Chapter Two
I had to scan the letter one more time to make sure I had read it right. Sure enough, this is what was staring back at me:
“Dear Miss Jameson,
We have received your application for admission into the Fashion Institute of New York, and after reviewing your transcripts, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted. It is our understanding that you wish to enroll for the spring semester of 2007. Please make sure to register for your classes by the Deadline, January 10th. We look forward to meeting you, and helping you get one step closer to your dream.
Sincerely,
Miranda Johnson
Dean Of Students
The Fashion Institute of New York”
I sat in silence for a moment, just staring at the paper in my hands. I did not know whether to feel ecstatic, or heartbroken. My acceptance into this school meant two things: I was one step closer to what I have always wanted to do, and; in order to chase my dreams, I had to leave everything I love behind. The house I have always known, my family, the town I knew like the back of my hand, and…David. Tears stung the backs of my eyes when I realized I could not take him with me. Or could I? I knew his dream was to play music for a living, and he could do that in New York, right? I sighed internally, knowing that his best chance would be waiting for him somewhere else. I could feel a tear begin to fall, but before I could stop it, it spotted the paper. I thought no one would notice, but David did. Upon seeing this, he stood up and walked over to me, wrapping his arms around me.
“What’s the matter, Kallie? This is what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.” I replied, my voice cracking with emotion. “But, now that it’s here, I don’t know if I can do it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know that if I go to New York, I have to leave you. I don’t know if I can handle that” I sniffled. David pulled me closer, and I felt like if he held me any tighter, we would merge into one person. My mother, without saying a word, motioned to Sarah, indicating that they should leave us alone.
“Kallie, this is your dream” David said soothingly, stroking my hair. “Don’t throw it away because of me. I don’t want to be the thing that holds you back.”
“You’re not holding me back” I assured him. “I am.”
“Do me a favor. Go get your portfolio.” I nodded and went upstairs to my room, grabbing my sketchbook off the desk. I brought it downstairs and walked over to David, holding the book out to him. He took it and sat on the couch, motioning for me to sit next to him. He began to flip through the pages, making sure to show me each one.
“These are gorgeous. They deserve to be created, and worn. People would love them, Kallie. All you have to do is let go of your fear, and go for it.” I knew David was right, and if I argued, he’d pack for me and drag me onto the plane.
“Okay, you’re right. I’ll go, on one condition.”
“You name it, you got it.”
“When I’m not home for holiday breaks, you have to come visit me once in a while. We have to talk on the phone, text, or skype every day, and you’re not allowed to forget me.” I teased.
“Deal. You want to know something?”
“What?”
“I knew you would get in, so I’ve been saving airline miles to come out there and see you. I mean, Skype is nice, but hugging and kissing my computer screen would be ridiculous. And it would taste like windex, not like peppermint.”
“I taste like peppermint?”
“Yeah, you do” David chuckled. “I love it.” I blushed slightly, and giggled nervously. It seemed I’d been doing a lot more of that since David came around.
“I bet if you kissed me right now, I wouldn’t taste like that” I challenged. “I’d probably taste more like chocolate, maybe strawberries.”
“Is that a challenge?” David asked, almost seductively.
“M-Maybe” I stuttered. The next thing I knew, David’s face was inches from mine, and I could feel his warm breath on my skin. I felt chills run throughout my entire body, and the feeling intensified once his lips touched mine. I gasped, making David pull away quickly.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, concerned.
“No, not at all” I grinned. “That was awesome.”
“Well, now do you believe that I’ll always be here for you?”
“More than anything else in the world” I replied softly.
“Good. Just remember, Kallie, that no matter where our lives take us, I will always find the way back to you, and I know you will find your way back to me too.” I felt comfort from his words, and was able to stop stressing about this for a moment. I knew, though, that as the time for me to leave drew nearer, my anxieties would return.
“I have an idea” David said suddenly, making me jump a little.
“What?” I asked.
“We should do something fun to get your mind off of this. Want to go bowling?” I groaned a little, making David chuckle. “What’s the matter? Do you not like bowling?”
“I’m terrible at it” I whined. “Do you really think kicking my butt at this game is going to make me feel better? It just might make me feel worse” I joked, punching David’s arm playfully.
“I can help you. Please, can we go? I really doubt you’re as awful as you think you are. You’re so good at everything you do, there’s no way you could be that horrible.”
“Everyone has their faults, and things they suck at. Bowling happens to be mine.” I said, laughing.
“Alright, we don’t have to go. But we should do something fun” David sighed.
“You know what? We can go bowling. You have to promise me you’ll help me though, okay?”
“Deal” David said, an ecstatic grin appearing on his face. I ran upstairs to let my mom know we were going out, and went to my room to grab a jacket before coming back down the stairs. David smiled when he saw me round the corner, and we were off once again. As we walked out the door, I tied a blue knitted scarf around my neck. David took notice right away.
“That’s a nice scarf”
“Thanks, my grandma made it for me. Every time I wear it, it makes me think of her” I explained, my voice trailing off as I finished the thought.
“Oh, I see. When did she…”
“When I was four. I didn’t get to see her that much, except around Christmas. I wish I could remember more about her, but I’m glad I have this. It makes me feel like she’s always with me, you know?” David nodded, and we began our walk to the local bowling alley. We walked inside to find the place almost empty, except for a few bowlers, and the man behind the counter. David and I walked up and greeted him, getting a less than enthusiastic response in return.
“We’d like to pay for two games, please” The man grunted and put that into the computer, asked for our shoe sizes, told us which lane to go to, and went back to wiping down the counter. As we walked away, David leaned over to whisper something to me.
“That guy looks like he enjoys his job” he said sarcastically. I giggled, and walked over to the rack of balls to pick out a bowling ball. I finally found one that was light enough for me, and carried it over to the lane, setting it in its proper place. David entered in our names, and the game began. He let me go first, so I walked up, grabbed my ball, and David came up behind me to help me.
“Alright, so do you see the dots on the lane, and how they form an arrow?
