Life After That

by Barbara Kevin

  Andrew soon hung up the phone. And then, shook Kirstin's hand.

  "So, you are Miss Kirstin Addams."

  "Yes, that's me" she gave him a smile. She felt more comfortable around him than around Mr. Goodman because Andrew was closer to her age.

  "Ok then. Let me tell you what you are gonna be doing here. We are starting this new show here at MTV in 3 weeks. We needed new people. We got a lot of people to work on it too but I noticed that I couldn't do the editing all by myself, so I had to have an assistant. And that's where you come in. How do you like it so far?" Andrew asked Kirstin. She sensed he was flirting with her so she decided to play the same game.

  "So far, so good."

  "Great. The editing will be all on you and me. It's a short show. A typical 30 minutes show, not so difficult to do. The only thing is that this show was on this other channel and MTV decided to buy the rights to it and it's now gonna be shown here and the group management would like the editing to be pretty similar as it was on the other channel, so we'll have to do a little research about that and we're already running a little behind schedule."

  "I'm sorry. I'm not quite following you here. You said group management. What is this show about?"

  "Oh, sorry! It's about this band, O-Town. We'll be working on 'Making the band'."

  Chapter 11

  ORLANDO, FL

  "1, 2, 3 and that's it." Dan was practicing, in fact, teaching Ashley some of the steps for the song 'Take me under' on the little rehearsal area they had at their house "I think you got it now Ash."

  "Yeah, I think so too. Thanks Dan."

  "No problem, bro."

  They made their way into the kitchen to find the other 3 guys eating cereal at the kitchen table. They were being videotaped already because the show 'Making the Band' would be starting in less than a month and MTV needed a lot of material to work for the first episode.

  "What do we have today? Anybody knows?" Trevor asked putting his bowl of cereal and spoon down in the sink.

  "Hm, we got a meeting with the Mikes. They called about an hour ago saying they would be coming soon, so they should be here at any moment now. They said we'd have a meeting. I don't know what it is about though." Dan answered.

  "Good. I wanna talk to them about the editing again." Jacob said "I didn't like the editing they did there at ABC. I wanna discuss that with them."

  "Yeah, no one was really happy with that Jake. I think Mike and Mike will bring that up." Erik told him. The other 2 seasons, when the show was airing on ABC, the guys were not happy with the way the episodes were lead. Especially season 2. So they wanted to be as much part of the editing process as possible.

  When the Mikes got to the O-Town house, they went straight to the dinning room to have their meeting. They discussed about the last dates of the tour (they were finishing a tour opening for Britney Spears) and some rehearsal schedule. Jacob, seeing that the MTV issue was not being brought up, decided to speak his mind:

  "What about the show? Did you guys talk to someone at MTV about the editing problems we had at ABC?"

  Mike Morin was the one who answered him:

  "Not yet. I've talked to one of the producers and asked for the number of the responsible for editing and I still didn't get a call back. But I'm gonna rush things and call him later. I wanna talk directly to the one responsible for the editing part, maybe arrange a meeting. Do you guys wanna join the meeting or leave it to me and Mike?"

  "I wanna be at the meeting." Jacob was the first to answer followed by a "Me too" that came from the other guys.

  "Alright then. I don't know if it's gonna be possible for you guys to go to NY right now because of your schedule and the last 2 concerts with Britney are gonna be here in Florida, but maybe I can ask for the person in charge of editing to come here. How does that sound?"

  "Great." Dan spoke and it looked like it was on behalf of the group.

  "Good. So as soon as I have a date settle, I'll let you guys know. Anything else?" As no one answered, he carried on "Ok then. I think this meeting is over. We have to go now. You guys have the day off. Try to practice your routines a little bit." And then he and Cronin were off.

  NEW YORK CITY – MTV Studios

  "I'm sorry, what?" Kirstin couldn't believe her ears.

  "What what? What didn't you get?" Andrew didn't understand her behavior.

  "We'll be editing Making the Band?"

  "Yeah, that's what I told you before."

  "Making the Band is moving to MTV and we are gonna be responsible for editing it?"

  "Yeah Kirstin. What's the matter? You seem weird. Is there a problem? With the show I mean?"

