"Sizzle..."
If there's a better sound than bacon cooking in a pan in the morning, I don't know it. It just sounds like a nice breakfast. Yeah, it's unhealthy and all, but it's so good! I grew up with having bacon every Sunday and can't imagine life without me introducing the tradition to my kids.
As weird as it sounds, I cannot wait to be a dad. Little kids are the best, and the older they get, I'll actually get to really know them. Yeah, we'll have our rough spots, but we'll work thru it and be happy.
I woke up earlier than I set my alarm, which surprised me. I was exhausted after the movie only to see Cat curled into my lap and sleeping soundly. I took her upstairs to the guest bedroom instead of waking her up to drive home because she might fall back asleep at the wheel…and I don't want that.
Anyway, here I am, cooking a nice breakfast and debating whether or not to bring it up to her in bed. I remember she said once that "only princesses has breakfast in bed", which always depressed me because she always had too little self-esteem.
(Flashback)
"Dude, do you like Cat again?" Colby asked.
"What?" I replied, surprised that he would ask.
"You have been hanging out with Cat a lot the last couple of weeks. Are you falling for her?"
"I don't think so…" I trail off, disturbed by his train of thought.
I'm just doing what is best for her.
Right?
"Ok…you just seem to be getting close to her again. Remember what happened last time. She broke you. Don't let her in again. It'll only end badly."
"You say that like it's bound to happen." I snapped angrily.
"It will if you keep going on like this." He said darkly.
"How about you worry about your own stuff ok?" I snapped back, almost at the point of storming off.
"Fine."
I cracked enough eggs for her and put them in the waiting pan.
Wait…Cat isn't up yet. I should probably go and get her up so I don't scare her when I come with her surprise.
I quietly, but quickly make my way up the stairs and knock on the door.
…
No response.
I crack open the door to see her dozing peacefully. Unlike me, I always end up in a wad of covers. She always seems to stay perfectly still and just sleep.
Holding back a smile, I grabbed her phone and set the alarm for one minute from now and dashed back downstairs.
Why wake her up myself, when she might smell the surprise on me, when her phone can do it for me and maintain the surprise.
I grabbed a gigantic tray and loaded it up with eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast and hash browns.
The girl loves her fiber, I'll give her that.
"Don't stop, make it pop, DJ blow my speakers up tonight, Imma fight…" sounds off upstairs, followed by soft footsteps for a moment, then the creak of the floorboards.
She doesn't want to get up. She shut the alarm off and went back to bed.
Then I remembered. We don't have Sikowitz's today. That's her only class on Monday. I have a test in Media management. Going to be easy, since it's all from the book, but I'd rather not go. There is no point in going to only one class.
I placed all the dishes on the tray and made my way upstairs to the closed bedroom door. I placed the tray on a small table and knocked on the door.
"Yeah?" Cat cried out.
"Delivery for a Caterina Valentine!" I called out, smiling.
"What?" She asked sleepily.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure, whatever…" She said, groaning at the end.
I opened the door and snatched the tray up and made my way to Cat, who was looking up with her eyes closed.
"Easy…it's still hot." I said quickly, causing her eyes to dart open and look down to my surprise for her.
She gasped, and then started crying. No sobs, just tears falling in waves.
"Cat…? Why are you crying?" I asked, completely mystified.
"I…I don't know…" She sniffed, grabbing the fork and knife, looking like she didn't believe her eyes.
"Surprise?" I said halfheartedly.
"Oh, right. Thank you Robbie. You didn't have to do this."
For whatever reason, I just wanted to get out of there. Go somewhere else. Anywhere else.
I'll go have breakfast at that restaurant that Andre loves. I forget the name.
La Comida.
That's it. I'll go there. Just get me out of here.
"No problem." I said quickly, moving to grab my jacket to throw over my t-shirt. I had jeans on, so no worries there. "I have to go run an errand before class, so I'll see you before the show?"
Her face fell slightly. But she kept on eating, so it couldn't have bugged her all that much.
"Yeah, I'll see you then Robbie." She said, taking a huge sip of her OJ.
I grabbed my backpack and was out the door in a flash.
