Stacy's Stalker (Chapter 4)
"It's great of you guys to help Stacy out since she seems so busy and all." Ryan remarked to Richie as he set up his drum set for their weekday concert. He was surprisingly the first one there, even beating Stacy. Which gave Ryan the perfect opportunity to casually find out if Richie had any useful information.
"Yeah, we all like doing different things to help the band run more smoothly." the drummer agreed. "She likes to keep busy because she's often at home alone." he mentioned, shocking Ryan with his admission.
"With Renee in England and Stacy almost finished with high school, her parents have been out of town a lot more." His insight into Stacy's behavior was helpful. In the few weeks he had been back, he had seen much maturity in him and was pleased that he had taken his advice to help Stacy lead the band to heart. And he seemed to be in tune with what was going on in her life, proving to be a good friend to her, much to Ryan's relief.
He didn't want to leave it at that though, so he spoke up. "Thank you." he stated earnestly, startling Richie with his serious tone.
"For what?" Richie asked, confused, as he locked the knobs on his cymbals into place so they wouldn't fall off the drumset when he crashed them later.
"For being such a good friend to Stacy." Ryan finished, he had figured out that without the younger boy, drama club would have been more problematic for her. As it was, he wasn't sure she had told him the whole truth yet.
"Just following your lead." Richie explained with a grin, pleased by the encouragement. He had worked so hard the last few years to shed his silly, carefree demeanor to prove that he was a great teammate and friend.
The next ten minutes was a chaotic mix of noise and energy as the rest of the band trickled in, moving instruments, checking the stage and lights and setting the stage board. Ryan had taken over these tasks from Riley, leaving him more time to develop his menu and doing the books for the business. He smiled as Devyn and Kenny came in arm in arm, loudly discussing their day with each other. Stacy and Connie followed close behind, belting out some of Madonna's biggest hits.
"Get into the groove
Boy you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah
Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy what will it be"
Their voices blended nicely, as they must have been singing in Stacy's car, and with the cover off no doubt, as Ryan observed their windblown looks. Luckily Connie had hers tied back, but Stacy was fighting to tame it as she had worn it loose that day.
Normally she was the look of fashion and perfection, but Ryan wondered if he might like her better this way, a little flushed, her hands nervously pushing wisps of hair behind her ears, her shirt a little unkempt from blowing in the breeze of her jeep. But her smile had never changed, and he was glad to see it shining as brightly as it used to.
"You guys should totally open the show with that one. Richie suggested excitedly. It would have a lot of energy to start their concert off with a bang. The girls agreed happily, as they continued their singing and dragging Devyn into the back to get ready to rehearse.
"She's sure changed a lot hasn't she?" Riley queried, interrupting Ryan's quiet thoughts. Ryan took a minute to sit at the counter with Riley to get his insight into other ways Stacy may have changed since he had been gone. Ryan was stunned, what had changed in her life the last two years?
"Yeah, she's great with the other kids, runs the band very well and seems to have a lot going on herself." Ryan assessed thoughtfully.
"What else have you noticed?" Ryan pressed his friend for more information.
"It's been hard for Stacy being the oldest one in the band. She's always taking care of the other kids, but who's taking care of her you know?" He commented astutely. "She works hard, stays late, anything to avoid going home."
"Personally, "I think it's good for Stacy to have someone she can talk to." He admitted freely. Their conversation came to a sudden end when Kenny's saxophone and Richie's drums brought the P*lace to life, signaling that the band was ready to begin.
Halloween
The Halloween show was one of the band's favorite concert nights of the year. And this year it was on a Saturday. They sang silly and unusual songs, Stacy's favorite song was "The Monster Mash" for some reason just like Devyn loved the song "Ghostbusters". They always started the Halloween concert with songs for the younger kids and then went into songs for the teenagers during the second set as the little kids often left to go trick or treating.
Plus they each wore costumes that fit their personalities. This year Stacy had convinced them to go as the characters from "The Princess Bride". After all she had agreed, reluctantly last year, to dress as a cartoon turtle and the rest of the band owed her for that small humiliation especially her senior year.
The five kids were settled at the table eating and working at the same time. Kenny was more than excited for the Halloween concert, and Stacy allowed him to organize it and decorate it with her supervision of course. Ryan joined them when he finished work, remembering all too well previous Halloween concerts, especially the year they were dressed as WWE wrestlers.
"How about Superstition by Stevie Wonder?" Richie suggested during their brainstorming session on Monday afternoon.
"And what about "Somebody's watching me?" by Rockwell, Devyn added as Ryan wrote down all their ideas.
"Or Hungry like the wolf?" Stacy joined in, finally looking up from the notebook she had been drawing in all afternoon.
By the end of the afternoon, they had filled the paper with ideas and organized who was going to sing what song. After Tuesday's midweek concert, they held their first rehearsal and four days later was the Big Halloween Concert.
