*AN: Hello again! Sorry this took a while, but hey, I was uninspired for a while. Anyway, for those of you who haven't read the prequel to this story ("Together Again"), you won't really get this. So I suggest you go read that story before attempting to read this chapter. For all of you who have, this is a little interlude to show you guys what antics Hope and Aaron are up to now. I was originally going to make this chapter longer, but I figured I need more interludes throughout the story, right? So this is all for now. Hope you like. Chapter 4 of "One Light, One Hope" should be out in another week, maybe more, 'cause I'm real busy with senior stuff and choir stuff. (I'm going to Disneyland a week from today! Hurrah!) So yeah. I love you guys for reviewing, but be patient with me! (Like I should talk. I check my favorite stories page like 5 times a day. LOL.) Okay, I'll shush now. Tell me what you think of the little interlude!*
Disclaimer: Do I have to repeat myself? *crickets sounding* Good. Now leave me alone.
One Light, One Hope
Interlude One: Starting a New Year
Hope Takaishi waited in anticipation in a trailer set up for her, hidden behind one of the many buildings near Times Square. She was performing tonight, and this was her first major performance. She sat, wringing her hands in nervousness, when there was a knock on the door that made her jump. She went and answered the door.
"Hey… can I come in?" a male voice asked.
Hope looked at the guy who was standing at her "door." He was tall, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, and a million-dollar smile. Hope could feel her knees begin to fail her, and she said, "Yeah, yeah," before she knew what she was doing. The guy came in and sat in a chair across from Hope. "So, what's your name?" he asked. "I'm sorry about barging in like that, but I needed to find some calm in the storm, if you know what I mean."
Hope smiled at the guy. "It's okay, really. I totally understand. By the way, my name is Hope Takaishi."
"I'm Kevin Nonaka (no relation to Rika, just borrowing her last name). My band and I are performing tonight, and it's our first real performance. We just got signed a few days ago."
"Really? So did I. My mom, actually, got me signed. Long story. She didn't know it was me until… well, it was kind of like a Parent Trap thing, if you know what I mean."
"I think I know what you're talking about," Kevin said slowly. "So, how old are you?"
"I'm sixteen."
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Really. You don't look sixteen. You look older."
"Thanks." Hope tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear and smiled again. "So, who's in your band?"
"These three guys—Steve, Justin, and Ray—and me. They all knew each other and I knew Ray, so yeah, we decided we were gonna form a band. I think Ray had some connection to the label… his aunt or something."
"What's Ray's last name?" Hope queried. "I think I know him."
"His last name's Ishida. Raymond Ishida."
"That's my cousin!" Hope burst out. Kevin laughed. "Really?"
"Yeah! I didn't know he was starting a band, and that he was here in New York! Why didn't he come visit my brother, my mom, and me?"
"Well, I can beat him up for you if you want," Kevin offered. Hope laughed. "It's cool. As long as he comes to visit us soon, it's all good."
There came another knock on the door and Hope went to get it, hoping that it wasn't the producer. She was getting some really bad stage fright, and she was happy that Kevin was there to keep her mind off of things.
"Hey, is there a Kevin in here?" a voice asked, then his face came into view. "Ray! How come you haven't come visit me yet?"
"I am now, I guess," he answered. "Hey, Hope. So everything worked out for you and the label, huh?"
Hope nodded happily. "Yeah. But right now, I'm really nervous."
"Aww, come here," Ray said, as he walked into the trailer and gave his little cousin a hug. "You're going to do awesome. I just know it."
"Thanks, Ray-Ray," Hope said into his shirt.
"Ray-Ray, huh? That's a new one," Ray commented. Hope smirked at him. "You know, I do go before you guys, so I can introduce you on national television as Ray-Ray, if you want."
"Hope!" He swatted at her and she scampered and hid behind Kevin. She bobbed her head up and stuck her tongue at him before she hid again. Ray shook her head. "She's a little girl at heart," he explained to Kevin. "So what were you doing in here?"
"I just needed to get away, and I figured this would be a good place. Your cousin is really cool. I like her."
"Who doesn't?" Just then, a gasp was heard. "You guys, you need to get out of here now. I have to change," Hope told them, catching a glimpse of the clock that sat on the "dresser" area of the trailer, as she got out of her hiding spot behind Kevin and started sifting through the dozen dresses someone had left there for her to choose from.
"Oh. Okay. But we'll see you later, right, Hope?" Kevin asked.
"Definitely." She flashed a smile in their direction.
Elsewhere…
"Mr. Takaishi, hurry! Hope's gonna be on any minute!"
