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Chapter 29
~ August 18~ The day of the concert!
I woke up that morning filled with excitement and anticipation. After an
all day rehearsal, we went out for our last dinner together. We went to the
Broadway Café, the same place we'd had our first dinner together.
The mood was altogether festive.
"To a wonderful month spent in fun and friendship," Brian said raising his
glass. We all raised our cups and clinked them together at the center of
the table.
7:50pm~ 10 minutes before the concert!
"Good luck guys!" I said giving Stacie and Deb each a hug. "I know you'll
do awesome!"
"And now…tonight's opening act, One Way!" the announcement came. Stacie
and Deb ran onto the stage, mostly to applause, but I heard a few boos.
"Hey Orlando!" Deb said into her mic. "I'm Deborah Thomas, but everyone calls
me Deb!"
"And I'm Stacie Gogo. Together we form One Way!" Stacie said.
Once they started singing the boos subsided and there was only dancing and
applause. The whole thing went over even better than expected!
After half an hour of singing and dancing, Stacie and Deb took their final
bows and ran off stage. "That was so cool!" Deb screeched as soon as she
turned off her mic.
"You guys did awesome!" I said. "I'll see you later!" I ran to catch up with
the rest of the band. Once we were set up and began to play the guys came
out. There were screams and applause from the audience. The energy emanating
from them was electric!
I played my heart out as I danced with other band members and the guys. I
was having the best night of my life. It went too quickly, however. All too
soon we were playing the last note of the encore number. Sadness welled up
inside me as I realized that tomorrow morning I'd be on a plane back to New
York City.
As the band came off the stage, all the guys gave us high fives. I ran over
to Brian and gave him a hug. "Thank you so much for letting me do that! You're
the best!"
Just then the guys manager interrupted. "Stacie and Deborah," she began,
"I'm pleased to inform you that you will be our opening act for the rest
of the American tour and when we return to Orlando, you have a record deal
with Jive!"
Stacie and Deb sat stunned for a moment, but soon recovered, screaming and
jumping up and down. "Group hug!" I yelled, only to find myself squashed
in the middle.
Later that night
We had decided that after the concert Stacie, Deb, and I would sleep over
the guys' house. I had all my stuff packed and ready to go. My room once
again looked barren.
When we got to the guys' house they had a surprise for me. The seven of them
had planed a going away party! We had cake, ice cream, and lots of other
junk that we all ate too much of. We sat around reminiscing about the past
month we had spent together and predicting what the future would bring.
"Hey AJ," Nick interjected, "you got it? Can we give it to her now?"
AJ looked around the room. Everyone nodded. "OK, then. Shorty, close your
eyes," he demanded.
I did so and flinched as I felt something being placed around my neck. "OK,
open your eyes," AJ said. I did so and found a beautiful gold locket hanging
around my neck. I opened it up and saw the eight of us smiling up at me.
"Thank you so much!" I said giving them all hugs.
"I'm gonna miss you so much!"
"We're gonna miss you too!" Deb assured me.
"Oh no you won't!" I bantered. "You're gonna have all the fun traveling with
the guys!" The mood got lighter again after that as talk turned to the tour.
"Hey Lis?" Brian whispered. "Could I talk to you for a minute?" I nodded
and followed him out of the room.
"So what's going on? You haven't been able to look AJ in the eye for two
days and you flinched when he put the locket on you," Brian pointed out.
"N-nothing," I stammered.
"Come on! Out with it! If you don't tell me, I'll ask AJ!"
I froze up for a second and then the whole story came pouring out. First
about how I had only been in two relationships ever, one in high school and
one this past year in college, both bad experiences. Then how AJ just kissed
me out of the blue the other day and how much it scared me.
Brian didn't interrupt as I whispered this all to him. When I'd finished
he said, "Lis, I understand how you feel, but give AJ a chance. He really
does love you. At the beginning it was a friendship love, but I think it's
become more to him now." With that, Brian got up and left.
I followed him slowly back to the kitchen thinking about what he had just
told me. No sooner had I reached the kitchen than AJ approached me.
"Can we talk?" he asked. I nodded and led the way to the game room. Once
there, I turned to face him.
"I'm sorry if I scared you the other day. I shouldn't have done that," AJ
apologized. "But I want you to know that I care a lot about you…" he
trailed moving closer to me. He made a move to kiss me again and I backed
up.
"AJ, no," I said. "I don't know if I did anything to make you think I felt
the same way and if I have I'm sorry. I don't feel the same way about you.
Of course I care for you, but only as a friend or brother. That's all it
will ever be," I whispered looking at the floor.
"Are you sure?" AJ asked lifting my head so I was looking him in the eye.
"Yes," I said convictedly. In my heart I knew I was lying, but I wouldn't
admit it to myself. Maybe one day I'd open my heart to him, but not now,
not today.
"OK then," AJ said. "Friends?"
"Friends," I agreed smiling and offering a hug.
Everyone stayed up all night dancing, eating, playing games, and watching
movies. I knew that that best summer of my life was coming to a close.
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