Chapter 1
"Roxy, here comes your bus."
"Check it out, Is that cool hoặc what!" I đã đưa ý kiến to Jane, bouncing up and down. I could hardly contain my excitement. I knew that from that particular point in time, my whole life was going to change.
There it was, gleaming in the late autumn sunshine, the Simple Plan Tour bus parked outside my house. The door opens with a swisshh and Justin saunters out looking every bit the Rock'N'roll manager with a dark T-shirt and matching denim áo khoác .
"Yo Rox, we gotta get going."
"Just a minute," I replied. I smiled at Jane who was on the front porch with Dad, and then I ducked back inside the house.
"One last thing I have to do," I đã đưa ý kiến quietly to myself as I bounced up the stairs to a bức ảnh framed on the wall. It was my Mum, she had passed away some years back and we had framed our fave picture of her and placed it midway along the staircase.
"I promise you, Mum, I will return a* ngôi sao * - hoặc at least the best Roadie there ever was!"
It was hard to pull myself away, until the reality of a single tear falling off my chin brought me out of it, and the mumbles of my Dad talking to Jane in a way that only a concerned father could convey.
"Dad, you've got nothing to worry about," Jane reassured him.
"Sam and Ryan have the whole tour totally planned to a T, and Justin will be teaching Roxy and Trey all there is to know about Tour life."
"Yes I know, and I'm sure that everything will be fine. bạn know, something pretty special must have happened to bạn two, that day, when bạn won that fellowship award. Roxy has real belief in herself now. bạn can see it in her eyes, just like in you."
I smiled at Dad's compliment.
"And I haven't seen bạn two get along so good for a long time. It's a bit of a shame that bạn are both going your separate ways."
"Something special did happen that day, Dad. It's hard to explain. Roxy and I were on different paths, and we kept making the wrong turns. But then, as Big Shirl would put it, sometimes, when bạn make a wrong turn, there's a blessing in disguise waiting for bạn at the other end!"
"Big Shirl? Who's Big Shirl, Jane?"
"Ummm, she's the Queen of the ***Harlem Bling ***."
Just then Dad looks up to see Justin and Trey hop off the bus.
"Take good care of her, Justin."

"Don't worry Dr Ryan," Trey says, "she's in good hands. Oh and don't forget we are all meeting up in Luân Đôn in six weeks. I'm sure the girls will cook bạn up a storm then, right girls?"
"Yeah Dad, where going to learn how to make Eggs Benedict, just for you." I smiled, as I hugged him again for the umpteenth time.
Then I turned to Jane. But before I could say anything, she gave me one of her serious older sister bởi two phút kinda looks.
"There's something about you, Roxy. bạn just have to hiển thị them all out there." She broadened her arms to signify the big wide world.
Now this was not the first time that Jane had đã đưa ý kiến those words to me. Time stood stil but my mind went into overdrive. ~ There was the time in Washington at the Adams family (whoops) John Adams School when we were all set to go to Rafael's parent's fundraiser brunch. And also when we were in the storm water drain under the streets of Harlem on the ngày of Jane's award speech.
Wow! What a ngày that was! No, wait, that was when she told me that I was insane. Well hey, that was the ngày I met Trey, ooh, and the ngày we went stage-diving to Simple plans Vacation song, and then there's the time when I played my first live hợp đồng biểu diễn, gig, biểu diễn with Johnny Wisper from the Doll Heads, and Rafael đã đưa ý kiến it to me before our first kiss, and the time that ....


"Rox.., Roxy..., Earth to Roxy! Snap out of it sister and give us a hug!"
"Yeah, time to Rock'n'Roll, Roxy girl." Justin đã đưa ý kiến as he he lowered his thick framed yet somehow cool glasses off his slicked back hair.

Ok, this was it; I turned on my heel and breezed down to the bus. As I took a step up, a chant of "Roxy, Roxy... " grew from inside the bus.
"I luv u guys!" I beamed, as I saw the faces of the Band and the Crew appear over the hàng đầu, đầu trang of the headrests. "Let the good times roll." I danced and shoe shuffled my way down the aisle to my ghế, chỗ ngồi tiếp theo to Trey. He handed me my fave pair of drumsticks and gave me a sweet Kiss on the cheek. I did an impromptu drum solo on the headrests in front of me, as the bus pulled away from the curb. The guys cheered as it ended with my trademark "THANK bạn NEW YORK CITY!"
Suddenly, there was a whirring sound of a Police siren whizzing past. A Metro Police bike swerved in front of the bus and slowed down, lights flashing.
"Not trouble already," Justin muttered in a concerned voice, we haven't even left the burbs!"

"Back-up people, clear the streets, Police escort coming through!" A voice over the bikes loudspeaker sounded.
Trey, Justin and I looked at each other, and then chuckled in unison "OFFICER LOMAX!"


Chapter 2

"C'mon Jane," I pepped myself, "I can do this. I can do lots of things. I can talk to Senators, Congresswomen, Deans of Universities, hundreds of people at award ceremonies. So why is this driving test freaking me out so much? I have to get it together and pass this thing today, so that I can drive around the streets of oxford when I go there tiếp theo week."
I knew I should have done the test when Roxy was still here. I mean, she's ultra cool in a crisis; she even got me to Chill-out on the nerd book. She would know exactly what to say to calm me down.

Mind you, I do remember when we were in Big Shirl's and Mickey's cab, and Lomax was chasing us in the Winnebago. I went flying down a narrow laneway in reverse, crashing through the gate at the end with perfect precision, and proper hand signals too, I might add.


I mean, it's not like I can't drive, it's just that the stupid instructor lady makes me nervous. What's her problem anyhow? Just because my favourite Kings of Leon song came on the radio, I mean, bạn have to turn it up, and then she gets all huffy and fails me on the spot!
"Well Jane," I coached myself, "she's not going to fail me this time. I am not going to get distracted bởi anything. My new Jeff Buckley CD is waiting for my celebrations when I get home."
Hmmm, I feel better already. Think I'll just call Jim and make sure he hasn't forgotton about our deal. If I pass the test then has has to take me out for a super dooper serve of cookie-dough ice-cream, complete with double flake Sô cô la dippers.
Hey, I just realized, if I pass the test then it will be me who is technically taking him out. I mean, I will be driving Roxy's V dub.(Thanx Rox)

Maybe, if I shut my eyes real tight, it might turn into my dream car.

Because, we are so not going double up on Jim's bike anymore. He's mad on that thing. Hmmm, that was how we met I do remember.....


