Chapter
18: Turn Around
“Oh, my God!” she screamed, running towards Dan and Charles, hoping not
to slip on her shoes in the process. She wrapped her arms around Dan’s neck
and held onto him tightly for a few moments. Chance hadn’t expected herself
to miss him so much. After all, he was the only person she knew that could play
as well as she could. Her attention turned to Charles standing beside them.
She gave him a quick hug as Darren came up alongside the group of friends.
“I can’t believe it. Did you guys do this for me?” Chance asked the three
of them.
“It was Darren’s idea,” Dan replied.
“But I couldn’t pull it off without your help,” Darren added. Chance
turned to him, her brown eyes moist with tears, and wrapped her arms around
him.
“Thank you so much,” she softly cried. Her gloved hand wiped the tears
that fell from her eyes. “You are the most wonderful people in the world. I
don’t know where I’d be without you.”
Darren just smiled at her as the tears fell from her eyes. She looked
back towards Dan and Charles, hugging them both once more before Dan led her
to a seat close to the other end of the dining room where a table was elevated
above the rest. She sat at the center between him and Darren, proudly staring
out at the crowd gathered around them.
Chance looked down the table to see faces she had never met before. Dan
realized what she was thinking and quickly stood up to introduce her to everyone.
“I’d like you to meet three very important people. This is Walter, Larry,
and Rebecca. They’ve all heard the demo we recorded in the studio and want to
hear you sing a few things tonight,” Dan said. He leaned closer to her and whispered,
“They’re all heads of the music industry, and instrumental in getting you a
record deal with Columbia.”
Chance raised her eyebrows in amazement. She quickly became the sweet,
polite girl everyone had pictured her as. She shook each of their hands then
sat down at her seat again.
As Dan sat down beside her, he noticed the dark area between her shoulders
from the corner of his eye. Trying not to look too obvious, he leaned back in
his chair to get a better look at what it was. He was amazed to see the butterfly
tattoo with its wings spread between her shoulder blades. All too suddenly,
the chair beneath him flew back and he was on the floor, the entire room exploding
into laughter.
Chance heard the thud from behind her and quickly looked in Dan’s direction
to see him sprawled on the floor trying to get up without making a scene, but
it was too late. The people gathered in the room were already laughing. Chance
stood up and gave him a hand back up. His face was bright red with embarrassment.
A few strands of his hair were out of place, which she moved back with her hand.
“What happened?” Chance asked containing the urge to burst into laughter.
“I saw your back, that’s what happened,” Dan retorted, brushing off the
dirt and dust from his black suit. “What is that thing anyway? Is it real, or
is it just one of those temporary ones?”
“The tattoo is 100% real. Darren got it for my birthday,” she proudly
answered. They sat down once more as the crowd began to settle.
From behind Chance came Darren’s voice. “I told you it would be a shocker.”
Dan made a face in Darren’s direction and looked away from him. He mumbled
a few choice words before turning back to Chance and resuming a conversation
with her.
“When did you get it?” he asked.
“This afternoon,” she replied.
“Now you’re branded for life. How does it feel?”
“In the beginning, as the needle is piercing your skin, it hurts like
hell. Then comes the constant itching, which is even more painful. Finally,
after a few hours of wanting to beat your brains out, the pain goes away and
it’s all over.”
Dan just nodded. He didn’t know how to reply. His hands covered his face
as he tried to clear his mind of the embarrassing incident. Chance turned away
from him towards Darren. He was talking to Charles, unable to see her staring
in his direction. Feeling left out, Chance turned her attention towards the
people gathered in the dining room. They were all wearing expensive clothing
by top designers. Judging from that, she figured most of them were either doctors
or lawyers with the occasional dot com millionaire.
The carpeted floor in the middle of the room was open for people to dance
in. No one was, but it was nice to see the option. Soft, slow music was playing
in the background, setting the mood to a quiet, lazy pace. Soon, waiters with
trays of food began to serve the tables. Chance had no idea what she was looking
at when the tray came her way. There were bits of green, red, and orange spread
all over crackers with a sprinkle of grated cheese. She decided to try it anyway.
Before Chance was even able to take the first bite, Darren was standing
beside her, tapping his wine glass with a spoon and addressing the audience
of diners. “Welcome everyone. I’m Darren Hayes, and this is my good friend,
Chance Malone, who just happens to be turning 18 today. So, as tradition goes,
she has to make a speech.”