“Yes” I replied, nodding.
“Well, you want to aim the ball straight down the middle, or at least try to. Bring your arm straight back,” he gently guided me as he was explaining, “ and, bring it straight forward and let go of the ball.” I did as he instructed, managing to knock down six pins, leaving two on each side of the lane. I knew I probably would not be able to hit them all, but I was determined to at least get two of them.
“I think I want to try this one myself” I said.
“Alright. Good luck” David replied, kissing the top of my head. He stepped back and watched as I successfully managed to knock down not two, but three of the remaining pins. David walked over to me, scooping me into a bear hug.
“That was amazing!” he said ecstatically. “Are you sure you’re not very good at this?” he teased.
“Positive” I assured him. The first game continued, going much better than I had anticipated. David still managed to beat me, but I wasn’t too far behind him. Before we started the second game, we decided to order a pizza from the kitchen. A short while later, our food was brought out to us. After we finished eating, David looked over at me, his eyes filled with competition.
“You ready for round two?”
“You bet. You’re going down.”
“Is that a fact?” David asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, I believe it is. The last game was really close. I think I can get you this time” I joked.
“We’ll see” David said with a coy smirk. Game two commenced, and as promised, I beat him. It was another close game, almost too close, but I was proud, nonetheless. After the game ended, we put our bowling balls away and returned our shoes to the counter. As we walked outside, David grabbed my hand suddenly. We walked hand in hand the whole way back to my house, stopping at the front door.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked.
“I should actually get home. I have something special planned for you tomorrow, and I need to rest up, and so do you. I’ll be here to pick you up around eight tomorrow morning.
“Why so early? What are we doing?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you” David joked. I sighed, leaning over to hug him one last time before we said goodnight.
“Well, we don’t want that” I murmured into his t-shirt. He wrapped his arms around me, and I looked up at him to gaze into his gorgeous blue-gray eyes. He leaned down to kiss me, and I never wanted it to end.
“Goodnight” he whispered.
“Goodnight” I replied. I gave him one last hug before turning to walk into the house.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Chapter One
Chapter One
“Aww, come on, Kallie! Please tell me!”
“Never!” I giggled.
“Don’t make me break out ‘the face’” David threatened playfully. He then proceeded to poke me in the side repeatedly, until I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe.
“No, not the face! Stop!” I cried, attempting to gasp for breath. I was finally able to compose myself long enough to get a full sentence out. “I can’t tell you what I got you. It would ruin the surprise!” David sighed, knowing he had been defeated.
“Alright, fine. But when will I get it?”
“Let’s go to dinner on Wednesday. I’ll give it to you then.”
“Deal.” David nodded, sticking out his hand. I grabbed it, and we shook on the deal. David held onto my hand for a moment longer, lacing his fingers through mine. I smiled, feeling completely at peace. My mind began to wander a little, and I started to think about the future.
I pictured myself as a widely successful designer, among the ranks of the greats; Versace, Alexander McQueen, Prada…all of them. I had envisioned this for a long time, and now, something new made it’s way into my vision. It was David. He had achieved his dream of becoming a multi-platinum recording artist, and we were married. We had a small house in the country, away from civilization. This vision of mine seemed like it could have been plucked straight from one of those cheesy romantic comedies.
Before my mind could wander any further, our waitress came over to our table to check on us.
“Is there anything I can get you two?” she asked sweetly. David thought for a moment before responding.
“How about a pot of coffee, and a bowl of your chicken noodle soup?”
“Did you want bread with that?” our waitress, Ashley, asked. David nodded.
“I’ll have that right out for you, sir. Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked, turning to me.
“Can I just get another hot chocolate, and…” I paused for a moment so I could think. David then spoke up for me.
“She also wants some of that strawberry shortcake.” he grinned. I was amazed at how well he knew me. I didn’t even know they had that here. I chuckled slightly, and nodded my head.
“Yeah, that should be fine” I giggled. The waitress scribbled that on her pad and walked away.
“Did I ever tell you strawberries were my favorite fruit?” I asked, bewildered.
“No, I could just sense that about you” David said, grinning. Deep inside, I knew this was exactly the kind of thing every girl dreamed about. The concept of having someone in your life who knew you better than you knew yourself was fascinating. After searching for this for so long, I was happy to finally have that. I felt complete with him, and I knew nothing would ever change that.
Ashley returned rather quickly with our food. I picked at my cake with my fork for a minute before cutting off a piece.
“Are you okay?” David asked, concerned. “You seem a little out of it.”
“I’m alright” I replied, smiling softly at him. “I’m just thinking…”
“About what?”
“It might be too soon to say”
“Well, whenever you’re ready to tell me, you know I’ll be here to listen.” I nodded, knowing that was exactly right. David was the one person I could always count on to be there for me, besides my family. I never had too many friends growing up, because I always let my shyness get the best of me. I never felt like I could be myself around any of my classmates, and I would continuously push anyone away who tried to get close to me. It seemed to me, that anytime I tried, I just got hurt.
“Oh, I just remembered something!” I said excitedly.
“What’s that?”
“My letter from the Fashion Institute is supposed to come today…” I replied, seeming less enthusiastic than I had just been.
“That was a rapid change of emotion” David said. “You seemed really excited about it seconds ago.”
“I know,” I sighed. “I am, I just now realized that if I got in, that means I’ll have to leave. I don’t know if I can leave you…” My eyes began to well up with tears, and David quickly reached over to wipe them away.”
“Kallie…don’t get upset. This is your dream, and if you’re meant to follow it, I’ll support you, no matter how far apart we are.” I sniffled, and tried to manage a small smile.
“Do you promise?”
“Of course I do” David assured me, as he got up from his side of the table to scoot into the booth next to me. He wrapped his arms around me, and I breathed in the scent of his cologne for what seemed like the millionth time today.
“That makes me feel a little better. Do you want to be there when I open the letter?”
“Did you even have to ask?” David teased, kissing the top of my head.
