Knead to Rise Up

Senna's POV

One of the problems with traveling on Gus is being caught in traffic on the way to a venue. Then again we face the same problem when we have to get cars from the airport. The only difference being that passing the time on Gus is a lot more fun than being separated into two cars, or worst still being crammed into a minibus.

One of my favourite memories of the tour happened a year or so ago when we were due to play this really small gig to about 200 or so hand-picked fans. Fans that didn't get tickets lined the street around the concert hall and essentially stopped our bus from getting through. Zander, as quick thinking as ever, bribed a baker and arranged for us to hide in the back of his bread van. Since the van had no windows in the back the fans couldn't see us and let the van straight through the crowd.

As hot and sticky as it was back there (seriously though I almost passed out), we had a lot of fun. I remember I felt physically sick when we got out because we were being jostled and jolted around and since there were no seatbelts we had to hold on to each other so we didn't go flying around the cabin. Jax couldn't help himself and got stuck into the pastries that were stacked in the trays in the back with us. I swear he was on a sugar high for weeks after that.

We must have been in there for no more than twenty minutes but in that time we managed to write one of my favourite songs. It started out like always, us singing about something stupid. Jax was just tapping away on the crates singing about yeast, bread kneading, and the baking process, and somehow 'Rise Up' was written. We debuted the song that night, as somewhat of a joke, the funny thing is the fans loved it and assumed it was some kind of anthem about sticking it the man and rising up against injustice. It got so much traction on social media from that one play that we ended up recording and releasing it. We've never really had the heart to anyone where it actually came from, but every time we're stuck in traffic on our way to the gig I think about that night.

Today, we managed to get to the location just in time for sound check, and just like that night, tonight's gig is an intimate one which fortunately doesn't require a full stage set up.

Tonight we're playing a reduced set for a 100 radio station competition winners. I like these intimate shows because they give us a chance to really interact with the fans, and they also don't take as much energy out of us as stadium events do.

As we head to wardrobe our clothes are already laid out for us. Jax and I have our standard black skinny jeans, and v-neck t-shirts. Except that today his is shirt is white and mine is black. As I change into the outfit I start humming the tune to 'Rise Up'. Moving around the room the others start to hum along with me as if they're all just as deep in memory lane as I am. I seriously love these pre-show feels.

I look over at the twins, who are also dressed in the same black skinny jeans. The only difference is that Rafa likes to customize his by tearing them across the knee and thigh. Luca, deciding that today they would be identical tried to copy this but just ended up with a gaping hole exposing half his right leg. The stylists suggested he change, but he just shrugged his shoulders at them and told them it made it him 'look more punk', which earned himself slap across the back of the head from Rafa, who called him an idiot.

Today they also have matching black round neck T-Shirts with an unbuttoned red and black checkered shirt over the top. They also both have identical black army boots which are only laced up halfway so that the ends fold down at their ankles. I watch as Luca sits in the dressing room armchair tapping his foot in tune with the song. The tongue of his boot flapping in rhythm.

Just past the twins is Beckett. He is standing, at the dress looking in the mirror, making sure his blonde hair is perfectly combed. In typical Beckett style, he is dressed in regular-fit blue jeans, and a cream Gucci embroidered sweater. I look him up and down and shake my head, and he wonders why people don't think he fits into a rock band.

"Looking sharp today, Dad," Jax teases as he scruffs up Beckett's perfectly combed hair, much to his annoyance.

"Don't Jax!" he yells, patting his blonde hair back into place. The twins and I just laugh. Honestly, it is the same thing every time.

Jax sniggers, "calm your farm, Beckett. You could do with a little roughing up."

"Yeah, well... you could do with a shower!" he bites back, earning himself a chuckle from Jax.

"Now, now boys. Enough of that shiitake." I announce playfully.

"Shiitake?" the twins ask, and unsurprisingly they say it in unison.

"Don't ask lads. Just something new thing Senna has picked up. Apparently, he is trying not to swear so much." Jax responds, shooting me a wink as if to say that he has my back. I nod my head slightly in acknowledgment.

