Life After That

by Barbara Kevin

  "Yes, it is. It has a big crew working on it." Lexie stopped and pointed to a closed door behind her "This is Andrew's."

  "Oh, thank you so much. I should draw a map, this place looks like a labyrinth."

  "Yes, it's hard to move around here at first. Listen, I get out around 6, what do you say we go out for a coffee later? We're floor buddies now, we should hang out."

  "Sure! I'd love that. I could really use a friend at work."

  "So, ok! We'll meet here at Andrew's at 6, alright?"

  "Right."

  "Good, then see ya."

  "Bye."

  Kirstin had made a new friend. She loved getting friends. She treasured her friends more than her own family.

  Knocking on the door, she waited 'til she heard Andrew's voice:

  "Come in."

  "Excuse me." she entered the room closing the door behind her.

  Around 5:50, Andrew excused Kirstin from work. They had worked only on 2 tapes, but Andrew had a last minute meeting and had to go. Kirstin liked the work. She spent almost 4 hours watching O-Town tapes. Andrew had explained her how to work the editing board, which buttons to push, which ones not to push. That day she had mostly watched Andrew do all the work, so she could learn better from him. But still, she had fun. As Ashley said, the exciting scenes were most from their tour with Britney Spears. Other than that, just scenes with the boys playing videogame on the tour bus or eating. But Kirstin didn't mind the parts where they'd shown Ashley taking a shower. She even laughed at her boss' comment "Your friend sure takes a lot of baths."

  When Andrew and Kirstin left the editing room, Kirstin went back to Andrew's office to meet Lexie, but it was a little to early. She then decided to use the phone in her boss' office. She went through her purse and picked up her phone book to find Ashley's numbers. She called the house but no one was answering. She got the machine but hung up and tried the cell. Voice Mail.

  "Hey, this is Ashley. Sorry I can't come to the phone right now. But after the beep you know what to do." BEEP

  Kirstin smiled hearing Ashley's voice and left her message:

  "Hey Superman! I'm just calling as I promised I would. Just got out of work, so call me whenever you hear this, ok? Bye."

  The minute she hung up, she heard a knock on the door. Not knowing what to do, she got up from the chair she was sitting in to answer the door. She saw Lexie standing there.

  "Oh, hey. It's you."

  "Yes, I heard someone talking in there so I decided to find out if it was you. So, ready to go?"

  "Yes, let me get my purse and coat."

  Outside the building, Kirstin asked:

  "Where are we going to get coffee?"

  "Well, I always go to this Dean and Delluca that is 4 blocks away from here. I know it's farther than these other coffee shops around the block but there's this gorgeous guy that works there, so I always go there to check him out. But I've never actually been there this late. Hope he's still there."

  When they got there, Kirstin's hands were freezing:

  "Oh my God. My hands! Can't believe I forgot my gloves. At least, it's warm here."

  They both took their coats off and sat down at this table, facing the counter.

  "So… where is he?" Kirstin scanned the place looking for any cute guy wearing a Dean and Delluca t-shirt.

  "Shit, he's not here! I think he leaves at 6. We have… oh, no no no! Wait, wait! He's there. He's on his back, I can't see his face, but it's definitely him with that tooshie!"

  "Where?"

  "There, leaning on the counter. With that light red shirt and tight jeans. Jeez, he looks good when he's not wearing Dean and Delluca's uniform."

  "Well, I can't see his face, but he does look hot!" Kirstin knew she had Ashley now, but look doesn't hurt, right?

  The guy was wearing a tight long sleeve red shirt that revealed all the muscles on his fit body. He had also on blue jeans, tight to his body.

  "Do you know his name? Maybe we can get you his number!"

  "Yes, it's… oh look, he's turning around."

  And when he turned around, Kirstin saw that the guy she was checking out was Tom.

  Chapter 17

  "Oh my God!" Kirstin turned her head hoping that some way Tom wouldn't notice them sitting there.

  "What? Kirstin, what?" Lexie had no idea what was wrong.

  "His name is Tom, right?" Kirstin faced her newest friend.

  "Yeah, how do you know?" Lexie frowned. Just when Kirstin was about to talk, she heard a familiar voice.