  Yes, there was a problem. Now that Kirstin was finally forgetting about Ashley again, she would have to see his face every single day at work? Hell yeah, it was a problem! But she couldn't say that to Andrew. She needed that job too much. She couldn't afford to lose it because of some stupid love issue.

  "No, of course not. Why would there be?"

  "That's what I thought. But it looked like you were in shock for a moment there, I was worried."

  "No, don't be. Making the Band! I'm gonna be working on Making the Band. That's just… great!" she had her 2 thumbs up. But she sure was uncomfortable with the news.

  "Ok. Can you leave me your phone number so I can call you later? We don't have the tapes here yet, so we can't start working, but I'll call you as soon as I get the material and we can start working on that."

  "Yes, sure." she got a paper and a pen from his desk, wrote down her numbers on it and handed it to Andrew "Here's my phone number and my cell number."

  "Terrific. Then I guess this is it. Anything else you wanna ask?"

  "No, I'm fine."

  "Good. Then thanks a lot Kirstin. I'm sure it will be a pleasure working with you." he said giving out his hand. Kirstin shook it:

  "You too. Bye."

  "Bye."

  And she was off of MTV.

  When she was outside the building, she chose to go for a walk on the 5th Avenue. She wanted to think over about how things would be now she got that new job. First she was so happy to get that job, but now she wasn't so sure she wanted it anymore.

  "Oh, it's gonna be terrible. I'm gonna watch hours and hours of video material with Ashley on it. How am I suppose to forget about him if I'm gonna see so much of him every day? Oh Lord and what if he's with somebody now and then I'm gonna have to watch him kiss this girl all the time. Why did you have to become famous Ashley, why? Why hadn't you just stayed there in Redding? If you had, things would be so much easier for me. I wouldn't have seen you again." But she knew Ashley wouldn't be just somebody when he'd get out of high school. During high school, he was part of the football team, he took drama and music classes. She already knew back then he would be really successful when he'd get older. At that moment, walking through that crowed sidewalk, she remembered clearly one of the conversations they had about it on her front yard, sitting on the swing, after one of his Friday night games.

  FLASHBACK

  "Ash, will you remember me when you are all big and famous?"

  "Probably not." He answered all serious from his swing. She stopped swinging and exclaimed:

  "Ashley!" She then gave him a little punch on his arm. He laughed and said:

  "Of course I'll remember you K! You shouldn't even have to ask! How am I gonna forget my biggest fan? The one person who's at every play, performance and game I'm in! I think you've been in more stuff than my mom has!" He looked at Kirstin, who had a shy smile upon her face "I'm never gonna forget my Princess."

  They just stayed there for a moment 'til she broke the silence:

  "And I'm never gonna forget my Superman."

  END OF FLASHBACK

  "My Superman… His princess…" Kirstin said to thin air.

  Ashley used to call her Princess because of the time she was helping him with his lines for this play he was on. He was a humble guy, declaring his love to this Princess, and Kirstin was reading t
he Princess' lines. She didn't remember the play too much; she just remembered that when they were done with the rehearsal, Ashley said she would be a great Princess because she had the looks, the kindness, all it takes to be a Princess. Kirstin, of course, got embarrassed by that comment and he, noticing that, decided to call her Princess from time to time just to annoy her. She never told him though that she did like it when he would call her that.

  And she'd call Ashley Superman because he was a Superman fanatic every since he was a kid.

  She just smiled remembering the great times they had together.

  She then suddenly woke up from her thoughts to the sound of her cell phone ring.

  "Hello?"

  "Kirstin?" The voice on the other end asked.

  "Yes…" she answered not recognizing the voice.

  "Hey it's Andy."

  "Oh, hey Andy."

  "Listen, I just got a call from O-Town's management and they wanna discuss the editing. It has something to with the last season's editing, they were not happy about it so they wanted to arrange a meeting to talk about it." Kirstin just shook her head. She knew things would get more complicated "But they can't come to NY due to schedule problems so we are gonna have to go to Orlando."

  "We are going to Orlando?"

  "Yes."

  "When?"

  "Tomorrow, at 1 p.m."

