Any Girl You Want (closed)

[LassardLost]

Gavin Hollaway wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand as he walked off stage for the final time. The crowd's roar sounded good tonight. Ecstatic even. They had been on tour all summer and knew the sound of a satisfied crowd. Jacksonville hadn't been as robust - and they knew it because they were just not feeling it that day. Tyrel had woken up saying he felt sloppy - his drumming sounded like it too. Haris busted one of his guitar strings while tuning - which had never happened to him before - and he was constantly pissed off by the sting it had left him on his cheek. They had walked onto stage knowing it wasn't going to be a good night, and their "secret" was fulfilled. It wasn't that anyone booed. They were beyond the point of booing. They had done three albums that had gone platinum and were no strangers to success. The Hollaway Band was in it for good. But it was just - the sound. It just didn't sound good. The roar was dull, like an ocean tired of making its waves on a cold, cloudy day. But tonight wasn't that. Tonight had been fuckin' good.

Gavin followed Tyrel, Haris, Stephen and Carter down the hall where their agent met them, smiling and patting them on their backs as they turned the corner into a hall lined with screaming teenage girls. An aide handed them some black pens and they made their way through, smiling, signing - on posters, guitars, bellies. They had already been told by the staff "NO BREASTS", to Gavin's disappointment. He always liked seeing them raise their shirt and smile. But it was a legal thing. It didn't matter. Gavin would pick up a sweet thing from the bar near by later tonight. There was never a shortage, and Gavin didn't ever want there to be one. He finished smiling once he left the hallway with the screaming girls and they made their way into their tour bus. He plopped down in the lounge area near the back of the bus, kicked off his shoes and opened a bottle of beer. The guys were settling down in the bus. Carter was looking out the window.


"These girls dress sluttier and sluttier at such a young age," he said, shaking his head.
Tyrel laughed and smacked him on the back, "Ok, Dad - you weren't saying that five months ago".

Gavin smiled. Tyrel was right. Carter and Lori had had Hannah and Carter did a one-eighty. He never cheated on his wife, but he didn't mind commenting on the "fine lil' thangs" they used to see at their concerts and walking by their tour bus.

"I don't know, man," was all Carter said as he turned his attention to his iPad.

Tyrel sat down across from Gavin. "Throw me a beer. So what you got planned? Two? Three?"

Gavin smirked, "Come on, you talk like I just use these girls and toss 'em a side! I am a man of integrity, Tyrel. Integrity."

"Mm hm, let's see." Tyrel turned around and looked outisde, pointed into the window while pretending to gasp, "Look! There! That girl over there. Looks like her integrity hasn't been broken yet!" He fake yelled to the girl from inside the bus. "Hey! We have a man of integrity in here! He'll help you with your integrity - with his cock!" For some reason, Gavin didn't like that. He frowned as he noted this intruding... conscience? that he experienced as Tyler made fun of him.

Gavin threw a pillow at Tyrels head, "You jack ass," he smiled, just to make sure things stayed light.

Their bus driver climbed in through the main doors. "Hey boys, are we ready?"

Stephen and Haris nodded. Carter was stuck in his iPad. Tyrel started, "Oh no wait, Gavin hasn't-"

"Yeah Dave we're good. Let's get going." Gavin turned and looked sheepishly at Tyler.

"Think I'm gonna take a nap."

"A nap!?"

"Yep."

"Fuck off."

"Exactly. Fucking is off for tonight - unless you want to go into town? I don't care."

"You know I'm always in the mood."

"Yeah, I know - so you can be in the mood with your laptop in the bathroom. Dave! Let's go."

Dave nodded and started up the bus. Tyrel apparently didn't care that much, as he lay down on a couch and picked up a magazine.

Gavin sat back and looked out the window as the bus took off. He saw throngs of girls and guys screaming and waving from the street a ways away. He loved his job. And he loved his girls. But for some reason - maybe it was Carter's paternal comments or Tyrel's remarks - he got switched off his bar idea and just decided to call it a night. There would always be more nights. And there would always be more girls.

* * *

By 1pm the next day, the bus pulled into a small, no-name town in the middle of Kentucky. "Gotta stop for gas and empty out the latrine," Dave yelled, waking everyone up, before stepping out. The sun shone through the window and made Gavin squint as he got up. He washed his face and stepped out into the fresh air. His head ached. His throat hurt. Had he been drinking? No. It was just the concert. It was their fifth in a week and he was spent. Stretching his arms into the air he yawned and looked around. Apparently he was standing in the downtown of a little hick place - there were several small stores and... a cafe. "That's it. Coffee. Check out the natives," he mumbled to himself as he walked in that direction. Haris stepped off the bus and said something after him but Gavin's head just buzzed.

As he walked to the cafe he passed some stores and saw his reflection. At five-foot-ten, he carried himself well. He had a slender, somewhat athletic build and short messy black hair. Deep brown eyes to go with it. He realized he looked a mess with his slept-in, wrinkled shirt on, so he removed it, revealing a simple white T-shirt that sat well atop his blue jeans. He tied his shirt around his waist, fixed his hair a bit in the window and walked down to the cafe. Stepping inside, he took the place in. It was a long cafe; the barista's area on the left as soon as he walked in, with low-hanging yellow lighting above the bar. In front of him and to the right were four small circular tables with a couple people sitting here and there, and then behind them a long hallway with booths lining one side going way far back. He thought he saw a room in the back afterwards but it wasn't clear. A girl sat back there, with books on her table. He saw her look up and then look back down to her books. Not thinking anything of it - she must not have realized who he was - he walked up to the register and got a mocha.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alexis (Alex) Kline listened to her roommates in the living area screaming at each other. After two years of living together during community college, you would think they would have learned what pissed each other off. Sighing, Alex slammed her anatomy and physiology textbook closed and shoved it, along with several others an her laptop in her backpack. She would go to Joe's, the little coffee shop down the road, and work on her paper there, like she always did.

