It was over. No more freedom. With the dinner scheduled, the Zodiac troupe arrived and jumped on us to prepare for this.
After all, it was the first official appearance of Zodiac and Hanson together. And it was also expected when Taylor and me were to announce our relationship.
"'A fairytale romance'." I muttered, reading the rag mag in front of me. "Bullshit." I grimaced at the daggy photo of me they had printed. I threw it onto the hotel bed.
My hairdresser tugged at my hair.
I screamed at her. "Stop yanking my head or I'll pull every single hair out of yours with a pair of needle nosed pliers."
She made a face at me in the mirror, and tugged again as I leaned over to retrieve the mag. "Shut up, Kris, you spoiled brat." she said good naturedly.
I sniffed, and went back to reading. We had known each other for a while, and I put up with her. "Just hurry up."
As soon as the hair was done, the makeup came on. I absolutely hated the makeup artist, so I didn't feel the slightest bit sorry when I sneezed on him.
After 3 hours torture, I climbed into my dress. Someone pulled the zipper on the back up while another offered my shoes to me to step into.
"What else you people gonna do for me, huh? Wipe me bum?" I asked loudly. Everyone stopped to stare.
"Chop chop. Back to work." I scolded. I was escorted out into the hallway where Jessica and Jamie waited.
"Where's the guys?" Jamie asked me.
"I was going to ask the same thing." I said, tugging at the annoying curls around my face.
"Stop that." Jessie hissed, and stiffened as the boys' door opened.
My heart jumped, and I wanted to run into our room and hide under my bed. I never felt more nervous than that moment.
Zac bounded out with a blue shirt with a black shirt over that, black pants, and the trademark yellow Docs.
"Dahlinks!" he cried, rushing to embrace us. We fended him off.
Isaac walked out.
Veeeeeeeery nice! I thought. He had his curly hair straightened and loose. He wore a dark greenish shirt, khaki pants and black shoes.
"Outta my way, attention hog!" Taylor joked and pushed Isaac forward.
My eyes must have been plates, but Taylor's were as big as bar-b-q lids.
My plates raked him up and down.
VERY NICE kept going through my head. Taylor wore a white shirt with gray stripes, black pants, and shoes. His hair tied back, Taylor nervously fiddled with his rat tail.
I grew hot under his stare.
Taylor eyed Kris. She looked great. Her dress was made for her, and she smiled slightly.
Zac jumped in between us, and I tore my plates away. I led the way to the elevator. Down we went, and Jamie coughed slightly, making us all jump.
We made it down, and there was a large audience in the foyer. We smooshed out, and made it to our ride. This happened to be a limo.
"Looks like Mercury got their butts in gear." Taylor muttered.
I got in, and sat next to Jamie and the door.
"How are we, kids?" asked a familiar voice from up front in the passengers seat.
"Fine, Dad, fine." Isaac said flatly.
"Looks like I'm getting a backrow seat." Walker Hanson grumbled good naturedly.
We said nothing.
"You boys be good, and escort the girls." Walker gave a few tips.
The ride was dead quiet. As soon as we reached the venue, however, it was a different story. Cameras swung our way as our limo pulled up.
"Go on, Kris." Jamie nudged me. I prayed that I would get out of this damn thing without a hitch. Last time I was in a limo and a dress, I had nearly fallen out flat on my face.
I stalled. "We should go in ages." I suggested, staying put.
Isaac groaned from the other side of the car. "Now you tell us." He climbed over the other two, and stepped from the car gingerly and stood.
He leaned over and poked his head back in. "Give me a rental van any day. Come on, Jessica. I shall escort you."
Jessica climbed over Jamie and stepped on my foot, leaving a gray scuff mark on my black suede shoes.
"Damn you Jess." I cursed, leaning over to wipe it off my shoe. Not to mention that my big toe hurt like hell.
Taylor climbed out and pulled me out with him. I bumped my head on the top of the door, and wanted to curse and scream, but Taylor held my arm tightly. I was instantly blinded at all the cameras flashing. I smiled as was required, and linked arms with Taylor.
He leaned over and told me "You're holding me too hard."
"Sorry." I told him, holding his arm tighter. I was scared. I couldn't see past all the flashing cameras. Tay tugged on me, and I followed him gingerly down the red carpet.
Somehow, we were brought in front of a camera crew. A microphone was shoved at us.
"Hi Taylor! Is this the girl?" someone asked.
Taylor smiled patiently, and grasped my hand. "Yeah."
"Well aren't you lucky!" the presenter crooned.
"Yeah." he agreed.
I smiled stupidly.
"So, is he a hottie or what?" the microphone was shoved in my direction.
"Oh, he's more than that. He's my best friend." I said genuinely. I wanted to bang my forehead. How stupid did I sound!
"Well, we wish for the best for you two."
That sounded like a dismissal to me, so I drug him away. "That sounded like we were getting married or something." I said to him, still smiling for the cameras.
