Life After That

by Barbara Kevin

  "Oh, ok. Well, at Tuesdays and Wednesday I have classes at 7 pm. Do you think that's a problem?"

  "Oh, not at all. So 2 pm tomorrow, ok?"

  "Yes, sure. Great."

  Before she knew it they were at the airport. The flight was relatively boring but was filled with chitchat.

  ORLANDO, FL – O-Town House

  "Good morning sunshine!" Trevor greeted Ashley that was getting into the kitchen that moment. He was rubbing his eyes.

  "Good morning." Ashley answered half asleep.

  All the O-Town member, minus Erik were up and having their breakfast at that moment.

  "So…?" – Dan was egger to know how things were the night before.

  "So… what?" Ashley asked taking his cereal out of the kitchen closet.

  "So, did you brush your teeth?" Trevor joked "What do think you so what Ashley? How were things with Kirstin last nigh?"

  "Fine…" Ashley teased his friends.

  "I'd say it was more than fine." Jacob added to the conversation "I saw you guys last night laying by the pool."

  "Oh my God Jake, were you spying on us?"

  "Yes Ashley, I was spying on you 'cause I have no life! Of course not! I was up to go to the bathroom and I saw you two through the window. Things seemed pretty steamy."

  "Really? How was that?" Trevor was interested.

  "Well, she was laying on the floor, Ashley was on top of her…"

  "Shut up! You don't know how things happened. I'll tell the story."

  "Please, do. I don't wanna hear Jacob's twisted story." Dan said.

  "So, when you guys left, I took her outside so we could talk and she didn't even let me start the conversation, she was kissing me already."

  "Oh, Ashley Angel, so irresistible!" Trevor joked again.

  "Shut up!" Ashley hit him and continued "So after the kiss we talked and got things right and well, when you saw us there on the floor we didn't do anything. She didn't want to. So I showed her my room…"

  "UUUuuUuUuU." Trevor joked once more.

  "Man. I'm gonna stop telling the story! Shut up! Anyway, I showed her my room and we talked a little more, she lead me to the bed, things heated up again, but she stopped me once again. Then I took her to her hotel and she's probably on her plane right now. She said she would be leaving in the morning."

  "Sorry to hear she pushed you away."

  "It was not like that Trevor. I don't know. Maybe this is too soon to her. I don't know. What do you think Dan?"

  "I don't know. I think you should give her some time, some space. You just got back yesterday. You worked things out and I think you should wait. She obviously likes you. It's not like she doesn't want to if she was leading you to bed, maybe she's just confused right now. Everything happened kinda fast. So just wait."

  "Yes, that's what I thought."

  "But is everything ok? Are you two together now?" Jacob asked getting up and putting his bowl in the sink.

  "We are together. But she said she doesn't wanna be my girlfriend."

  "She doesn't wanna be your girlfriend? What is that?" Jacob was now standing next to the table where all the 3 guys were sitting.

  "Yeah. I thought that was strange. She said she wanted to be together but she didn't wanna be labeled as my girlfriend. She said she was never happy being someone else's girlfriend."

  "Wow… this girl is kinda messed up don't you think Ashley? She runs away, she then kisses you, lead you to bed and then stops it and then she doesn't wanna be your girlfriend?"

  "Yeah, Dan, I don't know. Something happened before we met and she doesn't wanna talk about it. I think that when she does talk about it, things won't be as confusing as they are now."

  They were all silent for a second when the phone rang.

  Jacob that was already standing answered it:

  "Hello. Ok… Alright. Yeah, we'll meet there. Ok, bye." he hung up "That was Mike. We gotta go. We have rehearsal with Doc in 40 minutes."

  "Ok, I'll get Erik." Dan said getting up. Trevor went to do whatever and so did Jacob. Ashley finished his breakfast and too was off to get ready to rehearsal.

  NEW YORK CITY, NY

  Kirstin and Andrew got to the airport and went their separate ways.

  When Kirstin got to her apartment, there were 2 messages on her answering machine. She placed her bag on her couch, pushed play and when to the kitchen to get something to drink.

  The machine's female voice announced 'First Message'.

  "Hey K. It's me, G. It's 2 pm and you haven't called me yet to tell about how things were in Orlando. Guess you're not here yet, but call me as soon as you get this. Bye!"

  'Second Message'

  "K, it's me again. Now it's 4 pm and you still haven't called. And don't forget! Today is Thursday! You know what that means. Call me!"

  Kirstin smiled to the sound of her best friend's voice on her machine. She would call her. But not now. Now she would take a nap. She lay on her couch and before feeling asleep she managed to say:

  "And I'm too tired to go out tonight."

  Chapter 16

  Kirstin woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. She had collapsed on her couch, so she searched for the phone with her eyes closed in the small table beside the couch. She placed the phone on her ear and she sat up and saw on her wristwatch that it was a quarter to nine. Knowing who it was, she answered:

  "G, let me sleep!" she answered in an angry tone to her friend.