Coming from a single mother home, she hasn't had the money to go to a large university, and although she had gotten scholarships offered to her after high school, she had chosen to stay in her hometown, and attend the small community college there, instead. Sometimes she still, to this day, wondered why.

Maybe it was a comfort thing. She had never been good in social situations. She hadnt had many friends in high school, and she still didn't to this day. She considered her roommates friends, and a few of the staff at Joe's Coffee House. But that was really it. She had a hard time opening up to people, so instead usually ended up buried in textbooks in order to escape the fact that she was basically a social outcast.

She pulled on a pair of jeans and a v-neck plain cotton tee shirt in a light green color that some people would say really showed off the jade color of her eyes. Grabbing her bookbag she walked out he door without saying anything to her still-screaming roommates. She opted to walk the six blocks instead of drive. Healthier that way.

Once there, the girl behind the counter, Cynthia, greeted her and handed her the customary bottle of natural spring water that she drank. Even though she was a regular there, she never drank coffee. She wasn't a fan of the stuff. But the place was quiet and a great study hangout.

She found a quiet corner booth and set up her laptop and reopened her book, immediately delving into her research paper that wasn't due for four more weeks. About an hour into her studying she heard a slight buzz among the other customers and glanced up curiously. A rather good looking man - who looked vaguely familiar - had just walked in, but she saw no reason why that would cause a stir. Must have been a coincidence.

Looking back down, she kept on typing, tuning out the rest of the cafe, and focusing solely on her work. She was completely unaware as two girls got up and walked over to the man, holding a couple of Joe's napkins and pens. All Alex saw was the words in her text and on her laptop. Everything else was a minor annoyance in the background to her.

 

[LassardLost]

"You are adjusting to your new life Gavin, that's exactly what is happening here. Nothing more. Nothing less. You just need to understand that."
"Jack. Ok Jack. Fine, I understand. I'm adjusting."
"Yes."
"Good, so that means that when I go to a party - "
"No."
"And I decided to drink and - "
"No."
"Do whatever the fuck I want. Spend however much money I -"
"No Gavin."
"- want. Because you know it's not a concern of mine, money."
"That's not what I meant you know that."
"I'm just adjusting! You said it yourself, Jack. It's a phase right?"
"Gavin."
"So WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE ABOUT IT?"

"Gavin I know you understand what I'm saying. You're just not being honest with yourself. You've created a -"
"I've created a schism bla-bla-bla yes, thank you Freud, I understand."
"I know you do."
"FUCK YOU, JACK. Isn't this my God damned right as an American? To start as a geek in a garage and end up a rock star? I'm one of the few that could do it, and no one is going to take that away from me."
"No one is trying -"
"Yes. They are. My mother is. My sister is. And you - who are supposed to be my therapist - are. You are all trying to -"
"STOP YOU FROM DESTROYING YOURSELF GAVIN. You have been admitted to the hospital twice now for overdosing. You are nearly bankrupt because of irresponsible spending. You have cut off relationship with your mother and sister, who have been nothing but supportive of you because they are just concerned. Your fame, Gavin, has turned YOU INTO AN SELFISH ASSHOLE."

All of a sudden Gavin realized what he was doing. As if he had been floating above himself and just now settled back into his body. He was standing. His arms down by his sides with fists clenched. His chest was heaving. Jack - the therapist he had been seeing for a year now - had given him pause. Had his fame turned him into an asshole? Where was he? He remembered riding his bike as a kid in his quiet suburban town, playing in the woods with his friends. He remembered high school, learning how to play the guitar and starting his first band. He remembered hours in the comfort of his garage with Tyrel and Carter. His mother would bring them snacks, she would sit and listen to them play and smile. It was... wholesome. It had felt good. His music wasn't rebellion against his mom or any other authority. It was just music. And in college it was studying and music. He even remembered going to his church a few times and playing. But it was after signing the contract it went awry. With the money and the parties, it went awry. With the drugs and the alcohol it went awry... it was true. He was in a bad place.

But that was years ago.

Now, they had been playing and making albums for several years after that dreadfully dark time and Gavin had settled down into his own skin. He had indeed gotten over his "adjustment" period as Jack had said. He was whole now, though still different than when he grew up. Somehow his conscience when it came to the opposide gender had not been saved. In his mind it was simple. His job was to play music and people loved him for that. It helped that he was attractive, and as a perk, he got to be with pretty much any girl he wanted. Had he seen a lot of girls cry. But he figured they should know what they were getting into. Did they think they were going to be "the one" that draws him from his sexual freedom? He saw their tears as a function of their arrogance. Or false hope, which might have been the same thing.

Gavin turned around with his coffee and saw two teens standing infront of him, with the usual smile and giggle, napkins and markers in hand. He was tired, it was only 1:30pm, still early.