  "Hello Kirstin."

  Pretending she was not embarrassed by meeting him there and putting on a smile, she greeted:

  "Hey Tom! How are you?"

  "I'm ok. Doing better than a few months ago, I guess. How about you?"

  "Good, good." she glanced down. There was an awkward silence.

  "Tom, why don't you join us?" Lexie broke the silence and immediately Kirstin shot her a deadly glare. Lexie mouthed 'What?' and Kirstin faced Tom.

  "So, what are you up to these days?" he asked.

  "Well, I got promoted."

  "Really? That's great!"

  "Yes, that is."

  Lexie coughed and Kirstin got the hint.

  "Oh, Tom, this is Lexie Gold; Lexie, this is Tom…" she frowned when she realized she didn't even know Tom's last name.

  "Tom Walsh. Pleasure to meet you, Lexie." he said shaking her hand.

  "Pleasure is all mine." they held hands, Tom smiling and Lexie smiling back. 'Is he flirting with her? Tom's not the flirting type of guy!' The sound of her cell phone made Kirstin wake up from her thought.

  "I'm sorry, I'll get this over there. Excuse me."

  She went to a spot near the restrooms to answer her phone.

  "Hello?"

  "Hey K, it's me, G."

  "Oh, I thought it was Ashley."

  "Sorry to disappoint you."

  "Actually, I'm glad it's you. Listen, I'm at this coffee shop with this girl I met at work today and Tom's here!"

  "What?"

  "Tom is here! We came here 'cause Lexie, the girl from work, wanted to show me this hot guy that works here and turns out the hot guy is Tom!"

  "What do you mean it's Tom? Tom works at Inferno!"

  "Apparently, not anymore!"

  "And where is he now?"

  "He's sitting on our table!"

  "What?"

  "He's sitting on our table! He came up to me to say hi and… stupid Lexie invited him to join us and now he's on our table talking to her!" Kirstin was all agitated, not knowing what to do.

  "K, listen. Calm down."

  "I'm trying, but what am I gonna do?"

  "Is he treating you any different?"

  "No… Actually he seems pretty cool about the whole thing."

  "Then do like he's doing. Do not bring the subject up. If he wants to talk, then you talk. Otherwise, just act cool."

  "Ok. Ok. Ok." Kirstin was trying to stay calm "So I'm gonna go."

  "Ok. Call me when you get home."

  "Why did you call me anyway?"

  "I wanted to see how things were at work. But we'll talk about that when you get home, alright?"

  "Yeah, ok. Thanx G."

  "Don't mention. Good Luck!"

  "Oh, I'll sure need it! Bye!"

  Kirstin took a deep breath, put the cell back on her purse and headed back to the table.

  "Sorry about that." she said sitting down. Tom and Lexie seemed to be getting along just fine.

  "So, how do you two know each other?" That Lexie question made Kirstin uncomfortable, she didn't know how to answer it.

  "Uh… Hm… Tom and I…"

  "I work in a bar where Kirstin used to hand out every week."

  "You still work there, Tom?" Kirstin was starting to loosen up.

  "Yes. And here too. Until 6."

  "Wow, 2 jobs! That must be hard." Lexie interrupted Tom and Kirstin's eye contact.

  "Well, you get used to it, I guess. And I really li
ke both jobs. Great tips!"

  "And Kirstin, you used to hang out there?"

  "Yeah. Inferno. Great place." she grinned gently at Tom, who did the same.

  "And why not anymore?" that was the second time Lexie made Kirstin uncomfortable.

  "Yes, why not anymore?" and Tom had to make things worst.

  "It's… Hm…" Kirstin, once again, didn't know what to say. Her cell phone started ringing again saving her. - "I'm sorry…" she excused herself from the table and went to the same spot as before.

  "Hello."

  "Hey Princess!"

  "Oh, Thank God, Ashley!"

  "You're this happy to hear from me? Wow, I'm flattered!"

  "Yeah, I was in the middle of the most awkward moment and you just saved me."

  "That's what this Superman of yours is for." He boasted. She grinned. He sure felt like a hero. "But what's going on?"

