Less than a year later, a week before my 21st birthday.

My 21st birthday was ready to roll around and rear its ugly head. Interestingly enough, though, I got a registered package - overseas, from England no doubt - and wondered what was in it. No matter, it had to be from the Duran Duran guys. Slowly but surely I got over losing John. I knew us breaking up had to be for the best. Being friends with Helena used up a lot of my time - we did all the girlfriend things, like going out to see movies, painting each other's nails, that sort of thing. And Helena brought me a lot of piece of mind. Finally I had converted her to Durandom and now she had a fixation on Simon.

Helena, upon her first visit to my one-bedroom apartment, was shocked to see the large Duran Duran poster I had in my bedroom, and the framed pic I had of the guys that they had sent me for Christmas.

Soon enough though, my new friend here was buying up Simon posters and magazines with Simon in them, and wallpapered her own bedroom. "Simon's so cute!" she would say, as she braided my hair one evening, in my living room. "Awwww!"

I giggled. "Honey, if you met Simon, you would think he was an incurable flirt." I reached for some bobby pins.

"And that's a *bad* thing?" Helena replied, grabbing a bobby pin out of my hand. "Hey, I flirt too you know. It's all about confidence. Comes with the territory if you're a Scorpio."

I shrugged. "I don't know, I guess Scorpios should hang together," I laughed.

So anyway, there I was opening this registered package and it was from the guys. I had missed them and their humor so much! Since then I had enjoyed their music but it wasn't the same as actually being with their funny selves. They always had a way of making me feel like one of the guys - that was good and bad. They talked to me like I knew they talked to each other - which made any relationship that was more than friends with any of them difficult...

Still, I couldn't believe they remembered my bday! Inside was a short card from them all, written in Simon's interesting, messy handwriting:

To our dear Grace,

Nick and John remembered it was your big 2-1 this month, and thus we thought it customary to send you a note and tell you that finally yes, you can have a drink legally!

More seriously - we are now working on our next album, whose title is still up in the air right now. But it was awfully boring working in Monserrat with no one we knew really, and now we've moved on to better digs - in Sydney, Australia! As much as Monserrat was beautiful, we couldn't stand being holed up in a studio with no place to go, and certainly no beautiful women like you!

So what better way to celebrate your 21st than coming out here, hanging with the lot of us, and generally having a grand old time. Isn't that what birthdays are all about? Enclosed you will find two tickets to Sydney just in time for your birthday, we hope you can join us out here (bring one of your brill friends) and rock the night away!

Hugs, kisses, and snogs,
Simon (and the rest)

I called up Helena and asked her if she wanted to come. Are you kidding? It was summer vacation and she was dying to go on a real vacation. After a while of convincing, I convinced her Mummy to let her come with me, and off we went.

"So, what was dating John like?" Helena asked during the flight. We had been on that dang plane for a couple hours already. She was making gum chains with the wrappers of the gum me and her were chewing to keep our ears from popping.

I shrugged. "I dunno. Sorta like a fairy-tale at the beginning. But then things sorta messed up later on. It's a long story."

"I'm all ears," Helena replied. "Besides, we're not going anywhere for a while, are we Grace?"

I smiled. "Okay. You convinced me," I said.

Helena's mouth gaped open. "So, that's what happened?"

I nodded. Sadly. "Yes."

"But don't you still have...you know, feelings for John? I mean, the way you describe, you were lovesick for him!"

I choked back a laugh. "Yeah, I guess you can say that. But it's water under the bridge. I did love John Taylor for a while but it's not like he cares for me like that anymore!"

"Don't say that. You never know."

"Nah. He has a new girl every night. I know it. It's too easy for him. Simon too." Helena pouted. "Sorry to say honey, but it's true. I know it pretty much first-hand."

"Well, regardless. Who knows? Maybe John's turned over a new leaf."

I grinned. "I doubt it. He's a young man with needs..." We both giggled.

When we touched down at Sydney Airport, we took a cab to the address Simon had included in another letter I got the next day. Saying that would be the place we'd be staying while we were in Australia. Apparently John and Nick had gotten apartments in the city, and Simon, Andy, and Roger had gotten a rambler in the country because they wanted to get away from the bustle of the city.

We got up to the hotel/apartment - you could rent apartments too there, as well as just temporary live there. The guy at the desk told me he had been instructed to get our bags upstairs and send us off to the studio where the guys were.

"But..." I said interrupting, "me and my friend just got off the airplane, we need to freshen up a little..." Helena nodded in agreement. She wanted to make the best impression on Simon - even though I said that was silly. I knew them as good friends. There was no reason to get pretentious. Helena said she wanted to switch to something more trendy - which included switching her sneakers to heels.

On the other hand, I was exhausted and I hated being on planes - it was a good excuse to go up to our room, and wash our faces, maybe touch up our makeup. Something simple. I knew I didn't have to act all high and mighty around these guys - they were my friends after all! The man wouldn't have it. "Nope, I have been instructed by Mr. Taylor to send you two off to the studio, and our bellboys can take care of your things."

"Mr. Taylor?" I asked. "Which Mr. Taylor?"

He looked down at a note on his desk. "A Mr. John Taylor."

"But...!"

Helena nudged me in the arm. "That's okay, Grace. If he really wants you to just go over to the studio as you are, as we are...let's just go."

