin for a few seconds before she walked past me and out the door.
I followed her after a minute had passed to walk back to the bus, I hesitated at the door as I watched Nichole open the vehicle and climb into the back, closing the door behind her.
My head lowered as I walked on to the bus and down the hallway back to my bunk bed.
It was harder this time to fall asleep. She clouded my thoughts.
I was awakened again by the tour bus moving forward. My head ached from the lack of sleep I knew I had gotten. Realization dawned on me as I quickly rolled out of my bunk and ran towards the back of the bus to look out the back window as we started to pull out on to the road.
I looked every where for the black SUV that should’ve been following right behind us. The diner soon grew smaller the further we drove away from it, my heart ached realizing she had left while I had been asleep.
“Nichole…”
Curiosity got the best of me as I pulled back the window curtain to look outside. We were parked next to semi-trucks.
Something caught my attention and I looked towards the gasoline pumps. A mid-size sport-utility vehicle sat parked, its owner standing next to the nozzle and waiting for the tank to fill.
Looking away from the driver I noticed the vehicle was covered with a huge sticker that had our faces on it. It didn’t take a genius to figure out it was a fan who was following us.
My breath caught in my throat as I instantly recognized the small figure. I didn’t waste any time as I rolled out of my bunk and dressed quickly.
Our bus driver Jerry was laying his seat back as I walked past him, “Going somewhere, Seb?”
I nodded my head, “Bathroom, I should be back in a few minutes.”
Jerry just shrugged his shoulders and laid back as I opened up the door and stepped out, I instantly regretted not grabbing a jacket as I quickly made my way towards the diner that was connected to the gas station.
The SUV was no longer parked next to the pumps, but instead moved towards the opposite end of the gas station next to a few other vehicles that were staying for the night.
When I opened the door and walked in, a few people turned their heads to look at me. None showed they truly acknowledged me as my presence was forgotten when I walked up to the counter and sat on the bar stool next to the one person I did recognize.
The waitress walked up to me immediately asking me what I would like to order, “A medium glass of apple juice, please”
She came back a moment later and placed the cold glass in front of me before excusing herself to take care of another customer.
“What keeps you awake at this hour, Sebastien?” Nichole turned her attention towards me, a small chuckle escaped my lips as I seen she had a similar look on her face that showed lack of sleep as did mine.
I shrugged my shoulders, “The tour bus stopping is what woke me, and then I saw you.”
A small smile formed from the corner of her lips, she shook her head and looked down. “I’m no different compared to the thousands of faces you see a year.”
I picked up my glass and took a few sips of my drink before licking my lips and looking down at my hands, “I’d say you’re different. You’re the only one who gave up a chance to spend time with me, not many fans would pass up that opportunity, let alone give it back without selling it for a high profit.”
We both lifted our heads and looked at each other, “Sorry to disappoint, I figured a true fan wouldn’t brag or take advantage of the opportunity to make themselves rich. I hate people who call themselves fans who get something signed and then sell it on eBay for an outrageous price.”
“Do you know many people who do that?” I asked her.
“I’m the one who usually buys the items if they seem hard to come by.” she laughed.
I sat up straighter and turned in my seat, Nichole did the same. “In all honesty, why did you give me my guitar pick back?”
Nichole looked taken aback as she faced towards the counter once more, “Like I said, I figured I had an idea of what you were going to say. So instead of embarrassing both of us, I took the hit of rejection.”
I shook my head slowly, “I wouldn’t have said no to you, Nichole.”
She turned back to me and looked directly into my eyes, looking back into hers as well I could see tears beginning to form. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but even if the opportunity came up multiple times I would’ve still said no. I don’t want my first date to be with an international punk-rock star who tells me he wouldn’t say no just because I’m a fan.”
I sighed, sadness seemed to overcome my entire body as I watched Nichole wipe away the few tears that had escaped.
“If I’m going out with anyone, I’d want him to come up to me and ask not because he has to. I would say yes if he actually went out on a date with me because he wanted to.”
