Boy Band (9 page)

But when it all comes down to it, families are kind of the same way.  In fact, sometimes, I think that’s what makes a family.  It’s so easy to be around people when everything is... well... easy.  But the people who’ve been with you through thick and thin, who’ve seen you at your absolute worst, and who still want to hang out with you at the end of the day?  

If that isn’t family, I don’t know what is.  

⋯

It’s snowing.  

It’s only November and it’s already snowing.  A lot.  

Okay, it’s November in New York.  I’m guessing this isn’t as much of an unheard of phenomenon as it would be in say, San Francisco, but for a group of twenty-somethings who are from San Francisco (well, and one from London), it’s a weird experience.  

Maybe not so much for the Londoner, but for the Californians, it’s weird.  That’s probably why we’re all making such a big deal out of it.     

The second the snow started falling, Sam scrambled for his camera and ran out onto the balcony to take pictures.  About five minutes later, however, he remembered how much he hates the cold and ran back inside.  He’s been repeating the same pattern for about three hours now.      

Josh, on the other hand, announced that we all needed fleece blankets, hot chocolate, and a fire.  Apparently, experiencing a real New York winter is a lifelong dream of his and he wants to do it right.  Unfortunately, Josh, Jesse, and Oliver don’t have a real fireplace in their hotel room, so we had to improvise.  As it turns out, there’s a cable station that, around this time of year, is a non-stop video of a fireplace burning and Christmas music playing in the background.  

True, it meant we couldn’t watch a movie, but since the seven of us (actually eight... Cory has invited Tara to join us later) can rarely agree on what we should watch, it’s not a tremendous loss.  Especially since, after making us all hot chocolate, Jesse broke out his acoustic guitar.  

So this is what we’re doing on a snowy, northern night.  We’re all in our warmest pajamas and covered in fleecy blankets.  We’re drinking hot chocolate by a pixelated fireplace.  And we’re singing acoustic radio hits from the 1990s and early 2000s.  It might be one of my most favorite moments of all time.  

Especially when Sam scoots up beside me and pulls me into his fleecy, blanketed arms.

“I’m cold.  Hold me,” he mumbles in a silly voice that is somehow still insanely cute.  So I happily oblige, linking my arms through his and snuggling up against his side.  “You know what this makes me think of?”

“What?” I ask.

“When we were kids and we built that enormous blanket fort in your living room.”

“That was up for like a year.”

“I know.  It was kind of our secret clubhouse.”

“That wasn’t a secret at all.”

“That’s true,” he acknowledges as Jesse begins to strum another familiar tune. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s
”
by Deep Blue Somethin
g.
  Classic.  

Unfortunately, just as we’re about to sing the chorus, Cory’s cell phone rings, interrupting what may have actually been the best performance of the evening.  

“Oh!  Take five, crew.  That’s Tara!  I’m going to run downstairs to meet her.”  And with that, Cory bolts out the door.  

“He’s going to be running awhile.  We’re on the fifteenth floor,” Josh remarks. 

“Can I ask you all something?”  Joni asks hesitantly.  “What do you guys think of her?  Honestly.”

“She’s a little abrasive, but I don’t a problem with her,” Oliver says.  Of course he doesn’t have a problem with her.  Oliver is the nicest guy alive.  He doesn’t have problems with anyone.  Except for when it’s too loud for him to sleep.  Then he has problems.  

“I’m not her biggest fan, but she seems to make Cory happy,” Sam answers.  

“Does she still think you’re dating her friend?” Jesse asks Sam.

“I don’t know,” Sam sighs.  

“She won’t be thinking that long when she sees you cuddling the camera girl,” Josh smirks.  Of all of the guys, he’s always been the one to call us out for our strange relationship.  Granted, it wouldn’t be so strange if we were actually dating.  

“It’s okay.  She has no idea who I am,” I assure them.

“What?” Sam asks. 

“It’s true.  She thought I was Joni.”

“Huh.  That’s rude,” Sam remarks.  Then he notices the death glare that Joni throws him.  “No.  Being mistaken for you personally isn’t rude.  It just seems rude that she doesn’t know who everyone is by now.”

“I think she has her mind on other things,” Jesse smirks.

“Yeah.  Like using my brother to get famous,” Joni scowls. 

“Come on, Jo, you really think that’s the only reason she’s with him?”  Jesse asks.                “You don’t?”

“No.  I think she’s with him because he’s a nice guy.  He’s talented.  He’s not as handsome as me, but let’s be honest, who is?” At this, several eyes roll.  “All I’m saying is you need to give Cory a little credit.”  

“You know, Jesse, I’m sure you mean well, but I really don’t nee
d
yo
u
lecturing me on - ”

But before she’s able to complete that sentence, the door opens and Cory appears with Tara in tow.  

“Hi, everyone!” She gives an excited wave.  

Everyone replies at once. 

“Hello, Tara.”  

“Hi.”  

“What’s up?”  

“Oh my God, my life is just so crazy right now.  Like, you have no idea,” Tara says taking a seat in between Cory and Josh.  

“Oh, we might,” Josh laughs.  

Tara ignores him and keeps talking.  “First, I’m doing this huge shoot for this national campaign for a makeup line whose products are designed to enhance a woman’s natural beauty.  So it’s like, you’re wearing makeup, but it doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup.”

“So what’s the point?” Sam laughs.  

It’s only then that Tara glances up at him and notices him and me sharing our large plaid fleecy blanket.  And she definitely doesn’t approve.   