  "And when are we coming back?"

  "The day after."

  "And this meeting… just the management team is gonna be there, right?"

  "No, in fact, the boys asked to be part of it, so they will be there."

  "Of course they did. Great!" Kirstin sarcastic said. 'Just what was missing' she thought.

  "So, can you meet me here tomorrow by 10:30. So we can go to the airport?"

  "Yes, sure, 10:30."

  "Good. Then see you tomorrow."

  "See ya."

  The next day she was gonna meet Ashley again. 'How is he gonna feel about it? How am I gonna feel about it?' She wasn't sure.

  ORLANDO, FL

  Dan got off of the phone and went to the living room where the other 4 guys were playing videogame.

  "Guys, that was Cronin on the phone. He wanted us to know that the meeting was arranged and they are coming tomorrow. The meeting is gonna be here at 8 p.m."

  "Ok" the 4 said in a chorus.

  NEW YORK – Kirstin's Loft

  "No way! You're kidding me!" Grace was in shock by the news she got from her best friend.

  "Yep, that's exactly how I reacted." Kirstin called to tell Grace about her meeting with Andrew. "But you know what? I don't care. I'm not worried anymore."

  "You don't care? You are gonna see Ashley again! Hello? The guy who broke up with his girlfriend because of you and was devastated when he thought you had a boyfriend. He must be pissed at you!"

  "We don't know that. We don't know if he broke up with his girlfriend because of me and he was not devastated when I told Tom was my boyfriend. He was mad. So... yeah, he is probably pissed at me."

  "Well, who wouldn't?"

  "Grace, I'm not worried. And I don't see why you should be."

  "I'm not worried! It's just that… how can you not be worried about what's gonna happen?"

  "G, you know how I believe in fate, right?"

  "Yeah…"

  "So, I got to think about it after I got the news I was gonna work at 'Making the Band'. You know that I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. It's not just coincidence. So if this thing came up, it's because it had to happen. It was meant to happen. So let it happen! Let's see how that's gonna turn out."

  "It's gonna be interesting."

  "To say the least!" they both giggled. But Kirstin's was a nervous giggle "So, I have to go packing now but I'll call you when I get back."

  "You better."

  "Don't worry. I will. Good Night, G."

  "G'Night K."

  THE NEXT DAY AT THE AIRPORT

  Kirstin and Andrew were already inside the place. They were fastening their seatbelts when Kirstin asked:

  "So, where is this meeting gonna be?"

  "At the band's house."

  "Their house?"

  "Yeah. They live together. Did you know that?" Kirstin nodded "Have you ever watched the show? Do you know the band?"

  "A little" 'If he only knew' she thought "I've watched the show just a couple of times."

  "Then you know them better than I do."

  "But why is it gonna be at their house? Don't they have like an office or something?"

  "I don't know why it's gonna be at their house. I didn't ask. I didn't think of it as a problem."

  "Yeah, you are right."

  "Kirstin, are you ok? Since yesterday, you've been acting kinda weird. Are you worried about something?"

  "No, it's nothing, really." she wouldn't talk about it with a guy she just met.

  "C'mon. I know it's something. Are you nervous about the job? Is that it?"

  "Yes" she lied, hoping that way he would stop bothering her about it "It's my first time doing this, a meeting with important people I mean, and it's also my first time in Florida…"

  "It's your first time in Florida?" Kirstin just nodded "Oh, you are gonna love it. It's hot, but it's beautiful."

  "I bet it is."

  ORLANDO, FL

  "They're here!" Mike Cronin yelled on his way to get the door. Dan, Erik, Jacob, Trevor and Mike Morin were all sitting at the dinner table.

  "Where's Ashley?" Morin asked.

  "He was gonna take a shower, but that was like, 40 minutes ago. I'll get him." Erik informed going up to Ashley's room.

  Kirstin and Andrew were greeted at the door by Mike Cronin, who led them to the dinning room. Kirstin felt butterflies on her stomach. She was nervous, sweating, she thought she would handle the situation better. She didn't say a thing when Andrew introduced her to Mike as his assistant, she just shook Mike's hand. Every step she would take, she would get more and more nervous. Finally they got to the dinner table. Ashley wasn't there. She felt relieved. Maybe he wasn't coming.

