From: ediaz@gmail.com

To: whathebuck@gmail.com

Oct 10, 2007, 8:05 AM

The Halloween performance is back on, and I'm not sure what I feel about that. The way it's been wishy-washy has been pissing me off. I'm going to do it because the money is good, and I'll be able to sink a good chunk of that into the fund I need to escape my parents as soon as the time is right and I get the contract I want out of things. The guys all support me on that. They all know how horrible my mother is, especially, and I think they are planning on banking on me working to the bone to make sure that they can retire the way that they want. I refuse to let that happen. They are not going to know what hit them.

How is school going? I know that you were excited to go back. You were looking forward to science class and world literature, right? I think that's what you said when we were talking. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry. I wanted to make sure to remember things since you tried to remember anything and everything about me.

I'm looking forward to the break after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. The family will follow me on the road, so Christmas will be celebrated wherever we are. I haven't looked at the tour schedule for that point in time yet. Our next show is in Canada. I'm really happy that we are going to be going there before it gets really cold. We are doing the coldest parts first, so there is no issue with snow delaying us. Our last tour had a freak snowstorm that dropped fifteen feet of snow, stopping us from getting to our last stop in Canada. Now we are doing them first, and we did make that up in the spring when the snow had gone away, and it was good that the people who had tickets could make it to that show for the makeup.

From: whathebuck@gmail.com

To: ediaz@gmail.com

Oct 10, 2007, 4:16 PM

I know you were worried that the Halloween show would be back on. I wish it were one that I could go to so that you had someone around who would make your day better. The concert will be over before you know it, and then you'll be on your way to heading to the side of the country you hate the most, and that will be something to look forward to, right?

School is going really well. I'm enjoying world literature a lot. I have even gotten a library card for the one library on the other side of town, and I have been heading there when I'm allowed to use the car, which is not a lot. So I asked for the means to use the bus. That's been going great. The bus kind of sucks, but at least I can read while I'm on it. I have no idea what I want to do for college, and the guidance counselor at school has been pushing me on that. I honestly have no idea. I thought of something in business management, but I think that would bore me. Accounting was floated, but I suck at math. I barely get an A in the classes, and that's because I can go through the other homework quicker, and I have the time to really work on the math.

That sounds horrible about not being able to have a break over Christmas, but at least your family can be with you. I know your father has been around less and less, but you've not said why. If you want to talk about that, you can, but we don't have to. I wish I could join you for Christmas. It would be better than here. Maddie's going to be home over Christmas, and she's already talking about all the things she wants to do. I think that she talked our parents into a trip of some kind. I am not looking forward to that, but maybe I can talk them into something I'll be able to read while they go off and do things. I have no idea what I want to read, but I could pack a suitcase full of books to take with us.

What kind of vacation do you want to take when you are out from under your parents' control and you don't have to be under their control anymore? It sucks that they kind of forced you into that one contract, but I'm glad that there was a clause that lets you get out of it.

For me, the vacation is just getting out of here. I can't wait to get to college. I just want to be free to be who I am, with no one telling me I need to be someone else. With you, I can be, and I cherish that friendship.

I hope that the next leg of your tour goes well. I'll be keeping an ear out to see what kind of crazy things the tabloids have brought up about you.

From: ediaz@gmail.com

To: whathebuck@gmail.com

Oct 12, 2007, 3:05 AM

Sorry for not responding, but things got crazy for a little while. I am alone on the bus right now as the other guys have all gone to sleep, and I just can't seem to sleep. It's going to mess me up for the show, but I'm sure you have seen the news about me being injured when a mob of fans broke through security. I have a dislocated shoulder, and three of them are being charged with battery. There are times that I really wish that fans didn't love me as much as they do. Everyone else was hurt as well, but I was the worst off.

I'm waiting for the painkillers to knock me out. The dance routines will be something I can't do for a while, so I'm going to sit on a stool and sing my parts off to the side. It's happened before. I'm sure you can find the fan pages that gripe about it online. I refuse to hurt myself. My parents will back me up on that. They at least gave me a good basis for the new contract that will make sure I am protected the same. They didn't want anything to ever happen to me that would stop me from being able to make them money.

I think that the vacation I want is to just be at home, whatever place I decide to make my home base next year, and just exist as Eddie for a while. As I get older, I figure that will change. Going places doesn't have the kind of lure that it does for a lot of people.

I bought something that, while I know that you will balk at the money paid for it because I know you will look it up, I want you to have it, and I'm going to give you a book budget each month as well for it. I don't care what you are going to say about it. I made you an Amazon account for the present, and it should be arriving there in the next few days. Or at least home, I hope it does. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. You don't understand the kind of relief I have at meeting someone like you, Evan. I want your happiness, and I want you to be the kind of person who I can be friends with for a long time, and part of that is supporting you. So say thank you and accept it as well as the book budget. The stuff for the account for Amazon will come in a different email; you can buy physical books or digital ones, and I'll be happy with either. I love hearing you talk about the books you read, and I want that to continue.

