We listened to the Current radio as we drove, for we both were sick of the top forties station.  Even though it was almost midnight, there were still a few cars out on the road.  "Do you do this often?" I asked.  "Travel by yourself to shows this late."  

"Sometimes.  Not too often.  But I wanted you to come with me this time, so I figured you'd want to talk to me without the band bothering us."  He responded.  

"You rocked tonight.  I posted the video on your Facebook and Twitter.  Lots of people have already seen it."  Adam smiled slightly, but still looked a bit disappointed.  I knew he was thinking about Bridget.  I was still frustrated with her for not sticking with him that evening.  They had a couple's costume!  "Are you alright?" I asked him.  

He sighed.  "Yes...I'm just a bit tired.  Don't worry, though.  I won't fall asleep at the wheel."  

I watched all of the lights go by on the streets.  The moon was hypnotizing.  It was a surprisingly warm night for Halloween, but as we drove, we were soon the only cars on the road.  It was after midnight, already the next day.  I felt like I would pass out any minute.  "It's...nights like these that remind me of when I traveled with my dad.  It would be incredibly late.  No one else would be driving.  And the whole world, besides the humming of the car and the quiet radio, was silent.  And, when he let me sit in the front...he would hold my hand as I fell asleep."  I realized I had tears in my eyes.  But there was no way to turn so that Adam would see the tears.  For if I looked at the window he'd see the reflection.  Wiping my eyes I whispered, "I'm sorry."

Adam reached into the glove department and pulled out a box of tissues.  "Thank you."

"Hey, it's alright.  I know you miss him."

"I thought I was finished grieving, but lately it's gotten worse."  I whimpered.  Adam touched my hand.  I looked up at him, but he couldn't look at me because he was driving.  

"It takes a bit longer than you think it does.  I know it hurts.  It's going to be alright, Hadley."  

Biting my lip, I said, "I wanted to go up to Blue Lake before Christmas...and lay a wreath or some flowers on his gravestone.  But Bridget doesn't think it's a good idea."  

Adam didn't respond for a few minutes.  "Maybe you should think about it a little more.  I wouldn't want you to get too sad."  

It wasn't the answer I wanted to hear, but I responded with a soft, "OK."

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We got a room at a hotel at 1:30 in the morning, however it was in St. Paul, not Minneapolis.  I collapsed on the bed, meanwhile Adam stayed up to work on his laptop, for he wasn't tired.  I had a very peaceful sleep, even though I was incredibly excited for the next night.  When I woke in the morning, I found a note on the bedside table.  

I was starving, so I couldn't wait for you to wake.  I'm out in the breakfast hall, but I'll be leaving at 10:00 to get ready for the concert at First Avenue.

It was only nine then, so I hurried to get dressed and left the hotel room.  The hotel we were staying at used to be a train station.  The roof still had some of the original beams and columns for the train tracks, and all of the rooms surrounded the pool and hot tub.  It was quite a building, and I really liked it.  

Adam was sitting alone, once again on his computer, drinking coffee and eating cereal.  He smiled when I sat down next to him.  Yawning, I said, "Did you ever fall asleep last night?"

He shook his head.  "But I have this," I motioned to his coffee cup.  "You're already ahead of me.  You got dressed."  Adam was still in his pajama shirt and bottoms, but so was everyone else who had emerged from their rooms for breakfast.  

We talked for a little bit, and I could tell that Adam was tired.  "I think you should tried to sleep for a little while today.  Just a little bit.  You can't survive on coffee."  

"I'll sleep tomorrow.  Or next week.  Insomnia is difficult to predict." Adam said.  He almost dropped his drink when two teenage girls squealed from one of the tables over.  I smiled, and sipped some of my orange juice.  One of the two girls said, "Hi...um...I'm really sorry to bother you because you're eating, but we're going to your concert tonight, and, um, could you sign our shirts, please?"  Her friend clutched her arm, looking like she might faint.  

Adam set down his cup.  "I'd love to."  I went to the hotel counter to ask for a pen, and luckily they had a Sharpie to spare.  Adam was asking the girls' names when I handed him the pen.  After he had signed their shirts, the more talkative of the pair said, "Oh my gosh...you're Hadley, like, his Hadley!  I listen to your Enchanted recording all the time!  Can I just give you a hug?"  The two girls embraced me before I could say another word.  I looked at Adam with wide eyes.  He tried not to laugh.  

The girls asked if I could take a picture of them with Adam, and then they asked a stranger if he could take a picture of all of us.  When the girls had gone, I said, "I wasn't expecting that."  

He laughed.  "You will learn to expect the unexpected.  We have to go get ready."

As I was packing up, my phone rang.  I assumed it was Bridget, but was surprised to find that it was someone else.  

"Hello?"

"Hadley, are you in Minneapolis?"

"St. Paul.  We're heading into Minneapolis from the hotel." I held the phone out to Adam, who was packing his laptop.  "Say hi."

"Hi!"

"Um...hi?" Mack offered.  I laughed.  "I have to go.  We're leaving the room.  I'll call you once we get to the venue.  Bye, Mack."

He said goodbye and I stuck the phone back in my pocket.  But as we were in the car, I got another phone call.  "Hello?"  Rose squeeled into the phone.  I turned the volume down.  "Hadley!  Guess where I'm going today!"  I asked her where, to which she responded with, "Owl City's performing in Minneapolis!"

