Violet - Change of Plans (19)

Violet – Change of Plans

I woke up this morning
With this feeling inside me that I can't explain
Like a weight that I've carried, been carried away, away

But I know something is coming, I don't know what it is
But I know it's amazing, can save me
My time is coming I'll find my way out of this longest drought

And it feels like today I know, it feels like today I'm sure
It's the one thing that's missing, the one thing I'm wishing
The last sacred blessing and hey it feels like today, feels like today

                                                                          Rascal Flatts (Feels Like Today)

When Daniel dropped me off at home, I knew that he was angry, but I didn’t acknowledge that I knew.  It wouldn’t have mattered when I actually told Daniel that I was not going to Mizzou with him; it still would have accomplished the same thing – mainly pissing him off.  He had never asked me what I wanted to do; he just blindly assumed that I was going to follow him.  I held onto a cardinal belief that there is a distinct difference between lying to someone, and just not telling them.  The bottom line is that I just didn’t tell Daniel about my plans; I never lied to him.

I had about an hour before I needed to report to the video store for my shift, so I decided that a short nap would be in order.  I flopped down on my bed and set my alarm for thirty minutes and closed my eyes.  About 5 minutes later, the phone rang.  It figures!  Even in the year 2002, my mother had continued to opt out of having an answering machine or have caller ID.  So if you wanted to know who was calling, you had to actually be home, and get to the phone before it stopped ringing. 

I hopped up and ran for the kitchen.  The phone was going on its fifth ring – which is usually when most people give up – when I breathlessly picked up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Hey Sis!  It’s me!”  Getting to talk to Morgan always made my day, even if she was interrupting my precious nap time.

“What’s up?  You just went back to LA yesterday.  You miss us that much already?”  I joked.

“No, it’s not that.  I wanted to talk to you about your song, Vi.” (Note: For the record, Morgan is the only person I let call me that; she is my older sister, after all.)

“Okay I guess.  What about it?”

“I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure, but I can’t wait.  I think I may be able to get someone to buy your song for a movie.”

I was dumbfounded.  “Morgan, are you kidding?  You’re not playing a joke on me, are you?”

“No Vi, I am 100% serious about this.  I already talked to Mom and Dad earlier.  I want you to come out to LA and record a demo so I can play it for the folks at the studio.  Can you get away next week?”

“I guess I could ask for a couple of days off at the store.  Since it’s summer, we should have plenty of coverage.”  Then it dawned on me.  “What about Erin?”

“Oh.  Well that’s one of the other reasons I called.  I need to get his number and talk to his dad about coming out, too.”

“You know Morgan, if I was talking to anyone else, I would not believe this right now.”  I was still having a hard time, even though I knew she was definitely on the level.  “I’m going to have to call Erin first; he’s never going to believe you otherwise.” 

“Fair enough.  Can you call him right away?  I really want to get moving on this so we don’t miss our chance to present this to the producers.”  Morgan really did know how to get down to business.

I nodded.  “Sure, I can call him as soon as I get done talking to you.  Mr. Taylor is really nice, so I’m sure he will be okay with this.  Erin is going to flip!”

Morgan laughed.  “I kind of get that feeling.  I did want to ask you one more thing.  I spoke to Erin briefly after the graduation ceremony, and he said that you’ve written other songs.  Is that true?”

I hesitated.  “I have a journal that he’s read.  It’s full of poems I’ve written.  That’s probably what he’s referring to.”

“Bring it with you, kiddo.  I want to see what you’ve got.  Now hurry up and call your buddy so I can get things rolling on my end.  Love ya!”  And then she was gone, as quickly as Mary Poppins when the wind changes.

I sat there with the phone in my hand, not quite sure what I should say to Erin.  I dialed his number and waited. 

Ten days later, we were standing in the airport, waiting to board a plane to Los Angeles.  Morgan had left our tickets open-ended as a precaution, and so I had loaded up my suitcase until I practically couldn’t get the zipper shut.  I had visions of a baggage handler tossing it a little too carelessly and my clothes exploding in a rainbow of fabric all over the tarmac as it hit the ground.

Once again, Erin was bouncing off of the walls with nervous energy.  He had wanted to wear his favorite white Stetson, but thankfully had opted for a Dodgers ball cap from his collection instead.  Standing next to each other in line, our matching back packs must have made us look like a set of deranged fraternal twins to people around us; I didn’t care.  But I had attached a stuffed Eeyore keychain to one of my zipper pulls after our mix-up so that we would not get them confused again. 

“I still cannot believe this.”  Erin gushed.  “I can’t believe we’re going to record a demo.  Please pinch me now.”

I reached for his bicep and squeezed.

“Ow!  Ow!”  He hollered, a little too loudly.  “I was kidding, Violet!”  He rubbed his arm.

“Then you shouldn’t have said that, you big baby.  That did not hurt you!” 

He clutched his chest.  “I am mortally wounded.  You killed me!  Now who’s going to play your song?”

I laughed at his dramatic display.  “I am quite sure that I could find a replacement for you in a hot minute in L.A.  I’m sure good guitar players are a dime a dozen out there.”

