With or Without You - Pt 5

     The group of them got to the restaurant and managed to get a table for eight toward the back of the restaurant.
     Anna Maria looked around and smiled, “I like it, it’s a quaint little place isn’t it..”
     They ordered and Darren told the waiter to hold the meat on his plate.
     Willow looked over at him, “So you are a vegetarian?”
     Darren nodded.
     ”Religious reasons? Personal? Have you always been a vegetarian?” Willow asked placing the glass of wine down after a sip.
     ”It was a personal choice. Back a few years ago I just couldn’t bring myself to eat meat anymore..so I just stopped all together.”
     Willow nodded an understanding, “I can’t begin to count the many times I’ve considered going vegetarian, but I don’t think I can bring myself to give up chicken..or the occasional burger. You’ve got a lot of control.”
     Darren laughed, “Thanks..”
     They talked lightly over their brunch. Willow managed to bring herself to ask the band a few more questions.
     By the end of brunch Daniel was rubbing his head. Nichole looked over concerned, “Are you ok Dan?”
     He coughed, “I don’t know. My heads throbbing.”
     Darren looked at him, “The wine..”
     Dan cast him a look, “Two and a bit glasses doesn’t do that..”

     Willow got into the limo with Ben behind her. She sat toward the back. “Damn this is a big limo..”
     Ben laughed agreeing as he sat beside her. “We need it.”
     When they had all got in, Anna Maria had gone through her purse and pulled out some Advil, “Would you like Dan?” She said offering him the bottle.
     Daniel nodded and Darren remarked, “I just still marvel about the things you guys keep in those little purses.. How bad is yours Willow?”
     She laughed and opened hers, “Credit cards, money, lip balm, gum, nothing much really..”
     Ben rubbed his neck again.
     “Are you sure nothings wrong with it Ben?” Willow asked looking at him concerned.
     “Yeah, just a kink or something. I’m fine..”
     “Here,” She kind of got up to reposition herself, ASit forward a bit for a second,” As he did she got in behind him to sit. “Dawn is constantly suffering from neck crinks due to sitting in front of computers most of her day. I’ve got magic hands she says. Sit still for a second..” She worked her fingers into the back of his neck.
     Ben moaned softly, “Ooh, that feels great..”
     Daniel laughed softly, “You’re lucky my head hurts so much, the things I could say..”
     He received a smack on the arm from Nichole, “Shut up! Geeze..”
     Willow leaned over his shoulder looking at him, “Better?”
     He smiled and nodded, “Yeah, much better. Thanks.”
     She got up and sat back beside him, “Your welcome..”
     “You know..I’ve got this crink in the bottom of my back..” Karl said with a smile on his face.
     Willow laughed while Ben just shook his head rolling his eyes.
     “So, Jonesy, are you still going to do the radio show with me?” Darren said checking his watch.
     “Shit, that’s today isn’t it? Damn, I can’t. I need to get a wink of sleep, I feel dead..”
     “Oh, ok then. Well I’ll get them to drop you all off at the hotel then get myself dropped off at the radio station. Get well Jonesy..”

     Ben and Willow had left the hotel after they were dropped off.
     “What do you want to do?” Ben asked as they stepped onto the street.
     Willow looked around, “I don’t know.. Oh, actually, do you want to check out this cafe I found yesterday?”
     He shrugged his shoulders, “Sure, why not.”

