"Thank You for flying Northeast Airlines. We hope that you enjoyed your flight to Seattle or wherever your final destination is and on behalf of the entire crew we hope you have a nice day."
Finally, on the ground.
Only I would think staying in LA for 27 hours is a good idea. But Freddie said that he, Carly and Sam were free and I didn't really want to linger so here I am, waiting patiently for people to grab their carryon's and then I can get my rental car, to my hotel, then pop by to say hi.
I am exhausted though. I didn't sleep great and I had to get up at 5 to avoid the LAX crowd for an 11 AM flight.
Traffic is going to be the death of me.
Finally, I step into the alley and quickly am in the terminal. A friendly looking face glanced up from his pearPhone and quickly strode towards me.
"Hey man!" He smiled, taking my outstretched hand and quickly turning it into a hug. "How you doing?"
"Good man, nice to see you." I smiled.
Freddie certainly looked different from last time. He still had a lot of muscle, but his hair wasn't parted this time and he hadn't shaved today, or the previous day.
"C'mon, let's get out of this zoo…" he said, guiding me out of the terminal and towards baggage claim I assume.
"You got a car I assume?"
"I did." I smiled. I'm stealing Beck's line.
"Ok, good thing they're right next to baggage claim. You want to stop by Bushwell first?" He asked.
"Bushwell?"
"Where Carly and I live." He answered.
"Nicely worded…" I teased.
"Oh, you know what I mean."
We quickly stopped as the baggage was already in motion. My bad seemingly was laser guided for us and we weren't there 45 seconds as I quickly snatched it up. He hung back as I got my rental car, a Ford Fiesta.
"So…how's Cat?" He asked as we headed to the parking lot. We'd pick up my car at Bushwell, they said they would drop it off since it wasn't currently available. Maintenance or something.
"She's ok."
"You guys still together?"
Crap. We never made a big deal about the breakup. So we didn't really tell anyone that absolutely didn't have to know.
"No unfortunately…it's a long story." I sighed, climbing in his car, a Dodge Charger.
"Nice car, I was expecting a Prius or something."
"Yeah, that's what I was expecting with my mom, but she decided to pony up and get me a muscle car. Mind if you explain about Cat?"
"Which part? There's a lot that has gone on."
"Everything." He placidly said as we pulled out onto I-5.
"Ok…last time I saw you I hadn't told Cat about the threats. Well, I subconsciously started doubting myself thru Rex, she found out about the threats, we started fighting about our future…Michael and Colton tried to get to Cat and I…and we broke up."
"Rex?" He asked. "The puppet?"
"Yeah…I know it sounds nuts, but believe me, it was real."
"So Michael and Colton tried to mug you?"
"I…I don't know. They came after Cat for sure. Everyone was in my house when it happened, and I don't know whether they wanted to kill us or what, but point is they failed."
"And you ended up breaking up about trust and your future."
"Yeah."
"That's pretty heavy stuff." He whistled.
"I'm not even half way done."
"Please continue good sir." He gestured with a smile.
"Ok, we were kind of doing ok as friends, until I caught her in my parents' house, in my bed with Beck."
"You're kidding…"
"Nope."
"You must have blown a gasket."
"More like 5. I didn't speak to her for about a month, then we were assigned a play and we HAD to talk to one another…we crushed the play, Cat ramped up her music…and I got a girlfriend. Nothing serious, but apparently she didn't like it because the minute we broke up she flew to my side and refused to let go. We kept things going good until school ended at Christmas, when suddenly Cat ended up in Methodist Mental Hospital for a complete mental meltdown."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you say anything? My mom is a specialist on mental health. Geez dude, plus we would have wanted to be there!"
"Sorry. Didn't think of it."
Which is true.
"Tell me next time! Dude!" he said, hitting his hand on the steering wheel.
"I will I will. Sorry."
"When'd she get out?" He asked, clearly worked up.
"A couple of weeks ago."
"Damn, why are you leaving so fast?"
"I…I'm tired of some stuff."
"Like?" He asked, pulling into a parking garage.
"She has a boyfriend that she met last week. She keeps hopping from guy to guy."
"Including you?"
"Including me. Kind of. I'm her longest relationship."
"How long?"
"A year."
He looked mildly impressed.
"Ok, we're here."
