"A night out will do you some good" Jenna said as she wound my hair around the curling iron wand. I cringed into the mirror as what looked like smoke started rising from my hair.
"Is my hair supposed to be smoking like that?" I asked
"Sure, only it's steam, not smoke. Don't worry Liz, I'm not gonna set your hair on fire!" Jenna laughed. At least one of us could laugh.
"I have to admit, it'll be good to see the guys play again" I said.
"Exactly! Now that they're famous and all, it'll make things even better! We get to sit in the VIP section , away from all the teenies"
"Great... so Derek and Will are meeting us at Shari's after the concert?" I asked. Shari's was actually a popular club for teenagers to go to on the weekend. It had just been opened and was "the place" to be seen. I watched Jenna nod.
"Will said as cool as my cousins are, they don't really wanna be seen at a Hanson concert. There. You're done" Jenna procliamed happily. I stared at myself and found myself smiling. My head was a mass of spiral curls.
"I never knew I had so much hair" I laughed. I heard a whistle behind us and turned around. Carol was in the doorway. She was grinning.
"Looking good hot stuff" She smiled. I laughed.
"Yup, all thanks to me" Jenna spoke up. Carol nodded.
"Oh but of course. Honey, I forgot to tell you but this came for you today from Sarah" She said, holding out an envelope. A letter from her. I was shocked as I stood up and retrieved the letter.
"Wow.. thanks... I haven't heard from Sarah in ages." I said. Carol shrugged.
"Sorry, it came in the mail today. Open it" She said, maybe a little to eagarly. I gave her a quizical look as I tore open the envelope and pulled out the notebook paper.
HEY LIZZIE!!!
SURPRISE!!! (again)
Look in your living room
Love Sarah
Jenna was reading over my shoulder and shoved me in the direction of my doorway. Carol got out of my way as I flew down the stairs and into the living room. No Sarah.
"Thats not funny!" I called upstairs. Then I saw another note on our fireplace mantel. I tore it open and read it.
Did I say living room?
I meant your bedroom
My heart was going a mile a minute as I pounded back up the stairs and burst into my bedroom. There she was. I let out a happy squeal and threw my arms around my friend. When I pulled away, I saw tears in her eyes.
"Whats wrong?" I asked, my eyes widening.
"Mum died" She said before collapsing into my arms. Shock hit me hard, then my tears came.
"What? How? When?" I asked, not quite believing what I had heard. Sarah couldn't talk for what seemed like a long time. I looked at Carol for answeres but all she could do was stand there with her arm around Jenna, the both of them crying also. Sarah's body jumped up and down with her sobs, as did my own. Finally she calmed down.
"Mum.. uh, she was on her way to pick me up from work when some guy just drove straight into her! He killed her instantly. Just drove into her. "
"Oh God, Sarah, when?"
"It's been nearly six months now.. thats why I haven't been in contact with you Liz, I've been a complete mess... just like you now, just look at your mascara!" She exclaimed, obviously trying to lighten the mood. We both let out tearful laughs as Sarah reached for a tissue and started wiping under my eyes carefully.
"Sarah's coming with us tonight" Jenna piped up. I'd forgotten she was there.
"Yeah! I get to see Hanson perfom live! I can't wait". Carol left us alone then, Jenna and I helped Sarah get ready. An hour and a half later, we were sitting with the other 'VIP's who turned out to be teenies with gold membership to the boys fan club. At least we were in front row. I found myself glancing at Sarah constantly, worried that she may suddenly burst into tears, because it was exactly what I was afraid of doing.
"How'r you doing?" I asked while Jenna had gone to the bathroom, with the line up that was bound to be there, we had atleast twenty minutes to talk. Sarah smiled.
"I'm fine... don't worry about me Liz, I'm on anti-depressants and they've helped... I've been getting grief councelling... I did kinda lose it there completely for a while, I just locked myslef away in this imaginary world where Mum was still alive you know? No one else mattered, nothing else mattered. I thought someone would have contacted you and told you but as it turns out, they didn't. I knew then that I had to come see you and tell you myself."
"Honey I'm so sorry... I wish I had've been there for you" I said, as my throat tightened. Sarah could see what was about to happen and held her hand up.
"Stop right there. If I hug you, you'll turn into a puddle on me, so I'm not going to hug you. Mum's in a better place now and she's watching over the both of us, she see's where I am and she's telling me to have a wow of a time at this concert and I plan to okay?". I smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, I can hear your Mum telling me to stop blubbering all over my new outfit because it cost me a bloody fortune" Sarah laughed. Jenna returned
"There is no way I'm gonna get to go before the concert... have you seen that line up? God, it goes on for miles!" She exclaimed.
