Hi there!
Thank you guys so much for reading my story! I'm really curious what you think so please, please comment, comments are greatly appreciated. :)
This chapter is dedicated to Rusher Driver. Love ya!
After an awesome day off, it was time to get back to work again. Unfortunately, Scott changed the filming s. chedule a little bit, so now on we're going to have to be on set at half past 7. Not a fan of the idea but it is what it is.
It was almost quarte. r past 6 and I was waiting for Kendall to pick me up and take me to the set. Normally I would've just gone as usual, on foot, but the guys told me not to. Yesterday, sitting next to them on the couch I thought this was ridiculous (of course I didn't voice it), but this morning wh. en I woke up and felt my ankle throbbing with pain I was like okay why not take a ride. Somehow Kendall was always the one to take me everywhere, but that's because our house is on his way and besides, he doesn't mind doing it.
I heard the doorbell ring, just once. I went out and closed the door behind me. Kendall was already sitting in his car. I got in and turned around to face him. He had a huge grin on his face as always.
"Morning, Big Brother." I said, earning myself not only a hug but a kiss on the top of my head.
"Morning, Baby Sis."
I put my seatbelt on, biting my lip. Kendall narrowed his eyes at me.
"You look worried. Why are you worried?"
He sees right through me.
"Do you think Scott will be angry?"
He peered at me in confusion before focusing on the road again.
"About?"
"My leg."
"Why would he?" Kendall asked.
"Well, because... I'm limping."
"It was an accident, Cee."
"Yeah but still."
We stopped at a red light and Kendall stopped the engine.
"Listen." He sighed, looking into my eyes. I expected him to say something really wise and memorable. "Even if he will, don't give a crap about it."
Oh well, that's wise too.
As usual, Kendall turned on the radio to find something good to sing. I don't know which channel he stops on, but it always plays something we both know. Our eyes lit up when we heard Billy Joe Armstrong starting to sing.
"Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new mania
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind f#ck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue."
After this song we were officially wide awake. A few minutes later we arrived on the set and went straight to our dressing rooms. Make-up, hair, clothes, 20 minutes to get everything ready. When I saw what I was going to wear today, I vowed to give Scott a big hug. The same purple shirt, sweater and black jeans I was wearing when filming the "Exploding Teacup" scene.
We went into the room we always go just to read the lines out loud and practice. I was the first one to arrive, so luckily no one saw me limping. I knew everyone's going to find out though. They found out sooner then I expected.
We sat down behind the desks and Scott stood in front of the board.
"Good morning, everyone!" He greeted. "First of all, before we'd start doing anything, Ciara, your dad sent you this envelope, he says it's important, come here for it please."
I gulped and stood up, peering at Kendall. He sent me an encouraging look. I took the first step, almost feeling my ankle scream at the movement. After three more steps, I couldn't go further without limping. Instead, I limped to Scott as fast as I could and then back to my seat with the envelope in my hands and sat down. When I looked up, everyone was staring at me.
"What was that?" Scott asked quietly. I bit my lip.
"It's no big deal." I answered, not looking up.
"You're limping." Scott stated, not so calm now.
"She's fine, Scott. " Kendall chimed in. Everyone including me turned around to face Kendall. I shot him a thankful look and he smiled at me lightly. "She fell yesterday, that's all. She'll be fine."
Scott gazed at me again, a small smile starting to form on his lips.
"You better be."
I sighed in relief and Kendall winked at me. I then looked down at the envelope. I quietly opened it. I found 50 dollars in it and a small note that said "Call me sometime, darling." That almost made me snort loudly. As for the money, well... I'm like Jaxon. I don't like my dad much but money's not a bad thing.
After we were done practicing and eating lunch, it was time to film. Kendall, Carlos, James Logan and Mrs. Majecowski stood opposite the door of our "Minnesota home" with the "officers" behind them and Challen stood in the doorway.
"Mom!" Kendall said happily. "Remember that time I saved you from choking? Wow! That was close! And I love you."
Challen shook her head, biting her lip.
"CUT!"
The crew clapped and hooted. That was actually the first scene that didn't need to be re-shooted.
"Okay, next scene!" Scott continued. "In the house, everyone!"
We all went in, the guys stopping in the doorway, the camera guys and the others in the "living room" and me and Challen also in the living room but out of the camera's view.
"Okay." Scott shouted. "Kendall, Carlos, James, Logan you're coming in first, very ashamed, heads dropped to your chests and stop in front of the wall. Then Challen and Ciara, you come in, altight?"
We all nodded.
"Camera, sound... everyone quiet... ACTION!"
"Dude!" Carlos said quietly, turning to Kendall. "How did you know those songs?"
"They play Boyquake on the 90's channel all day at work." Kendall answered then smiled. "And I made up the giant turd song."
"It was catchy." Logan said. Kendall smiled in pride.
"What happened?" Challen asked in that menacing "I'm-your-mother-so-don't-piss-me-off" voice only a mother can produce. "The truth, now!"
"Mrs. Majecowski helped us try to make James famous." Logan started.
"But this producer guy was super mean to everyone." Carlos continued.
"So I sang him the Giant Turd Song and there was a tiny fight, but NOBODY GOT HURT!" Kendall said, speaking the last three words as convincingly as he could, holding up his hands in defense.
"And now I'm really sad." James finished quietly.
"Okay!" Challen shrugged. "Who wants sandwiches?"
The guys smiled.
"Ooh me!" They cheered and almost left the "living room" when I stopped them.