That was a disaster. I made her cry. It was supposed to be a good thing. I was just being nice…
"Hello, welcome to La Comida, would you like Smoking or non-smoking?" An attractive blonde asked politely.
"Non-smoking please."
"Right this way…" She said happily, leading me to a sparsely populated area.
"Robbie!" Two people called out suddenly.
I turned to see my parents smiling and waving frantically.
"You know them?" She asked, giggling.
"Yeah…they're my parents." I smiled.
"I have a feeling you'll go sit with them?" She asked.
"I have a feeling you're right." I joked.
She handed me a menu and said "Drink?"
OJ.
Cat's face popped up and I held back a shudder.
"Coffee please."
"Ok, I'll be right out."
I turned back and sat next to my mom, who quickly hugged me.
"Robbie! I missed you so muchhh." She gushed, kissing me on the cheek.
"Missed you too mom. You don't mind if I sit here do you?"
"Of course not son, I'll move so you can sit on that side and I'll sit with your mother." Dad smiled happily, getting to his feet.
I also got to my feet and he quickly hugged me too.
"Nice to see you son."
"Thanks dad."
"So what's been going on stranger?" Mom asked once we all were settled in.
"Yeah, we were going to kidnap you after the play tonight. You never stop by to say hi!" Dad teased me.
"I know, I know. I'm bad about that." I said.
"No problem, we know you're busy." He replied kindly. "But what is going on?"
"Well…not much really. Just making A's at CTC and dealing with Cat's music people."
"Cat's music people?" Mom asked, sounding intrigued.
The waitress sat my coffee down, then gave my parents their own coffee and went away.
"Yeah, she wants to start on her own project and we've been negotiating with the record. You got another coffee?"
"No, we got here right before you did." He smiled.
"Now I think I got your orders." The waitress asked, surprising me. "But I didn't get yours." She said, looking to me.
I ordered…basically what I made Cat. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and hash browns.
"So I'm not holding you up?" I asked, surprised. "Don't you have work?"
"Everyone will understand if I took a little extra time to enjoy some time with my college son." Dad smiled and my mom rolled her eyes.
"So what do you think of the play?" Mom asked, sipping her coffee.
"What do you mean?"
"Like, who are you; plot…how it's turned out to this point, that kind of thing."
"Ok…well, um, it's basically the movie Troy and I play a prince who falls for a rivaling king's daughter."
"Smooth." Dad quipped. I rolled my eyes.
"Are any of your friends in it?" Mom asked.
"Yeah, Beck and Tori and everyone are in it. They play basically the whole main cast."
"Cat?" Dad inquired.
"She's the princess."
"Nice."
"Thanks dad." I said bluntly. I'm really trying to put her off for as long as possible.
Luckily, the arrival of our food helps me along. My silence is covered up by me eating and my parents dominate the conversation until all plates are clear.
Before I realize it, my mom is now crying.
"Please come home more often baby, we really miss you." She asked, hugging me tightly.
"I will, promise." I told her, hugging her back. Looking back on it, the whole Europe trip made her a bit clingier to me, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
"See you tonight son." Dad smiled and shook my hand.
"You're coming?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah, it's your triumphant debut." He smirked, then turned and climbed in the driver's seat.
The drive to CTC was entertaining since everyone wanted to play Tip the Semi. It seems like every other car cut semis off everywhere, forcing them to check up and slow traffic down. It got to the point that I said basically 'Speed limit be damned, I'm going 110 to avoid an accident'.
I did exactly that, passing the semi in front of me and I swear the car that took my place tipped the scales. He cut the driver off too late, hitting him, which made the semi flip and lose its load. I saw the whole scene unfold from my rearview mirror.
Thank god that wasn't me. I'd never get the bill for this thing paid off. I don't want you idiots messing up my sign of hard work.
The moment I saw the test, I knew I was in business. I read all the chapters, did the questions after each chapter and the post chapter test, and the test just seemed to be copied and pasted from those end of chapter tests. I had to prevent myself from laughing.
It has to be the easiest test so far this year. And fastest.
I climbed in the car again, and saw that I had 1 new message.
