"Jesus Nathan, get the fucking lead out! We've gotta go!" Olivia shouted through the house.

"I say we just leave him here," Kate said, leaning against the wall.

"I'm coming," Nathan's voice came through the hall. "It just takes longer for me to get around," he added. When he appeared, limping along, he was dragging his suitcase behind him.

"We'll be back Sunday night. Why did you pack for five days?" Olivia asked, taking the bag from him.

"You never know what outfit you'll need," Nathan explained.

"Oh good lord," Kate said, rolling her eyes. "Let's just go. Jared's going to be pissed if we're running late."

Before she could say anything else, Jared appeared in a straw hat, carrying a duffel bag. He chucked it in Kate's direction and she had to scramble to catch it.

"Ready?" he asked, sliding a pair of aviators over his eyes and picking his car keys up from the coffee table. "We gotta get going if we're going to miss traffic."

They walked out to the driveway where two SUVs waited for them. Jared's Bronco was parked in front of Jamie's Range Rover.

"Alright. Everybody pile in," Jared said, pulling the driver's door open before getting behind the wheel.

"Why two cars?" Olivia asked, opening the back door.

"Jamie, Shayla, Stevie, Joie, and Sian are coming in the other car," Kate explained as she chucked Jared's bag into the back of the Bronco. She buckled into her seat as Nathan struggled to close the passenger door from his place next to Jared. "Nathan, come on. I thought you were supposed to be athletic," she teased.

"Fuck off. Getting the shit beaten out of you takes a while to recover from," Jared chastised as he started the car. The engine roared to life. "Alright, everyone buckled?" he asked as he started driving.

They hit the 10 thirty minutes later and traffic lightened up after they passed El Monte. The mountains loomed in the distance as their cars moved along the highway.

"Are we all staying in the same house?" Kate asked Jared, leaning between the two front seats.

He nodded. "Its this boutique hotel Joie found. She rented out the whole property for both weekends," Jared said, merging into a new lane.

"Well at least she's doing part of her job," Kate muttered.

Jared sighed. "I know you two have your differences but will you just get over it for the trip? I'm tired of dealing with it."

"One would think that if your assistant and your kid don't get along, you'd think about getting a new assistant," Kate said.

"One would think if you were taking your kid and her friends to a music festival, the kid would stop complaining," he said, glaring at her through the rear view mirror.

Kate rolled her eyes and sulked back into her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. The car was tense for several seconds until Jared spoke again.

"So I know you won't want to be seen with me," he said. "When we go into the festival, I'll keep my distance. Just please, please be smart. I don't want to be scraping you off the ground drunk or high."

And God knows I don't need the shitty publicity, Jared thought as images of a headline reading "Jared Leto Allows Teens to Get Drunk and High" ran through his mind. They drove in silence as each teenager put their own headphones in and disappeared into their own technology. Two hours later, he pulled into the driveway of a sprawling mid century modern home.

Palm trees dotted the front yard and a hedgerow ran the length of the property's front. He parked the car and everyone started piling out. The sun shone brightly and everyone blinked rapidly to adjust to the light.

"I've got the code to the lock box," Joie called, walking to the front door.

Everyone followed her, dragging their suitcases after them. Joie opened the front door and handed Jared the keys. They walked into the front room and Jamie let out a low whistle.

"You outdid yourself," he remarked, waking over to the white baby grand piano in the corner of the spacious room.

"Right!" Jared called as Sian shut the front door behind her. "We're gonna have to share rooms."

"I call Olivia!" Kate exclaimed immediately.

"Sounds good. Everyone else can sort it out on their own," he said.

Later that night after they had dinner, Kate was doing laps in the pool while everyone was relaxing outside in the back yard. Jared watched as she glided underwater with ease.

"How is it that she's good at everything she does?" Nathan asked, sitting at the table next to Jared.

The older man chuckled and took a swig from his sparking water. "Its in the genes," he joked. Kate stood up and took her goggles off. "Done?" he asked.

She nodded and climbed out of the water. "If I don't keep up with training, Coach Simpson will put me on the bench again."

"Simpson is a total dickhole," Nathan said. "He's so hard. I hate it when he fills in for diving."

"When do you think you're getting back on the high dive?" Kate asked as she wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and sat next to them at the table. "Did the doctor clear you yet?"

Nathan sighed. "I'm still in physical therapy with the coaches. I don't think I'll be back in before the end of the season. Which sucks."

