Apocalyptour Madness
Chapter 13.

Jaime awoke the next morning with a sense of excitement. She couldn't believe that today was the first day of tour. It seemed like yesterday that she was packing her bag getting ready to go on SPACE tour, and live in a bus for 5 weeks. Now here she was again getting ready to do it all over again. Her phone vibrated from her bedside table.

Jo Jo: Morning! I hope you are well rest because is THE FIRST DAY OF TOUR (:

Jaime smiled at her phone, ever since her and Joey had hung out the other night they have been texting non-stop, more often than they usually did. Every time she opened a message from him her heart fluttered a little bit. Her feelings for Joey were getting stronger and stronger every day, eventually she wouldn't know how to handle herself around him.

Sally Richter: Can't wait (: got up extra early to pack... whoops should have started that sooner.

She rolled out bed reluctantly and went to her kitchen to start a pot of coffee. She wasn't kidding when she said she should have packed sooner. She made herself a little breakfast, quickly drank her coffee and then headed to the shower.

Meanwhile at the boys manor, they had all decided to surprise the girls and be ready on time. Brian R. and Dylan were in charge of making sure that everyone was up by 9, Joe being a surprisingly good cook, was in charge of making breakfast, Jim, Brian H., and Joey were responsiable for moving everything that needed to be loaded on the bus, and Darren and Clark were in charge of all the music equipment.

All the boys sat around the living room, surprised that they had gotten everything done by 2 pm, Julia had told them Corey would be stopping by to get all their stuff at 3, so they still had an hour to spare.

Joe broke the silence with an evil glare towards Darren, "So, you got home awfully late last night, want to tell us what you were up to?" The rest of the boys started smirking, they knew exactly where Darren was last night.

"I went out to dinner." Darren said not exactly making eye contact with any of them, focusing only on his sneaker.

"With who?" Dylan continued

"Lauren..." Darren didn't like were this was going, he knew they knew! They were going to force him to tell them anyways.

"Did you guys have a nice time?" Joey asked, smirking, he could already see Darren getting flustered, he was so in love with Lauren it was ridiculous.

"Yeah, I always have a nice time with Lauren, she's great. " Darren couldn't help but smile. He had to tell them, they were his best friends, sure he'd get mocked endlessly for it, but he knew his friends would support him.

"Oh is she now?" Holden laughed, "Already at that point?" He nudged Darren on the shoulder.

Darren shoved him back, "Not like that you idiot!" Everyone laughed.

"So did you tell her?" Joey pushed.

Darren laughed to himself, and finally met all his friends gaze, "Yes, I finally told Lauren Lopez that I am in love with her."

The rest of the boys had huge grins spread across their face. "Good for you man!" Joe said, "I'm proud of you! So you guys are dating now right? We can mock you endlessly, and tease you on stage."

Darren laughed, "You know, I think its safe to say that we are dating." The rest of the cheered. "I just hope I don't screw this up, I can't imagine losing her, and I don't know how this is going to work when tour is over and I go back. I know how she gets after I leave. Julia texts me sometimes that she doesn't get out of bed for days after I'm gone, and thats only after I visit for a week. I don't want to know what kind of pain I'm going to cause after being with her for a month!"

Clark looked at him seriously, "I think you were going to do more harm to her if you didn't act on your feelings this time around. She couldn't take the mixed signals you'd give. I think that now since she has a more solid idea of where you guys are, she will know that when you leave, you'll always come back for her."

"You do plan on coming back for her don't you?" Dylan asked

"Of course!" Darren shouted, "Now that we are together I could never leave her. I won't abandon her or forget about her. Not like that other ass hole, I never want to see Lauren as hurt as she was, especially not because of me!"

Senior year at U of M, Darren was sitting in his off campus apartment just strumming his guitar, his conversation with Lauren replaying in his head.

"I'm so excited for tonight Dar, three years tonight, where does the time go" Lauren said into the phone pacing around her dorm waiting for her boyfriend , Michael, to come get her.

"I hope you two have a great time," Darren smiled sadly, you'd think after three years he'd be used to Lauren gushing about her boyfriend.

She squealed "Okay, he's here, I'll call you when I get home, just like I always do."

"I'll be here waiting," Ever since Lauren and Darren became best friends he would always be protective of her, he made her promise to always call him when she'd get home from a date so he knew she was okay, and she has kept her promise. Even when her boyfriend would get mad because it would interrupt his night with her.