Hey Robbie. Thanks for letting me stay and making me breakfast. Your note was so sweet and nice. Hope your errand went ok! Can't wait for tonight! Xo-Cat
Pardon me while I vomit.
Today's supposed to be a good day! Now I wish I could call in sick for tonight's performance and go to sleep. As far away from Cat as possible.
Suddenly my phone starts going off. I glance at it to see IMG's phone number.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mr. Shapiro?" A female voice asked.
"This is he." I said formally.
My dad's rubbing off on me, that's how he answers the phone sometimes.
"Ok, this is IMG recording studio's calling to confirm the sound booth reservation for next week on Wednesday. Do you still want to do that?"
"Yes, do I need to make a payment?" I wondered. They've never called to confirm before.
"Actually yes sir, since it is Ms. Valentine's first session. This is the only one you will have to pay for."
Right…
"Ok, I should have my credit card number on file…" I trail off, heading off the highway and towards my house.
"Ok, just a moment…"
I heard feverish keystrokes in the background, then "Yep, we have all of your information right here. Thank you and have a nice day Mr. Shapiro."
I toss my phone into the back seat and wrap up the drive to my house. I have to shower before heading back to CTC for wardrobe and makeup.
The first thing I notice when I walk in is the note on pink notebook paper on the countertop. The second was how clean the kitchen looked. I keep it clean, don't get me wrong, but I'm pretty sure Cat did some cleaning.
No SUV means she's not here.
A suddenly flare of rage rises up and I want to do SOMETHING. I can't be doing this for…what is it? The 4th time?
I cannot fall for Caterina Valentine. I shouldn't have made her breakfast. That's why she cried. I did something she probably thought was sweet. Maybe that I like her again, and she doesn't like me.
Hence the tears.
I furiously snatch up her note and rip it in half, then quarters, then eighths.
I'm not doing it. I refuse to do it. I've come too far. I can't throw myself back into the blender of emotions.
I'm not doing it.
All my thoughts in the shower and the drive over were centered on one thing.
I can't do it. I have to prevent myself from falling for her. She is too much baggage. Too many bad memories. Memories she voluntarily ruined.
By choice.
I'm glad the makeup and wardrobe people did their jobs mostly in silence. I plowed thru my lines, ready to take my frustration out on this play.
It is going to be DOMINATED.
However, my anger dissipates the moment I step into the staging area. Things are back to how they should be. Sikowitz is darting around, making sure everything is perfect. Cat is hot on his heels like she always is, double checking the finest details on her performance. Beck is napping. Jade with her dartboard and scissors. Tori pacing around. Me trying to clear my head.
We're back baby.
Back on stage.
Problems and all, how it should be.
The first 2 or 3 scenes go absolutely flawlessly, and the toughest part is over. Next is Beck discovering Cat is a stowaway.
It's going well so far…
"She's the king DAUGHTER! He's going to think we kidnapped her!" Andre snapped at me. Cat, to my left, shrunk from Andre and closer to me as she was supposed to.
Then her shoe came off.
Makes sense, the shoes are tiny, even for her tiny feet.
But how do you incorporate it into a scene? This is NOT part of the scene.
"I came voluntarily! I do not like my father!" Cat snapped at Andre, waving her shoes in his face. Beck looked on, with a placid demeanor. Cat quickly put her shoe back on.
"It doesn't matter what you think of him girl, you are a mortal enemy by being in the Trojan royal family. Why would you be so STUPID to bring her?" Andre screeched.
Cat stepped in front of me.
Her ankle quickly gave way, and the shoe came off again.
"Because! We are in LOVE!" Cat yelled right back, clearly in pain and putting her shoe BACK on.
I have to hand it to her. She is making it work. As I said, this is not part of the scene.
"IN LOVE?" Beck said, hopping off his barrel and striding towards us.
"Yes, we are in love and plan to be married." I said proudly, grabbing Cat along the waist. She moved to me and the heel gave way this time, breaking with a loud "CRACK!"
She started down quickly, and I grabbed her roughly. I immediately wished I had grabbed somewhere else, since my hands ended up at the bottom of her bra.
Cat meanwhile seemed to be stepping…up?
