They both congratulated Emma, and they all chatted for a bit until it came time for check out.

Emma left them to get dressed and went to sort out checking out of her room, meeting them at the reception desk.

The
three friends proceeded to throw all their things into Emma’s beaten up
old baby blue Peugeot 309, Tina and Bette both climbed into the back
seat slumping against each other in the middle totally exhausted, all
the nervous energy they had used along with the lack of sleep catching
up on them. Emma being in a little evil mood towards her friends
cranked the music up nice and loud, a song very typical of her mood at
the moment… Better Together by Jack Johnson.

“There is no combination of words

I could put on the back of a postcard

And no song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart

Our dreams, and they are made out of real things

Like a shoebox of photographs with sepia tone loving

Love is the answer

At least for most of the questions in my heart

Why are we here and where do we go

And how come it’s so hard
It’s not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving

I’ll tell you one thing
It’s always better when we’re together

Mmm, it’s always better when we’re together

Yeah, we’ll look at the stars when we’re together

Well, it’s always better when we’re together

Yeah, it’s always better when we’re together

And all of these moments just might find a way into my dreams tonight

But I know that they’ll be gone when the morning light sings

Or brings new things for tomorrow night you see

That they’ll be gone too, too many things I have to do

But if all of these dreams might find their way into my day to day scene

I’d be under the impression I was somewhere in between

With only two, just me and you, not so many things we got to do

Or places we got to be, we’ll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it’s always better when we’re together

Mmm, we’re somewhere in between together

Well, it’s always better when we’re together

Yeah, it’s always better when we’re together (mmm)

I believe in memories, they look so, so pretty when I sleep

And when I wake up, you look so pretty sleeping next to me

But there is not enough time

And there is no, no song I could sing

And there is no combination of words I could say

But I will still tell you one thing
We’re better together”

After
the song finished Bette and Tina realised they had been looking into
each others eyes throughout the song. Emma thankfully was totally
submersed in driving and her happy daze
hadn’t noticed them.

She commented
“Hey guys, your coming to the gig tonight right?”

Bette and Tina reply in unison “Yeah! Of course”
Emma’s band “The Funky Drunkn Munkies” were playing their first proper paid gig tat night.

They wouldn’t miss it for the world.

 ”Cool,
we have to be there at 5 for sound checks, doors open at 7:15, we go on
stage at 8:45 though so show up early and you might just get to meet
and greet the band during the first band’s set!” Emma teased

Tina
joked “So how’s that southern accent going for that song your doing?”
Tina had been coaching Emma to get the accent just right for singing on
the bands cover version of Seether’s Broken. They did a version of it
like the one Seether did with Amy “hot Hot HOT” Lee as Emma calls her.
Em was brave she has a low voice to sing, but to play bass at the same
time well wow Tina was impressed.
“Yea its going to be just fine, but Shannon being in the audience, uh
oh distraction central”

They all laughed, just as they pulled up at Tina’s exchange host’s house.

 ”Bye Tina, see ya later on” Emma said jovially.

Bette
was immersed in her own thoughts as Tina leaned in and gave her a hug,
a customary friendly goodbye, don’t even think about what your doing
sorta hug, she realised what she was doing n whispered into Bette’s
ear, “feels good huh, call me babe” then jumped outta the car.

Bette was dumbstruck.

Bette
spent the rest of the journey talking musicy stuff with Emma, all about
the gig and al the presentation stuff for it, the outfits etc.

They
also discussed where to go after the gig and it seemed that everyone
was wanting to go to a ***** club they had heard about but no one had
gone to yet.

Bette thought this could be ace.

TBC :) The gig and the club.. ooh what’s gonna happen ;)