Just Friends?

by K E Osborn

“Oh, you love me,” Kat says while Charlie pulls her in for another hug.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Where’s Brooke?” Kat asks and Olsen and Charlie roll their eyes.

  “Still in the bedroom.”

  “Go Dan,” I say, as Olsen puts his fist out for me to pump.

  “Have they been in there the whole weekend?” Kat asks smirking.

  Charlie nods her head and rolls her eyes again.

  “Jeez,” Kat mumbles while she snuggles into my chest.

  It’s good to be home, even though we start with more publicity tomorrow, I love relaxing with our friends. “Babe, do you have any cold tablets?” Kat asks.

  “Yeah, in the kitchen, top cupboard.”

  She gets off my lap and I can’t help but notice Olsen watching her walk past him to the kitchen.

  “Olsen,” I snarl, grabbing his attention away from Kat’s perfect ass. “Kat received some sort of death threat today, so security will have to be ramped up. I want you with her at all times when we’re in public.”

  He nods and looks over to Kat, who’s swallowed the tablets with some water.

  “Are you okay?” Olsen asks as Charlie rushes over.

  “Shit, who was it? I bet it was some psycho teenybopper, wasn’t it?” Charlie queries and Kat nods her head.

  “Yeah I’m fine now. It was scary when it happened, though. There were people and cameras everywhere. It was more than a little overwhelming. I don’t like this part of fame very much.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Olsen announces.

  Shit, could I feel any more uncomfortable. I should be the one protecting her. It’s my fucking job and I have to rely on someone else… this is far from okay with me.

  “But who’s going to protect Will?” Kat interrupts my thoughts as she walks back over to me. “Look at his shirt. That’s what these girls are like. They rip and tear at him like he’s their property.”

  “Baby, I’m fine.”

  “No, Will, what if one of those teenyboppers gets a bit too hands on. If I’m having security – so are you,” she exclaims. “Please Will, I’d feel much better knowing that you’re safe too.”

  I shake my head and exhale. “Sure, but only if it makes you feel better.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  I wake to find Kat already awake and packing for our trip to Australia. I figure since I’m meeting her parents, who are flying to Sydney from Adelaide, I’d better introduce her to mine.

  “I think we should go and visit our old vocal class today. What do you think?”

  “Sure, sounds like a good idea to me. What made you want to go back there?”

  “It’s a secret.”

  “Okaaay... secret squirrel business, I get it.” She taps her finger to the side of her nose.

  I laugh, get out of bed, walk over and wrap my arms around her pulling her to me tightly. I give her a good morning kiss and slap her on the ass as I walk across the room to get dressed. We have breakfast and then make our way into class, slipping past the paparazzi. We walk in and Mom smiles at us.

  “Class please continue with your assignments. I’ll be right back,” she instructs as she makes her way over to us. She hugs me and then holds me at arm’s length.

  I see Kat’s eyebrows scrunch as our vocal coach hugs me tightly.

  “Oh, I’ve missed you Will. How’s it all going? Oh, and Kat darling, you look so lovely. I’m glad you’re keeping my Will here so happy.”

  “Kat, I’d like you to meet my mother,” I say, while wrapping my arm around Mom’s shoulders.

  “Huh? So you’re telling me that when I came to talk to you about Will, you were his mom?”

  “Yes, sorry honey. We didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “I had no idea,” she says, with eyebrows raised and her eyes bulging.

  “Will looks more like his father. When his father and I divorced, I took on my maiden name, hence why I’m Edelstien and he is Sanders,” Mom states answering some unasked questions. “So how’s everything? I saw the photos of you two at the retreat. That must’ve been a horrible experience for you both?”

  I exhale. “When we were there alone it was awesome. But when the paparazzi and the fans realized we were there, it definitely ruined it.”

  “How did they know you were there?” she asks.

  “I think it was my taxi driver,” Kat says as she frowns.

  “Oh well, at least you don’t have to pretend to be ‘just friends’ anymore. I know you were struggling with that, Will,” Mom discloses as she taps my shoulder.

