One week. That was all I had. One week to arrange my absence with my bosses, pack my belongings, and overall get my act together before the tour started. When I heard mention of the band, I juggled the options in my head for a while. Staying home to take care of my health seemed the more practical option, and straining myself on a tour would only worsen my state. Then again, my friend would never forgive me if I passed up an opportunity to get out of this house, travel the world, and befriend a band we have both admired for so long.

I don't know what kind of fantasy she's got playing and replaying in her mind, but if this trip reflects the luck I've had in the past I'm gonna have quite the hospital bill. Meandering my way back to the phone, I picked it up. Tapping the numbers with a hesitant pace I called Vee, who I wasn't the most eager getting the opinion of. Practicality wasn't any acquaintance of hers, but taking a chance was never a friend of mine. Besides, she'd find out I was gone sometime had I chosen the tour.

She actually bothered to pick up this time.

"Hannah? I'm sorry I'm late, I was catching up on Love Connection, and this Jennifer is a real-"

"Vee," I cut her off. "Do you mind if we talk? Maybe, not over the phone?" I heard her shuffling around in her closet, no doubt stretching the phone cord past its limits. Some boxes she shoved on the top shelf came crashing down, and she didn't say anything for a while. "Vee, you alive over there?"

"Damn this closet...I'm still here," she finally answered. "I'm buried under piles of decorations and shoes trying to find something to wear, this had better be important."

"Maybe I ought to come over there," I offered toying with the cord. "If it's this much trouble..."

"With your sore leg? No, I'll be right over. Move!" she yelled, something colliding with the wall ending in a less than pleasant sound. "Five sound good?"

I set the cups of tea down at the table and eased my way into a chair. Across from me sat my friend, donning a rather planned ahead outfit. She smirked at the drink in front of her. "Still haven't fixed it yet?"

"Have you seen how much they cost these days?" I asked passing her the sugar. "I don't think I ever will."

"Get a guy to do it. That's what I did." I rolled my eyes and tapped my fingers on the table. Her company made the house feel cozier, despite the low maintenance appearance. I couldn't appreciate it enough with the question on my mind. "So," she asked taking a drink. "Whatcha need?"

My throat went dry. "Vee...if you had the opportunity to do something really exciting, but possibly really stupid...what would you do?"

"You've seen enough of my neighbor's windows to know what I'd do," she laughed. "But it depends on what this 'opportunity' is. Any way dangerous?"

"I don't think so..." She frowned at me, making me sigh. "Not really, but in the condition I'm in-"

"Oh for Pete's sake, go to a doctor and have it fixed already," she dismissed grabbing a napkin. It flew out of her hand onto the floor, to which she grumbled to herself. "When's your appointment?"

"Next month, a few days actually." Tour or no tour I'd have to go get my leg checked out, and if the light's red, I'm staying home. "I'm sure my leg is fine."

"Alright, assuming your leg is fine, and assuming it's not in any way dangerous, I'd say go for it. How often have you taken risks?" she asked giving me a look. I'd have returned it but she wasn't wrong.

"Well, climbing on roofs all day isn't a walk in the park, now is it?" I asked sipping my tea. I watched my companion chug her cup down, slamming it on the table when she finished, and brush her hair out of the way. "Neither are railroads."

"What's my time?" she asked panting. I checked the clock.

"Thirty seconds."

"Man, I was this close." Her fingers were hardly apart as she showed me, and the look on her face told me she was certainly going to try again. I gently sipped mine again, not quite used to the temperature. "Next time, next time. Now, if you don't mind sliding off roofs every day, how much worse could this be?"

I winced then gave a half grin, tapping my nails to my cup. "There's five men involved." Her eyes narrowed.

"Men?"

"Older men." Leaning back in her chair she ran a hand through her hair.

"Boy, what a pickle you've gotten yourself into," she chuckled, shaking her head. I frowned, crossing my arms and rubbing my leg. "How old are we talking?"

"Oh...late twenties...thirties."

"You're serious. Man, how did this happen?" After explaining to her about the contest, she started laughing again at my circumstances. "I don't know about you, but I'd say that's good luck more than anything else. Maybe things will finally start going your way." With another cup of tea by her side and two bags of sugar, she continued. "The real question is, which band is it?"

I don't think I've ever heard a louder scream in my life. If there's ever a zombie apocalypse, she's gonna be the one who woke them all up. Standing from her chair she approached me and shook my shoulders. "Why on earth would you need a second opinion on this? Go! Go!"

"Hang on, there's still some things I have to consider," I reminded her, slightly pushing her away.

"Come on an' consider them already!"

"I have to let my bosses know I'm gonna be gone for six whole months," I said rubbing my temple. Vee lifted her hands, palms facing me.

"Done. I'll do it if you want. Hannah, I know how you are with that Sabrina girl, you think you could persuade her by yourself?" I mulled it over. "What else is there?"

"I have to pack six months' worth of clothing-"

"You can borrow some of mine. Suitcases even. Next."

I pursed my lips, thinking of what I could to beat her at the game. "Who do you suppose is going to look after the house while I'm gone?"

"I'll do it," she offered. My eyes must have been saucers by now. "I could always use a place of my own, my parents can keep that old shack. They'll be glad to get me out of the house."

"And tell me, Miss Student Loans," I started. "just how are you going to pay the rent?" Now her eyes matched mine. My smile was smug, I had her beat. But the feeling was bittersweet. "I hear the rent is going up next month."

"W-well, I can...I can-oh, bother the rent! I'll find something to pay it off." I pointed a finger at her.

"Now Vee, I don't want you doing something stupid to pay it off, okay? No robbing banks, no making and selling drugs-"

"Aw, man!" she whined, snapping her fingers. After a shared smile, she once again tried beating her record. Hot tea raced down her throat faster than her stomach could handle, I'm sure. Panting harder than before she looked up at me.

"Twenty nine-"

"That's what I'm talking about!" I shook my head at her embarrassing parade of victory.

"And a half," I mumbled with a grin. After she calmed down I continued. "Ya' know, I really don't want you to have to take care of everything for me." She waved me off. "I mean it."

"So do I. Look, how often does this happen to someone? Especially someone like you?" I frowned.

"What do you mean by-"

"This is fate's way of patting you on the back and saying 'go for it'. If you don't take this chance, you may never have it again." Her lips formed a pout and her eyes turned upward. Making the oddest of puppy dog noises, she got down on the floor and started begging at my feet.

"Aw, not this again...hey, let go." I shoved her off my foot. With a growl, she sat back in her chair, opening a packet of sugar and taking it like a shot. I sat in silence for a while watching her. Her words of caffeine induced wisdom were getting to me. "If my leg is fine..."

"Uh huh..."

"...and my bosses won't fire me..."

"...yes?"

"...and my rent is paid off..." Her eyes were sparkling with anticipation. I shrugged. "...then I'll take the opportunity."

I take back what I said about that first scream. This one was the loudest.