Another Goo Story
By: Rebekah Parham
-25-
When Mental Boys had merged with Warner Brothers, Zack had become a partner in the company. I walked into Zack's office without be announced. He was on the phone. I walked over and jerked it out of his hand to threw it down on the receiver. "Kayla, what the hell, I was talking on that."
"Well, now your going to talk to me."
"What are you in such a tizzy about?"
"Oh, I don't know. Could it possible be the fact that you are trying to squander money from John and Robby after you know how hard they have worked," I was yelling and I didn't even realize it.
"What do you care? They are not your clients anymore," Zack said trying to concentrate on his computer screen.
"I care because they are my friends, and what you're doing to them is wrong"
"It's not wrong. We have put plenty of money into their careers and I think it's time they started paying it back."
"Paying it back! Zack, they have been paying you back for years. All they have done for the past six years is tour. They never had any time to themselves to relax."
Sighing he said, "Well, baby that's part of paying your dues. They are doing what every other band has to do?"
When he went to pick up the phone that started ringing I put my hand on it to stop him, "Don't pick up that phone. You are not going to dismiss me like a dog you don't have time for anymore. I want to talk about this."
Becoming angry himself, Zack said, "Kayla, I don't want to fight with you about this. I t doesn't matter what you say those boys are still going to have to pay."
"We'll see about that." I said heading for the door. "And you might as well stay at your place tonight," I threw over my shoulder leaving his office.
I took out the piece of paper that Robby had written down his address on. The cab stopped in front of a small apartment building. I went to the front desk where a young man was working, "Can I help you?" he asked.
"Yes, is Robby Takac in?"
"Just a moment," he said turning to pick up the phone. He turned back around and asked for my name.
"Kayla Jones"
he hung up and motioned toward the elevator, "Apartment 225"
"Thank you," I said entering the already open elevator. When the elevator opened I saw Robby waiting outside his door. "I hope I didn't come at a bad time, but I wanted to let you know what I found out."
Smiling as usual he said, "Kayla, you know that you will always be welcome in my home." We stepped inside and I noticed that it was a small yet comfortable apartment. I walked in the living room and saw Robby's bass sitting laying on the coach.
He hurried to pick it put explaining, "I was trying to write some stuff for our up coming album."
"Any luck?" I asked taking a seat beside him.
"Not really. I don't think my heart was into it," he said sadly.
"I talked to Zack. He isn't going to be very much help," I said watching Robby's expression. I never changed he continued to sit in thought for several minutes.
"I guess we are going to have to pay them," he said finally.
"Your not going to pay them one dime," I said sternly. "You guys have done nothing but work your asses off for piss ants like them for too many years. They think they can take advantage of you now because you have had some success, well they had better think again." I sat back down beside Robby and took his hand in mine, "We will fight this, Robby."
"You are so wonderful. I wish I wasn't the only one that saw that," he said referring to John.
"Well, your pretty special yourself," I told him with a smile.
"So tell me, what is it like to have your dreams become a reality?"
"Excuse me?"
"You know your company, DreamMaker. What was that like watching something you dreamed about come to life?"
Shocked that he actually knew I wanted to start my own company I asked, "I guess it's about like listening to thousands of fans sing a song you wrote. How did you know, anyway, that it was my dream to start my own company? I never told you."
Robby pulled his hands away and stood up walking toward the bedroom. When he came back out he had a magazine in his hand. Laying it down on the coffee table it was open to an article that was written about me and DreamMaker three years ago. I was at a loss for words. "I had completely forgotten about this article," I told him.
"We were in Europe when it came out. John went to the publisher of the magazine to get a back order copy as soon as I we returned."
"He did?" I asked still puzzled at why John would go to such lengths to read an article about me.
"Yeah, he did," he laughed. "From the first time I met you I knew you would do something in the music business. You just always seemed to have this passion about it."
"About like you and John and George did when I first met you." After Robby sat back down beside me, I turned to ask, "Robby, what happened with George, why did he leave?"
Taking a deep breath, he said, "I don't really know. After you left it seemed that John and George were always at each other's throat." He turned to look at me, "I guess when John didn't have you around to fight with, he decided to fight with George."