"Hello ladies," he tried to give a smile, and managed something kind of limp, which apparently the girls interpreted in a positive way because they beamed. Gavin signed their napkins and as they thanked him and started saying things about his music he looked down the hall again and saw the other girl sitting behind her laptop. She saw me, I know she did. Something bothered Gavin, and he quickly realized that he was accustomed to any female of this age flocking to him with pens and things to write on. That one down there didn't. Judging by her books, her laptop - she was high school or college that was for sure. So even if she didn't like his stuff she must have known him. He had met many a girl who had seen him and tried to keep their composure and act cool. He could always tell when they were doing it, and he kind of appreciated that they maintained some self-control - but still, he loved the fact that he could still tell they wanted to talk to him, to garner his attention, and probably be fucked by him. Gavin gave a half smile again and nodded to the girls, who were still talking, and walked casually down the hallway, pretending to stop and look at some frames on the wall. Eventually he made it over to a frame right next to the laptop girl's table. Keeping his eyes fixed on the picture - which was an old shot of the same downtown fifty years ago (it didn't look all that different) - he read the title out loud, "Hobart, Kentucky." He turned to look at the girl, who, if she had looked at him when he spoke, showed no sign of it now. "Is that where we are?" She had brunette hair and had a cute build.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alex glanced up when she heard the deep voice speaking from beside her. She hadnt even realized he was close to her, she had been so engrossed in her paper. She glanced around to see if he was talking to her. People never made small talk with her. It was like she had a sign that said "don't talk to me".

"Hobart. Yeah that's where we are... You don't know what town you're in?" She asked in disbelief. Something nagged her mind. He really looked familiar but she couldn't place why.

She sat back from her laptop, and looked up a him. He wasn't overly tall, but he would easily tower over her 5'2" frame if she were to stand up. He was definitely a good looking man, she noted. She studied him, trying to place where she knew him from.

"You look familiar" she said out loud, always one to get straight to the point. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

She glanced towards the front and saw two girls staring at napkins with marker on them, and then at him and giggling. It dawned on her then. Her eyes widened.

"Oh! You're Gavin Holloway! Sorry I didn't recognize you immediately. What are y'all doing here? In Hobart?"

Hobart was a tiny town- population 327. Soon to be 328 when Mrs Laramore had her little girl in a few weeks. The most excitement Hobart had ever seen was when a high speed chase exited the freeway and came through Main Street, helicopters and all. Hobart had two stop lights, one of which sometimes didn't even work. Folks waved to each other when they passed, even if they were stranger. Fridays were reserved for football games. Saturdays for family activities. And Sundays for church and barbecues.

A rock star in the midst of Hobart would spread like wildfire through the rumor mills. She saw the two girls up front take a photo of his back and then type on their phones.

"You know... You're gonna cause a mob scene here. Those two girls are texting every person in their phones and letting them know you are here. Within minutes this place is gonna see more business than it has in five years. And you'll be getting attacked." She shrugged.

"Just giving you fair warning" she flashed him a quick smile.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin was confused. Then upset that he was confused. Then upset at the laptop girl for being the reason he was upset and confused. Simultaneously he was struck by the green eyes and what? what else? that unsettlingly confident yet somehow still timid smile? there was so much all of a sudden about this interaction that had sent him reeling.

"Ok, Hobart hm," was all he could get out as he realized that this girl knew who he was, seemed excited about it for a moment, but seemed extraordinarily non-chalant about his presence and in fact had gone right back to looking at her computer. Her final words? That he should get out of here before he is swamped by adoring fans. But there was something else. Gavin composed himself, there was no time for deep introspection, and it was rarely necessary in life anyway. He pulled a chair opposite the girl with his usual gusto and sat down.

Smiling, he extended his hand, "Well it's not fair that you know about me but I don't even know your name. Especially since you are being so kind as to warn me of the impending deluge of people that will be coming in here." As the girl extended her hand to shake Gavin's he took it and kissed the back of it, looking up and smiling at her. Her one moment of introduction - her knowing who he was but not behaving in anyway he had seen before for a girl her age - registered with him as an instant challenge. He made a firm determination. I will not leave this two-bit town without riding this pretty little thing. If her intiial response had not been as he expected, it would only take a few more minutes of interaction to melt her to his command.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alexis blinked when he sat down next to her. Had he not heard her warning?? She had just told him he was going to be mobbed and instead of leaving he was sitting down? She was confused.

He led out his hand to shake hers and surprised her by kissing it instead. She got the mild feeling he felt he was a ladies man. And he probably was. He probably had women begging to sleep with him. Which confused her more. Why was he here talking to her when he could have any woman he wanted?

"My name is Alexis... Or Alex. Whatever you prefer" she said softly, knowing her cheeks had turned pink when he kissed her hand. "I'm surprised you aren't high tailing it out of here. Or do to like interacting with your fans? That's cool if you do. I've heard your music before. Y'all are good. Ive got a couple of albums at home."

"Are you on tour right now and that's why you are here in town?"

 

[LassardLost]

The girl, Alexis - Alex - spoke to him. He had interacted with many girls - and many who maintained their cool around him, but this was entirely different. Gavin just looked at this laptop girl for a moment taking her in. She had beautiful eyes, and they spoke to him as if to tell her story yet hide it at the same time. She was pretty - no, beautiful.

"Yeah, we're on tour. Just driving through and our driver had to stop to refuel and stuff." He motioned back towards the front of the door and from his periphery he saw some movement. He turned around to see a small group of new girls congregating in the main area, looking at him, whispering to each other, giggling.

There they were. Those were his girls. Those were the little things he was used to taking to his hotel room, or bus, or backstage, and enjoying. He turned around and looked at Alex. But she was the one he wanted right now. He had seen her cheeks turn pink when he had kissed her hand so he knew he had a door open. Yet he felt different looking at her. He cocked his ear to the side then looked back at Alex.

He lowered his voice urgently, "Alex, don't get me wrong, I love interacting with my fans but - " he glanced back again, the girls were approaching. Slowly. Like an amorphous giggling monster. " - but I really would like to get out of here. You've already been good enough to warn me and I didn't listen to you," Gavin chuckled, reaching out and holding Alex's hand. "Is there a back way outta here? Can you take me outta here?"