“I know, I know. It was a silly question. I just had to be sure” I grinned, winking at him. We finished our food, David paid, and we stepped outside the café to find that the snow had stopped.
“Well, what now?” I asked. I was hoping David could think of something else to do before we headed back to my house to find out if I had made it into the school or not.
“I have an idea. First, let’s go back to your house and get these roses in some water.” I looked down at the flowers, and noticed they were starting to droop slightly.
“Okay” I agreed. “You could say hi to my mom and Sarah too. She’s been asking about you.” When I’d heard about how close David and Sarah had gotten, that made me realize what a sweet guy David was. For Sarah to trust anyone other than her family, they’d have to be someone very special. As we turned the corner onto my street, David stared in amazement at the houses on the block.
“I forgot how massive these houses are” he said, shocked. I giggled, looking up at him. His six-foot-one frame towered over my 5’3’’ body, but I didn’t care. We were perfect together, like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. As we neared my house, I began to pray that my letter hadn’t arrived yet. If it did, I’d insist on opening it later. We walked up to the door and I pushed it open, only to be greeted by my adorable little sister a moment later.
“Hi Kallie! Hi David!” Sarah squealed, hugging us both.
“Hey, kid” David grinned. “Long time no see” Sarah bounced happily into the family room, and we followed her. We sat down on the plush blue couch, sinking into the soft material.
“Where is mom?” I asked.
“She’s upstairs. I’ll get her!” I watched as Sarah hurried up the stairs, calling for our mother, Lisa. Moments later, she was coming back downstairs with mom following closely behind. Her face lit up when she saw the two of us waiting in the family room.
“Hey, you guys!” she greeted. “What are you two up to?”
“Well, we took a walk around the park, but it started to snow so we went for some hot chocolate” I explained. I was about to continue, when my mom suddenly gasped.
“These roses are gorgeous!”
` “Aren’t they?” I replied, blushing slightly. “They’re from David.”
“Good man,” my mother stated, nodding with approval. “Any guy worth keeping around knows that flowers are the way to a woman’s heart.” she joked. I blushed again, and upon seeing this, my mother let out a loud chuckle. “I’m kidding, sweetheart. So, what’s the occasion?”
“Well…” I began, sucking in a breath. I knew my family would approve of our relationship, I was just bracing myself for what was to come. “We’re officially a couple now.” Mom and Sarah let out squeals of joy and hugged us both.
“We knew you would end up together!” Sarah stated matter-of-factly.
“Oh, did you now?” I teased.
“Yeah, we did. Mom said it was fate that brought David into your life, and ours too. Besides, we knew you had to crack and let someone in one day.” Well, they certainly knew that better than I did. I didn’t foresee any of this.
“Oh, Kallie, before I forget, a letter came for you. It’s from the Fashion Institute.” My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced down at the floor.
“Uh…I’ll open it later. David and I were going to find something else to do, we just had to come by and get the roses in water and say hi.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to open it now? You’ve been waiting for this moment your whole life…”
“I have been. I just…” My thoughts trailed off as I attempted to come up with an acceptable reason to put this off. I was so anxious to know if I had made it, but I knew if I did, that would change so much. I’d be away from David, which is the last thing I want, and who knows how often we would get to see each other. We had a wonderful thing going, and I just wasn’t ready to let it go yet. But, on the other hand, I knew if it put this off, it would eat away at me until I knew for sure. I let out a sigh and mustered a half smile.
“You know what? I think I should open it now. It’ll kill me if I don’t.”
“That’s my girl” my mom said, walking into the kitchen to grab the letter off the counter. She came back into the family room holding a slender white envelope out to me. I reached out and took it, running my fingers over the smooth paper before I slid my finger underneath the back side. I took a breath, and felt David’s hand on my shoulder. I looked over at him, and he smiled.
“Go on” he urged. I nodded, ripping the seal on the envelope and pulling out the neatly folded letter. I unfolded the paper, and my eyes began to scan the words typed on it. A moment later, I placed the letter in my lap, looked up at David, then to my family, and uttered the three words I had wanted to say more than anything.
“I got in.”
“Aww, come on, Kallie! Please tell me!”
“Never!” I giggled.
“Don’t make me break out ‘the face’” David threatened playfully. He then proceeded to poke me in the side repeatedly, until I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe.
“No, not the face! Stop!” I cried, attempting to gasp for breath. I was finally able to compose myself long enough to get a full sentence out. “I can’t tell you what I got you. It would ruin the surprise!” David sighed, knowing he had been defeated.
“Alright, fine. But when will I get it?”
“Let’s go to dinner on Wednesday. I’ll give it to you then.”
“Deal.” David nodded, sticking out his hand. I grabbed it, and we shook on the deal. David held onto my hand for a moment longer, lacing his fingers through mine. I smiled, feeling completely at peace. My mind began to wander a little, and I started to think about the future.
I pictured myself as a widely successful designer, among the ranks of the greats; Versace, Alexander McQueen, Prada…all of them. I had envisioned this for a long time, and now, something new made it’s way into my vision. It was David. He had achieved his dream of becoming a multi-platinum recording artist, and we were married. We had a small house in the country, away from civilization. This vision of mine seemed like it could have been plucked straight from one of those cheesy romantic comedies.
Before my mind could wander any further, our waitress came over to our table to check on us.
“Is there anything I can get you two?” she asked sweetly. David thought for a moment before responding.
“How about a pot of coffee, and a bowl of your chicken noodle soup?”
“Did you want bread with that?” our waitress, Ashley, asked. David nodded.
“I’ll have that right out for you, sir. Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked, turning to me.
“Can I just get another hot chocolate, and…” I paused for a moment so I could think. David then spoke up for me.
“She also wants some of that strawberry shortcake.” he grinned. I was amazed at how well he knew me. I didn’t even know they had that here. I chuckled slightly, and nodded my head.
“Yeah, that should be fine” I giggled. The waitress scribbled that on her pad and walked away.
“Did I ever tell you strawberries were my favorite fruit?” I asked, bewildered.
