FicWad

My first day with them?

That's, a bit hard to explain, really. It's difficult to put into more than one
word, anyway. Uncomfortable being the said word to describe it. It's not easy
going from a record store to plastering make up over someone's face in just
three days. Somehow, I managed it. I have no idea how, but I did.

I spent half my time quietly thinking in the corner of a room, happy in a world
of my own. One where I was in bed, I should expect. If I wasn't in the corner of
the room, I was trying to get a drunk Gerard to stay still. Well, he wasn't
totally gone by that point, but he was close to it.

By the end of the night, he was beyond gone. He was so far gone, I got the
feeling he was coming back.

But that's too far ahead.

During the show, I wandered aimlessly, eating whatever fruit I could find. No, I
wasn't a health freak; it was just even in a few hours, the sight (and smell) of
the tour bus was enough to put anyone off food. I got the feeling fruit was all
I could have stomached.

Now we're at the drunken band member point.

I'll put it this way, it's a great way to break the ice, carrying someone to
their bed, or rather, whatever bed I could get them into.

On my way out of the tour bus, desperate for fresh air (and alone time. Yes,
even after a few hours with them), I was stopped and forced into conversation.

"So what do you think of us?" Asked Mikey as I stepped past. Cringing
slightly, I turned around. I was in no way someone who liked to be on their own;
I just didn't like new people.

"Strange," The words were out before I could replace them with some
sentimental crap. He smiled.

"Yeah, they all say that," Said Ray, budging over in the table seat.
Reluctantly, I sat down.

"What do you think of Gerard?" Asked Frank. I leaned over to look at
him, passed out in bed.

"You really don't want to know..."

"Oh, we do," He said, smirking. I sighed.

"He-" I paused. "He needs to go see a shrink, if you ask me,"
He nodded.

"If you ask us, we'll agree," Said Mikey. "And you should get
used to dragging him back, you'll be doing a lot of it,"

"What about you?" I asked.

"Oh, we'll help you...from about three feet away," Bob answered for
him.

"What he said," Said Mikey. I groaned.

"Great. You make yourselves sound so...nice..."

"Oh, I'm sure we do,"


I woke up the next morning stretched out over the sofa in the tour bus. It was
actually quite comfortable. I sat up and stretched before hoisting myself off
the seat. After a few moments of staring and pinching myself, debating whether I
was sane or not, I heard movement from the bunks.

Looking over, I wandered to what I could only assume was a form of kitchen. The
place really needed a clean, though I had been informed not to try. Try once,
maybe, but that was it.

Grabbing a clean-ish glass, I ran the water while I searched the cupboards.
After a few moments, as I heard a thud from the bunks, I found a small bottle of
Aspirin. Setting the glass under the running water, I filled it up.

Once I'd cut the water, I set the water and bottle of Aspirin on the table
before walking over to the bunks.

Everyone but the relatively lifeless body on the floor was either fast asleep or
choosing to ignore the hung over Gerard. It was probably everyday life for them.

Nevertheless, I bent down and gently took his upper arm. He flinched slightly,
but it was to be expected. I was new and I should think he'd forgotten about me
being there while he woke up.

Still, he followed as I guided him into a seat and slid the water and Aspirin
towards him.

I didn't look at his expression, just set about searching the kitchen. Again: if
you could call it that.

After a few moments, I could see a pattern emerging in how everything was
placed: randomly. I shrugged, but didn't let it stop me. I knew I was only there
as a make up artist, but while I was there they were keeping at least the
kitchen clean. I was probably going to end up eating food from there too.

As I shifted a packet, I saw a flash of yellow. Moving the packaging again, I
spotted a note.

I peeled it off the counter before reading it.

'Sam,
The guys need to be up before ten. I normally wake them up at the weekend, but I've
got to go fetch the shopping, which takes a few hours, and you seemed to be
happy asleep on the sofa. It'll take them a while to wake up. Yes, I know you
were only picked up to be their make up artist, but you simply can't escape the
fact that while you're here, you'll be taking care of them too. Think of
yourself as their second mother...
Dom,

P.S. I won't blame you if you don't find this until about eleven.'

I sighed. Yes, my name was Sam and no, I did not like the prospect of being a
second mother. I supposed I'd have to get used to it though.

I looked at the clock: Nine o'clock.

I smiled slightly before looking through the cupboards again.


Twenty minutes later, I was opening the curtains on the bunks and prodding the
bodies inside them.

"Come on, up," I said as I poked Mikey. He rolled away from me.

"What are you? My mother?"

"Seems so," I mumbled. "Are you getting up or do I have to drag
you out?" Seeing as it was first thing in the morning...ish, everything
seemed very quiet.

"You have to drag me out," He mumbled sleepily. I sighed before
grabbing his shoulder and pulling. I rolled him over so he was half way out of
the bed and staring at the fall he was about to take if he didn't get up. "Fine!
Fine!" He called, scrambling away from the edge of the bed.

"Good," I said, walking away and tending to breakfast. As soon as I
got the chance, I was re-stocking that kitchen, let alone Dom fetching
everything. I'd found, somewhere, bacon that was in date. A rarity around there:
any food being in date. The bread, though dry, was also edible.

So breakfast was bacon sandwiches. One I ate on the move, trusting them not to
go back to bed as I headed out to the first general store I could find. I had
quickly found that they were generally missing a lot of things I, as a woman,
would need.

Mind you, I'd have been worried if I had found them.

When I got back they were, surprisingly, still up, if not rather reluctantly.
They all mumbled 'Hi's' as I got back in the tour bus and grabbed my bag,
shoving the polythene bag in it.