Gavin knew what he was doing. All those girls, no doubt members of the 327 members of Hobart, Kentucky likely knew Alex. If they saw him running out the back of the cafe hand in hand with her, she'd be made. For some reason, he thought it would be a nice favor. He actually considered it magnanimous of himself because he didn't need to do it. He could just find her another time and do her. But as his sudden and unsure partner hesitated, Gavin had a feeling deep inside, even if he wasn't aware of it, that he really wanted to run away with this girl.

Instead what he most clearly felt - and he wasn't sure why - was that he just wanted to spend time with her. We'll run off, I'll take her some place nice, maybe even talk. And we'll make love. Then I'll leave her some concert tickets to see me at my next show. Yeah. She'll probably like that.

Probably.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alex raised an eyebrow slightly at his request. "You want me to lead you out a back door to escape the group I forewarned you about?" She asked quietly. Sighing, she knew she would do as he asked because she was a nice person and she could see the desperation in his eyes.

Sighing, she quickly dropped her book as laptop in her bag. She swung it over her shoulder and motioned towards the back. "Follow me" she said.
Together they quickly wound through a hallway and a storage room and out the delivery door. She heard him take a deep breath and release it.

She could see his bus parked at the gas pumps and noted nobody had surrounded it. Yet. She looked back to him and saw him staring at her, which made her blush again. "I, uh, really should get going... Need to finish this paper. And you need to get back to your bus before they surround it."

She shuffled on her feet slightly, stirring up dust. "It was nice meeting you today. People will talk about you being here for days. Weeks probably. She sighed. She really didn't feel like walking that far back to her house suddenly. We book bag was heavy.

"I really need to get going" she repeated.

 

[LassardLost]

After escaping the hoard and now finding himself behind the cafe with his curious laptop girl, Gavin just barely held himself back from gawking at her. Her persistently nonplused demeanor caught him off guard again and again. Yet now was that classic moment - she had to go home. She had a backpack. This was his chance to take respite from this confusing state of affairs and find comfort in the familiarity of being solo with a girl. It would then be that he would give her what he knew - he knew - she wanted from him.

Gavin leaned around the corner of the building to look at his bus. He heard the cafe door open and the sound of several excited teens shuffling out, the noise level outside suddenly elevating. Sighing, he turned back to Alex. "Can I help you with your bag? I'll walk you home, and it'll give me a chance to escape the hoard. You seem pretty chill, and I really appreciate that." He took the bag that Alex slid off her shoulder and hoisted it upon his. "Lead the way."

Alex and Gavin walked along a dusty path, away from the downtown area. To their left was a small stream and row of large oak trees that lined their path with shade. There was a nice breeze comnig through that gave respite from th heat.

"I've never been to a small town like this. There's something different about it. Something nice." Alex seemed to be unusually quiet. It made Gavin uneasy. Nevermind. She wants it just like everyone else. All you have to do is put your arm around her. He reminded himself of her excitement when she had recognized who he was, the pink blush of her cheeks when he had kissed her hand. She had two of his albums, and she was so chill. Gavin smiled to himself as he imagined their making love - somehow he felt it would be better than most of the others he'd had.

There was nobody around. It was a beautiful walk, and they could just settle down in a small area of low-hanging trees he saw up ahead. He looked at Alex and smiled, then placed his arm around her shoulders. It wouldn't be long now.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alex smiled when he mentioned how nice the little town was. "It is nice. I've always lived here. I've actually never even visited a city before. I've never really been anywhere but here.. That must seem awfully borig to you after traveling all over the world for tours."

She hesitated.

"It's comfortable here. I like it".

They continued to walk down the little side road. And then he put his arm around her. She actually faltered in stepping, stumbling a little bit. Then she stopped walking. He glanced at her, looking confused. Gently, but assuredly she took his arm from around her shoulders and placed it back by his side.

"You don't know me and I don't really know you except for your music" she said matter of factly. She thought for a moment as she kept walking. "I know how girls respond to you. They fall all over themselves for you. I'm not one of those those girls though. I'm not gonna bow at your feet in order to please you just because you can make music that's awesome."

She was walking throughout the whole speech forcing him to keep up with her.

"Sorry if that's what you expected" she apologized.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin initially kept up with Alex as she spoke. She had removed his arm and completely rebuffed him. She wasn't that type of girl she said.

Sorry if that's what you expected.

Sorry.

Gavin simply nodded, said, "Sorry" and silently walked the rest of the way carrying Alex's bag. It would have been an awkward walk for Gavin if it weren't for the fact that he was lost in his thoughts. It shouldn't bother him. In the normal world, people didn't just sleep with each other the first time they met, at least not by most social norms. He knew that, that wasn't the issue. It was something else. Gavin glanced at Alex as she walked, looking straight ahead. God, she must be mortified. Yet she didn't appear to be so. She was who she was and Gavin's presence didn't affect that. There was something about this girl that Gavin wanted, and initially he thought it was sex... they stopped. They had arrived at her house, and Gavin found himself slipping her bag of his shoulder and handing it to her.

"Hey, I - I'm sorry about that. I'll - well... good luck." And with that, he turned and headed back to downtown.

Gavin felt embarrassed that he had been so shaken up simply because a girl had not accepted his advances. Somehow a clarity had descended upon him. What kind of person am I that I would respond that way? His thoughts roiled about in his head until he got back to the bus and met the others. Tyrel saw it on his face immediately.

