Erica has been on tour for 3 weeks and is currently in New York. Vic, Tony and Jaime will be meeting up with the band tomorrow, since they’re in town for a friend’s wedding. Trent had joined Erica on tour last week and has been nothing but a sweetheart. They’ve just finished sound check and are sat on the bus; Erica is sketching and Trent is talking to Zac, who joined them.

“Did you say the boys are coming out tomorrow?” Zac asked Erica.

“Yeah, they’re at a wedding today and since we’re doing two shows here, they’re coming out tomorrow.” She smiled at the thought of seeing them.

“Good, I haven’t seen them in ages. I miss Jaime, that dude is a complete goofball” Zac was thinking back to the times that he and Jaime spent together on the last night of Erica’s first tour. They got on really well actually.

“I bet the feeling is mutual. You two are crazy when you’re together” Erica laughed.

“No more than you two, you act like 3 year olds” Erica couldn’t deny that.

“You seem to be holding up better now” Trent pointed out.

“I noticed that” Zac commented.

“I am. I guess I’m used to it now, as harsh as that sounds. I mean, I’ll never get over it, how could I but I think that breakdown I had helped me. I can’t be miserable forever because I’d end up worse off for it. I know Mike’s always going to be there, I know it’s cheesy but he is and I can handle that. I have you two and the boys so I really will be fine. I have to do what’s best for me and carrying on is what is best” She replied comfortably. When she first started feeling like this Erica felt guilty, like Mike might be mad at her but then with Vic’s help she realised it would help her more in the long run to get back to her happy self.

“We’re all proud of you Erica” Zac replied with a small smile on his face.

“I’m proud of me” She returned his smile.

“Change of subject, are the kids coming tomorrow?” Trent threw into the conversation.

“No, they’re with Jaime’s parents and Michael is at home with Isla” Erica replied.

“Aw that’s a shame; I wanted to see the little ones. How are they?” Trent was thinking more and more about children, he had recently proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes, the next step he wants to take is children.

“They’re good, so grown up already. I’ve only seen Michael a few times since he was born but Tony keeps me updated and he seems to be doing okay” Erica whipped out her phone and showed Trent and Zac some pictures of the little one. He was now just over a month old and looked just like Tony.

“Gosh, Tony’s double right there. It must be hard for Jaime, because Jacob looks just like Jess” Trent noticed as he continued to scroll through pictures of all 3 of the children.

“Yeah, I bet it is. I’m actually going to see her after tour. I miss her, she was one of my best friends so when she left I felt really sad. But we’re going to meet up and have girly time”
Erica did miss Jess. She still has Mal, Emily and Isla but it’s not the same. Jess was Erica’s first female friend really and they got really close. Now that she’s gone it just feels weird. Erica loves her other girlfriends but Jess will still have the number one spot, even if she did break her best friend's heart.
three” Jaime instructed “1, 2, 3” On three he, Vic and Tony jumped on Erica, as much as they could considering the size of her bunk.

“Fuck off, I’m sleeping and I hate you all” She grumbled as she pulled her blanket over her head.

“Erica get up, we’re going out today” Vic said in a child voice with a pout.

“If you want me to get up you better make me coffee and breakfast and pick me out some clothes” She smirked and slowly pulled the cover from over her head.

“Deal” Tony said as he began rummaging through her suitcase.

“Breakfast and coffee coming right up” Jaime called as he skipped off to the front lounge.
When Erica was dressed, in a pretty decent outfit – good job Tony- she joined the boys up front and tucked into her breakfast.

“Where are we going?” Erica asked intrigued as to where her best friends were venturing to today.

“We thought it would be cool to just walk around all day, maybe go see Neil. I don’t know just have fun” Vic said.

“Sounds like a plan” Erica liked days like this, the simple days where nothing really mattered but enjoying yourself.

“Okay, well eat up we want to make the most of it and then see you kick butt on stage tonight” Tony said.

“Don’t I always?” Erica chuckled and Zeke walked through to the front lounge.

“Yes, my butt. You always, literally, kick my butt you bitch” He scoffed at her, this band was made up of the worst morning people ever.

