PAT

I walked down the street, head held down, like i was ashamed. Ashamed of my past and why i had come here.

i left one sidewalk, crossing a street to get to another. i wasn't watching, and a car was coming. i looked up just in time to see the girl's face stare in horror at the bum she was about to run over. I didn't move; why would it mattered if i was killed?

the honda tried to swerve, but couldn't, and the breaks started to slow the blue car down with a loud screeching sound.

i looked straight at the vehicile as it hit me at a very slow speed. i fell to the ground on my back, and the wind was knocked out of my lungs. fortunately, i didn't black out. i winced in pain.

the red-head driving the car ran over to me with her hands over her mouth. she looked at me, then at the surrounding area to make sure no one had seen the accident. she giggled at me because i was so cute, then at how she would get away with such an awful crime. her red hair fluttered behind her as she got back into the blue honda and sped away.

i tried to yell," Hit and run!", but it was no use because i still couldn't breathe.

a young girl, about 19, rushed out of the restaurant by the crime scene and cautiously approached me. she looked down at me and said to some people standing in the doorway," He's alive, i think." She kicked me in the stomach.

i moaned and rolled over, hoping she would just go away and leave me alone. but, she didn't.

a large cook came over at her signal and hoisted me off the ground and over his shoulder.

***

" let me get this straight," she said," you ran away because you weren't loved?"

" yep," i replied as i looked around the 50s style diner simply named "diner." " my name is pat... patrick king." i held out my hand to shake her hand.

she looked at it with her brown eyes. i pulled it back as she informed," I'm levi wright." she smiled at me.

"so, what's your story?" i waved my hand around the room to indicate the diner." why are you here?"

" Well," Levi told me shyly, twisting her shoulder length brown hair around her finger," it's kinda a stupid story- you wouldn't want to hear it."

"try me."

"okay. Well... um... two years ago i fell in love with this guy. he seemed like he loved me at the time. as time went on, he started hanging out with his friends more. soon they began their own band. zack- my boyfriend- was the drummer. they had a couple of songs, but most of them stunk. anyway, one day he wanted to break up because he wanted to be single for the fans- so his reputation was better. he said that single guys have better status and more fans. oh well. so i came here a year ago. i began college, but i quit. i needed more time to think about my career. i came here to work in the meantime."

i nodded my head. it was a reasonable answer. it was definitely better than mine. " how'd you get the hair?" i questioned, pointing to the blonde streaks.

"oh, i did them myself... highlights, i mean."

" one more question. why is your name levi? isn't it a brand of jeans or something?"

" i was born in the jean section at walmart. it was time." levi looked at her watch. " time to close. do you have a place to go?"

i shook my head and said," yes."

" is that a yes or a no?"

" no, definitely no."

" you can stay with me!" she laughed.

" but i couldn't." i looked out the diner window at a character walking outside. i peered closer at his face which had clown make-up on it. i grabbed the waitress's arm as she was leaving." then again, it might be a good idea." I watched the creepy clown figure as it strolled by.

***

levi opened the door and turned on the lights. she laid her purse down as she told me," You can sleep on the couch." She pointed to the red plaid couch near a yellow recliner.

"thanks," i answered.

"that's the kitchen, there's my bedroom, and that's the bathroom," levi informed." make yourself at home."

she went into her room and i just stood there in the dim light given off by a single bulb in the 'kitchen'. it wasn't really a kitchen, just a mini refridgerator and a microwave located in the corner of the living room.

after a while i got bored, so i went to the bathroom to wash for supper. there was no soap, so i just used water.

my back really itched and kind of stung because of the pavement earlier. i took off my flimsy coat and noticed long tears in the back. oh well, it didn't even keep me warm.

i pulled my shirt up over my head and studied the hit-and-run's damage. it was all blue, like this giant bruise, and there were some minor scratches. one avulsion ran from my left shoulder to my right ribs. it had bled before, but stopped.

a knock sounded on the other side of the door." pat, i brought you some clothes!" levi shouted.

i cracked the door and looked out at them. they were rather long and could barely fit me.

" here." she shoved the plaid shirt and bluejeans through the crack." they belonged to my ex. i must have accidentally packed them when i moved here."

"thanks," i said softly. i shut the door and ran some hot water. it would be the first shower i had taken in over a week.

Mike

Pat. I don't like that word anymore. It brings back happy memories, but they make me sad. Sad to think of my best friend and how he's gone. Why could't he be a normal friend? Everybody says I'm a freak, but Patrick thought of me as an equal. I can't blame him, though. If I had a younger friend when I was in high school, then I would probably hate him because the people in your grade call you a baby or somethin'.

The day Patrick ran away I had woke up pretty early. I took a warm shower and re-dyed my hair blue so I would have a fresh look for the concert. When I picked out my bluejeans with bleached spots and a T-shirt that said " Have A Nice Day" on it, I found my long-lost tennis shoes that had retractable wheels in the soles and put them on. My breakfast was a can of Mountain Dew and some Fruit Loops. I wasn't very active since I had went to bed really late.

I went home, heartbroken. After Ben and Marc left, I was going to eat, but I had no more M.D. and pringles, so I went to sleep.

***

Patrick disappeared a month ago. We're still crying for him, and the funeral and " First-Ever Without Pat" concert did not help. We were discussing our next single when a fight broke out.

" I say it should be-" I was cut off by J.

" You don't have a say in this, Michael, since you've been

slacking and not showing up for practice."

" But I was sick!"

J glared at me. " You're always sick! You always have been, and you always will! You'll never get better if you keep whining over your freak-friend Patrick!"

" He's not a freak."

"Well, you are."

" Don't be calling Mike a freak!" Marc yelled. " He and I are exactly the same. Just because we're a little different-"

J interrupted Marc. Pointing a finger, he screamed," You're a FREAK, so that means Michael is one too!"

" Hold it!" Ben exclaimed. He walked over to J. J had to look up at him to see his face. " You'd better not call anyone a freak because that means you hang out with them and are one yourself."

J got so mad that he left. But that wasn't the only fight. The next day, J said that he was sorry to everyone. Ben was especially proud of J, and he told him," Good, now you're finally admitting that you're wrong."

Marc, with his arms crossed, whispered to me," J was acting like a freak yesterday."

Ben heard the comment. I watched as he slowly paced over to Marc and growled," Takes one to know one." Oh! Did Ben actually show signs of negativity?

Marc looked at Ben. They stared at each other, not blinking, for six minutes until Marc spitted at Ben's eye. How could this be? Marc and Ben were the biggest best friends and never fought. What was happening to them? To us? To me?

The fighting had started the day after Pat's funeral, but it started small. Now it was severe. We had three days to calm down before we had to go on TRL. An hour before the show, we made the biggest decision of our lives.

***

The crowd screamed. The lights were bright. Sweat dripped down my forehead. I watched as Carson Daly opened TRL.

"...and we're gonna meet Natural for the first time on TRL!" Carson announced.

While videos 10 and 9 played, I looked out a small window where we waited. Millions of fans had arrived and were standing in the snow, just waiting to get a glimpse of us from the window.

I heard Carson speak again. " We're gonna keep this show as Natural as we can get by introducing Natural!"

The song " This Is Where The Party's At" came on, and I recognized my drums, beating the tempo as always. A flashback of Pat raced through my brain.

We ran out. Marc was in the lead, followed by J. Ben was after him, and finally it was me.

A blue guitar was strummed before my eyes.

But when I closed and reopened them, I saw the crowd. They held signs with writing and pictures scattered about.

" Hey, Natural, what's up? Why don't you introduce yourselves?" Carson asked.

" I'm Marc Terenzi."

" J Horn."

" Hi, I'm Ben Bledsoe."

It was my turn. I was staring off into space. After a minute, I finally answered," This is Pat... er, Michael Ki... Johnson." I shook my head.

If you saw this, you'd probably think a was crazy or deaf. But the real truth for me not answering right away was because I saw Pat. He wasn't the Patrick of today, but the Patrick of the past. He was about 11,and he said my name.

Then I answered the question because he had vanished.

Carson introduced the rest of the music videos and asked us questions. It was about time to go, and he told us," Hope you can be on the show again sometime soon."

I looked up at his face. It was time. My mouth opened and studdered as I cried a tear. I said,"..."

***

Lights from cameras flashed in my eyes as I walked through the rain and mob of reporters to get in my house. The flashes became slow as I realized every single detail was real. Reality had hit me like a bullet. And my last words still haunt me. I remember everything. I remembered when I looked at Carson's face. I remembered me opening my mouth and how I studdered. I remember the single tear roll down my cheek. But most of all, I remember those words:" We can't. This is our first and last time on TRL. We're breaking up."

Pat

it's been six months since i ran away, and i'm okay. i still live with levi, and i also work with her. one day she came home and told me i had a job. at first, i was confused, and then she explained the situation at the diner.

" somehow we're attracting a larger crowd at the diner. the manager came up to me and asked if i knew anybody willing to work as a waitress. i told him i didn't know any waitresses, but i did know somebody who would make a great waiter. and..."

"and what?" i asked, trying to wait patiently.

" and, he said you're hired!"

i jumped up off my place on the couch, and i did something i thought i had forgotten how to do, dance.

i bought myself a variety a clothes and a huge coat that blocks some of the cold. my shoulder-length, blonde hair has grown really long, almost to my armpits. i usually wear it in a ponytail or braided.

