New chapter of my novel is here. I hope you’ll like another romantic adventure that I got for you today! And there are two very important songs for me – Revolution and Untouchable! Are you excited to finally see the lyrics?
And also… Watch out… Stars align today… Can you guess what I mean? Ha!
***
10th February 2014
Dear Diary,
today is Sunday, 10 A.M., and I’m texting with my Polish friend. What have I learned? Her grandfather who had kidney cancer died this morning after 4 years of fighting with illness. He was 77 years old… Alice is terribly saddened. It’s not hard to see that he was particularly important to her… Like a father… Man, I would give away all I can to hug her now. Unfortunately, we are so many miles away…
I’ve just called Joe and told him all about this. His reaction? “I will find one day off and go to Warsaw. I left my beloved… favourite… guitar at the hotel!” That’s what he told me… I won’t ask questions, but I know it’s about her!
In addition, he wrote a new song about love at first sight. When, how, where?! In Warsaw after the concert! Wonderful!
What?! I’m not jealous at all! These are my friends!!
Okay, let’s go back to storytelling…
*
The material for the first episode was already shot in 1/3! What does it mean? Eight more working days and it will be ready! Saturdays included… Unfortunately…
After finishing work, everyone went to their wardrobes. Ten minutes later I was myself again. I was the first to finish dressing up, so I decided to take a walk around the studio. On the set, I went to Justin’s house and sat down by the piano. There were left notes of the song entitled Revolution. I decided to play this piece. I’m not an expert, but at least I can try…
*
I can’t stand this waiting
All the time I’m alone. Only me
I wanna be heard, so I scream
I’ll stay myself forever
And friends around me
*
I know only one thing
Everything that has gone
Will never come back
It’s a time of revolution
It’s a time of big changes
Only in my heart
*
Even when the whole world
Is against me
I won’t surrender
Cause everything that I want today
Is just you to hear me out
Imagine what I felt
It’s a time of revolution
*
At this point, I finished playing because it turned out that someone was overhearing me. Who? Such a one brunet… He came closer and said:
– Wow. This song is divine! Where did you find it?
– Someone left notes, so I decided to play it…
– Please, continue then.
It was close and he would have fallen to his knees and started begging. At least that’s how it felt… He was also so… Gallant… So, I agreed, and he was incredibly pleased with my answer. I turned to the instrument again and began playing the next part of the song.
*
I’ll never surrender
But I can’t give you too much
There are only words and tears left
In my pocket but
I’ll show you it can be better
*
I know only one thing
Everything that has gone
Will never come back
It’s a time of revolution
It’s a time of big changes
Only in my heart
*
Even when the whole world
Is against me
I won’t surrender
Cause everything that I want today
Is just you to hear me out
Imagine what I felt
It’s a time of revolution
*
I stopped playing again because I realized Sindy, and Brian had joined Joe. Everyone was listening to me and rewarded me with thunderous applause after a while. In the end, Sindy spoke:
– Don’t mind us. Continue playing.
And that’s what I did.
*
Inside of me, hope is still burning
I can do this now
You won’t stop me, no
*
Even when the whole world
Is against me
I won’t surrender
Cause everything that I want today
Is just you to hear me out
Imagine what I felt
It’s a time of revolution
*
It’s a time of revolution
*
I finally finished the song, and no one could disturb me anymore. My friends looked at me as if I was an alien. Well… In the end, I asked them:
– So, we’re going home now, or you will keep staring at me like that?
Instead of answering me, they started clapping. Interesting…
– Okay, the circus is over! I’m out!
Surprisingly, they started to follow me and continued to clap. Yep, I felt like a mystical mermaid… When we left the building, my colleagues came to their senses a little and stopped clapping. Finally! We rode in the limo in silence. It took some time, but we got a limousine instead of ordering taxis on our own. So much goodness… And this silence then… So much freaking goodness… Sindy and Brian already left the vehicle when Joe spoke up just in front of my house:
– Thank you. It was my first song. I left notes there somehow… I must admit, it’s amazing that you played my notation so well…
– I played a little in primary school but in the end, I moved to another school, and I didn’t develop this passion anymore, but as you can see… I still remember something…
The boy nodded letting me that he understood, and I could see the sadness in his eyes… He invited me to his place. I decided to inform my family that I would come back later, and we continued our journey. I got to his house in the end, and he showed me his songbook. I sat down on the sofa and started reading all the texts one by one. Lyrics on one side, hand-drawn musical staff on the other. What did his beloved treasure look like? Cardboard cover with black and white polka dots. The notebook size was rather average.