"Whaaaat the hell happened to you man? You see a ghost?" It was only a half-tease.
"Uh, no T, I just. I was just thinking about stuff," Gavin didn't make eye contact. He just sat down on a seat and looked outside. Tyrel sat down next to him.
"Just thinking about stuff? Since when do you think about stuff?"

Gavin didn't hear him. He was thinking about his laptop girl.

 

[momoftwins13]

She had offended him by turning him down. Of that she was certain. Did women really flock to him like that, so much that he expected any woman he set his sights on to fall at his mercy? And for that matter, why on earth had he set his sights on her to begin with?! It totally blew her mind. She had never been on a date, let alone have a boyfriend or any form of sex. So why would he, a man who could have ANY girl he wanted, choose her?

He hadn't taken her turning him down too kindly. He had been rather quiet and aloof as they finished the walk- luckily it wasn't far. He really wasn't used to hearing no apparently. Sure, he was incredibly hot, and an international rock star, and probably a gazillionaire, but why did women compromise themselves in that way? Weren't their bodies worth a little more to them than that?

Alex wasn't a prude. She wasn't someone to preach marriage before sex. But she did believe there should be emotions involved. Never would she have sex with a guy on a first date, let alone within the first fifteen minutes of meeting him.

She watched as he rounded the corner towards his bus, then disappeared inside her home. A note was taped to the door stating her roommates had gone to joes to see Gavin. Alexis laughed and went to write more of her paper in the silent house, fully expecting to never see Gavin Hollaway again, except on album covers and TVs.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin was woken up by the sound of the engine starting. Shuffling in his chair and looking about as he oriented himself he realized it was seven o'clock in the evening and it was time to go. But what about the laptop girl? He took stock of the bus: Dave was sitting in his seat. All the guys were in except Haris, who he could see was walking toward the bus from the local convenience store across the street. His heart jumped into his throat.

"Dave! Stop!" He jumped up from his chair. The others looked at him. Realizing that he was doing something weird and not wanting to give it away he composed himself.

"Heh, sorry, I just got startled. These chairs are comfortable. Had a good deep sleep. Anyway, I think I'm gonna spend the night here and get some rest. Then I'll find the closest airport and meet you in Phoenix in a couple nights in time for the show." He waited for the response. It wasn't long. They all frowned slightly and Tryel of course spoke up.

"What's got into you Gav?"
"Nothing T, I'm just exhausted and I really like the slow pace of this place. I saw a hotel up the street. I'll just take my duffle bag and check in there. I want to just hang out here and be nobody for a couple of days." Gavin didn't want to waste anymore time. He started moving to the back to get his bag. They talked about it a bit more, but they weren't going to say anything. They used to do this from time to time - especially if they had time between shows and one of them found something they liked in a town. They would just stick back and catch up with the others later. Gavin got off the bus and checked himself in to the Hobart Inn up the street. In his room, he sat down on the desk chair next to the window that overlooked the sleepy main street below.

Gavin had never been one for too much introspection at once. It made his head hurt. He didn't want to think about things to much. He just knew how he felt. And he felt like he wanted to see Alex again. Just wanted to be around her. He didn't even want to think about why.

When he had sat down at her table at the coffee place, he noticed one of her texts had the words "Hobart Community College" stamped neatly on the side. He would go there tomorrow, probably to the library, and just stake it out. He'd have to dress differently, wear a hat and glasses to have any shot at staying incognito.

The next morning he went into a local store and bought some denim farm overalls and a plaid shirt. He found a nice baseball hat, plain blue and he had his own pair of sunglasses. He even bought a pair of work boots. Looking in the mirror he chuckled at how ridiculous he looked. But it would be effective.

He found his way to the community college and ambled about campus until he found the library. He picked up a random book off a shelf and sat down in the main study area and waited.

* * *

The book he had chosen was apparently one of the worst possible random choices he had made in his life. He wasn't sure if it was an hour or three, but it felt like five, as he paged through "Against Deconstruction". Apparently some guy named Derrida came up with some philosophy or the other and the character who wrote this book didn't like him one bit. Gavin awoke from his "reading" and looked about.

There she is. Again, his heart in his throat. He hadn't felt this way since he first walked onto the stage at Angus' Bar back when they were just starting. There was a row of book shelves behind the table where she sat. Gavin casually got up and walked around the far side of the reading room and right into the aisle behind her. Seeing her back through a few books he moved out of the way he called out in a hushed voice.

"Psst. PSSST! Hey! Alex!" He saw her raise her head and look to her side. She returned to her reading.

"Alex! Behind you! Come here!" This time she turned around, squinted through the books - he could tell that she saw him but appeared confused, he was unsure if she recognized him in his ridiculous farm boy gear. Gavin, now having caught her eye, walked to the end of the aisle to meet her.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alexis made great progress on her report that evening until her roommates finally came back- dejected and disappointed. Alex didn't even mention having met Gavin. She wasn't one to rub salt into the wound. That would have been cruel.

But there interaction was far from her mind. She found herself constantly thinking about him and how he had apparently wanted her. It still confused her as to why. She eventually turned in for the night. She had classes the next day.

Her alarm went off too early after a restless night of tossing and turning, thinking of Gavin Hollaway. She dragged herself from bed and dressed in a pair of denim jeans and a hooded sweatshirt since the morning was chilly. By midmorning she had shed it and was wearing a well fitted tanktop with her jeans and sneakers.

She had a rather big break between two classes and decided to go to the library. Once she settled in and began to study she heard someone behind her say her name. Confused she looked up and saw a boy on overalls and a hat. She didn't think she knew him but stood and followed him to the other end of the books anyway.

