Long Horn Lounge, Augusta, Kansas:
Rustie looks out from the stage as the band plays. She wanted to strangle Lou for signing that damn contract and murder the fucking, greasy, road manager that was traveling with them. The new road manager was making her dress in more revealing clothes. He didn’t know that she had been born male, so she had that going for her.

He was also taking twenty percent of the money they made as well. The accommodations he arranged for them, weren’t places they would have chosen for themselves. They were little holes in the wall that she didn’t trust. He also had them on the road seven days a week without a break.

After they finished the set, they were doing. Rustie headed towards the back, which was a storage room that had been turned into a makeshift band room. They had to provide their own drinks and snacks if they wanted any.

Rustie grabs a bottle of cold water from the cooler they brought with them. She looks towards the others “Does anyone else want one?”

“Yeah, toss me two.” Russell was soaked in sweat from beating on his drums.

Rustie grabs two bottles of water and tosses them towards Russell “Heads up.”

Russell catches the bottles of water “Thanks.”

Russell opens one bottle and dumps the cold water over his head, soaking his t-shirt with the water. The second bottle he opens and drinks from it. Russell looked so pale and tired.

“I’m stepping outside.” Jason gets up and steps outside.

Rustie looked over towards Lou and noticed he was looking tired. This was the fifth club they had played since they met at Lou’s place. After they finished this gig tonight, they had to get on the road and head towards Benton for their next gig. They would be playing at a place called the Knight’s Tavern for the next three nights. Their road manager would give them their money just before they leave.

After their break time is up, they go back on stage and start playing a list of cover songs the manager of the lounge wanted them to play. At all the places they have played, they did a set of their songs and a bunch of cover songs that the owners of the places they played wanted them to play. Also, their road manager would have a list of songs he felt they should play.

When they finish their gig. They pack up their gear and get their money from their sleazeball road manager. Whenever the road manager got close to Rustie, she got a bad feeling. She tried to stay close to Russell or Jason. She wasn’t talking to Lou right now.

When they start packing up the van, Rustie makes sure there is enough space for her to sleep. Since they have been traveling, and working so hard. The guys have been snoring more and more. So, whenever they get a hotel room, she sleeps in the van. Which, was good for them, because it meant someone was watching over their instruments.

The third night they were out, someone tried breaking into the van. Luckily, she had slept in the van and pressed the alarm button on the remote to scare them off. The only time she used the hotel room was to take a shower and get dressed. She bought a portable toilet to keep in the van when she had to poop or pee. She got the idea from a trucker they met at a truck stop.

“Wake me when we get to whatever hotel Mr. Carangi reserved for us.” Rustie lays down on the air mattress she bought to sleep on.

“Do you want any food, Rustie?” Russell knew Rustie wasn’t speaking to Lou.

“I’m fine. I just want to get some sleep.” Rustie covers up and falls instantly asleep.

Russell looks up front towards Jason and Lou. Jason was driving their new van and Lou was sitting in the passenger seat. He had his small laptop opened looking at the schedule their manager sent them. They had another week of nonstop traveling with no break. So, far all their gigs were in Kansas.

Max told them that he was trying to get them a few out-of-state gigs. Also, he sent a couple of recommendations that he noticed about the band that they might want to consider changing. As for the problem between him and Rustie, he knew sooner or later Rustie would start talking to him.
The thing is, he knew why Rustie was pissed at him. Once Rustie’s mother took a look at the contract he signed with Black Label Productions.
They all learned that the production company was screwing them over. The contract was good for five years, and during that time, they had to produce three albums or suffer a hefty financial fine. Also, no song could be no shorter than two and a half minutes in length and there had to be at least eight to fifteen songs per album.

Also, the production company gets seventy percent of all sales. The only advance they got was fifty thousand dollars. Plus, if they fail to produce the albums or choose to break up, none of them could play with any other band or operate under another name for six years in the United States.
The production company also reserved the rights to choose what songs they could put on the album, or let another band play their song. Their travel expenses came out of their own pockets but were reimbursed by the company.

“Rustie, we're here.” Russell gently shakes Rustie’s shoulder.

Rustie slowly wakes up when she feels her shoulder shook. She turns to face Russell, who is leaning over the seat towards her. She rubs her eyes and slowly gets up.

“Where are we?” Rustie looks towards the front of the van.

“We're at a Motel Eight.” Russell helps Rustie stand up.

Rustie follows Russell out of the van and shivers. The temperature had dropped and she was still wearing her stage outfit. The only difference, she had taken her heels off and put her bunny slippers on.

Lou opens the door to the hotel room and drops his overnight bag next to the bed he would be sleeping on. Rustie walks by him and heads towards the bathroom to change and take a shower. Just before she walks into the bathroom.

“Hey, Rustie, are you sure you don’t want anything to eat? There’s a Waffle House across the street.” Russell knew Rustie liked the food at The Waffle House.

“I’m sure, I’m going to take a shower and head back out to the van to sleep.” Rustie walks into the bathroom with her night clothes.

“All right, see you in an hour.” Russell was surprised because Rustie normally ate before going to bed.

As Jason, Russell, and Lou are walking across the street towards the Waffle House “Lou, you and Rustie need to settle whatever the problem is between you guys.”

“Look, Rustie hates that I signed us up with Black Label Productions.”

“Can you blame her? They are screwing us and we’re playing at places we use to avoid when our booking agent had jobs for us. Plus, she doesn’t trust Max Carangi and I can’t say I blame her. Have you seen the way he has her wearing more revealing clothes?” Russell knew Rustie didn’t like how she was dressing lately.

“Yeah, what happens when he finds out that Rustie isn’t a true girl?” Jason was worried about their friend.

“Look, I admit, that I screwed up signing that contract. But I heard a lot of good things about the production company.” Lou had done some research about Black Label and thought they could do more for them, than the other independent recording agencies.

“Still, you two need to patch things up.”

Back At the Hotel Room:
Rustie takes a nice relaxing shower and tries a new shampoo her mother recommended. She was glad that they were still on summer vacation, but what were they going to do when the school season started? Plus, she had her weekly Zoom meeting with her counselor whom she agreed to see. She promised her mother she would seek counseling for her gender dysphoria.

As for her acting career, it was short-lived. The theater couldn’t get the financing they wanted to produce the show, so they were going to wait. She did learn that the part she tried out for went to another person, instead. Which was fine, with her since she was going to be on the road working.

After Rustie finishes her shower and puts her night clothes on. She heads out to the van and makes herself comfortable. It doesn’t take her long to fall asleep again.