Surrendering (Surrender 1)

I also have three other classes to study for. Declan, the other guys in the band, and I are leaving as early as possible after the alarm system is installed at Declan’s. Abbi and Ella are driving down later today. Abbi mentioned that Jimi is coming too.

We all meet

at Declan’s house and they load all their equipment in his truck. We finally get on the interstate close to 2:30. I ask for the third row in the vehicle so I can sprawl all my stuff out. Declan’s phone rings, but I ignore it because I’m making flash cards.

“You’re kidding me- you’ve got to be kidding, right?” He says into the receiver. “Nah man, but I’m gonna put you on speaker so everyone can hear this.” He plugs the phone into the mount and pushes speaker. “Jay, you’re on- go ahead.”

“Hey, guys, listen, there’s a switch in the line-up and you guys got pushed back to 3:30. We added an extra thirty minutes. You’re now scheduled til 6:00.”

Copper is sitting in front of me and he jumps forward. “Jay, is this good or bad? We can make up the extra thirty minutes, but whose on after us?”

“This is good. The group after you is a local Atlanta band and they have a huge following. People will be getting there early to make sure they get a spot before the band comes on. If anything, this is going to bring you more exposure. And since the organizers gave us less than twenty-four hours’ notice, you get an extra five-hundred bucks and one room compted for the night.”

“Jay, this is Declan; Meet us at the room first thing in the morning and give us our passes. This sounds good.”

I smile to myself at his attempt at professionalism. I know in my heart, he’s just as excited as the others. When they hang up, the car explodes with excitement. Everyone’s talking at once and I catch Declan’s eyes in the rearview mirror. I smile at him, knowing this is what he and Cooper have been working so hard for.

About an hour into the drive, I’ve outlined my entire module and start with my flash cards. Nate notices my strange studying habit of posting the card to my forehead while I try to figure out the answer to the question on the back. He turns around to face me and reaches for my pile.

“Rave, let me help. I’ll quiz you.”

“Okay, are you sure? Don’t you need to be working on a song line up or something?”

“Nah, we got this. We worked all week to make sure we were ready. Besides, when you get this fancy degree and we get famous, you can tell people it was because of my help in the backseat of Declan’s truck.” He winks at me.

“Watch it, asshole,” Declan jokes.

“Okay, Nate. I’d love your help. Just read off the terminology on the front, and I’ll try to guess the term it refers to.”

He quizzes me back and forth and I realize he’s really good. He helps me with clues using acronyms and has the patience of a saint.

“Nate, you’re good at this. Maybe I need to have you over before every final exam.”

He smiles slightly and then blushes. “Thanks, I have a special needs sister and I help her with school projects.” I’m shocked, but I can see how his patience could have helped her.

Outside of Chattanooga, we stop for gas and a bathroom break. When we get back to the truck, Declan hands the keys to Blake to drive and climbs into the back with me.

“I figured you’re giving up the entire day tomorrow for us so I can at least help with your studying. Why should Nate have all the fun?”

I kiss him quickly and hand him half the stack of flash cards. Before I know it, Cooper, Nate, and Declan have drilled my entire study guide into my head. I feel like I can read it from memory. When the last question is answered correctly, I gather the flash cards and throw them into my bag.

“Thank Christ, can I turn on the radio now? I need some music to get that shit out of my head!” Blake screams from the driver’s seat. I feel a little guilty until I see him smiling at me in the mirror.

For the rest of the ride, we listen to music and laugh at stupid jokes. I texted all the girls the change of plans for tomorrow and they’ve promise to meet at the festival.

Declan pulls me over to him and pushes my head to his chest. I see the lights of Atlanta ahead and get butterflies in my stomach. I love this city and I’m excited about all possibilities this weekend could bring to Sayge.

We finally make it to Atlanta and our hotel. We are staying in a residential-type hotel with two bedrooms, a loft, and a kitchenette. I’d rather share a suite with Abbi and Ella, but that’s not possible now that Jimi’s coming. Declan refuses to be in the same ‘surrounding’ as his sister with a guy in her bed. So I get to share the loft bed upstairs with Declan

After we unload, I take a quick shower and the guys run to the store to load the fridge. By the time I get down the stairs, they’re unpacking groceries, liquor, and beer. There’s enough junk food to give me a fat ass and then some.

“Hey, guys, did you get anything healthy?”

“We didn’t, but lover boy, Dec, did. He wore his vagina to the store and picked up a bunch of sissy food,” Cooper answers.

Declan punches his arm and starts unloading a separate bag filled with all my favorite things. He shrugs his shoulders at me and puts everything away. My phone rings; it’s Abbi. Ella, Jimi, and she are in the parking lot waiting on directions to the room. I motion to Declan to meet them and give them the keys to their room.

When everyone is settled, we order pizza and start a drinking game. I get to pick so I get out two decks of cards and start a game of Bullshit. I rock at this game and by the third round, everyone has figured it out. Our food finally arrives as we’re finishing up our game and it’s demolished within minutes.