Turning the corner she said, "Hi, do I know..." She frozen

"Gavin? What the hell are you doing here?" She whispered incredulously. He was there. In her school library. Hiding behind bookshelves and looking for her.

"I don't understand" she told him, a confused look on her pretty face as they back farther into the aisle so as not to be overseen or overheard.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin hadn't felt this way... he couldn't remember the last time. There he was, in a college library, hidding in costume amid the stacks, calling out to this girl that he had an inexplicable and unusual attraction to. He couldn't help but smiling.
He spoke in a whisper, "Sorry - I just wanted to say sorry about yesterday. I wanted to make it up to you. Maybe over dinner or something." He looked over his shoulder towards the sound of some footsteps down the aisle. It was no one.

He continued, hushing his voice a bit more, stepping a little closer. Alexis' eyes enchanted him, he couldn't stop looking into them as they declared their confusion to him. He still had a smile plastered on his face from seeing her, and seeing her respond this way to his presence. He couldn't help but like it.

"You know the town better - name the place, we can go there - I thought a saw a restaurant a few stores down from the cafe we were at yesterday; can we just have dinner there? Tomorrow evening?"

Gavin stood towering over Alexis, in his hat, plaid shirt and overalls. He suddenly became aware of how silly he might look to her - then again, maybe she was used to seeing people dressed like this in this small town.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alex studied the famous music artist in front of her. She truly couldn't understand him and she didn't think she would unless she accepted his invitation for dinner. She contemplated it for a moment and then gave him a very small smile.

"You aren't gonna wear that are you?" She asked softly. "Cause sorry but I don't go to dinner with people dressed like someone off of the Beverly Hillbillies". She couldn't help but laugh.

"This is a small town but we do at least have halfway current fashion. If you wanna try and blend in, keep the hat, shirt and boots. Replace the overalls with a pair of plain old Levi's. Trust me."

She grinned and glance at her phone.

"Ok... Meet me at that restaurant you saw- Snappy's, tomorrow at eight. Most of the dinner rush will be gone by then. And don't worry. The waitress, Mabel is blind as a bat and the only music she knows is Elvis and Conway so she won't recognize you."

With that she smiled, turned and gathered up her books, heading towards her next class.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin smiled at her comments on his clothes. Turned out it was pretty obvious he had no clue about this small town, and it showed even more with his choice of "blend in the crowd" clothes. He chuckled - thankfully, it was comedy relief for him - as she smirked and told him where to meet. After Alexis left Gavin stood there for a moment taking stock: his overalls certainly didn't belie his feeling like a school boy right now - someone who had just spoken to his crush for the first time. Gavin literally whisteled to himself as he walked out of the library, not noticing a few people pointing at him and snickering as he walked through the main lobby.

The next evening, around seven thirty, he wore what his small town laptop girl had told him to: a pair of jeans, though with a simply black T-shirt that highlighed, just subtly, his chest. He took a hat and sunglasses along just in case he was spotted by someone along the way.

As he stepped out of the hotel there was a flash. Fuck.

"Mr Hollaway! What are you doing here in Hobart?"
"Gavin! Hey Gavin I go this guitar for you to sign, I was at your Big Rocks concert in 2012!"
"Mr Hollaway, can you comment on why you let the band go ahead of you? Why are you..."

Paparazzi. A group of them, their words like always melding into one incomprehensible soup of language that did nothing but irritate him. "No comment, no comment." Gavin said repeatedly as he backed up into the hotel, closing the door behind him. He lookded for the hotel concierge and motioned for him to come close. When he did, he slipped him a twenty in his coat breast pocket.

"This is in advance for your help in keeping them off my back while I slip out another entrance - there is another entrance in the back or something right?" The concierge nodded firmly.

"Yes sir, right around the corner down the hall." And with that he walked briskly to the front door to deal with the cameras.

Gavin looked back at the Paparrazi and waved, then casually walked around the corner. Once out of their sight, he booked down the hall so as to get out the back of the hotel before the paparazzi could realize he was there. He stepped out into a back alley, trotted out to the main road, and after making sure things were clear made a wide arc around a park and some other business buildings to come up to Snappy's from other side. As he stepped in he caught the eye of a man with a camera who had just turned the corner. He had seen him. Gavin slipped in and didn't bother waiting to be approached by the server. He looked at his watch - it was eight fifteen. He looked up and saw Alexis sitting on a table in corner. Without the usual decorum of a smile or a wave, he made his way through some chairs and plopped himself down opposite her. Then, out of breath, he smiled. It was actually an absurd scene - or at least that's how he thought it must have looked to Alexis.

"I'm sorry... but it looks like... you didn't have a chance... to warn me this time." He said between breaths. "In a few seconds the Paparazzi are going to be storming through here - and... unless you want your picture on national media I think we we will need to find some place else... I'm sorry Alexis." as Gavin spoke he felt bad. And for the first time, he had an ounce of regret for who he was - the life he had chosen. He couldn't even sit down and have dinner with a nice girl in a small town without being interrupted. But what bothered him more was the prospect that her life would be affected. For the first time, Gavin actually didn't like himself.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alex had been anxious all day for their dinner. She had changed her mind on what to wear a million different times. This was, after all, her first dinner with a man. Boys in high school had never really asked her out unless it was for a group outing. Never one on one.

She finally settled on a pretty yellow sundress and some white wedge sandals. She had brushed her hair til it shone and applied a little makeup -which she never did. A little perfume had rounded out her "getting ready" routine.

She arrived at the restaurant at exactly 8 o'clock. By 815 she wondered if he had forgotten. Her heart had begun to sink. And then he was beside her, breathing heavy and worrying about paparazzi. Alex had to think fast.