***

my watch's alarm beeped and woke me up. i checked the time. it was 9:00 am. levi would already be gone.

i stretched out on the couch and laid there for a minute. i thought about my old life in natural. what would the boys be doing right now? were they recording a new album, or were they rehearsing for a winter tour? i got up.

my shower was cold, but it didn't matter; i liked it freezing. i put on my waiter uniform and ate some breakfast.

going outside in november would be suicide, so i opened a curtain hanging over a sliding glass door. the sky was dark, like always, and it was snowing. that's pretty much the weather in alaska.

i picked up the watch that i had received for my birthday. that day is still burnt into my mind.

levi had blind-folded me, and we got into her pink car. at first it seemed like we were going in circles, but after a while, the road felt pretty much straight. levi turned on her radio and found the only station it could receive. after seconds of static, a familiar tune could be heard." put your arms around me" was playing, not in english, but in french due to the french-canadian station. i slumped in my chair.

we arrived shortly after, and i was unblind-folded. beautiful lights of color danced in the night sky. i stared at them in awe.

"they're beautiful, aren't they?" levi asked.

"uh?" i managed to say.

"the northern lights."

"yeah, i guess. but the northern lights don't compare to you." i turned to face her. my head leaned towards her, and i thought for a minute that this was wrong, but i brushed the idea from my mind. Apparently she hadn't done so because the next thing i knew, i was on the ground.

i didn't get what i had really wanted for my birthday, a kiss from levi, but instead i got a silver watch with an alarm and a free stay in an igloo. i didn't like the latter.

i zipped up my coat, put on my gloves, slid into my boots, and positioned my toboggin on my head.

i treked outside into the blizzard and began to walk down the street towards the diner. i usually made this trip five times a week and rode home with levi.

i passed tons of souviner shops that were closed because it was sunday, two hotels, and one gas station that used to be a school. it had been remodeled four years ago.

i reached the diner doors and was greeted by the cook, joe."what's up, pat?"

i shook the the fresh powder off my coat and took off my hat." nothing much. how's your family?"

"great! my sister is expecting a baby soon."

"boy or girl?" i asked.

"they think it's gonna be a boy. she wants to name it after some blonde from some group she always listens to."

i hesitantly asked," that group wouldn't happen to be natural, would it?"

"yeah, i think so. it was that boy band that broke up recently," joe informed.

"the guys broke up?" i mumbled.

"you say something?" i shook my head."anyway, the guy started the breakup."

"what was his name?"

" it was Patrick lord or something like that."

"king, maybe?" i asked, trying not to be too interested.

he thought for a moment, then joe remembered," yeah, that was his name. isn't that yours too?"

"yeah, i'm him!"

joe laughed." wouldn't that be a kicker if you were?! i mean, my sister living in the same town as her idol."

levi appeared from out of the kitchen carrying a tray packed with pancakes. she saw me and smiled, and then she kept her concentration on carrying her load.

joe sighed," got to get back to the stove, see ya!"

i headed toward the cash register to ring up a braekfast. levi walked by and called out," clean-up at booth 4."

whoo-hoo, my favorite part of the job, cleaning. ugh! i picked up the trash on the table and on the floor.

i was gathering the pile of dishes when levi ran into me with an order of waffles swimming in maple syrup. i had turned to take them to the sink and got a faceful of breakfast. one of the waffles hit the ceiling and came down on my clean uniform.

i ran to the kitchen to try to get it off, but it stained a brownish-yellow color. just great! i had to walk around like that all day.

to top it off, i had some of the worst customers ever. one woman was really rude. she knew i was having a bad day, so she had to make it worse. i had accidentally got her order wrong, and she rubbed it in every time i came to check on her. then she didn't even leave a tip after i said that i was sorry. last, she complained to the manager, like i had committed a crime.

then there was this brat. he was like ten years old and knew better, but he still followed me around and drilled me with questions like a cop would with a suspect. i told him to shut up and go sit down. i raised my hand when he tried to dip his finger in someone else's soup and was about to hit him. the brat began to cry and screamed that i had hit him, and a woman scolded me for abusing " that poor child." so i tried to ignore him until he left, but it was really hard. finally he left around 4 in the afternoon.

and last, i had a customer who couldn't make up his mind on what he wanted to order. " i'll have the burger, no wait, i want the bacon sandwich... i change my mind, i'll just have the burger. on the other hand, the chili dog sounds good. i take it back, i definitely want the bacon sandwich." this went on for fifteen minutes, then i left to go wait on another table. i came back four minutes later, and he finally decided on his first choice the burger. but he couldn't decide on what he wanted on it. i told him that i would just put everything on it and that he could take off whatever he didn't want.

the diner closed at 9 o'clock pm. i thought i wouldn't last, but i did, like always. everyday was like that for me; maybe i wasn't cut out to be a waiter.

"you ready to go?" levi asked.

"yeah," i answered, exhausted from the day.

we left in her pink car, driving down the same road that i had been hit by a car on.

levi pulled the car into the remodeled gas station." i've got to get gas. will you go in and pay for it?"

i took the money and ran inside the ex-school. snow covered my hair, so i shook it off. i passed a magazine rack, and my suspicions about natural's break-up were confirmed.

i picked up the magazine and read the article which had pictures with it on twelve pages. what if someone read it and recognized me and turned me in? i had to get rid of them.

i stuffed the twenty magazines in my arms, and grabbed a newspaper to disguise them with. i paid for the gas and the twenty-one periodicals. i carried them outside and trashed the mags. keeping the paper, i got in the car.

"what were you carrying and put in the trash?" levi questioned suspiciously.

" nothing, just some old magazines that the owner wanted me to throw away." i answered. i studied her face. she must have bought the lie because she was humming a tune and smiling. i let out a sigh of relief.

as we passed under streetlamps, the light from them casted shadows over the newspaper. one headline caught my eye." klown kiss krashes kars" it read. somebody either failed spelling in school, or they thought they were real "kreative and kool."

while we were stopped at a redlight, i scanned the article. it was about a gang in orlando that gets a kick out of trashing other people's cars. the gang leader, charlie white-face, was in jail after being caught during the last crime. the cops were hoping that some of the others would come clean or at least stay out of trouble.

"yeah, right," i thought to myself.

Mike

pat

we reached our house a little before 10 pm. i got out and walked around the car to open levi's door. hurrying inside, we tripped over each other and laid there, laughing in the doorway, half inside the dark apartment, and half outside covered in falling snow.

it was one of those moments, like a moment from a movie, almost too unreal. she leaned towards me, and i thought it would be the romantic kiss that i wanted, but she just stood up. i followed behind her.

as levi walked in, she slipped on the slick plastic covered in melted snow. i sprung forward and caught her in my arms. " careful," i told her.

" thanks," she smiled.

i shut the door, and we took off our coats. levi went to the refridgerator and got something out. she popped it in the microwave.

after a minute or so, levi took out the bean burrito and handed it to me. she put her own in the microwave. i went and sat down on my bed, the plaid couch, and threw my wet boots onto the carpet in front of me.

between bites, i mentioned," you should definitely consider reading that article on killer clowns or whatever it is." i motioned towards the paper.

the microwave beeped, and on her way to it, levi grabbed my boots and slung them at my head. i ducked, and they skidded on the vinyl behind me." why?" she picked up my coat and began to fold it.

" you're so tense; you need a good laugh every once in a while."

levi ripped out my ponytail holder, pulling out some hairs in the process." yow! that's sensitive." i sat rubbing the spot.

" so are my feelings!"

" i thought you would get a kick out of reading about freakfest. if you don't want my concern, i'll just leave." i picked up my snowboots and began to put them on.

" wait, stay! i'll be so lonely by myself," she whimpered.

i sat the boots down."okay, but only because you want me to."

she smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck."thank you!" she squealed in delight. levi jumped up and kissed me.

all of a sudden she stopped smiling, said she was tired, and went to her room, leaving her burrito behind. i just stood there, amazed at how fast the whole thing had happened.

taking her dinner, i sat down and turned the small, 10-inch tv on. the only channel that picked up was a french-canadian music channel. the announcer was french, but after living in a france-influenced area for six months i caught part of the conversation.

"... and will be holding try-outs for the new position tomorrow in his home county( or was it country?) . he said his old... ( i missed the next couple sentences) ... and here's his debut hit song at number 1 this week, ...( i couldn't understand the title because it wasn't in french or english.)"

the video started and a familiar face appeared on the screen. it was the same, but different. i knew who it was automatically." terenzi," i mumbled.

Marc

The line of try-outs was endless. Men, women, girls, and boys were all in a row, waiting for their turn. Whether the turn was to meet me or to audition could not be told; there are some scary people out there.

This is Marc again. It's been 5 months since we broke up. At first, I had thought that I would go back to Natick, but I brushed the idea from my mind; I needed to be in the music business. My idea was to go to Europe and get famous by a solo career, but I met some people while visiting Italy. They wanted to start a rock band, but none of them could sing. So I stepped in, and that's how it happened.

I'm now the lead guitarist and lead singer for the rock band Black Acid. All the songs are in Italian since the others don't speak alot of English, and our fan base is mostly Italian.

The reason why so many people were in line was the fact that our bass guitarist quit and moved to Australia. I have to be the one who decides the final person because the others think only the old guy is good enough. I was gonna prove them wrong.

" Next!" I yelled motioning for the next try-out. After scribbling some info about the last, I looked up to see a woman in her late-teens stroll over. " And you are?"

" I'm your biggest fan!" She dived at me. Luckily, I moved, and the woman flew past. A bodyguard grabbed her and escorted her out.

That wasn't the only time it had happened. Every female didn't have any intention to be the bassist; they all wanted a piece of me. Even some of the guys were crazed fanatics.

A male with dirty-blonde, shoulder-length hair that hadn't been combed in days auditioned next. He introduced himself as "Wally." He didn't play that well and couldn't handle some of the up-tempo songs. There were better auditioners.

