Chapter 17
Durbbie:
I went back to my bunk and started gathering everything together. I never thought I'd be such a problem, but if I'm coming between these guys and their careers, then I'm the one who has to leave. Who cares that it's two days before I'm scheduled to leave? I'm sure AJ won't mind, and Kevin certainly won't, and the others don't really seem to care, so I'm home free. I can always sort things out with Melissa later. But between the whole Scott situation and hearing Kevin talk, my mind was made up.
Soon enough my bags were packed and I was ready to go. The only tricky part was getting out of here. I guess I'll just have to wait until everyone's asleep and then go.
Around 11:45, the guys were still going. "Don't you guys have a show tomorrow?" I asked casually.
"Yeah, but we can get up late. We don't have an interview or anything," Nick explained. At least he'll talk to me. Things have gotten really tense lately.
"I think I'm going to sleep. See y'all in the morning," I said finding an excuse to get out of there. True to my word, I went back to the bunk. Only this time when I crawled into bed, I clicked on my cell phone and started dialing the airport to make travel arrangements.
AJ:
"Is she OK?" I asked Melissa.
"Who knows any more?" she said. "I hope so. These past few days have been tough on her. I'm surprised she hasn't crashed already."
"I feel bad for her," I said.
Melissa laughed lightly. "Just don't tell HER that. She hates pity."
"But I mean, the information that she's told us or let us know is totally not a fairy tale. I mean, she writes her own music, does her hobby for a living, has an ass of a boyfriend, and she dropped out of school," I said. "I don't know what's not to pity."
Melissa looked at me. "Did she tell you WHY she dropped out of school?" I shook my head. "She dropped out because she hated it. It was her Hell. She'd be bantered constantly about her height, her weight, about her looks. Anything you could possibly make fun of, they did and she couldn't take it any more, so she quit. The day after she turned 16 she dropped out. Durbbie told me she just couldn't handle it any more. She had enough. And you want to know the weird thing? Durbbie's smart. She was going to take a few college level classes in high school, but didn't because she couldn't even walk through the hallway without someone pointing at her or making fun of her or insulting her, she stopped. Durbbie stopped feeling, and I think that out of everything she's done in her life, that's the oddest thing she's done. Durbbie is a VERY emotional person and only lets people that she trusts in and lets them know what she's thinking."
"But why didn't she talk to anybody about this?" I asked confusedly.
"Who could she turn to? Her parents weren't really helpful. Her other friends were busy with other things, Durbbie and I went to different schools, and the fact that she didn't fit in didn't sit well with her. She once told me that for about the last half of her sophomore year of school, she cried just about everyday because it hurt so much. Her parents didn't want to support her goals, so she severed ties with them."
I was totally blown away by all this. "I never knew."
"That's the point. The only reason why Durbbie's not on suicide watch is because she has her music. Without that Durbbie's nothing. She told me that herself. She told me that she was a nothing, that she felt that way. Music was the only real way Durbbie could express herself without feeling judged."
"So is that why she clammed up when I heard her play some of her music?"
Melissa's eyes went wide. "You mean she didn't push you away?"
"No. She played me a piece called "Tonight." It was really nice. Then she played "It Should Really Be Me" and a few others."
Durbbie:
I set my alarm for 2 AM to get out before everybody woke up. The stupid thing went off on time. I threw on my running shoes and slipped out of my bunk. I listened intently as I heard the rain pounding against the bus. Not deterred by the turn of weather, I slung my bags over my shoulder and exited the bus the quietest way I could.
Before long, I gave up on hailing a cab at this hour in the morning, and being soaked as is, I decided to hike the remaining 5 miles to the airport. It was a haul, especially with luggage and a shattered frame of mind, but it helped get my frustrations out. By the time I reached the airport a good hour and a half later, I was drenched.
The baggage was a disaster and so was customs. After waiting around another 2 hours, they started boarding the plane.
AJ:
I heard Durbbie's alarm go off and saw her leave with her bags. I found the note in her bunk that was supposed to "explain" everything and decided to go follow her.
I arrived at the airport just in time to see Durbbie look around one last time before turning to go board the plane.
I couldn't let her get away that easily. "Durbbie!" I called.
She turned around so fast that I half expected her to twirl herself back into the ground. "Leave me alone. I'm leaving."
I grabbed her arm. "Don't!" I begged. "Don't do it."
"Why not? I don't fit in here. There's no reason to continue. Everybody's mad at me. It's better this way," she said quietly. "Nobody has to see me go. Just pretend I never existed."
"I won't do that," I said trying to pull her closer to me. She wriggled away. "Why won't you let me in?"
The PA system blared something in French. "Let me go! I'm gonna miss my flight!"
"You're making a mistake," I pleaded again. "Don't go."
"I have to. Let me go. Pretend I never existed."
"I won't do that. You're too important for that."
Durbbie felt silent. "I think you're the only one that feels that way." She swung her carry on over her shoulder. "I'll have Melissa send you the pictures. It's been nice Mr. McLean," Durbbie said extending a hand for a handshake.
I pulled her in for a hug. "I'm always here for you."
"Thanks," Durbbie said shyly.
Durbbie:
I boarded the plane and got myself settled. I was freezing cold and totally soaked. I had no place to go when I got home. Scott had destroyed all of that as he had done with the rest of my life. Who am I kidding? I destroyed my life. Go figure.
I watched as the plane started to move away from the airport. I looked out the window to see AJ watching me watch him. I turned away as one solitary tear slid down my cheek.
THE END
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