"Maybe later." Mike said.
"Elijah gave me the impression they were leaving right away." Valerie said. "I don't know whether he was telling the truth or not."
"Probably not." Mike said. "He's a bit of a jerk."
"It only took me years to find that out." Valerie said. "And it took you what five minutes?" She looked at Mike with a cocked eyebrow. "Where were you up till a few minutes ago anyway?"
"You dropped this." Mike said giving her Andrews home phone number. "He managed to tell me everything I should know before Chris went into labor..."
"Chris is in labor? Now? But I only left a few hours ago." Valerie replied shocked. "Crap, I never did get the phone number for the hospital."
"I'm sure her husband is more than ready for her." Mike said. He led her onto the bus. "Its been a long night and I'm exhausted."
"I'm getting that way." Valerie muttered. "Where is our hotel anyway?"
"Here." He sighed. "Remember, the main act gets the plush accomodations and we get the leftovers."
"Yeah." Davy said in agreement. "And there is nothing worse than getting Nigels crews leftovers. Especially the girls. I've never been hit on by so many pirate-looking chicks in me entire life."
"And thats just their mothers." Micky cracked.
"Since we knew you were coming, and that there would be at least one other couple on the bus we sectioned off a section for you and Mike." Peter told Valerie as she was shown an area next to the backseat. There was a thick sheet separating these sections. "And a place for Micky and Cassidy."
"The eptiome of classy travel." Cassidy smirked. Now Valerie had an idea of why Micky liked her, they had the same sense of humor. "All the comforts of home when you're actually not."
Valerie sat down on the seat. It was hard and unyielding.
"Could take getting used to." She said to Mike as he closed the curtain.
"All I care about is that you are here with me." Mike said holding her hand. He gave a small smile that seemed a step above a smirk. "Thats all I care about."
"Good." Valerie said. "As far as I am concerned there is only one man for me on this trip.
"What about me?" Micky poked his head through the sheet.
"Fine you can be my one cabana boy on this trip." Valerie rolled her eyes. "Go away!" She roughly closed the sheet on his head.
"Yes ma'am." Micky was heard chorteling.
The next day Valerie woke up to find the bus completely empty. She rolled over on the seat aned looked out the window. The scenery had changed completely since she had gotten on the bus, but since she hadnt seen the area around the club the night before, she knew she hadnt really missed anything. She got up and tried to duck into the bathroom to change her clothes. She had her hand on her shirt and her hand on the door as she opened it. What was in the bathroom was surprising. It was Elijah.
"Hey, do you mind?" Elijah said reading a sports section. He clearly wasnt actually using the facilities but just sitting there.
"What are you doing there?" Valerie demanded.
"Waiting for you to get up." He said. "Did I interrupt something?"
"I was going to change." Valerie said standing back. Elijah grabbed her hand.
"Lets see if I can help." He said as he tried to pull her in to the bathroom.
"No!" Valerie said pulling away from him. "Help!" She screamed.
"Oh come on, you know that little love tap last night told me you still loved me." Elijah said as they began an intense tug of war over her own hand.
"Doubtful." Valerie said pulling her hand free. She sprinted the other way and off the bus. She ran right into Mikes arms.
"Whats going on?" Mike asked softly.
"Elijah surprised me." Valerie said. "I was going to the bathroom to change but he was there, waiting for me." She said grabbing onto Mike. She could feel him getting angry.
"Not my fault, I was trying to have a little private time." Elijah said coming off the bus. He dusted off his shirt with his now retieved copy of the sports section.
"You have a whole hotel to stay in." Mike fumed. "I don't know why you were on my bus but you better stay clear of it and of Val."
"Its my bus." Elijah said smugly. "I can go anywhere I like. Don't like it? Get ofrf the tour now, but you won't get paid for the next gig and I think you guys need the money." Elijahs face turned serious. "Do you want that?" Mike didn't answer him. "Good then." He walked away from Valerie and Mike. Valerie felt tears of anger squirting from her face.
"I get the feeling there is more to him that Andrew told me." Mike said slowly calming down.
"Oh you have no idea." Valerie sighed. "Not at all."
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