First, I got my dress caught in his bike pedals at the train station. The train conductor had thrown Roxy off the train for not having a ticket, and then he mistook me for her and threw me off too, which is when I bumped into Jim and his bike.
Then, a few hours later, he literally flew into me in the city.
Luckily, he had wrapped his arms around me as we tumbled along the pavement. And, all I was wearing was a towel that we got from Trey's hotel room. Wow, that could have been majorly embarrassing.
Good thing I had tied the towel really tight after it had fallen off the first time.
Yeah, looking back, that was so funny... Rox and I fell off the window washing gantry and landed into the rubbish bãi rác, dumpster below.
I had to sit naked in the bãi rác, dumpster for a few phút while Roxy found a pole long enough to unhook my towel from the gantry above.
So I'm standing in there, naked, and of course a guy from the nearby restaurant walks down the lane with a bag of garbage. I crouched down as he approached and then he steps up onto a thùng at the side of the bin, ready to throw the bag in.
Luckily he hadn't noticed me yet, but would probably do so any second. I had to do something, anything to distract him, but what?
My mind was a blank, nothing, but just then my tonsils took over. I squealed a kind of horror movie scream just as the guy was hoiking the big bag into the bin. Totally startled, the guy Mất tích control of the bag and it hit the hàng đầu, đầu trang edge of the dumpster, splitting wide open and dumping the load of trái cây and vegetable waste half in the bin and half on himself. Once again I had to think quickly. I mean, I had just scared the guy half to death. He was going to look in the bãi rác, dumpster for sure.
So, I had the shoulder bag with Senator Lipton's little dog, Renaldo in it - long story. I knew I could cover my lower parts over with the bag but what about my top? I quickly scanned the items close at hand and grabbed for whatever I could. Luckily I ended up with a pair of scooped out dưa hấu Skins and non-chalantly plopped them over my breasts. As expected, the guy peered into the bin, still with vegetable peelings in his hair. He starred at me for a second, then looked at the painfully embarrassed look on my face, then at the dưa hấu Skins that I was holding, and burst out laughing.
"Boy, bạn don't see that every day." He chuckled to himself.
I was dumbstruck! What could I say to him? Even Roxy would have struggled with this one. I could do nothing but just sit there with my face so flushed that my skin was nearly melting of me.
Then, to my absolute horror, he pulled out his phone and quickly snapped a couple of shots of me, with his laughter piercing my very sole.
On that he turned, tousled his hair to disslodge the peelings, and went back to his store, probably to hiển thị his co-workers of his adventure.
Luckily, Roxy showed up a một phút later with a bamboo pole and unhooked my towel. Funny thing is, I never did get to tell Roxy about the restaurant guy, because less than a một phút later, I got pummeled bởi Jim on his pushbike as we walked out of the laneway. And I never found out where the heck she found a ten foot long Bamboo pole? That is so strange. I can't believe we never talked about this, but then, so much happened that day. I am going to have to ask her when I see her tiếp theo .... oxford .... six weeks. That reminds me, Jim, ice-cream, driving test .... Let's do this!

Chapter 3

"Here bạn go, clever girl, a super dooper serve of cookie dough icecream with double flake Sô cô la dippers." Jim đã đưa ý kiến with a sparkle in his eyes.
"Thanks babe." I replied as I licked the spoon that had been wedged in the icecream. Then I proceeded to Kiss him on the cheek with super cold icecream smudgy lips.
My thoughts turned back to my new driving licence, which I had proudly placed inside a cream versace leather card holder that matched my ngày planner. It sat like a trophy in the middle of our table. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have passed the test if I had got the same cranky lady as last time. I'm sure she had it in for me before I even got in the car.
"The new young instructor guy today turned the radio up himself when that Franz Ferdinand song came on," I explained to Jim. "You know, that new one called Take me out, fitting really."
"What's fitting?" Jim asked in between mouthfulls of his bia gốc, root bia float. "Did bạn want the instructor to take bạn out? hoặc were bạn just keen to pass so that I would take bạn out?"
"Of coarse I wanted to pass, and for bạn to take me out, silly. But hey, I'm the one who's taking bạn out, am I not?"
"Yeah, your right," Jim replied, "but I do plan to get my motorbike licence in England, and buy a bike for us over there."
My mind drifted away at that point. I tried to picture what it would be like for me over there... I can vividly remember when Roxy and I went to Luân Đôn 3 years ago. We did lots of sightseeing which was cool, but so was the weather. Luckily, the first thing we did was go to Camden markets so we could cửa hàng for coats, scarves and hats.

We went representing our school's thảo luận team. Roxy only came along because this other guy pulled out at the last một phút and we had to have a five person team to enter. She was so lucky, and even though I thought we would be doomed, she actually saved our team, and we won the finals. That would have to be the highlight of Roxy's academic career. She even won an award.

But that was 3 years ago. So much has changed since then, for both of us. Going to oxford trường đại học is going to be totally, and I mean totally different. About the only similar thing is that I would be staying in a dormentory with the other students.
Luckily,I am quite used to dorm life as Roxy and I both went to a private school in New Hampshire for a couple of years.

School was lots of fun back then, I reminessed. Dad gave us a cell phone each so we could call him in an emergency.





White Oak Acadamy didn't allow bạn to use a mobile during school time, but we managed to keep them out of sight of the teachers, that is, until I started a matchmaking dating service with them before the annual dance.

Having that phone was so cool. That's when I realized the potential that it could have, and the doors that it could open. Because I had that phone, all the other girls wanted to be my friend and do favours for me. I know that real friendship is not based on material objects, but I couldn't ignore the advantages, including getting to dance with the hottest guys. It was easy to get in trouble though, and some people were not that forgiving. I guess that is when I started having visions of academic acheivement and setting goals. I wrote các bài viết in the School paper, The Acorn, and also worked in the headmistresses office. I set up auctions and fundraisers for the White Oak Alumnii. I guess things just progressed from there to where I am now, flying to England to start my degree in ecconomics in just 4 days ,4 days!!!
Suddenly my thoughts and my body were completely overpowered bởi a totally amazing, yet terrifying rush that was making it's way through my very core. This could only be one thing!
BRAIN FREEZE !!!!!!


Jim quickly took control. He grabbed my spoon from me which previously had a fresh mountain of icecream on it and put it in the float bowl. Then he wrapped his arm behind my head to stop me from clunking it against the tường behind our booth. Finally, he used his fingers to squeeze the bridge of my nose until the Freeze passed away. That always works.
I was in Ga-ga land, but subconciously I knew what Jim had done for me. He's so nice to me. I think we are going to go a long way together, and I don't just mean the plane flight to Heathrow.
I thanked Jim for his quick actions and gave him another smudgy kiss.
"I could see it coming," Jim đã đưa ý kiến with a grin. "When bạn engulfed a way to big mouthfull of cookie dough I new bạn would be in trouble. bạn looked totally freaked out during your freeze. I wish I had my camera."
Instantly I thought of that time six months cách đây in the rubbish dumpster.
"If bạn ever take a shot of me in an uncomprimizing event like that, then I will dump your bia gốc, root bia float on your head! And, I would be the one taking pictures of that."

Chapter 4

"Jane! bạn can't seriously be taking six suitcases with you. With that much weight, the plane won't get off the ground!"
"Ha, funny Dad," I retorted, "you know I like to be prepared for anything."
"Yes, but bạn don't need a different pair of shoes for every ngày that your away."
"Okay, bạn may be right,Dad. Oh, I hear that they have some way cool shops in Oxford. Maybe I should buy some new ones over there. Do bạn think they will accept your American Express card?"
"Hmmm, Jane, maybe six suitcases isn't to many after all."

"There's the check-in counter over there, dad."
I pointed in it's direction and then told my dad that I was going to the Ladies room. I was a touch nervous about the long plane flight even though Jim was going to be sitting tiếp theo to me the whole time. He got his transfer to another college in oxford which was cool but we still would find it difficult to spend much time together.
"Jim promised me that he would be at the Airport early,Dad. Then, we could chill in the lounge before we board the plane. Where is he?"

