"Yeah, of course I remember. It was only a few hours ago." he replied, afraid to let his guard down.
"Well, before I go any further...you must be wondering how I have the nerve to call you up again after what just happened at lunch. Well, I just needed to apologize for suggesting that I should write the article. I came on a bit too strong. I mean there you are, complimenting me on my work...and I go and tell you that I need to write an article to straighten out your love life. Oh gosh, it sounds even worse when I say it out loud." Michelle stuttered while looking at Mel for support.
"Uh, hang on a minute. I seem to have an audience in the kitchen, so let me take the phone call in my room. I think we need to talk privately," Brian suggested while giving the phone to Nick so he could hang it up once he got to his room.
"Sure, take your time." Michelle answered hoping he could at least forgive her for her poor reporting skills.
Once Brian was comfy sitting on his couch, with his portable phone in hand, he yelled for Nick to hang up the phone in the kitchen. Interested in Bri's conversation, Nick told him that he hung up....while secretly covering the phone's receiver. Kevin and Becky knew exactly what he was up to, and smiled slightly. They wanted the scoop too, but now if Brian caught them listening...Nick would be the one in trouble, not them. They tried to hide their giggles as the 'private' converstion continued. Nick was hoping his best friend would give Michelle another chance. He could tell that Brian was hurt from Karen's lies, and that his buddy just wasn't the same. He was more defensive and cautious these days. Nick had a feeling that Michelle could be the one to get into his heart again. They both had that twinkle of determination in their eyes. Normally, he wouldn't trust the reporter type, but because she was a friend of Mel's...he could make an exception. He trusted Mel, and knew that her judgment of character was very reliable. He loved the way Mel could see inside a person, and get to know them inside out in such a short period of time. That's how it was when they met. Instantly, when she started working for him, they had become friends. He knew he could always count on her. He loved that about her.
"Hi again...there are so many nosy ears hanging around here!" Brian joked, not knowing if he really wanted to turn away her offer. To him, it seemed great on the surface, but there had to be a catch. She was willing to print the truth for him, but want did she expect in return?
"Oh that's fine. So once again I must say that I am truly sorry for any trouble I may have caused. I hope you won't rely on my first impression for all the other decent reporters out there. I used poor taste...I invaded your space...I" Michelle explained only to be quickly interrupted by Brian.
"Wait, wait a minute! Here I was beating myself up about the way I overreacted, and YOU are apologizing to ME! I'm the one who owes you an apology. I exploded before even hearing the facts. So, I'm sorry....and don't rely on my first impression, for your final judgments on me. I'm really not that bad of a guy. I was just a little, well ok, really stressed out over this whole mess with the media." Brian confessed with a small smile, surprised, but happy to know that her apology seemed genuine. That meant that he could trust her, once he go to know her of course.
"Thank you, who knew those big rock stars could be so sweet and understanding?! But I except your apology fully...hey I caught you off guard. And I hope you can forgive me too. Let's just start out fresh, okay?" Michelle questioned hoping for a second chance to get to know him.
"Sure, that sounds good to me...a fresh start. And yes, I will forgive you for being just a tad bit nosy. But as my best friend Nick reminded me earlier, you ARE a reporter and you were just doing your job. So it's settled then?" Brian said happily.
"Gee, remind me to thank Nick for putting in a good word for me! So this new start, does it mean I have another shot at getting that interview, Brian?" Michelle asked with a slight hint of her old, confident self showing through.
"Well....I ......since you asked me so nicely, I guess I ........." Brian was interrupted by loud fits of laughter and shouting from the other end of the line.
"Michelle, hang on a sec. NICK...NICK! Have you been listening this whole time???" Brian yelled while running into the kitchen to find Nick,Kevin, Becky, AJ and Liz (who had just arrived from their shopping expedition at the mall) standing by the phone...which was now on speaker phone.....giggling and trying to explain why they were listening.
"Well, um Bri, we have a really good explanation for that!" Nick tried to explain through fits of laughter.
"I can't believe you guys...here I was worried about the press interfering with my privacy...but in reality, I can't even have a private talk in my own room" Brian jokingly exclaimed.
"Brian..before you say another thing to Michelle, you had better except her offer to do that interview. She could clear our name B-Rok. Tell your pride to take a break, and let her help you man! You never know...she could decide to just write the article without your permission and without all the facts!" Nick shouted to Brian just a little bit loud.
"Thank You 'O SO NOSY NICK' ! I think I can handle this myself." Brian said in defense of his pride.
From the speaker phone, "Hi everyone...I guess you all know who I am by now. Hey Brian...I think you should take that advice Nick just gave you. I'd really like to print the truth, exactly how you say it!" Michelle said as she entered the six-way conversation, hoping for Brian approval.
Before Brian could answer, he shut the speaker phone off and made his way back into the privacy of his own room. His thoughts were in a tangle of confusion...do I let her do the interview and make this public...or should I try to hide it as long as possible? I dunno...she could print the story at any time! But would she do that to me?
"Sorry about that. My friends and bandmates are just extremely interested in my life!" Brian explained making a mental note to talk to his friends about their spying.
Michelle responded, unable to hide the excitement in her voice, "See, I knew you'd come around. Well okay, Mel needed to help me see that you would give me a chance...even though my first impression was way less than impressive. But I'm glad you are giving me the benefit of the doubt."
"Well, before you get too carried away...I agreed that I would consider it, not that I am gonna give you the rights to my whole life. And anyway we're starting fresh, remember." Brian teased knowing all along he was gonna give her another chance. He just couldn't seem to resist her smile, and her laugh...and...
"So, how do I get you to do the interview?" she asked now full of confidence. Hey, if she could get him to reconsider...she could get that 'ever important-promotion- depending on it' interview.
"I wanna see you." Brian responded simply.