CHAPTER
1
Flashback
“Look at this place," Troy
said, "someday, this will be a perfect garden paradise.” He closed his
eyes and breathed smoothly as the soft breeze pass through us.
“How can you be sure?” I asked.
“Someday, not today, not tomorrow. But someday, I promise, this will be
such a wonderful paradise. Full of roses, butterflies flying around under the
blue sky with the sun hot like a giant flashlight,”
“How can you tell? You’re eleven,” I chuckled.
“And so are, well, almost. And someday, you’ll believe me.
“Sure. I’ll believe you when Dylan believes you,” I stared at my fingers
twining.
“Is there something wrong?” he asked, his tone worried.
“Troy,” I took a deep breath, “I need to tell you something,”
“What’s that?”
“We’ll be leaving for Chicago tomorrow,” I murmured.
“So? You always stay for a week or two in Chicago for summer.”
“We’re staying.”
“How long?”
“Permanently,”
“Oh,” he sighed, “Chicago isn’t that far from California,”
I just stared at him.
“Does Dylan know this already?”
“I called him on the phone last night, before they went to Hawaii,”
“What did he say?”
“He said, good luck on my trip, and he’ll miss me,”
“Right,” he breathed, “We’ll still keep in touch, right?”
“Of course,”
He reached out to his pocket, “Turn around,”
I followed what he said.
He put a silver necklace on me. I held it gently and looked at its
carefully carved design. A diamond heart with rose vines carved on it place
next to a silver dog tag with the words
Live, Love Life to the fullest written on it.
“I was planning to give it to you on your birthday, but, since we won’t
see each other anymore, I decided to give it to you now. Good thing I had it on
my pocket. Well, I was about to buy a gift wrapper to wrap the box of it�"”
I hugged him tightly, “Thank you so much.” I cried.
He hugged me too. “Remember, this will always belong to you. From now
on, this is my heart that belongs to you.”
“Thanks,”
“And, don’t tell Dylan that I said that,”
“I know,” he chuckled. “Thanks,” I repeated.
“Oh, that’s nothing.”
“Not just for the gift,”
“Then for what?” he asked, bewildered.
I looked at him. “I was seven when I first met you, when you saved me
from falling in a cliff. From then on, you became my best friend, and like my
older brother that is always there to protect me. You already became such a
huge part of my life. And I’m very lucky to have you.”
“Don’t forget our dream okay? Someday, we’ll both be in the spotlight.
And Dylan too,” he giggled. “I’ll be a famous actor, you’ll be a famous singer,
and Dylan will be a director,”
“Okay,”
“If in chance, we won’t see each other again, remember the song. I’ll go
to your concert,”
“Sure, you’ll have a backstage pass.” I breathed, “And I have to watch
your first movie.”
“I’ll give you a VIP access,”
“Sure. I’ll count on that.” I said laughing, though the truth is, hiding
my tears.
***
“Taylor, wake up!” Sophie said, shaking me.
“Five more minutes,” I muttered.
“Your show will start in two hours,”
“What!”
“Yes. Now get ready, I’ll be back in five.” She went out of my room.
Great, now I’m back in reality. It’s the third time I dreamt about that
scenario this week. C’mon, it’s been five years already and no more connection.
Okay, so maybe we had, but it’s over.
Edward Troy Anderson; Get out of your house and you’ll see his face and
name everywhere; in buses, shirts, bags, and even pencil sharpeners. He reached
our dream earlier than I, since he was discovered and was signed in an acting
and singing career.
But he changed after that. I remembered the last time I wanted to see
him again�"and probably my luckiest day like
it was yesterday, though it has been two years already.
“Taylor, double time!” Mr. Fields yelled.
It was a crowded afternoon since it was the last day of school. The
restaurant was full of starving student and Sophie and I need to work over time
for it, since there are only a few crews. But there was also another reason why
the restaurant is full�"of girls. Troy Anderson is in town, and is having an
autograph signing session in an hour.
After it, Mr. Fields got the chance
to have him perform in the restaurant, and I guess that the customers won’t
leave until he performs.
“Who are you staring at?” Sophie asked then finished for me, “Troy
again?”
I just nodded as I looked through the window.
“C’mon, if this chance will make you stop from day dreaming about that
guy, then go toward him. I’ll cover your shift.”
“Really?” I looked at her.