I should head to bed. This had gotten longer than I thought I could do with just a single arm.

From: whathebuck@gmail.com

To: ediaz@gmail.com

Oct 13, 2007, 8:05 AM

A FUCKING KINDLE EDDIE! I had looked at it but tried to figure out how in the hell I could afford one, and here you are, just buying me one and having it shipped here. With money each month for books. I know how to accept a gift, so I will say thank you, but you are going to hear about this: every single time I read a book, I'm going to bother the hell out of you with all of the books I'm now going to read as they put more on there. I can't wait to get my hands on some of the things that you have talked about that my local library doesn't have.

I'm glad you are okay after that. I did see the entertainment news on that. Maddie had the living room TV on when she was over last night, and I watched it in horror. You didn't get an email about it because I heard you were okay before the news went off. I was just glad things were okay on that front. I have no idea what kind of thoughts go through people's heads when they act like that. It's kind of crazy. They swear they love you, but they hurt you.

Maybe they are like us, and the people who love them greatly hurt them.

I have the Kindle on charge, and I hope it'll be charged soon. I will hook it up to the Internet and get something as soon as I get online on it. You are going to regret this gift in the best way.

Since you aren't going to be doing a lot of things like you normally do, if you need entertainment, I'm sure that we can find some kind of instant chat that will work for what we need. I'll look into Google Talk and see if that is something that we would be able to use and keep safe from prying eyes. If it works, we can talk about it more in another email. Get some sleep, Eddie. You need it more now that you are healing up from that. I hope that I don't get a shock like that again for a while.

---

Eddie looked at Evan's last email about the Kindle. The thing was living up to Eddie's wildest dreams when it came to what Evan was getting out of it. It had been two months, and Eddie figured the shine would have worn off, but so far, it had not.

"So, you look like you are smitten," Adriana said as she dropped onto the couch beside Eddie.

"Just Evan enjoying his Kindle. Thank you for helping me with that. I had no idea what I wanted to get him as an early Christmas present. I didn't actually tell him it was one, so I'm just going to let him get more books. He's reading them so damned fast."

"I'm glad you and he are both enjoying that. I know you were giggling like mad in your room yesterday. How is the arm?"

"The newest scan showed a more visible fracture now that the swelling is down again. Mom's pissed off, and she's trying to talk the lawyer into suing for mental damages. I don't want to do that. They were insane, but we have no idea who actually did it, and I'm not suing all of them. I will not be someone like that."

Adriana pulled Eddie into a side hug, not touching his hurt arm at all. The sling was maddening, but Eddie knew it was best because it hurt so much afterward when he did go without it, like when he was showering. It was the kind of thing that made Eddie happy that it was helping and not just an unknown, nebulous thing he had to wear since the doctor said so.

"What do you want for Christmas?"

"I have no idea. I mean it. It's not even just a case of I buy all the things I want already. I just have no idea at all."

"Do you need me to go and get anything for anyone?"

"Nah, I had most of the Christmas stuff done long ago. I never like to let it go until too late, especially with the way that things are booked for us and especially me having no control over that."

"Ah, well, that contract is nearly up. We just have to live with it for just a little while. Then, we can all just go back to what we want. I love going around with you, but I want to settle down and figure something out finally."

Eddie leaned into Adriana a little more. He knew what she was talking about. Sofia was the one who loved to run around on tour with Eddie, but then Eddie was pretty sure that one of the guys in the group was sweet on her. Adriana wanted a different life, but she was bound by the same kind of contract that Eddie was, and they hadn't realized it. Instead of going to court and fighting it, Eddie had made sure that he and him alone made his next contract with the record company. Well, his lawyer and his agent were there, but it was him dictating it, not his parents.

"Oh, wait, I know what I want," Eddie said. He sat up and grabbed his cell phone. He opened up the phone and smiled at the picture there. He really loved his Razr, and he was never going to part with it. He showed his sister the picture he had taken of something he had seen in the shop downtown and then the stack of stuff at the music store.

"A guitar?"

"Not eclectic, but one of the older kinds. It's made there in the shop and not out of your price range. Based on what I know, you got the rest of them. There is also a set of songwriting books."

"Oh, you really meant it about getting into songwriting?" Adriana asked.

"Yes. I love the guitar I occasionally play, and we both know I kill it at the piano. This would be something that would live with me on the bus. The books are a massive set, and I really like them. They would live on the bus, and I would just bring around the one book I'm currently using. I've been debating that stuff for about a week since I slipped in there when I was shopping with Mom to get things for you and Sofia. I have no clue why she wanted me to go with her. She didn't take me seriously when I offered up things. You guys are going to hate your gifts, but I kept the gift receipts that she wanted to throw away."