"Whoa! Wait!" They all turned around, including Challen. "That's it? That's your interrogation? You didn't put the screws to 'em or slap 'em with the hard cheese!" What does that sentence even mean?!
They all just stared at me for a few seconds obtusely before Challen spoke up.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but you aren't allowed to watch FOX anymore!"
The guys chuckled at that, turning around. I sighed.
"Well can I at least hear the Giant Turd song?"
They turned to me and Kendall smiled, nodding.
"Oh you're such a turd, Oh yeah, a giant turd."He sang and the guys joined him."And you look like turd, and smell like a turd..."
"CUT, nobody moves!" Scott yelled. Everyone in the room froze. Scott ran to the door to tell Tanya and Stephen to get ready. Then he came back.
"Guys, continue singing and answer the door. ACTION!"
"Oh your such a turd oh yeah a giant turd and you look like a turd and...AHH!" They screamed as they opened the door, only to see Stephen and Tanya standing outside. They all looked at them in shock. James was the first to react.
"YES!" He yelled, hugging Stephen. "I knew you'd come back for me."
"I'm not here for you!" Stephen grimaced, pushing James away."I'm here for him!" He ointed at Kendall.
"What?!" James asked.
"What?!" Kendall, Carlos and James echoed.
"I'll make some tea!" Challen yelled from inside.
After re-shooting a few scenes and saying goodbye to the guys (I got a hug from each of them, yay) I went home. I could've stayed but I wasn't quite in the mood. That envelope from my dad made me furious as heck. I mean, I wasn't angry at him about the divorce. It didn't work out for my parents, that's alright, happens. But the fact that he didn't even try to stay a part of my life and now he's sending me this note... I'm used to him sending me money, but he never actually sent me anything too personal. Until this day.
He actually did a pretty good job until my 5th birthday. But after that, he started not to care about me too much. I mentioned lately I never thought about my life as a mess. But sometimes it hurts, you know? You see those cool dads all around you who adore their children and go to every school play and stuff... sometimes it makes me wonder why I don't have that. Besides the fact that me and my dad live far from each other.
I almost went into my room when the big piano standing in the living room caught my attention. Music always helped me calm down so I decided to play a little bit. Max and Katherine weren't home. I sat down, placing my hands on the keyboard. Ironically, the first song that popped into my mind was that stupid song my dad always used to sing to me when I was little. Okay, it's actually a really good song, but it reminds me of some things I wanna forget. Still, I couldn't get it out of my head. I started playing the first chords softly.
"And when I see the sign that points one way
The lot we used to pass by every day
Just walk away, Renee
You won't see me follow you back home" I sang, a single tear falling from the corner of my eye. Still, I continued.
"The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame
From deep inside the tears that I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain that I chose to hide"
I heard footsteps behind me and soon, Jaxon was standing behind the piano, joining me for the chorus.
"Just walk away, Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now, as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me, it cries
Just walk away, Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now, as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me, it cries
Your name and mine inside a heart upon a wall
Still finds a way to haunt me though they're so small
Just walk away, Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same"
Now my voice was shaking so bad I stopped singing.
"You're not to blame"
Jaxon finished, sitting down next to me and wrapping me in a hug. I buried my face in his shoulder as he squeezed me tight, not letting go. Finally, after a few minutes of hugging we let go of each other and he looked into my eyes.
"What did he do to you?" He asked. I stared at him in shock.
"Oh come on don't look at me like that." He smiled. "You always play that song when he makes you upset. Now, you wanna tell me what he did?"
I sighed, trying to find the right words but I eventually just gave him the envelope. He opened it.
"Fifty bucks." He said, putting it on the keyboard. Then he read the note.
"What the hell?!" Jaxon yelled, standing up. Normally I would've told him to watch his mouth but right now I felt the same way. Seeing I'm not too mad, ge sat back down beside me.
"What does he want?"
"Me to call him." I replied flatly.
"Why?" Jaxon asked. "Shouldn't he be the one calling you anyway?"
"I don't know." I sighed. "I know nothing by now."
He sighed too.
"Are you gonna call him?"
I pursed my lips together.
"Maybe."
"Why?!" He asked, sounding furious.
"Because." I said quietly, attempting to calm him. "You don't turn your back to your family, especially when they try to reach you."
Jaxon snorted.
"What family?"
I didn't say anything.
"He left you, Cee."
"They got divorced." I reminded him. He rolled his eyes.
"Does divorce mean you don't have to be around your kids anymore?"
Man, why does he have to be so much like me?
"Maybe that's what he's trying to change."
"Yeah. When the internet and magazines say you're going to film a TV Show and make a lot of money." He scoffed. "How surprising, he wants you now."
No matter how tempting it was to listen to Jaxon and ignore my dad I couldn't do it.
"I can't think like that."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't read minds." I replied, looking straight into his eyes. "Can you Jaxon? Can you?"
He lasted all of four seconds before he stared at the floor.
"No." He told me quietly.
"That's what I'm talking about. " I smiled, giving him a kiss on the forehead. We remained in silent for a bit.
"Cee?" He finally asked.
"Hmm?"
"I think I'm ready." Jaxon stated, voice stern. I raised an eyebrow.
"Ready for what?"
"I wanna meet my dad."
I felt tears coming to my eyes again as I smiled and I wrapped my arms around him. He returned the hug, pressing a soft kiss to my head. Then, we stood.
"Well." I said, squeezing his hand. "I think we both need to make a call tomorrow."
"I'm scared." He confessed.
"Don't be." I told him. "I gotcha. We'll go through this together."
Next chapter coming up Thursday or Friday!
~ It's what's underneath your skin, the beauty that shines within... ~