Chapter 5

The next day was a breeze, No one said a thing about my birthday which at first was a disappointment I didn't want them to make a fuss but one person could have said something. Maybe they didn't remember, oh well it was better that way. Birthdays were embarrassing it's like the whole day is focused on you. I was especially disappointed though when Caleb didn't say anything. The past month we had bonded. We'd spend most of the night chatting about music and relationships and we'd made a list of things we want to do before we die. He had helped me make a list of things to do when I become an adult but he must have forgotten that that was today.

Other than the fact that it was my birthday, today was also exciting because they were discussing ideas for the film clip for Sex on Fire and the director Dean Rivers was here to brainstorm with them. We sat in the studio in the relax room (they called it because that's where they went to chill) and Dean was showing a few of the story boards he had drawn up. I sat in the corner amazed. Dean Rivers is an amazing director, he doesn't do big movies just independent ones and he dabbles in film clips. Until I got the job at channel [V] I wanted to be a film clip director and he is my idol. Earlier I was introduced to him but all I could stammer out is a 'good thanks' even though he didn't ask how I was. So I remained silent for the rest of the meeting. The film clip so far was going to be set in an old run down warehouse.

'What do you think, Kate?' asked Caleb, 'she's got a really good taste for these things,' he said to Dean. Who was now looking interested at me his cocky smile was suggesting my knowledge on the certain subject.

'No I like it,' I lied, if I was being honest it was lacking something and I knew what it was I could see it perfectly in my head but I was too shy to say it to the group But it was good I should say it they might like it. No. Yes.

A little while later Caleb got up for a glass of water, this was my chance to tell him my idea. The fridge was in the other room. I followed him into the second room.

'Listen, I know this is out of place and you might laugh at it but I had an idea for the film clip...' I told Caleb my idea he nodded and seemed interested as I described it to him, he said he'll run it past the others and we walked back to the group.

'Kate's got a fantastic idea for the film clip,' he said. 'In between the shots of us performing and the fight scene we flash to a naked women whose covered in wet paint, and throughout the film clip she's like showering it off, cause have you ever seen wet paint being washed off it's pretty cool.' He finished and I realised how much he'd liked my idea.

'That's not even a bad idea, and since it's sex on fire, Caleb you could be having sex with her when the paint off cause she'll be wet, it will all be tasteful through, and I'm thinking it's going to be really dark so whiles she showering we only see her silhouette and then come in for close up of the paint washing off.'

'You could even get like a small star to do a Cameo of the women,' I said since my idea was going so well. There was sort of a silence now and I had completely regretted saying anything at all. There was a silent conversation going with eye contact between them all.

It was Jared who spoke first. 'See the thing is Kate, we have a rule that sorts out a lot of arguments when organising the video; if you suggest it you do it,'

'Are you saying that since I suggested the painted women, I am now doing it?'

'Well you have a choice we're not forcing you to do it, but you would fit, since you are a star yourself you could be the cameo and it's not like we could get a great model in such short notice.'

'Are you ok with this?' I appealed to Caleb since I was going to be kissing him.

'Sure, I think it's a good idea,'

'Well how come one of your girlfriends can't do it?'

'Cause none of us would be ok with them being nude in front of everyone and It would be weird to see them doing it with Caleb.' Said Matt.

'But it's ok if everyone sees me nude?'

'Well yeah since you're not fucking anyone."

By the end of the day I had been bullied into it so in a few days I would be painted up and everyone got to see my bits what a fantastic birthday!

Matt and Jared left the studio early they said they had some errors to run which left Caleb, Nathan, the producers Mark and a sound guy that I'd never been introduced to left. A little while later we left and headed to the bar to meet up with everyone else.

I was greeted as soon as I walked in with a 'Happy Birthday!' from the large crowd in the bar. They were looking at us and I was pretty sure no one else's birthday was today but I couldn't help glancing behind me to make sure they were actually talking to me.

Caleb was standing behind me his arm was around my waist and he whispered into my ear. 'Happy Birthday, don't drink too much we have plans after, and I need you sober.' He was giving me Goosebumps he had plans for us my mind jumped straight to sex but before I could get to excited I reminded myself he was saving himself for marriage and someone his age. Arianne and Alice ran up to me.

'Did we surprise you?' Adrianne said hugging me.

'It was so hard not saying anything all day, we felt horrible pretending we'd forgotten,' said Alice. Everyone from the studio was there and a few of the followills friends that I had been introduced to before as well as the usual bar crowd. I chatted to everyone then Sophie and Adrianne sat me down to open my presents.

'You got me presents! I told you not to.'

'Oh stop whining, it's not much.'

'And we wanted to,' added Alice. Adrianne, Laure and Alice had bought me a makeup bag full of mascara, lip stick, eye liner and other things. As well as some sexy Victoria secret panties which I was embarrassed by when I pulled them out. Caleb, Nathan, Matt and Jared gave me the present with a kiss on the cheek. I ripped open the wrapping they had given me there album that they had all signed.