"And that's why I love it."

Eddie looked up and frowned before wiggling out of Adriana's grasp. The day had been a dark one, and it was the kind of thing that made the day feel like shit, but now it seemed it was finally going to do something about it. The rain was like someone had taken a bucket and dumped it out on the world. There had been no rain before, so it was strange to have such a violent storm so quickly.

"Let's go to the side porch. It's coming down pretty straight," Sofai called out.

Eddie let Adriana pull him out of the living room and onto the side porch they had claimed so long ago as their little domain. Thankfully, the place didn't really overlook anything, so their mother didn't care about it. The back porch was their father's domain, and the front was where their mother held court with those in the neighborhood.

The rain was warm despite it being December. The warmth was supposed to leave when this storefront left, so they would be into the colder parts of December, which was nice. Eddie had no idea what would happen over the next while, but he thought things would be a little hectic as his mother got ready for her annual Christmas party that was the talk of the town. Eddie would be expected to be front and center so his mother could make over his injury. That was a lie about where it came from.

Eddie was glad that he had pushed for the secrecy thing years ago and that at least bound his parents because he never would have done anything in this business without that shelter.

"You love the rain," Adriana said.

"I do. I don't know why. I do."

Sofia laughed a little bit before she sat down on the wicker couch that was off to the side. Eddie walked over to sit down with her. "It rained the entire nearly nine months that Mom was pregnant with you. We traveled up to LA to see Abuela, Pepa, and Paco, and the rain stopped here and started up again up there. It was great. Mom was sick of the rain by the end of her pregnancy, but it seems that you still love it."

"No one ever told me that," Eddie said.

"Ah, that's because Mom denied us the ability to speak of rain after that pregnancy ended. I honestly think it's the entire reason why they had no other kids after you. They had talked about having another one or two, and then there was all of a sudden no more talk of it."

Eddie looked out into the yard and smiled as he thought about rain. It had always soothed him, and the concerts he liked the best were the ones where he was up on stage in the rain. The fans still stuck around all the time, probably to see him and his bandmates all soaking wet. The clothes they wore on stage left little to the imagination when it came to that kind of thing, especially when wet.

"I want rain for Christmas, no snow."

Adriana laughed, and Sofia joined in a few seconds later.

---

Being out on the road again so close to Christmas sucked, but Eddie was kind of glad about it. His mother's party was well over with, and then they just had to deal with singing in Times Square for New Year's Eve. Eddie knew it was a big thing for them to be invited to that kind of thing, but he felt like it was also something he could have lived without.

"You have to be quiet," a voice said.

Eddie rolled over in his bed and frowned. He had opted for a smaller single bedroom at the place they were staying at before heading out on the 26th to head to their next concert on the 28th. Then it was New Year's Eve and then the full leg of the tour that was going to end with them overseas.

The door opened, and Adriana was the only one with a key to his room, so Eddie hoped she hadn't done something stupid and gotten him a puppy or something like that. No light slipped through, so Adriana hadn't wanted him to see what was going on. Then the door shut again, and Eddie wasn't sure what was going on. Movement on the carpet had Eddie trying to track whatever was moving in the room, only for Eddie to realize who it was as soon as Evan stubbed his toe on the bed frame.

"What are you doing here on Christmas Day?"

"Mom, Dad, and Maddie left for some skiing thing, and I got a B on a test, so I was grounded and left at home. They left me a lot of money, and I was talking to Adriana about a few things. She offered to get me a room for the night on the band stuff if I got up here. I can't stay more than a few hours, but I got good sleep last night whilst you were singing on stage. The bus was delayed, or I would have been at the concert too. You were still doing the fan stuff afterward when I got here and passed out."

Eddie waited for Evan to sit down or something, but Evan never did.

"Well, I'm still tired, and our parents have this thing they are doing that will keep them busy until lunchtime; we did presents last night when we got back. Today is more about food and family. Abuela y Pepa will be arriving in a few hours. Adriana will be going to pick them up, and then we will be spending some time with them before they head home."

"Yeah, Adriana said you just had the morning. I can go back to my room."

"Nah, get in bed here. We can talk until I pass out again."

The bed dipped, and Eddie was glad when Evan got under the covers.

"I saw the guitar out there. It's not something you have used on stage."

"No, that's my present from Adriana. It's not made for the stage since there is no hookup for anything to project the sound. I could put a microphone in front of it if I wanted to play it on stage."

"What were the books?"

"What's it doing outside?" Eddie asked.

"Raining. Adriana said you wished for rain on Christmas."

"I did. Can you open the curtains?"

The bed dipped more, and then the curtains on one side of the room opened up. It was still pretty dark out, so that meant that it was well before Eddie should be up, given his late night. He still wasn't sure how his mother and father did that kind of thing, but he also kind of thought they slept when he was doing a lot of the stuff with the fans. They had been pretty tired the night before.

