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“Oh my God I think I just saw Simon!” Kat yelled looking up at a window high above the line waiting outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
“How long are they going to make us wait in this hot sun!?” Torrey tossed her long hair over her shoulder then carefully wiped her brow careful not to upset the applied makeup.
“As long as they feel like it, they’re rock stars remember?” Sara was deep into focusing on her Japanese fan book.
“God I hope this was the right outfit to wear.”
“Oh God there we go again, Kim the fashion horse.” Kat had finally torn her eyes from the hotel window and was now focusing on rolling her eyes at Kim’s clothing obsession.
“I believe the correct term is clothes horse.” Mary said cheerfully, sipping on a Pepsi. She seemed to be the only one completely at ease with the whole situation.
“Oh ouch I think someone just stepped on my toe!” Sara wailed suddenly being ripped from her book reading Nirvana.
“Sorry that was probably me.” Kim said blushing deeply.
“Kim, could you be more of a klutz!”
“Yeah well at least I don’t trip over my chord when I’m in the video for Planet Earth.”
“Oh God that was hilarious.” Torrey said covering her mouth to giggle.
“You aren’t in the video for Planet Earth.” Kat spat out.
“Probably because I hadn’t been born yet.” Kim returned with lightning quick pace.
“Simon was so cute in that video, man could he bust some moves.” The seventeen-year-old Blonde sighed audibly while the eighteen-year-old brunette began to laugh hysterically.
“God Lord Kat, you call those Moves? Well maybe moves in the wrong direction.”
“What’s it to you, klutzy?” Kim and Kat got into each other’s faces, eyeing each other up when Jessica, the youngest of the group suddenly caught them off guard.
“I liked John’s eyes in the PE video.”
“You couldn’t even see them behind those bangs Jessica.”
“That’s Jess to you, madam dictionary.”
“She never signs her name Jess, you freak on a leash.”
“Very original Kat. Sort of like your screen name, Duranie 15 how inspiring.”
“At least I know how to spell Duranie.”
“Oh yeah…” Back in each other’s faces the two die hard fans began to audibly snarl at each other.
“Oh God I think I’m going to die of heat stroke before we even get inside!” Torrey was now wailing, wondering if her delicate cold weather skin could take the scorching heat of Las Vegas.
“Yeah and further more… whoa! There he is again… CHARLIE!!!” Kat began to jump up and down waving her hands in the air so fast they began to blur together.
“That’s not Simon you dunce! How can you even tell, the windows 32 stories up?” Kim squinted looking high up the hotel side, trying to even see an outline of a human from her vantage point.
“It’s a connection, in the metaphysical sense. I just know.”
“Yeah, it’s official, Kat’s lost it. She’s out there in medazzle land, running around hallucinating Simon.”
“Darn straight!”
“Does anyone have any sunscreen, possibly a hat, my hair is about to burn off.” It was Torrey again, fanning herself madly with the book she had just stolen off of Sara who was grabbing at it like an eight year old.
“Gimme gimme gimme!”
“Yeah, I think the whole Sinead O’ Conner look went out a few seasons ago, along with that shirt Kat’s wearing.”
“You should be talking, what is that a fro on your head?”
“So I didn’t get it thinned, live with it.”
“I guess it’s better than living with you.”
“Yeah well same to you bucko.”
“Oh yeah…” Practically breathing down each other’s shirts the two girls were about ready to duke it out.
“Ladies, please, Peace, Love, and Duran.”
“Peace, love and Duran.” Kat and Kim echoed together. Then a huge bear hug almost squished Mary who was stuck in the middle.
“I love you Kat.”
“I love you too Kim. I just love Simon more.”
“Viva la John.”
“Darn right.” Torrey piped in. The group of girls settled then pondering the fact that as soon as Nick finished figuring out what to wear that evening they would be let in the House of Blues then approximately four hours later depending on the whims of Simon the concert would begin. Not just any concert but they concert, the concert of the century, at least to the hordes of Duranies waiting outside in the hot sun for the fab five they had come to worship. In the middle of the horde stood a group of girls, wishing and waiting for the excitement to begin. It was at about that time a cell phone rang and reaching into her zebra print purse Kim pulled out a hot pink cell phone and flipped it on in a stylish manner.
“STR The online club for the younger, louder more rebellious DD fan set, currently stationed live in line, middle section for the DD RioUnion tour 2001 Las Vegas concert. This is Kim aka Durangoddess speaking, the official Chauffer for Starting to Remember how may I direct your call?”
“Well, that’s quite an intro you got going there Kim.”
“Ah Jenn, so good to hear from you, how’s things from your vantage point?”
“Front of the line is looking excellent.”
“I just knew we should have waited over night with you and Ang.”
“Hey, don’t sweat it my young friend, we will save you spots up front. Only the best for STR.”