As I dismissed him, another girl walked up. She had armpit-length blonde hair with red streaks placed randomly. Her eyes were baby blue. She wore a pair of flared bluejeans that were too long in the leg, a yellow belt that was only in two of the beltloops, a black tube top with a green stripe across the bottom, a silver necklace and bracelet, and a leather wrist-band that was adorned on her left arm.

I suddenly said," Take her away," to the guard because she obviously was another fan. He reached for her arm.

" No, wait! I want to audition for the part," the girl informed, holding up a black instrument case.

" Sorry, I thought..."

" It's okay," she laughed," because I'm really a fan, too."

The case was opened, and a black guitar that shined green was tuned.

I listened to her play. She was really good and could do alot of the songs better than the old bassist. I definitely knew this was the one.

" That was amazing!" I exclaimed after the performance. " Welcome to Black Acid." I motioned for the hefty guard. " Dismiss the rest because we're back in business!"

I began to leave for lunch when I thought about asking her if she wanted to join. As I started to say her name, I remembered that she never told me. I asked," What's your name?"

" Morelli-Strauss. Kristin Morelli-Strauss."

***

I went to the nearest pasta place for lunch. As I walked in, I scanned the crowd and tables for Kristin. All I saw was the normal people; some dressed fancy while others wore ordinary shirts and jeans.

The waiter showed me to the table. It was a booth seat with navy leather located in the back corner. The seat itself had tears and holes, and the table was scratched and beaten up.

After looking at the menu, I noticed that a guest was about to join me. Kristin ran over to me and took the seat opposite of where I sat. " Hi, sorry I'm late, but I got a phone call from an old friend."

" No problem," I told her. When she finished looking at the choices, I asked," So, what are you going to have, Kristin?"

Her blue eyes lifted to look at me. " Sorry, did you say something to me? I don't go by Kristin. Call me Kris. I'm much more used to that." She stuck the menu on the edge of the table. " The ravioli seems good to me."

The waiter came and took our orders. Two minutes later, he arrived with our drinks. After the tall man left, we began to converse.

" I can't believe I'm actually here with Marc Terenzi. I've always loved you. From the moment I first saw you in Natural I knew that I would find a way to meet you. When Natural broke up, I thought I'd never get the chance because finding a single person is hard. After I learned that you were joining Black Acid, my dream reappeared. It really came true when I heard about the auditions," Kris explained. She pointed at me and added, " I love your new look."

What Kris was talking about was my hair. Black Acid was a whole new experience, so I dyed the tips of my hair acid green. She was also talking about my back. On my shoulder blade, I have a tattoo. It's of a black dragon breathing green fire. I thought it was cool; I'm glad someone else does too.

We talked for a while. Kris told me about herself and how she used to live in Orlando. I told her about Pat's disappearance in detail and how we never found him. Our food came in the middle of our conversation. We stopped our chat and ate.

Right before I paid the bill, Kris told me how much she liked my clothes (I was wearing a brown leather vest, some baggy black jeans, a green belt, and some boots).

We left the pasta restaurant, and I walked her to her car. I told her on short notice that tomorrow we'd be shooting the second music video of the band.

***

Black Acid was at the set at 6 o'clock sharp. For the first time, the others got to meet the new bassist. They were stunned. I guess they didn't expect " him" to be a " her."

The song that we were doing was called in English " Mystery Island." It's a really cool song that me and the drummer, Jason, wrote. The video is about the island in the song and is supposed to be amazing.

The first shoot that we did was the part where the speedboat crashes, and I wake up on the island. It was really hard, and we had to re-shoot it 7 times. The explosion was real, but I risked doing my own stunts. That's me; I'll try anything.

Hours later, the director wanted to do the instruments and band part. It only took one take because we were good the first time.

Shoot #3 began the next day. It was of me, playing my guitar while walking over the water. The way they made me actually walk over it was awesome. A black and blue metal thing was put in the water so that only about two centimeters of water covered it. I wore tall-soled boots to make my feet look like I was on top of the dark blue liquid. The others got their own scenes too.

The last shoot was were Kris and me were supposed to be " alone." The director added this in at the last moment because he thought it would add more effect. All we really did was hang out on the beach and walk under the moon.

Finally we were finished. It was originally a two week shoot, but we did it in two days. Anthony (the pianist), Carrey (the back-up guitarist), Jason, Kris, and I were happy with the final product, but after Kris had left, the others started to talk about how I was the one who got to do the part with her.

" Why were they jealous? I didn't like her that way," I told myself. But did I really? I felt like I was falling... falling in love with her.

pat

i woke up to the running water of levi's shower. it was only 5:30 am, so i decided to go back to sleep. i wanted to drift off into slumber, but i couldn't. i was already awake and my brain wouldn't let me go back to unconsciousness. i twisted and turned, and just when my eyelids got heavy, levi yelled in my ear to get up.

i sat up, rubbing my eyes. i looked at her; today was levi's day off, yet she still got up at, what would be, the crack of dawn.

"get dressed, honey, we're going out!"

she must have forgot about last night, about the kiss. "honey" is what she called me, and i'd call her "sweetheart". it was just for fun though, kind of like a joke that we shared secretly. when would levi call me "honey" and actually mean it?

i dragged myself to the shower, and then slipped into week-old clothes. neither levi nor i were big on washing.

i slumped in the seat as we drove into town, arriving at the diner. "this is out?" i questioned." it's practically home for us!"

levi stared at me." got a better idea?"

" i didn't say we couldn't eat here; i was only informing you that we're here enough as it is. why don't we just grab some pillows and camp out?"

"And where exactly will we bathe?"

"ever heard of a sink?"

***

levi and i feasted at the diner and then headed home. we stopped by the post office first. i ran in and got her mail, then we left.

i was driving the car, scanning the mail when i noticed something on one of the many magazines that levi received. she was reading a mag called "under 21", and on the cover was none other than ben bledsoe.

"what?" i managed to puzzle before i remembered that i wasn't watching the road. i looked up in time to see a fire hydrant, but then it all got dark.

***

i woke up in a place that was definitely recognizable. it was that hospital that i had visited before. in fact, it was the same room. that same nurse walked in and tried to explain to me what i already knew.

"you were in a car wreck. what an unlucky boy! you should avoid automobiles."

" go away! i don't want you in here, i want levi!" i yelled.

the nurse exited, and a few minutes later, levi entered. she looked at me, lying in my hospital bed, a pitiful wreck of a man.

"you're alive! i'm so glad!" she came over and stroked my head." you're probably wondering why i'm not lying next to you."

no answer.

"i was wearing my seatbelt; you weren't."

that picture was still racing through my mind. under ben's picture was a caption that read," too hot for the cold."

Ben

Ben's here. It's only been 5 months since the break-up of the band, but it has seemed like a whole lifetime. My first thought after being on TRL was to go back to Orlando, get my stuff, and fly far away, but as I thought about it, I came to a conclusion. Going back to Orlando would just cause trouble. Whether public or just emotional trouble, I didn't know. In my book, any trouble is bad. So I flew from New York City to Los Angeles on the earliest flight.

In Cali, the first couple of weeks went by slow, and I got just enough money to support myself by surfing. Surfing couldn't last all year, so I had to find a new profession.

Searching the paper, I found an ad wanting someone to try out new products from some company. Although I was totally against being a lab rat, the job paid quite a bit of money, so I decided to check out the idea.

Using the directions given on the newspaper, I found the medical clinic. It looked decent from the outside. Maybe the job wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Entering the building, I was stunned. It looked like a tornado had come through the office. Papers were everywhere, seat cushions were shredded, and the air was filled with dust and who knows what.

I had every intention of leaving until a napkin jammed in a file cabinet caught my eye. Checking the hallway to make sure no one was coming, I scanned the scribble.

From the chicken scratch, I made out a jounal listing the steps to find a cure for the common cold, but whoever had written it was going about it all the wrong way. Scratching down what I thought they should do, I didn't notice someone come in.

" Can I help you?" asked a man in his late fifties.

" Um, no, but I can help you. See, I don't think you should start from scratch," I pointed to his notes." You should consider studying products already out on the market and compare results."

And that's how I became lead scientist of the common cold cure.

I dropped the needle; I did it every time. The pain and the thought that the medicine would be fatal was always in my mind.

***

I was at a local burger joint, hanging, until the reporter showed up. Catching myself, I stopped my fingers from playing the bass chords to an old Natural song. I looked up in time to see a beautiful girl walk into the restaurant.

The girl had shoulder-length blonde hair that was swept out into wings. Her baby blue eyes weren't purple, like the button-up shirt she wore, but both were pale. She had a khaki knee-length skirt on that matched the jacket she was wearing. Her black slippers clicked on the floor.

The girl saw me, smiled, and sat down across from me. Oh, no! She was the reporter, and I had dressed casual. I looked at my outfit.

I was wearing a pale green t-shirt and dark green shorts with a red stripe that came down to my knees. I had a pair of red sneakers on my feet.

" You must be Benjamin Bledsoe. Hello, I'm Allison Burlington. Call me Alli," she smiled.

" Just call me Ben." I sneezed and smiled weakly. The cold virus was already causing me to be sick. My nose was runny, and I was constantly cold. My recently dyed platinum spikes looked almost white and drooped to one side. The goatee on my chin was still brown, though.

" Okay. Are you ready for your interview?"

I looked around at the diners." Yeah, but not here. Let's go somewhere a bit more private."

" Any place in mind?" she asked.

I nodded my head." Come on!" I exclaimed, taking Alli's hand.

***

Driving to the beach in Alli's car, we listened to a Natural CD. It was kind of reassuring that she was a fan of mine.