Darren pulled Chance out of her seat without hesitation. She glared at
him, not wanting to say anything in front of a crowd so big. She leaned into
Darren and whispered, “I’m gonna get you for this some day.”
Darren sat down with a cheesy grin on his face, leaving Chance all alone.
She tried not to be nervous, but was having a hard time formulating sentences
with some many people staring at her. She took a moment to assess the situation
then a deep breath to ease her tension.
“Hi, everyone. I’m happy to see all of you here today on such a special
occasion. I’d like to start off by thanking the three people who pulled this
off so well: Darren, Dan, and Charles. Thank you for making me feel so loved.
I’d also like to give special thanks to the other three people that are sitting
at this table: Walter, Larry, and Rebecca. Thank you for taking time out of
your busy schedules to come to New York and see me. I’d love to perform a song
for you at this time because I know that’s why you’re here. So, is there anything
anyone wants to hear?” Chance said as she turned to the diners. They began to
mumble amongst each other discussing choices when someone from the back of the
room yelled, “Sixpence None The Richer, ‘Kiss Me.’”
Chance smiled as she looked in the direction the voice came from. It
was from an older guy sitting at the last table near the door. “Good choice,”
she commented. “Anybody got the music?” One of the bus boys ran up to her and
told her that the manager was looking for the CD.
In a few moments, the music started, and Chance belted out the first
few lines in a soft voice, “Kiss me out of the bearded barley. Lightly, beside
the green, green grass. Swing, swing, swing the spinning step. You wear those
shoes and I will wear that dress. Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight. Lead
me out on the moonlit floor. Lift your open hand. Strike up the band and make
the fireflies dance, silver moon's sparkling. So kiss me.” She walked over to
Darren as she waited for the music of the next verse to start. She took his
hand and led him to the dance floor. “Kiss me down by the broken tree house.
Swing me high upon its hanging tire. Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat.
We'll take the trail marked on your father's map. Oh, kiss me beneath the milky
twilight. Lead me out on the moonlit floor. Lift your open hand. Strike up the
band and make the fireflies dance, silver moon's sparkling. So kiss me.” They
paused to dance on the dance floor. Darren held Chance close, looking into her
brown eyes and wondering what she was thinking at that moment. She was so happy
being the center of attention, smiling and laughing whenever he twirled her;
Darren couldn’t help to smile himself. “Kiss me beneath the milky twilight.
Lead me out on the moonlit floor. Lift your open hand. Strike up the band and
make the fireflies dance, silver moon's sparkling. So kiss me. So kiss me. So
kiss me. So kiss me.”
As the song ended, Chance looked up at Darren and smiled at him. Her
rosy red cheeks made her face even more extraordinary to look at. He leaned
closer to her, his hands holding her so gently, and placed a sweet, simple kiss
on her lips. Chance didn’t move, she couldn’t. She didn’t want to wake up from
the dream world she had just entered, especially since Darren’s lips were the
sweetest she had ever tasted. Reality all to suddenly took a hold of her, and
she pushed him away, wiping her lips she turned back towards the table.
Darren stood in the middle of the floor unable to comprehend what had
just happened. He watched Chance make her way past the other tables quickly
and instantly knew what was wrong. He cursed himself for being so stupid and
ignoring the fact that this kind of behavior upset her, especially since they
were in public. Darren also made his way back to the table and sat down in his
chair beside Chance. Throughout dinner, neither of them looked in the other’s
direction afraid that something would be said and someone would get hurt again.
Chance sat picking at her food. She didn’t want to catch sight of Darren
fearing that unknown emotions would hinder her conscience. She stared out across
the room at the other people as she usually did when she got bored. Chance had
nothing better to do than watch as the others ate their meals while hers went
cold on her plate. A hand tapped her left shoulder and she turned to Dan’s direction
to see what he wanted.
“Hm?” she mumbled, her chin resting on her hand.
“You look really distracted,” Dan said. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s way too complicated for you to understand. Jeez, I don’t even understand
it,” Chance replied, suddenly getting very cranky.
