“Here. Here you go. Get goin’ now.” I kissed Roger before following him off the bus. Veronica rolled her eyes as she slowly made her way down the steps.

 “God! You make us look bad, Lydia!” Veronica shook her head and put her hand on her stomach. “You made Roger a sandwich and I made John get me a sandwich!”

 “I made Freddie give me my eyeliner back and told him I wouldn’t make him a sandwich. So, yes you’re makin’ us look very bad! But now…there’s something we need to discuss!” Mary cleared her throat, put her hands on her hips and darted her eyes to my hand. I looked at her funny. “This! We need to discuss this!” She was interrupted by Freddie tapping her on the shoulder.

 “We’re leaving. I can’t believe you wouldn’t make me a sandwich and Roger gets one!” Freddie threw his arms around Mary from behind her. She wiggled around to face him.

 “I won’t see you until late. Enjoy, love!” Mary gave him a kiss for good luck and off Freddie went toward the waiting limousine where John, Brian, and Roger were already headed to in order to travel to the opposite side of the public park where the autograph session would happen. We could see the long table set up in the distance. It was a truly magnificent afternoon with the sun high in the sky and not a cloud in sight. A perfect time to sit outside of the bus in the loungers, read, and bother the roadies…which I was already doing. They didn’t seem to mind none too much.

 “Now. Lydia. Kindly show me and Veronica what you got on your finger.” Mary motioned for my hand.

 “What are you talkin’ about?” Veronica questioned. I rolled my eyes and flung my wrist over at Mary.

 “This is what I’m talkin’ about.” Mary said, looking over to Veronica and flaunting my hand in front of Veronica’s face. Veronica gasped.

 “Oh my god! Oooh my god! What the hell, Lydia!? Talk!” Veronica insisted. I sighed audibly.

 “Relax! Just relax! Both a’ ya’! Roger gave it to me last night.” I said snatching my hand back.

 “Let me see it! Give me that hand of yours back! Oh, Lydia.” Veronica said as she examined the pearl that adorned my finger. “Look at this. Just look at this. Oh my god. He did good. He did real good. This isn’t…” Veronica didn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she gave me a look.

 “No! No, it’s not an engagement ring! Don’t you go doin’ that to me! This is a…Lydia, I love you and…you make good sandwiches kinda’ ring.” I assured both she and Mary. Mary took a closer look along with Veronica.

 “You must make the best sandwiches, Lydia.” Mary said. I laughed. “No, really. It’s just perfect. Very, very thoughtful. So very thoughtful.”

 “I’ve never noticed how long and skinny your fingers are! That pearl just sits there like it was meant for your hand.” Veronica told. I shook my head.

 “He did good.” Was my response and I was ready to change the subject. I didn’t want the fuss like this. But, really…Roger had done a good job. The three of us took our places outside the bus to enjoy the afternoon and watch the action unfold in the distance around us.

 “Where’s Chrissie?” I asked as I put my sunglasses over my eyes.

 “I’m not sure. I don’t think she was feelin’ well earlier.” Veronica said.

 “Well, should we go check on ‘er? Does she need somethin’? I mean I know we just sat down and all but…I don’t want her in there alone if she doesn’t need to be.” I asked.

 “As much as I’d like to sit out here and enjoy this wonderful afternoon, I guess we should go check on her. I’m only a little concerned because it’s just not like her to not have come out here with us promptly. Besides, if she’s feelin’ okay we need to lay plans for the party. Chrissie’s an integral part of the party!” Veronica said. I took my sunglasses off again and smiled as I reached her a hand to pull her up. As much I too wanted to remain outside, I also wanted to party plan because this had to be huge and it had to be a complete surprise. Veronica slowly followed us back to the door of the bus. Once she got going, she moved well…it was initially getting started that bothered her so. Mary opened up the door to the bus, holding it for Veronica. She started up the first step and I pushed her in the rest of the way.

 “Chrissie? What are you doin’ in here?” Veronica called to her.

 “Just tidying up a bit. I was about to come outside in a few minutes. Have they…left for the autograph session and the evening ahead?” Chrissie asked pulling a towel through her hands.

 “Yeah, they left a little while ago. Are you okay? You went to bed so quickly earlier.” Veronica said.