"Thats why some people go before they leave home" Sarah pointed out. This was the first time my two best friends had met and I was greatful they were getting along. The house lights darkened and the audience noise level suddenly rose to just bareable.
"Ladies and... ladies, please make welcome, for the very first time since their deabue album release, on their very own home turf, Noisehouse Productions and the American Cat touring company are proud to present.... HANSON!!!" The deep male voice boomed over the microphone, from where I had no idea but I suddenly had to clap my hands over my ears as girls started shrieking left, right and dead center behind me. I had a proud smile plastered on my face as Isaac, Taylor and Zac came running out onto the stage. They came along the front row, each stopping to give Jenna a quick kiss on the cheek. I was able to catch Taylor's eye and grinned at him as he doubled back and bent to kiss my cheek. A few hundred hands came from nowhere and started grabbing at his hair and clothing but he managed to break free. I sighed as I watched him bound over to his keyboards and start playing energetically.
The concert was fantastic, as any Hanson concert would be. I hadn't been able to keep my eyes off of Taylor and found myself looking forward to seeing him at Shari's later on. Sarah, Jenna and I piled into Jenna's car and waited for about half an hour before we could make it out of the parking lot. Once out, we made it to Sharis in record time and were able to walk straight in thanks to our "connections". We found Will but no Derek.
"Oh, Liz, Derek couldn't make it. He got called into work last minute... he couldn't say no. He said to say he's sorry and he'll make it up to you" Will apologised for my boyfriend. I felt dissapointment flood through me but tried not to let it show. I shrugged and smiled.
"Thanks Will. Not much we can do about it is there?" I asked. He shook his head. Derek was saving up for collage to help is parents pay for it and worked as much as he could at a Shell gas station. I grabbed Sarah's hand. "Come on, lets go dance" I said.
"Will and I'll find a table and get some drinks okay?" Jenna said. I nodded and smiled. She was giving me time alone with Sarah.
"Thanks sweetie. See you guy's later!" I said as I dragged Sarah down some stairs and onto the dance floor. Sarah soon found a male partner to start dancing with so I was content to dance on my own, she soon dissapeared with her new guy friend and I stayed put. I don't know how long I was there alone but it seemed like five minutes when I felt a pair of hands rest on my hips from behind me. I grinned "Derek! I knew you'd show up-" I stopped when I was spun around and found myself looking up into Taylor's eyes.
"Guess again!" He smiled. It was infectious, his smile and I found myself smiling back at him as I hugged him
"You were fantastic tonight!" I exclaimed.
"Why thankyou. I aim to please"
"And so you should" I grinned. Taylor pulled my hips to join his as we swayed back and forth to the music, his hands never leaving my hips. We danced for ages, getting closer and the dancing getting sexier. "I need a drink!" I yelled out after a long time.
"What?". I leant in close to Taylor's ear
"Drink!" I exclaimed.
"Ahhh, okay. Come on" He grabbed my hand and lead me to the bar.
"What can I get ya?" The barman asked after seeing our underage stamps.
"A soda and..."
"Water please" I asked "Bottled" I added. The barman nodded.
"Sure". We got our drinks and found Will, Jenna, and Isaac. Sarah was no where to be seen.
"Where's Sarah?" Both Jenna and I asked each other at the same time.
"I don't know!" We answered.
"She met some guy pretty much straight after we got to the dance floor... she said she was going upstairs with him and I haven't seen her since... that was a good two hours ago" I said, worry welling up inside me. I could see Jenna was thinking the same as me.
"Wanna go look for her?" She asked. I nodded.
"Sounds like a good idea". I turned to Taylor "Jenna and I gotta look for Sarah, remember her?"
"Yeah, your friend from Australia... why? something wrong?" He asked, concern crossing his face.
"I don't think so... I just wanna make sure she's okay. She's never been here before.... I'm sure she's okay. We'll be back" I said as Jenna took hold of my hand and dragged me away. After about ten minutes of searching together Jenna stopped.
"This is pointless. Why don't we split up.. if either one finds her, sms to let the other know and we'll meet back at the table okay?" She said. I felt for my bag and felt my cell phone down the bottom, nodding I said
"Sure. Good luck. If you find her, tell her I'm gonna kick her ass for making me worry". Jenna laughed.
"Okay, I'll see ya back at the table then"
"Yeah." I said and watched Jenna climb the stairs to the third level of the club, the R'n'B room.