Incite My Riots Chapter 5

“You guys are late for soundcheck! Hayley, I know you’re usually fifteen minutes late or whatever, but 45 minutes? Josh, you should know better, you’re always on time! You’re supposed to keep Hayley in check!” our manager scolded.

I looked down, but Josh looked straight ahead and refused to say anything.

I bit my lip and suddenly the pavement became so interesting.

“If you guys want to be a band, start acting like one.” he finished his rant.

His expression finally relaxed, and he left us to our thoughts.

“Josh, I’m so, so sorry.” I apologized.

He nodded, as if he understood, “Yeah, let’s just go apologize to everyone else.”

I trailed behind him nervously.

“Where the hell were you guys?” Zac demanded, he was the most furious.

“Zac, calm down.” Jeremy tried.

“Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t want to be a one album band? Well good luck with that.” Zac scoffed as he pushed his way past the both of us.

Josh didn’t say anything, but I know he does.

We both do.

“Guys just let him cool off, he’s been having a bad day.” Jeremy tried, but the words were said, and they couldn’t be taken away.

I tried to nudge Josh, he seemed so stoic, so unlike him.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to him later.” I replied.

I didn’t want to include Josh in fear that more problems would arise.

Jeremy ran after Zac who had now struck up a conversation with Taylor.

I squeezed Josh’s hand.

“We’re going to be okay, all right? The band’s not at stake.” I assured him.

“Yeah, but we are.”

“Josh, are you still awake?” I whispered in the dead of night.

He let out a grunt.

I jumped down from my bunk, and scurried to his.

“Come with me.” I told him.

His words were foggy, but I insisted on pulling his hand.

“Where are we going?” he asked as I quietly shut the bus’ door.

“Hayles, are you crazy!” he exclaimed as I turned the key into the door.

I pulled him inside with a loud “sh!”

I turned on all the lights, lighting up the indoor stage.

“What are you doing?” he badgered.

I rolled my eyes as I finished plugging in the piano.

I cleared my throat and patted the seat next to me for Josh.

I didn’t say anything else until my fingers landed on the piano.

“And when it rains,On this side of town it touches, everything.Just say it again and mean it.We don’t miss a thing.You made yourself a bedAt the bottom of the blackest hole, blackest holeAnd convinced yourself thatIt’s not the reason you don’t see the sun anymore

And no, oh, how could you do it?Oh I, I never saw it coming.No, oh, I need the ending.So why can’t you stayJust long enough to explain?

And when it rains,Will you always find an escape?Just running away,From all of the ones who love you,From everything.You made yourself a bedAt the bottom of the blackest hole, blackest hole,And you’ll sleep ’til MayAnd you’ll say that you don’t want to see the sun anymore

And no, oh, how could you do it?Oh I, I never saw it-“

I wasn’t even able to get to the bridge before Josh interrupeted me.

“Stop.” he said.

I wasn’t sure if he was referring to the song or my tears.