Author's Note: So… long awaited update time. Diva, this one is dedicated to you and your encouraging -read insistent nagging j/k- me to update.
Kira sifted through the paperwork on her desk and sighed. She was glad she had this week to prep before MyNDi records really started to get busy. She had been tapped by her college friend Robby, to be his A & R rep in the independent record label he started here in Florida. It had actually been a compromise job, since he had wanted to sign her, but she refused since she had an infant to take care of. Robby had told her since she wouldn't sign with him; he at least had to have her ear for talent and songwriting ability.
She looked out the window and sighed, it was a miserable, dreary, and raining. Reminds of me of my wedding day, she thought to herself as she rested her head on her hand and stared out into the drizzle.
"Kira," Hayley knocked on the dressing room door and slipped inside. She stopped and just stared at her. "Wow… you… umm… you look…" she trailed off.
"I look like a marshmallow!" Kira exclaimed sitting down on the open back chair.
"What happened to that dress you emailed me pictures of? The cream chiffon with the pale yellow trim along the bottom," Hayley walked over and put her hands on Kira's shoulder.
"Caleb said that you only get married once, so I should go all out," Kira replied with a sigh. "He said I look like a princess in this dress, his princess," she added looking at Hayley through the mirror.
Hayley's reflection smiled back at her. "You do…I mean you look like a princess… you just don't look like..."
"Me," Kira stood up, "I don't look like Kira Ford anymore," she turned around to face Hayley, "I'm not Kira Ford anymore, I'm the future Mrs. Caleb Sutton," she put a smile on her face, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Thanks Hayley," Kira fought the tears that were threatening. "Umm, did Dr. O talk to the guys?" She asked tentatively; slightly afraid of the answer, hoping for one answer, fearing the other.
Hayley bit her lip, "They still wouldn't come Kira, I'm sorry," she said softly. She saw Kira's face fall, "I'm sorry hon, they just need time to accept this. They'll come around, you'll see," she reassured Kira firmly.
Kira nodded and straightened up her back slightly, "I need to finish getting ready," she said taking a deep breath. "Thanks for coming back here Hayley, it means everything to me," she said honestly.
Hayley nodded and backed up to the door, "Kira, know that no matter what, Tommy and I will be there for you." She headed out the door and sighed once outside.
"K, you've got a Kimberly Scott here to see you, can I send her up?" The receptionist asked.
"Oh… yeah, send her up," Kira told her, then pulled out her mirror, to make sure she hadn't started crying again, like she did last time. Buck up, she thought to herself.
Kim knocked on Kira's office door and opened, "Wow, you have your own office and everything," she said with a warm smile. She noticed immediately that something was bothering her young friend, but didn't want to pry.
"Yeah, I need it, I don't want to bother anybody listening to crappy demo after crappy demo," Kira laughed softly. "So, what brings you by Kim?"
"Well, our friend Zack is coming into town for the weekend, he wants to hit some of the clubs, and Jase and I were wondering if you wanted to come with us," Kim said taking a seat in one of the comfy chairs in Kira's office.
Kira smiled, and she let out a soft laugh, "What a coincidence, my boss was just telling me I needed to get out more. He said he was going to take Talee for me Friday night and that come hell or high water I'd better go out and have some fun or he'd 'kick my ass'," she said making air quotes. "As if he could hurt a fly," she added with a chuckle.
Kim laughed heartily at that, "Well, you haven't gotten out of the house since you moved in, so I'm inclined to agree with him. Would you like to come out with us? Zack's always up for fun, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
Kira nodded, "I'd love to. I do miss going out, I haven't been out to a club since I started showing," she replied, "thanks for offering Kim."
"What are friends for," Kim replied as she looked at her watch, "Wow, I gotta jet; stop over once you get home. We'll gossip while Jason is at class." She headed for the door and winked, "Don't work to hard."
Kira laughed as Kim left the office, she was feeling ten times better now.
The weekend had finally arrived, and Kira didn't know what to do with herself. True to his word, Robby had picked up Talee, telling Kira she could come get her tomorrow morning. As he was Talee's godfather, she knew Talee was in good hands, but it still felt weird not having her around. She finally realized she had to do something or she was going to go out of her mind, so she brought her classic car out of the garage to give it a good washing. So caught up in washing her baby, she didn't even noticed the black SUV that pulled up in Jason and Kim's driveway.
