Kayla was feeling better. Well, slightly. She and Charlie had talked a little and things seemed to be fine. The whole shock of the entertainment business not being as easy as it seemed had brought her down to earth. But alone in the house now, she could hear her own breathing and felt very lonely. Keryn was leaving to go on tour with the boys virtually tomorrow, the boys were back together, united in that threesome way they had been doing for God knows how long now. Ike’s episode had been forgiven, but far from forgotten. He still hadn’t replied to her e-mail. Keryn tells her that it was simply because he is embarrassed. From her perspective he is much more withdrawn and moody since the whole event occurred. That didn’t help Kayla much, she still had trouble wrapping her mind around it all. The irony of it all was that nobody, except Ike, knew of the letter. And it’s meaning. But in LA Charlie was at castings and Kayla was sitting around the house decided what to do. In front of her lay five university applications. She was confused. She sat there with her blue pen filling in every form, puzzling over her personal statements but in general making a few life decisions. The piercing ring of the phone stung her ears. Another life decision was about to be proposed.

“Hello?”

“Kayla.”

“Ike.”

Pause.

“I am so sorry, I don’t know what to say, the way I haven t talked or communicated with you or anyone-No let me finish-has been stupid. I don’t know what to do. Seriously Kayla, there are some things I need to tell somebody, show somebody and I know we aren’t together anymore but I think that you are the only one that can’t truly help me here. I know you will be angry but I think I need your help.”

He stopped for a breath. And Kayla flopped down on the kitchen stool and attempted to wrap her mind around the words that had just spilt from Ike’s mouth.

“Ike... slow down, what are you saying?”

“I am saying we need to talk.”

“We are.”

“Face to face.”

Kayla dropped her pen, the university applications fading in her mind. “Face to face?”

“Ike, I don’t understand.” “I know, and you have learnt from it and you wont do it again, Ike you have been through this with your brothers,”

“No, there is more.”

“More?”

“Look, I can’t tell you on the phone you have to see it.”

By now Kayla was rolling her eyes.

“Listen Ike, you don’t need me there, this is just your hormones going awol. Just calm down. You’ll be fine. You wont do it again.”

“You don’t understand, this isn’t about the drinking.”

“Then what is it about?”

Ike drew a deep breath and Kayla fought eternally to keep her strength.

“I need to see you and explain everything, I need to explain to someone and I need someone to tell me what to do, because frankly I have no idea.”

“Okay okay, look Ike I cant just fly to Tulsa, I have a new life that I am just trying to get a grip of. This hasn’t been the easiest two weeks. I am tired, confused and we will talk Ike but just not now.”

“It has to be now.”

“It can’t. I can’t just fly to Tulsa.”

“Exactly, that’s why I think you should come on tour with us.”

Kayla’s sweaty palm almost lost grip of the phone.

“Pardon??”

“We have to talk.” “You don’t understand.”

“I know Ike, you have said that at least three times in this conversation and I am trying to understand but I can’t comprehend how being together for almost three months will help us get over each other.”

“Is that a no?”

“It has to be.”

“Okay Kayla. I know this must seem weird to you but I need to show you something. Please think about it.”

“I will, I promise Ike, I will.”

“Call me?”

“Yeah, I will before you leave.”

“Thanks. Bye.”

“Bye.”

The phone fell from her hand. Her heart jumped to her throat. The tears began to well. Gripping the edge of the kitchen counter she piece the scattered events together. What was this thing she had to see? Curiosity was killing her, she had almost given in to it on the phone. But to think, travelling with them for a few months seeing the world, seeing the girls that he would hug and touch and, Ahhhh, it wouldn’t work. She sat back down at the table and attempted to fill in more of her vital statistics. She couldn’t concentrate.

Ten minutes later the door slammed and a blast of furnace air struck Kayla. Charlie was home. Thankful for an excuse to leave the application forms and spill her guts she began to tidy her papers. Charlie entered with a bunch of flowers that he lay on top of her paper.

“Charlie... what the hell?”

“You know for the hard worker, who stayed at home all day.”

Kayla’s mind whirred, the casting.

“YOU GOT THE JOB!!”

“Nope.”

Her mind whirred further. Looking at his gorgeous face. It clicked. The sympathy, the words of kindness the patience, the dependable best friend... and now the flowers. He was far from the best friend. And it had taken her this long to figure it out.

“Oh God.”

His gleaming expression disintegrated.

“What?”

“Oh Charlie. I am so sorry. I... why is this happening? Flowers Charlie? Is this a sign?”

“A sign?

“Don’t play with me Charlie, tell me... what does this mean?”

“Just some flowers for my buddy..”

“The truth Charlie.”

He was caught, he knew it.

“I was just hoping that,”

“That I would get over Ike and jump into your waiting arms?”

“Well I wouldn’t put it like that.”

The complex sub-text that had existed since Christmas suddenly became clear in the fog of Kayla’s mind.

“So Ike was right. All that anxiety he was feeling over your presence was correct, And I accused him of.. of..”

“I didn’t mean..”

“Oh Charlie, I’m not mad. I am just thankful that now I get everything.”

She gave him and hug, took the flowers and went to find a vase to put them in. Charlie stood slightly amused but concerned in the centre of the room.

“Kayla what does this mean?”

Kayla’stopped. What did it mean?

“It means Charlie that I have to go on tour with the boys.

“It what?”

“Charlie, I have to sort out them first, I have had a manic call from Ike today and now I finally understand we need to talk.

“But for three months?”

“Probably not, I’ll be back here soon to start Uni... or go to castings.”

Charlie’s eyes opened wider.

“What about me?”

“Charlie, you are my closest friend in the world now, and I appreciate everything that you have done for me. I love you, but we have to stay friends.”

“Are you choosing him?”

“No I am choosing neither of you. I am going on tour as their friend, a friend of the three of them.”

“So what now?”

“Now I need to phone Ike.”

Charlie watched as she excitedly dialed the number of the Hanson’s. He watched as she told a obviously delighted Ike that she would go with them. He didn’t know what to do or think. The flowers were going to be the last straw, the one that made her fall for him, the one that made her realise it was him she was looking for. But that had failed. It just made her realise that she wanted to be friends, with him, and Ike. Why did none of his plans go how they were supposed to?

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