Chapter Sixteen
Waking Up In Vegas
Over the course of the next three weeks, I played fourteen shows. Each one was better than the last one, and the crowd helped me through each performance. I was warned very early in my career that all the shows would start to melt into the other in my mind and I would get bored with it but I never do. Each show was like its own fingerprint, different in its own unique way that couldn't be replicated no matter how hard you tried. I could tell each one of them apart just by the fans in the front rows and the amount of passion the crowd gave as they sang along.
I tossed myself into writing songs, using inspiration from the emotions I was trying to run from. I received word that I would be recording new tracks towards the end of the next month to start prepping for my new CD. I wanted to make sure I had enough material to use and pick from. Tristan helped me with some of them, playing the guitar while I got the words right. It was a great way for the two of us to spend time together even though we were writing songs based on the emotions for Tommy that I was hiding from the world.
Tommy and I spoke on the phone a few times since Pasadena. They weren't intense conversations and most of the time, Xander would hop on to say something to me too. Ethan talked to me during one of the calls as well, telling me that Billy had gotten him copies of us performing together to show people and his friends were jealous. These phone calls always made my day and I would make sure to stop whatever I was doing to answer them. I could say that I don't care but the truth was that I just wanted to be close to them in any way I possibly could at the moment.
The morning we rolled into Vegas, I was practically jumping for joy. Shayna had planned everything out for me, booking hotel rooms for everyone and making sure they had transportation from Angel Grove. The weekend was going to be busy but fun. Tonight was the show and tomorrow was going to be a cocktail party thrown by the label to celebrate the first half of the tour being completely sold out. Shayna was flying in for the festivities and had secured flights for Tommy, Billy, Jason, Trini, and Zack. They would be arriving in about an hour and would be meeting me at the hotel when they got there for a bite to eat. I was actually staying in the hotel with them this weekend, wanting to make sure I got to spend as much time as possible with all of them while they were here. I couldn't wait to see everyone.
Especially Tommy.
We had been tiptoeing around what happened when we last saw each other. Whether it was because of Xander always being around or both of us not wanting to bring it up, we haven't discussed what he could have been hinting about talking about when we saw each other this weekend. I wasn't even sure what I would say to him when I did see him but I knew I needed to find out what he didn't say that day in Pasadena and see where it fell into my mess of emotions. This between Tristan and I had been going really well since he stopped pushing the moving-in topic. I was hoping I wasn't setting myself up to be heartbroken again and hurting Tristan.
The bus parked at the hotel and I packed a bag to bring up to the room so that I wouldn't have to keep coming back and forth to the bus. I made sure to grab a nice outfit for the show tonight as well, wanting to impress the executives that would be present. I like Vegas shows because you never know exactly what kind of crowd you're going to get when you climb up on stage. Since I was headlining for a music festival instead of a stand-alone concert, I had a smaller set than usual. I was happy about that one.
As I zipped up the bag, I saw there was something shoved into the side pocket of it. Reaching in, I pulled out the letter I had received begging me to come back to Angel Grove. I looked down at the hand writing, trying to figure out whose it was. It didn't resemble anyone I knew and Billy couldn't place it either. It was a mystery of who could have sent it to me. I wished for the technology we had in the Command Center. I'd have no issues then. Instead, I was at a loss on how else to find it.
I brought my stuff up to my room and hung up my clothes for tonight. I changed into a pair of blue jeans and a pink t-shirt, tucking my hair into a matching baseball cap. I didn't want a repeat of the show in Pasadena with the paparazzi. I was going to make sure no one saw me unless I wanted them to. As I set my bag in the closet, I heard talking in the hallway. I looked through the peephole and saw that Tommy, Jason, Trini, Zack, and Billy were slowly walking by, searching for their rooms. I smiled, opening the door quickly. They all turned at the noise of the door opening.
"Hey!" I said, stepping out.
"Well, hello yourself." Zack smiled, reaching over and giving me a bear hug. "You're a sight for sore eyes, girl."
