Chapter Fifty Four

Chris woke up the next morning. He opened his eyes and saw the bright sunlight shining into his eyes.

He shifted onto his side and moaned softly when pain shot through his body.

"Chris?" Joey asked, from a couple feet away in his bunk.

"Yeah," Chris said quietly. "Um, can you tell anyone who cares that there is absolutely no way I can perform tomorrow?"

"Sure," Joey said. "Do you want anything?"

"I don't know," Chris said. "The headache is gone, but my whole body kills. I can't keep my eyes open."

"Well, go back to sleep," Joey said. "I'll tell the guys."

"Thanks," Chris said.

***

"He's sick?" Justin said. "Damn. That sucks..."

"I know," Joey said. "He's really bad."

The manager walked over. "Okay, JC just told me the news about Chris. That means no performances until he is ready. If he is still bad tomorrow, we're bringing him to the doctor."

"Okay," Joey agreed. The phone rang.

"Hello?" Lance answered.

"Hey Lance," Sasha said. "This is Lance, right?"

"Yeah, is this Sasha?"

"Yeah, hey," she said. "Is Joey there?"

"Yes he is, hold on," he covered the phone with his hand. "Joey, can you talk to Sasha?"

JC frowned. "We are sort of busy with Chris right now."

"Yeah, can you tell her about Chris and I'll call her later?"

"Sure," Lance said. He spoke back in the phone. "Sasha?"

"Yeah?" she said.

"Listen, Chris is really sick, we don't know what's wrong with him," Lance began.

"He's sick?" Sasha said. "What's wrong?"

"I just said, we don't know what's wrong with him," Lance said. "Joey is busy, deciding what to do, and helping Chris. He said he would call you later."

"Okay," Sasha said. "Tell him I miss him."

"Sure," Lance said. "Bye."

"Bye," she answered.

"Joey?" Lance said.

"Yeah," Joey walked over. "Do you want to come with me to the drug store to get Tylenol? He needs pain killers."

"Sure," Lance said. The manager told them to hurry, and they walked out of the bus. "Sasha said she misses you. She told me to tell you."

Joey smiled. "I really like her," he said.

"She's nice," Lance said. "But listen, I got myself screwed with Justin. Make sure that doesn't happen with you and JC."

"Me and JC? Nah..." Joey said. "He told me he doesn't like her anymore."

"Are you sure?" Lance asked.

"Yeah," Joey said, uncertainly.

"Really?"

"No," Joey admitted. "I don't know. I am afraid that they'll get back together. I want to get my kicks while I can. I really care about her, but her and JC had something more."

"I know," Lance said. "I love Eryn. I love her. I have never felt this way about anyone before. But the thing is Eryn and Justin will get back together. I know it. But as for me? Nothing is going to happen, EVER AGAIN with me and her."

Joey picked up some Tylenol and they walked over to the counter and paid for it. On their way out, Joey answered Lance. "Lance, I agree with you. I think that they will get back together too. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Lance said. "Because I know it's true." They walked back into the bus.

***

Later that day, Joey picked up the phone and called Sasha. It rang about seven times, and he was about to hang up when someone picked up.

"Hello?" said the voice, out of breath.

"Um, hey," he said. "Eryn?"

"Yeah, who's this?" she asked.

"Joey," he said.

"Hey, Joey," she said. "Sorry I took so long to get to the phone, but I was outside washing my car, and our cordless phone is dead."

"That's okay," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Good," she said. "I'm trying not to think about anything."

"Okay," he said. "Then I won't talk about it."

"Thanks," she said. "Are you looking for Sasha?"

"Yeah," he said. "She called me earlier, but Chris is really sick, and Lance and I went to the store to get him some Tylenol."

"Is Chris okay?" Eryn asked.

"I don't think so," Joey said.

"Really? Oh, no... is it serious?" Eryn asked, concerned.

"I hope not," Joey said. "But we don't know. The other day, when we left your house, he had this awful headache."

"I remember, because I gave him Tylenol," Eryn said.

"Yeah, and he was driving," Joey said. "We almost got in an accident. I think it was a migraine. But it's gone now, he says. But he said that he is hurting, that it hurts to move. And he is really tired."

"Joey, if I were you, I would make him go to the doctor," Eryn said.

"I was thinking of that," Joey said. "If he is still this bad tomorrow, maybe we should go."

"Maybe," Eryn said. "I think that would be good."

"Yeah," Joey said. "Anyway, is Sasha there?"

"Well, she went to work for one o'clock this afternoon, and she is working until nine," Eryn said. "It's eight thirty, so she can call you back when she gets home."

"I guess," Joey said. "That would be good. Well, I will let you go finish washing the car."

Eryn laughed. "Oh, gross, I forgot. The soap is going to be all dry."

"Sorry," Joey said.

"That's okay, it's not your fault," Eryn said. "Okay, I'll tell her you called."

"Great," he said. "Bye, Eryn."

"See you, Joey," Eryn said, hanging up the phone. She picked up a towel and wiped the soap she left on the phone, then went back outide.

End Of Chapter Fifty Four