" I can't believe it!" Alli laughed." I'm interviewing a member of Natural; my dream has come true."

" And what exactly is your dream?" I asked, interested in the fact that this girl was still giddy over someone who was now a no one.

A million thoughts raced through my mind about Alli's fantasy.

" Well," she said shyly," I've always dreamed of meeting you, Ben. You were... I mean... you are my favorite member. I thought if we met, you would fall in love with me. But that's silly because obviously, you haven't."

" You'd be surprised," I thought to myself.

Alli turned the car into the beach's parking lot. She parked near the entrance in case we had to leave in an emergency.

The air was cold, and a strong wind whipped at my shirt. Salty waves crashed onto the sand, spraying mist into the air with a boom. The coast was deserted except for a few couples and a mongrel searching for scraps among the seagulls and other water birds.

As Alli and I walked along the beach, she asked me questions. Some were for the magazine she wrote for, and others seemed like questions for her own personal enjoyment.

" So why don't you use mice to test out the products?"

I squinted as I looked into the sun and then at her." I don't believe in animal experimentations. Anyway, rodents have different immune systems than humans. The medicine might have a different effect on them."

Alli hesitated before asking," Do you have a girlfriend?"

" Who wants to know?" I questioned, smiling.

" Hey, I'm the one asking the questions here, not you. So, do you have one?"

" Let's play a game. You get to ask a question, and then I get to ask you one."

" Fine, but I get to go first," Alli answered.

I gestured towards her with my hands as if I was suggesting that Alli be my guest.

We interrogated each other for the next two hours, hoping that the other one would ask," You want to go out?" But I was too shy to ask, afraid that she would say no. Either she was too, or Alli just wasn't interested in me.

" This is so stupid," I told her. " Do you want to stop?"

" Yes," Alli said, relieved. She let out a sigh of relief. " So..."

She was suddenly cut off as thunder rolled and a bolt of lightning lit up the purple sky. a gust of wind blew her into me, and we fell over in the ocean.

I scrambled to my feet and pulled Alli out of the tide. Another flash lit up the sky and our faces, filled with mixed emotions. A crack of thunder sounded, followed by piercing drops of rain.

We ran towards the car, splashing through holes and sinking in the wet sand. Alli dropped her car keys, and we searched for them, blindly.

" I've got them!" I yelled above the crashing waves. I held them up for Alli to see." Which one is it?"

" The round one unlocks the doors!"

I found the key, unlocked the door, and slid inside the automobile. Alli got in on the driver's side, wringing her hair out as we sat there until the storm lightened up.

We drove back to the burger place and went inside. I ordered two milkshakes for us and joined Alli at a table near the window.

" That was wild," she informed, looking outside at the storm.

" Too bad it is raining. I could take you to Dolphin Cove, and we could go surfing."

" Surfing? You mean in 40 degree water? That's just crazy!"

" You're not much of a dare-devil, are you?" I sat down and handed Alli her shake.

"No, you got a problem with that?" Alli replied defensively.

" I have no problems." I slurped at my shake." You're so amazing. I feel like I can tell you anything."

As Alli left the restaurant, I asked," When can I see You again?"

" Soon," Alli answered." Soon."

How soon was soon?

Pat

Monday arrived slowly. Usually I'd want the weekend to be like a turtle, but I just wanted to get to work because Levi babied me when we went home. She didn't even want me to go to the diner. I had to sneak out.

I walked into the beaten-up food place, keeping my head down from eye contact. The diner was already busy, and I went in the back to put away my coat. After grabbing a pecil and a hand-held pad of paper and stuffing it into my apron, I went out and took some people's orders. I tried to stay away from the view of levi because she had already arrived.

Soon she noticed me. She didn't say anything, but i knew she was mad at me for disobeying her.

***

we didn't speak at all that day until dinner. Levi had made a mexican cuisine. It was tacos, burritos, carne adovada, tortillas, and green chile stew. I couldn't pass up something as good as this, but that meant i couldn't avoid levi.

" why did you go to work when i told you not to? You're still weak from the accident," the burnette questioned.

" I had to get out of the house," I responded, tearing a burrito apart with my fork. " I just felt trapped. I needed to do something."

Levi finished her meal and cleaned the dishes. Later that night before she went to bed, she came over to me and gave me a soft hug. " how can i stay mad at you?" she laughed. " why don't you listen to some music?" She turned the radio on to the only station that could be picked up.

I listened. Nothing. Nothing good at least. but i listened. Soon the music cut off, and an announcer came on. The raspy voice gurgled something about a restaurant opening. " ... and will be only one of a chain planned to be opened in the next 3 years. Remember to make your reservations for Chez J, j horn's new restaurant!"

Great! J's some big... thingy, and i'm a waiter! What next? Pearlman's going to be his own band?

J

"So, Mr. Horn, do you think your restaurants will be a big success?" the woman asked.

" Sure, I guess so. It's hard to tell. Iv'e never had a restaurant before," I responded.

" What type of restaurant is it? Chinese? Mexican? Cajun? Fast food?"

I thought about it for a minute. " Well, it will be a little bit of everything, but mostly seafood since that is what I specialize in. I'm from Orlando, and that's near the ocean."

The woman looked through her notes. Finally she came upon a question that sparked her interest. She asked," Will you be doing anything else with your career besides these restaurants? Merchandise or something?"

I combed my fingers through my blonde hair that is now a mop-top. The answer to that was hard to think about. I mean, what if no one likes the restaurant? I wouldn't do anything else. But what if they loved it? The next thing I'd have to do would have to be better than that. I could... " I might start my own cooking show if someone wants me to."

***

It's been 5 months since Natural split apart and went their separate ways. For the first three weeks, I stayed in Orlando. I became a bag-boy at the local grocery store.

After tiring of that hard life and the humiliation of the break-up, I decided to move. I went to Maine and tried to find Pat because of the clue that I found in his house. After two months of searching, I came up with nothing. No Patrick. No clue. He could've changed his name, but then it would be impossible to find him.

So that led me to St. Louis, Missouri. Up until two weeks ago, I was the local chef at a fast food joint. Then one night I had some friends over, and I cooked for them. Luckily one of them was secretly a food critic and helped me come to where I am now.

The fans of Natural that live in St. Louis have been attacking me, but otherwise I'm doing fine. There have been lots of interviews in the last couple of weeks, and I still get fanmail, just not as much.

***

The restaurant was opened with success. Millions came to it. The first person was seated at 4:09 p.m., and by five o'clock the wait was three and a half hours. It was awesome. I cooked every single dish by myself. At 7 p.m., I ran out of shrimp.

Between cooking, I peered out of the door at everyone in the restaurant. Some of the most famous stars had shown up, ordering the most priciest dishes. By this rate, I could retire in three years!

It was around 9 p.m. when I recieved an order for my most prized delicacy, the Shrimp Burger.

The Shrimp Burger was four large, grilled prawn smothered in teryaki sauce on a toasted rye bun with chow mein noodles, chopped carrots, diced onions, fried rice, and sweet-n-sour or soy sauce.

I would have proudly assembled the meal, but there were no prawns anywhere in a radius of 10 miles. None of my waiters and waitress wanted to break the news to the poor girl, so I left my spot in the kitchen to go tell her.

I walked out into the busy dining area, scanning the room for table 21. It was located on the far side. Keeping my eye on the black-haired girl sipping a glass of water, I calmly strolled towards her.

" Excuse me, ma'am." I cleared my throat as she turned to look at me. I flashed the green-eyed beauty a smile." I'm Josh Horn, head cook of this..."

" I know who you are, but why are you speaking to me?" the girl asked.

" Um, well... your order. I can't make it. I mean, I can, but I can't. I mean, one of the ingredients can't br found. It's not missing or anything, it's just that we're all out."

" Oh, well, I was really hoping for that dish. I've had a long day, and I've heard that is the best meal in the world. "

I rubbed my hands and looked at the other near-by tables. When I re-faced her, I asked," Could I get you something else?"

" I guess I'll have the White Crab Cruise."

With the new order, I slipped back into the kitchen. Then I began the process.

I ripped apart a Snow Crab and took the meat out. The meat was then threw in a pot of boiling water with some seasonings. While that was cooking, I fixed a penne pasta with tomato sauce that was chunky and spicy that I made. Then, I removed the crab meat and buttered it up. After that, I threw it on the grill and used my special lemon-pepper spread. I put it on the pasta after the crab was done.

I brought the dish out to the woman instead of letting the waiter. When I laid it on the table, I said," I'm sorry. I hope this will make up for it."

More orders came in, and I had to get back to the kitchen, but first I told the waiter to inform me when the black-haired woman was finished eating.

Soon the waiter came over to me. I took off my chef's hat and wiped off my apron. My bluejeans were stained, but I couldn't fix that. I walked out there to her table.

" Yes?" the woman asked.

" Miss ..."

" Jessi Davis."

" Miss Davis. I am so sorry about the Shrimp Burger, and I feel that I still need to make it up to you. Is there anything else I can get you?"

She messed with the pink flower in her hair as she thought. As she thought, I noticed that she was wearing a white, button-up, sleeveless shirt and a pink and purple striped, floor-length skirt. I had to ask," What do you do?"

"Huh?"

" What is your job?"

" Oh, I'm a student teacher."

"Oh."

Finally after a long silence, she said," I can't think of anything."

" Are you sure?" I questioned.

" Well, there is one thing."

"What?" I responded while trying to remove a stain from the tablecloth. " Anything. Just name it."

She looked down, embarassed. When she looked back up, she gazed into my eyes. Jessi giggled. " Your phone number."

pat

It's been three weeks since i heard about all the boys lives except michael. i'm still wondering what happened to him. was mike dead? i guess i'll never know.

levi and i are having some heated fights. most are about me staying out late and coming home around 3 in the morning. that was the case today.