My foot tapped lightly on the edge of the bar stool out of nervousness, “Well, I’m sitting here with you right now drinking apple juice. On my own being.”
Nichole laughed, she sniffled before crossing her arms and laying them on the counter. “Yea I guess you are.”
“It may not be a date, but I would call it…an introduction.” I nodded, satisfied with my answer.
It was then I extended my hand out to her, a smile on my face. “My name is Sebastien Lefebvre, I’m twenty-three years old and I sing back vocals and play as the rhythm guitarist of a band called Simple Plan.”
Nichole reached her hand out as well, I closed my hand around hers and shook gently. “My name is Nichole Morris, I’m twenty and I’m a service technician at an automotive shop back home.”
I raised my eye brows hearing the age she was, “I knew you weren’t sixteen years old. You would’ve jumped one of us in a heart beat if you were.”
Nichole shrugged, “Looks can be deceiving. Besides, what sixteen year old could drive to a concert and back without a parent?”
I raised my glass in agreement before finishing my drink, “Seeing your favorite band is a lot more fun without parents! They would never let you get away with half the shit that happens at shows anyways.”
We sat together for a little over an hour, at the moment we were the only two people crazy enough to be awake while everyone else slept.
The instant connection I felt towards Nichole was indescribable, it didn’t feel like it was the first time we were having a conversation. Just old friends reuniting from being apart for a few years.
I didn’t realize how much time had past until Nichole yawned, raising her arms above her head and stretching. “I better get some sleep before the drive I gotta do in the morning, Sebastien.”
I stood up from my seat as Nichole did the same, “We’re going to the same destination anyways, if I recall correctly we’re only thirty minutes or so away from the venue we’re playing tonight.”
Nichole looked away from me as she grabbed her jacket and put it around her shoulders, “I’m afraid I’ll only be passing through Milwaukee, not stopping. You’ll be going more East as I’ll be going North.”
I frowned realizing she truly wasn’t following our tour bus, and this may possibly be the last time I saw her.
“Where are you headed if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Back to reality, not all of us are millionaire’s Seb.” she smiled sadly.
She began to walk past me and towards the front door before I stepped in her path and looked down at her. “Will I ever get to see you again?”
Nichole nodded her head, “You will, but by the time you see me again you probably won’t even remember what happened here this morning, let alone my name.”
I shook my head as I took a step closer and pulled her in for a hug. I felt her tense up by my action, knowing she wasn’t sure about it, but I knew that it didn’t matter to her as I felt her arms go around my neck, head pressing into my chest.
I kissed the top of her head before sighing quietly, “I will never forget this moment, Nichole. If anything, I hope that when I wake up I’ll see your vehicle parked somewhere near the tour bus and that you have followed me into Wisconsin to see me at the next show.”
She took a step back and looked up at me, “Take care of yourself, Sebastien.” I felt her lips press against my chin for a few seconds before she walked past me and out the door.
I followed her after a minute had passed to walk back to the bus, I hesitated at the door as I watched Nichole open the vehicle and climb into the back, closing the door behind her.
My head lowered as I walked on to the bus and down the hallway back to my bunk bed.
It was harder this time to fall asleep. She clouded my thoughts.
I was awakened again by the tour bus moving forward. My head ached from the lack of sleep I knew I had gotten. Realization dawned on me as I quickly rolled out of my bunk and ran towards the back of the bus to look out the back window as we started to pull out on to the road.
I looked every where for the black SUV that should’ve been following right behind us. The diner soon grew smaller the further we drove away from it, my heart ached realizing she had left while I had been asleep.
“Nichole…”
♠ ♠ ♠
Short chapter, but this is an idea that came to mind that made me want to write this story.I listened to "A Thousand Years- Part 2" by Christina Perri (Feat. Steve Kazee) the whole time as I wrote this, so if it helps set your mind into the story..listen to the song as you read :)
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