Our Sax moment is interrupted by Beckett, "I like that, Senna. I always say we swear too much as a band."

"Of course you would like that, Dad!" Jax retaliates in jest, almost before the words have left Beckett's mouth.

Despite his formal upbringing and our teasing, Beckett is just like us. Sure, he's a little bit more uptight, but away from the media his mouth is just as bad as the rest of ours, "piss off, Jax!"

"Now now, Beckett. Don't you mean..." Jax stops to think.

"Parsnip off?" I offer.

Jax smirks. "Yes. Thank you, Senna. That's perfect. Beckett, I believe you meant to tell me to parsnip off."

"No. No, I didn't. I meant piss off!" Beckett says forcefully.

I am sure the conversation continued on like this for some time but knowing that we were due on stage any minute and would be out for the night, I pulled out my phone to text Harri.

"Hey" I type.

"Heyyyy" comes the reply almost immediately.

"What are you up too?"

"Not much, just planning an intervention on Jazz due to her gummy addiction."

"Sounds serious," I reply, laughing quietly to myself.

The boys look over at me briefly but go back to teasing Beckett about being 'a Dad'. I look down at my phone and see Harri has replied.

"Oh yeah, it's the worst. I am thinking I am going to have to have committed. lol"

"Maybe you could try getting her blacklisted from the supermarkets so she can't buy anymore..."  I offer.

"You don't know Jazz. She is very resourceful. She would just find a way."

"Well, I am out of suggestions. I think you will just have to have her committed. Straight jacket and all. Haha"

"Yep, there's no way around it. Anyway, what are you up too?"

"Top secret stuff," I reply. The secretive stuff seems to come easier to me now. I am not sure if I should be impressed with myself or appalled.

"Why am I not surprised? ;)"

Yet again this girl has me smiling from ear to ear. Luckily the others don't notice as the twins have taken to fighting each other in a very aggressive thumb war, which has captivated both Jax and Beckett, who are cheering from the sidelines.

"Actually, I'll be out for the night so just thought I would message you now so you don't think I forgot about you."

"You're checking in with me?"

Am I? Is that what I am doing? "No... Well, yeah. I guess I kinda am."

"Thanks, I appreciate it:) I look forward to our chats."

"Me too."

"Showtime, boys!" Zander announces as he enters the dressing room. The twins finish their game, both grumbling that yet again neither has managed to win.

"Honestly, it's always a draw with you two," Jax scoffs as they make their way to the door.

"Tell me about it," they reply, yet again in unison earning a grumble from them both.

I return my focus to Harri quickly.

"Sorry I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye Harri"

"Bye, SJ. Have fun doing whatever shittake you're up too."

" :)"

I throw my phone into my bag and run out to meet the boys in a small area backstage to the left of the stage door.

Jax smirks. "Nice of you to join us, Senna."

I mouth few choice words at him that would make a grown man blush as we huddle in a group. Zander gives us his usual pep talk to get our energy levels up. As the stage lights dim and the crowd screams, we place our hands in the middle of the circle on top of each other and sounding off "1,2,3,4 Gattttteee Thirty Four!" Before we all run out to the waiting crowd, dispersing the smoke which hovers above the wooden floorboards of the stage with our feet.

I see the blue band of a microphone through the smoke and which tells me that Jax is in position directly to my right. I watch as he raises the mic to his mouth, "how's everyone doing tonight?"

Despite the small crowd, all we hear in response is indistinguishable screaming.

"We can't hear you!" the twins call out from the far right of the stage, revving the crowd into hysterics. I shiver at how much I love the sound.

"Okay everyone, if you're not already up we're going to need you all to stand for this one. Let's RISE UP!" Beckett announces from my left. The red band on his mic clearly visible against the cream of his sweater.

Cue even more indistinguishable screaming as the drumbeat intro for Rise Up, kicks off.

"Alright, let's get this shiitake started," Jax screams, causing the five of us on stage to laugh and the audience to react in kind.

I twirl my mic in my hand feeling the familiar edges of the green tape. Raising it to my mouth, I can't help but smile knowing that tonight is going to be one to remember.