Beat On The Bus

Chapter 7: Attention

Alex POV

I missed our bus. I missed seeing the trees, the pavement, all the names of the small towns we passed by, and the people who goes on their daily routines. Seeing those people that I probably won't ever talk to or catch a glimpse of ever again never fails to make me feel small and unimportant. In a way, it humbles me. It makes me remember that without the help of other people, I won't even be here. Here, as in every possible meaning. Both Nicco and Oli doesn't need something so trivial to remind them what it took for us to be here. They had it engraved in their hearts. This humility is what keeps us together.

We rarely use our tour bus anymore since we had our tour jet. But our manager was adamant that we took our tour bus to a good use every now and then. Meaning, whenever it's within the country, we take the bus. Well, we all know it's because he's a closet environmentalist he's just too stubborn to admit it. Plus, he knows that we won't stand against him so he had all the power. Nicco and Oli doesn't care about our crazy schedule. They just want to play. To be honest, I don't care too, so long as we'll be alive to play another day. Even when we take our tour bus he makes sure that we're well fed and well rested and that's what matters to me.

I was only just slightly aware of the fact that I'm practically bouncing in my seat all throughout the journey home from the southern part of the country. Besides the fact that we're on the road, literally, again after so many months of fighting jetlag, touring around the world, I was excited to come home since I had a lot of stories about our latest in-country concert to tell my new friend. I didn't get her name but it's okay. I'll make sure I get it next time.

I almost forgot how it felt to talk to people other than my Nicco and Oli. As hard as I try to get close to other bands, they still seem to single us out. Sadly, I think it's our own fault too.

By the time we arrived on our shared villa, it was already in the middle of the night so I had no choice but to wait for the next day to talk to my new friend.

We started to unload our equipment by ourselves. We always do. Besides the fact that it shows just how "humble" we were, we honestly do it because we don’t want anyone touching our instruments. Since I had a whole drum set, our manager helped me out, like always.  I had at least 6 drum sets in my drum room, some of which were signed by my favorite drummers. I didn't get to have any signed until I was signed and recognized as an up and coming drummer of the generation. You really won't be noticed until you show others your worth, I guess.

It has always been my dream to have a drums room and since both Nicco and Oli had rooms for their guitars, I decided to appeal my case on having my own drums room. Of course, I won. When I'm not playing with Teka, our dog, or watching TV, or surfing the net for the latest gossip, or trying to annoy Oli, I'm at my drums room. This is also where most of my sickest beats come from.

When we finished unloading, both Nicco and Oli sauntered off to their rooms and I was left alone with our manager. I was starting to walk away too when he cleared his throat and automatically, I turned my head.

"Alex, tomorrow, we'll meet with the new member. I already told Nicco and Oli. Please at least give the new guy a chance. He said he's looking for his mother. He's just as complicated as all you three are. But I've met him and he's a very cool guy. Very good looking too. Kinda looks like a girl. And he's got this awesome voice, which would contrast perfectly with Nicco." he said spontaneoulsly.

"Uh. Okay. We'll just see tomorrow... If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're already siding with him" I replied

"You know I'm not", he said shaking his head.

I held up my hands. Of course I do. His loyalty will always be on us and he sees this change in the bigger picture which is very hard for us so, of course, we trust him.