 “Oh, I’m…I’m okay. I’m fine. I just…I felt a little sick to my stomach was all.” Chrissie lied. “Can I…ask you something? Do you think…do you think the reason Brian hasn’t proposed to me is because…”

 “Chrissie, stop. Is this what your funk today is about? Have you been in here moping around about this same thing? We’ve told you, Chrissie. The timing isn’t right. It’s not you and Brian isn’t cheating on you. He loves you. Chrissie, you’re so worried about the next step that you’re missin’ this tour and you’re missin’ your relationsip. It’s just…if you’ve been in here festerin’ over that…let it go for now.” Veronica interrupted and lectured her. Her words were so wise. Chrissie stared at the floor, a little ashamed for her pouty actions. She knew that she was partially silly in her thoughts and behaviors.

 “Come on. Cheer up. Stop drivin’ yourself mad. I’ll help you with these dishes, we’ll talk about the party. We need to make this thing a reality because it’s happenin’ tomorrow.” I said, joining Chrissie at the sink. Our presence seemed to perk her up because she smiled genuinely and appeared truly excited about getting the particulars together for the biggest party on the tour.

 “My god, I can’t believe Brian will be 28! Before I realize it, he will be thirty!” Chrissie said. I picked up a towel and started to dry the remainder of the dishes in the sink. I laughed.

 “I know. Unimaginable where time goes. So, tomorrow. Burgers on the grill, potato salad, the cake me and Mary are gonna’ bake and all the alcohol we can handle? Let Roger and Brian go shot for shot with each other to see who passes out first? I’m likin’ this Chrissie.” I said. It seemed she hadn’t paid one bit of attention to a word I said.

 “Time out…you and I are bakin’ the cake?” Mary asked of me, searching the bus for her cigarettes.

 “We are. It’ll be fine, Mary! It will be fine!” I insisted. “Anyway, Chrissie I think I can talk a couple of those roadies into makin’ a store run for us tomorr…” Chrissie interrupted me.

 "What's that?" She stopped rinsing the dishes and looked over at me. “On…on your finger…on…your finger…what…” she blinked repeatedly as if she were completely baffled.

 "Oh it's...a Tahitian pearl." I answered her. I smiled a little, partially embarrassed and partially excited. "It's...I...Roger gave it to me last night." I admitted, all smiles.  Chrissie reached up and turned the water off, staring at my hand as if the whole world had just collapsed around her. She picked up my hand, examined the delicate pearl and the carefully placed diamonds that surrounded it. She then looked at me and began to exhale heavily. She shot her eyes continually between me and my finger. She was getting herself a little worked up.

 "And...Roger..." She looked flustered as she blinked repeatedly even moreso than she had been. "...he's...asking you to...what...marry..." I stopped her. The little bit of composure Veronica had managed to calm her with had gone right out the window.

 "Oh, oh...god no! It's not an engagement ring or nothin' like that. Thank goodness! But it's..." Chrissie stopped me.

 "What is wrong with you, Lydia!? It's not fair! It's...it's just not fair! You get a ring an' you don't even want one! My god...I can't believe you'd do this to me!"  Chrissie let go of my hand and put her hand on her forehead as tears began to well up in her eyes.

 "What do you mean I..." Chrissie cut me off as the tears began to fall.

 "It's like you don't even care sometimes! You're so spoiled! You are...so fuckin' spoiled. You have everything you want and you don't even care that you have it!" Chrissie shook her head. Mary looked at me, mouth agape. She didn't know what to make of this. Where the hell was this coming from all of a sudden.

 "When did you stop bein' on my side?" She bit down on her trembling hand and didn't say anything for a moment. "I was there for you when Roger couldn't keep his dick in his pants! I was on your side, Lydia! I ached for you! And what!? You just...slap me in the face like this is no big fuckin' deal!? You joke about the girls and…and the attention….and it doesn’t even fuckin’ get to you!! You're so cold, Lydia. You’re so damn cold and insensitive. You..." She shook her head and trembled in frustration.

 "Chrissie..." I reached out to her but she smacked me away.

