The Ruins of Our Lives Chapter 15

Randy's POV

Who should I call first, Lauren or Wilson?

I guess I'll go with Lauren. (Since she is my girlfriend, albeit my long distance girlfriend).

I pick the phone up and dial the numbers for Lauren's home phone number. (She has her own line). But instead of hearing Lauren's voice, I hear an automated message playing. I hang the phone up, and pick it up again, and dial the numbers again, this time remembering the freaking area code.

'Hello' Lauren answers.

'Hi' I say, holding the phone away from my ears so as to avoid being deafened by the eruption of glee and joy on the other end of the line.

'Randy, how are you?' Lauren asks.

'Actually, I'm doing really good' I say, with the smile on my face quite obvious in my voice.

'Really? That's good. So I take it the new job is going well?' she asks, opening up precisely the door I wanted her to.

'Well, I have a new job. I'm going to be on a TV show with Jonathan Taylor Thomas next fall!' I explain.

'How did you get on TV?' Lauren asks, sounding a little unconvinced.

'Well, remember the last time we talked and I mentioned going to that comedy club?' I ask.

'Yeah...' she says, leading me on.

'Well, after I did my set, Jonathan Taylor Thomas came backstage and invited me to come to the auditions for this TV show' I tell her.

'Well, I'll definitely be watching it. In private, of course' Lauren says.

'But, enough about me, what's been going on with you?' I ask.

'Honestly? Not a whole lot. The biggest event to happen to me in the past week and a half is a snow day yesterday' she says.

'Oh yeah, snow...I think I remember that stuff. White and cold and fluffy, right?' I joke.

'Yeah, I'm sure you really did forget, Mr. California' she laughs.

'But seriously, I wish I could be with you out there. Especially now when there's literally fifteen inches of snow' Lauren adds.

'Well maybe someday if the TV series gets picked up, you can come out here. We can both just leave Michigan behind for good' I say, just imagining Lauren and I out here in California. Maybe we could start things off out here by taking a well deserved vacation to Cabo San Lucas (unless she'd get pissed at me for suggesting going there).

'I'd like that. I've always wanted to go to two places out there in California. Santa Monica and Cabo San Lucas' she says. My face lights up to hear that.

'I'd like to be the one to take you there' I say.

'But listen, Lauren, don' tell anyone about me being on TV. God only knows how pissed off mom would be if she knew where I was and what I was doing' I warn her.

'Randy, I really don't plan on sharing any of that information with anybody short of my eighty eight year old, almost deaf grandfather' Lauren says.

'Well, Randy, I have to go. My mom just got home and she doesn't look too happy about something' she says.

'Bye' I mean to say. Instead 'I love you' pops out.

'I love you too' Lauren says. It sounds unintentionally intentional as well.

'Bye' I say for real this time.

'Bye bye' she says.

After we both hang up, I just sit there for a minute, still caught up in the emotional rush that the end of mine and Lauren's conversation gave me.

Then I remember that I was going to call Wilson too.

I dial Wilson's phone number, this time remembering the area code on the first try.

'Heidi ho unidentified user of the typically tacky toned, tongue-twisting telephone' Wilsons answers. Hasn't this guy ever heard of "hello" before?

'Hi Wilson, it's me, Randy' I greet.

'Well Randy...What have you been up to?' Wilson asks.

'Oh, you wouldn't believe it. A couple of weeks ago, I went to amateurs night at a comedy club and after I-' I begin to say, but then I get cut short by Wilson.

'And Jonathan Taylor Thomas was there and invited you to audition for his new TV show on ABC' Wilson finishes perfectly for me.

'How did you know?' I ask, in utter shock.

'Oh, Jonathan mentioned that to me the other day. See, I'm an old family friend on his mother's side' Wilson says.

'Wilson, please tell me why I'm not surprised that you are a close, personal friend of THE Jonathan Taylor Thomas!' I demand. He just laughs at this.

'So, I take it that you've found a permanent place to stay out there?' Wilson asks, with a trace of disappointment in his voice.

'Yeah, I found a relatively cheap, relatively good sized apartment' I answer.

'Speaking of cheap, what will you be doing for income until the show starts?' Wilson inquires. If other people asked this, it would be considered prying, but with Wilson, it's just him being concerned. He's always been like a second father to me. And definitely a mature male role model for me. (Notice I say mature).

'Well, I still have that job with the day care that you helped me get' I remind him.

I can hear a beeping noise in the background now.

'I'm so sorry, but that sound means my asparagus and grasshopper stew is ready. Yum!' Wilson explains.

'Okay. Well, I'll talk to you sometime soon hopefully' I say.

'Bye bye' Wilson says.

A/N: Okay, yeah, I know, not much happened here, but it's still a necessary chapter. (You'll figure out why in a few chapters).

Please R&R, especially since we're getting close to the end of this story. (Probably within anywhere from about four to six chapters).

Thanks for reading.

-Yours truly, Randy Taylor