“No, I could just sense that about you” David said, grinning. Deep inside, I knew this was exactly the kind of thing every girl dreamed about. The concept of having someone in your life who knew you better than you knew yourself was fascinating. After searching for this for so long, I was happy to finally have that. I felt complete with him, and I knew nothing would ever change that.
Ashley returned rather quickly with our food. I picked at my cake with my fork for a minute before cutting off a piece.
“Are you okay?” David asked, concerned. “You seem a little out of it.”
“I’m alright” I replied, smiling softly at him. “I’m just thinking…”
“About what?”
“It might be too soon to say”
“Well, whenever you’re ready to tell me, you know I’ll be here to listen.” I nodded, knowing that was exactly right. David was the one person I could always count on to be there for me, besides my family. I never had too many friends growing up, because I always let my shyness get the best of me. I never felt like I could be myself around any of my classmates, and I would continuously push anyone away who tried to get close to me. It seemed to me, that anytime I tried, I just got hurt.
“Oh, I just remembered something!” I said excitedly.
“What’s that?”
“My letter from the Fashion Institute is supposed to come today…” I replied, seeming less enthusiastic than I had just been.
“That was a rapid change of emotion” David said. “You seemed really excited about it seconds ago.”
“I know,” I sighed. “I am, I just now realized that if I got in, that means I’ll have to leave. I don’t know if I can leave you…” My eyes began to well up with tears, and David quickly reached over to wipe them away.”
“Kallie…don’t get upset. This is your dream, and if you’re meant to follow it, I’ll support you, no matter how far apart we are.” I sniffled, and tried to manage a small smile.
“Do you promise?”
“Of course I do” David assured me, as he got up from his side of the table to scoot into the booth next to me. He wrapped his arms around me, and I breathed in the scent of his cologne for what seemed like the millionth time today.
“That makes me feel a little better. Do you want to be there when I open the letter?”
“Did you even have to ask?” David teased, kissing the top of my head.
“I know, I know. It was a silly question. I just had to be sure” I grinned, winking at him. We finished our food, David paid, and we stepped outside the café to find that the snow had stopped.
“Well, what now?” I asked. I was hoping David could think of something else to do before we headed back to my house to find out if I had made it into the school or not.
“I have an idea. First, let’s go back to your house and get these roses in some water.” I looked down at the flowers, and noticed they were starting to droop slightly.
“Okay” I agreed. “You could say hi to my mom and Sarah too. She’s been asking about you.” When I’d heard about how close David and Sarah had gotten, that made me realize what a sweet guy David was. For Sarah to trust anyone other than her family, they’d have to be someone very special. As we turned the corner onto my street, David stared in amazement at the houses on the block.
“I forgot how massive these houses are” he said, shocked. I giggled, looking up at him. His six-foot-one frame towered over my 5’3’’ body, but I didn’t care. We were perfect together, like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. As we neared my house, I began to pray that my letter hadn’t arrived yet. If it did, I’d insist on opening it later. We walked up to the door and I pushed it open, only to be greeted by my adorable little sister a moment later.
“Hi Kallie! Hi David!” Sarah squealed, hugging us both.
“Hey, kid” David grinned. “Long time no see” Sarah bounced happily into the family room, and we followed her. We sat down on the plush blue couch, sinking into the soft material.
“Where is mom?” I asked.
“She’s upstairs. I’ll get her!” I watched as Sarah hurried up the stairs, calling for our mother, Lisa. Moments later, she was coming back downstairs with mom following closely behind. Her face lit up when she saw the two of us waiting in the family room.
“Hey, you guys!” she greeted. “What are you two up to?”
“Well, we took a walk around the park, but it started to snow so we went for some hot chocolate” I explained. I was about to continue, when my mom suddenly gasped.
“These roses are gorgeous!”
` “Aren’t they?” I replied, blushing slightly. “They’re from David.”
“Good man,” my mother stated, nodding with approval. “Any guy worth keeping around knows that flowers are the way to a woman’s heart.” she joked. I blushed again, and upon seeing this, my mother let out a loud chuckle. “I’m kidding, sweetheart. So, what’s the occasion?”
“Well…” I began, sucking in a breath. I knew my family would approve of our relationship, I was just bracing myself for what was to come. “We’re officially a couple now.” Mom and Sarah let out squeals of joy and hugged us both.
“We knew you would end up together!” Sarah stated matter-of-factly.
“Oh, did you now?” I teased.
“Yeah, we did. Mom said it was fate that brought David into your life, and ours too. Besides, we knew you had to crack and let someone in one day.” Well, they certainly knew that better than I did. I didn’t foresee any of this.
“Oh, Kallie, before I forget, a letter came for you. It’s from the Fashion Institute.” My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced down at the floor.
“Uh…I’ll open it later. David and I were going to find something else to do, we just had to come by and get the roses in water and say hi.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to open it now? You’ve been waiting for this moment your whole life…”
“I have been. I just…” My thoughts trailed off as I attempted to come up with an acceptable reason to put this off. I was so anxious to know if I had made it, but I knew if I did, that would change so much. I’d be away from David, which is the last thing I want, and who knows how often we would get to see each other. We had a wonderful thing going, and I just wasn’t ready to let it go yet. But, on the other hand, I knew if it put this off, it would eat away at me until I knew for sure. I let out a sigh and mustered a half smile.
“You know what? I think I should open it now. It’ll kill me if I don’t.”
“That’s my girl” my mom said, walking into the kitchen to grab the letter off the counter. She came back into the family room holding a slender white envelope out to me. I reached out and took it, running my fingers over the smooth paper before I slid my finger underneath the back side. I took a breath, and felt David’s hand on my shoulder. I looked over at him, and he smiled.
“Go on” he urged. I nodded, ripping the seal on the envelope and pulling out the neatly folded letter. I unfolded the paper, and my eyes began to scan the words typed on it. A moment later, I placed the letter in my lap, looked up at David, then to my family, and uttered the three words I had wanted to say more than anything.
