I have to admit, he’s got a point. ThoughTitanicis far from the most depressing movie in history.
“I don’t think I can,” I admit.
“Perfect. Let’s go.”
⋯
Here’s the thing about The Kind of September. If you hang out with them on a regular basis, there is a good chance you will end up in a photograph, a tweet, a Vine, or a YouTube video. Sometimes, all of the above. It’s not a bad thing. The guys really love their fans, and they want to share as much of their lives with them as possible without getting too personal.
That, and they just really love performing for the camera, even when that camera happens to be a smartphone.
The point is I am not at all surprised to find Jesse filming Josh, Joni, and Cory, engrossed in an intense game of Candy Land while Oliver giggles over their shoulders. If that wasn’t funny enough, Josh is wearing a red Solo cup as a hat. I’m tempted to ask, but I’m actually pretty sure I don’t want to know.
Sam, on the other hand, looks highly offended and asks, “What the heck is this? You’re playing Candy Land without me?”
“Sorry, bro, we couldn’t resist,” Josh replies without tearing his eyes away from the board.
“If it makes you feel better, we haven’t played Pretty, Pretty Princess yet,” Jesse assures him, reaching up to twirl a lock of Sam’s blond hair. Sam swats him away, but laughs nevertheless.
“Dibs on the pink jewelry,” Josh announces. I can’t tell whether he’s kidding or not.
They actually have quite the impressive collection of games going. Operation, Boggle, Sorry, Clue, Twister, and Monopoly are all in a pile in the middle of the room.
“So, a fan just walked up to you and gave you all these games?” I ask.
“Yep,” Josh replies.
“Why?”
“She said that I once tweeted that I got bored during long bus rides, so she just went out and bought all these game for us.”
“Wow, how sweet of her.”
I remember when the guys first started out, they didn’t know how to feel about all the gifts that fans showered them with. Granted, some of them were pretty strange. For example, one girl gave Sam a T-shirt with a Photoshopped picture of the two of them getting married. I’m not kidding. Sam, though, was very gracious and did an excellent job of acting like he wasn’t completely creeped out.
A lot of gifts are also wildly inappropriate. I don’t really want to go into that, but every time one of the guys receives a gift or a tribute that crosses a line, they go out of their way to remind young girls to respect their bodies and themselves. That’s probably something I love most about them. They really care about their fans and they don’t want to see them degrading themselves or feeling pressured to look or dress or act a certain way.
For all of those reasons, and the fact that they’re just good, old-fashioned fun, these board games are probably the best gift the guys have ever received.
“I hope you gave her something in return,” Joni says to Josh.
“I gave her a hug,” he says.
“Not an autograph? Or a free CD?” If possible, Joni is even more about fan appreciation than the guys are. But for the guys, it’s because they genuinely appreciate the fans. With Joni, it’s more about image. Right now, she’s probably imagining headlines about how rude and unappreciative Josh Cahill is towards fans who give him gifts.
Josh, on the other hand, is unconcerned.
“She just said she wanted a hug.”
I’ll admit, Josh does give pretty good hugs. I feel like there are stereotypes in every boy band. If that is, in fact, the case, then Josh is definitely The Cute One. He knows it, too. He thinks he can get away with anything with a smile and a cuddle.
Unfortunately for us, he usually can.
“So, Mel, the interviewer today was pretty disappointed to hear that you and Oliver broke up,” Jesse informs me.
Seriously? Do we have to keep bringing this up? Can’t it just go away?
“Oh, for the love of - We were never even together!” I remind them.
“By the way, Mel, you should know that Tara really is sorry,” Cory tells me. “Maybe the two of you could talk, sort this thing out.”
Oh Cory. There are so many things I want to say to you right now. Beginning with “your girlfriend is an evil banshee” and ending with “you are so sweet but so naive to think that she actually cares about mending fences with me.”
Instead of all that, I say, “Maybe we can.”
I don’t like having to lie to keep the peace, but I am glad that Cory isn’t angry with me. He’s one of my best friends. The guys are so busy and off with so many people in so many places at so many different times, that sometimes, it can be easy to forget how much they all really mean to me. That’s why nights together like this are so important.
“Alright, I’m going to go set up Twister,” Sam announces. “Who’s in?”
“Me!” I exclaim. Twister with Sam? As if I’m going to pass upthatopportunity.
“I’ll play,” Oliver agrees.
“I am going to whoop all of you so hard, you’re going to have nightmares about it,” Josh announces, thus effectively ending the game of Candy Land.
“This, I’ve got to see,” Jesse announces, phone in hand and ready to record.
Within just a few turns, my right hand is on blue, my left foot is on green, and I’m quickly discovering that I’m not nearly as flexible as I was in my youth. Okay, I’m still pretty young, but twenty-year-olds are a lot less limber than most of the kids who play this game.
It does make me feel better, however, to see that Sam, Oliver, and Josh are, if possible, even less flexible than I am, which is kind of surprising considering how much dancing and jumping around the stage that they do.