I shrugged. So as such, we were whisked off by another cabbie to the studio. It didn't occur to me until that we hadn't been given keys.

When we got there, there were hugs all around. Initially I was worried that they weren't going to be the same - it had been many months since I had seen them! So hugs. With me and the guys that is. After that, I introduced Helena to everyone and her eyes must have gotten ten times bigger when she saw Simon.

At first I was worried that she would clinging to Simon like no tomorrow. "Hi everyone," she said shyly. Well, it was shy up to the point that she walked right up to Simon and said, "hello luv, you must be Simon!"

To my disappointment, and to her happiness, Simon was looking the same way at her. I groaned inwardly. The last thing I needed to do was be Simon's chaperone! "Pleasure to meet you, Helena," Simon said. "Grace never told me she had such a beautiful friend..."

Andy coughed loudly behind Simon. "LeBon, stop draggin' your feet," Andy said annoyed. "Are we gonna finish this song or what?"

"Man, I was just getting started!" Simon joked, and Andy shoved him into the recording room, John following them. Nick and Roger laughed at this.

"Ooh, what's it called?" I asked, interested.

"I think it's gonna be called 'Shadows on Your Side,'" Nick said, picking lint off his sweater. "I'm not sure though." I grinned.

The guys went back to the studio. Helena kept yammering about how hot Simon was. Meanwhile I was concentrating on the song. Simon was wonderful at song lyrics, but it was the whole package of melody, bass lines, drums, guitar riffs, and synth that made a Duran Duran song simply amazing.

"Why are there any guys in D.C. like him?" she wondered outloud.

"I don't know," I said. "I mean, how can there be TWO Simon LeBons in the world? They'd kill each other with fashion sense! Can you imagine?"

"Hahaha." She winked at me. "Not that I would mind of course."

It was really cool to be allowed to go to the studio, watching the Duran guys interact with each other, building a song from the ground up. Mere mortals would have killed to have the opportunity.

To think, they're working on the gems that will be the soundtrack of our lives. My life.

"Shadows are on your side, as soon as the lights go down...and in the darkest place you can find, you belong to the hands of the night..."

Soon enough though, the guys decided they needed a break. Nick mentioned that they were going to have a barbeque at the countryside ranch, in my honor! I was so surprised that I gave them all a hug. John looked disappointed, saying that he had to go buy replacement bass strings.

"Aw John, do you have to buy them tonight?" Roger said. "It's time to party hardy!" He put his beloved sticks down, looking miffed at his bandmate.

"Yeah, Nile says I should get them tonight and tune the ol' Fender," John said. I knew that Nile Rodgers, their producer for the new album, played in the legendary band Chic in the '70s. "Grace, I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to miss the dinner."

I smiled, trying to pretend that it didn't matter. "It's okay, John. Besides, I'm here to support you guys with the new album work, not impede matters of the musical kind."

"I'll make it up to you, somehow, Grace," he said quickly, giving me a sideways hug. Then he left wtih one of the chauffeurs and headed to the music store.

I wonder what that means...

We headed back to their house for an amazing barbeque - I was cracking up because we were actually having "shrimp on the barbie," and all the normal grill stuff, steaks and ribs, everything under the sun. It was delicious, and we all settled in front of a big bonfire of sorts. We tried to make smores (or at least roasted marshmallows - I love marshmallows) and me and the guys caught up on things - Roger talked animatedly about his girlfriend of just about forever, Giovanna; Andy showed me pics of his wedding and new wife Tracey; Nick told me more about his new girlfriend Julie-Anne - who he called "Jewels" rather fondly. I could tell immediately that Nick was serious about this girl, and I sincerely hoped all would go well between the two of them. Nick was surprised that I knew of Janine, John's on and off again girlfriend, whom I had read about in a teenybopper magazine that Helena brought into work one day. I had also heard that Simon had gotten engaged to Claire Stansfield a short while ago....

I would have talked to Simon too but he was busy chatting up Helena. They were getting a little too cozy in my opinion. Then Nick got up abruptly, apologizing, saying he needed to make a couple phone calls so he went into the house.

Soon enough, it was getting cold, the sun had set much earlier, and I said that I was in no mood to freeze to death - since we still hadn't changed clothes since we had arrived. Nick was going to call us a cab, but Simon insisted on keeping us longer. Mostly though I think Simon was keen to hang with his new friend...humph.

"Helena," I said warningly. "Shouldn't you go back with me and Nick?" I was worried but Roger said that it was fine.

"Don't worry, Grace, I'll keep an eye...on both of them," Roger said. "And keep her out of trouble."

Helena gave me her best innocent doe eyes. "Oh please?" she whined. "I'll be good."

I raised an eyebrow. "That's what I'm worried about." I turned to Simon. "You and Mister Casanova."

I was too tired to argue any further. So me and Nick took a cab back, him dropping me off at the hotel/apartment building that the guys had rented rooms for us. "'night dear," Nick said jovially, kissing me gently on the cheek before setting off for his apartment.

I got the key for the room, and headed for the elevator. Then I walked down the corridor to find the room. 442....interesting...I bet the maid left the TV on. I heard music from coming inside, or so I thought. I unlocked the door and went in.

Hmmm. I know what men's cologne smells like and that is definitely men's cologne...

I saw a rolling fire burning in the fireplace.

What is wrong with this picture?