Suddenly he had an idea for a piece of text with melody and he wrote it down at once. After that, he sang it aloud.
*
You look like a perfect picture
You shine so bright
But you’re still untouchable for me
Like stars in the sky
*
He tried to write more but got a creative block. It was very interesting to watch him when he writes…
– I don’t understand why such a text at all. Each song comes straight from my heart but I don’t feel it at all this time… – he said.
He closed the notebook.
– You’re a romantic, I gotta say. It’s okay when a man has a deep soft heart. Write what you feel and don’t worry about anything. I’m not here! I’m a wall! – I moved to the corner of the room.
He smiled sadly, sat down on the couch, and began pensively playing the guitar.
*
After this visit, I decided to go to Sindy. I knocked and entered her house. I will not describe houses. American villas are extremely specific… Everyone knows what they look like… So many famous movies show it these day… Anyways, I have probably already described my own house, so probably everyone can imagine other such buildings… Never mind… The action is more important, so let’s come back to it…
– Hi, something’s wrong?
– Kinda… – I sat down next to my bestie.
– I’m listening.
– It’s about the song. Joe wrote it for me, but he doesn’t know it yet. At least I think so.
– Can you quote?
I introduced her the unfortunate part.
– This is a work of art! Poetry!
– Yes, yes… Now tell me what you think.
– I have no idea what to say…
After these words, there was a knock on the door and our black-haired friend entered.
– Hi girls! Sindy! We were planning to bake chocolate chip cookies. Do you remember?!
– Sure. Laura, do you want to help us? – she asked.
Unfortunately, I had to refuse and say goodbye. Then I left. In fact, Joe’s house was on the way to my place. I heard the sound of strings of the acoustic guitar when I was walking past his window… This is what lured me to come in again… I knocked and came into the living room. Joe was sitting in the armchair and his brother Mike was playing video games with headphones on. He absolutely didn’t notice that I was there…
– Hi. I hope I don’t bother you?
– You never bother me.
Aww. It was so nice to hear it…
– You play really nicely. I wish I could play like that too.
– Thanks. Maybe I could show you a few chords?
– If it’s not a problem…
I walked over to the boy who handed me the instrument. He grabbed my left hand and placed my fingers on the threshold.
– This is an A-minor chord. Play. Very well. This is the E-minor chord. Play. That’s good too! Now try it alone.
I played as he asked.
– How is it?
– Perfect.
Suddenly our hands met on the fretboard of the guitar, and we looked at each other. I saw incredible joy in his eyes. Probably butterflies made him lose his mind…
And what about me? I didn’t feel anything!
Suddenly the brunet’s head started getting closer… Closer and closer. When his lips were only a few inches from mine, he turned his head sharply and started staring at the floor. He didn’t say a word. It was obvious that this situation was a bit awkward for him.
There was silence all the time. I was watching him closely, trying to guess his thoughts. Finally, I decided to say something:
– We’re friends, and friends don’t kiss. Am I wrong?
The brunet didn’t say anything at first, but I heard his voice in the end.
– I’m… I’m so sorry…
He didn’t take his eyes off his Conserve.
– You don’t have to apologize. Nothing happened.
– But something… Could’ve happened…
He was speaking really softly. He got up and went to the window. Just a few minutes earlier I was standing on the other side…
All my thoughts were tangled in my head… What to do when your friend is in love with you without reciprocity, and you don’t want to lose him anyway? Good point…
After a while, I walked over and stood in front of him. We were looking straight into each other’s eyes for a moment. He liked it… Suddenly I hugged him and whispered in his ear:
– You are my friend and I want to help you.