  “Yeah, it’s much easier being able to walk around and hold her hand if I want to, or kiss her beautiful lips. But above all it’s nice not having to hide it anymore. That was the hardest thing to do.” I pull Kat to me and she wraps her arms around my waist and snuggles into my chest. I kiss the top of her head and Mom smiles.

  “I’m so glad you two worked your shit out. If I had to listen to Will trying to convince himself that he wasn’t in love with you one more time, I think I would’ve snapped.”

  “Mom, really?”

  “Well, my darling boy, have a safe trip tomorrow and buy me a real live koala or something,” Mom jokes while she gives us both a hug.

  “You know koalas are really quite nasty. I think you’d be better off with a stuffed toy or maybe a jar of Vegemite?” Kat advises.

  “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of that Vegemite stuff. Apparently it tastes horrible. Bring me some of that along with my stuffed toy and real live koala,” she says excitedly.

  “Oh, and Will?”

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “I’m proud of you baby boy, and you too Kat. I’m so glad you guys are going on this journey together,” Mom says tearing up.

  “Thanks, Mom. We have to go. I’ll call you when we land.”

  “Have a safe flight,” she calls out as we walk out of the room.

  Kat punches my arm when we’re out of sight.

  “Hey, what was that for?”

  “I can’t believe I was confiding in her about you, and all the time she was your mum,” she says making me smile. “Did she tell you the things I’d say to her?”

  “Yep! Every little detail... Nah, only joking. She didn’t tell me anything other than to get my head out of my ass and to hurry up and be with you or I’d lose you. Those were her words exactly.”

  “Well, at least I know that your mum likes me,” she says, as we get into the Chevy.

  ~*~

  As we say our farewells to Charlie, Brooke and Dan, Patty ushers Kat, Olsen, the new security dude Mark and I into the terminal to board our flight destined for Australia. I’m excited, as I’ve never been to Australia. Well, actually, I’ve never been anywhere outside of the States, unless you think Mexico’s adrift from the continental USA. It’s a fourteen hour flight, which is going to suck, but at least we’re in first class. Patty won’t let us travel any other way.

  ~ KAT ~

  We walk onto the plane and make our way to our seats. I’m sitting next to Will, Mark and Olsen are sitting in front of us and then Patty is by herself behind us. I’m glad Patty is coming with us; it’ll be nice to have another female in our entourage. The plane takes off at three in the afternoon and we arrive in Sydney at ten o’clock the next night. I can’t wait to see Mum and Dad at the airport. Hopefully, there won’t be any fans or paparazzi, but I’ve come to the realization that when I’m hoping that they’re not there, they always are.

  Will gives me a kiss and then places his headphones over his ears for the in flight movie and I do the same. I wake up to an air hostess telling me to bring my chair upright, because we are ready to land. I look over at Will and he’s sitting up and looks about as tired as I feel.

  “Hey baby, have a nice sleep?” he asks, reaching across to hold my hand.

  “Yeah, not too bad considering it is like, what, five in the morning in Los Angeles?”

  “Yeah, about that,” he confirms through a yawn.

 
The plane docks at the bridge to the terminal and because we’re in first class we disembark first which is nice, rather than leaving like a herd of cattle. We stand and if I wasn’t so tired I’d be excited. I haven’t seen my parents since I left Australia in August last year. That’s one year and three months, not that I’m counting, and I’m dying to see them. Will takes my hand and we walk through the terminal and out into the airport. An airport employee is waiting to expedite our entry through customs. We are whisked through the airport and into the baggage claim area.

  “How are you feeling?” Will asks as we make our way closer to my parents.

  “I’m getting very excited.”

  We walk out to the baggage claim area which unfortunately is surrounded by paparazzi. I sigh and look at Will. He takes my hand as Olsen and Mark walk in front shielding us from any harm. Patty follows closely behind as we fight our way through to the baggage claim. I’m looking everywhere for my parents, but I’m blinded by the camera flashes.

  God, I just want to see my parents without the whole world looking on. Is that such a crime?