“I got in.”
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Fanfic- Walking The Line (title is subject to change)
I have GOT to start writing more!
Greetings, fellow Word Nerds! You're going to be seeing a lot more of me this month, and here's why. This month, I am participating in a writing challenge called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The idea is to stretch your creative muscles (reeeeeally stretch 'em!) and write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Sound hard? Some would say it is. For me, thankfully, this year has been a breeze, because my novel has literally been writing itself. The only thing I've really done was come up with the plot.
It was scary going into NaNo this year, because my story has a lot of elements to it, and I wasn't quite sure how they would all fit together. Luckily, though, they are, along with events that I didn't even see coming! Well, I'm sure you're tired of me blabbering, so, here is the prologue!! Leave me comments if you like it, or you can let me know on twitter @ThisLoudFandom!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking The Line- Prologue
Every once in a while, my mind drifts off to that day. It was the first time I saw David, and it was only for a moment before everything went black. I still remember the panic in his voice as he tried so frantically to get someone to help me. I remember thinking to myself, “Don’t waste your time. No one even notices me anyway.”
That all changed from the moment I first saw him. Here was David, on his way to work, when suddenly his life was turned completely upside down by some random passerby with unfortunate luck. If you ask my family what I’m like, they’ll tell you this: “Kallie is the sweetest, most put together, most confident person you could ever meet.”
What they don’t know is, I’m mostly faking it. I always managed to act like I knew what I was doing, and what I wanted, but most of the time, I never actually did. There was only one thing I was sure of, and that was that I wanted to work in the fashion industry. After the accident, I was afraid that I’d never be able to pursue my dream, but luckily, I recovered quickly and could still do what I wanted to do. I thought this would be my only dream, but I was wrong.
After I woke from my coma, I realized something else I wanted. I wanted to be in love. I had dated before, but nothing ever seemed to feel right. I never really felt comfortable enough to share my deepest secrets with any of the guys I dated, and I didn’t like that. I decided I wanted something real. And, I had a feeling that that might happen with David.
David seemed to be the only guy to genuinely care for me. Who else would spend their days sitting in a hospital room next to a stranger in a coma? I often wonder why he did that. He gave up his job, most of his free time, and who knows what else, just to sit next to me and talk to me, knowing I may never answer him. I can still remember waking up, and seeing David smiling down at me. That is something I will never forget.
It’s been a little over six months since I got out of the hospital, and for the most part, nothing has changed. the only change I have had in my daily routine is, honestly, having a routine at all. I guess you could say I have David to thank for that. We’ve spent a lot of time together, and its been the best time of my life. I hope he feels the same way…
I have a box of letters that I keep in my room, all of them from David. He wrote to me everyday while I was in the hospital, and my mother kept them all. She never read them. She left that for me to do when I woke up. She told me that she was scared I would never wake up, and that David had given her the strength to believe that I would. I’m not really sure what this means. It could have just stemmed from him feeling bad that this happened, but then, why did he write me so much? I still haven’t read the letters, but I will.
Why can’t I stop thinking about him? Why is it that every time I picture his face or hear his name, my face gets all flushed and I can’t think clearly? Could this be what love feels like? I shake my head, attempting to brush the thought away. He is clearly too good for me. And anyway, I am honestly happy being friends.
I shift my position on my bed to glance at the clock. Have I really been daydreaming for an hour? I slowly inch myself out of my warm, comfy cocoon and begin to face the day. It’s been wonderful to be back home. I love being in this place that’s so familiar, and I’ll cherish every moment I have here until it’s time to move on. I applied to an arts school in New York, and I plan to study fashion design, along with all the business related things involved with it. I still don’t know if I’ve been accepted yet, but I’m hopeful.
Before I choose what I;m going to wear for the day, I walk over to the window to look outside. The sky ia a grayish-blue color, spotted with a few clouds, and the sun was peeking out from behind one a little. I settled on a black tank top, a lightweight red cardigan, and black pants. I was just about to come out as I heard my mother calling me from downstairs.
“Kallie? Are you awake yet?”
“Yeah” I called cheerfully as I came down the stairs. “I was just thinking about stuff, that’s all.”
“What kind of stuff?” she asked. I could tell my mother anything, knowing she would never judge me, no matter how silly it was. I sighed, tapping the floor with my toe before I spoke again.
“School, my future, stuff like that”
“And David?” she teased. I felt heat rising to my face, quickly covering it with my hands before she could see, but she knew.
“Mom…” I whined.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Okay, so maybe I was a little…”
“Have you read his letters yet?”
“No” I sighed. “I’m not sure what to think of that. What do you think he said in them?”
“I honestly couldn’t tell you. By the way, he called for you this morning.”
“Oh? What did he want? Did he say?”\
“He wants you to meet him at the park around noon” I glanced up at the clock on the wall and nearly panicked.
“I only have ten minutes to get there! I’m going to be late!” I cried, rushing out the door. Moments after I got outside, I realized I had forgotten my shoes. I ran back, grabbed my black moccasins from the closet, and was gone as quickly as I had appeared. I jogged to the park, keeping a good pace so I wouldn’t be a gasping idiot when I got there.
I arrived on schedule, and saw David sitting on a bench by the stream. I walked over and greeted him.
“Hey there” I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the boyish grin creep across his face.
“Hi!” he stood up to hug me, and I culd feel myself melting into him. He was so warm and cuddly…His scent was intoxicating. Wondered why he was still single, but at the same time, I was glad he was. Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly noticed a bundle of something on the bench next to where David was sitting. It looked like flowers, but I wasn’t quite sure. David let go of the embrace to reach over and grab the mystery item. He then handed me the prettiest bouquet of roses I’d ever seen.
“These are stunning!” I gasped. They were white with pink around the edges of the petals.
“I’m glad you like them” David said softly. “They reminded me of you when your face gets that adorable pink color to it.” I felt my cheeks begin to burn, and David chuckled. “Like that.” We both laughed, and he sat back down on the bench, motioning for me to sit down next to him. I obliged, and we sat in silence for a moment, just watching the birds flutter over the water. Finally, David spoke.