"Ok. I have somewhere but you may not like it..." She said. She stood quickly and they went out back to her SUV. "Get in" she told him. She quickly sent a text message and then began driving.

She glanced at him in the dashboard light.

"When is the last time you had a home cooked meal?" She asked him. At his curious glance, she grinned. "We are going to my parents."

Twenty minutes later she pulled them into her parents driveway. The house was a little Cape cod in a pretty little neighborhood, with the traditional white picket fence. As they stepped from her SUV, her parents emerged from the house, her mom smiling, her dad looking hateful.

Alexis smirked at Gavin.

 

[LassardLost]

We are going to my parents.

Gavin looked at Alexis like she was speaking another language. He thought he heard her say parents. Actually he was sure she did. He was able to muster a meak smile and, "Oh, your parents? Heh, ok... yeah haven't had a good home cook meal in a while."

Alexis seemed like a practical girl - she probably just thought of the place as the best hideout she had. Certainly no paparazzi would even begin to conceive that Gavin Hollaway would be having dinner with a country gal in her home. He could just imagine it now, on the cover of Us: "Gavin Hollaway's Country Encounters".
But was this getting too much? He hadn't met a girl's parents since he had gone steady in high school. After that he didn't want to hear about parents. Parents meant trouble. Parents meant things were serious. Parents meant commitment. But this wasn't the case here.

Gavin sat quietly for the twenty minute ride looking outside the window. He didn't care if it was awkward. He didn't look at his phone. He didn't make a joke to lighten up the situation. He just wondered to himself what he had gotten himself into and why he wasn't getting out of the car at the next red light. He couldn't come up with an answer.

As they pulled in to her driveway Gavin saw Alexis' mother and father standing outside the front door. The mother looked happy. The father didn't at all. Christ. Ok man, get a grip. You're a fuckin' national figure. Just get it together and put on the charm you always do. Somehow his internal pep talk only did him so much good.

He stepped out of the car and walked up to the front steps, trailing Alexis just by a few paces. He smiled as he approached smiling mom, and the dad who looked like he was going to pour fire and brimstone on him any minute now.

 

[momoftwins13]

Gavin was practically squirming. And Alexis had to admit she was getting a kick out of seeing the national superstar so anxious. He was taking it way too seriously. She would introduce him as a friend and her parents would believe her. They would never assume this man was more than a friend- none of them had ever been more than friends before. And Gavin WASN'T more than a friend. He really wasn't even a friend.

Alex smiled at her parents as they approached.

"Sorry for the last minute text Ma" she said as they got close. "We were gonna have dinner at Snappy's but there was a huge wait. It was weird. There's a lot of out of towners around. Mama, Daddy, this is a friend of mine, Gavin."

Her mother stepped forward and hugged the rock star tightly. "Welcome Gavin! We are so happy to have you here!" She chimed. Alex
smiled and rolled her eyes.

Her father merely stuck his hand out and shook Gavin's hand with a nod of acknowledgement.

"Come in yall, come in! I was just putting the meatloaf and potatoes in the table. Alex, daddy has been working late so y'all are lucky we had dinner late".

They all walked into the old fashioned but comfortable home. On the dining room table sat a steaming pan of meatloaf, a bowl of homemade mashed potatoes, freh string beans and fresh biscuits. Alex's mouth watered.

"Sit, dish yourselves up a plate! I have to check on the pie!"

Her mother fluttered from the room. Her dad sat and filled his plate with mounds of food. Alexis gave herself much more moderate servings before handing the platters to Gavin.

"So daddy, how's work?" She asked quietly to break the silence.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin was taken aback by the genuine warmth of Alexis' mom. "Hi Mrs Kline, pleasure to meet you," he responded smiling, returning her hug lightly. "Sir, it's a pleasure." Gavin shook Mr Kline's hand, who mumlbed something and with no pomp and circumstance let of Gavin's hand and walked inside. The rest of them followed.

Gavin looked about - he had spent many years between his large, spacious modern homes and hotel suites. It had been a long time since he had been in a "normal home". He suddenly felt comfortable looking about at the relatively smaller space. To call it cozy would have done it injustice.

They sat around the table and Gavin served himself while keeping one eye on Alexis' father. Her mom seemed to be a delight - they didn't seem to know who exactly he was, which was probably good, though Gavin wasn't sure. Her Dad's towering silence still made him feel awkward. Gavin cleared his throat and started eating as Alex asked her father about his work.

"It was fine." Followed by silence. He looked at Gavin, raising his fork at him as he chewed down a last bit of meatloaf. "So what brings you to Hobart - Gavin? did you say it was? Are you a student?" Mr Kline stabbed a potato and took another mouthful, but kept his gaze on Gavin.

Gavin was caught mid-swallow. With his cheeks full he tried to muster a smile and raised his hand indicating that he was just finishing his bite. His eyes desperately trying to convey to Mr Kline that he didn't intend to be rude. He thought he saw Alex hold back a laugh. Mrs Kline had come around and was joining them now and also seemed to be enjoying the interaction.

"I uh, I'm a musician sir." Gavin let out with the first breath of air he was able to take in after his meatloaf went down.

"A musician? That's interesting." Alex's Dad raised his eyebrows at Alex in feigned interest. "Didn't know you could really do that for a living."

Mrs. Kline jumped in, her voice still cheery, reaching across the table and tapping the back of Gavin's hand, before picking up her fork. "Oh Harris is just giving you a hard time. That's how he talks. Nevermind him!"

