Chapter Three
I stared at my computer screen thoughtfully, before highlighting a large selection of text and deleting it with a flourish.
"There just isn't enough hours in the day," I muttered under my breath as I trailed my eyes over the shortened list of interviews I had arranged for McFly.
Even after a few days of thought, I still wasn't wild about the idea of working in such close proximity to the boys. But I had accepted the fact that the Gremlin would never let me change artists.
"And that ladies and gentlemen," I muttered to no one in particular, "is why she is called the Gremlin."
"You know, talking to yourself is one of the first signs of insanity," Lana grinned plopping down on the edge of my desk and crossing her legs.
I pointed at her, "Nothing is serious until you start having full blown conversations with yourself."
"Have you been reduced to that yet?"
I shook my head and took a sip of my coffee, "not yet. But ask me again this time next week."
"I'm sure with a nice cup of coffee and a pack of Tim-Tams you will be fine," Lana assured me.
"The story of my life," I remarked with a roll of my eyes. "So, have a look at this," I told her manoeuvring my computer screen so it was facing her direction.
Lana scanned it quickly, "when will you be sleeping?"
I grimaced, "really? This version has been cut down heaps since my original draft."
"You know," Lana began slowly…
"Don't say it," I interrupted.
"Don't say what?" Lana asked innocently.
"Whatever you were going to say," I answered gesturing to her with my coffee mug, 'I don't want to hear it."
Lana shrugged, "alright then. But anyways, the reason I came over is to see what you're doing tonight?"
"Oh god Lana," I moaned, "whatever you have planned I can't. I have so much to get done before Monday morning."
"Well I have tickets to…"
I gasped and covered my ears, "don't tell me. I don't want to know. Don't tempt me."
Lana grinned and hoped off my desk, "alright then. But you're missing out."
"Shut up you."
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Later on that night I found myself sprawled out on the floor in my apartment surrounded by take away Chinese, scraps of paper, my laptop and other random gizmos and gadgets. I was dressed for a night in… in my pyjamas, my hair pulled off my face into something that vaguely resembled a ponytail. In short, I looked like an absolute mess.
Knock, knock
I looked up from my laptop towards the door and rolled my eyes. I slowly got to my feet, my legs taking a while to un-cramp from the position they had been in for the past few hours.
Knock, knock
"Hang on," I yelled, stepped over a pile of clothes to reach the door. I flung it open, "I'm…" I trailed off.
On the other side of my door stood Danny.
I stared at him in shock.
His eyes met mine and he gazed at me for several long moments. "Hi," he mumbled.
It took me exactly 3.2 seconds to come to my senses. I slammed the door in his face.
I was breathing like I had just run a marathon, as I stood frozen for several moments staring at the white of my door and listening as Danny's footsteps faded away. When I managed to calm down I rubbed my eyes and groaned. Making up my mind, I crossed the room and grabbed my phone, quickly dialling Lana's number.
'Hey Lana," I greeted once she picked up, "where did you say you were going tonight? And will there be alcohol involved?"
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I drank a lot that night… I know it seems childish, but at the time, all I really wanted was a few stiff drinks and a big group of people to take my mind off… him. Luckily for me I got exactly what I wanted… a night out at a new club that had just opened, good company, good music, and lots of drinks.
I have some vague recollections about the night. I recall dancing and singing along to "I Will Survive" on the dance floor and drinking way too many cocktails… a tall blond guy trying to come onto me… and giggling and stumbling into the girl's bathroom with Lana, before ordering a round of shots.
By the time I was stumbling down the sidewalk towards my apartment several hours later, the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon.
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Crash!
I groaned and rolled over in bed, clutching my head with one hand and my stomach with the other.
Bang!
I pried my eyes open and glared at the door to my apartment. Someone was making a terrible racket out in the hallway. Meanwhile I was hung over and cranky due to lack of sleep. Not a good combination.
Crash!
I groaned and rolled over, burying my head underneath my pillow in attempt to block out the noise. My effort was fruitless… I could still hear the banging, and it was making my head pound like there was a marching band inside it.
