Chapter 21:
Take Me Home
I finally calmed myself down enough to turn around and make sure I heard Brian
right. That had to have been a product of my overactive imagination. He
couldn't have possibly just said Mizpah. No as a matter of fact there's no
friggin way that that came out of his mouth..
"What did you just say to me?" I asked in an accusing tone. He walked
around me and shut the door before answering my question.
"I said Mizpah. Does that mean something
to you by any chance?" He saw how unnerved I was by that stupid word so he
continued, "It does doesn't it? Mizpah, you know exactly what I'm talking
about. I knew I was right!"
"Right? What are you talking about? Are
you after me or something? what's the deal man?" He seemed surprised that
I said that. "Why would you think I'm after you? Nick come over here and
calm yourself down." He patted the bed where he had placed himself. I
walked over and cautiously sat down next to him.
"You have been getting phone calls from
some guy saying Mizpah to you haven't you?" I was baffled.
"No, I haven't been." He seemed
surprised by my denial.
"What do you mean? You obviously know
what I'm talking about. Are you trying to tell me that NO ONE has called you up
and said Mizpah to you?" He was talking down to me and I was getting mad.
"No, Brian no one has called me and said
Mizpah to me!" I stopped right there not really sure if I wanted to come
clean to Brian or not. I decided to change gears and focus on one of the things
that had me nervous, "Why did you hum that song before? Did YOU get a
phone call from someone playing it? Is there something you want to tell me
Brian?" Yeah like maybe you are an insane stalker person who is trying to
kill me?
"What? What song? Wait do you mean
Someone to Watch Over Me?" He laughed "Because you had the lyrics
written on the front of your journal idiot!" Oh, okay I feel dumb..at
least I was able to relax a bit now that I knew Brian wasn't really trying to
kill me.
"Right..I knew that!" I said as he
continued to laugh.
"Why did me singing that song have you
spooked? And are you sure you haven't ever heard that word before?"
"Well, I didn't say that. I've heard that
word before but not ever on the phone." This peeked Brian's attention. He
was waiting for me to continue but I never did. A knock on the door broke us
out of our conversation.
The knocking sounded urgent. "Hold your horses I'm coming, Jeez, this
place has suddenly turned into Grand Central Station!" I opened the door
and Trish came in all flustered.
"Jesus Nick we have this thing scheduled
and I apologize because it's.." She stopped when she saw Brian sitting
there. "Oh hi Brian, Um I didn't mean to interrupt anything." She
looked over at me to try to read the tone of Brian's visit. I smiled at her and
she smiled back. "I'm sorry. I'll come back if you want but this is really
important." Brian understood that as a cue to leave.
"that's okay honey, I have to get home
anyway. I'm expecting a call from Leigh.”
Brian walked over to me and gave me a hug. It felt real. "We'll
pick this conversation up later" he said then he kissed Trish on the cheek
and walked out the door. After he left Trish came over to me and embraced me.
"Wow, I'm so sorry sweat pea, If I had
known that Brian was in here I would have waited before barging in." I
walked over to get some water, "That's okay, we were pretty much done
anyway," I actually wanted to thank her for getting me out of spilling the
beans about Mizpah. It's kind of silly of me but I actually enjoyed keeping
that thing my own nasty secret.
"Well..how did it go? is everything okay
between you guys?" She asked as she sat down. "Um..I think everything
will kind of work itself out,"
"So does this mean that you're not
quitting the band then?"
"Nothing's definite Trish, I still have
no idea if I am quitting or not. Kevin and Howie were here earlier and they
said that I should take the night to think about it and give them an answer in
the morning."
"Oh dear" I looked over at her.
"Oh dear what? is something wrong?"
She stood up and started to do her 'I messed
up' pace around the room. I took a deep breathe before daring to ask her,
"So what seems to be the trouble?" she stopped pacing and looked at
me. "Nick, please don't be mad but I goofed up. It's totally my fault and
I'll take FULL responsibility especially if it gets you in more hot water with
the guys"
Oh crap, here we go!
"I just got a call from some radio station in Marathon confirming you
hosting their promotional concert the day after tomorrow" She shut her
eyes and winced expecting me to fly off the handle. Which I did. "What the
hell are you talking about?"
"I'm so sorry Nick, I wrote it into the
book a while ago but it just kind of got accidentally erased." I had my
hands covering my eyes trying to shield myself from the migraine I felt coming
on. "Trish, we have to cancel, I was just gone for a whole week and the
guys almost tore me a new asshole!"
"I know, I'm sorry but we've been booked
for such a long time that if we pull out today, you will look really
unprofessional."
"How long will I be gone? Just for the
day I hope?" When she didn't answer I knew it was gonna be bad.
"Trish? just for the day right?" I gazed right into her eyes. She was
wincing again.
"No, actually it's for three days! You
are the main host so you need to be there for all three days!"
"Why?"
"Tomorrow you have a run through, and the
actual concert happens over two nights. During the day you will be going on the
radio as a guest DJ to promote the event. I'm so sorry Nick, please don't fire
me!"
"I have just made everything semi-alright with the guys, now they are
going to get all upset about me going away at the last minute again!"
"I'm sorry"
"Please stop saying that! I know you're
sorry. You didn't do it on purpose. And I won't fire you although I am
tempted" I gave her one of my signature smiles to let her know there was
no hard feelings.
"What time do I have to leave
tomorrow?" I was hoping it was a bit later so I could still see the guys
first.
"Around noon, plenty of time to have your
meeting and have them get mad at you all over again" She laughed and I
pouted at her.
"On a positive note, you will get to go
home and stay in your own bed, now when was the last time that you got to do
that?"
I couldn't remember, isn't that odd? It had been such a long time since I had
slept in my own bed that I couldn't even remember.
"It'll be nice to be home." It really would. Maybe it would give me
some time to get my head together and feel safe.
"Why are you smiling?" she asked me
as she was getting up to leave.
"I'm thinking about home."
"Let me know how your meeting with the
guys goes tomorrow. I hope you really consider not leaving them. Even if they
get mad at you." She gave me a kiss and left.
I do have a lot to think about don't I? I said as I made my way back to my
dresser and started to pack for home...
***