We stepped out of the car and to an elevator.
"You still like her?" He asked.
Good question.
I'm…jealous I guess. But…I'm SO mad at her.
I can be mad and still love her.
"I'm still working that out."
"So…any other reasons you're here?"
"I want to see what you guys have got going with Carly's music. I'm worried about Cat and her progress."
The elevator door opened to an avalanche of noise, and to Spencer using a jackhammer on a slab of stone. He stopped once we had stepped forward.
"HI!" He yelled. Freddie motioned for him to take off his earmuffs.
"SORRY!" Off they came.
"Why?" Freddie asked, arms extended.
"New sculpture."
"Wouldn't you bust thru the floor?" I asked. Freddie turned to me and gestured "See?"
"Nah, the floor is wood on top of concrete. We're fine."
"What's it gonna be?" Freddie asked, as a bunch of footsteps came from upstairs.
"It's supposed to be a statue."
"But statues need precision!" Freddie exclaimed, just as Carly and Sam came into view. Carly quickly hugged me.
"Hiii!" She smiled.
Hello beautiful.
"Hey there. How are you?" I asked, smiling.
"Great, now what are you two arguing about?" She turned to Freddie and Spencer.
"He's using a jackhammer for a statue!" Freddie exclaimed, showing her the stone slab, albeit with a paint outline of a woman.
"You're gonna bust it!" Carly said, swatting his arm.
"And that's my jackhammer!" Sam jumped forward, grabbing it.
"Yours?" I asked, taking a closer look. She doesn't look more muscular, just…hotter.
If that's a word.
"Yeah, I run a construction company."
"Since when?"
"Since graduation really. Momma doesn't like school."
"And it's successful?"
"Oh yeah, it's been in the paper as one of the bright spots for Seattle business." Carly chimed in, turning towards her refrigerator.
"Nice. Congrats."
"Thanks." She smiled, pulling me into a hug. "Nice to see you."
"Iced Tea?" Carly asked behind me. I turned to see her pouring three glasses with a fourth out.
"Sure."
"Hey Robbie, why are you worried about Cat's music? She can really sing." Freddie asked, looking befuddled and grabbing his iced tea.
"IMG fired her."
Sam looked shocked, and Carly did a spit take.
"What? Why?"
"They didn't think they could cut it as a singer."
"That makes no sense."
"Yeah…there's more to it. My hotel is right across the street, Freddie, can you get them up to speed?"
"Sure. Here are my keys." He tossed them to me.
On that note, I hopped back into the elevator as both girls leaned forward and Freddie spoke up.
"You're not gonna believe this…"
Can't blame him. It is kind of unbelievable when you think about it.
Geez, this elevator is freezing.
Michael…Colton…Colby…now Alex?
I think that is his name. Wait…how long ago did Michael and Colton attack us the last time. As bad as it sounds I think Michael is dead. I recall the injection a few months ago.
…2 years.
That's a long time ago.
Long enough ago for me to forgive her for what she did. She was only 17.
Geez, I remember when we were having an argument when we were together, and she yelled that I never forgive and forget, I always hold a grudge.
Maybe she's right. As much as I hate to admit it maybe she is right.
I finally find the trunk button on Freddie's keychain and make my way out to the hotel. By the time I'm speaking to the concierge I'm having to talk myself out of calling Cat and apologizing.
I'm supposed to be there for her, she's barely out of Methodist, and the second she starts talking to a guy not named me I flip out, leave the country and then bitch her out?
WHAT AM I THINKING?
I don't think I am.
How am I going to fix this? I've never done the whole "I'm sorry" thing except for when I apologized for yelling at her after she told me about Colton…I think.
Now I'm mixing up their names. Great.
I walk back into Bushwell and—
"HEY!"
I turn to see a quite frankly, hideous man with a huge mole on the side of his face.
"Yes?" I ask, trying to be polite.
"What do you think you are doing? Where are you going?"
"Nowhere…" I say, sidling out of the room.
"Hey! Where are you GOOING!"
I don't reply and pull out my phone.
"What floor?"
To: Carly S, Freddie B.
Please reply fast…
"8." –Carly
I hop into the elevator and press 17.
Next thing I know I'm knocking on Carly's door. I think it's Carly's door. 8C.
The door swung open to Spencer ushering me in.