I quickly rang his phone but all I got was a message saying that his phone was unable to answer the call. How could this be? What did that mean?

I went back to the check-in counter and helped Dad put the flight tag on all my luggage. We needed two trolleys to carry it all. The check-in attendant lady smirked at my Dad, rolled her eyes at me and just đã đưa ý kiến "Teenagers!" I thought that was majorly rude but I was thêm worried about Jim.
Just then my phone sounded off it's Simple plan ringtone. Yes, I thought, That's gotta be Jim, and then I realized, no, wait, that's Roxy's special ringtone.
"Jane, Where are you? Are bạn at the Airport yet?"
"Yeah, Dad and I are at the check-in counter, but Jim's not here yet. I can't get hold of him on the phone, so I don't know where he is."
"Don't worry sis, I'm sure he'll be there soon. bạn know he always seems to pop up at the right time."
True, he does that, I thought. "Rox, I better get off the phone so that it's free if Jim calls, Okay?"
"Jane, I'll see bạn in 5 weeks. Luv ya babe, kisses for you, Dad, and Jim."
"Thank's, oh, and I'll make sure I get set up online at the Uni so we can chat on messenger. Gotta hear about all your Rockstar life, girl."
It was so good that Roxy and I are close again now. Things got a bit out of hand after our Mother passed away. I'm sure that's just because we never talked and listened to each other about our feelings. I remember that I was devastated, but for some reason I didn't want Roxy to know that. I had to look in control and in charge of things. After we đã đưa ý kiến our goodbyes to Mum, I vowed that I would never let Roxy see me upset and cry over Mum again. I cant believe how stubborn and silly I was. Thank goodness we finally managed to get things out in the open that ngày of the awards ceremony.

Dad and I finished the check in duties and still there was no sign of Jim. We decided to go up to the lounge and sit near the balcony so that we could see the check in bàn down below.

I tried several times thêm to phone Jim but got the same message each time.
I was getting worried. I asked Dad what would happen if Jim missed the flight. Could he get the tiếp theo flight? Could he just transfer his ticket to another flight? Or, would he have to buy another ticket? And what would happen to his ghế, chỗ ngồi tiếp theo to me? Would I have some complete stranger sitting tiếp theo to me for the whole trip?
This was not good. I could feel myself starting to hyperventilate. An announcement came over the public address saying that our flight was now boarding.
"Oh my God!" I looked at Dad, my cheeks puffing and my eyes bulging. He could see that I was panicking, so he pushed his chair closer to mine so that he could give me a comforting hug.
"Where's Roxy! I need Roxy!" I blurted out, "She sings to me, the itsy bitsy con nhện, nhện song. Where is she?"
Another announcement for our flight sounded, which didn't help one bit. Dad suggested that we go back downstairs and check outside the terminals front entrance to see if Jim was held up outside for some reason. All I knew was that he was catching a bus early and meeting us up at the lounge. Now I wished that I hadn't taken as much luggage. Then we could have picked jim up on the way in.
Dad đã đưa ý kiến that he would ask at the counter to see if Jim had checked in and missed us, while I quickly ran out to the Bus stop area in hope that he was out there somewhere.
No luck from me ,or from Dad. "Sweetheart, your going to have to board the Plane. If he doesn't make it then he will have to just get another flight later. It's not like giáng sinh time hoặc anything so I am sure there will be seats available."
I knew Dad was right, no matter what was the problem with Jim, I still had to take this flight because my schedule over in oxford was tight from the word go. I had so many things to sort out and get myself settled in. I only had 3 days before the start of the semester.

"Final call for flight BA 178 to london, Gate 6." came another announcement.
"Jane, bạn really have to board now." Dad said, and he was right. No time left. I did a final scan accross the check-in but still no sign of Jim. I couldn't help it but tears started streaming down my face.
"Jane,"Dad đã đưa ý kiến with a comforting hug and a couple of tissues,"I'll stay here for a while and see if he turns up, and if not, then I will call bởi his parents house to see if they know what happened. I'm sure there is a good reason why he hasn't shown up."
I thanked my Dad and told him that I would call him when I got to the University, and that I would see him again over there in five weeks.
I turned and went down the boarding tunnel as the attendants closed the entrance behind me.


Chapter 5

I was greeted at the door bởi a friendly looking flight attendant. She could see that I was obviously upset and gave me a genuine look of concern. I told her that my boyfriend had not shown up to board the plane too. She took out her schedule and confirmed with me that I was Jane Ryan and that it was Jim who was missing.
"I'm so sorry," she đã đưa ý kiến looking a touch impatient, "but we are on a tight schedule and cannot wait for passengers who do not turn up on time. We have to tham gia the queue for take-off now hoặc it will make it too difficult to regain the time in flight."

