Disclaimer: I Own Nothing
Thanks to everyone who continues to give this story a chance and those who have decided to follow it. I appreciate you!
~~~"I'm Never Alone, I'm Alone All the Time"~~~
*Chapter Five*
Several days later….
"E! Entertainment, how may I direct your call?" Said the female receptionist.
Haley cleared her throat before she spoke into the receiver.
"Yes this is Haley James from The Fire Pistols. I'm calling for an interview with Zack Miller that is supposed to be on air at three." Haley said in her most professional tone. She couldn't wait until this last interview was over with. It had been one after another all day long.
"Good afternoon Ms. James, I will put you right through to Zack." She said and then put Haley on hold. She was forced to listen to music that should only be reserved for long elevator rides in a nursing home. Haley rested the phone on her shoulder and took another bite of her raisin bagel while she waited.
"Got you on hold again?" Chris said from behind the refrigerator door. He was rummaging around for a snack while waiting for Haley to finish so they could get back to writing.
"Yuuupp." Haley managed to say with a mouthful of food.
"Real lady like James." Chris chuckled as he settled on a bowl of grapes.
Haley sat at the kitchen table enjoying her bagel and quickly her mind began to wander. So much she didn't notice the music go away and a male voice pick up on the other end.
"All right we've got Haley James from The Fire Pistols on the line. She phoned in the give us the 411 on what the guys have been up to and about their up and coming tour. Haley, how's it going with you and the band?" Zack said as he looked into the video camera that was feeding the interview live to thousands of homes worldwide.
Haley's eyes almost popped out of her head right then and there. Of all the times for them to cut to her, she had to be eating her stinking bagel. She should have waited until she was finished with her interview before enjoying her lunch no matter how loud her stomach growled. It had been more than 5 hours since breakfast.
"Yeauww, I'm sowwwarry. I waaas just eatin a baaawwgell." Haley said as she quickly tried to finish the last of what remained in her mouth. Zack rose one of his eyebrow and looked into the camera.
"What? Did anyone happen to catch any part of that? What the hell are you doing Haley?" Zack asked with a laugh.
Haley could feel her skin turning red starting at her face and moving all the way down to her toes. She took a quick drink of water to wash the chewy bagel down. She could feel it slide down her throat hitting the sides slowly. She knew she should have chewed it better.
"Ehem, I'm sorry about that. I was trying to sneak in a little lunch while I waited to come on air. I apologize for my lack of proper manners." Haley joked back.
Zack laughed and shook his head."Well Haley, I hope that it was good. What's up next for you guys? You must be just about ready to kick off The Fire and Ice Tour any day now." He said.
"That's right Zack. We are about to kick off a national tour across the United States. We are so excited to be hitting the road and playing some new material. Nothing compares to the energy I feel on stage when we're playing a big arena. I can't wait to meet up with the fans too." Haley said with a smile.
She looked up as Chris walked back into the kitchen as if on cue.
"Is there anything you can tell us about the tour? You know a little hint about the show or songs or something? Give me a little scoop please! I'm begging ya Haley." Zack said in a flirty manner.
Haley smiled to herself and gave a flirtatious giggle out loud. She knew guys like Zack all too well. He knew just the right way to make a woman eat out of the palm of his hand. Often without even breaking a sweat. Haley never wanted to be "that girl" who was stupid enough to fall for that. She always wanted to be in control of any situation.
"Well I can't tell you too much but we will be revealing some new tunes on tour as well as some sweet meet and greet stuff backstage. That's all I am allowed to say at this point. You'll have to come out and catch one of shows Zack if you want more than that." Haley answered with a coy smile as she looked over at Chris. Chris became more attentive when Haley began to speak about the tour. He didn't want anything slipping out before their first show.
"Well I guess that's all I can get out of Haley. Thank you for calling in and letting us know how you're doing and what to expect in the next few months. Take care and tell the other guys I say hello." Zack said as the interview segment concluded.
"Thanks again Zack and I'll look for you at one of our shows in LA. Hope to see you soon Zack! Bye" Haley said and then hung up the telephone and just laughed at the crazy interview she just gave.
-
Later that day….
Nathan sat silently the entire ride home. He was too angry to speak. After all the hard work he put out what does he get in return? Jack shit... yet again. Was his life not bad enough, no it just had to get even worse... Everything that was said about him was true. He was on the fast track to being a "has been". Maybe he really did hit his peak already. He looked at his reflection in the side view mirror and almost threw up right there in the car. He hated himself.
"Are you going to speak sometime or just stay silent from now on?" Dan asked harshly. He glanced over at his son but didn't take his eyes off the road for too long. Nathan wasn't sure why he agreed to Dan driving him back to his house. A mistake he wouldn't make again. He should have just called for a car or had a team mate drive him home from the game.
Not being able to take the killing silence any longer he erupted.
"You want me to speak? Here goes; everything that has been said about me since my accident is true. I'm over! I've lost it! I was kidding myself for the past months thinking I could come back and make it. I'm a fucking loser Dad." Nathan snapped back while glaring at his father sitting next to him. He was feeling weak and vulnerable, not a combination he wanted in the presence of his father.
Dan pulled off to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. Nathan jerked forward as the car stopped.
"As if my own body isn't holding me back enough right now! You're trying to give me whiplash?" He exclaimed and then looked out his car window. He wanted to get the hell out of the car and away from everyone and their expectations of him.
"Nathan, Look at me!" Dan demanded. Reluctantly Nathan looked over at Dan who's face told him he meant business.
"What?" he asked.
"You didn't fail exactly. You got out there and didn't let the others tell you that you couldn't do it. You looked strong and you didn't ask the coach to be taken out early. So you didn't get a shot in or an assist. Well tough shit! I know you want this as much as I do but maybe you need to work a little harder. I know you aren't a quitter and you will succeed if given another chance." Dan said sounding more like a heartfelt parent than a manager.
"I know that." Nathan said quietly.
Dan threw the car into gear and sped off again bringing them closer to their final destination.
'When will I ever be enough? How much more do I need to sacrifice?' He asked himself as the wheels turned miles on the road.
And with that the discussion was over.
Review please...