“Ouch!  Once again, she cuts right to the quick, ladies and gentlemen!  She’s a cold, heartless…”

I put a finger to his lips and cut him off.  “You better watch what you say, Mister.  I’ll have Morgan put you out on the porch.”

“Muh, muh, mah, muh.”  He responded with my finger still pressed to his mouth.

“If that’s knucklehead speak for ‘yes, ma’am’ then I’ll remove my finger.”

He nodded, and I took my finger back.  “Now that’s more like it.”

“Woman, you really are a pain in my…”  He put his fist to his mouth and bit down his knuckles.

“Ladies and gentlemen, he can be taught!”  I clapped in mock excitement.

“That’s okay.  Laugh now.  We’ll see who’s laughing when we hit the runway.”

I really was not a big fan of flying, so mostly I was goofing around to try and deflect the growing feeling of nausea that was creeping up from my toes and camping out in my gut.  Poking at Erin was distracting me from that for the moment.

“All right, you win.  I quit.  I promise to behave for the rest of our flight.  Tall order for me, I know, so no smart comments or the deal is off.”

We boarded the plane and took our seats in first class.  “I still can’t believe we’re flying out to L.A. just to record a demo.  What a waste of money!  No wonder movies cost so much to make.  And I cannot believe that stewardess didn’t ask you for ID before pouring you a pre-flight cocktail.”

“It’s the dimples.  Chicks can’t resist.”  He showed them off just to prove his point.

“Well they’ve never done a thing for me, just so we’re clear.”

“Crystal sweetheart, but I wouldn’t waste them on you anyway.”

“Oh please!  Don’t make me use my barf bag before we even take off.”  We really did sound like a couple of bickering siblings if anyone listened closely to us.  I took out my headphones and CD player from my purse and set them in my lap.  I stowed my purse under the seat in front of me and then put my headphones on. 

Erin stared at me.  “Aren’t you going to keep me company with your witty banter?”  He teased. 

I rolled my eyes at him.  “Wake me when we get to L.A.”  I closed my eyes and turned up the volume. 

Once we landed, we gathered our luggage and trudged to the taxi bay.  Several valets and chauffeurs hung around the doors, and one of them was holding a sign that read “Mitchell and Taylor.” 

Erin spotted it first and spoke up.  “I’m Erin Taylor.  Are you waiting for me?”

The chauffeur replied.  “Yes, sir.  Right this way, please.  May I take your luggage?”  He reached out to take Erin’s large duffle bag.

“No thanks, I think I can handle it just fine.  But you can take hers.”  He gestured towards me, dragging my oversized suitcase with both hands.  The man took my suitcase and led us to a large town car waiting at the curb just outside of baggage claim.  He set my gear down and opened the door for us.  I climbed in and found someone else already sitting there.  She turned towards me, champagne glass in one hand, and patted the seat next to her.

“I’m not normally this rude, but it feels like I’ve been waiting for an eon or so for your plane to arrive.  Would you like a drink?”

I waffled but erred on the side of caution as I sat down next to her.  “No thank you.”

Erin slid onto the leather seat across from us. “I’ll have a Jack and Coke if you’re pouring, sweetheart.”  He showed her his dimples.

“Nice try, but I know you’re underage, sweetheart.”  Her emphasis on the last word caused me to snicker, and Erin to give me a dirty look.  “By the way, I’m Venus Thompson.  Morgan has had really great things to say about you.  I’m really excited that we will be working together.” 

Venus smiled, and her almond shaped eyes reminded me of an Oriental, though there was really nothing else about her that would indicate that type of heritage.  Her corn silk hair, almost violet eyes, and shapely curves were a stunning combination that certainly made many a man weak.  

She took a sip of her champagne.  “These next few days are going to go by in a blur, but I’m going to be with you wherever you go.  Let me know if there is anything you need.  And I do mean anything, except alcohol.”  Her eyes focused on Erin.

“Thanks, Venus.  I know this has all been very sudden for both of us.”  I smiled at her.  She looked at me strangely.  “Do I have drool on my face or something?”  I wiped at the corners of my mouth.

Venus apologized.  “I’m sorry.  You look really familiar.” 

“Well I’m pretty sure we’ve never met.”

“Wait, I know.  Are you Morgan Locksley’s sister?

I eyed her warily and waited before responding.  “Why do you want to know?”

“We went to school together – Gamma Delta Gamma.  Then we interned at the same ad agency right before graduation.  She’s one of the coolest people I know.”

I laughed a little and relaxed.  “I thought maybe she owed you money or stole your boyfriend.  But in that case, then yes, she’s my older sister.”

Venus also chuckled at that remark.  “I wondered why she asked me to babysit a couple of kids for the week – no offense.  I get it now.  She doesn’t want it to look like favoritism from her; you must really have the goods, kid.”  She smiled at me.

“I sure hope so.  I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“I’m here to make sure that you don’t.  Are you ready for your life to change?”  She emptied her glass and reached for the bottle.  She poured two more glasses and passed them to us.

“Absolutely!”  We raised our flutes and clinked them together. 

“To sweet success and a reason to celebrate!”  Venus exclaimed.  We all drank to that!