 "I...I can't believe this. You don't do shit to deserve that except spread your legs! Roger doesn't even love you, for god's sake! He loves that you lay on your back for him!” Chrissie let the tears pour and pointed a trembling finger at me. "It's MY turn! MY turn!" She shook her head again. "I've done everythin' right, Lydia…EVERYTHIN'! I have been patient and loving and…I’VE DONE EVERYTHIN’ RIGHT!” Chrissie was almost hysterical. I watched her with as much sincerity as I could muster right now. “And what have you done? Huh?  All you do is scream his name! You don’t love Roger. He doesn’t love you.  Whores like you two don’t love. That ring is nothin’ but a free pass up your skirt.” Chrissie pointed the most hateful finger I’d ever seen at me.  She turned around and clenched her forehead before storming out the door, and slamming it behind her.

 There was absolute silence. Mary closed her eyes as put her hands over her mouth. She trembled a little. Veronica had the same reaction. The silence was deafening...so deafening. I stood there with the towel in my hands staring at the floor. I turned my back to the stove and leaned up against it, crossing my arms in front of me and glancing over at Mary and Veronica. I looked down at the pearl on my finger.

 "Oh my god..." Veronica muttered. There was silence again amidst the shock. Chrissie had never sounded so full of...

 "Lydia, she doesn't mean that! She's upset. She doesn't mean any of it! That is positively not true! You know that! All she can think about getting engaged, getting engaged, getting engaged." Mary finally said.

 "Oh my god..." Veronica muttered again.

 "She's pissed at Brian and unloaded it on you. It’s all hittin’ her so quickly and she’s not ready. The press, the publicity, the girls, she’s intimidated and…she just can’t handle it right now. It’s not you. This is her way of confronting it all and tryin’ to get stronger. " Mary stood up and came over to me.  "You want a cigarette?" She asked with utmost kindness. I shook my head yes.

 "I can't believe what she just said...it's...that's not...what the hell got into her?" Veronica has a miserable and sick look on her face as she put her hand over her collarbone.

 I took a cigarette from Mary's pack and she lit it for me. I made eye contact with her sincere and completely blindsided look. I then looked over to Veronica and nodded my head in her direction. Mary took my cue and went over to Veronica since she looked as if she were about to throw up, sitting beside her on the couch. "

 No! No! I can't let her get by with this! NO! Lydia, those are the cruelest words I've ever..." Veronica covered her mouth and fought her own tears. "Shit...you know I love Chrissie! My god! She's going to be the godmother to my baby!! I won't tolerate her talkin' to you like that. I've never heard anythin' so selfish and hurtful! It's so...” Veronica was beside herself. I looked at Mary as Veronica outstretched her arms to me. I found myself strangely un-phased by such an attack of words. If I was tough as nails, then Mary was strong as steel.

 "Sit, Veronica. It's okay." Mary assured her. "I can tell...she's okay." Mary looked over to me. And I was okay...for the most part. But Chrissie had said one thing…one thing that got to me...

 "She...she called me spoiled...she..." Veronica stopped me.

 "You are NOT spoiled! You are NOT! Lydia, you deserve every fuckin' thing in your life! You are one of the most selfless people I've ever met!" She was a little emotional at this point.

 "You aren't spoiled. You're...none of those things she said at all. And don’t take personally, what she said about Roger, ‘cause I know you’re thinkin’ about that right now. Chrissie is upset and she already knows that she let her mouth overload herself...she knows she fucked up." Mary stood up from the couch and came to me, putting her arms on my shoulders.

 "Lyd...I know, I know...that's exclusively for Roger but...make an exception." Mary gave me her best smile and winked. It made me laugh at her. "She's bucklin' under the pressure. For whatever reason, she's got it in her head that Brian is gonna cheat on 'er or…something! Chrissie knows that she has messed up big time. It’s not an engagement ring for god’s sake! That shows you how irrational she is right now. It's gorgeous and she didn't even acknowledge that."

 “Well, this isn’t gonna’ ruin our evenin’. She can call me anythin’ she wants. Yell anythin’ she wants. I just got the wrong gift at the wrong time.” I paused and thought for a moment, shaking my head. “Wow…I’m a little speechless right now. How long do you think we should let her cool down before goin’ to find where the hell she went?” I asked, continuing to work on my cigarette. Veronica and Mary looked to one another.

 “I’ll go find her in a half hour if she doesn’t come back on her own.” Mary promised.

 ‘Then I’m stayin’ here with you.” Veronica assured me.