'It's the very first copy of our album; you'll have it before anyone else.'

'Thanks guys, it's awesome,' I turned it over to look at the song list. There were only eleven songs on the back. Caleb seemed to read my thoughts.

'We're still not sure of the last song.'

'This could make me a pretty penny on eBay,' I joked.

Most people had gone; there were only a few people left. I had kept my promise I had only had two beers and was feeling fine. I was walking out with Adrianne heading to the car when Caleb's hands found the small of my back a glided me in a different direction.

'Not so fast we've got plans,' he said.

'What are we doing?' I asked.

'We are crossing off all the things on your list do to when you become an adult,' he pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket, 'Ride a motorbike,' he said reading from the list. We were standing in front of Matt's motorbike.

'Is Matt ok with this?'

'Yeah... well I might have left out a few details like you would be driving,'

I had the helmet on as well as a leather jacket Caleb had lent me. He was sitting behind me with his arms on the handles next to mine. He had pointed out the accelerator, clutch and breaks.

'So you're going to release the clutch and accelerate. Ready,' It took a few tries to start without stalling but when I did it was easy enough to drive I took it around the empty car park a few times before pulling up.

'Do you think you ready to take it on to the road?'

'What now?'

'Yeah don't worry it's twelve there shouldn't be too much traffic.' So I started the motorbike stalling it again a few times then drove out onto the street. Caleb yelled directions from behind me. His arms were wrapped around me and I was enjoying too much I almost missed the turn.

We parked outside of a night club.

'Drove a motorbike,' he said checking from the list, 'now clubbing,' he dragged me into the club. The bouncer didn't even check my ID which was a letdown but he probably didn't care who walked in with Caleb Followill. We ordered fruity drinks and after a few we were on the dance floor. Well I was on the dance floor I thought Caleb was but as soon as he came in girls flocked to him and he disappeared into a crowd of hungry women. I wasn't sure if I was suppose to help him or not after a little while though I wanted to move on to the next on the list so I grabbed one of his arms and dragged him out fighting off the desperate women.

'Thanks,' he said sheepishly when we were safely out.

The rest of the night we spent shopping in an adult store. Then we went to a gay bar a few drinks there and we were both stinking drunk. It was Mardi Gra night there so every time you flashed everyone threw beads at you, since it was a gay bar Caleb was the one flashing but we were sharing the beaded necklaces. Just like the night club when he went to the dance floor men were all over him. This time I didn't save him because it was too funny. We were the crowd favourite at the club we were the only heterosexuals and were forced to kiss after they started chanted

'KISS, KISS, KISS' So me and Caleb both standing on the bar pashed in front of everyone else. We got a huge applause and some boo's from the gays that wanted Caleb. Soon after we left and continued the list.

The next morning I woke up in the hammock on the porch, Caleb was still asleep next to me and I almost had a heart attack when I realised Nathan was standing in front of me.

'Shit, you scared the hell out of me,'

He was wearing nothing but his boxers and holding the paper in one hand and a coffee in the other he just shook his head at me. I had to admit Nathan had a good body. I wonder if Caleb's was as good, I knew had good arms. I followed Nathan into the kitchen and got myself some coffee. I felt like shit and didn't remember a lot about last night. I was still wearing my jeans and tank top with lots of colourful beaded necklaces.

'What with the necklaces?' Nathan asked from the counter were he sat reading his paper.

'Mardi Gra night at the gay club,' my answer didn't seem to surprise him. I sat down to drink my coffee when I felt a throbbing pain in the ankle.

'Holy shit!' Nathan jumped with my outcry, 'I got a tattoo,' I said removing the band aid from my ankle which revealed a small symbol. It was then I started to remember last night at the tattoo parlour. Nathan walked over to take a look. He himself had a few tatoo's.

'What did you get?' he asked looking at my ankle, 'Yin and yang cool'

'My dad is going to kill me!' Just then Caleb walked in.

'Morning,' he mumbled, 'why is your dad going to kill you?'

'She got a tattoo,'

'I remember that, and your nose,'

'What about my nose?' I said running to the mirror in the foyer. I had pierced my noise. Great, 'I'm going to bed and when I wake up maybe this will me a dream,' I said.

'I'm going to get more sleep as well,' Caleb said following me up stairs. I turned into my room and Caleb walked on to his. The he stopped like he was remembering something and walked back. I was about to ask but before I could his lips were pressed to mine and we were kissing like last night minus the crowd.

'Night,' he whispered and walked into his room. I collapsed onto my bed smiling like an idiot. I didn't care if my dad was going to kill me it had been the best night of my life.

The kissing continued for the rest of the week every time we had a minute to our selves or when no one was looking Caleb would squeeze my hand. We still talked almost every night we'd sit on the roof and talk. I was determined not to let this thing with Caleb whatever it was to make me unprofessional so we didn't tell any of the others that we were a thing. See there's that word again thing what exactly were we? I couldn't bring myself to ask because I didn't know what I wanted the answer to be. I was leaving in a month.