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Day 3 - Part 10

-But we’re on the list! Cara said to the guard in front of her. She didn’t know if it was lucky that he wasn’t familiar to them or not.
-Do you have any idea how many teenage girl tries that same trick tonight? guard asked.
-Yes we do, Peach said. -About two hundred. But we are on the list. And I can tell you that Robert wouldn’t be pleased to know that you left us out.
-Robert?
-Mr. Youngman, you know, Pie smiled. -So could you please check that list?
-Oh sure. Any groupie can find his name out, guard said.
-Cara, you have Bob’s number? Peach asked innocently.
-Hold on, I’ll try to call him.
Cara took her phone and started to select a number. Guard started to panic.
-OK, OK. I’ll check that list. Hold on.
He stepped aside and girls smiled to each other. Cara felt relieved. Previous day had been hell. They had stayed in their room knowing that going out wouldn’t make any difference. They called to headquarters regularly to hear latest news. And more they heard, more awful it got. Word about Kevin’s act was spreading and reasons for that were guessed. Piece by piece they had got some of it together.
-But if he didn’t tell, who did? Peach had asked. -You said no one saw you.
-That’s what I thought.
-How else could Kristin know?
Cara glanced at Pie, not wanting to look suspicious.
-Trust me, I wouldn’t do that, she then said.
-I know.
Peach hugged her a little. She had to trust her.

Guard came back.
-Yes, you are on the list, he said to Cara.
-I told you! Come on girls, let’s go.
But guard stopped them.
-Just you, he said.
-What?
-Just Cara Castillo. One ticket. Here you go. Enjoy your evening.
Cara looked at her two friends with desperation.
-You go, Peach said. -It’s your ticket.
-I don’t want to go alone.
-Maybe you should, Pie added. -This is your chance. Don’t lose it.
Cara hesitated but only for a second.
-I promise I’ll tell you everything! she yelled already on her way in.
-We can watch it in TV! Peach hollered back. But they knew it wasn’t the same. Disappointed they turned back. After what happened to Ophelia they didn’t want to try anymore tricks.

-So I went in and enjoyed. If I had known what was going on with those two I wouldn’t have been so trustful.
We are eating desert. I don’t even know what it is but it’s sweet and kind of good. Anyhow her story is taking most of my intention.
-Let me get this straight. It was their last night in NY before going to Europe?
-Yeah.
-You didn’t have any money, right?
-Right.
-How were you supposed to follow them?
-That’s where problems started to occur.

Peach and Pie were sitting in their hotel room, counting money.
-We’ll never make it there.
-What about your bank account? Pie asked.
-Nah. I’ve promised myself I don’t depend on it on the road. It’s for my life after.
-Is there life after?
-I sure hope so.
They looked their pitiful pile of money.
-What are we going to do? Pie’s voice was husky. Peach looked at her.
-I guess it’s moment of truth.

-Concert was amazing, she says. -Though I don’t remember a lot of it. Now when I see clips of it, I wonder if I really were there. I have just some irrational memories.
-Like what? I ask my mouth full.
-Like seeing a tap dancer on stage. There other reasons for remembering her. Seeing an empty seat few rows down and expression on Howie’s face when his eyes glided over it. How Nick almost tripped when performing his solo when he got up from his chair. I know I remember it because that clip never aired. They show the audience while it took place on stage.
-So you met Greg after the concert. What is that man like anyway?
-Oh yeah, I promised to tell you.
-Yes you did.
She smiles contented, and I end up making a face.
-OK, she says.

Greg pulled his sweaty hair back to ponytail. You wouldn’t believe how hot it can get on stage even if you’re just playing the keyboards. He glanced himself from a mirror, wiping off some drops from his face. He missed his wife back in Toronto and his two kids.
Sure, they weren’t little anymore, Joe was 15 and Kathleen 12 but just in age where they start to change. While he used to bring gifts to Joe from the road just knowing what he wanted he now had to call to his wife and ask what band was pop. Or more likely, rock.
He walked back to the backstage, greeting his bandmate on his way.
-Did great, Dex! someone yelled. He’d earned his nickname after dexterity. Well, he had quick fingers, too bad that they didn’t get a good touch on anything these days. Playing piano was fun, sure, but making a woman to sing was another. Not that there wouldn’t have been chances to that while touring. But Greg was committed to his wife, had been for 23 years and would be until death them apart. And even after that, he thought.
-Any special guests for me yet? he asked from JK.
-Producers, singers, someone from Jive... he said.
-I said any special?
-Does name Cara Castillo say anything to you?
At once he saw her across the room.
-Yeah. Hey Cara! This way.

Cara turned and saw Greg waving at her. She decided to stay still and let Greg come to him. He didn’t want to miss her view to the boys and even if Greg was kind of skinny, he could make his way trough crowd whole lot easier than Cara. When she apologized as for getting forward, people turned to see air above her head, then turned back before realizing there was actually someone there. Cara hated it.

-Hey, Greg kissed her cheek. -Liked the concert?
-Yeah. I think it’s sets a whole new direction for boys.
From Greg’s wide smile she knew she’d said the right words. She couldn’t really tell anything like that herself, she didn’t know boys enough, didn’t realize what kind of turning point of their career she had just witnessed.
-I promised you the notes. They’re in my room.
-Oh, Cara said and glanced at boys. -Can you get them?
-No, you come with me.
He took her hand but let it go when she froze.
-It’s OK, he said. -There’s gonna be other people. uys are gonna leave soon. They’re going to party hard tonight.
-You’re not?
-Nah. I think I call home and go to bed. There are different ways to avoid jet lag you know. So want to come?
Cara nodded and followed Greg.

-He gave me pile of notes, she explains while handing money over to Pablo. -It was delicious.
-Thank you, dear, Pablo says in perfect English and kisses her on both cheeks.
-You know he didn’t tell me he speaks English so well until I’d worked here for three days? And you can guess how much I smeared right behind his back?
-No hard feelings, Pablo laughs. I just smile like and idiot while she silently giggles next to me.

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