"I'm so happy to see all of you," I said, pulling away from him. I shifted, giving Billy and Jason hugs as well. I turned to Trini who I saw looked a little pale. "You okay?"
"It was a rough flight." She said, Jason rubbing her back. "I think I need to lay down for a bit."
"Are you sure? I reserved a table downstairs."
"You guys can go. I want to rest before the concert tonight." She gave me a small smile.
"C'mon. Let's find our room." Jason said, leading her up the hall a few feet from where their room was. They disappeared into the room and I frowned, not enjoying the fact that Trini didn't seem thrilled to be here.
"She'll be okay," Zack said, giving me a reassuring smile. "Let us drop off our things and then you can treat us to lunch." He gestured to Billy to head up the hall too, leaving Tommy and me standing there as they disappeared into their room.
"How are you doing?" Tommy asked, giving me a tight hug.
"Better now that you guys are all here," I said, smiling up at him. "How was the flight?"
"Little bumpy but we managed. Are you excited about tonight?"
"I'm more excited about getting to spend time with you guys than I am about performing. I've really been looking forward to seeing you guys."
"I've been looking forward to seeing you," Tommy said, causing a slight blush on my cheeks. "Ethan and Xander send their love. They are jealous they didn't get to come but they are living it up with my mother this weekend."
"Aww. I wish I had enough tickets for them too. But I think a weekend away is going to be good for you, Tommy."
"I sure hope so." He replied, smiling down at me.
The guys and I ate downstairs at the hotel restaurant. I had so much fun catching up with all of them, the laughs coming from our table drawing looks from other tables. Zack told us about his time traveling with the off broadway production team he was working with to put on their rendition of RENT along the west coast. He even hopped up in his chair, belting out a couple of lines from the second act. It caused the waiter to bring us our check in a hurry and we left, laughing as we headed into the lobby of the hotel again. That's where we ran into Shayna and Tristan.
"There you are," Shayna said, smiling at me. "We went looking for you up in your room."
"We decided to get some lunch," I replied. Tristan wrapped an arm around my shoulders, kissing the top of my head. I saw that Tommy looked away when he did that and I suddenly wished Tristan wasn't touching me.
"You must be the other friends Kim was talking about," Tristan said to Jason and Zack. "I'm Tristan, her guitarist and her boyfriend." He explained.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jason and this is Zack." Jason said, shaking Tristan's hand. Tristan also shook Zack's hand, not letting go of me in the process.
"And this is Shayna, my manager," I said, pointing at Shayna.
"Glad to meet everyone." She said, smiling at the group. "I promise not to put you to work today, Tommy and Billy."
"We're happy to help if you need any assistance," Billy said.
"Careful. She will take you up on that offer." Tristan said. Shayna rolled her eyes.
"I'm not bossy all the time." She scoffed. "However, I do need to steal Kim for a quick interview with a radio DJ."
"Really? I wanted to show these guys around some." I replied.
"I can do it." Tristan offered. "I actually want to get to know you all better since you're so important to Kim. This would be a good chance."
"Sounds good, man," Zack said, nodding.
"You sure?" I asked. Tristan nodded. The last thing I wanted to do was release him with not only my friends but Tommy. But Tommy nodded as well. "Alright. It shouldn't be too long. Behave."
"Yeah, yeah," Tristan said, releasing me so that Shayna could pull me away by the wrist. I glanced at them over my shoulder one last time before we ventured up the hallway of the lobby.
"They'll be okay," Shayna said, reading my thoughts. "I don't think Tristan would be dumb enough to mess with Tommy in front of all his friends."
"Right," I muttered, looking down at my hands as we walked.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"No. Well…sorta. I guess." I sighed. "When I saw Tommy last, he said he needed to talk to me about some stuff but he wanted to wait until Vegas so we could have time without his kids and everything. But we haven't had the chance to talk yet and I don't know what it's going to really entail. Now I'm worried that something will get said between the two of them that would result in me having to pick sides. I don't want to do that."