Muttering under my breath I rolled out of bed and stumbled across my apartment towards the door. My head spun and my stomach churned and I was promising myself that I would never drink again as I opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
I almost ran straight into a white couch, and I looked around in drunken confusion at all the furniture littering the surrounding area. Couches, tables, a big fuzzy beanbag, a stack of books, a coffee table, a large stereo and plasma TV… the list went on. I decided right then and there that I was still ridiculously drunk, as my mind seemed to be very sluggish in processing why all the furniture was there.
But then, the question was answered for me when another crash echoed around the hallway and I noticed a chair was being dragged down the hallway into room 302.
What the fuck? Who in the hell decided to move all their junk into their apartment so early in the morning?
"Can you keep the noise down?" I bellowed, deciding immediately that a hangover wasn't good for my temper, "its early and I'm hung over and I'm plotting the death of my ex boyfriend and…" my voice died in my throat.
Because just at that moment a guy had emerged from behind the chair and with one glance I suddenly realised how very attractive he was, and I suddenly felt like an idiot for storming out of my room and yelling at him while adorned in my yellow duck pyjamas.
"I'm sorry," he apologised immediately, stepping out from behind the chair and closing the distance between us, "I didn't realise anyone would be sleeping at this time of day. I'm James, and you must be my new neighbour."
I looked at his eyes. They were a deep shade of brown that I could have easily got lost in. "Yeah. I'm Amber," I replied, reaching out and shaking his proffered hand, "sorry for yelling at you."
"That's alright. Big night?"
I nodded, "you could say that."
"Plotting the death of your ex?" he questioned, eyes twinkling with amusement.
I looked down bashfully; I hadn't meant to blurt that out. "It's a long story."
"Well maybe you can tell it to me sometime," James suggested before smiling and trailing his eyes over my attire. "Sorry to wake you. I'll try to be quieter."
"Thank you," I said gratefully while massaging my temples. Yawning I turned around and stumbled back into my room, before closing the door behind me.
So I guess I just met the new Mr 302. But somehow the title just didn't seem to fit him like it did for Danny.
As I stumbled back over to my bed, I caught sight of my appearance in the mirror. My hair resembled a bird's nest, my eyes were bloodshot, my shirt was inside out and I had eyeliner and mascara smudged all over my face.
I groaned and fell down onto my bed, burying into the covers. Why did I always happen to run into cute next-door neighbours when I looked like shit?
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Once my stomach stopped churning, and the room stopped spinning, I managed to stumble out of bed, make a coffee, have a shower, and grab my laptop before stumbling out onto my balcony. I was just settling down and booting up my laptop when my mobile phone rang.
I picked it up without looking a caller ID, "hello?"
"How are you feeling drunkie?"
I settled back into my seat and smiled. Trust Lana to be all cheery the day after a huge night out, "Well I feel fine, but I think my livers given up. It's going to pack up and leave any day now."
Lana laughed, "well. I have something that's going to make it feel much better?"
"Yeah?" I questioned, typing in my password to gain access to my computer, "What's that?"
"Well it's a bit of a secret, but what are you doing tonight?"
I groaned, "Lana, please don't tell me there's another social outing that will keep me from getting my work done. I have a stack of paperwork in front of me that's almost as tall as I am."
I could almost hear Lana pouting on the other end of the phone, "Aw come on Amber. This is really important, and if you promise to come then I promise to help you with all your work tomorrow. Please?"
"Is it really necessary that I be there?" I questioned as I picked up the file closest to me and began flipping through its contents, "I need to get through all this by Monday."
"You definitely have to be here," Lana insisted, "This is the biggest news of my life I'm giving tonight."
I paused flicking through my documents and frowned, "your not pregnant are you?"
Lana laughed, "no."
I sighed in defeat, "alright, but whatever is going on tonight better be worth it."
"It will be," Lana insisted.
"And if I lose my job…" I threatened.
"You wont lose your job," Lana told me, "I'll help you with all your work. We'll stay up all tomorrow night if we have to."
I smiled and resumed flipping, "alright then. When and where?"
"My house. Seven o'clock."
I pencilled it in on my day planner, which was already so full I had to squeeze it into the corner between Organise a copy of demo to be sent to radio and call mum before she thinks I've dropped off the planet. "Alright I'll be there."
"Do you promise?"
"Yes I promise. Do you need me to bring anything?"
"Just your lovely self."
"Alright. I'll see you at seven."
"Hey Amber?"
"Yeah?"
"Um, just warning you now… Danny will probably be here."
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To be continued...
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