Kendall Motomiya was waiting in anticipation for her boyfriend's sister, her best friend, to appear live on national television. It was a bit awkward to be spending New Year's alone with her boyfriend's and best friend's dad, but he was the only person she knew here. And he was a good person, too. Kendall was grateful that she was able to stay here. She didn't want to imagine a cold, lonely holiday.
"Did I miss anything?" T.K. Takaishi was rushing into the room, with two glasses—one was filled with apple cider, the other with apple juice, for Kendall. (It wasn't that T.K. thought her to be childish—it was that Kendall really didn't like apple cider.) "Here you go," T.K. offered, handing Kendall her glass.
"Thanks," she said, taking a sip. T.K. sat next to her on the couch and they glanced at the TV, but there were still commercials on. Kendall sighed. "When is she gonna be on?" Kendall whined. "Stupid commercials."
"I know. They seem to only get longer and longer these days," T.K. commented. "But they also get to be very funny, too."
"Yeah." One more commercial came on—one of those funny ones T.K. was talking about—and then the coverage from Times Square came back on.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen," a voice boomed, "please welcome singer Hope Takaishi, singing her newest single, 'Before Your Love.'"
-Live in Times Square-
Cheers erupted from the huge crowd as Hope finished, taking a modest bow in her one-shouldered, sequined, sky-blue gown. "Thanks so much!" she yelled to the crowd. "And now, I'd like to introduce my labelmates, the group Formerly Known as the Digidestined! Give it up!"
The crowd cheered as the four guys took their places onstage and Hope graciously stepped aside. She didn't leave the site, though. She wanted to see these guys in action.
Later…
"So, do you have any New Year's resolutions?" Kevin queried, as Hope took a sip of her drink. Stratus Records was having a huge New Year's bash and everyone associated with the label was in attendance, except for Kari. She wasn't feeling too well and therefore was home, sleeping through the start of the new year.
"I don't know. Maybe to get closer to my mom and my brother. I mean I've only really known them for about half a year now."
"Really."
"Yeah. My parents divorced when I was four, and my dad and I lived—still do—near Los Angeles, while my mom and my brother lived here. I didn't even know about them. But I met my brother Aaron at camp last summer and we hatched a plan to get them back together," Hope explained.
"Wow, that's like a Parent Trap kind of thing," Kevin commented. "That's cool though. So, are you here visiting your mom and brother?"
"No… not really. I'm here 'cause I had to do this. I'm going back to L.A. on Saturday, and when my brother finishes up the winter quarter, he's going to go back, too. Then we'll wait for Mom, and we'll be planning the wedding."
"Whose wedding?"
"My parents. Again."
"Wow. That's so… awesome. Different, but awesome."
"Why, thank you, Kevin," Hope said, smiling. Right about then, one of Hope's favorite songs came on and she gasped. "Hey, you wanna go dance with me?"
"Sure! This is an awesome song," Kevin commented, as the two of them got their groove on.
(Cue O-Town's "Been Around the World" – it's a cute, fun song to dance to! =D)
Even later…
"Hope! Hope, come on, we have to go now," Ray informed her, shaking her gently.
"But I don't wanna go…" she said, slowly, slurring her words. Ray raised an eyebrow. "Hope, what have you been drinking here?"
"Lots of bubbly… bubbly little things, pretty, sparkling in the water," Hope spouted. Ray sighed. "Oh, Lord, she's drunk. Kevin, do you have anything to do with this?"
"Look at the pretty little bubbles!" was Kevin's not so helpful response. Ray sighed again. This was going to be an extremely long night.
"HOW COULD YOU, RAYMOND THOMAS ISHIDA?????"
Ray closed his eyes, anticipating the blow. But no blow came. Slowly, he peeked one eye open to see Aaron Kamiya-Takaishi glaring at him. "I'm sorry! I didn't know she was drinking champagne! The party was too big, and she kept wandering off!"
Aaron looked at his little sister, who was stumbling around in the apartment. "Hello, Aaron. Did you enjoy your Yew Near?" she slurred.
"Come on, Hope, we're going to sleep now."
"But it's so early! See, the sun is out!" She pointed to the hall light, which was buzzing very annoyingly.
"No, Hope, that's the light. Now come on, we're going now. Say thank you to Ray," he instructed.
"Bye bye, Ray-Ray!" Hope waved. "See you another day!" Thinking this was the wittiest thing in the world, Hope burst into a fit of giggles.
"Ray, don't think I'm going to forget about this," Aaron growled before he shut the door on his cousin.
"Happy New Year to you, too," Ray said to the door.
I tried to make Hope's drunkenness as realistic as possible, but I've never been drunk and only really been around a "drunk" person once (long story), so I wouldn't know. =D Anyways, review! They make me happy! =D