“Well, maybe if you talked to someone about it, you might be able to
sort out a few things and get a clearer picture of your problem,” he suggested,
wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
Chance began to ease up. She looked at Dan and started, “You know I love
Scott, right?” Dan nodded. “Well, lately, I’ve been getting some very strange
feelings while being around Darren. It’s like one minute I’m his friend and
don’t want him to be anything more, and the next I’m totally in love with him
and I don’t even know who Scott is anymore. You just saw what happened out on
the dance floor. One second I was kissing Darren, then the next I was pushing
him away. I know that’s wrong because I’m in love with Scott, not Darren. What
I don’t get is why this is happening to me. How can I be in love with two people
at the same time? How can my feelings be so fucking confused about who they
want more?”
Dan could see that Chance was on the verge of losing whatever sanity
she had left. Her explanation was, like she said, confusing, and he didn’t know
how to answer her. “Maybe living with Darren is making you think you want him
because he’s with you almost 24/7. Then again, maybe it’s Darren that you were
meant to be with, not Scott. I’m not saying that you should dump Scott for Darren.
You have to look past everything that’s happened and take a look at what the
future holds with each guy. Weigh out all the good and the bad and see who fits
you better,” Dan offered his opinion.
Chance smiled as she understood what he meant. He was right, talking
out a problem with someone helped a lot. She felt better about the situation
by having it evaluated by someone else. “Thanks, Dan. That really helps,” she
said, bending over to give him a hug.
“You’re welcome,” he replied. “I’m always glad to help.”
By that time, dinner was over and people were dancing in the center of
the room to soft, slow music. Chance stared out at them and watched. Her heart
sank when she thought about Scott and how he wasn’t there. If she could make
a wish, it would be to have him make it to the party. Someone tapped Chance
on the back making her turn towards whoever it was.
“Chance is your name, right?” the woman sitting next to Dan, Rebecca,
asked.
“Yeah, and you’re Rebecca?” Chance replied.
“Yeah. I just came over here to tell you that you did a great job today
with that song. I hear you’re a great musician. I’d like to hear more, and so
do Walter and Larry. They were very impressed with your performance. We’d like
to offer you a deal,” Rebecca said.
Chance became overly excited, but kept her cool. This had been her dream,
and it was finally being fulfilled. “I… I… I don’t know what to say,” she nearly
burst into tears.
“Lets schedule a meeting for some time within the next few weeks and
we can discuss the details,” Rebecca offered, extending her right hand.
“That’s fine with me,” Chance answered, graciously shaking her hand with
a wide smile on her face.
Rebecca smiled back and returned to her seat. Dan and Darren had been
listening to the conversation ever since Rebecca had come by. Chance wrapped
her arms around both of them and said, “You guys are the best. This is one present
I’ll never forget.”
Darren held up his glass, oblivious to everything that had happened on
the dance floor, and replied, “Congratulations!”
Dan did the same, and Chance held up hers. “A toast,” she said, “to us,
and to our friendship. Friends till the end.” All three tipped their glasses
to that and had a sip of their drink.
Dan put down his glass and took Chance’s hand. “Come on, let’s dance,”
he said, pulling her out of her seat and to the dance floor.
“You remember the rule,” Chance affirmed.
“Ah, the all to infamous rule. Of course I remember. No going beyond
the equator, and I know what you mean,” Dan replied, placing his hand on her
back just above her waist.
Chance smiled. Her head rested on his shoulder as they danced to a slow
ballad she had never heard before. “This is the best day of my life,” she quietly
told him. “I’ve turned 18, I’m about to get a record deal, and I have the best
friends in the whole world.”
“And let me guess, now you’re wondering if I’m going to give you any
advice,” Dan answered. Chance nodded. “All I can say is I hope you’re as successful
as we are.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet of you,” she replied. She looked up at him and kissed
his cheek. Her head drifted back to his shoulder as the song continued. They
danced for a few more numbers until Chance could feel someone tapping her shoulder.
She looked up to see Darren standing behind her.
“May I cut in?” he asked. Dan let go of Chance and handed her over to
Darren, but not before softly kissing her forehead.
“You always have to cut in, don’t you?” Chance sarcastically questioned
as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Of course,” Darren said with a smile.
The song was over before they were able to get in any dancing, but another
one soon started. Chance instantly recognized what it was. “Why is it that ‘I
Will Love You’ is always played when we’re together?” she said. “It’s destiny,
I tell you.”