"Bye!" and the phone clicked.

Here it was 1 hour later and Darren's phone was ringing, Lauren's name showing up on the screen, he thought it was strange it was too early for her to call. She'd only hung up with him an hour ago.

"Hello?"

"Darren?" her voice was broken on the other side of the phone.

"What's the matter Lo? Are you guys hurt? Did something happen?"

"Can you please come get me?" was all she said, sniffling away the tears that were pouring down her face, mixing with the rain.

"Are you outside? It's pouring out! Go back inside, I'll be there in ten minutes!"

"Okay." She whispered and hung up, before she lost it again.

"Who was that?" Darren's room mate, Nick, asked

"Lauren." Was all Darren said before he grabbed his car keys and was out the door.

Darren pulled up to the restaurant that Lauren had told him she'd be at, he immediately rushed to the doors to go inside, but what stopped him was a tiny body sitting on the bench outside the door.

"Lo," he spoke softly. She lifted her normally chocolate eyes to meet his. They were red from crying and her mascara was running down her face, meanwhile her soaking wet hair hung limply down her back. He could feel his heart shattering seeing Lauren look like this. "C'mere," he said opening his arms, she ran into them willingly and started to shake. Darren threw his coat around her and led her to his car.
The drive back was quiet, he knew that Lauren would talk when she was ready, but her silence was killing him. He'd look over at her and notice her quickly wipe away tears that were falling. When they pulled up to his apartment, he opened the car door for her and quickly led her inside. It was like she was a zombie. After opening the apartment door she stood there with his large coat around her tiny frame. She was brought out of her trance with Darren standing in front of her with a sweatshirt and a pair of his running shorts.

He cupped her face gently with his free hand, forcing her to look at him. "Go change and get dry, I'll start the movie and get the ice cream and two spoons."

She took the clothes without a word, and went to the bathroom to change. Darren didn't know what happen but he knew how to cheer Lauren up and that was snuggling and ice cream. He figured she'd tell him soon enough.

When she came back out, her damp hair was pulled into a ponytail, he face was red from crying and scrubbing all the makeup off, and her body was engulfed in his sweatshirt. She made her way over to the couch and found herself right back in Darrens arms.

"Thank you." She mumbled, she sounded so broken.

"Lo, what happen?" he couldn't help but ask.

She nuzzled her face further into his chest, "He broke up with me." And that was enough to start a whole new wave of tears. Darren didn't know what to say so he just squeezed her tighter. "He got offered some big job in New Orleans for a law firm and he's moving there right after graduation. Being together for three years, I was stupid and thought that maybe he wanted me to go with him, but instead he just ends it. he figured we could part as friends, and then he told me he would always care about me and think of me every time this days rolls around." She scoffed, "He ended it on our three year anniversary thinking it would be poetic!" She was hysterical by now.

Darren pulled her onto his lap, he kissed the top of her head, "He's stupid Lo, crazy that he doesn't want to continue his life with you. There are tons of other men out there that would kill to be in his spot and he ruined it. But you deserve so much better than that! You were not made to be some boring lawyers girl. You're going to move to some big city and become some famous actor and one day he is going to call you up and realize what he missed. And you know what? You are going to be too famous to even remember his name!" He pulled her closer to him and rubbed her hair until he finally felt her breathing even out. Realizing she was asleep he laid her gently on the couch and covered her up, kissing her softly on the forehead, "Lauren, you mean so much to me."

The next morning when Lauren woke up she smiled sheepishly at Darren and thanked him. It took her months to get over that break up, and every time she'd get sad over it Darren wanted to nothing but punch Michael in the face. He was always there for her, and slowly started to realize that he was falling in love with Lauren.

"Don't worry Darren, I don't think that will ever happen. You two are far too much in love. " Jim commented and gave Darren a reassuring nod.

"I think you're right Jim! Alright lets get this tour on the road! No girl talk! I think we are worse than the girls!

As if on cue, Corey was ringing the apartment to let him in. It took the boys an hour to load everything onto the bus, and then they were on their way to the Chicago House of Blues, to opening night of Apocalyptour.

HOLD YOUR FIRE! I am soooooo sorry it took me this long to update! I promise it will never happen again! I owe you all big hugs and thank yous for staying with this! I made the chapter extra long this time! i had problems with my computer and well im working around them! but i love you all and if you could forgive me please leave reviews!
IM SORRY!

xo-A