I looked down at my hands remembering all those stupid fights we had. Robby came over and knelt down in front of me, "Kayla, if that brought up some painful memories I'm sorry."
"No, it's all right." I said a tear falling down my cheek. "I have just pushed all those memories away for so long. You know that I never even told Reagan what happened that night."
Brushing the tear away Robby said, "John never told me either, but I think I can probably guess what happened."
Looking at him in surprise, "John never told you either?"
"No. He's not one to kiss and tell. I think he fell in love with you that first day in Artie's apartment."
Jerking away from him I stood up and began putting on my coat, "He didn't love me. I just drove him crazy."
Laughing Robby came up behind me and held the other side of my coat so I could slide my arm in, "That you did, Kayla, that you did."
-26-
I walked into my apartment to find Zack waiting for me. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Where the hell have you been?"
"I thought I told you not to bother coming here tonight."
"Answer my question, Kayla. Where have you been?"
Walking past him in to the bedroom I said, "I went to see Robby."
Standing in the door way, Zack watched as I changed from my pants suit into my flannel pajamas. "What for? Are you planning to help them?"
Not bothering to look at him I answered, "Do you even have to ask?"
"Kayla, you are my fianc�', what are people going to think if you are on the side of the opposing party?"
"Why should I give a damn about what those people think?"
"Because, those people are the reason that you are where you are today. Without them you wouldn't be anything."
My temper was beginning to flare, I turned on my heals, "What the hell does that mean?"
"Nothing, like I said before I don't want this to come between us," Zack said putting his arms around me from behind. "This is just business, it has nothing to do with you."
Wiggling around to face him, I said, "Zack, they are my friends and I care what happens to them."
Looking deeply into my eyes like he was searching for something, Zack said, "You were in love with one of them." It was said as a statement not a question. "That's why you always wanted no less than the best for them."
"I want the best for every one of my client."
"But this goes beyond business doesn't it?" He was beginning to freak me out. He continued to stare at my eyes. When I would try to look away he would turn my face to look at him. "It's John you are in love with, isn't it?"
"I think you should leave now, Zack"
"Leave, why should I leave. You are going to be my wife after all," he said laying down on the bed.
"If you don't leave, I will," I told him putting my hands on my hips.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said turning out the lamp.
"Fine," I said grabbing the first clothes that I could find. It was an old navy tee shirt and a pair of jeans. I went into the bathroom to change. When I came out Zack was still laying on the bed as he had been when I went in. I grabbed my purse and walked out the door.
I didn't know where I was going to go. I could always go to Reagan's place, but then I would have to tell her why Zack and I were fighting. I cringed at the thought. She already didn't like the idea of us being engaged. Before I knew it I was standing outside of Robby's apartment building. I walked in and there was no one behind the desk. I got on the already open elevator for the third time that day.
I knocked on Robby's door and looked down at my watch, it was 2:25 am. I heard him fumbling around in the dark trying to get to the door. He opened the door with, "What?"
I turned to leave, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have come so late."
"No, don't be silly. I'm sorry I greeted you the way I did. It's just that I don't get many visitors at 2:00am," he said, walking me back into his apartment. "Is something wrong?"
"Zack and I just had a fight, and I didn't want to stay with him tonight," I explained.
"Did he hurt you?" Robby asked worriedly.
"No, Zack isn't that kind of person," I said, sitting down on the coach and standing right back up. "I should go. I didn't mean to wake you up."
Putting a hand on my shoulder with just enough pressure to make me sit back down, He said, "Your not going anywhere. You are going to stay right here tonight."
"Are you sure it's ok?"
His usual smile returning to his face he said, "Would I lie to you?"
Robby had given me one of his shirts to sleep in and told me that I could sleep in his bed and he would take the couch. I tried to tell him that the coach would be fine for me since I was the one that came over unannounced, but being the gentleman that he is, he insisted I sleep in the bed.
It took me a minute to remember where I was when I woke up. I could hear voices in the kitchen and started walking towards them. "Robby are you talking to yourself in here?" I asked as I emerged from his bedroom, still wearing the shirt he had given me to sleep in. I froze as soon as I saw he wasn't alone.
-27-
John seemed to freeze too. His eyes that were filled with laughter quickly looked like they could have killed someone. He probably wished it was me they could have killed.