  "Oh, you were sleeping! I'm sorry, baby! I'll call later."

  Realizing that the voice didn't sound like her best friend's, she questioned:

  "Ashley?"

  "Yeah, baby. That's me. But if you were sleeping I can call you later."

  "Oh, don't worry. I'm up already." Kirstin headed to the kitchen to pour herself some water.

  "Who's G?"

  "It's Grace, my best friend. When I got home I had 2 messages from her on my machine and I didn't return her calls cause I collapsed on my couch, so I thought it was her calling."

  "No, it's just me. I got a little worried cause you said you'd call when you got there and I just got back from practice and still hadn't gotten your call, so I figured I'd call. And when am I gonna meet Grace?"

  "Well, I guess you can meet her next time you're here. I know she wants to meet you too." Kirstin was sitting on her couch again.

  "Oh, so she knows all about me and I just found out about her?" Ashley joked sounding hurt.

  "Oh, relax! I only told her about you like… 3 months ago, when we met again. So she's not that much ahead of you."

  "Good. 'Cause I wanna know all your friends."

  "I don't have so many close friends, so that wont take too long. But hey, I have to meet yours too. I didn't actually get to know them, we were just introduced."

  "Yeah, but don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to do that."

  "Yeah, guess you are right."

  "So, how was your flight?"

  "Good, but I was so tired that I slept all the way over here."

  "You slept during your whole flight and then you got home and slept 'til now?"

  "Yep!"

  "That's the Kirstin I know!" Ashley smiled on the phone. Kirstin was the person he knew that most enjoyed spending time sleeping. She'd sleep for hours straight if she had the time to.

  "Oh, I just learned that tomorrow I'm gonna start working on your tapes. How cool is that?" she was all excited.

  "Really baby? That's really cool!"

  "I know! Do you have any idea what the first times will be about?"

  "I think most of them are about our tour with Britney Spears.

  "Cool!" Kirstin than heard a bleep on her phone "Ashley, I have to take this call, it's probably Grace. But I'll call you tomorrow when I get home from work, alright?"

  "Wow, ok?" Ashley sounded really hurt this time "But do call me."

  "I will! Promise!"

  "Ok. I miss you."

  "Me too. Very much. But I have to get Grace's call. Call yo
u tomorrow. Bye." she hung up just in time to get the other call "Hello?"

  "Finally! I thought I was getting the machine again!"

  "Oh G, sorry. I was on the other line… with Ashley."

  "Ohhhhhhh! If that was Ashley, I forgive you. But that's why I called you! You must fill me in!"

  "I know. But listen, as we are not going out tonight…"

  "What? Why? How …"

  "Listen!" Kirstin interrupted her friend "I don't wanna go out 'cause I'm too tired for that G. So I was thinking you could come and sleep over here. What do you say?"

  "I'd say it's a great idea!"

  "Thank you very much! And on your way here, stop at Block Buster and pick up our movie."

  The movie Kirstin was talking about was "Notting Hill". They had seen it together when it was on the move theater and they'd rent it whenever they would have their sleepovers. They just loved that movie.

  "Ok. Then I'll be there in 45 minutes."

  "Alright. I'll go take a bath and put on my pajamas and wait for you girl."

  "Right. See ya."

  "Bye."

  Just as Kirstin put on her pajamas and went down from her room to the living room, she heard a noise on her door and Grace appeared by her door. She was the only one Kirstin trusted enough to give a copy of her keys too. Not even Kirstin's parents had it.

  "Hey, just in time!" Kirstin greeted from the stairs. Grace placed her stuff on the kitchen's counter.

  "Oh My God, come here you!" Grace ran with her arms opened and gave Kirstin a hug.

  "Wow, slow down. I think you are happier than I am to see you."

  "It's just that I can't wait to hear what happened in Florida and I know it's a good thing otherwise you would have told me over the phone."

  Kirstin grinned and motion for her friend to sit on her black leather couch.

  After telling her friend everything that happened while in Florida, Grace wondered:

  "Well, I don't get it. If you are not his girlfriend, how does this work?"

  "We get together whenever we are at the same town. "

  "And…" Grace was still confused "You are not suppose to get with other people?"

  Kirstin frowned:

  "We never actually talked about it…" K thought for a minute. Grace didn't say anything, deciding to give her friend her space "Well, I won't get with anyone. I don't know about him…" Grace saw the hurt look on her friend' face.

  "But, that doesn't mean just 'cause you have him now, that we are not gonna go out anymore, does it?"

  "Of course not G! It's gonna be even better 'cause now I'll have all the time in the world to get you guys! I know you don't need that, but I'm doing that anyways!"