Darren laughed lightly. “Maybe we should make this our song,” he suggested.
“Maybe we should,” Chance replied. “This is our ‘we’ll always be friends’
song, you know?”
“Yeah, I know.”
Chance could feel Darren get closer until they were nearly dancing cheek
to cheek. She was tempted to lay her head on his shoulder, but strayed away
from the idea remembering that it might bring back those strange feelings she
was having. For the remainder song, they danced a breath apart, always cautious
of not overstepping the other’s personal boundaries. Not a word was spoken the
entire time. Chance was beginning to feel a little awkward with the silence.
She didn’t like going so long without anything to say.
“So,” she finally said.
“So?” Darren replied.
“Thanks for everything,” Chance answered back.
“You’re welcome.”
“Um… I don’t know what else to say.”
“I know something. I’m proud of you.”
“Proud of me? For what?”
“You haven’t had an episode for nearly a month.”
“I haven’t? Wow. I guess having people around who love me really helps
fill that empty void that I felt before.”
Darren smiled. He pushed back the strands of hair that blocked her beautiful
brown eyes to look into them. Chance was so calm as his hand touched her face.
She closed her eyes trying hard to block the feelings and emotions bubbling
up inside of her, yet at the same time trying to hold onto the moment for all
it was worth.
An uncontrollable flood of memories rushed through her mind. Chance had
a flash of ever kiss, every hug, every smile that she had shared with Darren.
On top of those memories, another flood came down on her, except this time they
were of all the moments she had shared with Scott. She was beginning to lose
control of what little she sanity she had left, and could feel the tremors shock
her body from head to toe. Tears dripped down her face as she let go of Darren
and fled the room to find the bathroom.
Chance wasn’t able to take the lies any longer. She had to tell Scott
what was going on. Her head was a mess from keeping so many things from him.
When she reached the bathroom, she sat down on one of the red velvet chairs
in the lounge and cried for nearly an hour. Darren left her alone to sort out
everything, but never told anyone where she was. He wasn’t about to tell the
world how messed up he had made her life. He sat down at the table and waited
for her.
A young blond girl walked past Darren’s table and caught his attention.
Wanting to get away from the current situation, he asked her to dance.
Chance came out of the bathroom, her eyes still red from crying, and
made her way to the table. She was tired and wanted to go home. Her head fell
into her hands as she sat alone at her table. This party wasn’t fun anymore.
Outside, a black limo pulled up at the front, and a man in a black tux
stepped out. He made his way towards the dining room, carefully watching for
anyone who could possibly recognize him. As he entered through the open doors,
he looked out across the tables to see Chance sitting alone at hers. He made
his way through the crowd unnoticed. He slipped behind the row tables and walked
along the wall until he was standing right next to Chance. Her head shot up
when she felt a presence near her. She turned her head towards the newcomer
and nearly jumped out of her seat with joy.
“Scott!” Chance screamed. “You’re here!”
Scott wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her in for a long,
passionate kiss. Chance’s ravaged heart was instantly mended with that one kiss,
and she knew Scott was the one she wanted to be with.
“The meeting at Brad’s ended an hour ago. I rushed over here after going
home and changing. Sorry I’m late,” he apologized.
“Don’t be. You made it, and that’s what counts,” Chance replied.
“So, what did I miss?” Scott asked as he sat down beside her.
“Well, you didn’t miss that much. I sang ‘Kiss Me,’ danced with a few
people, and got a record deal,” she said nonchalantly.
“Chance, you got a record deal? That’s wonderful! Congratulations!” Scott
kissed her once more before taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.
They made it just in time to hear the manager say that this was going to be
the last song and that the restaurant would be closing as soon as it was over.
All the couples that had been dancing left, and Chance and Scott were the only
two on the floor. Chance heard the low opening lines and held tightly onto Scott.
Come to me now
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
And I shall believe
I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly you won't give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe
Open the door
And show me your face tonight
I know it's true
No one heals me like you
And you hold the key
Never again
would I turn away from you
I'm so heavy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe
And I shall believe
“I remember this song,” Scott softly whispered as he held onto Chance.
“I thought you would,” she replied.
“I want this to be our song,” he said.
“So do I,” Chance agreed.
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe
And I shall believe