"Do you think you'll keep diving when you go to college in the fall?" Jared asked.

"I don't even know if I'll be in college in the fall, to be honest," Nathan said. "Since my family wants nothing to do with me, I don't see the point in going anymore. They only wanted me to go because I was supposed to join the family business."

Jamie, Stevie, Sian, and Joie were playing a game of Chicken now, laughing loudly. Kate felt pride when Sian managed to get Joie off of Jamie's shoulders, making a big splash.

"Aren't you getting in the water?" she asked Jared.

"My back is still bothering me," he sighed. "The doc says I can't do too much."

"And coming to a music festival where you walk all day was a good idea because?" Kate asked.

He glared at her. "I don't have to go all day. You guys can, though." He looked around. "Where'd Olivia go?" he asked.

"She's inside running lines. She has an audition next week," Nathan explained.

"Does that girl ever not try out for anything?" Jared asked, shaking his head. He stood, picking up his empty bottle. "I'm going to bed," he called. "Nobody drown!" He pressed a kiss to Kate's wet forehead before opening the sliding door and going inside.

Kate looked at her phone and sighed. "I should get to bed too," she said. "I need a shower first."

The next morning, the house was buzzing with excitement. Olivia had changed outfits four times before settling on a very Bohemian skirt and an off-the-shoulder crop top that bared her pierced navel. Kate on the other hand had gone the more practical route with a pair of jean shorts and one of Jared's over sized tank tops. Both girls had braided their hair, though Olivia's was much nicer than Kate's. After breakfast, the group headed over to the festival grounds in two separate Ubers. Jared handed out wristbands at the entry gates and they were swiftly swept up into the crowd.

"You three stick with me," he said. "This place is huge and crowded. I'm not hunting any of you down." He moved them out of the way of a Gator as it zoomed up the path. "If we get separated, meet back here at the Information Tent and text me."

"Jesus, Dad. You're being super overprotective," Kate sighed, feeling slightly embarrassed by her normally-laid-back-father's antics in front of her friends.

"Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye," he answered, joking.

They walked through the crowd, heading toward the VIP area. All around them, high school kids and young adults were posing for photos. Kate rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses at the poses they were in, obviously taking photos for followers instead of enjoying the moment. The air was sparking with excitement and voices hummed as people began to gather.

"When does the first act go on?" Nathan asked, rotating his ankle with a grimace.

Jared checked his watch. "About an hour. But this place'll be crowded as fuck by then." He looked at the four adults. "You guys can head out if you want."

Kate watched, annoyed, as Joie and Sian headed off with Jamie. Stevie chose to stay behind.

"Can't leave the old man alone with you guys," he teased, nudging Kate and earning a glare from Jared. 

The festival grounds continued to fill and Kate felt her excitement level rise. Soundchecks began and more people flooded in.

"Who's up first?" Stevie asked.

"Its just a bunch of smaller acts this afternoon. Then Father John Misty  and Radiohead later tonight, which could be fun," Jared responded. "And Travis Scott."

"Why did we come today, then?" Kate asked, her tone a step away from a whine. "And since when did you like Travis Scott?"

"Because music festivals are insane ordinarily; Coachella is insanity on steroids. I didn't want you to be overwhelmed," he explained. He turned to her. "I like all sorts of music, for your information, little asshole," he added.

Kate rolled her eyes while Olivia and Nathan laughed.

"We'll hang out here for a little while longer. Once the first acts start, it'll be easier to go out," Jared explained.

And he was right; after another hour, the crowds were so busy watching the stages that they didn't notice Kate or Jared. Sure, there would be photos of them once people figured out they were there, but for a few hours that night, they were left alone. As night descended, Jamie, Sian, and Joie reappeared and they all stood in the crowd for Radiohead. The group stayed well into the night, even getting invited backstage to meet the band. By the time they got back to the house, it was well past two AM and everyone was exhausted. Kate just managed to fit in a shower before she passed out.

GOSSIP BOARD

GUITARWIZARD POSTED: Jared took Kate and her friends to Coachella this weekend. It looks like Joie, Stevie, Jamie, and Sian went as well.

MARSGYRL30 POSTED: I can't believe he posted a picture of Kate and Olivia. He almost never posts about Kate, but suddenly he's posting pics of her and her friend?

GUITARWIZARD POSTED: I'm more surprised Jared let Sian and Jamie post pics, to be honest. I guess he doesn't care as much anymore? Either way it looks like they all had fun.