Oui Oui

Senna's POV

The towns, places and faces continue to roll past Gus's windows as it and its occupants make their way to their next gig. For the most part the travel between venues takes place overnight but occasionally there are days spent on the bus. Today is one of those days.

As the bus pulls into a rest stop, Gary makes an announcement to what's affectionately called 'The Bunker'. "Thirty-minute pit stop for anyone who is interested".

I hear Jax grumble from the bunk below me and hang my head over the edge. "Morning sunshine."

Sitting up in bed he rubs his eyes. "Morning Sen."

"Coffee?" I ask as I climb down from my bunk.

Gus has his own coffee machine but there is something peaceful about rest stops. They're one of the only places we go where there are no screaming girls, no one asking for autographs, no music. Just the sounds of the passing traffic and the odd conversation. Occasionally we get recognized but generally it's a chance for us to get out and stretch our legs. I've lost count at a number of times I've sat at rest stop just watching the sunset. It just reminds me that the world is so much bigger than we'll ever know.

We used to fly between locations when it was more than a few hours drive, but hanging out with your best mates on a bus playing FIFA and sleeping in a real bed beats the crap out of airport lounges and uncomfortable plane seats. Gus is also the closest thing we have to home when we're on tour so besides my struggle to sleep when we're moving it really is the best way to travel.

"Sleep well?" I ask Jax as he fumbles around the shelf for his beanie.

"Yes thank you, Mum."

I pull his beanie over his eyes playfully. "Shut up!"

We order our coffee from the sweet older lady at the coffee van and take a seat on a log at the edge of the car park that overlooks the town below.

The twins take advantage of a halfpipe just to the right of the car park. The sounds of their boards scrapping the wood and metal of the ramp echo through vastly empty space.

"Ergh, she's at again." Jax says gesturing towards Beckett who sits a little bit further down from us, no doubt hoping we can't hear him apologizing profusely to Mum for 'missing' her calls yesterday.

"She really needs to back the truck up, ya know? She's always on his back. No wonder the kid doesn't know how to relax," he adds, rubbing the back of his neck indicating his discomfort.

"Tell me about. Last night I overheard him talking to Tessa about some news article she was messaging him non stop about. Apparently, she wasn't happy that the article said he was too nice to be in a rock band."

Jax rolls his eyes. "One of these days he'll snap. I mean the pressure she puts on him. It's sickening."

We all know better than to say anything to Beckett about his Mum, but her need to control him and the band has caused more than a few arguments. Zander gave it to her about a year ago when Beckett had a mini-breakdown before a show when she tried to dictate the song list. She backed off then but it has been slowly escalating and we can all sense another break is coming.

Jax, ever the protector, signals Zander whose skinny frame is leaning against the bus, silently asking him to watch out for Beckett. Zander's return nod implies that he is already aware of the situation unfolding.

"So what has you in such a good mood? Jax asks. Slapping me hard on the thigh.

"I don't know what you mean," I answer. My eyes fixed on the view in front of me.

He raises his brow. "Come off it, Bro. You're a terrible liar."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." I counter with a flash of my dimple.

"Sen, don't make me force it out of you."

"Ok. I'll make you a deal. If you can land a kickflip first go I'll tell you."

"Really?" he asks surprised.

"Yep."

"Sen, I haven't been on my board in weeks."

"Well, if you can't do it..." I trail off knowing he can't resist a challenge.

He grabs his board out from Gus's wheel arch storage. The Gate Thirty Four sticker still taking pride of place in the centre of the deck.

"You can just go ahead and call me Tony Hawk," he says as he lands the trick first go. He lands another four in a row just to prove his point. "Happy now?"

I grab the board from his hands and land a few kickflips of my own. "Yeah I guess, Mr Hawk."

"Sooooo....."

I take a deep breath and hand him back his board. "Well, there's not much to tell. Just that while you were snoring your head off I was busy texting Harri."

"Texting?" he questions. The corners of his mouth turning up at the edges as he balances on top of the board.

"Yeah, I ask kinda asked for her number."

He throws his hand in the air for a fist bump. "Oh, smooth. Senna got game!"

I ignore his fist and push him backwards forcing him to step off his deck. I start the story from the first cringy text. Jax nods along as I tell him everything I've learned. When I'm done I expect some kind of sassy response but instead, he just smiles and tells me that he is happy that I've found someone who seems interested in me, for me. Well at least who I hope is interested in me.

He admits that while it's nice to have girls thirsting over him where ever he goes that he wonders how much of it's real. Not that that ever stops him hooking up with fans.

The admission is refreshing. It's been a while since he's been so open with me. There are only a handful of people who can say they've had a serious conversation with Jax. He has built his walls so thick that not much gets through. His sarcasm and constant need to joke are just his way of protecting himself, but also means that people think he doesn't take himself or the band seriously. When in reality the band is his life.

We climb back onboard Gus, as Gary calls time. Beckett is already on board sitting cross-legged on his bed staring down at his phone. I place my hand on his knee and offer a sympathetic smile, "you all right Bro?"

He sighs, "yeah, Sen. Just Mum being Mum."

"I'm here if you nee..."

"Oui Oui! Which of you dickheads is up for a game of FIFA?" Jax yells from behind me cutting me off.

"We"re in!" the twins reply in unison as they board Gus, following closely behind Jax.

"Me too," I say, walking towards the games lounge at the back of the bus. "Beckett?"

He looks up at his phone for the first time since I boarded. "Yeah sure. I mean someone's got to show you lot how to play."

"Whatever you say, bro. Just remember who won last time," Jax says pulling one of Beckett's shoelaces undone as he walks past his bed.

I take my seat on the couch and shake my head at how the same insightful Jax from outside is the same boisterous lad trying to get Rafa to piggyback him to couch.