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(cut to June 7 2003 - two weeks before
final exams)
"Hey Kirb," "Oh hey Zac, who let you in?" I asked Zac, dropping my pen down. I frowned and rubbed my finger where my pen had imbedded itself. "Spencer," "Oh, he's here? I thought everyone was out," ".....Kirby, have you been studying all night?" Zac said accusingly, eyeing the text books stacked up around me and the dark shadows under my eyes. "What! No way!" He walked around the bed and spotted the dinner plates from last night, empty coffee cups, breakfast plates and a blanket strewn across the floor under my feet. "You have! Kirby this is crazy. Pulling all-nighters isn't going to help you," "But it has, Zac! I'm thinking clearer now, you have no idea how easy it is to study at four in the morning, everything makes perfect sense!" Zac stared at me in disbelief, "Of course everything makes sense when you're tripping on no sleep," "Bah. I'm fine," I opened my Psychology book and began to read it over again. "Heard anything from Jesse?" Zac asked, on the bed behind me. "Called me this morning," "How is he?" "He thinks he's losing his mind," Zac chuckled, "The guy's a little slow, I knew that all along," I smiled, "All of a sudden he's really famous. I mean, its as much of a mystery to him as it is to me," "He's absolutely everywhere on the TV," Zac said, "MTV are really obsessed with him," "He asked me to go on tour with him." "WHAT!" I closed my book and turned around to look at Zac. "He wants to give Reilly and I a job as his assistants," "Are you going to take it?" "I think I might," "What about college? I thought you had your heart set on a Media course," "He wants you to come, too," Zac was silent. So was I. "I don't know, Kirby..." "It's only for five months. We can enroll for college and then defer for six months. It won't make any difference," "But what if..." "I know...We might not want to go back to college..." Zac rested his head in his hands, "It's a great opportunity, though," "It is." "And who better to work with than you and Reilly. I mean, traveling all over the world for a job..." "I know..." "God, this is going to be difficult," Zac rubbed his face and sighed. "Think about it...we have until June 22nd to decide..." - - - - - (cut to two days later: on the grass with Taylor) "You're pretty stressed out by the year 12 thing, aren't you," Taylor asked, staring up at the sky with his hands behind his head. "No...not any more...There's no use in it," "If it's any consolation, it's not as scary as you think it's going to be," "Really?" "Really," "That does help. Thanks Tay," "No worries," Taylor held my hand. "KIRBY!! THERE'S ANOTHER FAN ON THE FRONT LAWN. IT'S YOUR TURN!!" Reilly shrieked from the living room. "Can you believe I'm related to that?" I asked Taylor. He only chuckled. "Well I better get rid of them," I groaned and got up. "How are you going to do that?" Taylor asked, following me inside. "Well, the last 50 times I tried reasoning with them, but since that didn't work, I'll have to try something else." I opened the door to the garage and turned on the sprinklers full ball. Taylor and I raced to the living room to watch the girl wearing a skin tight Trick Question t-shirt get drenched. "Not bad!" Taylor said. "It'll probably create a bit of bad press...but hey who cares, it's fun," - - - - - (cut to the next day : Kirby sitting at the computer) MESSAGE RECEIVED From: [email protected] Kirby...It's Joel. You probably weren't
expecting to hear from me in an e-mail. Infact, I set up this account just to
write to you. Today was the day I was supposed to sign the contract that swore
my commitment to the involvement in the Off The Ledge Tour. I didn't sign it. I closed the window and sat back in my chair. The message hadn't left as much of an impact as I'm sure Joel had wished it would. I hadn't missed him at all since the day I left L.A, and I wondered how to respond without upsetting him. I scratched my chin and decided I may as well sound as if my heart has been broken all over again in the reply, only to avoid some kind of fight. From: [email protected] I can't say I'm really that surprised, Joel. I mean, I guess a relationship was too much to ask for. But, nonetheless, I'm not angry at you and I've forgiven you completely. What we had for that short time was really great and I'll cherish it forever...I'll always dream about the time we might have had together. Be safe, Kirby. MESSAGE SENT I chuckled triumphantly and rubbed my hands together. Just as I was saving my homework, a magnificent idea struck me. JESSE HAS NO BASS PLAYER! "Phone! I need the phone!!" I bolted down the stairs and stole the phone right out of Indie's hand before she had a chance to dial any numbers and instead dialed Jesse's cell phone. "JESSE!" "Kirby? What's the matter?" "Are you busy?" "I'm just at a photo shoot, but I'm on a ten minute break," "I just had a really good idea!" "This'll be stunning," "You