�Ali.� Katie walked over and opened the door, motioning her in. Ali looked at her. �Hey, what was up earlier?� Katie shut the door and sat down on the bed. �Nothing.� Ali snickered. �Yeah, right, you expect me to believe that? C�mon, K, spill it. It�s JC, isn�t it?� Katie nodded, feeling tears spring to her eyes.�Yeah� Ali, what am I gonna do?! I have Matt!�
�Shh, it�s gonna be ok�� Ali hugged her friend. �No, it�s not. It�s only the 3rd day I�ve been here!� She felt a tear coming down, but quickly wiped it away. �This, this is crazy� but, I dunno, what it is� I really like JC� there�s just something about him.� Ali grinned. �Well, yeah! Heck! He is hot! And those piercing blue eyes! It�s no surprise you�d like him.� Katie sighed. �What about Matt?� Ali sighed. �Well, looks like you�re not gonna have to choose just yet. Just try not to let your feelings for JC show.� Katie nodded sadly.
�Yeah. Man, I�m gonna miss you!� Ali smiled. �Well, actually, Justin asked if I wanted to ride with you guys to Houston and I said yes.� Katie�s eyes lit up. �Really? That�s our first show!� Ali laughed. �I know, so I�d better go get packed.� Katie nodded. �We have an hour. Johnny decided we should get a head start.� Ali nodded. �Then I�d better hurry. Don�t worry about JC, k? It�ll all work out.� Katie smiled. �Yeah.� Ali left and Katie layed down, falling asleep until she heard rapid banging on the door. She yawned. �What?!�
�Katie! Where the hell are you?!!� She heard JC�s anxious voice and she looked over at the clock. �Oh shit!� She jumped out of bed and flung open the door. �I fell asleep!� He laughed and pointed to her hair. �I can tell.� She ran back in, got her stuff and came back out.� He raised his eyebrows. �I sure hope you�ve got everything.� She nodded. �Yeah, me too.�
�C�mon, we�ve gotta hurry.� They ran to the elevator and got in. She frantically pulled her hair up into a ponytail, grumbling.
(downstairs)
Johnny looked at them. �Well, look who finally decided to grace us with their presence.� Katie waved. �Heya Johnny.� He smiled. �Hey, kiddo. C�mon, you two. Buses out back.� They walked back and Katie tossed a bag underneath and carried one on top with her. She saw Joey and them already there. Joey raised his eyebrows. �Hmm.. what kept you two?� Katie blushed. �I fell asleep and lost track of time.� He winked. �Sure ya did.� She slapped him. �Ouch!� She tossed her stuff into a bunk. JC came up behind her. �Hey�� She turned around to face him. �What?�
�That�s my bunk.� She groaned. �Aww, c�mon.� He shrugged. �Fine, I don�t have a problem with sharing.� She grabbed her stuff. �No way! I�ll move!� She tossed her stuff into the bunk underneath him. �You�d just better not toss and turn while you sleep.� Ali jumped on the bus. �K!� Katie turned and looked at her. �Ali!� Ali grinned. �Are we ready?� Katie laughed. �Sure. Wake me when we stop, k? I�m wiped.� Ali nodded. �Sure thing.� Katie climbed in and fell asleep.
(A few hrs. later)
Katie woke up to the sound of Joey and Justin arguing. �Nah, dude! I was just here!� Justin�s angry voice sounded. Katie climbed out and headed for the kitchen and sat down next to Lance. He looked up and smiled. �Well, look who�s awake.� She smiled. �Whatcha doin?� He sighed. �Tryin� to figure out some of this paper work for FreeLance.� She nodded. �Ahh. You should be really proud of what you�ve got going.�
�Hey, K! Catch!� Katie caughtthe Pepsi Chris just threw her. �Thanks.� She stood up and walked to the TV area where an intense video game ensues. She sat down between Ali and JC and leaned her head back on the couch. Ali smiled brightly. �Heya! Sleep long enough?�
Katie groaned and took a drink of her soda. �No.� Joey raised his hand in victory. �I won!� Justin crossed his arms, grumbling. �Only after I left to get a drink.� Ali looked at her nail and sighed. �Can we watch a movie or something? This is getting boring.� JC nodded in agreement. Justin stuck his chin out in defiance. �No.� Ali shook her head and stood up, heading into the kitchen. Katie closed her eyes in attempt to sleep, till she heard Ali squealing for her. �Katie! Get in here! Quick!� Katie rubbed her face, muttering.
�This had better be good.� She got up and walked to where she was. �Listen!� Katie listened as the radio announcer starts to speak. �And coming up after the break, a local Tennessee band singing, �Let That be Enough�.� Katie�s mouth dropped open. �Matt?!� She grabbed her cell and called him. �Hey! Guess what?! You! On the radio! Yeah, it�s incredible! Yeah, I�ll listen closely, why? HUH?! You mean� this is MY song? Oh, oh, it�s on, gotta go. Bye.�
(Meanwhile, everyone else has come into the front of the bus, to see what all the excitement was about.)
Justin looked confused. �So, what�� Ali clamped a hand over his mouth. �Shh.� Katie listened intently.
I wish I had what I needed
To be on my own
�Cause I feel so defeated
And I�m feeling alone
And it all seems so helpless
And I have no plans
I�m a plane in the sunset
With no where to land
Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
And let that be enough
And all I see it could never
Make me happy
And all my sand castles
Spend their time collapsing�
Katie sat there, quietly. Ali however, was jumping up and down. �Aww! How sweet! He wrote that for you?!� Katie nodded. �Uh, yeah, I guess he did�� She got up and pushed past them, locking herself in the bathroom. Ali walked after her. �Katie�� Justin looked at Ali, concerned. �What�s wrong with her?� Ali shook her head. �Nothing�s wrong.� Joey looked at her. �Sure looks like something�s wrong�� Ali sighed. �So what if there is? There�s nothing anyone can do to change it.� She knocked on the door. �Hey, K, c�mon.� Katie sat on the floor with her head in her hands upset. Ali�s voice echoed through the door. �Katie, please?� Katie opened the door and climbed in her bunk and softly cried herself to sleep.
Chapter Eleven