" i can't believe you! it's 2:57 am, and you just got home! what were you doing?"

i snapped," it's none of your business what i do! i can do whatever i want whenever i want! you're not the boss of me!"

" as long as you live here, under the roof i allowed you to for the past months, you will be home by 11 pm unless you call and say exactly where you're going, what you're doing, and when you will be back!"

" Maybe, then, i don't want to live here!"

" go ahead, king, and see how far you get without someone to back you up! i won't, and neither will your precious bandmates!" levi clapped her hands to her mouth, realizing she had hit a button.

" what did you say?" i asked suspiciously.

" you heard me. mike can't help you, and neither can ben, marc, and josh!"

tears welled in my eyes." you knew? why didn't you tell me? i know you know the pain i've been through. i could've talked it over with you and relieved built up emotions, stress. why?"

levi stared at me, and then she turned her head in shame.

" so that's the way it's gonna be. fine. i don't need the others or you. i was so stupid to love you!" i ran from the apartment into the cold blizzard outside.

snow swirled about my hair, which was in my face. the snowbanks were deep, but i trekked through them anyway. the wind howled in my ears, but i could still hear her calling me. it pushed me further.

why? was it just me, or did she use me? levi wanted me all to herself. no, the diner, town, used me. i was the reason the restaurant was so popular. they knew it was me, knew i was a star desperate for attention. i got attention, but the wrong type.

i wanted a girl's attention. someone who loved me for myself, not for the hit i was. i thought i had found that someone, but i was wrong.

i tripped over something, falling in the snow. i laid there, not wanting to get up. i cried tears of pain.

levi must not have liked me staying out late because she thought i was with another girl, but, if that was the case, she was wrong. i was working, working another job so that i could buy her something nice. i never told her because i was ashamed of the job; i was a janitor at the gas station.

i was freezing; i was colder than i had been when i had first made my trip to paradise.

paradise. a funny name for such a shallow town. parasite would be a better name for the fame-hungry town.

i had stopped crying; i was relaxed. my heart beated slower, and my heavy breathing was now gentle. the coldness had gone away; it was replaced with warmth. the whiteness around me seemed to grow brighter, to a pale illumination. i was at peace.

suddenly, someone threw themself upon me, and i was shivering again.

" please, patrick, wake up! wake up!" levi's voice screamed faintly.

i willed my eyes to open. they cracked so that i could see a dark blur hover above me.

" you're alive! hold on, patrick. i'm taking you home. just stay with me!"

i felt myself being dragged over the icy terrain. it seemed like forever before i felt the warmth of the apartment around me.

***

i was lying on levi's bed, feeling well enough to talk to her. she sat on a chair by the bed.

" i'm so sorry, pat. i would've told you i knew if i didn't think it was going to do you any harm."

" how would it have 'harmed' me to talk about myself running away?"

" honestly, i don't know. maybe i thought i would lose the guy i had met lying on the ground. i don't know."

" well, it's in the past, and we can't change that. what i want to know is what about our future?"

levi thought about it for a moment. " i want to be with you."

ironic, isn't it? this whole time i've strived for that answer, yet it doesn't seem like that's what i want now that i've heard it.

" maybe we aren't meant for each other. maybe our paths weren't even supposed to cross. maybe i thought i was in love, but it was just a substitution for the love i've been missing," i pondered.

" or maybe we were meant for each other, and your just denying it."

i looked over at her. " maybe your right." i smiled. " that's a lot of 'maybes'."

" yeah, but one thing is for sure."

" and what's that?"

" i love you!" levi squealed.

" back at you," i joked.

" um, i got this letter today," she held up a folded piece of paper," from my friend, jessi. she wants to have a reunion for all of her friends in middle school, and i'm invited. we're allowed to bring dates, so i thought..."

" sure, why not," i said." it's not like i'm gonna know anyone there."

Marc

It was cold outside. Venice is not very warm in the winter time. Snow fell lightly and gathered on the street and blocks of ice in the canals. I pulled my coat closer to my body.

The band and I were riding in a gondola to go to supper. As we pushed through the water and ice, I thought about Natural. In one week, it would be the sixth month anniversary of the day we split on TRL. It would be half a year without the others, but without Patrick for 7 months. Did any of them ever think about me?

We arrived at the restaurant quickly. Anthony, Carrey, Jason, Kris, and I jumped off and tied the boat to the dock. The snow melted off our coats when we entered warmth like the sun melts into the night.

After we were seated and had ordered, we began the discussion of the tour that started the next day.

" It's gonna be so cool!" Jason squealed. " All of our fans will be there to see us."

" Or all of them will be there to laugh at us," Anthony snapped. He never likes to think of the future, and when he does he always talks about the bad things that could happen.

" Well, I can't wait," I said, trying to remove a lemon seed from my tea. " It's been so long... I haven't performed in front of a live audience in months."

Kris laughed at my statement. " It's been long for you... what about me? I've never performed in front of a live audience; I don't even know if I have any fans."

I thought to myself," I'm your fan."

Jason leaned over the table to talk to her. " Don't worry. Our fans are both guys and girls, and I think alot of the guys aren't interested in us." He waved his hand pointing to everyone but Kris. " Besides, you shouldn't worry about what the fans think as long as you're lovin' what you're doing."

I definitely agreed with him; you shouldn't care what others think because it's your life, and you shouldn't quit what you're doing because others don't like it.

" So where do we began the tour again?" I asked.

The group sat there puzzled. Apparently no one knew. I looked at them and made a face that said I was mad at them. " And why don't you guys know?" I questioned with my arms folded.

" Why don't we?!" Carrey shouted. " Why don't you? You're the leader. We're not. It's not our responsibility."

" It's not mine, and I'm not the leader."

" You sure act like it," Anthony accused.

Jason had to add," You do all of the publicity things, so that makes you the leader to the fans."

" I only do that by myself because I'm the only one who volunteers, except for Kris; she does her share."

Jason nudged Carrey in the side with his elbow. Acting like I couldn't hear, he growled," The only reason Marc doesn't know is because he's to fascinated with Kris to see anything else in his life."

Kris turned to face me and smiled. Her cheeks got red. I blushed too. I got up and left the restaurant after leaving my portion of the bill on the table. The gondola was the whole band's transportation, so I couldn't go home. Sitting in the small boat, being covered with ice and snow, I waited for the others, shivering.

***

The next day we made up. The guys were really sorry. We figured out that we were going to start the tour off in Venice, so we didn't have to drive anywhere.

The stadium wasn't as big as any of us thought it would be. The stage was tiny, and the lights were dim. The manager was an idiot and didn't know what he was doing.

Everything was a disaster at the concert. First, Jason accidently kicked his drum set during the first song. Then, Carrey forgot the words to the chorus of the third song. Everytime Carrey, Kris, and I jumped up and down with our guitars, it shook the stage, and Anthony swayed, missing the notes on the keyboards. The smoke machine didn't work; instead it shot out sparks and created a small fire that was, luckily, extinguished. During " Benvenuto," Jason's hands got sweaty, and his sticks slipped and hit me in the back of the head.

After the concert, we went to the tour bus. Our driver began the trip to the next arena while Carrey went to sleep and the rest of us talked. Anthony almost passed out during a sentence because he was so tired. Kris and Jason went to sleep on the couch, but I got up and went to my bunk.

The next concert was even worse.

When we arrived at the arena, tons of fans were waiting, but there wasn't any security guards, so we had to run through the crowd and receive plenty of bruises and cuts.

At the beginning of the show, I messed up. Instead of playing a Black Acid song, I was jammin' to a Natural song. Then I fell off stage when I was jumping around with my guitar. After that, Kris's guitar strap broke, and her bass hit the ground so hard that it broke in half; she had to get one of her others to play the rest of the concert. During the break at halftime, the manager told us that our concert would have to be cut by 20 minutes because the Latin superstar Miguel Jaunito had come to town and was putting on a concert right after us. Like, seven minutes into the next part of the show, a string on my guitar snapped and whipped back so fast that I wasn't able to stop it from hitting me; I think I'm gonna have a nasty, red scar from it.

All of us were hurting when we got to the bus. Anthony was mad at Miguel, but he didn't have the strength to argue, so he laid his black-haired head down and drifted into a silent slumber. Jason ate some pizza and a steaming, juicy hotdog. Instead of reading some comics, he went to sleep. Carrey washed his extrmely dark blonde hair and fell asleep eating some cereal. Kris and I sat on the couch together and watched some t.v.

The mail had came, and Kris dug through it until she found something addressed to her. She ripped the package open. Inside, a box of Mexican chocolate and a note had been delivered. Kris grabbed the note and set aside the chocolate. I took it and began to eat it.

" What's that?" I asked, pointing with a piece of the candy to the letter.

" It's from an old friend. She's having a reunion, and I'm invited," she answered, reading it. Then she looked up and saw me eating the candy. Kris gave me a disappointed look and crossed her arms.

" What?!"

" Nothing. The note only says that I can bring a guest or date. I would ask you to go, but it seems that you're busy." She glanced at the chocolate. " Maybe one of the others is free."

What? She was considering Jason, Carrey, or Anthony? They're like L 7s compared to me. I begged for Kris to change her mind.

" I guess you can come, Marc," she gave in.

" Thank you, Kris. I love you-" No! I let my secret slip. But instead of my idea that Kris would slap me, she leaned over and kissed my lips with her soft, gorgeous ones! I was definitely in heaven.

pat

the day was seeming to drone on and on. it was already noon, but hardly anybody was at the diner. that just seemed to make the hours last like days.