Evan got back into the bed, and Eddie could see him a little this time. Evan curled in close to Eddie. His soft exhales hit Eddie's face a little bit.

"So, you got a new guitar you don't want to use on stage and books?"

"Songwriting books, ones I can keep the stuff I write in. I use scraps for most of the stuff but have them stuffed in the pages to allow me to make sure the books have the good stuff in them. I have space in my new contract to write some of the songs for the band as we go forward. I have written two so far, and the newest is going to be sampled as the main track for the new album with some people soon. I have no clue who or anything like that, but the new year is going to be better." Eddie yawned, and he wanted d to curl into Evan a little more, but he knew that things were still a little weird with their ages and Evan just being sixteen. Eddie didn't want him that way, but there were many who would take things the wrong way when it came to that.

"That sounds like a lot of fun. I would love to hear something if you want to play it later. I've never got to see someone playing a guitar in person like that. Even at school, the band people don't play them, and the choir guy likes to use a violin to set the tempo and such. You'll have to play for me sometime."

"I have a song that I'll be working on, and I've been working on it. I put all of my songs, the pages last with little areas for each, ripped out of a composition notebook that I had been working on for a while. I have a song I think you'll like."

Evan hummed and then yawned.

"I guess we are both tired," Eddie said. He pulled his blankets up over himself a little more, drawing them over Evan as well. They both settled down to sleep, and it felt pretty good.

---

There was nothing better than waking up warm with the sounds of rain all around him. The only thing that was better about it was Evan in his bed. Eddie looked at him. He was deeply asleep, and Eddie knew he wouldn't wake up for a while. There was a soft knock on the door before it opened up. It was Adriana.

"I'll get breakfast ordered. What does he like?"

"That platter thing that I got yesterday morning would be good. He will want waffles over pancakes and then bacon over the ham."

Adriana nodded and slipped out again, her head popping back as she took in how close Evan was to Eddie.

Eddie knew his feelings for Evan weren't the kind that most of his family would like. Eddie wasn't even sure what he was feeling. He wanted it just to be something between friends, and he had never had a friend before, so he thought it was something sexual since it was what he had in his life before that. Still, there was time to do things right and make sure that Evan was an adult in all senses of the word before Eddie did anything about it. Eddie could wait. He would wait.

"You snore," Evan said.

"I'm well aware that I do. Usually, when congested, I forget to take my allergy medication last night before I go to bed. I'll take something else today to help and make sure to take the stuff tonight." Eddie rolled over and grabbed his pill, careful of his bad arm. It was better. He wasn't in a sling, but the ache that was there when it rained was there, as well as the fact that Eddie had slept on that arm the night before Evan had joined him. It was a learning curve on what things were like when he couldn't lift things normally.

"So, how do you feel about breakfast here? Adriana will probably stay in their rooms, or they might come out if we are in the living room area of the suit next door."

"I think I want to stay here—better chances of no one seeing me. Once we eat and you play for me a little bit, I will need to get going to get to my bus on time. I brought the Kindle with me to show off the stickers better."

Eddie hummed. He didn't want to get up, but he knew that they had to get up to get time together before Evan left. Eddie was glad that Adian knew what was going on with Evan. They didn't talk nearly as much as Eddie and Evan did, but email accounts had been shared between them on purpose. Eddie wasn't sure if Sofia had emailed him or not. Sofia seemed to think that they belonged together and both just needed to get their heads out of their asses.

"I'm going to pop into the bathroom," Evan said.

"Take your time because I'm not getting out of this bed any sooner than I have to."

"Of course you aren't, lazy bones."

Eddie popped his pills into his mouth, grabbed the bottle of water at his bedside, and drained half of it before looking for the bottle of allergy medication he had that he could take at the same time as his other. He popped a pill of that and then laid back down. Eddie looked up at the ceiling and thought about what anyone would think of him right now. This wasn't normal for two straight guys, or at least it wasn't what he had been raised to think it was. Eddie wasn't sure he was fully straight, given he wanted to kiss Evan. Of course, that didn't mean that Eddie was gay either, as Eddie had a few dalliances with girls his age as he grew up, usually someone from back home who didn't know who he was and believed that his family was just on the road a lot for his mother's job.

One day, Eddie would find someone he trusted with everything he was, and he thought Evan might be it. He just needed to make sure that things were good between them before he did it.

"This hotel is nuts, man. I mean, my parents get pricey rooms when we go on trips, at least for them. Usually, I'm in a different one that's cheaper on trips now. Maddie's not happy with a lot at the moment, so they are still indulging her. I think things were not good with her, but she won't talk to me about it. I have asked more than once, but she just glares at me and then leaves the room."

Eddie patted the bed, and Evan climbed back in, staying on his side and looking at Eddie.