“You make me do it” She said with a joking grin “Look after Trent today, I’m going out with these losers” Erica asked.

“Sure thing, we planned on hitting up that pizza place you mentioned today anyway” Zeke and Trent have been trying pizza in every state they stop at and have been scoring them. At the end of tour they’re going to crown a winner.

“Sweet, I think it’s going to hit number two on the chart. Chicago will never fall from top spot” She said knowingly. Erica and Chad had done this on the last tour they went on.

“Chicago was great but I have a feeling about this place” Zeke replied while rubbing his stomach.

“You guys do the weirdest things on tour” Vic chimed in “Now come on let’s go” He demanded to Erica who downed the last of her coffee and exited the bus with the trio of Mexicans.


The four friends spent the day roaming around the streets of New York, they bought a few things here and there, went in to see Neil for a bit but he was swamped with customers so didn’t stay long. They went for lunch at a
en they got back to the venue there was still a few hours before show time so the boys caught up with old friends in the other bands. Vic and Alex were hanging out with Travis. Zac, Rian and Jaime were hanging out with Trent and Zeke. Zack, Jack and Chad were hanging out with everyone in We the Kings and Erica was bouncing through the groups. The rest of Man Overboard had gone out for food so were not in on the big friend session.

Before long the show had started and Anonymous were about to hit the stage. Erica had asked Jaime if he would play their song tonight and he was more than happy to do so. When it came time for their song Jaime came on out and joined Erica centre stage. They sang their hearts out and the crowd loved it.

“I’ve missed doing that” Jaime said as Erica and the twins came off stage.

“Me too, Zac has been doing an amazing job as always though” Erica wiped the sweat from her face and took a bottle of water before heading for the dressing room.

“Why don’t you and him actually do a song together? I bet it would be amazing.” Jaime suggested. Erica liked the thought of that; she was due a writing session anyway.

“Maybe, it could be quite fun” She replied and Jaime smiled at her.

“So when are you and Jess hanging out” Erica sighed at his questioning, he’s only torturing himself.

“I get back on the Tuesday and the two of us are going for dinner on the Thursday” She informed her best friend. Jaime nodded and dropped the subject.

“Oh Erica, I almost forgot to tell you. Chicago has been knocked off our top spot” Her eyes widened at Trent’s news.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Chad tell them that nothing beats a Chicago pizza” She demanded and he obliged going into a debate with his twin and Erica’s step brother.

“Wow, you guys take pizza way too seriously” Vic joked as he took a seat next to Erica.

“It’s pizza, of course we take it seriously Victor” She responded causing laughs to fill the room.


-2 weeks later-

“Sorry I’m late, traffic was so bad” Erica apologised to Jess who had already been seated at their table.

“Not to worry, I only got here about five minutes ago” She reassured.

“Good. I haven’t been to this place in years” Erica commented.

“Me neither but I remember we used to come here all the time and thought it would be fun” Jess said.

“Yeah, they do the best lasagne in here too” Erica remembered.

“So how are you? How was the tour etc?” Jess started.

“It was so good, I had a lot of fun. I’m doing really well too, I’m not moping about anymore and I’m feeling good” Erica admitted.

“I’m glad to hear it, it’s never going to be the same but you can work hard at making it as normal as possible”

“That’s what I’m doing. How about you, how are you holding up?” Erica was curious to see how Jess was since leaving. Jaime was a mess but hid it pretty well, from everyone but Erica. Maybe Jess was doing the same.

“I probably sound like a bitch for saying it but I feel great. Honestly E, I don’t feel weighed down by anything anymore. I know I shouldn’t have felt like that with them because they’re my family but I couldn’t help it. Joseph makes me feel really different. He makes me feel light again.” She opened her heart up to Erica.

“Joseph? Who’s that?” Erica was really wishing Jess wouldn’t say what she was thinking.

“Uhm, we’ve kind of been dating for a while. I didn’t intend for it to happen but he’s so nice Erica, honestly. He makes me happy and that’s all I want. I want Jaime to move on and be happy too.” To see Erica was shocked would be an understatement.

