The next days were much the same sneaking off into closets and bathrooms, stealing moments. Making out in the back of his truck and under the bleachers. God we are some horny kids. Then the day finally came, The Oscar's, I had to go to school for a history test first period, then we were on a plane for LA. I got into class and breezed through my test, then lounged back thinking of the night's events and feeling all giddy. Cayden was behind me finishing his test as he looked up for a minute and shot me a wink.
God Cayden is going to look hot in his tux, I can't wait until he sees my dress, I found it in a little boutique in downtown SD. It is Lavender and low cut, the straps crossing in the back. I know I have been to award shows before but never with Cayden and his dad.
"Ms. Kane" The teacher called.
"Huh" I groaned, he snapped me out of my fantasy.
"You have a pass for the office" he said handing me the paper the freshman office aid gave him.
"See you tonight" I whisper grabbing my stuff and walking to the office. For some reason I was getting a sinking feeling in my stomach. Why didn't they wait for me to call like planned? Why are they here when I drove?
I walk into the office and the receptionist tells me to go to the principals office. I open the door and Clemmons gives me a sympathetic glance. Erika turns in her seat, tears streaming down her face. Oh my god! My breath is getting heavier while Clemmons says the words I have been dreading. "Your brother is at an emergency hospital in San Diego…" I droned him out after that. Although maybe I should have kept listening my legs had other plans. Before I began to focus again I was running full speed down the hallways. I burst through the doors and out into the parking lot, I fumble with the keys and drop them I try to pick them up but my hand is shaking so bad I cant grip them.
Someone bends down and grabs them opens the drivers side and looks at me. "Cayden its Kevin he is hurt" are the only things I can say, they are the only things I know at this point. He gets into the drivers side without another word as I run over to the other side and jump in. We are speeding toward San Diego and the silence is starting to get to me. I turn on the radio and the upbeat song fills the car, it is the ending. The announcer comes on, "Huge news, a school shooting occurred today at a local all boys prep school, two boys came in and shot 5 students killing 2 and leaving the others in critical condition. The shooters were going after those students who were rumored to be Gay."
"What" I scream to the radio. "Those fuckers shot my brother because of a fucking rumor" I can feel my head throbbing, how could this happen. We get to the hospital and before the car comes to a stop I jump out and inside. I run to the nurses station "I need to see Kevin Kane" I say frantically.
"are you family?" she asks snotily.
"I am his sister" I yell and she gives up.
"Room 213" she says agitated by my outburst.
I run down the hall and see my parents outside the room, my mother is in my dads arms and he is rubbing relaxing circles along her back.
"How is he" I choke out.
"He is going to be fine, it clipped his shoulder and he lost some blood but he is going to make it" my dad says to both me and my mom trying to get us to calm down. I can see in his eyes that he is just as terrified.
"Can I see him" I ask.
"Yeah we already have, I just wanted your mom to calm down a little, I don't want to make him worry" he said rocking my mom.
I open the door and knock while it swings open, Kevin is lying in the bed his arms hooked up to machines and bags. He looks so weak and small, his skin pale. I walk up and sit on the chair next to the bed. "God what people will do for their parents attention" I joke.
He looks over and smiles, "Yeah I heard girls think scars are hot" he grinned.
"Well just don't tell them you got it when people thought you were gay and I think you will be able to bag a couple babes." I can see his eyes flash with a memory and I try hard not to worry him.
"So I heard your going to be alright" I say with a smile.
"Yep the doc stitched me up I should be out in a couple days." He said looking around the room, it terrified him to think that he was going to have to stay there.
"Well move over and make room for you new bunk mate" I said sliding on the bed next to him.
"No, no no, I am not having you miss the awards show because of me" he said.
"Well you wont have to worry, I wont have to miss it because I will be watching it with you" I said flipping on the TV and surfing through the channels. "Plus if someone doesn't stay with you then she wont go and she is the one they are awarding, Cayden and I will go to the next one, I mean there is always the Emmy's for Victoria Barns" I said with a laugh and finally ending on Friends. We watch for a bit when Cayden comes in, his hands full of junk food. "It looks like someone has raided the vending machine." I joke.
"You cant watch the Oscar's without some munchies" he says sitting in the chair next to the bed.
"Naw man not you too, I really don't care if your hear I want you to go" he said distressed.