"What do you think he was trying to say?"
"I'm not sure. At this point, I'm not even sure I want to know."
"Kim…just remember that the executives are at the show this weekend and at the party tomorrow night. I don't want you to think I'm trying to be insensitive. I just don't want you to forget that it's important to be on our toes right now."
"I know. Music first, hopeful non-existent boy troubles second."
The interview ended up taking longer than I would have liked. By the time we were finished, I barely had enough time to find the guys again before I'd have to head to the room. I found them hanging out on the small patio outside of the hotel, drinking what appeared to be brandy in shorter glasses and round balls of ice. Billy, Jason, Zack, and Tristan were laughing at something when I approached and I noticed that Tommy was sitting there quietly. All of them stood up when they realized I was near.
"Hey! How'd the interview go?" Tristan asked, kissing the top of my head.
"Fine. How were things here?"
"Good! I was just telling them all the story about how the band nearly lost our heads that day the tornado hit the state fair we were at a couple of years ago." He replied.
"Oh, jeez," I stated, acting interested. I saw that Tommy was standing back a bit, his interest in the untouched alcohol in his hand. "I have to head up to my room and get ready for the show. Do you guys want to meet up after the concert?"
"Sure!" Jason said, smiling at me. "I will ride up with you so I can check in with Trini."
"Okay."
"I need another drink," Tristan said, grabbing his empty glass from the table between everyone. "Anyone else care to join me for another one before we get the party started?"
"I'm game," Zack said. Billy nodded as well.
"Tommy?" Tristan asked, gesturing towards the door that led to the hotel bar.
"No, thanks. I'll wait here."
"Suit yourself," Tristan said. He gave me a quick kiss before heading towards the bar with Zack and Billy in tow.
"You okay?" I asked Tommy as Jason returned his glass to the table for the waitress who was walking around, clearing the area.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Tommy replied, giving me a small smile. "Have a good show tonight."
"Thanks," I said softly before heading to the elevators with Jason. I bit my lip as we waited for the doors to open, my eyes casting toward the direction of where we had just left.
"He's okay," Jason said, tapping his toe on the marble flooring under our feet.
"What?" I asked.
"You're worried about Tommy." He stated. "He's okay. I promise."
"I'm not worried." I lied, shrugging my shoulders.
"Right," Jason smirked at me as the elevator doors opened. He let me on first, climbing in after me. I sighed, pressing our floor button.
"Is it a crime to be concerned about my friend?" I questioned, crossing my arms.
"I suppose to would depend on your definition of the word friend. I surely don't believe I am the same level of concern as you are." I shot him a glare, rolling my eyes. Jason has always been like that annoying big brother role to me. Especially when he is usually right about things.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I stated.
"Oh. Right. Sure you don't." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Just do me a favor and remember that Tommy's been through a lot. I'd make sure that you know what you're doing before anything gets too much out of hand. I don't want to see either one of you back to that place you were after our wedding."
"Did Trini tell you?" I asked.
"No. She didn't have to. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened when both of you come up missing for several hours at a hotel." He mused. "But, seriously, really think about what you're doing before acting on any impulses this time."
"No worries there. As you can see, he barely has been speaking to me since you guys arrived."
"That was about something else. Don't worry about that." Jason said as the elevator doors opened on our floor. We headed out, going towards the direction of our rooms. I stopped at my door and Jason lingered, leaning against the wall next to the door frame. I sighed, looking at him as I flipped the keycard between my fingers.
"I don't know what to do here, Jase. I still have feelings for Tommy but I have Tristan who is a good guy. I don't want history to repeat itself with Tommy because of the distance and my career. But I also don't want to risk giving up on my chance of being with Tommy because of our past either. And I would hate to see Tristan get hurt in the entire process as well."
"You know what's funny with everything you just said?" He asked. I shook my head. "In both those scenarios, you talked about being with Tommy but not with Tristan."
"So?"
"So…I think you already made up your mind, Kim. You just have to decide how you're gonna go about it now."