We made it through the gantlet and into the large auditorium. Round tables with candles were everywhere with lacy white tablecloths. We were seated towards the center front of the stage.
I sat down, and sighed. That entrance was... overdone.
I looked around, and eyes slid away from me. They were looking at me. I leaned over to Jamie. "Do I have 'arsehole' written on my forhead? Or do I have a bleeding zit in the middle of my forehead?"
She chuckled. "No, stupid. You're Taylor's girlfriend. That's enough to make anyone want to know who finally got the 'sexiest boy on the planet's' attention."
I sighed, and crossed my legs. "What's this for, again?" I asked her, smiling at a guy who wasn't fast enough to look away.
"Cancer research." she said, and turned to Zac for a chat.
I nodded to empty air.
"Awesome! Micheal Jackson's here!" Zac said excitedly to Jamie.
"Where?" she asked excitedly as Zac showed her.
"He is a cancer." I mumbled, wishing I could pick my nose. Not that I needed to, but I wanted to see what everyone would do. I managed to pretend to chew my nails. From the attention I got, I figured that if I had picked my nose, they'd all faint.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone walk onto the stage and clear their throat. I stopped picking at my nails. Wow. It was Seinfeld.
He cleared his throat. "Welcome..." He blabbered on about cancer and the importance of reasearch.
My stomach grumbled, and I eyed the basket of bread in front of me.
"To eat or not to eat, that is the question." I mumbled. I stared at the breadsticks, willing them to disappear. Unfortunately for me, they seemed to call to me 'eat me, Kris, eat me!'
To hell with it. If I get buttery crumbs down my dress and they complain, stuff them. I'm only human.
I grabbed a garlic stick. Seinfeld paused. I crunched on my breadstick.
CRUNCH.
I paused, petrified at the sound. My mouth was hanging open and crumbs were falling out and down my dress. The place was built for amplification, and my bread crunched like it was in stereo sound. It even echoed. I slowly put my stick down.
Everyone stared at me. My mind raced. "They should research bread sticks for cancer. Immune to anything!" I said loudly, banging my steel-like bread stick on the table for emphasis. Crumbs flew everywhere. Everyone laughed, and the awkward moment passed.
Seinfeld grinned, and went on. I frantically brushed crumbs down the front of my dress. Taylor watched me intently. I relaxed. "Phaw, that was close." I sighed. I saw him still watching. "Turn around, pervo."
Tay nudged me to be quiet. After Seinfeld, came a heap of singers. Cher came on first and sang a new song. I hated it.
"Isn't she dead yet?" I asked Tay as he was sipping his drink. He coughed loudly, spluttering, and I patted him on the back.
"Sorry." I said, biting my lip, my face getting hot under all the stares. I was royally screwing up tonight.
Then came Madonna, Backstreet Boys, Garth Brooks etc.
Seinfeld came up, and clapped enthusiastically. "Well, we know there are a few singers out there yourselves. Would you like to come up and sing a bit?" he looked around. His eyes landed on me. "Want to try, Miss Breadstick?"
Everyone laughed and turned to me.
I sat petrified. Taylor squeezed me arm, and Jamie nudged me. I nodded (under pressure I must add).
I stood up slowly, and walked down the front. I mounted the steps and walked across to the microphone. Everyone applauded and Seinfeld backed off.
"Hi." I greeted the audience half hidden in the darkness. "Well, I have no idea what I'm going to sing, but I guess I'd better come up with something quick, huh?"
Laughter.
I was warming up. "I'm obviously going to have to sing a capella, so I caution you: exits are up the back and to the left and right."
More laughter.
"Do re mi fa so la ti do." I coughed.
Titter.
"I dedicate this song to everyone with a hope. A dream."
"Some say love it is a river..."
I closed my eyes and clicked my fingers.
"I say love it is a flower and you it's only seed..."
Everything was quiet.
"When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long and you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes The Rose."
My voice faded slowly, and I pulled open my eyes with an effort. For a moment I thought everyone had taken my advice and headed for the exits: it was so quiet.
Then came the tide of applause. It was loud. I even heard a few whistles. I bowed, and began to walk off.
Seinfeld grabbed the microphone and yelled above the noise "That sounds like an encore, don't you think?"
The clapping grew louder.
"Come back here and sing some more."
I walked back, and smiled. "Well, I hope Bette Midler doesn't want to kick my tush for singing her song so I'll sing another... This is one of my fave oldies, and I absolutely love Patsy Cline... This is for her."
"Crazy crazy for feeling so lonely I'm crazy for cryin' and crazy for tryin' and I'm crazy for lovin' you..."
I stopped, and the loud applause came again. "Now I'm going to have some breadsticks." I joked, and left the stage.
Taylor grinned and hugged me.
"What you been eating?" I asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"You." he said. Mushy stuff.
"Gimme a stick." I grabbed a breadstick and held it up in the air like a trophy.
Everyone laughed. I had made it into American society.