Episode 28

They arrive at the concert that night.  Caitlin was ecstatic.  She hadn’t stopped smiling for the last couple hours – ever since Tom had announced that they had front row seats (aka standing space around the stage).  She had never really liked Tom overly much, to be completely honest, however, right now he was easily her second favourite person in the entire world (David Archuleta is the obvious first choice though).  They gathered at the front of the large screaming crowd just as David walked out onto the stage.  Kelsey and Aislinn later swore that they saw Caitlin begin to swoon, but she denies it (and her version is always correct).  David greeted the audience with, “Hello Disneyworld!  I’m David Archuleta and I’m so happy to be with you tonight!”  The screaming intensified, Kelsey, Aislinn, and especially Caitlin significantly adding to the noise.  He began to sing – the voice of an angel.  Everything was perfect.  Then he started to sing “My Kind of Perfect” (Caitlin’s absolute favourite of his songs, of course, since it was obviously written about her) and started scanning the audience.  His eyes met Caitlin’s in a moment which seemed to her to last forever.  Her breath caught in her throat.  He leaned down and extended a hand out – she started to reach for it, but stopped abruptly as he pulled the simpering dumb-blonde next to her on stage instead.  Her cheeks flushed bright red as David proceeded to finish the song, serenading the ditz on stage.  Aislinn and Kelsey just stared, mouths open.  They had been so sure that he was reaching for their friend…they didn’t know what to say.  The concert ended after one final song and Tom (oblivious to everything that had just occurred) suggested that they go backstage and meet the star of the evening.  Caitlin stared down at the lush grass, biting her lip.  Then she looked up and nodded.

“Let’s go meet the jerk! Then I’ll be over him forever.” Kelsey and Aislinn exchanged a look, which Caitlin interpreted as “my gosh she is overreacting, but she is still our friend and we should support her craziness.”  She sort of appreciated the sentiment behind it.  Sure, she was acting a little crazy, but that was allowed, right? Her dream had just been cruelly shattered into a million sharp little shards ready to hurt her at every step.  The world sucks. Kelsey snapped her out of her deteriorating circle of thoughts by grabbing her arm and propelling her after the clueless Tom.  Aislinn attached to her other side.

“…to meet you too!” The end of Tom and David’s introduction echoed through the hallway as the girls walked, Caitlin dragging her steps slightly.  They arrived and saw the two men shake hands.  David was even more attractive in person, Caitlin thought, but then stopped that train before it derailed her disappointment.  Tom introduced each of them in turn, Caitlin last as she was standing behind her roommates.  As David approached to shake her hand as he had everyone else’s, he paused and she could see the recognition in his eyes.  She blushed again.  He remembered her and his deliberate slight!  The nerve.  He smoothly shook her hand while avoiding eye contact and then turned to Tom who was standing next to Kelsey, very obviously standing closer to her than just a friend would, but not actually touching her.

“Oh, Tom, Kelsey,” David said, giving the couple a friendly smile, “congrats!  I just saw the news online.”  Tom and Kelsey glanced at each other in confusion.

“What news?” They demanded, almost in unison.  David looked taken aback at their vehement response to his simple gesture. He pulled out his phone and responded,

“This, of course.  You two are dating, right?”  Kelsey almost snatched the phone from his hands and she and Tom both peered at the screen.  It showed a picture of Kelsey wrapped up in Tom’s arms with the heading saying, “Tom’s New Squeeze – Now it’s Official!” with a smaller line under reading “Read more on Tom’s new girlfriend and their first public appearance.”  Caitlin and Aislinn had joined their huddle and watched as Kelsey went very very pale (a pretty amazing feat, for her).

“Oh my gosh…” Kelsey said.  She looked at Tom, who looked like he had no idea what to make of this development.  “What exactly are we going to do about this?? We aren’t ready…we can’t… how DARE they do this…I’m going to KILL…how did they?” Tom stopped Kelsey and started talking rationally.

“Remember when you tripped and fell this morning off the Pirates ride and I caught you?” Kelsey nodded mutely and Tom continued, “that is where the photo is from.  There must have been a hidden paparazzi somewhere.  I guess they reached their own conclusions to sell the story.” David interjected,

“Word travels fast.  I’m sorry… I didn’t realize…”  They quickly reassured him that he was not at fault.  Then Kelsey looked up at Tom and asked,

“Can we go somewhere…else… and talk?”  He nodded and they left.  Aislinn, sensing the tension in the air between David and Caitlin, decided that it was best for them to talk by themselves and graciously excused herself to use the bathroom.