"You have just about two years left until college, right?" Eddie asked.

"Yes. I have two years until I graduate and then head off into the world."

"You have figured out where you want to go?"

Evan nodded.

"Good, just keep that in mind for everything. Don't think about your sister or your family; it's just about getting out. You don't need them for anything. They went off without you over a B on a test."

Eddie waited for Evan's nod before he started again, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a knock came at the door.

"Who is that?"

"Food. I ordered your breakfast. Just stay off to the side so the person doesn't see you, just to be safe if they decide to take a picture."

"I'll go into the bathroom with the light off." Evan got up again, headed to the bathroom, and slipped inside.

Eddie got up and grabbed a shirt to slip on before he opened the door. The lady on the other side looked bored. She pushed the cart inside and then turned to leave. Eddie cleared his throat and picked up a five to hand over to her. He would make sure that she got something else as well since she had been the one who had been taking care of him, and she honestly gave no fucks about who he was. She just did her job as fast and efficiently as possible.

"Thanks," Eddie said.

The lady was gone, and Evan was leaving the bathroom as the door shut.

"She's pretty silent."

"She's been the one bringing me my food most of the time. I love that she's not inquisitive, but I figured that at some point, she would be off. Let's pull this over to the bed and sit on the end. I'll turn on something on the TV to have background music going."

Eddie went to the TV and found the remote. He hadn't turned the thing on at all. If he was going to do anything in here, it was playing music when it was during hours he wasn't going to wake someone up. He lagged as he watched Evan getting the cart just right to where they would both be able to eat off it and still have a little distance between them. It was the way he was taking care not to knock anything around on the car that made Eddie laugh the most.

"So, have you thought more about the ADD diagnosis?" Eddie asked.

"Eh, yes and no. Yes, I have looked into it, but my parents aren't going to care to do anything about it. So, I thought I would take care of that when I go to my first appointment after I turn eighteen. I'll still be on Dad's insurance at that point, and then I'll be able to take myself and sign for things. I am not sure what else to do at the moment, but I have been looking into it, and I agree that I might be better off with a little help on that front."

Eddie just about sat down, but he stopped and went out to get his guitar and one book to make sure he didn't have to worry about running out after breakfast to get them. He sat on the bed behind Evan and then sat down to eat while the food was hot. Eddie grabbed the carafe of coffee and poured himself a cup to go with the juice on the tray. Evan grabbed the orange juice and left Eddie a choice of grape or apple, which was fine as Eddie didn't like the acidity of the orange when he was performing a lot, and this was the start of another few months of touring, then they would be in the studio for the next album.

"So what's the song about?" Evan asked.

"Home and making it with people instead of a place. It was the kind of thing that I thought about a lot on tour. The guys are great, and a few of them have made themselves best friends and left their family behind."

"Are they in a relationship?"

"Not like that, and no, I'm not saying more. I trust you, but I also just don't want to reveal anything that's not mine to reveal. But the song is about making a home where you are happy, and that doesn't have to be a house. There is just as much about the people around you, making a home as a place. We are happy as a group, which is good. I have heard the horror stories of a few of the other bands over the years that are brought in like we were. We are all good at getting along, and the last time I was upset, they left me alone. They didn't pick at me."

"So you see them as family."

"A little bit, yeah. I'm looking forward to the day when I get to kick my parents out of my life. I have and will settle a good bit of money in them to keep them out of my life. I figure they'll take it. There is also an iron-clad NDA in the process that will make sure that they cannot just blow up my real identity for everyone out there. I was glad that they agreed to that when I was younger. No matter how many contracts they signed, I would not have done anything. I'm sure the courts would have loved to have seen that go through when they tried to force me to sing against my will. It's not like it's for the betterment of me. Still. Mom will be pissed off, and it made me think about the guys."

"That's good. You need good people to support you through this. I just wish I was eighteen and could help you more than I am."

"You help more than you think. So, did you finally decide that Google Talk is good enough for us?"

"I did. I was going to email you about it, and your sister was there in my inbox, and I was distracted with plans to come here to Philly to see you. It worked out well since my parents and sister went south. I am not sure where. Maddie tried to act like she was so much better for being able to go on vacation."

"How does her job allow her this?"

"Oh, she only works part-time. Our parents have been bankrolling everything. If I were more untrusting, I would think that Maddie's holding something over their head to make them do what she wants. I do not know what is happening, but want to be gone as soon as possible."

"Well, I'll find something for you to do here if things don't pan out with college, Evan. Always."

"Really?" Evan asked. He looked to the side at Eddie out of the corner of his eye.

Eddie threw his arm over Evan's shoulder and held him close to him. "Really. Look, we have some downright wrong-for-the-job people on hand who really don't understand any of this, but they have it because they need the job and they are family or close friends with someone else on the tour. The contract I signed has us on tour every single year for the next few years. Nothing horrible like that one; the label almost lost every single one of us. The tours will start in the spring and end near Thanksgiving, and then we will work on the next album. We know how to make the money, so that is what we are going to do."