She ushered me too the empty pair of seats midway along the isle. I realized that Jim's ghế, chỗ ngồi was the one bởi the window, but figured that it wouldn't matter if I sat there as no one else was going to take it. I settled as the attendants went through thier safety procedure speech and then I gazed out the window. Outside, I could see the large silver wing glistening along it's edge and I marvelled at the sheer size of it and the turbine engine underneath it.
Then my attention turned to the terminal. The plane was being taxied and as we turned to approach the taxiway to the start of the runway, I realized that I could clearly see the observation deck. There were lots of people, most were waving, but then there was one guy who was frantically jumping up and down, waving his arms around. Then I saw my dad tiếp theo to him. I knew it was Dad as he was wearing this rather large Aussie style hat that he got at the carnival. That must be Jim tiếp theo to Dad, I just knew it. I started to frantically wave back at them but then realized that I was drawing way to much attention to myself. People on the other side of the plane were turning and looking at me. The Attendant came swishing along in her pencil váy uniform to settle me down and make sure that I was still wearing the ghế, chỗ ngồi belt. The situation was hopeless, there was nothing I could do to stop the plane and get them to let Jim on. My phone was turned off, and Jim's was not working so I couldn't call him either. I gazed out the window again, only to see his figure getting smaller and smaller until I couldn't distinguish any people in the terminal at all.
We waited for what seemed like ages but was only a few phút at the start of the đường băng while another 3 planes took off. Then it was our turn. The huge jet engines roared into life as we quickly gained momentum. We were hurtling down the đường băng when this thought all of a suden hit me - "Where was Roxy." She had always been seated on the plane right tiếp theo to me, both holding hands through the scary take-off bit of the flight. I think we both knew that even though I always đã đưa ý kiến it was me, the older sister comforting her, it was really her "Cool in a crises" personality that was the saviour.
I sat there as feelings of loneliness and sheer terror washed over me. The plane lurched upwards to the sky as the the engines screamed in accordination. Suddenly there was a clanging sound of metal on metal. I realized that I had been grasping the closure of my ngày bag so tightly that the press stud had popped loose. It had flown off hitting the little night lights above the people in the row of seats in front of me.
The stud came to rest in the overly large hairdo of the woman seated there. I saw her glance up at the lights, but I don't think she noticed that the stud was in her hair.
I didn't know what I should do, I mean, I wanted the stud back because I could fix it back onto my expensive Versace bag, but I didn't want to look like a fool asking the lady to scavenge through her hair for it. I decided to not say anything yet, and hope that she may notice it bởi herself.
As we leveled out over the Atlantic, I started to get myself together. I was to use this flight time to update and co-ordinate my To-do lists and organizer. I still use my paper ngày planer / organizer after the loss of all my information on the My-satelite, the one that I got from Congresswoman Kelso. That was a disaster. First it got stolen bởi "The klepto" and then when I got it back, the unit had a total meltdown and never worked again. It took me ages to get myself organized again.
I was starting to feel good about things again. I guessed that Jim would be able to get the tiếp theo flight and that I could get to meet him at Heathrow airport on Fridasy night. then I could help him settle into his dorm room.
As I thought about spending time with Jim, just the two of us, I was disturbed bởi a couple of guys who were in the seats behind me. They were laughing and joking about something. I guessed they were watching Youtube video on some sort of Ipod. I went back to thinking about Jim for a while but then one of the guys đã đưa ý kiến to the other "Hey, bạn gotta see these pics that Dino downloaded. It's a classic; bạn should see the look on the face of this girl in the bãi rác, dumpster bin."
Hearing him say that instantly sparked my attention.
"Ha ha, whats that she's wearing, Watermelons?" The other guy said.
Oh, no, I thought. It couldn't be, surely not.
"Hey," he continued, "I know her, honest, I used to go out with her. She was the student president at our old school, South Side. That's Jane Ryan!"
Oh my god! The're looking at pictures of me, naked! This was beyond embarrassment. Wait, the guy, I know who that is, that must be Derek Shafer. I thought his voice sounded familiar. What was he doing here on the plane? Going to England?
Now I was in a dilemma. Do I sit here, avoiding them for the rest of the flight to save embarrassment, That would be difficult, I thought to myself.
"Thats what I call Presidential fruit,ha ha," Derek joked.
"Yeah, I've heard of a D cup but this girls got a trái cây cup.He-he."
"You know, if she was here right now, she would cut bạn to shreds for saying that."
Bingo, I thought. This is my chance. Okay Jane, muster up some courage now. Lets do it!
So, in one nhanh, swift movement, I spun around in my ghế, chỗ ngồi and kneeled up with my head above the headrest.
"Who am I going to slice first?, Derek! Should it be you?" I snarled and narrowed my eyes.
"Whoa", Derek stifled , blood quickly draining from his face. "JJJane, your on this flight too?"
I quickly took out my camera from my daybag and snapped a shot of them, white as ghosts, mouth's wide open. Then I gave them one of my cutest smiles that I could muster.
"You know, Derek,"I đã đưa ý kiến with a wink, "if your lucky, some ngày I will tell bạn all about that time in the dumpster. It was a life changing experience." I could see that Derek's mind was doing overtime, torturing himself with a story that he knew not of.
I really did like Derek. We dated for a few months but then somehow drifted apart. He was polite, genuine, and then there was his killer smile. He even helped me win the elections, even though he was running against me.
The thêm I thought about it, the happier I was to see him again.
"So tell me Derek, why are bạn flying to England?"
"I'm going to Luân Đôn with Gavin. Jane, this is Gavin. He's a friend of mine from West Malibu High and we are going to do an internship with Warner Music."
"Hi gavin, nice to meet you" I held out my hand to shake, but he actually took it in his and gently kissed it. Now I was the one who was flushed, I mean Derek was terrific looking but this guy, Gavin, was no slouch either. What a smoothie.
I knew that Gavin must have had a way different idea of who I am judging bởi what he knew of me so far. I thought I had better fill him in the first chance i got.
"Wow! that's so cool, guy's. Derek, I thought bạn were going to Yale this semester?"
"Well that's what my Dad wanted me to do," he explained, "but I just want to get out there and experience some different things before I take on a degree. Who knows where this work might take me. Maybe I will get to make video clips for Rules of Modesty one day?"
"I heard bạn got that McGill fellowship award ,Jane. Your going to oxford now, right?"

"I'm starting my Economics program at oxford trường đại học on Monday. I'm so looking phía trước, chuyển tiếp to it!"
I could see the look on Gavins face change somewhat after that. Like now he might take me seriously, instead of just being some strange naked girl in a dumpster.
"Jane, your really pretty." Gavin interrupted, taking me bởi utter surprise.
"Gavin!" Derek said, elbowing him in the side.
I looked at gavin square in the eyes for maybe a một giây hoặc two, then managed a rather feeble reply.
"Errr, yeah right."
He reminded me of Jim, when we first met on the McGill fellowship speech day. I knew the moment called for a decissive reply.
"I'm sorry Gavin, but maybe bạn should keep those thoughts to yourself. I don't think my boyfriend would like it very much."
"Boyfriend?" Derek asked, "who is he?"

"His name is Jim. He's from Brooklyn. He should actually be here with me, but he just missed the flight."
"Oh, was that who bạn were waving to as we left the terminal?" Gavin asked.
"Yeah," I half heartedly laughed, "Missed it bởi that much!"

Chapter 6

Just then I noticed that the lady with the big hairdo was motioning to get up, probably to go to the restroom. I watched her with intent, not wanting to miss a chance to get my press stud back. Sure enough, as she was maneuvering around another passenger in the aisleway, the stud worked its way down and fell to the floor behind her. Judging bởi it's projectory, I could guess that it ended up about three seats away on the other side from me. I got up to survey the situation. 1, 2, 3, yes an empty row of seats. Perfect, I could cruise in there and have a good look underneath them without having to disturb anyone.
I moved up the aisle and ducked into the empty row. Crouching over the armrest, I lowered my head down to see under the seat. That's when I noticed that there was a small travel bag and a laptop sitting under there.
Oh no, maybe there was someone sitting here but where are they? Maybe they too were in the restroom hoặc something. Quick Jane, I thought, as I moved the bag and laptop to see behind them. Yes, I'm in luck, it's right there just in front of that large mans shoe. I leaned over as far as I could and reached in for the stud.
"Got it." I đã đưa ý kiến out loud as I grasped it.
"Hey!" This deep voice sounded. "What are bạn doing? What have bạn got? What are bạn looking for? That's my stuff down there!"
Suddenly someone was grabbing at my ankles and was pulling me up from under the seats.
"Oi, Oi, stop!, Ow, your hurting me, please stop." I squealed. "It's okay sir, I was just getting my stud which had rolled under your chair."
"What? What are bạn talking about, girl? bạn better not think bạn can steal my laptop."
"No, honest, see here is the stud." I đã đưa ý kiến as I thrust the little stud up as high as I could towards what I know realized was a brutally huge hulk of a man.
"Whoa, look at the size of this guy. His arms are thicker than my thighs," I đã đưa ý kiến under my breath.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Came this other voice, which I quickly realized was Gavin, who was now standing out in the aisle. The big guy turned from me and starred at Gavin in a way that could only mean trouble. Luckily, the awkward moment of silence which followed was quickly broken bởi the swishing of pencil skirts quickly arriving on the scene.
"Everything's Okay here, really." I admitted quickly to the attendant, still sounding a little shaken. "It's my entire fault, I was just trying to get my stud which had come loose from my bag, and it ended up under the ghế, chỗ ngồi here. This man was just concerned about his possessions and didn't know that I was just getting this." I flashed her the stud, and a smile to collaberate my story.
"Well tiếp theo time, young girl, please ask us for assistance before bạn cause any further trouble," she scolded me.
"Young girl?" I đã đưa ý kiến under my breath. bạn know I am 18.... Well I guess I'll just have to wear that one. At least I got my stud back.
The big hairdo lady then came back to her seat. I listened as her husband filled her in.
"You missed all the action,dear. That big guy over there grabbed a young girl bởi the legs, which for some reason was trying to get under those seats there. I don't know what she was trying to do. I think she Mất tích somthing, but I dont know what it could have been that was so important."
There's that young girl thing again. How old do I look to these people?
I glanced over to the big guy, who seemed to be listening to the talk also. He half looked back over to me and a hint of a grin came over his face. I was glad he did as I was kinda realizing the funny side to it all and was thêm than happy that he did too. Then I thought about Gavin. I mean, he had stood up to the big guy afterall, and like, he doesn't even really know me. That was a majorly Công chúa tóc xù action on his behalf.
What do I know about him? Well, nothing really, except that he must like music, and that he thinks I'm pretty!
"Jane, Jane!" I heard Derek saying while tapping the back off my headrest. "What was all that about?"
"Nothing really," I replied, trying to sound older than just some young girl, and as casual as possible.
"I was just getting my press stud back."
"Huh," Derek quizzed.
"Don't worry bout it, all is good."
The attendants then came along with thier meal trolleys and served out the dinners that we had previously ordered. She handed me a well presented tray with smoked cá hồi and fetta cheese, and a plate of triangulated trái cây pieces.
"Hmmm! Nice, neat, just like at home," I thought.