  She didn't really know if she should tell him the truth, but guessed it was for the best. She didn't want to start a relationship, or whatever it was that they had, by lying to him.

  "I bumped into Tom…"

  "Tom? Tom from the bar, Tom?"

  "Yes…"

  "Where are you?"

  "At a coffee shop that happens to be one of the 2 places he works at."

  "And where is he now? Did you say hi?"

  "Not just hi, he's sitting on my table talking to a friend from work right now!" Kirstin noticed Tom looking her way - "Listen Ash, I gotta go now. But I'll call you when I get home ok?"

  "Wait! Are you gonna go talk to him?"

  "I have to!"

  "No, you don't!" Ashley was afraid of what could come out of their talk.

  "Yes, I do. Or else every time I see him, things are gonna be this awkward. And I don't want that. But I'll call you. Promise! Bye!"

  "Bye…"

  Sitting back at their table, Lexie spoke up:

  "Shit! I have a class now!"

  "Ow, you study?" Kirstin realized how little she knew about her new friend.

  "Don't you know each other?" - Tom frowned.

  "We met today and still didn't have time for those basic questions. Yet! And Kirstin, yes, I do study. I go to NYU."

  "No way! I go to NYU!"

  "Really? What are you majoring in?"

  "Journalism. You?"

  "Marine Biology. Listen, I have this class now but we'll talk about this tomorrow. I can't believe we go to the same college and I never saw you there. Well, bye." she got her coat and purse and was out of there.

  Once more, there was an awkward silence and Kirstin was the one who break it.

  "I'm gonna get some coffee. I came here for coffee and still haven't got one."

  Tom stopped her.

  "Please, allow me. How do you like your coffee?"

  "Oh, you don't have to, I'll just…"

  "I insist." he smirked

  "Ok." Kirstin gave in to his charm. What was happening? "Black. 2 sugars."

  "Be right back!"

  Kirstin sat there smiling. Tom was being nice. If she knew he'd be this cool, she'd have talked to him already. And he was different, he was more… confident, perhaps? She liked that.

  ORLANDO, FL - O-Town House

  Ashley stared at the cordless phone he held on his right hand as he heard Kirstin dismiss him once again over the phone.

  "Ashley?" Dan knocked on his door before getting in Ashley's room. He saw his friend sitting on his bed with the cordless phone in his hand. "Ash, I need to use the phone. Are you done?"

  Not paying too much attention, Ashley just handed the phone to Dan.

  "Are you ok Ashley? Wanna talk?"

  "She did it again." he answered with an absentminded look.

  "Who did what?" Dan sat at the foot of the bed.

  "Kirstin. Hang up on me."

  "Oh come on! I don't believe you. What happened this time?"

  "I was all happy 'cause I got this message from her on my voicemail, so I called her back on her cell and she was at a coffee shop sitting on the same table as this guy Tom, you know? The guy from the bar?"

  "Yes. Ok. But what did she say happened?"

  "That she was there with a friend and found out that the guy works at this damn coffee shop too! The guy is everywhere!" Ashley punched the mattress.

  "Chill Ash! The guy just happened to be there. They are just talking!"

  "Yes, he's there and I am not! And she hang up on me so she could go talk to him!"

  "Ashley, they are in a coffee shop. There's not a lot that can happen in a coffee shop. I don't know Kirstin but I don't think she'd do something."

  "You are right. You do not know Kirstin. The last time they were in a public place together, they ended up at her place! How should I not be worried about that?"

  Dan didn't know what to say to her friend to make him feel any better. In fact, there wasn't a lot for him to say that would change Ashley's point of view.

  NEW YORK CITY, NY - Dean & Delluca

  "Here. Coffee. Black. Two sugars."

  "Thank you, you didn't have to do that, though."

  "Nah, I wanted to. Force of habit, I guess."

  "Yes…" taking a sip of her coffee, she exclaimed, "Wow, it's so good! Better than the one I'm used to. I think I'm gonna change coffee shops."

  "Good to know you liked it, 'cause I did it myself."

  "Wow! But you shouldn't! Your shift is over!"

  "Hey, really, it was no big deal."