need a new bass player for the tour, don't you?" "How did you know about that?" "Yes or no?" "Yes," "Hire Taylor!" "Huh?" "Taylor plays the bass and he's really really good," Silence. "Jesse?" "I dunno, Kirb," "Oh come on! I promise to come on tour with you if Taylor does," "Hmm...Now that you mention it, it's actually not a bad idea," "YAY!" "I'll have to ask the management," "Of course," "I've gotta get back on set, can I call you later tonight?" "Sure!" "See ya Kirby!" "Byeee," I punched the talk button and handed the phone back to Indie, who stood scowling at me in the hallway. - - - - (cut to two days later : making tea) "...If you're troubled, you just gotta let it go. If you're worried baby, you just gotta let it go..." I was dunking the tea bag in my cup and singing to myself when the door bell rang several times. For some reason it seemed louder than usual. I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Can SOMEONE get that?" I called out to anyone who would listen. No one responded. I scoffed again and left my tea on the counter to answer the door. Once I clicked the door open, someone slapped their hands on either side of my face and planted a great big kiss on my mouth. "Thank you thank you thank you!!! You're the BEST!!" Taylor. He's damn lucky I didn't scream 'rape'. "Huh?" "I'm going with you on the tour!!" He practically squealed and gathered me in a hug. "Oh my god! This is so cool," I said. "I know! I can finally quit my stupid Wal Mart job," He announced cheerfully. I brought him inside and began to fix him his own cup of tea. "I'm so excited, imagine all four of us going all over the world together," I shook my head in disbelief. The inevitable still had not completely registered. "Have your parents given you the all clear yet?" Taylor asked. "Not exactly..." Taylor grimaced. "I don't see why I should ask them. I mean, it's my life, and I'm finishing high school this month," I said, mentally counting the excuses. I planned to present these arguments to them at some point. "Don't worry Kirb, it'll all work out...Your parents are so supportive," Taylor slung an arm around me. "You're right," "What do you say we go out for a drink, just for something to do." "That sounds really good," I smiled broadly and went to change. - - - - - - (cut to the June 21 2003 - waiting to enter exam room) "Are you coming on tour?" I asked Zac, trying to battle the electric nerves in my stomach. I was feeling rather strange. My parent's had announced to Reilly and I that morning that they were fine with us going on tour. The excitement together with the utter terror of exams was a curious mix. "Yes I am," I gasped, desperately wanting to reach out and hug him, but somehow deeming it inappropriate. Instead I smiled and gave the thumb's up. Zac smiled back. "Right, you may now enter. Do not turn over your paper until you are instructed to. Please enter promptly and do not talk once you are inside." The teacher began to tick people off her list as they passed through the door way. "Are you scared?" I asked Zac. "Very," "Me too," "Good luck, Kirb," Zac latched onto my hand before I, too, went through the doorway. - - - - - - (cut to June 25 2003 - last day of exams) "Zac's so lucky, he's already finished," Reilly said. I looked up from studying my plane ticket to Seattle. "We've got one to go Rye, it's not that bad," Reilly crossed his arms. "Well. Still." "Can you believe we're basically adults now?" Reilly cracked a smile. "Oh shit, we may be adults but we're still gonna be late for the exam!" Reilly picked up his bag and bolted out the door, me close behind. - - - - - - (cut to three hours later: school's out forever) As soon as I left the classroom I ran up to Reilly and hugged him as tight as I could manage. He spun me around until I spotted Taylor and Zac leaning against the railing in the courtyard. I ran up to them and hugged them with just as much force. The happiness was so consuming that I had to kiss someone. Unfortunately, Taylor had to suffer. The four of us headed back to my car, our heads filled with freedom and awesome excitement. We were all leaving the state in a matter of days, so we all rushed home to begin packing and the much needed good byes. - - - - - (cut to June 27 2003) The slam of the car door caused me to jump and spring back to reality. I gazed out the window at my family lined up on the front lawn. India and Ezra waved solemnly, Mum and Dad held hands and Spencer balled his eyes out. The reality was I was leaving all of that behind. My childhood was coming to an abrupt end with only two days to say good bye to it. Reilly wrapped his arm around me and hugged me towards him, he kissed my temple, "Don't worry, Kirb. They won't forget about us," I wasn't planning on crying before Reilly said that. I stared at Spencer's little red face and forced back the tears that were threatening to tumble out at full speed. We all waved one last time as the car rolled away from our home. |