Page 34 of Goodbye Note

Arik answered, circles under his eyes, hair a mess, and it looked like he was sitting in some studio type deal.

“You’re not already recording another album, are you?”

“No, we have a thing we are recording for a radio show we are on tomorrow.” Arik sat back. “You’re not really in town, are you?”

I shook my head. “No, but I figured we could have a drink together like this. What do you say?”

He smiled, and it reached his eyes. “How late will you be up? We have to record this thing, and then I’m going to hop on a train back to my dorm.”

“I’ll be up a while. Call me back?”

* * *

We talked daily after that. I’d find him on Discord after midnight. As the date for our arrival grew closer, I got nervous. Would our relationship translate from text to real life? Funny how I thought not too long ago it wouldn’t work online because of the intense connection we’d had in person.

Anxiety was such a fucking bitch.

We’d both be busy, and so much of the time on tour was loading up, unloading, and driving. There wouldn’t be that much downtime. We’d never done anything like Warped, but I had to assume it would be less downtime than we got on our last tour.

Arik: When do you get in?

Varian: Later today. You?

Arik: We’re already here. Our label got us a tour bus, so we splurged and flew out.

Varian: It’s nice right? I love our bus, even if it’s a POS.

Arik: I’m stoked to not be in the van for the next three months.

Varian: I bet.

My thumbs hovered over my phone.

Arik: Call me when you get in.

A smile stretched across my face.

Varian: Yeah?

Arik: Yeah.

We couldn’t get there fast enough.

TEN

ARIK

For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel alone.

Varian and I spent all our time on video calls or messaging.

Would we be the same when Varian got here? I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I didn’t know how well that would translate to in person.

We got to the stop before Varian. They must have stopped someplace, so I took the time to hit up the tech building and see if I could get an internet connection for a minute. The second I sat down, I opened my PocketJournal to type out an update, knowing I’d been neglecting it for at least the last week.

put it in reverse and listen again.

because i’m sure You missed the

---