 “Good. You can help me plan a surprise party for Brian and Roger.” I said, heading for the couch. Veronica looked at me for a moment.

 “I know she hurt your feelin’s badly.” Veronica said sincerely.

 “She did. Oh, she did, indeed. But it’s like Mary said…she’s lashin’ out for no reason.” I said, finishing my cigarette.

 Much, much later that night the clock in the bus read 1:58 PM. Chrissie hadn’t spoken to me since she had returned from the park. I was the only one awake. Mary was sound asleep in the back booth and Veronica asleep on the couch across from me. I worried greatly that Freddie, John, Roger and Brian would come in here causing a ruckus and wake them. They were due back any minute. I stood outside the bus with my cigarette looking up into the night sky. I had made myself a few drinks but was only feeling the edge taken off. It was a peaceful evening. The bus was running as we were driving the duration of the evening tonight. I could hear the limo pulling up and voices as the door opened. I walked around the back of the bus. The taillights were out for the time being, with only the courtesy lights illuminated. I laughed to myself as I heard Freddie cussing everyone under the sun for whatever reason. The four of them were quite excited with conversation as they approached the back of the bus. I reached my arms out to Freddie for a hug, which he immediately obliged me.

 “Be quiet goin’ on the bus. Ya’ hear? Mary’s asleep and so is Veronica and Chrissie.” I cautioned him.

 “I may be hugging you and smilin’ all over, love but believe me…we are beat to a pulp. We will be very quiet getting on the bus.” I smiled at Freddie and sent him along his way.

 “Hey, how’s Veronica?” John asked of me.

 “She’s sound asleep.” I promised him as John made his way toward the front of the bus. He smiled at me and wiped his forehead.

 “Good. I’m gonna’ join ‘er. I’ll try not to wake anyone.” He pointed toward the front of the bus and continued walking that way. Brian was shortly behind John.

 “Hey.” I acknowledged him before throwing the butt of my cigarette into the pavement. “Your uh….your girlfriend could use an extra hug tonight.” Brian looked at me kind of funny.

 “What do you mean? She alright?” I shook my head at Brian’s question.

 “She’ll be fine. Just hold ‘er real tight.” I smiled at him as I noticed his expression went from confused to sincere.

 “I will. Night, Lydia.” He told me before disappearing around the bus. I smiled as Roger came dragging across the pavement. He gave me one look and sighed. His hair was sweaty and he smelled of a combination of beer and stale air. I reached my arms out to him.

  “Come ‘ere, baby.” Roger practically fell into me. I leaned up against the back bumper of the bus and allowed the weight of him to sink into me. “You tired?” I pushed my fingers into his hair and rested my palm on his ear, turning his face to mine. He shook his head.

“This has been the longest fuckin’ day.” He smiled at me. “I’m…I’m so exhausted.” He leaned over on me again. The smell of diesel exhaust was starting to choke us both. I held him tighter against me. “It was a success...the day. Wasn’t it?” my voice was soft.

 “It was. My god…you have no idea how crazy great it was.  This is gonna’ be big, Lyd. It will. It’s just like…shit! This is real.” His tone was subdued and perhaps even tainted with a little uncertainty. I smiled my most comforting and sincere smile at him.

 “Oh sweetheart…you’re a star. ‘Course…I already knew that.” I assured him. He grinned like a little child. 

 “Lyyyyyyyyyd!” he gushed and was almost dead weight in my arms. I laughed at him and buried my face in the side of his head. “You know we’re drivin’ all night tonight. You’ll sleep easy. Take these off, sweetheart.” I pulled at the sweatbands around Roger’s wrists off him, feeling they were soaked through.

 “I wanna’ take everythin’ off.” He said smiling before kissing me.  We were both starting to feel asphyxiated by the diesel fumes and so it wasn’t a good idea to stay behind this bus much longer. I smiled back at him and stared for a moment, pushing the stray strands of hair from his face. I just wanted to hold Roger in my arms tonight as we traveled until he fell asleep.

 “Come on. Let’s get on the bus and get you out of these clothes. I laid a clean shirt out for ya’. You’ll be asleep in no time, baby.” For some reason, my voice was exceptionally soothing as my hands moved over his damp back. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself as I felt Roger dig his face in against my neck. Nah, whores like us don’t love...