“Jaime made you happy once. He made you the happiest; he’s still hurting you know. He can’t get over you and you’re now dating someone else” Erica sounded a bit angrier than she wanted to.

“I know but don’t get mad at me, it just happened. I never wanted to leave. I never wanted to leave my children but I had to, it was all too much for me E.” Jess pleaded with her as if she was asking for forgiveness.

“I’m just upset because I thought that you’d go off for a bit, see that you missed them like crazy and come back. Put everything back to normal” Erica sighed.

“I’m sorry E, but I can’t do that. I can’t go back there. I’ll still see the kids but as for being a family again, I just can’t do it” She sounded as if she was going to cry.

“Look, Jess, maybe this was a bad idea; us meeting up. I’m just going to go” Erica put some money in the middle of the table, kissed Jess on the cheek and walked out.

She wanted more than anyone, other than Jaime, for Jess to come back. Now she’s going to have to tell her best friend that the love of his life really does no longer love him. She feels guilty for giving him false hope that Jess might one day come back. Once she got in her car she dialled his number and he answered on the second ring.

“Hey pumpkin” Erica started.

“Hey, I thought you were out tonight?” He asked.

“I was but I changed my mind, can I come over?”

“Of course you can. Are you okay? You sound a bit upset” He noticed.

“Yeah, I’ll tell you everything when I get there. Make some hot chocolate so it’s ready?” She asked with a slight giggle.

“Anything for you misses. See you soon” They said their goodbyes and hung up. Erica drove over to Jaime’s gutted about what she was about to tell him.


“Hey E, you look pissed” Jaime noted as she walked in and sat on his couch.

“I am” She replied flatly, Jaime got up from the couch to finish making the hot chocolate and returned moments later.

“So what’s eating you up?” He asked.

“I was just at dinner with Jess and had to leave half way through because she pissed me off” She said turning slightly to look at him.

“Why? What did she do?” he seemed more confused.

“It’s going to hurt you” She warned.

“I’m a big boy Erica, I can take it” He reassured her.

“I found out that” She paused and looked at Jaime’s face; she could see the hurt in his eyes already.“I found out that she’s seeing someone else. His name is Joseph and she says she’s happy with him. I feel bad because I said that she might come back one day and she told me tonight that’s can’t ever come back”

Erica wiped away the tear that had already fallen from Jaime’s eyes.

“It’s okay, I can deal with it. I knew when she left she wasn’t coming back. I’ve been okay the last couple of months, I’ll be fine” He kept repeating things like this, more to convince himself than anything.

“How about we put on a rubbish movie and just have best friend time?” Erica proposed and Jaime smiled at that idea.

“Thank you E, for looking after me all the time” Jaime said as she sat back down after putting on the first DVD she picked up.

“What are friends for, aye?” She nudged him in the side and they snuggled up next to each other. Jaime pulled a blanket that was hanging on the back of the couch and they watched the movie in silence.

Erica ended up staying that night because she fell asleep on Jaime’s shoulder and he carried her to the spare room. The children were more than happy to see that their favourite Auntie was there when they woke up. They greeted her with breakfast in bed and a rude awakening aka jumping on the bed until she grabbed them and tickled them to stop.

“So I was thinking about going to the zoo today and I wondered if you two might want to come along” Erica said nonchalantly knowing how much the kids loved the zoo.

“YES” they both shouted in excitement when Jaime walked into the room to see what all the commotion was.

“Daddy, we’re going to the zoo with Auntie Erica today. Are you coming too?” Amanda asked as Jaime picked her up.

“Of course I am silly” He bopped her on the nose and joined Jacob and Erica on the bed.

They did in fact go to the zoo and spent the day having so much fun, taking their minds of every bad thing that was going on at the minute. They went out for dinner that night too and the kids were angels. They always were. When they got home they watched Finding Nemo and then Jacob and Amanda went to bed. Erica left not long after and Jaime too ascended the stairs to bed. Their day out had tired them all.

Notes

I liked writing this chapter.
Let me know what you think guys <3