Wednesday, September 21
(Kate)
The knock on my door is unexpected. I just walked in the door from class and I didn't see anyone in the hallway.
When I open the door, it's John, the RA. I like him, but he always seems annoyed to have to do his job. "This FedEx package was delivered for you this morning," he mutters. Damn, he seems really put out. He hasn't been part the Grant College Experience. I've often wondered how, with his total lack of enthusiasm, he got the job. He's a grad student, so maybe he was pumped up in the beginning and has been beat down over the years. My goal before the end of the semester is to make this guy smile.
I take the envelope from him. "Thanks, John. It was really nice of you to bring this to me." I'm piling it on thick because I don't think he gets any attention. And everyone needs attention. He doesn't have many friends and everyone in the dorms thinks he's a dick. I think he's probably just lonely and a little burned out. He's probably done this job about one year too long.
"I was right in the middle of something important when I had to answer the door."
I nod my head, completely buying into what he's telling me. "Oh, I bet you were, and I appreciate it very much."
"Okay, well, I need to get back."
"Thanks again, John."
He nods curtly and leaves.
I have no idea what's inside this envelope, but I tear it open and dig in. Inside are the eight VIP tickets to the Rook concert in Grant that Gus promised me. This is unbelievable. It's not like I've never seen a Rook concert ticket before, but this is fan-fucking-tastic. The tickets went on sale yesterday and the show is already sold out. I guess Minnesota loves Rook. As well they should.
I text Gus a huge thank you and take the tickets with me so I can hand them all out this afternoon. My friendship with Gus is no secret, but his rock star identity is. Most of my friends know my best friend back home is named Gus. But none of them know that Gus is Gustov Hawthorne, front man of Rook. Because to me, he's still just Gus. Always will be. Rook is amazing and I'm so proud of him, but the best part of Gus...is Gus. The Gus who has always been my best friend, the Gus who I surfed with, the Gus who bought Twix bars for Grace, the Gus who let me cry on his shoulder on the worst day of my life, the Gus who teases me relentlessly, but who also encourages me just as much. Gus.
There aren't any coincidences. I've always believed that. So, when I step into the flower shop and hear "Killing the Sun" playing on the radio, I smile.
Shelly is singing along softly. She looks up and points to the radio. "Have you heard this song, Kate? It's my new favorite thing on the planet."
"Oh yeah? The planet?" I ask. Her enthusiasm makes my heart happy.
"They've been playing it all week. Some new group called Rook. They're sick. I don't know what this guy looks like, but his voice is so damn sexy."
I smile because I can't hold it back and offer, "So, Google them."
She smirks. "Why didn't I think of that, smartass?" And she pulls her phone out of her pocket and starts typing. "Holy. Shit. He's gorgeous, Kate. His name's Gustov Hawthorne. Take a look." She turns the screen toward me.
I laugh because I could look at my phone and see the same face. But he looks different in the photo on her phone because his hair is shorter. This photo is from one of the numerous promo shoots they took last month, after the band had their makeover with the stylist. I shrug. "He's all right if you're into the tall, overly built, super blond, good-looking thing."
"All right? All right? Kate, anyone with a pulse would drop their panties for this guy."
I grimace. I have. "I thought you were into gingers? Gingers that cultivated spectacular hair farms?" Duncan's beard seems to be getting bushier by the day.
"I am. I mean, I love The Boyfriend with all my heart. He's real. This guy isn't. He's fantasy material. And he can sing and play guitar." She's staring at the screen again. "Shit," she whispers.
I reach in my back pocket and pull out two Rook tickets and toss them on the counter in front of her. "You should really see him in the flesh. No panty dropping when Gustov takes the stage, though. Duncan will be there, and that would just be awkward. The other ticket's for him."
Her jaw drops, and she looks from me, to the tickets, back to me. "How in the hell did you get these? I heard this morning that the show is sold out." She looks more closely, then holds the tickets up to show me. "Kate, these are VIP."
"Let's just say some friends owed me. Big time. We're all going." By this time, Shelly has me wrapped up in a full-blown bear hug and it's hard for me to speak. But I do have a giant grin on my face.
At dinner, I give Clayton and Pete each two tickets so they can bring Morris and Evelyn. Clayton's heard me play Rook before, and though it's not the type of music he's into, he likes them. Pete's never heard of them, but he graciously accepts.
I take a detour and stop by Keller's place on my way home from the cafeteria. No one's home. I already had the ticket in an envelope just in case this happened. I write a note on it: Keller—Hope you can make it. Kate
I slide it through the mail slot in the door.
A text comes in a few hours later from Keller: Thanks for the ticket! Can't wait!