“Kallie, can I ask you something?”
“Of course…” I responded, my voice trailing off. David turned towards me so he was looking right in my eyes.
“How do you see us?”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, do you see us as being more than friends, or is this it for us?” It was his turn to blush, and all I could do was sit there and look at him. He looked down at the ground for a moment before looking at me again, and I took a breath.
“Well…” I began. “Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’ve tried not to think about it because I didn’t know how you would react…” Before I could continue speaking, David leaned over and planted a soft kiss on my lips.
“Does that answer your question?” he whispered. I was stunned. Did that really just happen?
“I…uh…” I couldn't even find the right words to say. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, David shifted his body so he could look at me, concern filling his eyes.
“Are you alright? Should I not have done that?”
“No, I’m fine. That was incredible. Does this mean…?”
“I hope it means you’re my girlfriend” David stated with a cheesy grin.
“It does” I smiled back at him, then rested my head on his shoulder. He reached over every so often to stroke my hair, and when he did, I would let out a content sigh. I didn't think I could be any happier than I was in this moment. David was my safe place. He was my sanctuary. Even the loudest surroundings couldn’t phase me when I was with him,
We sat in silence for a while, until I suddenly had a thought.
“We should go somewhere else…it’s starting to snow.” We shared a laugh, as neither of us had even noticed the change in the weather. We stood up, and David looked at me, cocking his head to the side slightly.
“Don’t you have a jacket?”
“No, I left it at home. I didn't know the weather was going to change like this” I giggled. Without warning, David took his jacket off and draped it over my shoulders. I slid my arms into the sleeves and snuggled into the thick, warm material. It smelled like him. I smiled softly as he reached out to take my hand, and we began our wintry walk.
“Where to, my lady?”
“Hmm…lets see. We could go get some hot chocolate.” David nodded in approval, pulling me closer to him and draping has arm around me. For the first time in my life, I finally knew where I belonged. Right here, with David.
Greetings, fellow Word Nerds! You're going to be seeing a lot more of me this month, and here's why. This month, I am participating in a writing challenge called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The idea is to stretch your creative muscles (reeeeeally stretch 'em!) and write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Sound hard? Some would say it is. For me, thankfully, this year has been a breeze, because my novel has literally been writing itself. The only thing I've really done was come up with the plot.
It was scary going into NaNo this year, because my story has a lot of elements to it, and I wasn't quite sure how they would all fit together. Luckily, though, they are, along with events that I didn't even see coming! Well, I'm sure you're tired of me blabbering, so, here is the prologue!! Leave me comments if you like it, or you can let me know on twitter @ThisLoudFandom!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking The Line- Prologue
Every once in a while, my mind drifts off to that day. It was the first time I saw David, and it was only for a moment before everything went black. I still remember the panic in his voice as he tried so frantically to get someone to help me. I remember thinking to myself, “Don’t waste your time. No one even notices me anyway.”
That all changed from the moment I first saw him. Here was David, on his way to work, when suddenly his life was turned completely upside down by some random passerby with unfortunate luck. If you ask my family what I’m like, they’ll tell you this: “Kallie is the sweetest, most put together, most confident person you could ever meet.”
What they don’t know is, I’m mostly faking it. I always managed to act like I knew what I was doing, and what I wanted, but most of the time, I never actually did. There was only one thing I was sure of, and that was that I wanted to work in the fashion industry. After the accident, I was afraid that I’d never be able to pursue my dream, but luckily, I recovered quickly and could still do what I wanted to do. I thought this would be my only dream, but I was wrong.
After I woke from my coma, I realized something else I wanted. I wanted to be in love. I had dated before, but nothing ever seemed to feel right. I never really felt comfortable enough to share my deepest secrets with any of the guys I dated, and I didn’t like that. I decided I wanted something real. And, I had a feeling that that might happen with David.
David seemed to be the only guy to genuinely care for me. Who else would spend their days sitting in a hospital room next to a stranger in a coma? I often wonder why he did that. He gave up his job, most of his free time, and who knows what else, just to sit next to me and talk to me, knowing I may never answer him. I can still remember waking up, and seeing David smiling down at me. That is something I will never forget.
It’s been a little over six months since I got out of the hospital, and for the most part, nothing has changed. the only change I have had in my daily routine is, honestly, having a routine at all. I guess you could say I have David to thank for that. We’ve spent a lot of time together, and its been the best time of my life. I hope he feels the same way…
I have a box of letters that I keep in my room, all of them from David. He wrote to me everyday while I was in the hospital, and my mother kept them all. She never read them. She left that for me to do when I woke up. She told me that she was scared I would never wake up, and that David had given her the strength to believe that I would. I’m not really sure what this means. It could have just stemmed from him feeling bad that this happened, but then, why did he write me so much? I still haven’t read the letters, but I will.
Why can’t I stop thinking about him? Why is it that every time I picture his face or hear his name, my face gets all flushed and I can’t think clearly? Could this be what love feels like? I shake my head, attempting to brush the thought away. He is clearly too good for me. And anyway, I am honestly happy being friends.
I shift my position on my bed to glance at the clock. Have I really been daydreaming for an hour? I slowly inch myself out of my warm, comfy cocoon and begin to face the day. It’s been wonderful to be back home. I love being in this place that’s so familiar, and I’ll cherish every moment I have here until it’s time to move on. I applied to an arts school in New York, and I plan to study fashion design, along with all the business related things involved with it. I still don’t know if I’ve been accepted yet, but I’m hopeful.
Before I choose what I;m going to wear for the day, I walk over to the window to look outside. The sky ia a grayish-blue color, spotted with a few clouds, and the sun was peeking out from behind one a little. I settled on a black tank top, a lightweight red cardigan, and black pants. I was just about to come out as I heard my mother calling me from downstairs.
“Kallie? Are you awake yet?”