Everyone was eating there meals with a minimum of fuss and I started to relax again.
" This is good," I thought to myself, "when the attendant takes away my tray I might stretch out and grab forty winks."
The trolley came rattling past again, and the attendants started collecting everyone trays. Then I heard Gavin talking behind me.
"Wow! Did bạn see that attendant? She looked just like Britney Spears, I swear!"

"Settle down, Gavin. Everyone looks like Britney to you!" Derek exclaimed.
I sat there wondering if Gavin thought that I looked like britney too.
I had actaully met Britney backstage at one of her concerts some years cách đây when Roxy and Justin managed to score some passes. She was at least 3 inches taller than me, and has some other bigger qualities as well, if bạn know what I mean.



Chapter 7

Hip,Hip... when your on a holiday... bạn can't find the words to say... all the things that come to you... and I want to feel them too!




Hmmm, I tình yêu those funny little dreams bạn have when your just snoozing for a while. Mine always seem to have the cutest boys in them.
I wonder what the time is and how long it will be till we get to Heathrow. Think I'll turn on the monitor and see whats on.
Ok, we will be landing in under an giờ and the weather is actually sunny. Perfect. I should be able to do some good sightseeing on the 50 mile bus trip to oxford from the Airport.
I can't wait till we land. Then I will be able to call Jim, unless he is on a plane bởi now. I could always call Dad and he might tell me what happened. I hope Jim can get here early tomorrow. I must check out when the tiếp theo arrivals will be and try to work out a plan. It's a good thing that Jim's college is part of oxford trường đại học Campus. At least I know that he has to catch the Airport shuttle coach, which takes bạn right to the Campus itself. That means that if I schedule my time right then I might have time to go back to the Airport and meet him there.

"Oh look," I đã đưa ý kiến to the guy's, "there is land down there through the clouds. We must be getting close now."
"Yep, down we go," Derek confirmed, "don't really like this landing biz. It seems to take so long and yet bạn just keep going down,and down,and down, and your ears go funny and your stomach turns and ..."

"Alright Derek, I get what your saying, but please, your just making it worse!"
Luckily, it didn't seem to take that long, and because the weather was good, it was a super smooth landing.
We taxied back to the Terminal dock and they shut down the engines. It didn't take long for me to get ready to leave, but everyone else was busy getting thier daybags and gear down from the overhead storage lockers.
I decided that I would just sit for a while and look out the window. I could see lots of other planes across the tarmac.
I watched as a large foray of people, photographers, journalists and such, came rushing across from a far barrier, heading straight for the front of our plane. I wondered what was happening.
Just then an announcement came over the speaker system in the plane.
"Hello, this is your Captain speaking. We have now landed at Heathrow Airport. All passengers will be required to leave through the rear exit of the plane. The First class passengers will be exiting first, so please stay in your seats until they have all gone past. Our flight attendants will be able to help anyone who needs assistance. Thank bạn for flying with British Airways."
I went back to looking at the growing mass of paparazzi jostling for position down on the tarmac while the first class passengers shuffled past me.
"Whats going on out there." Derek asked inquisitively.
"I'm not sure. There must be some celebrity hoặc sportsperson who was in first class up there."
Soon it was our turn to disembark, and I stayed with the guy's as we went out through the door and into the extendable corridor to the terminal. We stopped at one of the many open vịnh, bay windows and looked out.
There was a very petite woman posing at the hàng đầu, đầu trang of the portable stairs at the front of our plane. Photographers were snapping a barrage of shots, the flashes refrecting back off the side of the plane towards us, while pushy reporters were trying to get their các câu hỏi in.
"Who is that?" I asked the Guy's "Do bạn know her? Imagine having that much attention on you. It would freak me out."
"Well," Gavin replied, "She's not Britney, that's for sure, she's not tall enough. But she is pretty."
"Ooh," derek butted in, "I think she's that Aussie pop singer, bạn know, the one who sang that Can't get bạn out of my head song. Dude, what's her name?"
I listened to the reporters các câu hỏi to try and find out more.
"Kylie, kylie,... KYLIE, did bạn have a good time in America? Did bạn find what bạn were looking for?"
"Looking for?" she asked back with her index finger on her lower lip. "What was I looking for?"
"You đã đưa ý kiến before bạn left that bạn were looking for your Phoenix. Did bạn find it, Ms Minogue?"
"Well, my Phoenix?" She paused and then broke out into a huge grin, "I guess I sort of did!" And with that she ushered out a guy from inside the plane.
"Hey!" I exclaimed,"is that Trey? That looks just like Trey!"
"Trey? Trey who?" Derek asked me.
"Trey is Roxy's boyfriend. But it can't be him because they have gone on tour with Simple plan. In fact, they should be in Chicago as we speak."
Wait,so Roxy has a boyfriend, and she's on tour with Simple plan? Boy, she doesn't muck around does she."
"Fill me in here, bạn guys. Who's Roxy?" Gavin said, arms waving.
"She's my twin sister." I đã đưa ý kiến with a smile.
"You have a twin? She's pretty like you?"
"Yes Gavin, but she looks thêm like Christina Aguilera." I laughed.
"No, this guy is definitely older, and scruffier too now that I look closer. Still, he does look like Roxy's type." I finished, as the barrage of camera flashes continued.
We had to di chuyển on as the other passengers were banking up behind us. Gavin could see that huge guy further back in the crowd so he started giving us the hurry up.
We entered the baggage collection area and I went off to find a couple of trolleys with Gavin. As we were approaching the trolley vịnh, bay tiếp theo to the Newsagency, I noticed a large poster of one of the current magazines on display out the front of the shop.
"Hey look," I đã đưa ý kiến to Gavin. "Thats the same woman who was being photographed at the plane."
"Kylie - American Idol." I read out loud.

