The windows lining the bus opened quite a bit, and band members were sticking their heads out to say goodbye to the people they were leaving behind. Evan waved at Jenny, then let me share his spot so I could say goodbye to Kiera. She was still where I’d left her, standing with Jenny, Rachel, and Anna. I gave her a small wave as I leaned on the window.

The bus driver did a quick headcount, then the bus rumbled to life. The other guys ducked back inside as the bus started moving, but I stayed put, staring at Kiera staring at me. She was crying. I fought back my own tears as I watched her. The bus started moving faster, but I still didn’t sit down. I stared at Kiera, just as she stared at me, for as long as I could. Until finally we were too far away, and I couldn’t see her anymore. Then I closed the window and twisted to slump into the seat. She’s gone. No…I’m gone. But not forever. I’d be back, and she’d be waiting. She had to be. I wouldn’t survive any other scenario.

Evan and Matt both had the same contemplative look on their faces as they sat there, staring at the table. I had to assume my face was the same as theirs. If it weren’t for Griffin, grinning and smacking his hands on the table like he was playing the bongos, our section would have been swirling with so much melancholy, it probably would have been a physical thing, hovering in the air. Evan was right; I wasn’t the only one who was going to be missing someone.

Inhaling a deep breath, I made myself relax. We needed to snap out of this funk. Matt was sitting directly across from me, chewing gum; he still had the wrapper in his hand, unconsciously playing with it as he blankly stared at nothing. I motioned for him to give it to me. He bunched his brows but handed it over. Crumpling it up, I set it on the table, then lined it up with Griffin. Evan and Matt were watching with small smiles on their faces, while Griffin obliviously watched the guys sitting across the aisle from us. I flicked the paper with my finger, nailing him right in the face. Matt and Evan instantly started laughing. Mission accomplished.

Griffin scowled as he looked over at me. He grabbed the paper from where it had landed on the table and halfheartedly chucked it at me. With a laugh, I easily batted it away. “Douchewads,” he murmured. “I’m gonna go mingle.” Then he got up and found a table full of new people to bug.