"Oh, just great…never mind that we just completed a peace treaty, and that two members of rivaling royal families are suddenly in love, but you just HAVE to be in looove." Andre said, rolling his eyes.
Then Cat got shorter again. I glanced down to see Cat had stepped out of both her shoes.
"I believe we can just keep sailing home and hope that the Trojans don't act on this." I deflected.
"Oh yeah, like that's going to work…" Beck quipped.
"Says the mighty Achilles. The great warrior, the most eligible bachelor. You wouldn't know love if it hit you in the face!" I shot at him.
He quickly yanked out his sword and I seized the opportunity while I did the same to kick Cat's shoes into the back of the stage.
(A/N: Thanks to Ariana for sharing that story…I forget where I saw the video. But she had the shoe thing happen on Broadway. And made it work.)
Luckily for Cat's feet, and my mind, the rest of the play went very well. I died perfectly and Beck paid his price.
For some reason, I love that.
Finally, the curtains closed and we all took our bows. The applause was thunderous, and we all went into the crowd for pictures.
"You did great!' Mom said, pulling me into a hug.
"You ok?" Dad asked Cat, who seemed to be limping.
"I hate heels." She grumbled. "Thanks for grabbing me." She added, looking to me.
"No prob." I said as someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I turned and saw 8 people standing in front of me.7 adults and one tiny young girl. She had blonde hair like her mother and was holding her hand.
"Hi!" I said happily, gazing down at the little girl.
"Easy Maddie." The man said, smiling.
"Hi! I'm Zoey. We just wanted to congratulate you guys on such an amazing performance.
"Nice to meet you Zoey. I'm Robbie." I smiled, extending my hand to her…husband? They both have rings on their ring fingers plus the girl…
"Chase."
"Logan." A familiar looking man smiled, shaking my hand.
"Logan Reese?" Cat piped up, peeking around me quickly then gasping and dashing towards him.
His wife didn't seem too happy that her husband was being hugged by Cat. She was pretty though. And also had a wedding ring on.
I scan the rest of their faces. Chase, who was talking to someone else.
"You are?" I said politely.
"Michael. Nice job man."
"Thank you." I smiled.
Then I saw Tori.
But Tori's behind me.
"Tori?" I said, unsure of myself.
The woman didn't move.
"Yeah?" Tori said behind me. I was still looking at the other woman curiously. The new woman looks a little younger, but EXACTLY the same.
"Whoa…" Tori said suddenly, seeing her look alike.
"Are you related?" Logan asked, noticing the similarities.
"No. Unless her last name is Vega." Tori said.
"My name's Lola. Lola Martinez." She smiled, shaking Tori's hand.
"The actress?" Tori asked hoarsely.
"Yep." Chase smiled.
"I'm such a huge fan!" Tori and Cat gushed at the same time.
This world is too small.
"You guys are like twins or something." Beck said to my left.
"I guess so." Zoey smiled.
"Good job by the way with the shoes." Lola said to cat, who was rubbing her ankle.
"Thank You…Ow." She said quietly.
"Was that planned?" Zoey asked.
"Absolutely not." I replied.
"That was some serious improvisation then." Chase smiled.
"Yeah…thank you." Cat said distractedly. It looked like her ankle was swelling and very sore.
"Let's get you to the ER." Jade stepped in, and Beck lifted her up and carried her outside.
"Too bad about her ankle." Logan's wife said.
"ROBBIE!" A young voice called out, tackling me from behind.
Lizzie.
"Hey!" I smiled, pulling her into a hug.
"You did great!" She smiled.
"Liz?" Zoey's little girl asked.
"Maddie?" She asked, turning around.
"Maddie! Why are you here?" Lizzie exclaimed, as the two girls hugged each other.
"This world is too small." Travis smiled, clapping my shoulder.
Chase stepped up and kissed Leyla's cheek. "Nice to see you guys. Why are you here though?"
"Robbie's family. How do you guys know each other?" Leyla smiled, then hugging me and kissing MY cheek.
"Just met them." Zoey smiled.
"Small world!" I joked.
Everyone laughed.
Not a bad way to end the night.