“The point is to make women proud of their natural beauty.”  She looks at me.  “Who are you?”  

“Um, I’m Melissa.  We met at the video shoot a few weeks ago...” 

“Oh, right.” I’m not sure if she actually remembers or if she’s just throwing me a bone.  “Well you know, Sam, Courtney is still eager to get to know you a little better.  I know she’d be happy to go out with you if you’d give her a call.”  Now she sounds like a football player on the offense.  Not that any of us (except maybe Josh, who was super into sports in high school) actually know what an offensive football player sounds like.  

“You know, Tara, that’s awesome, but I just... I don’t think I have the time to date right now,” Sam says.  Good.  Good excuse.  I mean, it’s actually kind of true.  But that’s beside the point.    

I hope I don’t look as smug as I feel.

But Tara is just not letting it go.

“Oh, she doesn’t mind.  She doesn’t have a lot of free time either, what with her modeling and trying to launch a singing career.  I know she’d love to just get together with you, maybe pick your brain on music.  So do you want me to let her know that you’ll call her once you’re back in Cali?”

Sam sighs.  He hates it when people put him on the spot.      

“Honestly Tara, I’d really rather you didn’t,” Sam tells her.

“What? But she really
,
reall
y
liked you.”

“And I liked her.  She seems like a great person.  It’s just that - ”

“What?  Is she not good enough for you?”  Tara suddenly rounds on him.

“No!  It’s not that - ”

“Then what?  Not pretty enough?  Not famous enough?  I bet she’s not skanky enough.  I’ve read all those articles about you.  How like your women loose and easy - ”

The next thing I know, Sam and I are both on our feet.  Sam, looking irritated and yet still somewhat apologetic, seems lost, like he doesn’t know where to go or what to do.  I, on the other hand, am shaking with all sorts of disgust and anger.  Even though I never, ever resort to violence, my hand is balled into a fist, ready to fly right into those perfect pearly whites and cosmetically altered nose.  

Thankfully, Sam’s bandmates are still calm enough to remember to use words.

“Hey!” Jesse snaps.  “Come on, now.  No, Sam isn’t perfect, but none of us are.  You can’t believe that crap that goes around on the Internet.”

“Yeah, come on, Babe.  You know Sam isn’t like that,” Cory tells her, sounding like he’s trying to talk sense into a toddler throwing a tantrum.    

“Well, from what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t be surprised,” she sneers.  

That does it for Sam.  

“You know, I think I’ve had about all the fun I can handle for one night.  I’m going to bed.  Goodnight,” he bids us, making his way toward the door.  

“What?  But we haven’t made s’mores yet,” Josh reminds him, holding up the bag of marshmallows.  

Sam doesn’t respond.  Instead, he walks right out the door, closing it quietly behind him.    

“I think I’m going to call it a night too.  See you all in the morning,” I say, following Sam into the chilly hotel hallway.  I know exactly how Tara will interpret that, but I really don’t care what she thinks.  Especially after what just happened.   

Sam is already halfway down the hall, so I have to sprint to catch up with him.  He turns when he hears my footsteps approaching him.

“Hey,” he says.  “You didn’t have to leave.”

“You think
I
wante
d
to stay with that?” I ask.  

He manages a grin.  “I guess not.”  His blue eyes are still as bright and beautiful and cheerful as ever, but I can tell that he’s bothered by everything Tara said.       

“So, are you okay?” 

“Oh yeah, I’m fine.  I just didn’t want such a good day to end like that, you know?”

“Definitely.  Still, you didn’t deserve that.”

He shrugs.  “Comes with the job, unfortunately.”

“But that shouldn’t be an excuse.  No one should have to put up with that, especially someone who hasn’t done anything wrong.”  I’m talking really fast now.  It’s not a first.  I always ramble when I’m upset.    

Sam grins and rests his arms on my shoulders like we’re at a middle school dance.  “I love that you’re so protective of me.”

I blush.  “I’m protective of all of you.  I hate it when people try to tear you down.”

“You know that’s never going to happen, right?” he assures me.  

“It better not.”

His smile broadens across his face.  “So, are you going to bed now or...?” he trails off.

“I don’t think I’ll actually sleep for a while.  I’m kind of jittery.  I’ll probably just go and read or maybe sketch a little.”

“Want to go back to my room and watch a movie instead?”

I love watching movies with Sam, partly because he’s so entertaining while he’s watching movies and partly because there’s a very good chance I’ll end up leaning against him again.  

And here I thought this night was going to end badly.

CHAPTER 8

“
She sings to me that melody

Of diamonds on piano keys

The tune of painted harpsichords 

And gold viola strings.

And she sings to me the song of night

Of planets, stars, and velvet skies

The word around us fades away 

And she has roses on her min
d
...”

Song: “Roses”

Artist: The Kind of September 

From the Album
:
Meet Me on the Midway

As usual, Sam and Cory’s room is a horrific wreck.  Well, Cory’s side of the room isn’t too bad, but Sam’s side looks like a tornado tore through the room and scattered all of his dirty laundry, snack wrappers, and empty water bottles everywhere.  I truly pity the housekeeping staff.

“Sorry it’s kind of a mess,” Sam apologizes.  I have no idea why.  It’s not like I haven’t lived on the same tour bus as him and four other dirty, smelly guys.

“Sam, how long have I known you?” I tease. “It actually doesn’t look too bad, you know, considering it’
s
yo
u
.”