Chapter 2

12/31/00 - New Year's Eve

7:39 AM - Bus to Hard Rock Café

Surprisingly quiet city... It's rush hour, where's all the traffic? Oh yeah, it's Sunday and a holiday (sort of). Baka desu. ^_^ Still haven't seen Mike-sama. We have the cow!

4:15 PM - Bus, downtown

Breakfast OK. Originally sat alone (Mike said it was because I had no friends), Maryn-tachi asked me to sit w/ them. Bought pin for collection. Aquarium - IMAX movie about Egypt. Mike kicked my seat when I sat in front of him, considered using me as a footrest, then moved. I went to sit w/ Anneke + Jay. Followed Mike after movie, 'til penguins (Mike-sama seemed to find them fascinating), bought smoothie. Spent rest of time looking for him. (Also bought soda, otter for Maura, choker for self.) Shopped w/ Kristin. Tower Records - lots of anime, insulted by Mike, spoke my mind, got told off, unleashed the Saionji quote. Found perfect earrings for tonight at Chino's Casual Clothing. Looked at Jackson's Brewery (mall) for necklace, found nothing. But Kristin found beads like those on the trees here for Caitlin. On way out, saw Virgin Megastore. Try to visit tomorrow. In 4s for whole performance. Since Jen Altrudo isn't here, I was in front of Mike-sama! Screwed up L + R during "Time Warp" dance. Jumped R, thought it was L, Mike called me an idiot. And I was. I insisted I had jumped L! Oh well, he turned L when we turned R to leave... Ha ha... But tonight is looking worse by the minute...

6:10 PM - Hotel, preparing for dance

Aa, atashi no kami-sama! I look GORGEOUS! Just watch, though, Mike is still going to call me ugly. Shikata ga nai...

1/1/01

12:56 AM - Hotel

Dios, my feet are killing me! I barely sat down once I was done eating. Kristin and I looked around Mardi Gras world, where the dance was. Anneke-tachi and I danced. We celebrated Eastern time's New Year briefly, the big celebration was, of course, Central time's New Year. Mike called me a stalker in front of a bunch of girls from another band. Around 10:30, I hatched a devious plan to get a kiss, even if I was the one doing the kissing, scheduled for the 1st celebration (Eastern time's New Year)... sneak up behind Mike-sama and kiss him on the cheek. At 11:00 Central time (12:00 Eastern), couldn't - his back was to a wall. 11:20 (approx.) - lost track of him, spent about 20 min. looking for him, got my purse and jacket, sat at a nearby table 'til about 10 sec. before midnight. Went for it. I was, like, a centimeter away when he noticed me, leaned away, and threatened to hit me w/ his camera... Damn. I was so close! Other than that, I had fun. I was so close to kissing Mike! Damn it, damn it, damn it!... At least I didn't suffer any physical injury other than the shoe-inflicted one... Nothing caused by Mike except for heartbreak, and that's nothing new...

7:00 AM - Bus to Planet Hollywood

Dios, I'm exhausted.

11:38 PM - Bus after rehearsal

Freezing, freezing, freezing! Can't feel my feet! Breakfast OK. My bus was supposed to eat upstairs, but Mr. Dills said I could eat downstairs w/ my friends. Walked back to buses w/ Fran, in front of Mike-sama. No windows in the stadium for Mike to throw my hat out of. ^_^ Hung out w/ Tom Adams a lot. Can see Mike from my pregame/1/2timespot.

4:19 PM - Hotel, post-shopping

Ate lunch w/ Fran-tachi. Got separated from them in a store. Went to Virgin Megastore. Bought Steps' 3rd British CD (import) - $30. Mom'll kill me. On way to food court, ran into Mike-tachi. Got on escalator after Mike-sama - he got off, said he'd rather go up the down one. Almost got run over by a car, but Clay, Aaron, + Edwin yelled at me to watch out.

5:01 PM - Still in room

I was looking for a soda machine, when who did I see but the Kendo Club, Saionji-sama included. Major surprise, I thought he'd be in his room, hiding from me again... Well, at the time (and now), I was listening to Buzz (the Steps CD), and it was on a song I was reading the lyrics to on the bus, that was perfect for me. So I'm trying to get a soda, the machine's not taking my bill, and I let them walk by. Then I follow, singing "Happy Go Lucky". I almost hadn't recognized Mike 'cause he was wearing a hat, but it wasn't the Hat of Yold. ^_^

11:01 PM - Hotel

Boat sucked. Crowded, cold, gross food, glad Kraus made us leave right after dinner. We had a party at the hotel instead. I was on my way to it when Jeff Filson warned Mike of my presence. I couldn't see Mike and wondered where he was until he responded... from the hot tub! I promptly went to put on my swimsuit. I got in the hot tub, Mike got out. Then Fran + Bill came. I hung out w/ them for a while, then went to the party, where Anneke + Jay definitely were, + I figured Mike was. He wasn't there, but he arrived soon. I danced for a while, then left a little after Mike. On to the arcade! Played 5 games of pinball, 1 of Cruisin' USA. Mike left, I couldn't find him until later I saw him... going to his room (2208). Chatted w/ Anneke + Jay on the balcony for about an hour, mainly reminiscing about middle + early high school. Got a prank call about 15 min. ago... Mike-tachi? Mike did see me go to my room to get $ bills to change for quarters...