  "Thanx." she innocently placed her hand on top of Tom's. Tom, seeing and feeling that, placed his other hand on top of Kirstin's. She stared at his beautiful green eyes, but soon came to her senses and took her hand off of his. 'What's wrong with me, my God!'

  "Sorry Tom, I…" she started but was interrupted.

  "Kirstin, don't worry. I'm not that naive guy anymore. That guy you knew 3 months ago. I'm different now. I'm tougher. I can handle things now. And it's all because of you."

  "Me? How come?"

  "Well, I don't wanna bring out the obvious and make you feel bad, but you played me that night and it hurt. So I got sick of old me and decided to change drastically. Inside and out." It was true. 'Old Tom' would never wear those tight shirt and jeans the 'New Tom' was wearing now.

  "I'm sorry, I was going through such a… how should I put it?… messed up phase. My life was turned upside down. I know I shouldn't have used you the way I did, and for that, I'm sorry."

  "Hey, it's ok. I like the new me, so I forgive you." he grinned.

  Kirstin and Tom stayed there talking for hours. Kirstin had no idea Tom could be such a cool guy to be around. She was having a terrific time!

  "Oh my! It's 8:30 already! Don't you have to go to work?"

  "My shift is 9:30 tonight."

  "I see… Well Tom, I really have to go."

  "Ok, right."

  "Hm… do you want a ride? I mean, Inferno is on the way to my loft, I can drop you there."

  "Yeah, that would be great!"

  "So… let's go!"

  They headed to Kirstin's car that was on a parking lot near by. On the way to Inferno, Kirstin's cell phone started ringing. Kirstin, that was driving, asked:

  "Oh shit! Tom, could you get that? It's in my purse."

  "Yes, ok." Tom got Kirstin's purse that was lying on the back seat and went through it 'til he found her cell - "Hello?"

  "Hello. Who's this?" he voice on the other end asked, not so kindly.

  "Ahn, who do you wanna talk to?" Tom answered and Kirstin turned her head for a while to face him, frowning.

  "I wanna talk to Kirstin, but who is this?"

  "Oh, I'm Tom and Kirstin's driving right now, she can't answer your call. Would you like to leave a message?"

  "Tell her to call Ashley as soon as she gets home."

  "Ok, will do." and then Tom heard Ashley hung up the phone "Wow!"

  "What? Who was it?"

  "Ashley. He sounded pissed off for some reason. Didn't even say goodbye. Anyway, he asked you to call
him as soon as you get home."

  Kirstin bit her bottom lip. 'Why did Ashley have to call?'

  Then it hit Tom:

  "Wait a minute. Isn't Ashley that guy from the bar?"

  Kirstin now bit her upper lip.

  "Yes…"

  "Oh, I see…" Tom sounded a little disappointed "So, what's the deal with this Ashley guy? Were you together when… you know?"

  "No, no! Of course not! Remember? He had a girlfriend! And after our night together, I never saw him again. Until yesterday."

  "And… what happened?"

  "Well, we were at this meeting…"

  "Meeting?"

  "Yeah, this is my new job. I work on Making the Band, ever heard of the show?"

  "Yeah, I guess so."

  "Well, he's on it. And I had this meeting so I had to meet him…"

  "Oh, I thought he looked familiar. He is in that boyband, isn't he?"

  "Yes… O-Town."

  "And how do you know each other?"

  "We went through the same high school."

  "Oh, I see… So, what happened yesterday?"

  "We met and got together, but he's not my boyfriend."

  "He's not?"

  "No, we decided we are just gonna get together every time we are in the same town. It's not that serious."

  "Ok…"

  For the rest of the ride, neither of them talked. When Kirstin parked in front of the bar, she asked:

  "I liked hanging out with you. We should do this more often."

  "I liked it too. Very much. And we should definitely do this again."

  "Well, why don't you… oh no, forget it."

  "What?"

  "Nothing. Just forget it."

  "Ok, Well… bye then." he stared at her eyes for a while before opening the door.

  "Wait Tom!" she grabbed his wrist and somehow knew she shouldn't have done it "Why don't you call me sometime? Maybe we could hang, like today. I could always use a new friend." she smiled.