  "Everybody, this is Andrew Jackson and his assistant, Kirstin Addams. They are gonna be editing your show." Cronin introduced them to the guys at the table.

  "Hey, I'm Jacob." Jacob, who was sitting on the first chair at the opposite side as they were standing, got up and shook Kirstin's and Andrew's hand.

  "Hi, I'm Dan." Dan, who was sitting beside Jacob, did the same.

  "He! Trevor." Trevor, who was sitting on the first chair at the opposite side of Dan and Jacob, did as his other friends did.

  "And I'm Mike Morin."

  "So you are the one I spoke to on the phone?" Andrew asked.

  "Yes, it was. Please, sit."

  Kirstin sat beside Dan and Andrew sat on the chair in front of Kirstin, leaving an empty chair between him and Trevor.

  "Thank you." Andrew was still doing all the talking "Isn't there 5 guys in the band?"

  "Yeah." Jacob decided to speak "Ashley and Erik. Erik went upstairs to get Ashley. They will get here in a sec."

  'So he is here' Kirstin thought. She felt like running, leaving everything behind. She was good at that. But she couldn't, mainly to the fact she felt her whole body was numb. She then heard a voice coming from behind, it made her heart beat rapidly.

  "Hi. I'm sorry I'm late. I'm Ashley." he said giving his hand out to Andrew, not minding the girl that had her back to him.

  "Hey Ashley. This is my assistant, Kirstin."

  "Hey Kir…" Ashley stopped talking when he saw the too familiar face.

  Chapter 12

  Kirstin didn't want Ashley to start talking about their personal lives in front of everybody, so she gave him a look so he'd understand what she was about to do and would go along with her:

  "Hi Ashley, Kirstin, Nice to meet you." She held her hand out to him. He got her hint and shook her hand with a incredulous look:

  "You too."

  Jacob, Erik, Dan and Trevor, watching that scene, r
ealized that was THE Kirstin. Ashley's Kirstin. Andrew and the Mikes didn't know a thing, so seeing Ashley there, staring incredulous at Kirstin and still holding her hand was a weird picture for them. There was an awkward silence for a moment and Erik decided to end it:

  "Hi Kirstin. I'm Erik. Nice to meet you." he held his hand out to her. Kirstin unlocked her eyes from Ashley's and let go of his hand.

  "Hi Erik. Nice to meet you too." she replied shaking Erik's hand, the Latin guy she remembered from 'Inferno'.

  "You two, please sit." Morin motioned for Erik and Ashley to sit. Erik took the sit between Trevor and Andrew.

  Ashley was still staring at Kirstin when Cronin informed:

  "Ashley, you are gonna have to get a chair in the kitchen."

  Ashley finally looked away to face Cronin:

  "Excuse me, what?"

  "You are gonna have to get a chair in the kitchen. There's no chair for you to sit here. Go get one in the kitchen."

  "Oh, ok."

  When Ashley was off to the kitchen, Kirstin felt 4 sets of eyes on her. She noticed then that all Ashley's band mates were glancing at her. 'He must have told them about me' She thought. That was awkward for her. She was not comfortable with all os those 8 eyes on her. So she glanced down and waited. Ashley got back in the dinning room and placed his chair between Mike Morin and Andrew, at the corner of the table. Kirstin felt worse. That way Ashley was right in front of her and the minute he sat, she felt his eyes on her. Mike Morin then spoke up:

  "So, Andrew, tell us about your editing plane for the show."

  The meeting continued with Andrew and Morin doing most of the talking and sometimes Jacob would interfere telling that he didn't want his girlfriend to be exposed too much and asking a lot of questions to Andrew. Kirstin spent the entire meeting trying to avoid Ashley's staring. Sometimes she would look his way just to see if he was still staring and when she would see that he was, she would just look away. Several times Andrew would look at Kirstin like saying 'Say something!' and Kirstin would give her opinion on some issues debated. But other than that, she would remain quiet. She didn't have a lot to say anyway. This was her first time doing something like that and she had never done editing before, so what would she say?