"Caryn! Come on, get up! Our visitor is here!"
I opened my eyes. I had fallen asleep? When? I lifted myself out of bed, and stretched. After taking my time yawning, I took my place in front of my full-length mirror. Jeez, I thought, Dave has really mellowed out. Usually he’d be screaming at me to move my ass. It really was weird. It seemed the older I got, the less Dave nagged me. It was like we were actually becoming friends.
I took a quick moment to admire myself in front of the mirror. How much I looked like Jordan! We were almost always confused as sisters now that we worked together. I never had a friend like her. I was scared out of my dream world when Dave called again.
"Caryn, are you coming?"
Suddenly I felt a rush of emotion come over me as I heard a song come on the radio. The singer sounded just like J.C. I don’t know why, but I totally broke down into sobs. "Yes! Hold...hold on!"
"Caryn, are you O.K?"
"I'm.....FINE!!!" I totally broke down, sobbing. I immediately heard footsteps bounding up the stairs. Small whispers suddenly appeared at my doorway. After a while, the door opened. I had my face buried in a pillow, so I couldn't see the guest.
"Caryn....why are you crying?"
"Oh,...I ....miss....I miss J.C.!"
"Oh, I wouldn't cry about that."
"Why? I want him to come here. I want to hear him sing again. I miss his voice."
"Well, would you feel better if I told you he's probably thinking of you right now?"
"Maybe a little."
There was a long silence in the room. Suddenly, a small humming became present. It grew into singing. "There...may be some times...that I feel down...and I know I can't...Carry on, but I know it won't be long, till I’m gonna need...somebody to lean on."
"That song....J.C. was the only one who knew that comforted me!" I lifted my head up. "J.C.!!!!" I jumped off the bed and ran over to him.
“What the heck are you doing here? I thought you were in Orlando on your T.V show?”
“Yeah, but it got cancelled. I totally forgot about you!! I’m so sorry, Caryn!”
J.C. gave me a big hug, then we went and sat on the bed.
“So, what brought you back here?”
“I am going to be joining a band, but I need a manager. I thought maybe……” He trailed off. What was he thinking? He had that distant look in his eyes.
“What? What is it, Jace?” That was my nickname for him ever since we were little.
“Maybe you could be my manager. You are pretty organized.”
“Yeah! Yeah! Come on, let me!!”
J.C. held up his hand to calm me down.
“It’s up to Dave.”
I ran to Dave, and began jumping up and down in front of him.
“Can I Dave? Can I pleeeease?”
Dave sighed. “As long as J.C. promises to keep an eye on you.”
J.C. nodded. “I promise.”
Dave smiled. “Pack your stuff Care, you’re goin’ to Florida.”