“Ow, ow. There goes my back,” Josh groans.
“I thought you were going to whoop us all,” Sam reminds him with a rather pathetic grimace.
“I lied.”
“I can’t believe people actually enjoy this game,” Oliver adds.
I can. It’s because even though my arms are about to give out and I’m pretty sure I’ve pulled a muscle in my leg, my back is also pressed directly against Sam’s lean, muscular torso and his right hand, also on blue, is next to mine. I’m glad I took the time to shower, because I can feel his breath on the back of my neck and behind my ear.
Jesse, meanwhile, is snapping pictures of us on his phone.
“You guys look ridiculous,” he laughs.
“Please don’t post those pictures,” I beg.
“Don’t worry, I won’t. I wouldn’t want to compromise your already tarnished reputation,” he teases.
“Oh, shut up.”
“Ow, ow, ow. Okay, I’m done. I give up,” Josh announces and collapses right on top of Oliver’s leg.
“Agh!” Oliver cries out, toppling into me and Sam. So much for Twister.
“Please be careful,” Joni tells us. “The American Music Awards are in three days. I don’t want to see any of you limping through your performance.”
Oh, right. I totally forgot about the American Music Awards. The guys are up for two awards, including Artist of the Year, and they’re performing one of their songs off of the new album. We’re all flying to Los Angeles the day after tomorrow, and then the day after the awards, it’s right back to New York for theMeet Me on the Midwayrelease celebration, which will be taking place the next day.
It’s going to be a busy week. Fun, but busy.
“You know who else is going to be there?” Jesse asks with a wicked grin. “Chloe Conley.”
“I thought we agreed that we’d never mention that name again,” Josh says loudly.
I’ve told you before that a group of guys can’t be as cute and famous as The Kind of September without having to endure the Media Gossip Machine. Basically, if any of them are spotted with a girl, regardless of the circumstances, rumors are going to circulate that the two are dating. Well, last year, the Interne
t took rumors of Josh and a girl named Chloe Conley to the next level. Supposedly, not only were they secretly dating, but he’d been sneaking around with her while he was still dating his former girlfriend. There were even rumors of her visiting his parents and potential elopement talks. All of that stemmed from one photograph of the pair dancing at one of the after-parties. It wasinsane. It wasn’t until a few months later that Josh found out that her people had started the rumors in order to generate some publicity for her. Josh still hasn’t gotten over it.
“You know what the worst part is?” Cory says. “Her music isn’t even that good.”
“Cory, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say something that isn’t nice about someone,” Sam remarks.
“But it’s true. Her voice is so whiny,” Cory says.
“And Josh is the one who made her that way,” Jesse laughs.
“I hate you, you know that? You’re actually the worst,” Josh says.
“Look on the positive side. You’ve only got one fake ex running around the awards show. Sam’s got hundreds,” Oliver reminds him.
“Lucky me,” Sam sighs.
“Hey, play your cards right, and you might have another one before the night is over!” Jesse tells him.
And that’s when Sam tackles him to the ground. Josh follows, and, I guess just for the heck of it, Cory jumps in too. The only man still standing is Oliver as the four of them wrestle around on the ground like kids on the playground.
“Someone is going to lose an eye,” he remarks.
“Or at least a few teeth,” I add.
“Seriously. It’s like they don’t listen to me at all,” Joni huffs and crosses her arms across her chest.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There is never a dull moment.
CHAPTER 13
“I’m running out of words to say
And I don’t want to keep you waiting
Time is flying, baby, yes I know
But your eyes have got me hesitating
Can I tell you that I love you?
Tell you that I need you?
Tell you that I’m never, ever, ever
Gonna let you go?
Can I tell you that I want you?
And I need to be beside you?
Can I tell you, because I want you to know
I’ll never let you go.”
Song: “Tell You”
Artist: The Kind of September
From the Album:17 Times Over
It’s the night of the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, and I’ve just realized something:
Both of my final exams for my online classes are this week and I haven’t studied for them. At all. Seriously, why did I think that taking college classes and working a full-time job with a popular boy band would be a good idea?
Oh yeah. I wanted to make my parents proud. How overrated is that?
The good news is that since these exams are taken online, they’re both open-note and open-book. However, they’re also timed, so it’s not like I can sit around and look every answer up and still expect to finish. Maybe I can sneak a textbook into the awards tonight. Right now, I’m reviewing notes on my laptop, but I’m not really absorbing anything.
Sam doesn’t understand why I’m stressed out. Actually, he doesn’t understand why I’m taking classes at all.
“You do know you’re pretty much set for life, right?” he asks me. He’s already dressed for the red carpet and let me tell you, he looks amazing. He’s in black slacks, a white shirt, and a black vest. Seriously, what is it about guys in vests?
“No. You’reset for life. I still might need something to fall back on,” I remind him.
“Hey, as long as we’re set for life, you’re set for life. Unless you do something crazy, like rob a bank or kill a person.”
“Oh, darn. You just ruined all my holiday plans,” I joke.
