Austin's POV

In the middle of July...

I walked through the crowded parking lot. It was in the middle of our tour, and I was on meandering around, trying to find a good signal for a phone call. Our manager had called me, telling us that the Tour dates between July 26th and August 2nd were being moved. That left an entire week of open freedom. The dates were moved until after the Denver date. I was so excited.

This schedule clearing left me an entire week for a special celebrations and exciting adventures! Not to mention a little down time! The entire band needed it, and badly!

From the corner of my eye, I watched Phil and Tino fooling around in an empty lot across the grocery store where I stood. We were in a little town in the middle of an open prairie. Not many people knew us, and the few that did had already come up for some signatures and pictures a half hour ago. They left soon after.

I watched the lead guitarist and drummer running around in the blazing sun with...squirt guns? Since when had we acquired those? Well, they would be an asset to us. Even from the parking lot, where our behemoth bus took up many parking spots in the far corners of the lot, I could hear their yells of joy and surprise as ice cold water splashed their shirts, making them chilled under a heat blast.

The green grass waved around me as I passed by Aaron, passed out cold in the shade. I carefully stepped over his limp legs and snoring form as I went off to interrupt the battle of two powerful forces.

I heard Phil's voice carry up as he was sprayed with a blast of water. Tino burst into fits of laughter. It was a risky mission, trying to break up the streams of water for a moment, although I wouldn't be to mad if I was cooled down with a chilling spray.

"Hey Phil, Tino!" I called to them. The two paused for a moment, both pairs of eyes watching me, but occasionally flickered to each other. Neither was trusting the other.

"What's up?" Phil asked first. I stuffed my phone in my pocket.

"Where's the ginger princess?" I asked. Both shrugged.

Alan had been missing for the past thirty minutes, ever since I received the phone call. I tried checking in the bus, but didn't see him. The field was silent for a moment as we pondered where our ginger went to. A few people passing on the highway gave us odd looks. It must be a little weird to see two burly men holding children's water guns standing against a skinny, tall man adorned with tattoos that raced up his arms.

"I thought he was in the bus." Phil chided at last.

"I checked fifteen minutes ago, just when I got the call. I didn't see him." I sighed, running a hand through my dark hair.

"I thought he was in the store, picking up a monster." Tino argued.

"When was that?" I questioned. He thought for a moment before responding.

"Fifteen minutes." He told me. I sighed and nodded finally.

"Nah, Aaron told him that he had gotten a letter a few days ago and he had forgotten to give it to him. That was ten minutes back." Phil contradicted. My head spun for the moment before realizing he was in the bus again.

"Oh yeah! When he heard the news he sprinted to the bus. He's faster than Phil when he hears there's donuts in the bus!" Tino busted out with laughter. Phil beaned him in the head with a stream of water. The war was back on. Tino booked it for the far end of the field and I ran back to the bus, excited to tell him a plan I had conjured up.

"ASHBY!" I called to the bus, even from fifteen feet away, my voice carried to the windows of our vehicle. The black, monstrous bus loomed over me as I knocked on the door and listened for a few soft footsteps to open up.

I heard a soft sniffle coming from inside. A quiet sob escaped.

"Alan! Open up!" I called to him. Nothing happened. I don't know if he could hear me, or if he was just choosing to ignore my pleas.

"Austin?" A voice finally questioned. I bit my lip uncertainly. There were very few things that could make Alan break down. I could only fear the worst. I jiggled the handle to discover it's lock activated.

"Alan, dude, what's wrong?" I softened my voice as a few people threw odd stares in my direction, their hands were clutching bags of groceries. The door's lock clicked open and it swung open. I hopped inside and closed the door, locking it behind me.

Alan went to sit back down in a chair across from a table. His head folded into his hands. Before him, was a small letter. The words were wrinkled under Alan's hands that clutched the paper. A small sob escaped his lungs. The beanie that perched on his red hair was tilted. Over all, he was in a broken state.

I went to take a seat next to my friend. I rubbed his back gently, unsure of what to do. The last time this happened, it was because one of his cats died. Alan sat up and pushed the paper to me. The bags underneath his eyes darkened as a tear rolled down his cheek.

I scanned the letter. The beginning was joyful and happy. She loved music as much as the rest of us. The third paragraph, I barely made it through.

I knew it happened every day. Somewhere, a child was being abused, but it never had occurred to me that this sweet, innocent, little child was abused. It made me sick that she was hurt like that and she was still trying to be happy, that Rae had 'made a card' for her dad, that it would all be better. Lily-Pearl's innocence touched me deeply.

Rae had never told me of this, she may not even know that LP had written about it. It touched me, and it must have touched Alan, that LP would've trusted him with this information.

A thousand questioned raced through my mind. Was she scared of her father? Did she still trust him? Did this happen more than once? Was Rae alright? Did this happen to Raelyn as well?

My heart broke a thousand times over. Contrary to LP's statement, not all things can be fixed, even with hot-glue.

In that moment, my heart went out to all those hurt by those promising not to hurt them.

Alan sniffled and held out a hand for a letter back. We both studied the drawing of a tawny little pony at the bottom. It was obvious that the right leg was broken, as a little line of hot-glue was drawn over it. Alan touched it fondly. LP had drawn a sun with a smiley face in the corner, as if she was trying to make it better.

"She called me her ginger princess." His lips numbly formed the words. A gust picked up outside, scatter wrappers around the parking lot.

I watched silently as Alan's eyes kept scanning over that one paragraph. His emotions expressed on his face went from sadness to frustration, and then pure rage. He put the letter down and slammed his hands on the table. The sudden movement made me jump.

"No one hurts my little sister." He muttered in a growl so low even I could barely make it out. Alan often took matters into his own hands. He was very passionate about things he cared about. This just went from Alan being the kind and sweet boy to loving and protective older brother. Defensive mode: activated! I didn't mind. I was starting to fill in as being an older brother for Rae. She needed one, and after what I heard from them, I was willing to be one for her.

"If only we weren't on tour!" He raged out again. Both hands ran through his ginger hair, pulling it back in frustration. I smiled for a moment, quickly explaining the conversation I'd had with our manager.

"So we get a week off?" He cried out incredulously. I grinned and nodded. He returned the smile.

"I think I have something we can do during that time." I added slyly.

"Please tell." Alan laughed. With a brief nod, I quickly explained my plan.

"It's time to drive." Our ginger princess replied.

Notes

Alan and Lily-Pearl have formed a deeper bond through their letters. Now Alan has his own little sister! Next chapters: even more excitement for Rae and her little sister!

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(I think you'll love what's coming in the next few chapters!!)