"That sounds interesting," Buck said.

"I think it will be. Our fame is big enough that we have enough clout to get what we want out of things. So that's what we are doing."

Evan relaxed a little and dug into his food. Eddie did the same, letting the silence fill the room. The silence wasn't bad. Eddie had been around people who it was horrible that the conversation dried up and things were not good when it was silent, never with Evan. They filled each other's silences.

"What are you going to play for me?"

"A few things. A couple are songs we have been working on a little for the next album that we haven't told the label about, and then another is something I'm working on."

Evan smiled, and the smile lit up the room.

---

Eddie listened to the rain; they were in Seattle, so the rain wasn't a shock. He still laughed before picking up his cell phone. He had gotten a message from Evan on when to call him, so Eddie would do that when it was time. He had the time and the space and had the lock on his suite room. It was again another time of only Adriana having a key to his place, so he wasn't too worried about her getting in, but the hotel could give his mother the key since it was her card that everything was put on.

When the time came, Eddie hit send on the number he had typed into his phone. He didn't have Evan's number stored there. He had it in his private email account, and that was it. It was in his head, but that didn't count since, so one could access that.

"Hey," Evan said.

"Hi, what did you want?" Eddie asked.

"Just to hear your voice, honestly. I wanted to talk a little. I'm at the park down the road from my house. Mom and Dad were having a dinner party, and I was told to get myself out of the house and find somewhere until the last guest was gone. I debated what I was going to do when dark hit and then later when the park was closed. I already asked Maddie if I could go to her place, and she's working, so she doesn't want me at the place alone. I've got the text from Dad telling me not to come around. I was out when I guess they thought it was time to tell me about not being able to come home tonight."

Eddie really hated Evan's family, and it was most of the reason why Eddie made sure that Evan would find a job on the tours if college didn't pan out for him. Eddie had been taking a few distance classes through a New York college that allowed it and honestly bent over backward to accommodate him and the business degree he wanted to get. It wasn't going to be the easiest, but Eddie had been going through the classes pretty easily so far, and he thought that the worst was going to be the math of it all when he had to take the accounting stuff as well. Still, it was more than what he wanted and would help him manage his career over the years.

"Do you have any friends you can stay with?"

"Not this close to going back to school. We will start up again in a few days. You are in Seattle, right?"

"You memorized that leg of the tour?"

"All legs, Eds, all legs. I debated heading to find a coffee shop or something that I could stay in. Dad said he'll text me when the people are gone, so I know I can come back, but I am not sure he will. There is a coffee shop that is open twenty-four hours, and I think I know a guy who works there on the overnight shift since he does college at night, then goes to work, and then sleeps. It works for him."

"Go there so you aren't in the park." Eddie looked at the time on his watch even though he knew it was only a short time after calling Evan. It was nearly nine there, and it wasn't like there weren't cops there in Hershey. They would not like to come across Evan just sleeping in the park.

The only part Eddie liked was that Evan had proof of what his father sent him. It would work in his favor. Eddie just wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

"What's the curfew like for kids your age there?"

"Not sure, never looked it up, honestly. I mean, I know that I have my personal curfew of before my parents wake up in the morning since they have never settled something like that on me. So, I can't even tell you what the cops would think if they found me."

It sounded like Evan was moving around, so Eddie was happy that he was leaving the park and heading to that coffee shop. If Eddie knew that he had a way to get to a hotel, Eddie would make sure that one was rented for him for the night, but that would just be hard to do, and then having Evan get there. It was going to be an interesting night. Eddie was half an hour away from having to go to the arena where they would perform. It would be hard to do all of that while worrying about Evan, but he could do it.

"How far away are you from the coffee shop?"

"About four blocks? It's right near the house and the school. I just hope it's not a night where they are closed. That happens on occasion for a deep cleaning. You can go through and get like black coffee and that's it. Cops are about the only ones who do that. The last time I was there for the cleaning of the espresso machine, it was entertaining. He let me stay and watch him since I was interested. I drank a lot of coffee that night. Which did I tell you that it calms me down? Which I guess is a sign of ADD or ADHD, as it's slowly being called now."

Evan kept on rambling about what he had found out about the disorder when the knock came on his door. He walked over and opened it up. It was Sofia with a smile on her face. It was time to go. Eddie grabbed his bag and headed out after her. Thankfully, no one made him talk to them as they got into the car with Ricky. It seemed the other three had already headed to the arena. Ricky had headphones in, and it wouldn't be an issue.

"I'm inside now, and other than one weird look from the girl behind the counter, nothing's happened. I'm going to get tea and then camp out in the corner with a book. They have a little library in here that people can take books from. I usually bring in paperbacks I don't want to read again, so no one will have an issue if I take a book with me."