There was a lot of excitement in the backstage area as the band had to warm up, sound check, and change into their costumes. Ryan, who had dressed as Ferris Bueller, was under strict instructions not to open his eyes until everyone had finished changing so that it wouldn't ruin the surprise.
"Okay you can open them!" Connie and Devyn shouted gleefully., It took him a few seconds to take them all in: Connie was dressed like a grandfather, holding a storybook, Kenny kept saying, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die", Devyn was saying, "Inconceivable.", and then he saw Stacy, dressed in a long sleeved red dress, her hair pulled back in a braid with Richie by her side with a black mask, a fake mustache and a sword, dressed in black.
"You guys look awesome!" He declared excitedly. "There's tons of kids out there, and they are super loud!"
"I can't wait to go trick or treating!" Connie exclaimed during their break. "Me too!" shouted Kenny and Devyn at the same time. They had all brought other costumes to change into for after the concert.
"Are you going anywhere after this?" Devyn asked Stacy, wondering what it would be like to be a senior and all the excitement that came with being that age. She assumed that she wasn't going trick or treating like the younger kids were now that she was almost of high school. "Probably just home." Stacy admitted tiredly.
"What are you doing after Richie?" Ryan asked, hoping to keep his true curiosity under wraps for now.
"I'm going to a party with Elizabeth." He admitted shyly, but smiling. His answer gave Ryan an idea as he pulled the younger boy aside much to the rest of the group's curiosity.
"Guys! You're on, get back out there!" Riley shouted from the doorway. They had been so excited talking about theri Halloween plans they had forgotten the time. Like they suspected, the small kids had left for trick or treating and now the older kids were excited to dance and hear music they liked to listen to. Kids Inc. didn't disappoint, their new song choices really made it a fun environment.
"Richie, what are you still doing here? Don't you have a party to go to?" Stacy questioned, seeing that he was the only other bandmate still backstage. The others had practically raced out of the room as soon as the concert ended. Stacy wasn't sure that hadn't left before Riley's closing announcements were made. Ryan wanted to make sure he got to Stacy before she decided to change or leave.
A long pause before he answered. "I'm not Richie." he confessed, causing Stacy to turn back around at the person who was dressed as the Dread Pirate Roberts to her Princess Buttercup.
"Ryan?" Stacy was confused. She had assumed he had left already, probably having plans with some college friends. "What are you doing here?"
"I convinced Richie to switch costumes with me. I wanted to know if you wanted to go out trick or treating?" He begged sweetly. Stacy remembered those times they had all gone out as a band trick or treating, and how special she felt hanging out with the older kids. And even after Gloria left, and Renee lost interest in Halloween, her and Ryan would still go. In some ways, he was still a kid and that made her happy that he hadn't quite grown up yet.
"So do you?" Ryan interrupted her thoughts to ask her again. Still stunned, she could only shake her head yes. "But only if we… , she began, smiling.
"Trade my kit kats for your snickers, I know." He finished for her with a giant grin.. That had been their deal back in the day.
"Good thing Richie grew a few inches in the last few years." Ryan remarked as he and Stacy started walking to a nearby neighborhood. There were several groups walking through the streets, but they stayed on the sidewalks, keeping to themselves. "Come on princess, let's get as much candy as possible." He linked his arm with hers and she laughed as she had to run to keep up.
"I wonder what that notebook is all about?" Kenny asked curiously. They had all noted that Stacy had been drawing in it non stop for weeks. But as of yet she hadn't shared it with anybody.
"Could be for school." Ryan theorized rationally. "Let's not jump to conclusions like last time." he gently reminded them and caused Devyn to blush. They had all remembered the last time Stacy had gotten caught up in her schoolwork, they all thought that she was going to run away only for it to be an assignment for English class.
It was Sunday night and the phone hadn't stopped ringing all night, and even when she picked it up all she heard was heavy breathing. 'It is so annoying', she complained miserably, and she had school the next day. Groaning, she grabbed her blanket and pillow and headed for the only room without a phone, the bathroom. She curled up in the tub desperate for some sleep. God knows she is not a functional human being when she doesn't get enough sleep.
'32 times'. She swore, she might have even used the f-word once or twice during the night. If she hadn't worried about her parents not getting in touch with her while they were in California, she would have unplugged every damn phone in her house.
"Might as well take a shower seeing as I'm in the bathroom already." she mumbled grumpily. But one look in the mirror scared her more than even the stupid horror movies did that were popular this time of year. 'Maybe my costume should have been a zombie this year,' she thought, annoyed.
She hadn't taken a sick day off from school in years, so she might as well start today and she called in sick to the school before falling asleep on the couch watching "The Price is Right."
"I'm so tired." Jessica whined, the noise of the cafeteria making her lack of sleep headache that much worse.
"Well, your little plan must have worked because Stacy isn't here today." Tina commented knowingly, pointing to the empty chair at the cheerleaders table. That fact cheered Jessica up just as the bell rang and the group left for their next class.
