Rover.

I cough myself awake as I feel my mouth cave in under the water I gag all over my shirt. It's as if I'm drowning in my sleep and there's nothing anyone can do.

"Rover?!" I hear Avery call out from her own bunk.

It takes me a minute to somehow catch my breath although it still feels like I've inhaled an ocean.

"I'm okay," I tell her as I struggle a bit.

I wait for her to respond, but she's already fast asleep as I assume that it's still early in the morning.

That dream, I don't know what to make of it because none of it can be real, right? At least I wish that was the case. I just don't understand how I can remember every single detail about that girl. She's a stranger, but I can still see her clearly in my mind. Her hair is straight, she's almost the same height as me even in bare feet and she's got this look where she raises her left eyebrow whenever she thinks about something, I don't think she even knows she's doing it. So, maybe there is more to this than I can comprehend.

By the time the sun peaks through the windshield, I've been up for hours and have been sitting on the couch doing absolutely nothing.

"Good morning," I didn't even notice Avery waking up.

"Hi," I clue back into reality.

When she gets a better look at me she comments, "Did you not sleep?"

"Nightmare," I lie.

"You mean you've been awake since one in the morning?"

I lift my shoulders, "I guess."

"Okay then," she pinches the bridge of her nose, "I guess will just have to pump you up with Red Bull today."

"Whatever it takes," I murmur to myself as Avery walks to the tiny washroom we have on board.

My world never stops and waits for me to catch up, it keeps galloping away as it drag me along the ground with my hands tied by the knot of a barb-like rope. The braid is becoming frayed, yet for some reason it just won't snap. It's been years, my whole teenage life, and now that I'm in my twenties I don't know if I will survive much longer. Maybe being dead will make them more money anyway, it's all they really want in the end.

I hear my phone beep at me all the way back in my bunk and under my pillow. When I get up and go to it, the blue light is flashing in the corner of the screen and I decide to unlock it to see what the notification is about. It's Isla, she's sent me another text and I know I haven't really been there for her recently but I don't want her to worry. I might not feel like myself right now, but I will one day and I don't see the use in telling her if everything is going to eventually be okay.

"I miss you," she writes.

"I miss you too, but I'll see you soon. You know that right?" I reply.

She doesn't send me another message and I have a feeling she probably just sent me the text when she was still in bed trying to wake up.

Avery pops back out from the washroom as she puts her hair up while her toothbrush is hanging out the side of her mouth.

"So?" I ask her.

She finally takes her toothbrush in her hand, "You've got an interview in an hour at a radio station."

Of course I do.

"Thank you for being here today," the radio host greets to me.

He's got the personality of every other six-foot guy who chose the same career. He's nice, maybe a little too nice, and loud to the point where when he's out in public he probably talks in the same voice.

"Thank you for having me," I reply, trying to be as polite as possible.

"Rover," he tries to chum up to me, "how's the tour been so far?"

I give him a believable smile, "It's been great. A lot of work, but it's absolutely worth it."

"So now that you're in Texas, do you have any plans?" he asks.

"Well if you're talking about visiting places, I'm not sure how much time I'll have to explore. After tonight's show in Dallas, we're heading right to our next stop, but if I get the chance, I'll try and snag some good barbeque," I tell him.

Working the soundboard, the other guy in the studio with us plays some sort of jingle.

The host's expression opens up as he says, "It's time for some questions from some fans in the area listening to our show right now."

"I can't wait," I grin lightly.

"On the line with us now is Alexa," he introduces. "What's your question?"

"Hi Rover!" the young girl squeals in excitement. "I can't wait to see you tonight."

"So you've got tickets to the show," the host obviously points out.

"Yeah," she replies. "Anyways, my question is, what's your favourite colour?"

"It's blue, baby blue to be precise," I tell the probably seven-year-old girl.

"I'll make sure to wear it tonight," she says.

"And I'll make sure to keep an eye out for you," I indulge her.

"Well, thank you for your question, Alexa," the host thanks her. "Now to Hailey, what's your question for Rover?"

Without a doubt, she asks, "What's the one thing that annoys you the most?"

I can hear that she's older, probably around the same age as I am, "Umm, I don't really want to throw anybody under the bus here, but people who don't believe me no matter how weird the situation is."

The host quickly leans closer to me, "Are you speaking from experience?"

"Unfortunately," I answer.

"Now, I need to hear the rest of this story," he tries to get it out of me.

"Trust me," I try deflecting the conversation, "it was not a fun discussion."

"Well, to our audience out there," he says to the listeners, "don't say I didn't try." After a moment he continues, "So, we have time for one more question. I believe Stacy is on the line?"

"Yes I am," the teenager replies. "I want to know if you have any advice for people who want to be like you one day."

I quickly try to come up with something, "be you, have fun. That's definitely the most important, but also don't forget about where you started. You know, I love touring, but I also miss my family and friends. I'm just so grateful that they support me like they do. I hope I can do that for someone else one day. Hey, who knows, it could be you."

"That's deep bro," the six-foot man places his hand on his heart with a thud. "He just pulls at our heartstrings, doesn't he? I see why you have such a big fan base, but I do need to ask something. Aren't your Dallas fans the best?"

"Totally," I give him the generic reply. "I'm so excited for tonight's show, it's going to be a lot of fun."

"Well with that," he says, "Rover, I want to thank you for coming and talking with us here at DPS 39.9."

"It was my pleasure," I say my parting words into the microphone.

When 8 o'clock comes rolling around, all I have to do is wait for Avery to give me my queue to start the show. The crowd is cheering at the top of their lungs waiting for me to just make my appearance.

"Go," Avery points for me to make my entrance.

I begin singing my first song, the first three minor notes sending the entire crowd screaming my name and their light-up wands creating a galaxy filled with stars.

"I never thought that we would end up like this," I sing the chorus. "Three days gone and I'm left with only one kiss. Please come back because I can't live like this. Heartbreak baby how can you resist."

When the music fades out to black, along with the lights, I finally feel the sweat cool down on my face, dripping down to the ground in front of me. I was so hot only after a few minutes that I could imagine myself being a summer storm, the humidity chocking everyone in sight.

The lights stay somewhat dim as the come back to find me.

"Hello, Dallas!" I shout to the thousands of people before me.

Of course, they all scream probably to the point where they won't be able to talk tomorrow.

"I am so excited to be here tonight," I go on. "It's been a while since I've visited, but I'm enjoying every bit of it."

Adjusting to the lights, I can see waves of people all dressed in the same colour, "I see that you all listened to my interview today."

I admire their dedication and love, but I'm not a god. I don't think they should see me that way because I know, deep down, that I'm just as fucked up as every other twenty-three-year-old in their life. I'm tired. I've probably done some stupid shit, and if they knew what my songs were really about their parents would cover their ears in shock.