– You don’t have to do this for me.
– Yes. I have to.
He pulled away from me and looked at me piercingly. Then he asked:
– What do you want to do?
– You’ll see tomorrow when we finish recording.
I smiled and he said:
– It’s late. You should go…
He was right. I went to the door and spoke these words before leaving:
– Goodnight and see you tomorrow.
The boy smiled heartily in response, and I went out.
*
A few minutes later I was sitting at the table in my room. I picked my phone up and decided to text my old friend who lived in Miami then. Her name was Camille. The content of the message was as follows:
“Hi, it’s me Laura. I hope you still remember me… I still live in Los Angeles, but maybe we’ll meet in the summer? I plan to go there to Miami then. Write to me as soon as possible”.
Why did I want to meet her? Because it’s a part of my brilliant plan! “Accidentally” Joe meets her and forgets about me. That’s it in short… Yep… I’m a matchmaker just like Emma[1]…
I put my phone down and noticed a stack of blank paper. I took one piece and wrote what I heard earlier today. I don’t even know when I started singing Untouchable…
After this short A Capella performance, I thought sadly:
“Yep, he loves me, but he doesn’t know about it yet… He’s falling in love… Ah, he’s also the realest poet… I think he also unconsciously feels that he cannot boldly think of me yet…”
I turned the page over and decided to go to sleep. After all, tomorrow at 5:30 A.M. I was supposed to be back on the set!
*
It was 5:48 A.M. and I was already sitting in my dressing room ready for work. I got a text message from Camille then. The content was as follows:
“Hi. Of course, I remember you! I’d love to meet you, but you know… I’m on a trip with my mother in Los Angeles right now… She’s got some business stuff and she took me with her. How do you feel about a meeting this weekend?”
After reading the message, I sent her my address and wrote that the time of the meeting was Saturday at 6 P.M. I put the phone in my purse and decided to go to Joe.
– Hi. Can you come to me at 6 P.M. on Saturday? I have a surprise for you.
– And that’s what scares me the most.
– Oh, and you definitely have a reason – I had to say it. – Will you come?
– Sure. It’s related to that “help”? – he made quotation marks in the air.
– Exactly! I’m going to the set now.
I left the room and met Sindy on the way. I told her about things that happened the day before, and then I obviously had to tell her about my plan.
– Wow! I keep my fingers crossed for you to succeed.
– Thanks. I think it may actually work. He’ll like her, I think.
– You know… The heart is not a servant. You can’t be totally sure that it will work out.
– You’re right… I just don’t want it to be awkward between us, and I don’t want to lose a friend, you know.
– You will see. Everything will be fine.
– Thanks, Sindy!
I hugged her. It’s good to have such a real friend like her.
We went to the set and a few minutes later Brian and Joe joined us. The time of a few hours of hard recording of the first episode had begun…
*
In the end 2/3 of the recorded new material had appeared on the shelf. What does it mean? That four days later the first episode was completed! YAY! After that, we got scripts for the second episode of the series. We had to celebrate it somehow! “Later I will come up with something and inform my friends…” – I was thinking then. It was a particularly important moment…
I went to my dressing room and the first thing that I did was taking the phone out of my bag. I looked at the screen and couldn’t believe my eyes! Fifteen messages! One per minute! From whom? Of course, from Camille!
“I’m looking forward to meeting you!”, “Hey, what are you doing these days by the way?”, “Hello!! Laura!!”…
The last message was repeated thirteen times… Yep… I wrote back. I briefly told her about my role, the show, etc. and then I went to change. When I finished, it was 4:55 P.M. I took the bag in my hands, and I visited Joe’s dressing room. I had an idea! Again…
– Hi. Can you invite your brother and cousins for Sunday to my house?
– Ok, but what for?
– On Saturday we are finishing work on the first episode and we must celebrate it, right?
– Right. I’ll call them right away. And what are your plans for Saturday?
– It’s a surprise. Remember that you are supposed to be at my place at 8 P.M. then.
– Yes, I remember…
– So, I gotta go now. I have some things to do… See you later.