"Nope not going to happen" I said looking back at the screen.
"Go!" he yelled.
"Nope"
"Emilia Go I want you to, plus dad will be here and I will bug him with all the stuff I would bug you with" he said with a smile.
"Are you sure" I ask.
"Yes"
"Fine but I am bringing you back the best souvenior I can find"
"I wouldn't expect anything less" he chuckled.
Cayden grabbed my hand and we walked out and to the truck, we drove to the house and grabbed our bags meeting my mom and his dad at the airport. We got to the hotel in LA and automatically had a posse of hair and makeup artists go to town. Two hours and 3 gallons of hairspray later we walked out to the limo and waited our turn to get on the red carpet.
As soon as the door opened the flashes began, the spots before my eyes eventually faded and I looked around at all the reporters and cameras. Cayden took my hand as we strutted the carpet behind our parents stepping back when the cameramen only wanted a picture of them. People knew who we were and called out our names getting us to turn for the camera, I looked back as a reporter called me over.
"Hi Susan Keene MTV" she said.
"Hello" I said with a giggle, I am on MTV.
"So how do you feel about your mothers accomplishments?" she asked.
"I am so proud of my mother, she has worked her entire life at doing something she loves and I think it shows in her work" I said already rehearsing every answer to the questions I thought they would throw.
"Now is it true that your brother was one of the victims of the shooting" okay maybe not all the questions.
"Yes, but he is doing great, it was a minor injury. We had planned to stay but he wouldn't have it" I said into the camera.
"Is it true that he is gay" she asked.
"No, that was gossip that the shooters tried to use as justification for their attack" I said getting a little pissed. I guess Cayden could see me tensing up so he came and grabbed my arm pulling me along. "Thank you" I whispered. He just squeezed my hand and smiled. I took some pictures with Logan, and my mom and some of all four of us, until we were finally through the line of fire and into the grand autotorium.
"It was amazing, people were chatting all over as we found our seats, I was sitting next to Coco Arquette who was there with her dad and mom. It seems the higher the star the more people they can bring. We exchange greetings and take our seats. I pull out my cell and dial Kevin. "Kev. Man did you see us?"
"No I think there is a delay" he said watching the TV In his room with my dad. "There you are, this is so cool" he said.
"They are playing your interview" he said. "Damn straight I made you go, and hell no I am not gay"
I had to laugh at that last part while an Usher came by and told me to turn off my cell phone that it would be starting soon. "Love you Kevin bye"
The show progressed and it was amazing watching it from the 5th row, we were so close to the stage. My moms category was up and they named off each nominee I gave my mom a smile when they said her name. Then they announced her as the winner and she was greeted by a round of applause.
"O thank you so much, this really is amazing. I just want to thank my family for always helping me, my daughter Lilly who helped me realize what I wanted to do with my life, my son Kevin, who is the strongest and bravest person I know, my daughter Emilia for being here with me now" the light showed down on me and I was on the jumbo screen behind her, as it did Cayden dipped in a kissed me, sweet and long. "My husband Duncan whom has been my one true love, and my friends, including my partner in crime Logan Echolls and his son Cayden. And last I would like to thank the fans without you there are no movies." She bowed her head and moved across the stage. Her light blue gown flowing and beautiful.
Logan won his as well, "Thank you for this honor, I want to thank my wife Veronica she is my other half and I don't know what or where I would be without her. My daughters Whitney and Alexis who inspired me to get into Disney and the world of voices. My son Cayden and his girlfriend Emilia for reminding me how precious the youth is and making me strive to keep my inner child. And my Best friends Duncan and Rachel." Before he could finish the music started and he was told to get off stage.
After the show the reporters were back and with a whole new set of questions. How does it feel? And "Are you and Cayden Echolls really a couple" that's when I knew this was all going to be gossip in the next million magazines.
The night was perfect while we went back to the hotel and changed. Logan and my mom went out to dinner while Cayden and I stayed back we watched movies and got room service. I called Kevin and he wasn't in his room, I called my dad and he was frantic,
"What happened?" I asked.
"Kevin had some internal bleeding he started having seizures, he is in the operating room" he said.
"We are on our way" I called my mom and Logan and we jetted back to San Diego. Running into the hospital I ran up to my dad who was sitting in the chair a grim look on his face.