“Yeah” I called cheerfully as I came down the stairs. “I was just thinking about stuff, that’s all.”
“What kind of stuff?” she asked. I could tell my mother anything, knowing she would never judge me, no matter how silly it was. I sighed, tapping the floor with my toe before I spoke again.
“School, my future, stuff like that”
“And David?” she teased. I felt heat rising to my face, quickly covering it with my hands before she could see, but she knew.
“Mom…” I whined.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Okay, so maybe I was a little…”
“Have you read his letters yet?”
“No” I sighed. “I’m not sure what to think of that. What do you think he said in them?”
“I honestly couldn’t tell you. By the way, he called for you this morning.”
“Oh? What did he want? Did he say?”\
“He wants you to meet him at the park around noon” I glanced up at the clock on the wall and nearly panicked.
“I only have ten minutes to get there! I’m going to be late!” I cried, rushing out the door. Moments after I got outside, I realized I had forgotten my shoes. I ran back, grabbed my black moccasins from the closet, and was gone as quickly as I had appeared. I jogged to the park, keeping a good pace so I wouldn’t be a gasping idiot when I got there.
I arrived on schedule, and saw David sitting on a bench by the stream. I walked over and greeted him.
“Hey there” I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the boyish grin creep across his face.
“Hi!” he stood up to hug me, and I culd feel myself melting into him. He was so warm and cuddly…His scent was intoxicating. Wondered why he was still single, but at the same time, I was glad he was. Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly noticed a bundle of something on the bench next to where David was sitting. It looked like flowers, but I wasn’t quite sure. David let go of the embrace to reach over and grab the mystery item. He then handed me the prettiest bouquet of roses I’d ever seen.
“These are stunning!” I gasped. They were white with pink around the edges of the petals.
“I’m glad you like them” David said softly. “They reminded me of you when your face gets that adorable pink color to it.” I felt my cheeks begin to burn, and David chuckled. “Like that.” We both laughed, and he sat back down on the bench, motioning for me to sit down next to him. I obliged, and we sat in silence for a moment, just watching the birds flutter over the water. Finally, David spoke.
“Kallie, can I ask you something?”
“Of course…” I responded, my voice trailing off. David turned towards me so he was looking right in my eyes.
“How do you see us?”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, do you see us as being more than friends, or is this it for us?” It was his turn to blush, and all I could do was sit there and look at him. He looked down at the ground for a moment before looking at me again, and I took a breath.
“Well…” I began. “Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’ve tried not to think about it because I didn’t know how you would react…” Before I could continue speaking, David leaned over and planted a soft kiss on my lips.
“Does that answer your question?” he whispered. I was stunned. Did that really just happen?
“I…uh…” I couldn't even find the right words to say. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, David shifted his body so he could look at me, concern filling his eyes.
“Are you alright? Should I not have done that?”
“No, I’m fine. That was incredible. Does this mean…?”
“I hope it means you’re my girlfriend” David stated with a cheesy grin.
“It does” I smiled back at him, then rested my head on his shoulder. He reached over every so often to stroke my hair, and when he did, I would let out a content sigh. I didn't think I could be any happier than I was in this moment. David was my safe place. He was my sanctuary. Even the loudest surroundings couldn’t phase me when I was with him,
We sat in silence for a while, until I suddenly had a thought.
“We should go somewhere else…it’s starting to snow.” We shared a laugh, as neither of us had even noticed the change in the weather. We stood up, and David looked at me, cocking his head to the side slightly.
“Don’t you have a jacket?”
“No, I left it at home. I didn't know the weather was going to change like this” I giggled. Without warning, David took his jacket off and draped it over my shoulders. I slid my arms into the sleeves and snuggled into the thick, warm material. It smelled like him. I smiled softly as he reached out to take my hand, and we began our wintry walk.
“Where to, my lady?”
“Hmm…lets see. We could go get some hot chocolate.” David nodded in approval, pulling me closer to him and draping has arm around me. For the first time in my life, I finally knew where I belonged. Right here, with David.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Time to get louder!
2012 is our year. I can feel it.
It all started when I noticed David's tweets appearing more frequently on my timeline. Not retweets of his past tweets, but actual, real updates from him about his life! He's baaaaack.... By the end of last year, I had become discouraged, thinking he would never tweet like he used to again. You know, silly random things that made us all fall for him a million times over again. He doesn't know it, but he proved me wrong.
Well played, sir.
Fangirly squeeing aside, I can definitely tell that things are going to be different for our guy. He will be doing shows internationally, which will help boost sales, and he and the guys are working on new music already! (I wonder if we can get details from Amos or Napoleon...nah, probably not.) Even if RCA won't get off their butts and give him the recognition he deserves, I know we will do it, and we'll do it way better than they ever could too. You know why?
Because to us, David isn't just someone on the payroll. We love him not just for his music, but for the incredible heart he has. He gives so much to various charities and puts others before himself so selflessly, I feel like he's inspired us to do the same. I can truly say it is an honor to be a fan, not just because of him, but because I get to meet all of you.
Enough about me.
I know we're all disappointed about the low sales numbers, but look at it this way. We may not be a huge fanbase, but we have more love and support for David than most fanbases probably have for their artists. And at the end of the day, love beats money everytime. Don't you agree? Besides, if he was as popular as some of those artists out there, we wouldn't have our goober David! Not in one piece, anyway. I love that he is still able to go out when he wants to and not get mobbed, because I know he loves it that way too, and that's more important to me than chart positions or sales numbers.
He'll still get to platinum, but when it comes to love, he's definitely diamond.
It all started when I noticed David's tweets appearing more frequently on my timeline. Not retweets of his past tweets, but actual, real updates from him about his life! He's baaaaack.... By the end of last year, I had become discouraged, thinking he would never tweet like he used to again. You know, silly random things that made us all fall for him a million times over again. He doesn't know it, but he proved me wrong.
Well played, sir.