When I was speaking to him, he seemed so little interested in me and what I was saying. Maybe he was over it already then? I really hoped so…
*
Saturday. After work. It was all done… The next time I’ll tell you all about business stuff, now it’s all just a romance thread… Romantic mood… And I’m not sorry, my dear diary…
Half an hour until Camille arrives. “Joe will come by any minute. Time to start the show and my brilliant plan…” – that’s what I was thinking right then. But before it all had begun, I was just sitting in my room and talking with Sindy.
– I brought popcorn. It may be useful, I think.
– What for? To throw it out the window because of boredom, I guess…
– No… Maybe it will be romantic, and Joe will finish what he started earlier…
– Don’t… Remind me…
At that very moment, I heard a knock on the door and the brunet came into my house. Funny, we were just talking about him… My friend said:
– Oh, it’s 6 P.M.! I made an appointment with Brian to bake a cake. See you tomorrow, Lau!
– See you tomorrow!
The girl left and Joe came closer to me.
– What are we going to do now? What’s your “help” anyway? – he made quotation marks in the air.
– My old friend is coming soon.
I said these words with undisguised joy. After all, I hadn’t seen Camille for a year! Because she moved from here to Miami…
– You want me to be interested in your friend? You want me to fall in love with her, am I right?
Well, I shocked him pretty badly… Wait a second! I didn’t say anything! Was he reading my mind or something?! That’s scary, huh…
A knock on the door saved me from explaining it. Ahh…
– Laura!
– Camille!
I ran to the girl, and we hugged. Man, she looked like a star… A burgundy dress and a white fluffy bolero… And those high heels… Amazing!
In the end, my old friend said:
– You don’t know how much I missed you! – she noticed Joe, sitting on the couch. – Who is this?
The boy approached us.
– Joe. Camille. Camille. Joe. Get to know each other.
– Nice to meet you – the brunet spoke first.
– Me too. You’re sweet.
Ah, she didn’t change at all! She’s blonde by the way… I still think they fit well together… But… Well…
– Thanks – he blushed.
– Maybe someone wants some popcorn?
I had to say something!
– Lau, you know I hate this white… Thing… – the blonde said.
– Seriously? I like it a lot. And what kind of music do you listen to?
“Maybe I will go somewhere, so I won’t disturb them? Or I will sit on the side with the box of popcorn, and I’ll be “watching” them…?” – I began to wonder. I went to the corner, indeed. And Sindy was right bringing the popcorn…
– I’m listening to the metallic music.
– Really…? Do you like sport?
– Me and sports? Ha! Good joke!
– Ahhh… You like to laugh, right?
– You know… I love it! I’m never serious.
– Ahhh… Lau! I gotta go. I’ve just reminded myself that I’dleft the kettle on the gas. See ya tomorrow!
Inside of me, the laughter was really strong… I knew he would run away eventually! Wait a second… My plan failed! Oh no!
When it comes to Camille… We talked for an hour, but we had to say goodbye in the end. We decided to meet again next Friday. Before going to bed, I asked Sam to help me with the last preparations for tomorrow’s house party. After that, I fell on the bed and fell asleep at once…
*
So, that’s it. It all turned out beautifully, I know! Ahh… What can I say…? In the next one, I will tell you more about celebrating finishing the work on the first episode and about that day in general…
Okay, I’m going to talk with my friend from Poland now. I feel so sorry for her…
P.S. “Everything’s possible. Don’t you see that light? It’s a hope to make it happen!”
Quote from my dear Alice. I really like her! Anyways, these words are related to the boy she’s in love with. Such a one brunet…
I had to tell her a little Joe’s secret. And what is it? He would love to talk to her the way I do. Of course, she was happy to hear it! It’s just a matter of time before he asks me to give her his number. Yep… It’s all really sweet…
[1] Jane Austen’s novel.
***
That’s all today. Do you know there is a possibility of reading this story in the form of a signed book? Or e-book? And there are a T-shirt and bag! The novel collection is here. And it’s all available with a discount of 20% off until 14th February, so it’s ending soon! You just have to use the code “winterlove20” in the cart.
Until the next time!
Love, A.A.
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