<a/n: I realize that they were not on tour during this time after Cliff's passing. this is all very necessary.>
[Turn the Page by Bob Seger/covered by Metallica]
The next couple weeks only seemed to drag on and on. I honestly couldn't wait to go on tour with James and his band. I'm going on tour with Metallica. That sounds like a dream, but it's coming true for me. All I could think about was this tour. Finally the day before the tour had arrived, June 30th. I was getting dressed when I got a call on the home phone that my family kept upstairs. I put a towel on and walked over to answer it.
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{ "Hello?" }
[ "Morning! Are you ready for tomorrow?" ]

It was James. I could hear the guys in the background too.
"Hey Riley!" Kirk and Lars said hi.
I said hello back then answered James.

{ "I'm trying to be." I laughed. "I'm still a bit nervous but excited too."}

James handed the phone over to Kirk.

[ "It'll all be fine. You'll have fun with us, I promise. We're nice guys." ]
{ "Thanks Kirk." }
[ "No problem." ]

Kirk handed the phone back over to James.

[ "So I'll be picking you up at 7 tomorrow morning, driving the van. Kirk will be with me and we are picking up Lars. That okay with you?" ]
{"You bet, James."}

I smiled enthusiastically, still trying to believe this was really happening.

[ "Alright. We'll see you then. Get ready because this tour is gonna rock your fucking world!" ]
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James laughed and we said our goodbyes.
I put the phone back down and went to get dressed. I didn't put much effort into my outfit today since I would pretty much have to look good every day until November. I got ready for the shortest day of my life. I knew today would fly by me so I had to get to work.

I spent all day packing for the tour. I had to grab my biggest suitcase to fit all my stuff for the next few months. I packed all my good band shirts, my best jeans, shorts and everything I thought I would need. The bag was pretty heavy. I took it downstairs to the front door so that I wouldn't have to ask James to help me carry it tomorrow. I know he would, but I wouldn't want him to.

"Are you ready for this honey?" My dad asked as he walked over to me. "As ready as I'll ever be Dad." I smiled and hugged him. "I'm happy for you Riley." "Thanks Dad." My mom came over and chimed in "I hope it's all you want and more." "Thank you Mom. I love y'all so much." I hugged them both.

Soon enough it was time for bed. I could barely sleep from all the excitement. I was going to need coffee in the morning. I hope James will stop on the way to pick up Lars. I couldn't stop thinking about the journey that awaited me.