Zack parked the Range Rover in Jason's driveway and hoped out, eager to see his friends. As he walked around the vehicle, his attention strayed to what was happening next door. As Kira leaned over the hood to wash it, he leaned against the side of his SUV and was content to just take in the sight before him.
Jason stuck his head out the front door, wondering what was taking Zack so long to get his things out of the back and smirked when he saw where Zack's attention wandered to. He walked up to Zack and tapped his shoulder, causing him to start, "What are you looking at, the car or the girl?" He whispered softly, amusement coloring his tone.
"You mean I have to pick one?" Zack remarked. He looked over at Jason and grinned, "How can I pick between a classic 69' GTO convertible, and that sexy ass?" He smacked Jason's arm, "Why didn't you tell me about her?"
"Because I know you," Jason replied smacking him back. "That's Kira, she moved in about a month ago. She's coming out with us tonight, if you don't mind," he added, thinking to himself, like Zack would ever mind a pretty girl accompanying him.
"You seriously thought I'd object?" Zack asked, echoing Jason's thoughts. "So you gonna introduce me to your neighbor?" He crossed his arms and looked at Jason expectantly.
"I haven't had a chance to warn her about you yet," Jason teased as he crossed over to Kira's driveway.
Kira had just finished drying off her car when she saw Jason approaching with an energetic looking black man. I wonder if that's the Zack that Kim was talking about, she thought as she tossed the last rag into her bucket. "Hey Jase," she said with a smile as she wiped at the damp strands of hair that were attempting to cling to her face.
Jason nodded, "Hey Kira," he responded with a smile. "I thought I'd come over and introduce you to our friend. This is…"
"Zachary Taylor, it is a pleasure to meet a beautiful woman such as yourself," Zack interrupted as he took her hand and kissed the back of it. He looked up at her and gave her a charming grin and winked.
Kira couldn't help it, she rolled her eyes and laughed, "I bet you say that to all the ladies," she teased as he let go of her hand.
Zack gasped and brought a hand to his heart, "Ouch…" he laughed whole-heartedly.
"Well, she figured you out alright," a voice came from behind them, causing Jase and Zack to spin around. Kim was standing there, hands on her hips. "Zachary Taylor, not even here five minutes and you're already charming the ladies. You haven't even given me a hug yet," she exclaimed in mock anger.
Zack ran over to her and picked her up, spinning her around a few times before hugging her tightly, "Hey lil' sis, why didn't you tell me about the hottie next door?" He whispered as he set her down.
Kim smacked his arm and narrowed her eyes at him, "Don't you get any ideas, I know how you operate mister," she threatened in a low voice. "You better be good this weekend."
"You are no fun," Zack pouted as he let her go. "So… when are we going party like the rock stars that we are?" he asked, doing a little freestyle dance in the front yard.
Kim sighed and shook her head, "Some things never change," she said with soft chuckle. "Zack, we all still need to get ready, you just got here," she reminded him.
"Great, with two girls that need to get all dolled up, it will be tomorrow before we get out to the clubs," Zack stage-whispered to Jason. He moved off to the side a bit, he had a feeling he was going to be running very shortly.
Kim gasped, "Kira! Did you hear that?" She exclaimed crossing her arms and glaring at Zack menacingly.
"Oooh he did not just say that," Kira narrowed her own eyes at Zack and began to move towards him.
Zack looked between Kim and Kira, "I… umm, yeah, bye!" He waved before taking off for Kim and Jason's, Kim and Kira hot on his heels "Jaaaaaaaaaaaaassssoooonnn!!!" He yelped seeing that the girls were right behind him.
"You are so on your own this time bro!" Jason called after him, heading towards the house nonchalantly. He chuckled when he heard Zack's high-pitched yelps, the girls must have caught him, he thought to himself as he headed inside, hoping to get a glimpse of the carnage.
Author's Note2: I busted through the blockage on this chapter and finally got it out, even if it did come out a little differently than I planned. The club scene didn't make it into the chapter. Now, I'm not planning to include their club experience, but if anybody would like to see what happened, I was thinking of writing a little one-shot about it, Sort of a 'deleted scene' from the story. What do you think? Thanks in advance if you decided to drop a review.