Fangirly squeeing aside, I can definitely tell that things are going to be different for our guy. He will be doing shows internationally, which will help boost sales, and he and the guys are working on new music already! (I wonder if we can get details from Amos or Napoleon...nah, probably not.) Even if RCA won't get off their butts and give him the recognition he deserves, I know we will do it, and we'll do it way better than they ever could too. You know why?
Because to us, David isn't just someone on the payroll. We love him not just for his music, but for the incredible heart he has. He gives so much to various charities and puts others before himself so selflessly, I feel like he's inspired us to do the same. I can truly say it is an honor to be a fan, not just because of him, but because I get to meet all of you.
Enough about me.
I know we're all disappointed about the low sales numbers, but look at it this way. We may not be a huge fanbase, but we have more love and support for David than most fanbases probably have for their artists. And at the end of the day, love beats money everytime. Don't you agree? Besides, if he was as popular as some of those artists out there, we wouldn't have our goober David! Not in one piece, anyway. I love that he is still able to go out when he wants to and not get mobbed, because I know he loves it that way too, and that's more important to me than chart positions or sales numbers.
He'll still get to platinum, but when it comes to love, he's definitely diamond.
Friday, December 16, 2011
2012, here we come!
This year has really flown...
Luckily. the mid-point brought us the amazing album that is This Loud Morning. Since then, silence has been so dreadfully boring...I hope you would agree. It has been wonderful getting to know so many of David's people, and I know I have lifelong friends in many of you. We've seen practically every high and low imaginable, but nothing has been able to shake our loyalty thus far. That is because we are unstoppable. Granted, our fan family isn't as large as some, but size doesn't matter. The loyal fans are the ones who buy the music, see the shows, and stick by David in all circumstances. I have been very fortunate to be a part of this fandom, and don't ever plan to leave.
Thank you guys for the smiles and laughter, and even the virtual hugs during hard times. You are all such blessings, not just to me, but to everyone around you. 2012 is only going to be filled with more adventures, and I can't wait to share them with all of you.
Luckily. the mid-point brought us the amazing album that is This Loud Morning. Since then, silence has been so dreadfully boring...I hope you would agree. It has been wonderful getting to know so many of David's people, and I know I have lifelong friends in many of you. We've seen practically every high and low imaginable, but nothing has been able to shake our loyalty thus far. That is because we are unstoppable. Granted, our fan family isn't as large as some, but size doesn't matter. The loyal fans are the ones who buy the music, see the shows, and stick by David in all circumstances. I have been very fortunate to be a part of this fandom, and don't ever plan to leave.
Thank you guys for the smiles and laughter, and even the virtual hugs during hard times. You are all such blessings, not just to me, but to everyone around you. 2012 is only going to be filled with more adventures, and I can't wait to share them with all of you.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
This Loud Fandom will be heard!
It has come to my attention, as well as other fans, that we are, to put it bluntly, being screwed over. Day after day, RCA tweets their happy little butts off. About whom, you ask? ANYONE but David. That's who. Seems that way anyway. Once in a while they throw out a tweet for him *golf claps*...but its not enough.
It's been nearly six months since This Loud Morning came out, and the sales are less than stellar. It is NOT our fault, but RCA's. They have done NOTHING to help boost sales since the album was released. They did well enough before it was out, so why stop?
This, dear Word Nerds, is where we come in. I know we've all probably developed carpal tunnel from the endless hours we've spent voting for his songs and videos, not to mention hitting "redial" on our phones to bombard our local radio stations with requests, but it's worth it, right?
This is going to be a short one today, but I hope the point is clear. David needs our help!!
He just came off of a tour, leaving an impact on those of us who were fortunate enough to see a show, whether in person, or on UStream, and there were a few shows on the tour that left a lasting impact on us. Don't let the high die down just because it's over! Post videos from the shows to twitter, facebook, and everywhere you can so people can see David the way wew do: as a bona fide rocker with a heart the size of the universe!
Places you can go to connect with other Crusaders:
http://tinyurl.com/cvd25e3 (This Loud Fandom Forum)
http://tinyurl.com/7cthxno (This Loud Fandom Headquarters)
It's been nearly six months since This Loud Morning came out, and the sales are less than stellar. It is NOT our fault, but RCA's. They have done NOTHING to help boost sales since the album was released. They did well enough before it was out, so why stop?
This, dear Word Nerds, is where we come in. I know we've all probably developed carpal tunnel from the endless hours we've spent voting for his songs and videos, not to mention hitting "redial" on our phones to bombard our local radio stations with requests, but it's worth it, right?
This is going to be a short one today, but I hope the point is clear. David needs our help!!
He just came off of a tour, leaving an impact on those of us who were fortunate enough to see a show, whether in person, or on UStream, and there were a few shows on the tour that left a lasting impact on us. Don't let the high die down just because it's over! Post videos from the shows to twitter, facebook, and everywhere you can so people can see David the way wew do: as a bona fide rocker with a heart the size of the universe!
Places you can go to connect with other Crusaders:
http://tinyurl.com/cvd25e3 (This Loud Fandom Forum)
http://tinyurl.com/7cthxno (This Loud Fandom Headquarters)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Got distracted by COOKIES!!
I just realized that I have not wrtten anyting in a while...here, anyway. Why? Because I've been distracted by Cookies! No, not David or Andrew, but the baked, edible kind! Although you could bake and eat David and Andrew if you wanted, but what fun would that be?
Anyway...
I've also taken up noveling! Or, as I call it, writing a giant fanfiction that meets the word count goal! HUZZAH! When I started, part of me wondered what I had gotten myself into. 33,000 words and two random bird mobs later, I'm not so skeptical anymore!You'd be better off not asking about that...lol
Cutting this short, but I will blog again soon!
Anyway...
I've also taken up noveling! Or, as I call it, writing a giant fanfiction that meets the word count goal! HUZZAH! When I started, part of me wondered what I had gotten myself into. 33,000 words and two random bird mobs later, I'm not so skeptical anymore!You'd be better off not asking about that...lol
Cutting this short, but I will blog again soon!
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