  We make our way to the baggage claim carousel and we wait until our luggage comes around. Will picks it up and we walk toward the doors while I frantically search for Mum and Dad.

  “We have to go outside. The paps are blocking the way for everyone else to get their bags.”

  I agree and he leads me outside as I pull out my cell and dial Mum’s number. I can hardly even hear it ringing on the other end due to the paparazzi yelling so loudly at us.

  “Katerina, I can see you. We’ll come to you honey,” Mum says and hangs up.

  The paparazzi follow us outside, then hound us while we wait by the glass windows for my parents.

  “Guys, we can’t wait here for too long,” Patty states, as the photographers throw random questions at us.

  “Kat. Is it good to be back home?”

  “Will you guys buy a home here in Australia?”

  “Will, what do you think of Australia so far?”

  Really?

  I look at Will and we both laugh. We’ve only been here for half an hour and all he has seen is the inside of an airport.

  “Katerina,” I hear a voice sounding oh so familiar that it’s music to my ears. I look up and see Mum and Dad at the back, waving frantically at us.

  “There they are.” A wave of emotion hits me. I’m so happy to see them that I rush forward, taking Will with me pushing past the paparazzi to get to them. Olsen and Mark are left behind in my mad dash. My eyes fill with tears as I reach my mother’s arms.

  “Oh darling, I’ve missed you.”

  The paparazzi capture this emotional moment with my parents and Will meeting them for the first time. I finish hugging my mum when Will puts his hand out for my dad to shake.

  “Mr. Barrett, I’m Will. It’s extremely nice to meet you.”

  “Hi Will, please call me Johno, and this is my wife, Audrey or Auds, as we call her.”

  “Nice to finally meet you Will. I’ve heard so much about you from our Katarina here,” Mum says as she moves in for a hug.

  “Kat, are these your parents?”

  “Will, are you meeting them for the first time?”

  “Mr. Barrett, do you approve of Will?”

  “Is Mr. Sanders asking you for your daughter’s hand in marriage?”

  “Have they discussed their expected child with you?”

  The paparazzi continues on with their relentless pursuit of our private lives.

  “I’ve only just met the bloke. Gimmie a chance you bloody hooligans,” Dad retorts making Will and I laugh.

  Patty, not so much.

  “C’mon darlings, we need to get you to the hotel,” Patty announces quietly.

  “Okay! Mum and Dad we’ll meet you at the hotel. I’ll text you the room number.”

  Thank God Dad didn’t do the whole ‘you better look after my daughter or else’ speech in front of the paparazzi, but as sure as I know my dad that little speech is coming. We fight our way through the paparazzi to get to the limo that Patty arranged for us. Our luggage is packed into the trunk and we’re off with, of course, some followers. We pull up at the Park Hyatt on Hickson Road, The Rocks and get out as quickly as we can. Will stops to admire the view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as we move inside to check in.

  “Wow, that’s so awesome. I sure hope I get to see more of your country.”

  I drag him inside away from any prying paparazzi that might’ve caught up to us by now.

  Olsen is also captivated by the Australian icons lit up in the night sky and is dragged along by Mark who is carrying all the luggage. Patty scurries along up to the concierge desk and checks us in. I have no idea what suite she’s booked us into, but I’m looking forward to getting up there to sleep. I’m so wiped out. We grab our room key and our luggage is taken up by the concierge. Will and I are in the Opera King suite and Patty is in the one next to us. The guys are a few rooms down the hall. We all say our goodnights and then we walk into our room.

  “Wow,” Will says, as he opens the door.

  “What?” I question, as I follow in behind him. Then I see it, the view from this room is incredible. It looks straight out over the Opera House, which is lit up and glowing in the pale moonlight. It’s truly breathtaking. Will walks over to the massive white king sized bed and sits facing the window just staring out at the view. It makes me smile. To me the Opera House is just another building, I’m so used to seeing it advertised everywhere in Australia, but to Will, I guess it’s like the first time I saw the Hollywood sign, just one of those man-made creations that people marvel at when viewing it for the first time.