"I'm glad you are safe. I'm in the car headed to the arena, but you can text me a little if you want. I'll make sure to delete them at a later time."

"Okay. I just needed someone to talk to, and I'm glad you could. Kill it at the concert, Eds."

Eddie hummed and waited for Evan's actual goodbye, and he gave his own.

"What's wrong?" Ricky asked.

"Oh, my friend had his parents kick him out of the house for a dinner party and just told him like today when they have known. It's after nine there now, and I'm worried the cops are going to find him. He's in a coffee shop that is open all night, so I hope that he just stays in there. He's got the text chain from his father that proves he's been told he's not allowed home."

"Which would go good with the cops but get him in trouble. That sucks. I guess that's the kid from Pittsburgh?"

"You are too good at remembering that kind of thing."

"Less that and more that your face makes a certain look when you are talking to or looking at him. You were always too aloof with us, but we allowed it. You are younger, and that's got to be different. Then there is the way your parents act. I never wanted to push where you didn't want to, but if you need to talk about anything, just talk."

Eddie nodded, and he looked at his phone. He hated going to the concert with Evan, so he lost right then. He would do it because it was his job, but he would make sure to check his phone.

Hours later, Eddie was packing up his bag when he noticed that his phone was blinking. He picked it up to find a text chain on there. It was from Evan, and it was more than enough for Eddie to know that Evan would be grounded.

So the cops were called by someone who was in the shop next door and saw me later than they thought I should be, afraid I was some runaway. The cops are nice but very upset with Mom and Dad. We are on the way back to the house right now, and I haven't gotten the all-clear. This is going to suck.

Then, another twenty minutes later

I'm grounded for however long they decide. I am not sure that it's going to work in their favor. The cops were pissed as hell when my mother screamed that they could keep me and lock me in a cell for the night to make sure that I learned a lesson based on whatever crime I committed. The main cop then laid into them so that they could probably figure out a way to make sure they went to jail for kicking me out of the house long past what would be a normal curfew for someone my age. The party was still going strong, and my father admitted to the cop that they didn't plan to text me until after midnight to come home, as the guests would be there until then at the earliest.

Eddie swallowed, and he clicked down to the last message.

Of course, I'm in my bedroom now, and they haven't taken the phone for some reason, even though Mom screamed that they were going to. I am not even sure the cops had actually left the porch stoop yet when they both started to yell at me. I'm sure Maddie will come over at some point and tell me how disappointed she is in me for embarrassing our parents. The cops had pointed out that if I had just said nothing, I would have been taken to jail, and then they would have still figured out who I was and then taken me home. It would have been the same except for the fact that I would have taken in their bad things instead of just telling the truth. I have a feeling I haven't seen the last of those two.

Eddie sighed and grabbed a bottle of water to take a drink as he walked over to sit on the little couch in the corner. He looked around the room, but he was packed up, so that was a good thing. He could message Evan to tell him when to call in the morning if his phone wasn't taken. At least the two parents would be gone with his mother doing charity and other work like that and his father actually working.

That fucking sucks, and I'm so sorry. If there is anything that I need to do, let me know. I can't do much, but I can do whatever you need. Beyond talking to you, that's always going to happen. The concert was great, and I'm looking forward to having a few days before the next one; we will be heading down south to head into Central and then South America. I will enjoy it once we are in the studio to finish off the album. Then, it'll be a very short turnaround for the tour we will be doing, but after that, we will be on the set schedule that we all agreed with. It's just over a month until my parents will be kicked out of my life. I wish there were a way to get your parents kicked out of your life. Let me know when you are awake, and we can talk.

Eddie read over the message before he sent it. He had been worried, and it seemed like the worst had happened. He would have to make sure that Evan had the time he needed from Eddie and maybe even get his sisters into talking to him again about a few things. They were all versed in parents who were aloof but then up in faces when it was needed for them to look good.

"You look lost in thought," Adriana said.

Eddie waved her over and drew her legs into his lap as he handed over the cell to let her read the whole message set from Evan and him. He shook his head and signed when Adirana's face turned into a mean face. He knew she was pissed off. It was the kind of worst, honestly.

"You know...they could have just not had the kid. I get that it would mean no Evan in our life but damn."

"His mother would never do something that would shame her like that. Even this will all be spun until Evan's the one who is in trouble. The whole neighborhood saw the cops drop him off, and there were people at the party who had to see it all. They know, but they don't care. The whole group of friends that they have seems just as bad as they are. Evan's talked about some of them. Thankfully, he's never around them. I wouldn't be shocked if there was one or two who would try and get him drunk if he stayed in the house. Which means that his parents are complicit if something does happen."

"What?" Adirna asked.