"I thought Derek đã đưa ý kiến that she was an Australian?"
"Maybe bạn should read the fine print, hoặc better still buy the magazine and read the story." Gavin joked to me.
"You know, I think I will. It will give me something to do for the giờ long bus trip anyhow."
So I left Gavin as he grabbed some trolleys out, and then I ducked into the store and purchased a copy.
I opened the mag to the Kylie bài viết and started to read it as we were waiting for our luggage to come out the chute.
"Hey, it says here that Kylie has been staying in New York and has just won a Grammy award. She also appeared on Queer eye for the straight guy and the Dave Letterman show."
"Yeah, so?" Derek đã đưa ý kiến rather diss-interested.
"Maybe bạn should be a bit thêm interested in this, Derek. It also says that she is signed with Warner Music. Maybe bạn will be working on her tiếp theo video clip!"
"Yeah, thêm like being sent down the cafe to pick her up a morning latte." Gavin chimed in.
"Well is'nt that all part of doing an internship? bạn know, starting at the bottom." I đã đưa ý kiến with an encouraging tone.
"And besides, if bạn flash her one of your trademark smiles then maybe she will be taking bạn out for latte's."
Derek really did have the most amazing pearly white smile that could melt all females within 50 feet.
"You know, Jane, your right. And I do have a thing for petite blondes." He đã đưa ý kiến cheekily then proceeded to wink and blow me a kiss.
"Stop that," I hissed.

chapter 8

"Okay Guy's, I guess I'll see bạn later. You've got my number, so give us a call and Jim and I will come into town and see you."
Gavin quickly came up to me, grabed my hand again and kissed it. "It was nice to meet bạn Jane," he đã đưa ý kiến in a corny posh voice, "now don't forget to stay away from those bãi rác, dumpster bins, right."
"Well, I will make sure that I'm wearing clothes tiếp theo time." I replied.
"All the best with your studies,Jane. I have every confidence in you." Derek đã đưa ý kiến and then proceeded to melt me with yet another smile.
I gave him a big hug and a peck on the cheek.
They helped me load my luggage into one of those driverless taxi contraptions. No sooner had I sat inside, then it had quickly whisked me away to where I was not quite sure.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Roxy, come and help di chuyển these speaker boxes. We'll never get this all done in time if bạn keep slacking off."
"I'm sorry Trey,I guess I'm just a bit worried about Jane."
"I thought your Dad đã đưa ý kiến that she arrived at the Uni and was settling in."
"Yeah, but I know Jane. She would have told Dad that all was well, but she was freaking out on the plane, I just know it. I mean, I remember having to hold her hand during take-off every time we flew anywhere. She didn't have Jim with her either, so she would have to cope all bởi herself."
"In a way, Rox, it's probably a good thing."
"A good thing? Freaking out? What do bạn mean, Trey?"
"Look, if she made the flight to Heathrow, plus the trip out to Oxford, all bởi herself, then thats a big deal. She probably has all the confidence in the world now to jump straight into her Uni program."
"Yeah I guess," I said, not really convinced, as I rolled another speaker box across the half set up stage. Even so, I knew that she had been crying soon after my last call to her. It's just one of those Twin things with us. We can feel it when the other is upset, always could.
Trey was busy getting the equipment out of the back of the trucks, and then it was my job to wheel and carry the gear out to the stage area. We had two other guys who were setting the gear up in thier positions ,while three other guys and a girl set up all the lights, monitors, leads and electricals. This was all after the stage building crew had completed the main structure. The chief, as he was known, would oversee the whole project, and was in charge of tuning the guitars and setting up the other instuments, and organizing the quick changes throughout the show.
There were a host of other technicians, sound guys, media crews, caterers, cleaners, bạn name it. Everyone had to do thier bit in sync with the others hoặc the set up would come to a grinding halt. That would be a disaster as there was no time for errors hoặc foulups. It was so noticeable if someone was letting the team down, and bạn certainly didn't want the band stressing out over the stage set up.
I had to get fit, quick, with this job. It's been a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. Tonight, we are in Chicago, playing at Wrigley Field.

We used to live in Chicago. From the stage here, I can see where Carrie, our babysitter, lived when Jane and I were about twelve. She used to let us get up on her rooftop balcony and we would watch the games for free.


"Well thats the last trolley to take, Roxy." Trey said, looking rather exhausted.
"How about bạn get us both some soda's, honey,"I đã đưa ý kiến back to Trey, grimacing, as I struggled to get the damn trolley to roll straight."I'll meet bạn in the cafeteria when I finish unloading the trolley with Dave."
My muscles, yes muscles, were burning bởi the time I had finished and the blisters on my hands were testimony to the effort that I had been putting in. Still, with hard work comes reward, and my reward was that I was getting paid later tonight. That is, after we pack all the gear back up again.

"Our first pay packets, I'm so exited!" I đã đưa ý kiến to Trey as I gently clasped my oh-so-sore hands in his. "How much do we have between us?"
"After paying for our share of food, accommodation, taxes, phone bills and other ancillaries, we are left with a grand total of $680.00, which has to last us for two whole weeks."
Trey didn't seem to happy about it, but I was over the moon. He had told me that he used to do some modelling work, which his mum, Senator Lipton, had set up for him. They paid an astrnomical amount for just a single days work. Now, he is busting it big time for so much less. All because he wants to be with me. I tình yêu him so much, and I swear, being a roadie is just a starter. One day, I'm going to be a famous rockstar, and we will have everything that we ever wanted.
"Were going into town tomorrow,"I announced, "It's our ngày off, and I'm going to buy bạn somthing really special because I tình yêu bạn so."
"Roxy, I tình yêu bạn too babe, but we really have to buy some important things, bạn know, like a kingsize doona."
His words pierced right through me. I couldn't help but stare into Trey's eyes. I had never felt these kind of feelings before. Here he was talking about how important it was to him, that we buy bedding so we could sleep together, and in comfort. Suddenly, visions of bizaar adultness went scrambling through my brain. Weddings, Children, Houses. Whoa! Settle down Rox.
But maybe he has a point. Accommodations can be a bit dodgy at times. Plus, we both have single sleeping bags, and while it's not impossible to, bạn know, sleep together, it would be nice to do so in comfort.
I started to warm to the idea of buying our first "Together" item. In fact, the thêm I thought about it, the thêm it made sense. I'm 18 and Trey's nearly 21. That's what we should be doing,right?
I have to call Jane tomorrow morning. She's definitely going to want to know about this.