“Right on Jenn.”
“I’ve got a tidbit of information I think you might like to hear.”
“I’m all ears babe.”
“Well rumor has it there are some back stage passes available somewhere in this, the city of sin.” Kim’s eyes widened for a second at the prospect.
“First off might I begin by stating that was one fine line from Vegas COD, and second might I ask about your source?”
“Ever heard of a woman by the name of midnightboat?”
“Hold on let me get some background info on her.” Kim held her hand over the phone and motioned for the group to scoot in. After the six girls had squished in Kim began to speak.
“What’s the status of midnightboat? Is she ligit?”
“She always comes through on E-bay with my VHS.”
“I’d have to agree, the ongaku sensha she deals me is most reliable.”
“Further more she was the first to break us the news of Warren.”
“God rest his soul.” Kat bowed her head and the others followed with a moment of silence for the departed guitarist.
“O.K. enough of the mushy stuff, I’ve got to get back to Jenn.” Kim began to speak into the phone once again.
“She sounds legit Jenn, what’s the low down?” Giving Kim a phone number over the line she continued with more directions.
“O.K. call this number and ask for room 125. She’ll be on the other line.”
“Right. I’ll take care of it. Thanks Jenn.”
“DG keep me informed.” Jenn said in her VIP like voice.
“Right you are Wacu.” With that Kim hung up the phone and looked at the other girls who all wore expressions of bewilderment on their faces. Finally not being able to take it any more Sara jumped into the conversation.
“Well!? What of it?”
“Ladies a most unique opportunity has been presented to us. Apparently Vip passes are floating around in this city for this concert and we will be the ones to find them.” They just stood for a second not being able to believe what Kim was saying, then finally Kat spoke recovering from shock.
“You mean I’ve got an opportunity to meet… Simon!?”
“Precisely dear Kat.” Kim rang out meeting Kat’s grin with one of her own.
“Well then what are you waiting for, get to it!” Kat practically helped Kim dial the phone then waited on tip toes as Kim waited for someone on the other line to pick up the phone.
“Rio Hotel, how may I help you?” Kim held the receiver away from her mouth for a split second.
“She’s at the Rio, figures.” Then she was back on the phone. “Um yes room 125 please?”
“Thank you.” The click of the call transferring was heard then the sound of the phone being taken off the receiver.
“I assume you have called about the passes?” Kim looked at the receiver for a second wondering how this lady called the midnightboat would have such foresight into why she was calling. Deciding she really didn’t want to know the answer to this question, Kim responded to the question.
“Yeah, would you…”
“Come down here and present yourself, crusader. Only the bravest of knights shall pass my test.” With that the phone hung up on Kim who crinkled her eyebrows wondering if she should panic or simply laugh at the woman’s obvious sense of lunacy.
“Well it seems we are to report to her hotel room if we intend to receive our passes.”
“All right then let’s get going!” Kat began to walk away when Torrey grabbed her collar and hauled her back into line.
“Wait a darn minute we can’t leave now, we’ll loose our place in line!”
“Yeah it’s not like we are waiting in a bread line or something, this is Duran!” Jess was adamant about the idea of staying put.
“We’re talking back stage passes, the ultimate hook up! The pass of a life time.” It was Kim who was waving the cell phone carelessly around in her hands.
“Look, I’ve got an idea. Logically, it will take Nick another two hours or so before he feels adequate enough to let the crowd into the theatre. So half of us stay here and wait while the other half run out and grab the Vips. It shouldn’t be to hard. That way if the line moves, the half staying here can call the group out and they can rush back just in time to make the concert.”
“Ah Mary, the voice of logic. All in favor of the plan, say I.”
“I.” The group rang out.
“Right then,” Kim said pointing to people with the cell antennae, “Mary, myself and..”
“ME! You are taking me!”
“Right, and Kat will go and get the tickets, while you three stay here.”
“I am not hanging about in this hot sun! Are you crazy?” Torrey’s hair flew around her face as she looked over at Kim.
“Whoa calm down there Torrey. Look, picture John, playing for you in an air conditioned theatre.” Suddenly Torrey’s eyes glazed over and a sense of peace assailed her.
“Yeah…” Drifting off into a daydream Torrey zoned out leaving the other five in agreement over the plans.
“Right then, are we ready?” Mary asked looking around at the faces.

“Guys, just be careful. I have a feeling this could get out of hand pretty easily.” It was Sara who gave them each a serious look of foreboding.
“Ah come on Sara, what could possibly go wrong?” It was Kat who was itching to get out of there.
“Yes it will all be well in Duranie Land for us the STR pilgrims. Kim my trusty chauffer, go forth and fire up the engine!”
“Right oh my great and fearless co-princess.” With that Kim dashed off followed closely by Kat and Mary.