  “I’m going to text Mum and Dad the room number,” I inform him as I pull out my cell. I go and sit next to Will on the bed where we admire the view.

  “I can’t believe I’m in Australia and with my own beautiful tour guide.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him when we hear a knock at our door.

  “I’ll get it,” I state, jumping up and running to the door. Mum and Dad walk in and follow me through to the bedroom where I show them the view.

  “Now, that's a view,” Mum declares. We all laugh as they sit at the table and Will sits in the one-seater chair and pats his leg. I giggle and immediately sit on his lap.

  “So, it’s pretty obvious that you and Kat have been doing very well with this movie, night talkers or something like that?” Mum asks.

  “Mum, it’s called Nightwalker,” I say with a slight giggle.

  “Yeah, seems so. We had a great time filming it, and its rating pretty big in the States, so we’re hoping to have a similar reaction to it ‘Down Under’, as well,” Will states while his finger circles on my knee.

  That feels so good, he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

  “Oh, that’s good I’m very pleased we have the opportunity to meet you. Kat has told us so much about you. I know you’ll be looking after her best interests while you’re with her, won’t you son?” Dad asks making me roll my eyes.

  How did I know that little doozy was coming?

  “Dad, really?”

  “No, it’s fine, Kat! I assure you, Mr. Barrett I am going to take great care of your daughter and I plan on us being together for a very long time. You don’t have to worry about her coming home broken-hearted, because the only way that I’m leaving her is if she says so.”

  Holy hell, I love this man and it's obvious how much he loves me too.

  “Good to hear, son, and please call me Johno,” Dad says. “Well Auds, we’d better let these two kids get to bed. They have interviews in the morning and it’s nearly eleven-thirty.”

  Mum over emphasizes a frown, I can see she doesn’t want to leave just yet. I stand up from Will’s lap and hug my dad tightly. He’s such a big burly bloke I can hardly wrap my arms around him. Mum walks over and hugs Will.

  “I’m extremely glad that I got to meet both of you,” Will declares and then he sha
kes my dad’s hand while I hug my overly emotional mother.

  “Us too Will. Now you look after my baby girl. I worry about all those paparazzi and fans hurting you in some way. We’d love to catch up for dinner tomorrow so we can chat with you both properly if you are free? Mum asks.

  “Yes, of course Mrs. Barrett. We would love to spend some more time with you both.”

  “Will, please, call me Auds.”

  Will smiles at Mum and then turns and places his arm around my waist.

  “I miss you so much Mum.” I whisper and she starts to cry.

  “I’m so glad you’re home, even though it’s only for a week,” she splutters as Dad drags her away from me and out through the door.

  “I love you, sweetie,” I hear her call out as the door closes.

  I knew I missed my parents, but I had no idea, until now, just how much.

  Will comes in behind me and wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on my shoulder. We’re facing the window, watching the spectacular view across Sydney Harbour.

  “You see how beautiful that is?” Will asks and I nod.

  “Well, you’re a thousand times more beautiful. I loved meeting your parents. Especially your mom, she’s sweet, just like you.”

  Smiling, I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you, Will Sanders. Thank you for meeting my parents.”

  “And I love you, my comfy looking bed… ” Will jokes and I punch him in the arm. “Oh yeah, sorry, I meant you,” he laughs and I can’t help but join in with his playfulness. “No, all jokes aside, you know how much I love you,” he says and kisses me softly. We get changed and hop into the comfy king sized bed and drift off to sleep.

  The alarm chimes at seven in the morning and I definitely want to throw it out the window into the cold wet depths of Sydney Harbour. I don’t know whether I’m tired or still sick. All I know is I feel terrible again, and I’m guessing Will does too, because he doesn’t move to turn off the alarm. He just grabs for his pillow and smothers it over his head. I lean over and turn it off. Once sitting up in bed, I look out at a bright, beautiful summers day in Sydney. The water is glistening as the sun shines down and the waves are gently crashing against the shoreline. It’s weird watching the weather change going from cold in the States to hot here in Australia in a matter of hours.