“CHLOE!” The ear piercing scream ripped her from the deep sleep she had been enjoying. She sat up quickly, her eyes darting around the small white room, finally falling to a figure running through the door.
“Chloe! Chloe! Chloe!” Kat leaped onto the twin bed next to her sister, yanking the light green blankets off, and pulling at her arms. “Come on. Come on. We need to leave right now.”
“Wait,” she protested sleepily. “Where are we going?” She reached over clumsily to the nightstand, hitting away the hands reaching for her and grabbing her watch. “It’s only 9:30. What’s happening? And why are you in your church clothes?”
Kat stopped grabbing at her sister and looked down at the pale yellow skirt and white blouse she was wearing. “I have to wear this for my interview this morning. It’s okay, right?”
“Oh, yeah,” she nodded slowly. “And why do we need to leave?”
“Guess what.” Kat’s smile widened again to reveal her braces.
“What?”
“I was caller eleven!” she squealed excitedly.
“Caller what?”
“At the radio station, 103.7. I was caller eleven.”
“Oh no,” she muttered, falling back into her pillows. This couldn’t be good.
“And do you know what caller eleven wins?”
“’NSync tickets,” they spoke in unison, Chloe less enthusiastic than her sister.
“So, who are you taking? Summer or Courtney?” Summer Adams and Courtney Thomas were Kat’s two best friends. Chloe was beginning to imagine the war that would break out between the two of them to earn the second seat. Maybe they would bake brownies...
“You.”
Chloe sat up again, dreams of baked goods slipping away. “Me?” she asked.
“Don’t look so surprised, Chloe,” Kat giggled. “I mean, you wanna go, right? Mom said you might when I asked her. And you said you liked their music. Besides, you can drive. Or you could let me drive. I have my permit and everything. You just have to be in the car with somebody who is an adult. You’re twenty-one, so you count.”
“Yeah, Kat. I’m an adult, but wouldn’t you have more fun with one of your friends?”
Kat looked dejected for a moment, but quickly recovered. “But it will be so much fun! And we’ll be so close. I don’t know where the seats are yet, but they’ll be on the floor, that’s for sure. And you’ll have so much fun hanging out with me. You won’t even remember that Justin gives you the creeps.”
“There’s something not right about that guy.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. Nobody should be that hot,” Kat laughed, pulling her sister out of her bed. Once Chloe was successfully standing, Kat grabbed a sweatshirt from the clothes rack and the purse hanging next to it. “Your keys in here right?”
“Um, yeah,” Chloe said slowly, scratching her forehead before catching what she just said. She grabbed the items from her sister’s hands, tossing them onto the bed. “Wait! Where are you going?”
“You’re taking me to the station to pick up the tickets, duh. But we have to hurry. I have to be at Mr. Luke’s at ten.”
“Katherine Eleanor Hamilton,” Chloe said, arms crossed across her chest.
“What?”
“I am not taking you to the radio station right now.”
“But...”
“First of all, it’s at least twenty minutes away.”
“No,” she started to interrupt.
“At least. Second, I’m not showered yet, I’m hungry, and you need to get ready for that interview.”
“It’s not a TV station, Chlo’. Nobody’s gonna see you.”
“I don’t care.”
“But...”
“MOM!” Chloe yelled, marching down the hallway. “Mom, where are you?”
“She’s outside, but Chloe!” Kat ran after her. She followed her out the sliding back door. Mrs. Hamilton was leaning in the garden, hand rake in one hand, spider plant in the other, a large straw hat adorning her head.
“Mom, tell her that I am not driving her to the radio station.”
“Why not, honey?” she asked, standing up and wiping her hands on the tan towel tucked into the back pocket of her overalls.
“Why not? She has an interview in, like, fifteen minutes!”
“Well, not now.”
“But we’ll be back in time,” Kat protested. “If not, Mr. Luke loves Chloe. She can tell him why I was late.”
“Fat chance,” Chloe laughed. “You’re not late to a JOB interview.”
“Would you mind driving her afterwards?”
“Once I join the world of the living.”
“Afterwards!” Kat gasped. “That’s in forever! What if they think I’m not coming and give my tickets to someone else?”
“They’ll still be there in an hour, Kit Kat,” their mom smiled, twisting her nose playfully. Kat shrieked and jumped back. “Don’t worry yourself into a frenzy.”
