When The Stars Cross
Chapter 9
By: Erynn*Alice
"What do you mean you met his friend?" Ellie asked the next day at the office.
"What do you mean 'what do you mean'? I met this guy named Tony, who is Benji's best friend and Benji is Joel's twin..." Ashton started in a hushed panic so Sophia wouldn't tell the two to get back to work.
She leaned back in her chair and shook her head. "Ashton, this is more compelling than any movie. Hell, this is better than my soap operas!"
"Ellie, come on! I don't know what's next! What's the next move?" Ashton rubbed her forehead, trying to erase the worries from her mind. "What if he hates me?"
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you. Why would he?"
"Because I tried to kill myself! Ellie, I'd hate me if I were him."
"You're not him. I'm sure he still loves you. If that's how the story goes."
"What story?"
"The love story that has been building up ever since the day you two met."
"That's crazy, Ellie. There is no story."
"There is. And it's romantic as shit."
Ashton stared at her friend who was looking her back with a very certain gaze. "Ellie, I never considered shit romantic."
"You know what I mean, Ashton. This story needs to be in every single bridal magazine in the world. I wish my life were like this."
She shook her head. "No. No you don't. It's not all that glamorous, Ellie. I mean, I'd much rather have Joel right here without all the fuss that has made this love story."
"Okay, I see where you're coming from, but it will all work out in the end."
"Everyone says it."
"Yeah, but I mean it, Ashton. You've given all you've got and it's time to get some back. Karma has got it in for you. Trust me, Ashton, I know this kind of stuff."
Ashton nodded and turned back to the stack of negatives on her desk. Ellie pushed her chair back to her desk, five feet away. She looked at the pictures of Mest and wondered where Joel had been sitting in that bar. There were a couple girls sitting around by the boys in the pictures. A thought hit her hard.
"Oh, God, Ellie..." Ashton whispered.
"What's wrong?"
"He probably has a girlfriend, Ellie. I don't see why he wouldn't. I mean, he probably does have a girlfriend. If I were him, I'd have a girlfriend by now. Hell, and I'd make sure she's certified non-suicidal."
Ellie patted her friend on the back. "I doubt he has a girlfriend; a guy like him doesn't have time to miss you and date someone else. It'll all work out in the end, just chill out for the time being. Get some work done." She said, trying to calm Ashton.
Ashton nodded and went back to work with her photos. She tried to keep the thoughts of Joel that clouded her mind at bay, but every time she ran across a picture of Tony, she remembered the words that came out of his mouth last night.
---
Tony thumbed through the phone numbers that their manager held. "Fuck," He whispered trying to find Ashton Keats' number or address or anything.
"ROB!" Tony screamed. "ROB!"
The blonde thirty-something appeared in the doorway of his hotel room, surprised to see Tony sitting at the desk going through his things.
"What are you doing, Tony?"
"I need the phone number for that girl who was taking pictures last night. Ashton Keats. What's her number?"
Rob shook his head. "How am I supposed to know?"
"Don't you get these people's numbers?"
Rob shook his head again. "Sometimes. If it's not in my book, and it looks like you've already checked, I don't have it."
"No! You have to have it, Rob!"
"Sorry. What's so important about it?"
"Nothing. Just tell me, do you remember the company she worked for? The magazine she worked at?"
"It was a new one, just starting up." He closed his eyes and tried to remember the name. "It was...oh...I have it right on the tip of my tongue. 'Rock Now', yeah! That was it. 'Rock Now'."
Tony ran over to Rob and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you a million times over!"
"That's not how I like to be thanked." Rob mumbled as Tony ran out of the room and down the hallway.
He dialed Benji's number. He couldn't wait for his best friend to hear the good news. The news that this girl that Joel loved so much might actually be coming back into his life. He couldn't wait for Benji to hear.
The ringing lasted for awhile. "PICK UP THE PHONE!" Tony screamed to the ringing noise.
"Tony, I am in the middle of an interview. What the fuck do you want?" Benji said in a hushed tone.
"It's wise to turn your phone off when interviewing."
"Shut up. What do you want?" Benji turned away from the table where the boys were getting interviewed. It was a commercial break, so nothing much more than chit-chat was happening.
"I have the name of the magazine she works for."
"That's great, now just get her number."
"I'll try. We have to leave for the next city tonight. I'll try to get it."
"Thanks man."
"Hey, no problem. It'll be nice to see Joel in a better mood again."
"Finally."
Too often we sit back and take what life gives us
Like holding a bad hand of cards
Always folding instead of raising the stakes
Never wanna bluff and go for it
Afraid that you'll lose all you've got
But you can't win big if you don't bet big
No one ever cleans house from the sidelines
Otherwise the world will pass you by
And you'll never see it go
You'll wake up one day and wonder where it all went
And not understand why you made the choices you did
I don't wanna live my life in regret
Everything is a learning experience
I don't wanna live my life in regret
Too often we sit back and take what life gives us
Like holding a bad hand of cards
Always folding instead of raising the stakes
Never wanna bluff and go for it
Afraid that you'll lose all you've got
But you can't win big if you don't bet big
No one ever cleans house from the sidelines
Otherwise the world will pass you by
And you'll never see it go
You'll wake up one day and wonder where it all went
And not understand why you made the choices you did
I don't wanna live my life in regret
Everything is a learning experience
I don't wanna live my life in regret
("3 Away" By Pretty Girls Make Graves)