" you can go home, levi. i don't mind staying here and working the rest of the day by myself."

" are you sure, pat?"

" yeah, me and joe will hang. you know... man stuff."

levi smiled at me." thanks, you're a real friend." i bent down to kiss her.

" bye!" i yelled, waving my hand at the girl in the pink waitress outfit." see you tonight!" she had already left the parking lot when i went back inside.

i was cleaning a load of dishes when a young girl, probably in her late twenties, with auburn hair strutted in. she closely resembled my friend, the cook.

" hey, lev..." i started to yell, but then i remembered i had let her leave work early. pulling my hands out of the greasy dish water, i wiped them off and retrieved my notepad and pen from my apron.

the girl sat down at a booth near the door where the sunlight was shining in." hello, i'm pat, your waiter for today. if there is anything you need, let me know, and i'll see what i can do. today's specials are: the triple-towered pancakes, only $3.99 while supplies last; the barbeque burger, a burger with a patty, piclkes, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and barbeque-flavored chips; and cheesy onion rings. so, what can i get you to drink?"

the woman jerked her head up to see mine as soon as i had finished. she stared at me with hazel eyes, creeping me out. she just stared. and then when i was about to ask if anything was wrong, she turned purple because she had forgot to breathe. the woman took a deep breath before she let out a piercing scream.

joe came rushing through the kitchen door, obviously recognizing the high voice. " karen, what's wrong?"

" it's him! he's here, he's here, he's here!" karen shrieked.

karen? wasn't that the name of joe's crazy, natural-worshiping sister?

" patrick, meet my sister, karen, your biggest fan."

" um, hi," i said to the girl. she just giggled and waved at me.

joe told karen," okay, patrick doesn't want to talk to you about his past life. he just wants to take your order so you can eat. is that alright?"

"yes, anything for patrick."

" i'm going back to the kitchen. if you need anytihng, just yell," he joked.

as joe left, karen said to me dreamily," i'll have some tea." i got her the tea,then she explained," i only drink sweet tea. if you could just dip your hand in the tea..." i get it. she thinks i'm so sweet that i could be a substitute for sugar.

" how about some sugar instead?" i poured it out into her cup." what can i get you to eat?"

" anything. you can get me anything."

" okay. you can have the salmon sticks. do you want a potato cake or some fries?"

" i'll take a patty-cake."

" whoa, karen..."

she squealed in delight." he said my name! patrick bruce king, jr., of natural said my name!"

" don't you have a husband?"

" forget about whats-his-name; let's just runaway!" karen informed me.

" sorry, i don't like you the way you like me."

" stop it patrick! you're killing me. i know you secretly want me."

i pointed towards the kitchen." i'm going to go place your order now." i left in a flash. karen was definitely crazy.

***

karen was smacking on some dessert when she cried out in pain. i ran from the counter over to her, reaching the red head before her brother could. he follwed behind me.

" what's wrong, sis?" joe asked.

karen doubled over in pain, almost falling out of her booth. luckily, i caught her. she mumbled something, but neither joe nor i could understand the slurred speech.

" what? i didn't catch that?" i cupped my hand to my ear. she mumbled something again, but i still couldn't hear her." what did you say?"

karen grabbed my collar and pulled me down to eye level. then she yelled," it's time!"

joe fell over onto the ground, passing out. i looked at him, then at her." time for what?"

" time for what? time for the baby to be born!"

that's when i noticed her large stomach and remembered the conversation i had had with joe about a month before.

" i'm going to go call the hospital. what's the number?"

" duh, 911, but it's no use. everyone including the doctors are at the parade on the other side of town. you're going to have to deliver it."

" no way, girlfriend. patrick's a waiter, not a delivery boy. joe can do it."

karen rolled her eyes at me." hello! where have you been? joe's knocked out cold. you'll have to do it."

" no, i won't have to do it! do it yourself!"

" i can't, i'm giving birth."

" fine. i'll call levi. i know she ain't at the parade," i said.

" but it's coming now!"

***

Great! I had to do it. it's not fair, I tell you. That baby just popped right out. Well, it was pretty amazing though. It was a girl and was named Patricia (like i didn't know that was gonna happen). the baby, i mean patricia, was wrapped up in my apron, but she was washed in the sink first. The nastiest part was when i had to cut " the cord."

" Can i hold her?" i asked after joe awoke.

" No!" karen growled and pulled the infant closer. She kissed its head and cooed to it.

I gave her a dirty look. " Sorry. just because your most favorite person in the whole entire world delivered your child and wants to hold it doesn't mean you have to get defensive and rude."

The red head looked up at me. She quickly apologized," I'm so sorry, Patrick. I love you so much. Here, take the baby." She held the tiny human out to me.

" Thanks, but I changed my mind. keep it." I turned away and walked into the kitchen. I had forgot to wash my hands, so I soaped them up really good. Then I called the hospital because i knew the parade was over.

I heard the door open two minutes later. Instead of it being an ambulance, it was levi. she ran up to me and gave me a hug.

" i've been worried about you," she whispered into my ear. She sounded like she'd been crying.

" Huh?"

She looked into my eyes. She had been crying, and her eyes were all puffy and red. " You didn't come home at 3:00, and I thought you might have had an accident." Levi buried her face into my clothes.

I felt sorry for her. " It's okay. I've been here with joe and karen. Karen gave birth, joe passed out, and I had to deliver little Patricia."

" patrick!" levi exclaimed." you're my hero!"

how could i be a hero? that just didn't seem right. well, at least not to me.

" everyone, i have an annoucement to make," levi proudly said." patrick bruce king, jr., is my boyfriend, so all you other girls who wanted him will just have to back off. today, he proved that he is more than a pretty face on a magazine. i want to honor him with a party at my house tonight. everyone is invited!"

why? why did she have to embarass me like that? now i wouldn't be able to talk to anyone because i was too shy. they would probably think i was a snob or something that didn't want to talk to anyone because i was higher than them.

" levi?" i cautiously asked.

" yeah, honey? what is it?"

i rubbed my shoe on the floor, and kept my eyes from looking into hers." can we just be alone tonight? i don't want to be a star. i just want to be plain, ordinary pat."

" okay, i'll tell everyone."

Ben

I paced my bedroom, nervous at what I would do next. I checked the clock on my bedside table, and then I looked at my watch. It had only been a minute since I had peered at both of them before.

" You can do this, Ben. Just pick up the phone and call her," I lectured to myself." But what will you say to her? 'Hi, remember me? I'm Ben Bledsoe. You interviewed me a month ago. I was just wondering if you wanted to go out?' Na, that's so stupid. Just act on impulse, Ben."

I picked up the telephone on my bed and dialed Alli's number. It rang once, twice, and a third time." She must not be there," I thought." Better hang up." As I was about to put the phone on the reciever, I heard a sleepy voice answer the phone.

" Who's calling?" she asked.

" Hello, Alli Burlington?"

" Yes, this is she. What do you want?" Alli yawned from the other end of the line.

" Um, this is Ben, Ben Bledsoe. You interviewed me a month before."

" Yes, I remember you. Why did you call me at five in the morning?" she asked." It's not even daylight, yet."

" Oh, sorry. I was wondering if you wanted to go to breakfast or something? Maybe around 6:30."

" Sure, why not? I'm already awake so that doesn't matter. So, I'll see you at 6:30. Meet me at Sunny Shore's Breakfast Shack. Do you know where that is?"

" Yeah, see you there. Bye," I ended. I hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief.

***

We met each other at the shack, but it didn't open until seven, so we sat outside on the sidewalk, facing the ocean. We talked about ourselves, but that didn't last long, so we sat in silence.

When the restaurant opened, Alli and I ventured inside, sitting at a two-person table on the screened-in porch. I ordered a stack of blueberry waffles with whipped creme, maple syrup, and a cherry on top. Alli ate a ham and cheese omlet that also had a variety of fruits on the side.

The cool breeze ruffled my hair as we laughed at each other's jokes. Then she sparked my interest with some information about the cold cure I had found.

She told me that a nearby children's hospital was already using the medication, and that today children would be recieving the shots for free.

" It would cheer some of the kids up if you went and talked to them. Maybe you could give them some courage by telling them a story that happened to you when you were younger," she purposed.

" But I don't know," I answered." What if I can't tell them a story because I don't know any?"

" Just make one up." Alli smiled at me." A lot of the kids are afraid of shots, and it might help their fears if you just visited them. You know, because you work with needles and all."

I thought for a moment. " I'll do it." Alli clapped her hands together and giggled." But only to cheer the children up."

I really didn't like the idea of going to a hospital; it brang back old, haunting memories. And somehow, I knew that I would have nightmares, but I wasn't about to break my word.

Alli and I finished our breakfast with a cup of coffee each, I paid the check and left quite a bit of money for a tip, and then we strolled down the street towards the children's hospital.

It was a sunny day, but the heat of the rays could not penetrate the freezing winds of a winter in Cali. Frost, not snow, covered the roads and palm trees and would cover them until the heat of midday melted the tiny ice crystals.

At around 9 o'clock, I entered the building followed by the reporter. We took off our light-weight jackets and hung them up in the main lobby on a coat rack. A secretary wearing a nurse's uniform directed us to the area where the medicine was being administered. It was on the fifth floor, down a narrow, white hallway which opened into another waiting room. A door lead to the clinic.

Children were with their parents in the waiting room, anticipating the nearing event. I tried to smile at one, but the boy just bursted into tears.

" Mr. Bledsoe," a nurse ordered," if you would just come into this room where the shots," three kids began to whine," are being given, you can talk to the patients." She motioned towards a small room.