I held back laughter.  In a tone so Adam could hear, I said, "I heard that Owl City was doing a concert too...but I'm going with my second cousin."  Adam looked amused.  He turned on the radio to one of his favorite stations and started to slowly nod along with the music.  Even though we weren't driving far, I had to watch him to make sure he wouldn't fall asleep.  I could tell he was tired.  

Rose was incredibly excited.  "Do you think he'll play Fireflies or Speed Of Love?"  I mouthed the two songs to Adam, and he gave me a silent thumbs-up.  "Oh, yes, I think so," I said.  

"Text me when you get there so I can meet you." she said.  I reluctantly agreed.  Putting my phone in my bag, I said, "That was a girl from school who I could consider a friend.  She's a big fan.  She will be coming to the concert tonight."  But I was nervous about that.  Adam was a part of my life that only some people knew about, and there were a few things that I had said to him that even Bridget did not know.  Blue Lake seemed to be another time and world from the one that we were living in then, and it felt strange to combine the two by letting people know about Adam, and therefore telling them about what my life used to be.  

To distract myself, I went on Facebook to check what people were commenting.  "You've gotten two thousand likes so far on the video.  Gotta love fans."

He smiled.  "I love meeting them.  They're so cute."

I laughed.  "Do you want to hear something cute?  Someone commented, 'Adam, I want to lick your face.'"  Adam was drinking coffee and he nearly spit it all over the dashboard in laughter.  "Should I go on your account and reply with: 'Thanks, but I only accept face licks from Bridget O'Neal'?"

"Ew, no!"

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Soon we arrived at First Avenue, and I got to say hello to the band once more.  I had met Steve, Jasper and Breanne before Adam left for his tour in the summer, but I was introduced to Hannah, Laura and Casey, his cellist, violinist and drummer.  They were all so kind and quite excited for the show, because they hadn't done a show in Minneapolis for awhile.  

We ate lunch and made sure everything was wired up correctly.  Adam did a quick soundcheck with the band, and then he, Steve and Jasper went to relax and get all the instruments ready.  Hannah and Laura were busy in conversation, but Breanne turned to me.  "We've got an hour or so before people start to arrive.  Want to go for a walk?"

"Sure."

It was a cold day, so we both bundled up.  "I really hope Adam takes a nap.  He didn't sleep at all last night."  

Breanne stuck her hands in her coat pocket.  "He'll be fine.  We always say to him, "Cheer up, you've only got a few more nights of sleep until Christmas Day."  I smiled.  

"I've always preferred the city to the country." I said.  "I know Adam does too.  It helps with his music, because everything's electric here."

She asked me how I had been since they left for tour.  "Things have been interesting.  I'm in my school play...and there's this guy." I said.  She laughed.  "Does Adam know?"

"Kind of.  At first, I thought he was obnoxious and then I realized that was only one small part of him.  He's quite nice.  He's actually kissed me before too...don't tell Adam." I asked her.  

"My lips are sealed."

When we arrived back at the venue, we found that Adam was having a heated conversation with someone.  I recognized him, but based on what they were saying, I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved.  Breanne whispered, "Maybe we should step outside again."

Then the man turned to me.  "Hey, you must be Hadley.  I don't think we've met before, but Adam talks about you a lot.  I'm Daniel." he extended a hand to me, but I wasn't sure if I should take it.  And I did not, because Adam stepped between us.  "I don't want to be rude, but I really think you should go.  Breanne is playing vibes tonight; your part is taken."

Daniel didn't budge.  "I was just talking to Hadley.  Can't I just introduce myself?"

"I can think of several reasons why I should not allow her to talk to you." Adam said.  I had never seen him so tense.  Breanne held my arm.  I wasn't sure if it was because she thought I was afraid, or because she was.  

Jasper put a hand on Daniel's shoulder.  "I really think you should go, dude.  At least until after the concert."  Finally, Daniel gave up, and Jasper followed him out.  Adam ran a frustrated hand through his hair.  Breanne touched his shoulder gently and whispered something I couldn't make out, which made him smile a bit.  I asked him what had happened between Daniel and him.  

"There have been a few incidents where Daniel has done some things I wasn't aware about with some fans and other girls...and I wanted him out of here tonight because I didn't want him talking to you.  That's really all I should say on the matter.  I'm sorry if I scared you."  He sat down on one of the chairs, and began to tune his guitar.  He seemed to be lost in thought.

I sat down next to him.  "I was more scared for you.  I was afraid you were about to get in a fight."  

He didn't respond.  

So I hugged him, and he jumped slightly when I touched him.  "It's okay.  I've heard that if I hug you for twenty seconds, a chemical inside your body is emitted and it is a stress reliever and anti-depressant.  I am oxytocin-ing you."  Adam smiled and hugged back.  "So just relax.  You guys are going to be great."

In a few minutes, the stage began to darken.  The audience screamed like they were being chased by wild animals.  First, Casey went out on stage and started on the drums.  And then Hannah and Laura went out and began to play the violin and the cello.  Then Steve and Jasper.  Breanne.  

And then Adam.  "Good evening, Minneapolis!"

The band began to play.