"Door's open man, no need to knock."
"Ok…"
I barely saw a mane of brown hair coming at me before Carly had me in a hug.
"Hey…sorry about what's going on with you and Cat."
"It's ok." I reassured her.
"No, it's not. You guys can fix it though."
I just gave her a weird look. Carly Shay is one unusual woman.
"Hey man, get all checked in?" Freddie asked, turning around in the spinny chair.
"Yeah, here are your keys back." I tossed them to him, and he caught them with ease.
"So Cat's music?" Sam interjected, holding a plate with ham on it.
"Yeah, IMG fired her because they don't think she can withstand the rigors of musical fame."
"They shouldn't have fired her so quickly over that. At least give her a chance." Carly said flatly.
"I agree. I'm just worried that with people like you—" I poked Carly in the stomach, causing her to giggle. "It won't matter how good she is, nobody will pay attention to her work due to the fact she's getting such a late start."
I could practically see the wheels in Freddie's head spinning, and both girls were waiting for him to speak, so I decided to do the same.
"Robbie, the timing doesn't matter. I know it sounds odd since timing is everything, but Cat's got major league talent. As long as it is good, she'll be fine."
"That's so counter intuitive." I said flatly.
"As long as it's good, people will pay attention." Sam spoke up.
"Do you have anything she's done?" Carly asked. "We can critique it and give you some ideas."
"Sure, it's a bit rough though." I admitted, pulling out my pearPhone.
"What's it called?" Freddie asked.
"Put Your Hearts Up."
I AM SO NERVOUS. This is the first time anyone other than Cat and I have heard it.
"Ok…in 5, 4, 3, 2…"
I couldn't bear to watch their reactions as the song began. I turned and tried to concentrate on the statue Spencer is working on. He's chipped more marble off, and looks close to getting some more precise tools soon.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the song ended.
"Dude." Freddie's voice called out to me.
"What part of that is rough? Out of curiosity." Carly asked, sounding dumbfounded.
"We aren't done with all the instruments. She wants everything…live." I finally turned to the three of them looking stunned, with Carly looking intimidated.
"What?" I asked, after a moment of silence.
"That's ready right now I say. Nothing else added." Freddie said.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah, the voice is perfect man." Sam said, sounding pleased.
"You know, we've joked around when talking about you guys that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Cat beat us. But now…" Carly began.
"It's on man." Freddie smiled at me.
"It's good?" I asked, feeling relieved beyond words.
We're looking good.
"It sounds awesome man. Mind if I take it upstairs and analyze it?" Freddie asked.
"Sure, can I come?"
"C'mon." Carly dragged me, as Freddie and Sam raced upstairs.
They went into a room on the second floor next to a bedroom with a closed door, with a sound booth, computers and headphones, paper…basically a studio.
Freddie plugged it into a computer and a flat screen came out. After a moment, Freddie pulled out my pearPhone and gave it back to me as the audio of the song came up.
"That is some crazy pitch man." Freddie said, awestruck. "That voice is incredible!"
Buzz Buzz.
1 New message.
Thanks for mentioning you were leaving town again. Where are you now –Jade
"In Seattle with the iCarlies, working on Cat music stuff. How'd you hear I left?"
Sam, Carly and Freddie started dissecting the various parts of the song, separating them on the screen.
"That's quite the program you have there." I said.
"Thanks." Freddie smiled.
Buzz Buzz.
"Cat. She's currently writing furiously on a new song at your place. Hope you don't mind that we're here." –Jade
Always one to—
"Oh yeah, she's also sobbing." –Jade
"What? Why?" I asked.
Crap, this is making me into MORE of a jackass.
Why is she crying and writing? God, if this new guy broke up with her already, she's petrified at the thought of me and is afraid of the deadline I gave her…
I'm the bad guy this time.
"No idea. She already has some good lyrics and a title for the new song. 'This Little Girl'." –Jade
Oh this is freaking brilliant! Talk about a 180 degree shift from yesterday!
"ROBBIE!" Carly and Sam yelled, snapping me out of my reverie.
"Yeah? What? Sorry." I said in a rush.
"How long did this take?"
"…2 weeks. There or there abouts."
Freddie looked impressed. Again. He turned to Carly.
"We gotta step our game up girl."