Mikey frowned at his doodle. He’d always enjoyed comics and creating them but his concept just wasn’t going to his liking. Tossing the pencil away he plopped the sketchbook on his desk and combed his fingers through his hair. The band had been on the road for a week now and his inspiration was waning. He glanced across the bus at Ray. He was glaring at the TV, his thumbs jamming buttons on the Xbox controller. His hair was frizzed and curly and his eyebrows were furrowed. Beside him Frank lay sprawled on a beanbag playing the game upside down.

Mikey's gaze fell on his brother who lay in his bunk with the curtain open, his headphones in his ears playing a song he didn’t recognize. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes unfocused as his fingers tapped to the beat of the music on his stomach.

“Stop working and have some fun, Mike,” Frank waved his controller in the air to catch the bassist’s attention.

“I don’t feel like playing Donkey Kong, guys,” he laughed and returned his attention to his scribbling. Grabbing a bit of charcoal from Gerard’s stash of art supplies he turned back to his sketchbook and opened a fresh page. He let his mind wander, his hand working over the page as his thoughts drifted. He thought about his curiosity about Gerard and how distracted he’d been lately. He wanted to know what was eating away at his older brother but he knew if he tried to ask he’d shut down. He just hoped it had nothing to do with drinking or drugs. Or Dominica. A frown creased his face at the thought of her. He had to admit he missed her, but the pain that came with her still gnawed at his heart.

Letting out a sigh, Mikey leaned back in his seat, dropping the charcoal on the page. He glanced down at his drawing and his frown deepened. He’d sketched a rough portrait of her. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately and he had no idea why. She’d been on his mind since she introduced her roommate to Frank. He liked Natalie, it just hurt that she was so happy with Frank when he had had to suffer at the sight of Dominica.

“Dude, you really need to let her go,” Frank’s voice interrupted Mikey’s staring and he looked up into the sparkling hazel gaze of the guitarist. Shrugging his shoulders he closed his sketchbook and pushed it away from him.

“I can’t. I loved her,” he muttered, scrubbing his face with rough hands. “And she’s been on my mind a lot lately.”

“Why?” Frank slid into the booth across from him and leaned his elbows on the table. He looked genuinely concerned.

“Because the anniversary of the day she left is tomorrow,” he grumbled. “I can’t just forget that. Two years ago today I met the woman of my dreams and blew it with her. And it kills me every fucking day.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“Not recently,” he slid from the booth and made his way to the coffee maker. There was still two cups worth of the caffeinated beverage and he poured himself a mug, sticking it in the microwave to reheat it. He could feel Frank’s eyes on him as he mixed in cream and sugar to his liking and sat back down. “I hate reheated coffee.”

“Yeah, looks gross,” Frank scrunched his face when Mikey took a sip. “You should call her. Nat’s been worried about her recently anyway. She said she’s been acting weird. She thinks she’s using again.”

Mikey nearly choked on his coffee. He pushed it away, coughing into his arm. When he could catch a breath he returned his gaze to Frank, his eyes wide. “What?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said too. Hasn’t she been clean for like a couple months?”

He nodded, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. There were a few unread text messages from friends and a girl he’d met a few nights ago. Ignoring them, he paged through his contacts until he found Dom’s number and typed out a quick text asking how she was doing and if she was free to talk. After it sent he groaned and tossed his phone on the table.

“She better not be using again. I didn’t go through hell and high water to help her for nothing.”

“I know, dude. I’m just saying, Nat’s concerned. Maybe she just needs someone to talk to. I dunno. I love her but she’s way more trouble than it’s worth,” he clapped his hand on Mikey’s shoulder with a sympathetic look. “But I gotta love her for introducing me to Nat, so she’s not all bad.”

The two shared a laugh and the phone on the table vibrated, the screen lighting up. As Frank returned to the Xbox, Mikey pressed a button on his phone to read Dom’s reply. ‘I’m fine, Mikey, and I’m free now if you want to call. I miss talking to you.’

His heart skipped in his chest and he scrambled for the bus door, almost tripping over his own feet to get outside. His long fingers fumbled over the buttons on his phone and he finally got the call sent and raised it to his ear. He glanced up into the sun, squinting as the line rang.

“Hi Mikey,” she greeted him. He could hear the smile in her voice and it made his stomach erupt with butterflies. Wrapping an arm around his middle he leaned against the side of the bus, kicking rocks with the toe of his Converse.

“Dom, hey, how are you?”

“I’m all right I guess. How are you?”

“I’m good,” he breathed, he wasn’t too fond of the awkward pleasantries but he didn’t want to just jump in and demand if she was using. He thought for a minute and shook his head. She didn’t sound like she used to, miserable and distraught. She sounded satisfied, almost happy.

The line went silent for a moment, the air crackling quietly between them. He could hear her breathing a steady wind into the receiver. He used to hate these silences, mostly because he feared for the worst whenever she stopped talking, but this one was different. She was sober on the other side.

“So, how’s the work coming? Have you gotten a job yet?” he finally asked and she laughed.

“Yeah, I’m working at a night club in Manhattan, it just opened a few nights ago. I’m a bartender by night, artist by day. Oh, I finally got a mural commission. My first one. I’m psyched.”

“No way! That’s great,” he paused. “But you’re a bartender? Isn’t that hard considering…” He let his voice trail and she laughed again.

“I needed to do something with my extensive drink knowledge since I can’t use it on you guys anymore, I decided I’d might as well get paid for it and the cash flow is good where I’m at right now. It’s hard sometimes but I deal. It’s nice being sober. The problems seem less traumatic with a clear mind. And I have nobody to thank but you for that.”

The tenderness in her voice caught him off guard and he could feel his face flush. Clearing his throat, Mikey glanced around the parking lot and sighed. “I’m glad you’re doing well, Dom. I’m sorry I haven’t called lately. Shit’s been crazy with the album and getting back into the groove of things, you know. I miss talking to you.”

“I’ve missed you too, Mikey,” she assured him. The sincerity in her tone sent a jolt of hope through him. Maybe he still had a chance to make things right. He swallowed hard. Should he ask?

“Listen, I was wondering if you could ask Ray if he might give me guitar lessons? I need a hobby.”

“Yeah, sure. Frank and me can chip in too. I’m sure he needs an excuse to see Nattie as much as possible anyway, he’s, like, pining for her.”

“I know! He calls her all the time and I think they’ve dabbled in phone sex. Sometimes I hear her making strange noises on the phone with him and it freaks me out,” she laughed.

“I heard that!” Natalie’s voice rang out in the background and Dom erupted into a fit of giggles.

“Well, that explains a lot,” Mikey mumbled under his breath as her laughter died down.

The line descended into silence again and Mikey sighed. It was nearing time to get going again but he didn’t want to. He wanted to be in New York with her. He wanted to reconnect.

“Oh fuck, I’m so sorry, Mike but I have to go. I’m going to be late for work and I can’t get fired. It was so nice hearing from you again though. Feel free to call anytime. I miss having my Mikey in my life.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” his face hurt he was smiling so much. He felt like a giddy schoolgirl. She said goodbye and the line disconnected but he kept the phone to his face a few seconds longer before stuffing his phone in his pocket. Not wanting to go back on the bus he wandered around the parking lot, enjoying the fading sunlight. He kicked a few rocks around until the bus door swung open and Gee stuck his head out. He looked tired.

“Come on, we’re leaving soon,” he waved and then paused, his head cocking to the side. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“No reason,” the younger Way tried to force down his grin, following his brother back onto the bus to hit the road again.