No one said a word as the wooden gate swung back and forth. Chris could hear the hinges squeaking and he wondered if he did the right thing. He turned his face away from Dee, whose jaw had dropped.  He could feel everyones eyes burning into him. Heather stepped forward first, her nose almost meeting his.

"That was cold Chris. What the hell were you thinking?

There was no answer. His throat was dry, preventing him from speaking.

"Spit it out Chris! You better have a damn good reason for treating her that way."

"I.......I......" Doubts flew through his mind. All the prying eyes became to much all of a sudden and he had to get out of there. Pushing past Dee and Heather he made his way to his car. JC caught him by the arm near the backdoor.

"Man what was that all about?"

Chris yanked his freckled arm free. "Why don't you ask Marie?" Then he was gone.

JC turned to where Marie sat last. She shruged innocently and replaced her designer sunglasses. JC walked towards her as everyone else tried to pretend they weren't watching. He stood over her with his hands on narrow hips. Marie turned her face up to look at him.

"C, baby you are in my sun." Marie said in a whiny voice.

Something in JC snapped as he grabbed her arm, forcing her up and across the yard.

"JC! What the hell is wrong with you? Let go of me!"

He remained silent all the way to his jeep, with Marie whining and complaining right behind him. They both got in and JC started the vehicle. Marie pulled her Old Navy tank top on over her hot pink string bikini and looked over at her boyfriend.

"Do you mind telling me why you embarassed me in front of everyone just now?"

"Marie, I think we should spend some time apart."

"Excuse me? I think you've been in the heat to long baby." She moved her hand to touch his face and he swatted it away.

"I mean it Marie. I am sick and tired of the way you treat my friends. Here lately its like you go out of your way to start trouble."

Fat tears welled up in her big eyes. "C, you don't mean it. Please tell me you don't mean it. I love you!" She ran a well manicured finger through his dark hair.

JC ducked her motives and opened the car door. "You can use my jeep to get home. I'll have Joey run me by to get it later."

The door slammed, silencing any protests she had. A line of tears along with mascara stained her pink cheeks as she backed the jeep down the driveway and towards her house.

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Adrianne had finally made it home after transferring three bus lines. Melinda had driven her to the cook out leaving Adrianne no choice but to walk to the bus station. Her heart was in pieces at her feet, where it had been many times. She never expected Chris to dig dirt on her. She felt stupid for  thinking he was different, and still wanting with all of her now broken heart to believe it. She wanted badly to call him and forgive him and that was worst of all. After changing into her favorite pajamas with little clouds, she curled up in her large bed and fell into a restless sleep.

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It had been three days before anyone besides Melinda saw Adrianne. Chris tried calling the day after his little scene with no success. He left a message hoping she would pick up the phone but she didn't. Her office door was locked all day keeping everyone out. The tour was set to kick off the next day so Melinda assured everyone Adrianne was fine, she just needed time to herself before the tour began. Chris believed otherwise, she wanted to keep away from him.Melinda tried talking to him, and she let him know it was the opposite. Adrianne was afraid of what he thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5:00 AM First Day of the Tour

"Rick! Rick you gotta bring around the luggage, We've got about thirty minutes."

Anthony the tour manager shouted directions through a blue and white bullhorn. The parking lot was full of crew and family saying their goodbye when Melinda and Adrianne arrived. A short bald man ripped their suitcases from the trunk as soon as Melinda opened it. Adrianne must have looked overwhelmed because Melinda placed her arm around her shoulder.

"It's always like this. Everyone gets flustered when they're on a time schedule. Don't worry it'll happen to you as well." She smiled.

"Thanks Mel, I'll be fine. Just point me in the right direction and I'll get settled."

"Ok sweetie, let me find Johnny and get the bus assignments." She rubbed her back lightly, then pointed in the direction of the chaos. "Hang out over there and I'll be right back."

Adrianne smiled softly and made her way into the crowd of people. Many she knew, from the halls at Transcon and WEG. She spotted some people who were present at the cook out. The thought of the cook out made her cringe.

"Keep making that face and it's gonna stick."

She spun around completely to find JC standing there, looking a bit nervous.

"Hi JC. I was just taking in all this." She waved her arm at all the buses and people.

"What do you think?"

A smile crossed her pink glossed lips. "Well, I think I just might like it." She turned her eyes away trying to avoid the subject of Marie, and that day at the cookout. Melinda had told Adrianne about the breakup and since then she had felt somewhat guilty.

"Listen Adrianne Mel told me you felt responsible for what happened between Marie and I." He moved closer to her se he could lower his voice. "It was a long time coming."

Adrianne looked up directly into JCs' eyes. "I just didn't want everyone against me before I even had a chance to explain myself."

JC placed his arm around her. "No one thinks bad of you. You don't owe anyone any kind of explanation." He looked over her shoulder to see Chris walking through the crowd towards them. "I do think someone else owes YOU an apology."

She followed his eyes over her shoulder and right into Chris'. JC excused himself to give the two some privacy.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Neither knew what to say. Adrianne had cooled off since that day and was letting that comfortable feeling he gave her take over. She was going to forgive him. Chris fidgeted with his watch before breaking the silence.

"I uh......I kinda jumped to conclusions and I'm really sorry Adrianne."

The look of sincerity in his eyes chipped at her already softened wall around her heart. "I'm sorry too Chris. I shouldn't have reacted like that."

There was another awkward silence before Chris stuck his hand out for Adrianne to shake, just as Joey walked by.

"Don't fall for it Adrianne, he just wants you on his side."

She looked at Joey, then to Chris for an explanation.

He tried to hide his huge smile. "Let's just say it involves a feminine product and Joeys' forehead. But that was months ago."

Joey mumbled as he walked away. "A sleeping man is defenseless."

Adrianne laughed and grabbed her backpack. "I'm gonna go find Melinda."

Chris chuckled to himself. He felt a lot better after talking to Adrianne. He watched her make her way over to Johnny and Melinda. Melinda made a couple gestures towards Chris, letting him know she knew about his apology.

Johnny led Adrianne over to her bus while Melinda made sure her car was locked.

"Well welcome to the tour life and the family Adrianne. I'm sure Melinda has plenty of work for you so if you need anything just let me know." He hugged her to welcome her properly.

"Thanks, I'll be sure to let you know."

She mad her way to the back of the bus. Her mind was spinning with the events of the morning. She had no idea what made her feel so completely comfortable with these people. The bus shifted and Adrianne turned expecting Melinda. Instead Heather was making her way towards the back.

"Adrianne! You're on this bus too?" Her smile was infectious.

"Yeah, Melinda is too!"

"This is gonna be so much fun. Dee is our fourth person."

Adrianne couldn't believe both girls were on her bus. "Thats great!"

Dee jumped up the steps still yelling threats to an unseen person. When she caught sight of Adrianne she dropped her bag and hugged her.

"I thought for sure you would choke Chris and serve time."

All three girls erupted in laughter.

"Whats so funny ladies?" Melinda called out from the front of the bus.

Dee and Heather hugged Melinda.

"Johnny finally made a decent bus roster huh?"

The ladies chose bunks then made their way out for the safety speech. Adrianne stood next to Chris as Anthony spoke about security and hotels. She had no idea how Chris was about to change her life.