"Hey Stacy wasn't in music theory class today, did you see her?" Richie asked Kenny worried, when they had lunch together in sixth period.
"No, she wasn't in Glee Club either." Kenny responded concerned. "Do you think she's sick?" In three years with the band, he didn't think Stacy had ever missed a day.
"Maybe she had a doctor's appointment?" Richie wondered to his bandmate. They would have to wait for rehearsal to see.
"Did Stacy say she would be late?" Ryan wondered as the band started to set up and she was the only one missing.
"We haven't seen her, she wasn't at school today." Richie informed him. Neither Kenny or Richie was happy to see that Stacy was not at rehearsal either.
Their shock concerned Ryan who had noted that in his entire Kids Inc. career, the only time she missed a rehearsal was when her grandfather died.
When he mentioned that fact, it frightened Connie."Do you think someone in her family died?" Connie asked horrified, about to cry. Devyn was quick to reassure her that had that been the case, Stacy would have told Riley or Ryan.
"You guys rehearse, I'll go check on Stacy." Ryan declared, worried more than ever. Instead of walking though, he drove her to her house. Parking haphazardly, he hurried through the chilly air, knocking heavily on her door.
He was relieved when she opened the door, though she almost shut it on him when she realized who was standing there and what she was wearing. She was wearing a sweatshirt over her pajamas and a robe on top of that as she stood at the door stunned to see him. "Ryan, " she stuttered, wishing she had never opened the door. "I look terrible…' she whined adorably.
"I don't care, Stace, I just want to make sure you're okay." he insisted stubbornly. "How could he show up today of all days?' she moaned internally, regretting her outfit right now.
He rather impolitely forced himself inside, his fear for her taking over. He didn't care anymore if he was pushing her to talk about something that was upsetting her, but this, missing rehearsal, was too much.
"Are you sick?" he asked gently as he plopped himself down on her couch, and Stacy resigned herself to the fact that he wasn't leaving and joined him, sitting at the other end of her couch. He would apologize if she was, but he didn't want to assume she was sick. She was going to have to tell him for herself.
He wanted, no needed, her close, so he could prove to himself that she was okay. He slid a foot closer to the blonde, drawing her and her robe and her blanket into his side.
"No." She promised. "Just tired." she answered honestly. "The phone rang thirty two damn times last night." hence the reason her blue eyes were puffy and red, her face pale. She looked exhausted. Though she still was beautiful. '32 times?' he wondered angrily. The constant ringing would drive someone nuts. Someone was intentionally trying to bother her.
"It was probably just a harmless Halloween prank." Stacy stated realistically. She didn't want Ryan knowing that it could be something much more sinister. 'Great, now she was thinking about stupid horror movies.'
"You still like bunnies, huh?" he mused, as his fingers traveled over the softness of her robe, pink with blue and purple rabbits well worn and faded. Stacy felt her exhaustion hit her anew, as she stopped fighting the nearness of Ryan and lowered her head onto his shoulder. The sweet, fresh raspberry scent teased him as she finally let her eyes close.
At that moment he realized what was even more unusual in this situation than Stacy being home "sick", was that she was home alone. Granted she was almost eighteen, and old enough to not need a parent home with her but he was still surprised that there wasn't. But as he checked his watch, it was also past 5 o'clock, the time when her parents should have been home. Riley had assured him he didn't need to rush back.
Two hours later, he woke her so she could sleep through the night. "How do you feel about ordering a pizza?" He offered with a grin. "You don't want me to cook, believe me." Stacy smiled at that. Plus pizza sounded really good right now.
"I bet if I find an old movie, it will put you right to sleep." Ryan bragged as he flipped through the television stations until he found the right one. Stacy moved to clean up the dishes, but he refused to let her.
"Let me take care of you." Remembering Riley's words, he coaxed her into accepting his help. He was a little sick to think of all the things she had to take care of on her own lately. "You get all comfortable on the couch." He shooed her away and carried the dishes to the sink.
She curled up on her side as the movie played curious as to what Ryan had picked. Thankful it wasn't a scary movie, she was surprised he had chosen one of the Laurel and Hardy movies he had always liked. There wasn't any dialogue, so she didn't need to follow along, and Ryan's light chuckles at the funny parts had her feeling safe enough to fall asleep.
He was relieved to see her eyes finally close. He pulled her pink comforter over and tucked it around her."Good night Stace." He whispered, leaning over to place a sweet kiss to her forehead. He locked the door behind him, praying she would be able to get some rest.
"Figured you might need some coffee right about now." Ryan said as he met up with Stacy outside the P*lace. Whenever he needed to find her he always checked the stairs first.
She sighed as she gripped the warm cup between her hands. "Hmm, caffeine." She smelled the sweet drink, inhaling deeply. All the while thinking, 'How does Ryan know what my favorite coffee is?'