The plane landed in Austin, Texas. It was the band's next stop on their little promotion tour. The success of their third album had been overwhelming and the record executives felt it was time for the band to do more interviews, photo shoots, and special apperances. Maybe even a few secret shows in small venues here and there.
John
Watson grabbed his cellular phone
and quickly started dialing.
"Hey! Guys, let's go. We gotta
meet the publisher at one,"
he called out to the two young
men fiddling through their
stuff.
"Chill Watto," said Ben, "I'm just looking for my watch."
"Have you seen my sweat shirt Ben?" asked the other boy, Chris.
"Naw, man. Ask Daniel. Hey. Where is he, anyways?"
"I think he was asleep in the back."
Ben got up after finding his watch he went to the back of the private jet to find his friend, Daniel.
In the back there was a figure laying under the covers on the couch. It moved only slightly enough to uncover a pair of feet.
Ben smiled mischivously to himself and got up close to the figure. He pulled down the covers to reveal Daniel's face. Ben put his face only a couple of inches from Daniel's and then he,"AAAAHHHHHHAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Daniel screamed and fell off the couch. He was distorted for a couple of seconds looking around helplessly for what was going on. Finally he spotted Ben on the floor laughing uncontrollablely. "You fucking knobjocky!" Daniel yelled kicking Ben, "I fucking hate it when you do that. Take fucking ten years off of my life why don't you? Shit!"
Chris and Watson came running to the back of the plane when they heard all the screaming.
"What the hell is going on?" asked Watson somewhat frustrated.
Ben, trying to restrain his giggling, stood up from the floor and answered, "Nothing. Just trying to wake up poor, Danny-boy."
Chris laughed, "Aww, poor Daniel," he bent down and pinched Daniel's cheeks, talking in a mock motherly voice, "Did the big, bad Ben scare you?"
Daniel pushed Chris's hand away, "Shutup."
"Okay, you guys. Knock it off," said Watson, helping Daniel off the floor, "Daniel, get ready. We have to meet the publisher by one."
"Yeah, all right. I'm coming."
Chris followed Watson while Ben stayed behind, "Sorry about that Johnsy. I just couldn't help myself."
"Yeah, I understand."
Ben nodded and started to walk out, "But, Ben," Daniel said.
"Yeah, mate?"
"I owe you one," Daniel smiled.
Ben flug his arms up into the air, "Bring it on Danny-boy."
They both laughed and Ben finally left so that Daniel could change.
Daniel, Chris and Ben stood in the lobby of the Embassy Suites joking around and making faces at people who stared at them when they walked by.
The publisher, Brian, looked over
at the boys while waiting with
Watson as he was checking them
in.
"How old are they again, John?"
Brian asked.
"Daniel is twenty. Ben will be turning twenty later this month and so will Chris in November. Why?"
"No particular reason, but I'm guessing that their sense of humor hasn't changed much since the first time you met them, huh?"
Watson looked at Brian
questionably, then looked over at
the boys and saw the faces they
were making at people. He
laughed, "No, they are still
the same kids I met a few years
ago."
Watson grabbed the keys and
walked over the band, "Guys, how
many times have I told you not to
bother the nice people?"
All three of them looked innocently at him, "Sorrrryyy, Watson," they said in little boy voices and cracked up laughing.
Watson just shook his head, "Well, here are your keys. We'll go to the rooms later. I don't want you guys getting too lazy on me," he looked at Brian, "Shall we go?"
Brian looked at his watch, "Yeah, I told the reporter we'd be there by two."
"Alright then. Come on guys. We got a schedule to keep."
The boys rolled their eyes and followed Watson and Brian out the door.
When the five men walked into the resturant a few people looked up from their plates and stared. Some kids went stiff in there seats when they saw the three young band members.
Ben leaned over to Daniel, "You think they know who we are?" he asked.
"Brian, over here," called out a man sitting at the bar in the middle of the big room.
Brian walked over to him, "Hello, Frank. How have you been?" The two men shook hands.
"I've been good Brian. Thanks."
Watson walked over with the trio right behind him.
"Ah, Frank, I'd like you to meet John Watson," said Brian.
"Nice to meet you John," greeted Frank.
"Same here," the two men shook hands.
Brian continued, "And these three are his prodigies," he motioned the boys over. "May I introduce Ben Gillies, Chris Joannou, and Daniel Johns. Collectively known as silverchair."
"Wow! It's a real pleasure to meet you guys. I really love your work," said Frank as he shook each of the boys hands.
"Thanks," said Ben, "It's nice to meet you too."
"Well, I have a table reserved in the upper floor. Shall we?" asked Frank.
As the men sat at the table Frank was taking notes during the random converstion, "So guys, tell me, what are your plans after this trip?" he asked.
Chris put his glass down, "Well, I guess we're just going to take another long break. You know let people take in the effects of Neon Ballroom."
"Basically, just wait and hope that people are gonna want more?"
Chris smiled, "Something like that, yeah."
Frank nodded his head, "So how 'bout you Daniel? What do you plan on doing?"