I went in the room and sat down on a white, plastic chair in the corner. I heard a male nurse call one kid into the room. They both came in, and the boy screamed at the top of his lungs. It was the same boy I had seen earlier.

The black-haired boy kicked and screamed as the nurse moved closer with the needle. The nurse backed away when the child flung his arms at the nurse's head. He left the room and said to me," Maybe you can calm him down."

I looked at the child, and he looked back at me. " So, what's your name?"

" I'm not allowed to talk to strangers!" the boy growled.

" Well, you just said something," I pointed out.

The boy crossed his arms." You say your name first!"

" My name's Ben."

" Hey, that's my name! Are you here to get a shot too?"

I shook my head." No, I'm just here to tell you that it's going to be okay. Shots aren't all that bad. They keep you from getting sick. And if you get sick, you have to get more shots."

" So? Shots hurt!"

" It only stings for a little while. Besides you get candy, or stickers, or a really neat band-aid."

Ben sat wide-eyed, staring past me at a picture on the wall." For real? You really get a cool band-aid? You don't have to have one of them ugly pink band-aids?"

The band-aid that he was talking about wasn't really pink, but it was more of a flesh color. I nodded my head, and then I said," You want to see where they give you a shot?"

" Sure." Ben jumped off of the bench where he was sitting and trotted over to me. I rolled up my left sleeve, turning my arm so that my elbow was pointing down. I pointed at my upper arm.

" It's usually given around here." I drew a big circle on my arm with my index finger." See, no scar. So are you ready for your shot?"

Ben pouted," No!" and he turned and walked back to the bench. He hoisted himself up on it.

" What if I stay in here with you?"

"NO!"

" But don't you want to grow big and strong like me? You have to be healthy you know."

Ben scratched his head." I guess so."

" Be brave! Tell the nurse when he comes back in to ' bring it on' !" I encouraged.

The nurse, as if on cue, came back into the room with the needle. He checked the medicine to see if it was still in good condition." Are you ready now?"

" Bring it on!" yelled Ben.

I gave him the thumbs up sign and then waved goodbye as I left the room. He waved back at me. When I closed the door, I heard Ben scream in pain. I rubbed my right arm.

I had lied to the little boy. I did have scars from the many shots I had given myself. They were on my right arm, not my left. Rolling up my sleeve, I saw the tiny dots around the inside of my elbow. There were so many that I dared not count them.

I had to leave. I could no longer stay here in the hospital." Alli, can we leave now?"

" If you want to," she answered.

" Let's go," I smiled.

We left the hospital, walking back towards the breakfast shack that we had eaten at earlier. Alli and I strolled in silence for a while, taking in the beautiful sights.

" Hey, Ben, I was wondering if you wanted to go to this reunion my friend is having?"

" Why me?" I asked, staring at a dog ripping up a box of stale popcorn.

" I don't know. I guess I like you, love you."

" You love me? But we just met."

She lowered her head." I loved you from the moment I first saw you. I think we might be soul mates."

Honestly, now that I thought about it, it was love at first sight." Weird, those are my feelings, too."

" So, will you go with me?" she asked hopefully.

" Yes." I took Alli in my arms and kissed her. She hugged me afterwards, and then we walked back to the shack, hand in hand.

pat

i thought i would never see the hit-and-run beauty again, but i was wrong. she was living in the same apartment complex as i was, and i didn't even know it.

i found out one day because i saw her outside the window, wearing a long fur coat of mink. I recognized her bright red hair fluttering behind her and that high-pitched giggle.

What was she getting away with this time? had she robbed the gas station, kidnapped a little girl, or had she done something worse? what's worse? something like stealing candy from a baby.

As she walked over to her car ( the same one that had hit me ), I watched. The girl reached into the front door of the vehicle, leaning in so far that she disappeared from sight. What could she be doing?

After a few minutes, the suspicious girl emerged into my vision. In her hand, she was clenching a few small, flat boxes that had pictures on them. What were they? They were less than an inch thick and not very tall nor wide. The red head trotted back to her apartment.

I thought I'd never know what she was doing until I noticed that she had dropped one of the boxes. i grabbed my coat and rushed outside so fast that I forgot to shut the door. Approaching the object slowly, I made sure there was no one around to see what I was doing.

When I picked the box up, I automatically knew what it was. it wasn't a box, but a cd case. And the case had my favorite singers on it. It was Natural.

I went back inside and dropped the case on the floor as i realized that my running away has totally destroyed my life and will always haunt me. Maybe after the reunion is over, I might go look for one of the guys. i might; I didn't say i would.

Mike

I strolled up to her door. I needed to speak to her. Maybe she would understand. She had to understand. I needed her to agree, or I wouldn't go through with it.

" Lynn will say yes. Don't worry," I tried to reassure myself. " Don't worry." Pounding the door with a fist, I knocked.

Lynn opened the door and smiled. Her wavy brown hair was frizzed out, and her face was clean of make-up. Hugging me, she greeted me. " What brings you here?" she quizzed me after I said ," Hello."

My eyes wandered around her yard. I picked at my fingernail, then scratched my head. Could I really do this?

" So?"

I looked at her. I had to answer. " We need to speak. We need to speak now."

She gaze at me like I was crazy, but when she saw the worried expression on my face, she knew it was urgent and couldn't wait. Letting Lynn guide me, we rushed into her small house.

After I was settled and Lynn had brought some poorly made lemonade, she sat down and listened. I sipped the drink, but I couldn't hold it back. I had to speak.

" Lynn?" I whispered.

" Hmm?"

" I need to get out."

Her eyes met mine. " What?"

" I need to get out. Out of Klown Kiss. It's not right. We need to get out. All of us. It's gonna ruin us. We can escape the Kiss and start a new life. Well, maybe not Charlie. He's already too involved and too dedicated."

" What are you trying to say? Are you saying that you're gonna quit? But Charlie. How can you escape him?" she said.

I faced away from her. After a minute of silence, I stared back at her. She could see that I was crying. " I'll run away. I'll run far, far away. So far that Charlie won't be able to find me. But I'll only do it if you come with me. I won't leave you to that mad man because I love you," I explained.

She sat there with her mouth wide open. I could tell that she was stunned. But did she love me? Did she love me enough to risk everything, including her life? Only she knew the answer.

" So will you give up everything for me and a new life?"

" I... I...," the burnette studdered ," I don't know. I need time to think." She rubbed her hands.

I shook my head. " Please think quickly. Time is not on our side." My legs picked me up and walked out the door. I couldn't think for myself anymore.

***

Ding!

I walked into the gas station. It was my work place, unfortunately. My job was running the cash register and cleaning the restrooms. Ug! Could my job get any worse? You bet your bucks it is; I get paid minimum wage or less.

Sliding behind the counter, I motioned for the other clerk, Shelly Sanders, to move.

Shelly, a 25-year-old, annoying, black-haired, navy-eyed, like 2 foot tall brat, didn't budge. She grinned, which was not a pretty sight since she never brushed her teeth, and hissed," You came in late again. I'm gonna report you to the manager."

" What? You can't do that!"

" You wanna bet?"

" Yeah."

" Okay." She began to head toward the door labeled "Manager."

I stopped her by stepping in front of her. Come on, I was ,like, five times bigger than her and definitely at least five times stronger. She growled and pushed me, but that didn't help.

" You wanna make something of it," I asked under my breath.

Shelly looked up at me and sneered. " My time's too valuable to waste on you."

" Too valuable?!" I was mad. " You're talking to a star here." I pointed at myself. Then I crossed my arms in anger.

" Ex-star is what you should be saying. You and them losers, Natural, broke up. Besides, you were never famous anyway."

Before I could make a comeback, a customer stepped into the gas station. They browsed the aisles and the freezers, searching for who knows what. Finally they stpped on the chip aisle and grabbed a bag of off-brand chips. The man was pretty old and took a long time to do everything. He shuffled up to the counter, laid his stuff down, looked at me, and went to the restroom. When he had looked at me, I noticed his face. He looked scared.

Looking back at Shelly, I said," You don't know who you're dealing with." Then I took the man's chips and paid for them myself because the old man looked kind of poor, and I wanted to help.

Soon I heard sirens in the distance. They sounded like they were getting closer. The man hadn't come out of the restroom. Was he hurt? I began to go check and see if he was okay when three police officers came in with their guns at hand.

" Everyone, put your hands up in the air!" the biggest one yelled. Shelly and I did as he said.

Another officer, a woman, barked ," Where's the man who called for help?"

" I'm here," I heard the feeble guy say. He came out of the restroom. " Arrest him." He pointed at me.

" WHAT?!" I screamed. " What did I do?"

The last officer, a younger man, questioned the elder. " Yes, what did he do?"

" He attacked my car last night. Him and those... clowns. I remember his braids and that tattoo that says ' Mike-o' on one of the clowns."

I looked at my tattoo. It was on the very upper part of my arm, almost on the top of my shoulder. My tank left it in clear sight.

" I have a picture," the old man announced. He pulled a picture from his pocket and showed it to the woman police officer.

" You're under arrest." She took some handcuffs and pulled my arms behind my back. They closed over my wrists. I was caught.

***

I knew the Kiss would make me end up here. The cops brought me to a stinky, dirty prison on the other side of town, the exact one that Charlie was held captive. There were no convicts. There wasn't even any lights. The floor was damp, and the cells were narrow.

I was in that awful place for two days. But I guess I deserved it. It was my fault that I joined the Kiss. I couldn't blame anyone but myself.

Lynn bailed me out because she had the money, and the old man didn't put any charges on me. She drove me to her house since I never told her where I lived. It was for the best.

" Hey, Michael." Lynn tried to cheer me up.