“Mom, don’t. You’re gonna get me all dirty!”
“Katherine,” a voice called from the patio. The three girls turned to find Mr. Hamilton standing there, balancing himself steadily on crutches, car keys jingling in his hand. “You almost ready to go?”
“Frank, you can’t drive like that.”
“You don’t need your left leg to drive,” he said stubbornly.
Kat looked between her dad standing there with keys and her sister standing there in her pajamas. She skipped happily over to him. “Let’s go, Daddy. I’ll drive!”
“Isn’t the man in enough pain already?” Chloe mumbled under her breath.
“Chloe.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Good luck, Kat!” Mrs. Hamilton waved. “We’ll send Chloe to come pick you up in about a half hour. You’ll get your tickets then.”
“You had to let her call in, didn’t you?”
The older woman put her arm around Chloe’s shoulder, watching the two forms exit through the house. “She needs a little fun. She hasn’t been able to do much since your father’s accident, so this will be a nice change of pace for her.”
“She wants me to go with her.”
“You will, won’t you? Right after she got off the phone with them she asked me if I thought you would go. She’s really excited about it.”
“Of course I’ll take her. But I’m not letting her drive my car.”
“Kat!” Chloe shrieked, pressing her palms firmly against the dashboard to brace herself. “Slow down! And use your blinker!”
“Relax, Chlo’,” came Kat’s calm response. “I know what I’m doing. I practice all the time.”
Chloe looked out the window, eyes widening as she saw herself whizzing by all the traffic. She slammed into her seat belt suddenly as the car came to a screeching halt at a red light. Seconds later they were flying again.
“The speed limit is 45,” Chloe said as calmly as she could through gritted teeth. How she was talked into letting her sister drive to the radio station, she didn’t know, but as she watched the speedometer climb, she truly regretted it.
“I’m not going that fast.”
“If you get pulled over...” Her words of wisdom were cut off quickly at her sister changing lanes. She dug her hands into the armrest, knuckles turning white from the pressure. “God,” she began, praying out loud, closing her eyes tightly to protect herself from the images of her sister driving. “I would first like to say thank You for allowing Kat to win the tickets. Now if we could make it to the station in one piece, without any scratches on my car, that would be great. Also, while we’re at it, could You give Kat some driving skills cause apparently she doesn’t have any. Amen.”
“That was mean, Chloe,” Kat pouted, keeping her hands firmly at two and ten on the steering wheel.
“What?” she asked, feigning innocence.
The car twisted itself around violently, going over a bump then quickly stopped. Kat turned the keys, the car shutting off.
“We’re here,” she said smugly. “In one piece and without a scratch on your precious car.”
Sure enough, Chloe looked through the window where a large green and yellow sign appeared in front of a tall office building. 103.7, the ‘Liz’. A cartoon gecko smiled at her, and she sighed, relief washing over her. Her hands still shaking, she undid the seat belt and held her hand out to her sister. “Keys.”
“But...”
“Now. I’ll be driving home.”
“It wasn’t that bad...” Kat began as the two climbed out of the Neon and made their way up to the seventh floor. “...That’s not gray hair, it’s blond, stupid...” Her words trailed off as the elevator doors opened, revealing a small, hideously decorated waiting room. “Wow.”
“Why anyone would want a huge lizard to be their mascot is beyond me,” Chloe mumbled under her breath.
“I think it’s cool,” Kat smiled, taking in all the various geckos painted on the walls above jungle printed sofas.
“Can I help you?” a friendly voice came from behind a large semi-circle desk. Chloe looked to see a short blond smiling at them.
“Of course you can,” Kat replied, happily coming forward, placing both hands on the smooth surface while trying her best to remain calm. “I won tickets.”
“To?”
“’NSync.”
“Name?”
“Katherine Hamilton. I was caller eleven this morning,” she beamed.
“Okay.” The woman began looking in her computer. “Id?”
Kat looked back at Chloe worriedly. “Um, I, uh, have a school id? Does that work?”
“No driver’s license?”
“I’m only fifteen.”
“You over eighteen?” the woman sighed, turning to Chloe.
“Yeah, I’m twenty-one.”
“Okay, you’ll have to sign for the tickets. Can I see your id?”