     They walked into the cafe Willow had been in the other day. Rayanne looked up from a book and smiled, “Ooh, and she comes back. We didn’t creep you out..good..”
     Willow laughed, “No of corse not..”
     Rayanne looked at Ben oddly, “You look familiar.. Are you from around here?”
     “No, not even..” Ben said shaking his head.
     “Ooh, fresh from Australia right?”
     He nodded with a smile.
     “Well you look damn familiar..”
     “Do you like Janeane Garofalo?”
     Rayanne smiled, “God yeah, I love her. Did you catch her on KathyLee and Regis this mourning?”
     Willow nodded, “Yeah, I think that’s where Ben looks familiar from.”
     Rayanne looked at him again, “Really? From where?”
     “That band Savage Garden..”
     Her mouth dropped, “You were in that band?!”
     Ben nodded, “Yeah, I do some guitar for them”
     “But I’m not sure I saw you..”
     Willow laughed, “He was in the back behind the guy with the black hair and beside the drummer. He’s one of the back up people..”
     Ben laughed. Rayanne nodded slowly, “Yes, I know who your talking about. Well, my goodness, welcome.. Can’t say we’ve ever had anyone famous in here before..”
     Ben blushed lightly, “I’m far from famous..”
     “Modest enough. You were on national tv and a back up guitar for one of the most talked about bands at the time. If that’s not famous, I don’t know what is..”
     They smiled and grabbed a table.
     Rayanne brought over two chocolate mocha’s, “You don’t mind do you?”
     Willow shook her head, “No..thanks. Do you like these Ben?”
     “It’s chocolate and coffee right? I should..” He took a sip and nodded with a smile.
     “Oh, I’ll put on the radio, your friends are going to be on aren’t they?”
     Willow nodded, “Yeah, that’s right.”
     Rayanne sat talking to one of the other people who was sitting at a table.
     The interview came on some minutes later.
     Darren had apologized for Daniel’s illness saying he was feeling under the weather and was back at the hotel. He answered the basic questions and talked about the basic stuff.
     The DJ asked about the rest of the back up band.
     Darren laughed, “As far as I know they’re enjoying themselves. Actually our one guitarist, Ben, has seemed to have ‘clicked’ with this one fan we met. Great girl she is too, hello to you Willow if your listening.”
     Willow went bright red and Ben laughed.
     After a bit they returned to walking around the city stopping at certain places for a closer look.
     Ben found it amusing. Quite the few girls passed by him kind of giving him a second look.
     One actually stopped them.
     The girl looked at him, “Your from Savage Garden aren’t you!”
     Ben looked in shock, “What?!”
     “Ok, I’m going to feel really silly for pulling you aside. You aren’t the back up guitarist from Savage Garden? Ben right?”      He laughed, “Wow, you recognized me?!”
     She nodded, “Yeah, I’m a seriously big fan. So you are Ben?”
     He nodded, “Ben Carey, the one and only.”
     “Oh my god this is so cool.” She looked over at Willow, AAre you the girl that Darren said hi to on air? The one that is like, umm, with Ben?”
     Willow blushed lightly and nodded.
     The girl smiled, “This is too cool. Could I get your autograph?” She took her backpack off her shoulders to dig out a pen and paper.
     Ben smiled, “Of corse. So what can I call you?”
     The girl looked up from her bag, “Oh, sorry, my name’s Dorothy. God, I’m such a big fan..this is too much!” She finally got paper and a pen free and handed them to Ben. She then turned to Willow, “So you met them on KathyLee and Regis?”
     “Yeah, I caught them after their performance.”
     “That’s really cool. So I’m taking it, you’re not from around here?”
     Willow shook her head, “Nope, I’m up in Canada, Ontario to be exact..”
     “Cool. I’m this really big sad fan of theirs,” She said smiling, “I’ve even gone as far as to making a page up..”
     Willow laughed, “I’m not much better. I’ve got a page up myself..”
     “Oh, way cool. Is it any good?”
     “Well I’ve been told as much..”
     “Would you mind writing it down? I love checking out sites.”
     “Sure..” Willow wrote it down and handed it to Dorothy.
     Dorothy looked over it then her mouth dropped, “Oh my god! Willow from ICQ?!”
     Willow laughed, “Shit, yeah..”
     Dorothy covered her mouth and laughed, “Oh my god, this is so cool! SavageFreak101 here..”
     “Oh my god, this is too much! Hi!”
     “Oh wow..this is too great. I mean wow.” Dorothy then stopped and cast Ben a look, “And to top it off your like going out with Ben?”
     He quickly looked up. Willow cast a look down at him, “Well, it’s just been today and all..but, umm, I guess in a sense or something yeah..”
     Dorothy laughed, “Ok, not to offend you or anything but what about Daniel?”
     Willow chuckled and looked down at Ben who just shook his head, “Well come on. No one has a chance for him.. Ben was the next closest guy to latch onto..” She laughed again, “No, seriously though..it’s like how Daniel explained it with Meg Ryan. You build them up to be like a god in your eyes and then you meet them and they aren’t exactly how you had them worked up to be. I mean, he’s still great and all..but..”
     Dorothy nodded, “Oh, ok. So how long are you planning on being in town?”
     “I’m not sure. A few days or something I suppose..”
     Ben got up and handed Dorothy the paper back. She read it quickly and smiled. “Thanks.” She quickly scribbled something down on a piece of paper and handed it to Willow, “Well if you get bored or something while your in town, give me a call. You’re one of the saner fans I know.”
     Willow cast a look at Ben, “I doubt I’ll get bored, but I’m sure I could give you a visit..”
     Ben grinned. Dorothy just laughed, “Well I should be getting home. Wow, it was cool meeting the two of you. Umm, the best of luck or something along those lines I guess.. Bye!”
     When she had left Ben looked at Willow smiling, “A friend from the computer?”
     She nodded, “Yeah, I’ve known her for almost a year now. She’s great..”

     The two went to various parts of the city. They spent the next few hours out and about, taking in all the sites.

Chapter 6




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