  They both laughed. Grace really didn't need her friend to help her get guys. She was a beautiful half Japanese, half American girl. Her father was an American and her mother was Japanese, so she came out as a beautiful mixture of both nationalities. She was short, 5'4'', 105 pounds, black thick hair that went down to her shoulders, really petit, beautiful girl.

  Grace went upstairs to change into her pajamas. The 2 friends had matching pajamas. Kirstin's had a baby blue tank top and the shorts had white background with little baby blue heart all over it. Grace's was the same but the top was white and the shorts had a blue background with little white hearts all over it. Blue was the girls' favorite color.

  "So, can I push play?" Kirstin asked while Grace was getting comfortable on the couch.

  "Yes."

  ORLANDO, FL - FRIDAY

  All the O-Town members sat there on the floor, in front of the Mikes, who were sitting on a couch. They were in the middle of dance practice when the Mikes called in a meeting. The cameras never leaving their side.

  "It's not that urgent guys" Morin started looking at 5 sweaty guys all holding a bottles of water and towels around their necks "It's just that we closed some tour dates just now. We're gonna be in Europe for 2 months…"

  "2 months?' Ashley actually yelled causing all his band mates to look at him.

  "Yes… is there a problem?" Cronin questioned.

  Ashley stood quiet, staring at the wall. Dan asked:

  "When are we leaving?"

  "In a month."

  "In a month?" Ashley yelled again.

  "Yes… what's wrong with you Ashley?" Morin was confused. The Mikes knew about the situation with Kirstin already. They seemed to be fine with that, but they didn't like too much the fact she was working on MTB editing. They were afraid it'd get in the way of things.

  "Nothing." Ashley had a vague look upon his face.

  "So, anyway, here's the schedule. Don't lose it." Cronin handed them the schedule and after that, the O-Town guys were sent back to rehearsal, the cameras following them.

  "Ash, are you ok?" Dan asked when all the other members and the camera crew went to the rehearsal room and Ashley stayed sitting there on the floor.

  "Not so much. No."

  "Why? What's wrong?"

  "I just got together with Kirstin and now I'm leaving for 2 months? How am I suppose to be with her, to make her trust me and make this relationship grow if I'm always here in stupid Orlando or somewhere in Europe for 2 months?"

  "I know it's hard Ashley. But… Do you love this girl?" Dan already knew the answer, so he smirked before Ashley even said anything.

  "I do. Dan, I love her so much."

  "I know. Just checking. And I'm sure she loves you too. That's all you guys need to make this work."

  "I don't know. I'm not so sure she loves me back."

  "Why you say that?"

  "I don't know. Little things like yesterday, when we were on the phone, she said she had to hang up 'cause her friend was on the other line, when she was saying goodbye, she was a little… cold, you know?"

  "Ashley, you're tripping, man!"

  "Am I?"

  "Of course you are" And here, look at the schedule." Ashley had the paper in his hand but never bothered to look at it 'til Dan asked him to "See? Before we go to Europe, we have 4 days in New York" What else do you want? It doesn't get better than that!"

  Ashley was excited. They did have 4 days in New York. 4 whole days, just before going to Europe. His face lit up:

  "Yes! Oh my God! I gotta call K and tell her the good news." Ashley abruptly stood up.

  "Hey, easy tiger." Dan stood up after Ashley, calming his friend "You cant call her now 'cause we have rehearsal. And didn't you say she starts working today?" Ashley nodded "So let's go finish rehearsal then you can call her when we get home. We won't go home anytime soon anyways, so by the time we get to the house, I bet she'll be off work."

  "Yeah. You're right." and with that, they headed back to where the rest of the band was.

  NEW YORK CITY, NY – MTV Studios

  Kirstin stepped foot on the 10th floor. She was nervous. Now her work was definitely starting. She was so nervous the minute she got out of the elevator she forgot where Andrew's office was. She stopped a girl that seemed to be about her age to ask for directions.

  "Hm, excuse me. I'm sorry but I'm a little lost. Can you tell me where Andrew Jackson's office is?"

  The girl smiled sensing the nervousness on Kirstin's tone of voice.

  "Yes, sure honey. Come with me."

  Kirstin smiled back and followed the girl as she introduced herself.

  "I'm Lexie Gold." the nice girl introduced herself. She was pretty. She had blond hair that went all the way 'til her shoulders, blue eyes, was 5'5'' and about 115 lbs.

  "Kirstin Addams."

  "So Kirstin, you know Andrew?"

  "Yes, I'm his assistant actually. I work here now. This is my first day."

  "Oh, I sensed you were nervous. So what are you working on?"

  "Making the Band."

  "Nice! New show! A challenge!"

  "Yeah, well… what about you? You work here on the editing floor too?"

  "Yes. I'm an assistant too. For Kayla Watson. We work on 'The Real World'."

  "Wow, Real W
orld! That's big!"