Chapter 9

Right, It's 13 phút past 8. I have 48 phút to have a shower, get dressed and grab a trái cây nước ép, nước trái cây before the coach trip back to the Airport. "Jane, better put it in hàng đầu, đầu trang gear hoặc I'll miss my only chance," I confirmed to myself.
Scampering across the lawns, I glanced at the big clocktower.
Only 9 phút to get to the bus stop. I should make it, but I wish I had put on my căn hộ rather than these heeled boots, even though these boots do make me appear somewhat thêm British. This place is simply huge. I'm glad I brought my map. I can study it on the coach.
Okay, that looks like the stop that I was at yesterday, and there's lots of students standing there. Hope that means the coach hasn't turned up yet. I'm in luck, there is the coach now.
Oh, Simple plan, that must be Roxy.
"Hello, yeah, I'm on the bus back to Heathrow Airport. Jim's flight lands in an hour." How are bạn Roxy? How's the tour going?"
"Jane, it's such hard work, I've got blisters on blisters, but I'm having a blast. We are in Chicago. Today is our first ngày off, and guess what Trey and I are going to do."
"Ahh, buy some band-aids?"
"Jane, serious! No, he wants to buy things for us, like as a couple."
"As a couple-couple?" I quizzed.
"Well yeah, I'm so happy. I really do tình yêu him."
"Whoa, Rox, sounds pretty serious. Is this all part of the Rockstar plan? hoặc should I say Simple plan?"
"It's all part of some plan, Jane. And it's Trey's idea. I think he really wants to be with me."
"So he's seen bạn when bạn wake up in the morning then? And... he knows bạn have a pet snake?"
"Ha,ha, Jane. I see you've Mất tích none your humor on the plane trip. I've changed and bạn know it."
"Couldn't help throwing that one in, Roxy. And,dont worry, I'm pretty sure that dad and Ringo are getting along fine. It's just a shame that Ringo doesn't know how to cook him eggs for breakfast."
"You know that I'm really happy for you, Roxy" I continued, knowing that I had let sarcasm get the better of me, and should be hiển thị some supportive sisterly love, "I just hope that Jim and I can be so happy and close too."
"Jane, so close? The guys travelling 3,000 miles just to stay close to you. I don't think bạn have much to worry about."
"Thats if he ever gets here," I replied, unable to diguise the sad undertones in my voice.
"So how was your flight? Were bạn okay? I kinda got the feeling that bạn were freakin out."
"Yeah, I've got some stories to tell there, but I'm okay, and bạn should see the University. It's like this whole city, and it is really old and beautiful."
"I can't wait to see bạn there, Jane! We have two thêm weeks here in the U S, and then were off to Australia, and then up to Europe. Oh, bởi the way, Justin is letting us use his laptop between 7 and 8pm every ngày so we can get on Messenger then. He has a webcam, so I can hiển thị bạn our new doona."
"Cool, I should be able to hook up online bởi tonight. Just gotta figure out the time zone difference."
With that, I đã đưa ý kiến my goodbyes. I was happy for Roxy, and I could tell how happy she was. She got me thinking about my relationship with Jim. We were going to live in the same campus, but not in the same building. I ended up having a room all to myself. I wonder if he will have his own room, hoặc will he have to share? I wonder if he would be able to stay over in my room sometimes? Would he do that? We hadn't actually talked about it much, and we hadn't really stayed together all nite yet, except for when we stayed at the college break-up bờ biển, bãi biển party. He was so romantic too. We partied with everyone till it was really late. Jim brought along a super sized chenielle blanket that we wrapped ourselves into like a cocoon. Then we watched the sunrise over the Atlantic.

I've been waiting ages. Why havn't none of the passengers come out yet? I saw the plane land at least half an giờ ago. If this keeps up I am going to overdose on lip gloss. I used to be a chain-glosser whenever I got too anxious back in high school, but I thought I had broken that habbit along with chewing the ends off every pen I owned.


Finally, there he is,"Jim, over here." I waved my arms and bobed up and down like every other idiot but hoped he would still pick me out amongst the crowd. To my delight he zeroed straight onto me and a bright smile lit up his face. He quickly maneuvered around the other passengers until his presence stood right there in front of me.
A silence and motionless period of time followed, but it wasn't bad hoặc awkward in any way. There was a blur of people, movement and noise all around us, but we were both in another world and somehow oblivious to it all. He gently held both of my hands and drew me close to him. Then, as his gaze was locked onto mine, he leaned in and kissed me, long, but ever so gently.I completely melted, and I swear there were no other persons in the Airport, the City, the World. Just Jim, myself, together in a moment of total bliss.
It was so romantic, and we hadn't even đã đưa ý kiến a word yet. I will cherrish that moment forever, just like they say in the classics.

We finally broke our embrace when we realized that there were a lot of other passengers who were having a hard time trying to get past us and his luggage in the aisle way. We moved to the side, against one of the walls. I was glad that Jim had his arm around my waist because my legs were feeling thêm than just a little wobberly. Nobody had ever made me feel that way. My tim, trái tim was racing and I tingled all over. A flash of what Roxy had đã đưa ý kiến came bởi - "Jane, he's travelling 3,000 miles to be close to you."
Suddenly, I couldn't stand up any longer. Luckily his suit case was right there bởi my side. I half slid down the tường and plopped onto the case. Jim looked at me, a bit startled, as my eyes glazed over with tears. He knelt down to give me a hug and then that was it. I couldn't hold back any longer. I started sobbing into the cổ áo of his shirt, half managing to blurt out, "what happened to you? I had to leave without you. I so wanted bạn to be there with me."
Jim pulled away a bit and grabbed some tissues out from his áo sơ mi pocket. Carefully wipping the tears from my face, he focused straight into my eyes again and đã đưa ý kiến back to me, "Jane, first there is something I just have to know. Why Jane, why do bạn taste so much like rasberries?"
"Rasberries!" I snorted, then laughed, and cried, and snorted some more, much to the distaste of some passing people. He laughed along with me, then fell into seriousness.
"I'm so sorry Jane, I really tried to be there on time. I had some trouble when I got to the Airport and just missed the flight. Did bạn see me waving from the observation deck with your Dad?"
I nodded my head in confirmation, still rather douftfull on talking properly.
"C,mon," he said, "lets go over to the cafeteria, sit in a comfy booth, and I'll fill bạn in over a latte."
I walked over to the caff, with my arm entwined around his. I think I really did overdose on the lip gloss, but hopefully the caffiene would counteract it. We sat together, in a private booth, and talked about that morning at the Airport.
"I was sitting on the bus," Jim started, "and we just stopped outside the terminal. I couldn't get all my bags off in one go so I took one case and my daypack and placed them down outside while I went back for the other case. Then, this jerk came running past, outside, and grabbed my daypack and bolted. I had to get myself, and my case off the bus before I could chase him."
"What happened, did bạn catch him?" I asked.
"Well, he had a good head start, but I am a quick runner."
And good through traffic, I recalled our famous bike trip through the steets of New York.
"When he turned down the side of the building, he ran straight into a group of cleaning staff, knocking a couple of them over."
"Wow, did they grab him?"
"By the time I got there, the cleaners told me that he had managed to get back up, break free of them, grabbing my MP3 and camera out of the bag as he took off again. I scanned down the length of the service laneway and I saw him in the distance throwing the bag over a fence as he scuttled around the tiếp theo building."
"What a Jerk!" I replied.
"Yeah, so I had to go and get the security guys to retrieve my bag, which had my phone still in it I hoped. That took forever as they had to make a báo cáo and then they gave me back the bag."
"Why didn't bạn call me?"
"Have a look at my phone." He held out his sò, ngao, nghêu shell phone, one part dangling, connected bởi only a single strand of wire.
"Ooooh, that doesn't look to healthy. Well I hope the mp3 and camera that he got away with are in the same state too."