“Sure.” Chloe dug through her small black purse, looking for her wallet, finally pulling out an id. The woman checked them both before quickly smiling.
“Okay. You’re all set. Go down the hall to your left, first door on your right. I’ll buzz you in, tell them you’re here. They’ll give you your tickets.”
“Thank you!” Kat smiled brightly.
“You’re welcome. And congratulations.”
Chloe followed her sister as she bounced down the hallway singing Pop quietly to herself. She finally stopped at a large glass door and looked back to her sister.
“Here?”
“Uh, yeah. I think so.”
Kat turned the handle and was soon greeted by another smiling face, this one not so friendly. The stare coming from the prematurely balding man made Chloe a bit uneasy. No wonder he worked radio.
“Hey, I’m Doc,” he greeted, shaking Kat’s hand when she extending it.
“Wow,” she gasped. “You’re the morning show guy.”
“That I am. And you’re the girl who called from the shower,” he laughed, giving Chloe a thorough once over.
“You called from the shower?” Chloe asked, looking at her sister in disbelief, attempting to shake off the disgust growing inside of her.
“Well, that’s when they played the hot track,” she said, blushing slightly.
“It was definitely a first for the show.”
“This is where we get the tickets, right?” Chloe asked, more than ready to get away from this guy’s curious gaze. She could feel him undressing her with his eyes and began wishing she was wearing a robe over her shorts and tank top.
“Yup. All I need is a signature, and they’re yours.”
“Where do I sign?”
He sighed at her resistance and sat down in an office chair, grabbing a clip board. “Right here, sweetheart,” he handed it to her. “Right next to your... daughter’s name?”
She glared at him hard. “Like I was going around screwing people when I was six. That’s my little sister,” she snapped. “Asshole,” she mumbled, scribbling her name illegibly on the line.
“I’m sorry,” he said, holding his hands up in defense. “Didn’t mean to offend you. We get a lot of young mothers in here.”
“I’m sure you enjoy that. Tickets?”
He handed Kat an enveloped with her name written across it. “There you go, Katherine. Enjoy the show.”
“I’m fifteen, you know,” she offered, taking the envelope from him. “And Chloe’s only twenty-one. It would be impossible for me to be her kid.”
“I see,” he said, winking at Kat. “You look a lot younger than fifteen.”
“I do?” Kat said, insulted.
He shrugged as Chloe pulled her out into the hall. “Bye, honey!” he called.
“What a jerk!” Chloe mumbled, walking quickly down the hall.
“I look like I’m fifteen, right? I mean, usually people think I look older than that.”
“You are still dressed up for your interview. It makes you look a bit younger.”
“And you don’t look that old.”
“Thanks.”
“I think Doc thought you were pretty. He kept looking at you weird.”
“I noticed.”
“Oh my God,” Kat breathed in slowly. Chloe stopped walking and looked behind her when she noticed her sister was no longer at her side.
“What?”
“Chloe!” Kat squealed. “We’ve got third row! We’re gonna be...”
“...So close,” Kat gasped, eyes wide as she followed the man to their seats in the large stadium. She unknowingly fiddled with the bright yellow wrist band that clung tightly around her, allowing her access to the floor. “Chloe,” she smiled, grabbing her sister’s hand as the guy pointed to their seats, the first two off the long ramp cutting the floor in half. “We’re, oh my gosh, we’re right next to that thing!”
Chloe laughed lightly as she smiled at her sister. “Remember to breathe, Kat. It’s important.”
“I know. I know. I’m cool, calm, and collected,” she said, just as she tripped over her feet, knocking over somebody’s cup of Coke. “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” the guy frowned, picking up a program and handing it to his girlfriend. Chloe felt bad for him, probably dragged here against his will. “It only had some ice in it.”
“I’m still super sorry.” She smiled again before slipping into her seat a few rows ahead of them. “Wow.”
“You know, I told you that you shouldn’t have worn those shoes,” Chloe said, pointing to Kat’s small feet, strapped into three inch black platforms. “You’re going to break your ankle by the time the night’s over, and if not, you’ll surely have sore feet by tomorrow.”