" Yeah?" I said lamely, staring out the passenger window of her car with my hand rested on my chin.

" I've received a letter that says I'm invited to a reunion. Do you want to come?"

I looked at her. " Do you really think I want to be around people after what just happened?"

Lynn giggled. Dimples appeared in her cheeks. " It'll be good for you. Anyway, it's in Missouri."

" If I say yes, then you have to answer my question that you've had two days to think about."

" Okay."

" Yes."

" Yes."

pat

knock! knock! knock!

someone was at the apartment door, and i was in the shower. i got out and slipped on a pair of boxers and some pants. running my fingers through my hair, i yelled," hold on for a minute!" a headache was forming.

" yeah, can i help you?" i asked as i swung the door open. it was that red head, probably wondering if i would be crossing the street anytime soon.

she peered into the door, nosily, scanning the room like she was looking for someone." is levi here?"

so she was looking for someone. but why levi? was she the red head's next victim?

" no," i said slowly." why?"

" oh, good. didn't like her anyway!" she laughed.

" so what do you want then?"

she whispered," you."

" what?" the red head dived at me, pushing me into my own apartment and shutting the door behind her. she jumped on me, knocking me to the floor, my head barely missing the sharp edge of the coffee table. her red hair enclosed my face as she smothered me with kisses.

i pryed her lips from mine, throwing her to the floor next to me. " what are you doing? you almost killed me half a year ago, and now you're smooching me. that's just wrong!"

she laid on the floor, not moving for fear i might do something to her. " kill you? that was an accident."

" have you forgotten, or am i just a crazy lunatic? you got out of your honda, checked to see if i was dead( and apparently you thought so), giggled, got back in your honda, and sped away while never looking back!"

the girl rolled over on her side so she could face me." you've got it all wrong! i saw that you were badly injured, so i went to the hospital and told them there had been an accident."

" sure, i'm supposed to believe that! an ambulance didn't even show up! explain that."

the girl ignored me and started to yap about me." i've known that you've lived here for the past few months. i know practically everything about you. you get up at nine most mornings, take a shower after you think about something, eat french toast while you look outside, and then you leave to go to work at the diner on foot."

" that's everything! yeah, right. i don't always do the same thing... sometimes i... no, that's mike...i almost never... wrong... i know i... okay, so that is everything in my life. but i don't even know your name."

" i'm angel parker."

" well, angel, i don't move as fast as you. and besides i already have a girlfriend, levi."

angel yawned and commented," i don't know what you see in her. i'm everything she is and more."

"well, you don't take the cake," i told her.

the girl droned on and on about how bad levi was and how good she was. i got up, and wiped my lips on the back of my hand." yuck! what flavor lip gloss do you wear?"

" oh, i made it myself. why, do you like it?" apparently she hadn't heard the 'yuck' part. she started to rattle some more until she noticed something that she hadn't noticed before." patrick! i knew you looked good with a shirt on, but i didn't know you looked good without one, too!"

" p-l-e-a-s-e! get over yourself! i don'tlike you!"

angel got up off the floor and stood in front of me, tip-toeing so she could be eye level with me." well, i like you!" she jumped on me again, this time smothering me with kisses all over my face.

levi walked in on us, dropped her groceries, and stood wide-eyed with this disgusted look on her face. " patrick!"

i pushed angel away from me and said," it's not what you think!"

" sure it isn't. so what is it if it isn't what i was thinking?"

angel stepped forward in tears." patrick's right, levi. i just came to see if you had seen my cd outside when... pat attacked me!"

levi looked at me, disgusted even more. " that's not true!" i said." she attacked me!" levi looked deep into my eyes, and then i pleaded," levi, you believe me, don't you?"

angel blurted," no, she doesn't! levi believes me!"

levi stepped towards me." leave, angel. don't ever come back."

" so, you really believe me?" i asked, unbelieving.

" you know, i don't really know what to believe. i caught you red-handed, or red-lipped, as i should say." levi rubbed a finger against my lips, and she held it up so that i could see the shade.

it was ' hot kiss 3000'.

J

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! " This is Joshua Horn. I'm not home right now, so leave a message."

I rushed over to the phone with a towel in my hand. I wiped some grease off my arms and fingers just as I heard that it was Jessi calling. Turning off the answering machine, I picked up the phone and said ," Hello, this is J. Sorry I couldn't get to the phone."

" That's okay," the high-pitched voice on the other end of the line squealed in delight. " I was just wondering if you wanna have lunch today?"

" Yes, who doesn't?"

The girl laughed. " Do you wanna go out for lunch with me today?"

" Let me check my schedule." I went over to my calendar and flipped the page 'til I got to the present date. I had to be at the restaurant by 3, and that took up rest of the night until midnight. The rest of the day was free, so... " Sure, why not? What time should I pick you up and where?"

" Pick me up at 11:30 at the school. I'm teaching today," Jessi informed. " See you later."

" Bye," I laughed only to find that she had already hung up. Placing the phone on the counter, I walked over to my new recipe for calamari. It was a disaster and blew up in flames. Oh well, no one's perfect.

***

" West Street? West Street? Ah, here it is," I directed myself to the school.

After waiting in my car until it was 11:30, I went inside to the office. It was a snug little room, located to the left when you walk into the school. There was no one in the place, except for a young male secretary of about 25.

" Yes?" he asked, smiling a pearly white, almost blinding smile ( and I thought only people in movies had dazzling teeth ).

" Mr. ... Johnson?!" I stated after checking his name tag. " Are you related to a Michael Johnson?"

" I don't think so." He began typing at his computer but stopped when he saw that I was still there. " Is there anything else?"

" Oh, yeah. Um, is Miss Davis about to go on a lunch break?"

Mr. Johnson scanned the computer until he got to her schedule. " Yes," the secretary proposed. " If you want to, you can go see her in room 19." The young man pointed in the direction of the room.

Walking down the hall, I noticed some finger paintings taped to the walls. They were very colorful and had intricate designs. Who'd ever think elementary school art was so Van Gouh?

I arrived at room 19 in about 20 seconds. Peering into the classroom, I saw Jessi at the head of the class, saying something about multiplication. I knocked on the door to get her attention.

" Oh, J... Mr. Horn, why are you here so early?" she asked, puzzled. The class stared at me.

" I'm not early; you're late." The class looked at Jessi.

She noticed the time on the clock. " Oh, I forgot to tell you that my break was changed today. It's at 12."

" Oh."

" You can wait here if you like." I sat down where Jessi motioned.

Some little brat in the front row figured out that we were having lunch together. " Student teacher's got a date!" the shrimpy little boy yelled.

" Austin! How dare you speak aloud when you didn't raise your hand." Jessi wrote the boy's name on the board.

***

" Austin didn't mean that in a bad way. He just speaks his mind," Jessi explained to me.

We were at a small Mexican restaurant in the downtown area of St. Louis. It wasn't the best food, and the service is sometimes bad, but the prices were low, and that's where Jessi wanted to eat. Personally, I would have picked somewhere else.

" Well , it really didn't bother me because... I thought that... you know... it was a date," I choked out. I hoped that she wouldn't laugh in my face.

" I planned it to be one."

We ate in silence until Jessi giggled. " What?" I wondered.

" You have cheese on your goatee," she snickered.

Wiping it off, I said thank you.

***

That night at Chez J was a total mess. Orders came in by the dozens, three of my waiters were sick, another one cut himself with a knife, and at 5 the wait was at the least 4 hours.

There was a couple who were having their first anniversary who wanted to see the chef. Naturally, I went out there, expecting praise. But no. The husband said that I had switched his noodle type with his wife's and vice versa. Come on, people, it's not that difficult to just trade plates! I'm a chef that takes millions of orders, and I'm bound to mess up somewhere. Just be glad I didn't switch it with somebody else's.

Then a group of 20 people came in, and together they had 38 different dishes. When the waiters tried to give them their food, they kept snapping and saying that it wasn't theirs, but it was the person beside them. Why can't they just take it and pass it down instead of making a big deal about it?

At 8 p.m., I burned my hand on the stove. It's so bad that I had to be rushed to the hospital, and the waiters had to cook the food. The doctor did surgery to sew up some of the third degree burns that had cuts in them. I won't be able to use that hand for two months, and it will leave a scar.

***

The next day the doctor let me go. Jessi picked me up since it was a Saturday, and we drove to the movie theatre. I bought us some food and the tickets when Jessi went to the restroom.

" So, what are we gonna see?" my date said after coming out of the ladies room.

We went into the seating area and picked a spot on the first row. The show hadn't started, but music was being played in the background.

After waiting for about 40 minutes, the movie began. I fell asleep during it, so I don't know what it was about. I asked Jessi did she like it after it was finished, acting like I wanted to know a casual opinion. The way she spoke about it made it seem like the best movie alive. Now I kinda wish that I had stayed awake during it.

Getting back into her little econo car, we drove to Chez J. When we arrived, I shuddered. I could still fell the pain from that stove.

We went inside, and I went to the kitchen alone. I looked at that torture rack, that stove. Oh, how I hate that stove. I glanced at the microwave, my new best friend.

" J?"

Apparently Jessi had followed me into the room. " Yes?"

" Well, I want to have this reunion for my friends," she announced ," and I was thinking..."

" I'll go with you to it."

She rubbed her foot across the floor. " That's not what I was gonna ask."

" Oh, sorry. What were you gonna ask?"

" Could I hold the reunion here?"

" Sure."

" And would you be the chef?"

" I guess; it's my restaurant."

" Good," she sighed ," because I already sent the invitations out that said that it would be held here."

Great! I really didn't feel like cooking with that " stove", and now I was gonna have to. I didn't want the food to be sick for my girlfriend's reunion.