Daniel looked up from his plate a little startled by the question, "Umm, well. I don't know. I guess rest. That's pretty much what I've been looking forward to."
"No plans for writing another album again?" Frank asked intently.
Daniel looked confused by the question, but pretty much knew what Frank was getting at by the look in his eyes. "Umm, I don't plan on writing anything for awhile. I'm going to try and break myself away from music for awhile."
"Are you sure?" Frank asked more persistly this time, "I mean, the last time you guys took a break, you said you had to write because you felt like you would go crazy if you didn't. And, if, umm, I remember correctly, you almost did."
"Frank!" Brian jumped in quickly, "We had an agreement."
Chris and Ben looked at each other concernly.
Watson looked at Daniel and could see the pain and anger welling up inside him. He new he had to say something. "Umm, the boys are just planning a nice, long, well deserved holiday, Frank. There aren't any solid plans for an up coming record yet."
"Of course," Frank said,"I apoligize, Daniel."
Daniel looked up at Frank, but said nothing. Frank just smiled to himself and continued on with Ben to ask him of his plans.
Daniel sat there silent, not
hearing anything the others were
saying. What an asshole for
bringing up that subject. But as
Daniel recalled the question
again, he
began to actually think about the
answer. He never actually
thought about what was going to
really happen with the holiday
they were
planning. Last time, he
virtually vanished from
everyone who knew and loved him.
He wrote music to help him
cope
with all the emotions and
disorders he was going through.
He knows he doesn't want to write
music for awhile or even pick up
an instrument after this year is
over, but it's the only thing
that he knows. Music is
everything to him. It's the only
thing that comes close to
contentment for him.
Yeah, there was the art school he
was planning on attending. He
enjoyed painting and drawing,
but was that enough. He really
couldn't express his thoughts and
feelings with art like he could
through music.
What will I do? he
thought.
If I don't write, will I go
through
that hell again? What else can I
possibly do if something happens?
What if I do go crazy?
He suddenly felt sick and
scared.
He closed his eyes.
Please God,
don't put me back in that state
of
mind again. I may not be able to
take it. I'm afraid that I may
not survive it
this time.
"Daniel?" Watson leaned over, "Are you alright?" he whispered.
Daniel heard him but couldn't
respond. No, Watson, I'm
not
alright. I'm frightened. I'm
terrorified. What is going to
happen to me? What will I do?
Please, help
me.
Daniel shook the thoughts
from his mind and looked
up. He opened his mouth
slightly to answer
Watson, but instead...
he saw
her.
She sat at a corner table, in
deep thought, writing something
down. A journal possibly. When
she looked up
from her notebook, he could see
sadness in her expression. She
closed her eyes, as if trying to
block out whatever thoughts she
had
flooding her mind. When she
began to write again, she would
look so peaceful.
So beautiful.
Her flawless,
pale skin looked so soft. Her
dark hair, glittered in the dim
light of the room and fell
perfectly over her shoulders like
a sheet of silk.
He couldn't stop looking at her.
She seemed so intriqing, yet so
fragile.
What was
she writing? What was she
thinking? Why was it making it
her so sad?
Why couldn't he
stop looking at her?
It was
almost as if her beauty was
making all his pain go away.
Like if he stared at her long
enough, he would finally feel
true happiness.
If only it were that simple.
"Daniel? Daniel?" a voice shook his trance.
Daniel suddenly came out of his daze, "Huh? What?"
"Are you alright?" Watson asked once more.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You seemed a bit lost there for a second."
"No, really. I'm fine." Watson
looked at him with an
unsure expression. "Really,
Watson. I'm fine." Watson
nodded and returned to the
conversation still being
held. Daniel looked up
and met Frank's eyes. He had a
slight smile on his face that
made Daniel feel uneasy.
Daniel didn't like Frank from the
beginning. Something about him
just didn't seem right. It was
almost as if he were trying to
get something out of Daniel.
Possibly to destroy his success.
Daniel smiled a little at
himself. It's just my parnoia
talking. Why would
Frank want to hurt me? Unless,
he's a spineless, bastard
reporter. But, still.
I haven't done anything to
him.
Not really wanting to worry
about it anymore, Daniel directed
his
attention back over at the
girl. But instead of seeing that
lovely face, he saw an empty
table. He looked around the
room for her, but there wasn't
any sign of her.
Where could
she have gone to? He didn't even
see her get up and walk out.
In a jolt of desperation, Daniel stood up from the table. "Umm, will you excuse me," he said quickly, "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" asked Ben.
"Don't worry about it, I'll be right back."
He walked calmly away from the table, but once he reached the stairs he ran down them quickly, through the tables of people, leaving behind shocked gasps and whispers and out the door. He ran to the parking lot and looked all around the building, but she was no where in sight.
How could she have just disappered like that? Was she a dream or a figment of my imagination? No way. She had to be real.
Well, whoever she was, he felt that he needed to find her. For some reason, he felt that she held the key to finding peace with in himself.
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