He hadn't changed much over the years. His hair was a little shorter and lighter. He still wore the same style, a pair of beat up jeans and a tight white long sleeved shirt. He reminded me of the first day we had met, only this time I couldn't think of anything clever to say to break the silence.
Robby walked around the bar and handed me a cup of coffee. "Kayla had a ruff night last night so I let her crash here," Robby explained.
"Hey man you don't owe us any explanations. What you and Kayla do is completely your business," John said testily.
"John it's not like that..." Robby said trying to justify the scene before everyone.
"Robby, it's all right. I just didn't know that you two had seen each other again," John said
"Well, we hadn't until yesterday. I went to her to ask if she could help us with our legal troubles," Robby explained further.
"Can she?" John said to Robby.
"Am I not in this room? Why don't you ask me yourself?" I said becoming angry that he wasn't even acknowledging me.
Turning to look at me John said, "Well? Can you help us?"
"I am going to try," I said looking toward the person in the room I didn't know. "Since it doesn't look like we are going to be introduced, I'm Kayla Jones" sticking my hand out for him to shake.
"Mike Malinin, it a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard a lot about you," he said shaking my hand.
Looking back to John and Robby, I said, "Well, if it has been from those two, don't believe a word of it." He gave me a shy smile to that statement. I turned to look back at Robby, "I had better get dressed."
I went into Robby's bedroom and shut the door. I put back on my tee shirt and jeans from last night and looked at myself in the mirror. I ran my fingers through my hair and walked back to where everyone was. Five years wondering what it would be like to see him again. Wondering how we would both react. But all the wondering in the world had seemed to prepare me. I wasn't ready for those blue eyes to look at me with such warmth and then turn to ice, just the way they had been the last time I saw him.
I took a deep breath and walked back to where everyone was, except that the only person there was John. He standing by the window looking out. He didn't turn but he knew that I had come into the room. I didn't know what to say to him, what I was suppose to do. I was fidgeting with my hands when he said, "Robby thought it would be best if we cleared the air between us. since you are going to be the one to help us."
"Ok," I managed to get out around the lump in my throat. "I was so glad that you guys have done so well."
"I don't think talking about business is what Robby had in mind when he left us hear" John said still staring out the window. You could have cut the tension in the room with a knife. "You want to take a walk? The ocean is only about a block from here"
"Sure," I said reaching for my jacket. We walked most of the way in silence making some resemblance of small talk. Most of our questions were yes or no answers. We finally got to the beach. It was still rather early in the year so there weren't a lot of people around. We walked on a little bit more before either of us said anything. Finally when I could bare the awkwardness anymore I said "One of us is going to have to start."
John stopped walking. He sat down on the sand, and looked out at the in coming waves. "I have thought about what it would be like if I saw you again. Let me tell you, none of my thought ever had us meeting in Robby's apartment with you half naked."
I sat down beside him. "I'm sorry about that. That wasn't the way I wanted us to meet again either. If I had known you were coming over I would never have asked to stay."
"I know," he whispered. We sat in silence for a while, both working up the courage to say what we were both thinking. John finally got up the nerve, "I never apologized to you for that night..."
"John, it's all right. We don't need to go back there."
"No, I need to tell you this."
"Ok," I said swallowing hard.
"For the past five years I've have lived with what I did to you that night..."
I cutting him off, "I had been antagonizing you for months. I knew how much you wanted... " I stopped.
"You," John finished the sentance for me. "I wanted you," he said, his eyes had caught mine and held them.
"John, I deserved whatever happened that night."
"You didn't deserve that, Kayla. No woman deserves that."
"John, you didn't rape me. I never told you to stop." Remembering how nice it had been until we both realize what we had done.
"But I shouldn't have treated you that way afterward. There hasn't been a day that has passed that I didn't want to tell you how sorry I was. How sorry I still am. That scene in the ally replays in my head everynight when I try to sleep, and I wonder how things would be now if I had only done things differently," he said looking over to me, his eyes no longer look like that could melt steel, "Kayla, Do you think we could...."
Knowing what he was about to say, I cut him off again. "John, we can't go back, but maybe we could be something we never were."
"What's that?" he asked.
"Friends"
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