“In all seriousness, though. Do you actually enjoy taking these classes? Or are you just doing it because you think it’s what you’re supposed to be doing?”
“A little of both,” I admit. “You know, when I first started taking them, we really didn’t know where all this was going. I thought I needed a backup plan.”
It’s true. None of us had any idea how big The Kind of September would get, not even its members. Even when they were writing music and holding auditions and performing locally in the Bay Area, none of them imagined one day being invited to perform for the American Music Awards, let alone being nominated for Artist of the Year. I think the most they ever hoped for was an indie record and enough support to travel around the country. No one dared to dream they’d be here in only a few short years.
“I get that,” Sam tells me. “Still, you shouldn’t stress out over it. It’s not like a B in a few online classes is going to completely derail your life.”
“I know. But I don’t want all the work I’ve done this semester to have been for nothing.”
“You’re a real nerd, you know that?” Sam asks, flopping back onto my bed.
“And you’re going to get in trouble with Tiffany if you mess up your hair. And when that happens, I am going to laugh.”
“Touché.” But Sam doesn’t move. “You are happy, aren’t you?”
Thatsurprises me. I turn away from my computer screen to look at him.
“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t you think so?”
“I don’t know. With all the rumors and drama and now the additional school stuff... I just want to make sure you’re still happy.”
“I am,” I assure him. “I actually can’t imagine life getting any better.”
“You kind of say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Do I? I don’t hear it. But Sam is usually pretty good at knowing what’s going on inside my head, apart from the whole being in love with him thing.
“It’s not a bad thing. It’s kind of a scary thing, but not necessarily bad.”
“Why is it scary?”
It really doesn’t make sense when you hear it out loud, but I’m not sure I know how to explain it.
“I guess I feel like when life is so good, there’s a lot more to lose. And that worries me,” I tell him.
At that, Sam sits back up and looks at me.
“You think you’re going to lose us? Why would you think that?”
“I don’t. I just... Ugh, I don’t know! Now you’ve got me thinking and worrying that you don’t think I’m happy and I promise you, I am!”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Sam laughs. “The last thing I want is to make youthink.”
“Thank you!” Now I’m laughing, too. Unfortunately, though, I’m still thinking.
I’d never admit it to Sam, but I do worry about the future, because as much as I’d like it to, I don’t think this will last forever. One day, The Kind of September won’t be together anymore. They might do reunion tours, but eventually, they’ll all go their separate ways. Most bands do. But even if they don’t break up, we’ll all get older and the guys will meet new people and eventually, Sam will fall in love with someone for real. That’s the day I’m really dreading, because I can see that happening sooner than the band breaking up. And as much as I hate the idea of letting my feelings for a guy interfere with my life and career, I truly don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it when that day comes.
This is why you should never fall in love with your best friend. Or your coworkers. It can get really complicated and really depressing. And I don’t want it to be depressing! Tonight, we’re going to the American Music Awards! True, I won’t be able to sit with them or anything, since they’ll be up front and performing, but it’s still an incredibly cool and exciting thing! Maybe, with any luck, I’ll run into that hot Irish guy again and he won’t remember me. He doesn’t know it, but if Sam ends up falling in love with someone else, he’s my real backup plan.
Hey, a girl can dream.
⋯
Growing up, I was taught that the difference between being an e
xtrovert and being an introvert was that extroverts are loud and outgoing and like to talk and introverts are quiet and shy and prefer to listen. I never knew exactly what I was, since when I’m around my friends, I can be as loud and outgoing as they are and yet, in big crowds or surrounded by strangers, I often find myself mute.
It wasn’t until I took an online personality test (that may or may not have been entirely credible) that I learned that extroversion and introversion have absolutely nothing to do with how much a person talks. It has to do with energy. Extroverts gain energy from being around people. They thrive on crowds. Introverts are the exact opposite. Being around too many people drains them of energy, and they have to spend time alone in order to recharge. That’s where the Introverts-are-Loners stereotype comes in.
I’ve finally learned that I am an introvert. So are Oliver and Joni. The rest of the guys? They’re extroverts through and through. They love this atmosphere. They love the people. They’re all totally high on the energy of everyone around them here at the American Music Awards. And they should be. This is their night.
Right now, they’re being interviewed. Lots of fans are screaming at them from the sidelines. The woman conducting the interview even seems flustered by their presence. It’s probably not helping that Josh and Sam are both acting particularly flirty, winking, running their hands through their hair, you know.
“You guys have come so far in your short career. Tell me, how does it feel to be here at the AMAs?” she asks.
“Incredible,” Josh answers. “This is just the most incredible feeling. We’re so proud and we’re just really excited to perform and have a good time tonight.”
“This is just the beginning of a really exciting week for you. Your third album,Meet Me on the Midway, is due out in just a few short days. What can you tell us about it?”
“We can tell you that it’s amazing,” Cory grins.
The woman interviewing them laughs. “I’m glad to hear that. I hope you think it’s amazing.”
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