"Just Evan's thoughts with a few of the people who were there the last time that Evan was there for a party when some of them brought their other teenagers. It was supposed to be a party to celebrate something the kids had done, but then it had just become about the parents. Evan felt like there were a few people there who shouldn't be around teenagers."

"But no proof." Adriana read over the text chain again and then had Eddie back the phone.

Eddie saved the number until the name of a friend from El Paso, whom he didn't talk to anymore, and hoped no one found it. He wanted proof of it all, just in case. He knew texts were recoverable from the service provider, but he wanted this right there.

"I hate them. I've never met them, and I hate them. They are the worst kind of parents. Still, I wish we could do something beyond being there for him."

"Maybe you and Sofia could pick up emailing him again?"

"I think both would be good." Adriana pulled out her phone and typed something. The alert chime from outside the room told Eddie it was a text to Sofia, and she was right there.

She came in the door seconds later and looked at them before dropping into the chair and looking at Adriana with a raised eyebrow. Adriana went into the whole spiel while Eddie handed over his phone for her to read over. Eddie wasn't shocked when Sofia made a murder face.

"Yeah, we need to make sure this kid's got a place to land. We will all take care of him. If his parents take his phone, we can figure something out to get him a new one, even if I had to go there and get one under an account with me and hand deliver it." Sofia looked pissed off.

Eddie smiled, and he nodded. He was glad his sisters liked Evan as much as they did.

---

The rain was horrible, but Eddie was home and glad of it. The leg of the tour was over, and the rain in El Paso wasn't the worst, but the storm was just enough that Eddie loved watching the way the lighting arced over the land around them. The way the sky lit up. This was the kind of storm that could put Eddie to sleep if it was a few hours later. He would be leaving again to head to LA, where they would begin work on the next album. Once he was up there, the new contract would be put into place, and the other would be ending next week. Eddie knew that his parents were going to be pissed. They were out of town for the last while on vacation.

Eddie had already packed up everything, and he was getting ready to make sure that he had nothing else left there as he was afraid that his parents would trash it all. He had a good severance package set up for them, and they would take it, or he would make sure that they were ruined.

"Ready?" Sofia asked.

Eddie turned to look at her and smiled. He got out of the window seat and went to the kitchen, where they were having a big meal, just the three of them. Sofia would be going up with Eddie to LA, and Adriana would start the part of her life that she was looking forward to, away from El Paso and their parents.

All three kids were washing their hands of their parents, and Eddie had felt bad for a little while, but the way they treated him was the same as they treated Adianra and Sofia, without a care about what they wanted. Eddie hoped things would improve once his parents did not control his future.

Eddie wanted to make sure that his mother had nothing else to control him with, and he was going to make sure that his father wouldn't be able to use him to get into place anymore. The money from him was a one-time thing, and with a little money management, it was enough to last them the rest of their lives if they didn't go stupid with the money. Eddie didn't think they would, and his father would need to go to work again. It wasn't his fault, and Eddi had worked through the guilt of that one.

"How is Evan?" Adriana asked as she handed over a plate for Eddie to fill with rice from the bowl near him. The island in the kitchen was where they weren't allowed to eat dinner when their parents were home. It was good to do it, and Eddie loved it. It felt more intimate than sitting at the dining room table.

"Good. The cops have finally stopped making rounds around the block at night to make sure that he's not stuck outside. A few times, they have come and talked to him when he's doing work in the yard; they always make sure that Evan knows that they are just checking in on him. The neighborhood has been gossiping like crazy about it all, and it's not working in their parent's favor at all. It wasn't long before someone who had heard it all talked about it."

"That's what they deserve," Adriana said.

"no, they deserve to go to jail for child abuse, but the world's not caught up on that kind of thing yet. Just making sure he's fine is going to be the best, I think. Still, the kind of work that makes it all better in the end is something that he won't be able to touch until he's in college. He's going to need therapy. Why does his parents hate him?"

"He thinks that he's an accident and that his mother refused to get an abortion because of how it would look. We all know that they gossip, and even with something like that, it would be impossible to keep quiet. There are all kinds of laws against it, but we know what smaller towns are like. I told Evan I would always shave a place for him on our tours. I can make sure that he's taken care of if college doesn't pan out. He will be getting out of school soon. Well, you know what I mean."

"That would be good for him. A place to land is always needed. I doubt his parents are going to get better. And the sister is still a piece of work who cares more about herself than anyone else?"

"Yes." Eddie started to eat since they had passed plates around enough to get the food on each one. He closed his eyes at the rice. It was the recipe that Abuela had taught Adriana, and she had tried to teach Eddie, but Eddie needed more practical experience in the kitchen to be able to do it. He was working on that since he would stay in LA and take care of himself fully. Sofia was a better cook than Adriana, so he would be learning from the best when it came to that. The plans were all made, and things would go well for them all when they were away from their parents.

The future looked bright, even if the skies were dark right now because of the rain.

The End