“Yes, now go on before I change my mind,”
“Thanks! You’re the best!” I hugged her quickly then took off my apron
and snatched my copy of his first album titled, Max Reborn.
I got in line, as it becomes longer. It took a few hours to reach him,
and only seconds to get heartbroken.
“Hey, what’s your name?” Troy asked his face angelic as ever.
“Taylor,” I said, hoping he’ll remember me. “Taylor McKenzie,”
“Okay. Well, Taylor, it’s nice meeting you. Thanks for buying my album,
have a great day.”
“Wait, don’t you... remember me?” I said, my voice filled with
confusion.
He looked at me for a second. “Oh yah, I know you...”
“Finally,”
“You’re the waitress in the restaurant just around the street. Fantastic
food,”
“What?” I hesitated as the girls in the backs started complaining on me
taking so long. “Don’t you...” I show my necklace to him.
“Nice necklace,” he commented, as if he never saw it before.
I was speechless. How could he. I never imagined him being so...
insensitive. I decided to leave instead of staying there and making myself look
like a fool.
I went back to the restaurant disappointed, as the customers began to
leave. I headed to the kitchen to go back to my work. I just want to forget
everything I’ve been through, to see him. And all the months I’ve wished and
waited for that moment.
“So, what happened?” Sophie asked.
“Nothing,” I said and walked again.
Troy cancelled his performance due to overtime of the autograph session.
Mr. Fields crammed and stared at the mob waiting hungrily for him to perform.
Sophie got an outrageous idea that I should perform that night, since I’ve
always wanted to do it. But I was not in the mood to perform that day, but I
really have no choice. Mr. Fields heard me sing before, and he was convinced
that I can please the crowd; he even begged me and promised to raise my salary.
Since I really wanted to pursue my dream and help pay my stepfather’s
medications, I took the opportunity to let myself out.
I performed one song I always hoped of singing. Love is on its way. It is not yet finish until now, but it’s not
that obvious. It’s the first song that we�"Troy and I�"composed and swear to
ourselves to perform if ever we got the chance to. But he never really did that
promise.
Like I said, that day was the worst, yet luckiest day of my life. Gerard
Seeley�"my current manager today�"was watching that night, and became interested
in my talent. Well, at least he noticed me. I saw Troy watching that night too,
and I thought that I should bring my hopes up again.
But after I performed, he suddenly left. Maybe he recognized me, but he
never gave a damn chance. After that, I decided to just forget about him.
“Taylor, get up now! You’ll be late on your show!” Sophie reminded me
again.
I got back to reality again. “Coming,” I said.
Yes, it’s been two years, but still fresh in my mind. Did I mention that
I’m on the same status as Troy? Or�"not that I’m bragging or anything�"maybe more
than that; I became famous after Gerard saw me; and yes we did�"Troy and I�"meet
in the limelight. But like I said, he did change. He says we’re friends�" in
front of the camera.
But it’s like we’re strangers when
the camera is out. Oh yah, did I mention that he already knew who I am? Yah, he
found out that I, Taylor Samantha McKenzie, am the same with his childhood
friend. And what was his reaction? “Really?
Unbelievable... you change a lot” as if he was not satisfied.
Well, at least Dylan didn’t change. Though he never came back from
Hawaii, he’s still my best friend. We email each other thrice a week or
sometimes call each other, due to our schedules. He’s studying while I’m
performing.
When we were kids, Dylan, Troy and I are inseparable. You see, I was
kinda boyish when I was young. But I was never a tomboy. I still have that
touch of a girly personality, though you’ll see me outside till twilight
deepened and my mom would shout my full name just to make me go home.
The three of us would play all day in the summer, and pretend as a
family. Dylan will be the father, I’ll be the mother and Troy will be our son,
though he’s older than me. In first though, they were vice versa. But Dylan
insisted on being the father, since he said that he’s in love with me. But we
never believe him though. We’re not sure if he’s telling the truth or just
kidding around as always, though he said that he’s not lying. He would give me
a rose that he picked from their garden and a box of chocolate covered strawberries
that always miss one piece.
The three of us will lay under the sun, stating our dreams and goals for
the future. In those moments, Troy and I would have the same dream, then Dylan
would shrieked and change the subject. But it always ends with laughing and
teasing. I still pretended to be Dylan’s wife, though I had secretly felt a
crush for Troy. That feeling got more intense whenever he started teasing
Dylan, and pretended to like me and buy me stuff toys and other stuff and I
just blushed when he’s not looking.
