Eddie on Tour Pt 1
Eddie can't remember the last time he tapped out first from a night of celebrating with the Corroded Coffin guys post show. Sure, they were only on the third show of the tour they, by some miracle, booked to open for A Day To Remember. It felt like a fever dream.
His head swam with excitement and overwhelm when he thought about the amount of exposure they'll get playing with a legit band. Before they signed the contract to join the tour they had only every played at local bars like the Hide Out. Oh and that one time they played Battle of the Bands in Indy.
He's most excited about the tour ending at the House of Blues in Chicago. Some way, some how, he'll have to figure out a way to make it through the rest of tour without vibrating out of his skin.
So, here he was, half drunk and spiraling just a bit in the back of their van. Special thanks to his favorite crop top for making sure his back sticks to the vinyl of the middle bench seat.
"Goddamnit," he snaps as he pulls his phone from his back pocket. He opens his contacts and selects /Uncle/ and clicks the speaker icon before dropping the phone on his chest.
As it rings Eddie realizes how late it must be in Indiana. He reaches to end the call when he hears an unfamiliar voice answer.
"Helloooooo?" they say.
"You're not Wayne," he sputters out.
There's a short laugh from the phone. "You're right." The voice is deep but sweet.
"Why are you answering my uncle's phone?" Eddie asks.
"I'm not, actually. I answered my phone."
"Shit."
It's not that he remembers Wayne got a new number when he moved out of the old trailer.
"I'm an idiot," Eddie whispers. The new number was under /Wayne/. He'll have to call him tomorrow and tell him about the mix up. If anyone will find it funny his uncle will--
"You okay over there, stranger?" the voice asks.
Eddie had gone silent, lost to his thoughts.
"That's a loaded question, sweetheart." Eddie drums his fingers on his bare midriff.
"Why don't you start with why you were calling Wayne?" The man on the other end of the phone urges him on.
"Why the hell not?" Eddie hums. "I guess, I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed."
"Hmm." There a sudden clatter of dishes. "Shit."
Eddie holds in a laugh.
"Are -you- okay over there?"
"Fine. It's fine."
"Oh my god. I've called a complete stranger and interrupted his chores. You were probably busy cleaning up after you made dinner for you and your lady friend. She's patiently waiting for you to join her for the movie you settled on but you're that weirdo that insists on doing the dishes right away." Eddie rubs his hands down his face.
A sharp laugh comes through the phone. "You think you've got it all figured out, don't you?"
"Hardly." Eddie sighs. "Look man, I'm sorry I interrupted. I'll let you go."
"No!" The response was quick and Eddie could swear there was a pinch of desperation. The man continues. "I mean... uh. I don't mind. See I just... um. I wouldn't mind the company is all I'm saying."
Eddie couldn't help the stupid grin that grows on his face anymore than the butterflies fluttering in his stomach.
"Well then... Hi."
"Hi." The man chuckles on the other end. "So, tell me, why are you overwhelmed then?"
"It's kind of a long story." Eddie isn't sure he's ready to dive into the deep rooted fear of failure with a complete stranger. Nice enough as he seems, it would be weird, right?
"I've got time."
There's silence from both of them for a three count.
"Fine. I'm in a band." Eddie pauses.
The man on the other end hums.
"We haven't really played much outside of local bars and shit. I'm convinced one of the other guys mad a deal with the devil to get us here, opening for one of our favorite bands. We're three days into this tour and I can't even enjoy it because I'm waiting for the fallout or to wake up from this dream and I can't stop wondering when someone is going to pull the rug out from under us. You know?"
"Sounds like you don't see just how amazing you really are then." The man's voice is so soothing, motherly almost. "Clearly this favorite band of your saw something in you. Probably started out here just like you are. Think of how many other groups would kill to be in your place. Give yourself some credit here, man."
Eddie swallows back tears. "You don't even know me though. I'm the freak, the fuck up. I..." he sighs. "Why do they think I can do this?"
"I dunno. It's not just you though. Sounds like you have your bandmates with you. Don't you believe in them?"
"Of course!"
"Don't you trust them?" He asks.
"With my life."
"Then reel it in a bit. I'm sure they need you as much as you need them." The man's tone goes low. "Trust it."
"Maybe you're right."
"Oh, I know I'm right." There's a smile in the man's voice.
"Cocky, cocky. Wish I had your confidence, stranger."
Silence then "shit. I've got another call."
"I can let you go," Eddie hardly masks his disappointment in letting the stranger off the line.
"It'll be a quick call and then I'll come right back." There lull, "I promise."
The phone beeps and Eddie is left with a faint static sound and his buzzing thoughts.
This is absolutely not where he thought he'd be after the show.
There's something about being on stage that brings him confidence but it quickly fades once the lights go down and their gear is packed up. He feels like an imposter. Maybe the stranger was right, maybe he just can't see what everyone else does. Maybe--
"You still there?" the man's voice is soft on the line.
"Yeah. I-- Still here." Eddie covers his face in embarrassment.
"My friend needs a ride and I'm the designated driver it seems. I gotta go, but I..." there a soft huff. Eddie can almost imagine the warmth of his breath. "I'd like to chat again. I mean, uh, if you'd like to."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I figure tour could get lonely but now that I say that out lout I realize you have so much happening and so many people there and fans to meet and this is probably dumb and--"
"Hey now." Eddie chuckles. "I'm the one that's supposed be spiraling tonight. You can spiral the next time, okay?"
"Next time?" The hopeful sound of the man's voice was all he needed.
"Yes, sweetheart." Eddie coos. "Next time."
"I'm Steve, by the way."
"Eddie. I'm Eddie."
"Can't wait to talk to you again, Eddie. Soon."
The line dies before Eddie can make a bigger fool of himself. There's a ruckus outside and he jumps as the rest of the band topple into the van.
"Are we sleeping in the parking lot tonight, fellas?" He asks the group.
They all grumble as they shuffle around their belongings to get ready to sleep.