Mr. Kline grumbled something as he refocused on his food. Gavin smiled sheepishly at Mrs Kline and let out a, "Oh, heh, that's ok - you know. I do ok." He didn't dare look at Alex right now, with her Dad right there, so he looked back at this plate and cut some more meatloaf. Despite the tension, Gavin liked the fact that the laptop girl sitting next to him at this table semeed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. And her mom was very nice after all. Her Dad reminded him of Carter, and how they had teased him when Hannah was born about what he would do when a boy came over to their house for the first time. This made Gavin smile from the corner of his mouth. Hopefully it wouldn't be such a bad evening after all.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alex nearly choked on her bite of meatloaf when her father said he didn't know you could be a musician for a living. If only they knew who was sitting at their table. Not that it would change their opinion of him in the slightest... They weren't the type of people who were impressed by money. Neither was Alex.

Dinner moved on, with their mother and Alexis leading the conversations. Gavin was apparently still a bit nervous and her father rarely talked at all. The conversation turned back to their spoiled dinner reservations.

"I wonder why there are so many out of towners around?" Her mother questioned.

"I heard there was some rock star around the other day" her father finally chimed in. "I guess he played nearby and stopped by on his way through ... Bet that has something to do with it. Probably a bunch of freaky star struck people following him".

Alexis snorted into her glass of sweet tea and she tried -and failed miserably- to suppress a laugh. Her mothers eyebrows drew together.

"Are you ok dear?" She asked worriedly. Alexis giggled.

She glanced at Gavin and beamed, her eyes alight with amusement.

"Mama, Daddy, um... The musician you're talking about... He, uh.. Well... This is him". She pointed to Gavin.

Her mother sat there for a moment with her mouth forming a tiny "O". Her father merely stopped chewing before muttering beneath his breath, "well I'll be damned". Alexis giggled again and her mother seemed to compose herself.

"My," she said softly. "Well we truly are honored to have you here Gavin. Congratulations on your career". She smiled warmly and then stood.

"How about I go get that cherry pie?"

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin saw the pure glee in Alexis' eyes when she looked at him after her Dad's comments. He glowed with warmth and a lightness he hadn't felt in years as he felt the genuine responses from this wonderful family he had stumbled upon.

Mrs. Kline congratulated him on his career - congratulated him. And now she was going to get pie. Gavin got a new wind behind him.

"Thank you Mrs. Kline - and thank you so much for dinner, it has been great." He turned to Mr Kline. "But Mr Kline, you were right on the mark with the comment you made earlier. For most musicians it *is* hard to make a living just playing music. I used to work waiting tables in the early days." Gavin couldn't quite read Alex's Dad at this time, as he had simply placed his knife and fork down on the plate and had one hand on his chin with the other crossed along his belly. Gavin was not dissuaded. "What about you Mr Kline, did you ever play any instrument?" Gavin imagined Mr Kline as Carter, and he was able to take his stern external responses lightly. He felt a bit more relaxed now, and sat back at his seat, awaiting Mr Kline's response with a pleasant smile.

 

[momoftwins13]

Alexis smiled to herself as she heard Gavin really begin talking. She stood and excused herself to go help her mom. As she entered the kitchen her mom turned towards her.

"A rock star?" She asked quietly.

Alex grinned. "Yes ma'am. I met him at Joe's the other day. He's a .. Nice guy .. From what I can tell. I don't really know him well. That's why we were going to dinner to talk and get to know each other better".

Her mom looked at her with a wary look on her face.

"Be careful. If he's famous he could easily be a... Well... A ladies man".

Alex grinned. "Oh he is, mom. I know he is. It's ok. It won't get that far. This was just a friendly night out".

With that they went back into the dining room where the men were talking. Her dad was just finishing up a story. "So no, I never had time for learning to play no instrument" he finished and Alexis rolled her eyes as she sat down.

Her arm brushed his as she sat down and she sucked in a gasping breath before reaching to grab a slice of pie.

 

[LassardLost]

Gavin sat listening attentively as Mr Kline told his story about how hard he had to work in his youth - all the things he had to do to support his family - which kept him from ever learning an instrument. He had found it of great interest that her father had waited tables back in the day as well, and he had asked him some questions about the people were like at the time. Gavin had shared his own stories of the different types of folks who frequented the restaurant where he had worked, and it turned out not much had changed. He had even gotten a smirk out of Mr Kline when he had mentioned the customer who had tried to skip out on the bill who he had caught. Mr Kline seemed to like that story.

As Alex sat back down her arm had brushed against Gavin's. He thought he had seen a subtle reaction from her, but he kept his attention focused on the parents. Mrs Kline came back and sat down. Gavin graciously accepted a slice of pie. "This is delicious Mrs Kline... I really can't remember the last time I had a home made... well, anything. Thank you so much for having me, and that too on such short notice." Mrs Kline, magnanimous as the moment he had arrived had responded in kind before Gavin continued. "I guess you might be wondering how I ended up befriending Alex here. Truth is she has saved me twice now." Gavin looked at Alex and winked. Mr Kline cleared his throat and shuffled in his chair uncomfortably. Gavin laughed, "I certainly didn't mean anything by that sir, I was just going to tell you how I was about to be accosted by a mob of fans and Alex had shown me the back way out of the cafe. These days, anyone that can show me the back way out of a place is my friend. It's really that simple!" Thankfully at least Mrs Kline laughed as Gavin did. Mr Kline seemed to be more composed after his wink at Alex and was again slowly letting his guard down it appeared - though again, it showed only with a smirk.

In reality Gavin knew it was much more than that, but that was how it had started. It was how he had been introduced to Alexis Kline who, without knowing it, was giving him the best break from his career he had had in a long while.