***
I did my usual routine every morning then headed to my show guesting
which is, as usual, crowded with fans�"don’t get me wrong, I love my fans. After
that, I headed back to our hotel and get ready to go to California for my concerts�"and
unfortunately, some concerts are with Troy.
I called Dylan, to see what he’s doing but he’s not answering. Then it
suddenly struck me that he’s probably in a middle of a class right now.
I walked in our suite as I heard my mom talking to someone on the phone.
I didn’t bother to listen, since I’m pretty sure she’ll say it anyway. I
grabbed a glass of lemon juice and sat on the couch as I waited for her to be
finish. I took the notebook where Love is
on its way is written. Troy and I wrote it a day before I left. I tried to
finish the song before but I never did; like I can’t do it of just me. I looked
at the lyrics again; maybe I can finish it this time.
Love is on its way
We know each other better than anyone else
You know everything about me
And I never been comfortable
Like I did with you
I never thought I’d feel the way I’m feeling lately,
When everything you seem to do
Just drives me crazy
Lonely, I believe that you will find me
And together we might really see that
Love is on its way
Lonely, I believe that you will find me
And together we will truly see that
Love is on its way
We may not be together
Or most like before
But that doesn't change a thing
I still love you the same
Lonely, I believe that you will find me
And together we might really see that
Love is on its way
Now you're in my head like a song on the radio
Every time you stare
Makes me wonder if you feel the same
Is it just me or will you find me too?
And together we might really see that
Love is on its way
We were young that time, but that doesn’t mean our composing skills are
immature; though I do agree that the song is quite older for us that time. The
chords are easy; it’s actually the first chords I learned from Troy. D, A, Em, G and it just repeats again
and again. I just really wish I can finish the song. I actually thought of
putting it on my first album, except that I don’t know on what I’ll put on who
wrote it; of course I can’t put Troy, I’m not even sure if he still remember
this song.
“Taylor, honey, we need to cancel your concerts.” She said as she shut
her phone, bringing me back to reality again; the bitter reality of life.
“What!” I almost dropped my glass. “Why?”
“Roger got this rare disease, which is still unknown, and I need to take
care of him. Sophie will be studying in Yale and Jeff in the University of
Washington.”
Roger Torres; my stepdad. He’s Jeff and Sophie’s dad and we’ve been with
them for four years now.
It’s only been two years since we stayed in Chicago that my mom and dad
divorced. It’s just the sad truth that they ran out of love for each other.
Though it’s not even nearly a year when my dad met Melissa Cook while my
mom met Roger. They got married as soon as the divorce was done and I decided
to stay with my mom.
Roger was working as a surgeon, when he first met my mom. And as if
they’re thirty-eight turning seventeen, they instantly fell in love, though I
won’t blame my mom.
Back then, Roger was like a
heartthrob and almost all the girls go gaga over him with his wild bronze hair
falling over the side of his face and intense sea green eyes. It’s too bad that
his first wife died though. Sophie showed me some of her mom’s picture, and she
was truly beautiful, like a queen I would say.
Roger gave me a warm welcome, and so did Sophie and Jeff. It’s like we
were a happy family until Roger suddenly got rare diseases that put us in
debts, and in which leads us back to my first story, where I need to perform to
help pay the medications. But as soon as my career flew up, we never had financial
problems anymore. He continued being a surgeon again and we’re one big happy
family again.
But I still don’t get why he suddenly caught a disease, I mean, he gets
his monthly check up and all.
“C’mon, this will be my last concert before I take a break. Well, two
months break,” I said.
“I know, but...”
“Then I’ll just stay in a hotel, not a problem,” I said, though ‘I’m
pretty sure she won’t agree.
“C’mon, you just turned sixteen,”
“So?”
“You’re not yet allowed,”
“Then I’ll just stay with Stacey for a while. She’s living in San
Francisco, right?” I said, recalling my personal assistants’ address.
“She’s living with her fiancé,”
“No she’s not, they broke up. She’s with her brother Justin,” I sighed,
“It’s just a few days; I can stay in a hotel,”
“No.”
“How about to Kaitlyn’s?”
“Now, she’s getting married, remember?”
“C’mon,” I put my puppy-dog eyes.
“Well, unless you’re willing to stay to a family friend’s house.”
“Anything.”
“Great. I’ll call Zoey.”
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