"I'm glad I downloaded all those pics of our trip away with your family and Trey. Remember those shots I got of bạn doing that Challenge game at the Resort."
"Yeah, I remember the silly mũ bảo hiểm I had to wear for the Quad bike race."

"And when bạn panicked, trying to vượt qua, cross the rope bridge."
"Hey, I made it across faster than Roxy did!"
"Yeah, but isn't she afraid of heights?"

"And I won the balance on the pole in the water thingy."
"Now that one was rigged. They all had skinier poles than yours."
"Shut up." I said, punching his arm.

"You really are the winner then."
"I think my sister and I were both winners that day. And the prize was having bạn guys there with us."

Jim put his arm around me and then he kissed me, thêm passionately this time. We were then politely interrupted as the waitress brought over our order. She winked at me when she carefully placed the cups in front of us. Then I realized why. I marveled at the pretty tim, trái tim thiết kế she had made in our latte's, and so I returned a complimentary smile.


Chapter 10

"Well that's the last of it packed away, people." Justin sounded off at the freight terminal.
"Thanks for a job well done and dont forget to have your time sheets and all your personals sorted tonight. We have a 5 am start tomorrow and have to be at the airport bởi 6 sharp."
The tiếp theo morning Trey and I got up as planned and packed all our gear up, including our Doona cover which I simply love. The coach took us to the Aiport and we đã đưa ý kiến our goodbyes to Matti, our rather psycotic bus driver. He was a bit wild but his humor was legendary. Nearly all of the crew were coming for the Australian leg of the tour, but some would meet us in Luân Đôn in two weeks. We boarded the Qantas jumbo and were on our way.
"I can't believe that we were finally on our way to Australia. To the Land Down Under!" I đã đưa ý kiến to Trey, not withholding any of my excitement.
"Yeah, it's going to be great. I've never been out of the States before." Trey replied.

"Well, last time I was in Australia was 4 years ago. We went over there for a family giáng sinh holiday with relatives who lived bởi the bờ biển, bãi biển in Sydney. It was a total blast except it was summer over there and so hot. I mean, we left New York and it was like snowing, and barely 30 degrees, and when we got off the plane in Sydney it was 98. hoặc 36 celcius as they call it."
"Wow, really. Hey, don't they drive on the other side of the road there?"
"Yeah, I've heard that."Sam said.
"Me too." Ryan pipped in.
"Ahh yeah, hey, would bạn guy's let me finish? The bờ biển, bãi biển was the best place to be. Jane and I made Những người bạn with these hot Aussie surfer guys. They taught us how to surf and we had mega fun at the bờ biển, bãi biển parties with them and all thier friends."

"Well, bạn just stay away from those surfer boys, okay."
"You tell her Trey, hiển thị her who's boss!"
"Trey, you've got nothin to worry about. Mind you, we never went looking for them, they were the ones who found us."
"I'm not surprised. bạn and your sister do stand out in the crowd."
"Oooohhh." came the jeer's from the guy's.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean." I quipped, feeling a touch annoyed.
"Um, err, well it's just that bạn are American girls, right? Your different from those Aussie lot. Your hair, the clothes bạn wear, and as soon as bạn say anything, they are going to pick it."
"We did try to blend in, bạn know."

"Well, we had our moments, at least. But bạn had to hiển thị your true màu sắc now and then. Right?"

"Is it true that bạn can see Kangaroos bouncing down the main streets? I mean, I've seen that on the movies."
" Ahh, well no, not really. But Jane and I did see one at my Aunties place. They have a big backyard that leads down through to the bờ biển, bãi biển and there is a bụi cây, cây bụi, tổng thống bush reserve to the side. We were sun-baking on outdoor lounge chairs when one just came bounding past. It was so cool! Our Aunty đã đưa ý kiến that it often came up to eat from the lush cỏ in the late afternoons. It was quite tame and we got to pat it."

"Yeah sure. Your pulling my leg, arn't you."
"Trey! I'm being honest here, really! My Aunty has pictures of us."
"So I'll get to see one too?"
"Well, if we get a ngày off in Sydney, then I'll take bạn to my Aunty's place and we'll see if one turns up. Or, we could go to the Taronga Zoo. Thier bound to have some there, get it!"
"Yeah, funny Rox."
"There's one thing that I do want to do if we get the time."
"What's that?"
"I Want to take bạn on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk. Jane and I did it last time with the guys, but we had to get down quickly as a thunder storm was about to hit."
"I thought bạn were afraid of heights, Roxy."
"Well yeah, but this is good. bạn get this yên cương, dây nịt thing that keeps bạn attached to the walkway. There's no way bạn can fall off. And the view is great. bạn can see the Opera house and the entire city."

"Hey Justin," I đã đưa ý kiến tapping him on his Motley crew cap.
"Yeah Rox, What's up?"
"Do bạn know our schedule in Australia?"
"Well lets see, we have three nights in Sydney, then we coach up to the vàng Coast, one night there, then we play in Brisbane for two nights. Back on the plane and down to Melbourne for three gigs at Rod Laver Arenna."
"Who's Rod Laver?" Trey asked.
"Arrr, I think he was some quần vợt player years ago." Sam butted in
"Oookay, whatever. But do we get time in Sydney to do some stuff?"
"We've got all ngày tomorrow, but the boys have to do the ROVE LIVE hiển thị later on."
"Cool, so can we all do the Bridge Walk in the morning. It would be a great team thing, good P R and a great bức ảnh shoot."
"Now your talking, Rox." Justin đã đưa ý kiến with a nod.

* * * * * *

So we landed in Sydney after the 14 giờ flight, checked into our hotel and chilled out for the rest of the evening. This time, we had checked into the Hilton hotel. It was really nice, and each room had these great spa's on the balconies that overlooked the harbour. Trey and I enjoyed a spa together with a complimentary bottle of champaigne.
"Aaaahhh, here's to the rock stars life," we chinked our glasses of bubbles, "well, the roadies of the rockstars life." I added.
I lay back against Trey in the spa, I dont know if it was the bubbles hoặc the jetlag kicking in, but I found myself quickly drifting off the balcony and rising up into the clouds. Suddenly, through a clearing, I had this vision of being up on this large stage in front of a full crowd of people. I wasn't playing the drums, which was weird. I was the lead singer and I was hát this song that was thêm like a pop song come rock'n'roll ballad. It was very vivid, and the words I sung were so meaningfull,I think, but then as quick as it was there, it was gone.
I fell back to Earth, feeling Trey kissing the back of my neck.
"Hmmmm! Trey! Don't stop!" I purred. That always does it for me, and he knows it, the rascal.
The tiếp theo morning we all got together for a smorgasboard breakfast and then we went down to the foreshore.
"What are we going to do first?" I asked Justin.
"How about we go for a blast on the jetski's. I've always wanted to do that."

We each took turns for about an giờ and then Justin confirmed that it was time to do the bridge walk.
"This was a great idea Roxy." Justin beamed at me.
"Well, thanks," I bowed to all the crew, "but bạn were the one who organized the TV crew, to fly in a helicopter, to get some footage of the Band at the hàng đầu, đầu trang of the Bridge."

TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, PLEASE PROCEED TO -
NEW YORK một phút - LOOKING FOR MY PHOENIX. PART 2