“You’re just jealous that I’m as tall as you in these,” Kat giggled, looking down at her feet. She had wanted to go all out tonight. It was, after all, her first concert. She had spent the entire morning planning her outfit, then finally blowing the rest of her birthday money at the mall. Her red toe nails matched her tank top perfectly. The shoes going along with the black Capri's she was wearing. She looked, in Chloe’s opinion, a lot older than fifteen this evening, probably about eighteen, easily. It kind of made her worried.
She had gone with the opposite approach, comfortable in an old worn in pair of jeans, and a high cut pale green tank top, flip flops that matched, and her blond hair swept up in a messy ponytail. She actually just wanted to cover up as much as possible, worried she would have another run in with the radio guy.
“No,” she laughed. “I don’t care if you’re my height. It doesn’t matter cause I’ll still be able to see, and if you do get in my way, I know I can take you. All I’m saying is, I bet you will be dying to get out of those shoes by the time they hit the half way point of the show.”
“Whatever. I have a feeling with seats this close, I won’t be worrying about my feet.”
The concert finally got underway, and Chloe found herself having a surprisingly good time. She had gone to a few concerts here and there, but never had she been this close. Kat kept laughing at her whenever she was caught dancing around to the music, pretending like she knew the words to the song. Even though the CD had just came out about two weeks ago, the crowd knew the words already, which made the guys on stage happy. They were giving their all to this show.
Even Justin wasn’t bothering Chloe as much as he normally did. She could never fully shake off the weird feeling he caused when she saw him, but she pushed it out of her mind as much as possible. She didn’t understand why he caused such a reaction in her; none of the other guys did anything, but she decided not to dwell on the fact and enjoy the show, which she was.
“Ugh,” Kat groaned, leaning over to adjust the straps crossing her feet. “I’ll admit it. You’re right. It’s like, mid show, and my feet are killing me.”
“Told you so.”
“Whatever. I also told you that you’d have a good time. I was right.”
“And so you were. They put on a good show. Don’t like the dancer’s though. They’re kinda, uh, skanky.”
“Oh my goodness. I know!”
“They’re coming back on.” The two girls turned back to the stage as the opening for Up Against the Wall was beginning, and the dancers began polluting the stage. Chloe liked this song.
“It’s almost two o’clock. It’s time to make my move. The after hours spot is where we’re going to...”
She could imagine Dave dancing around at a club to this. She laughed at the image in her head of him working it with a group of scantily clad women around him before turning around to look behind her where she found the guy who’s pop Kat spilled dancing and singing all the words with the band. It made her laugh again, knowing by the look on his girlfriend’s face, that he had dragged her to the show.
She finally moved her attention back to the stage. When she did, she looked into a pair of very clear blue eyes focused directly on her. Justin stopped singing, stopped dancing, and stared at her with wide eyes that seemed to search her entire being. Chloe looked back at him uncomfortably, wondering what the hell was going through his mind. JC had taken over singing his verse of the song as he stood there. He finally snapped out of his daze when the chorus started again.
He turned quickly, realizing that he had just frozen mid song in front of thousands of people and slamming into the brunette dancer that was behind him. She fell to the ground from the force of their collision, pulling him down with her. They landed with a thud that echoed in Justin’s microphone. He tried to help her up, but she was obviously pissed, pushing him away, and climbing to her feet. The two of them ran back to the main portion of the stage, where she then pushed him up onto a Velcro wall, with a little more force than necessary, Chloe guessed from the look on his face that soon followed, the glare after that.
Chloe was cracking up. She hadn’t liked the dancers, that one in particular, and the look of shock on her face when Justin had plowed into her was priceless. It had made her entire night.
She shrugged to people when they looked at her curiously, wondering why she had caused Justin to mess up so badly. She downplayed it, as much as she could, forgetting anything had really happened, even though the look in his eyes wouldn’t leave her mind. She shoved it to the back, still laughing from the fall.
“What was that about?” Kat asked after the guys had exited the stage.
She shrugged again. “Don’t know. I never knew I had such an effect on pop stars,” she laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Did you see the look on that dancer’s face? God, I wish I had a camera. I want to relive her falling on her flabby butt over and over and over...”
Chloe sat back and watched the rest of the show, which seemed to go off with out a hitch. There were no more trips or falls, not even any ‘hiccups’ in the words, much to her dismay. She wanted to see the rest of the dancers fall or embarrass themselves, which she knew was mean, but she just couldn’t help it. She barely even got another look from Justin.