A Changed Life (3 page)

Just as Michael tried to talk to me, my cell phone rang.
Whew!
Looking at my buzzing phone.
Saved by mom!

“Where are you going?” asked Michael.

“My mom wants me to meet her and my father inside.”

“Nicolette, I thought maybe we could take some time and get to know one another better.”

“Sorry, Michael, but my parents are waiting for me.” I grabbed my sandals and sprinted away from him. I stopped before getting to the tent to put my sandals back on. Knowing my father would be waiting for me at the tent entrance.

“Hey, Sweetheart, having fun?”

“I am, Daddy, turns out today wasn’t so bad after all.” I smiled.

“Come over here, I want you to say hello to our host. Clayton, do you remember my beautiful daughter, Nicolette?”

“Of course I do, Mason. How are you, dear?”

“I’m okay, sir. Thank you for asking.”

“Have you had a chance to meet my son, Michael? I’m sure he’s around here, somewhere?”

Oh you mean god’s gift to the world son?
My father is now giving me the “eye” to be nice.

“I have, sir. We met earlier.” I stood quietly listening to my parents talk with Mr. St. Clair about the new songs they planned on writing. Working on the west coast was a new adventure, and they were excited to be here. They were based in Chicago, but traveled on occasion to New York and Los Angeles. While I mingled throughout the tent, I met some girls trying to get John Mayer’s attention.

“Hi, I’m Alexis Hamilton,” and “I’m Bailey Hamilton.” They were twin sisters.

“Nicolette Vanelle, pleasure to meet you.”

They replied together, “Likewise.”

The girls were smiling and looking at me with curiosity. Taking a chance on what I thought the two were trying to do before I walked over.

“So, do you know John?” They both looked at me with surprise, knowing I had just busted them.

Alexis spit out, “No, but would like to.”

“Well, let’s see what we can do about that.” Giving a sly smile and wink of the eye.

“Uh…what are you doing?” Alexis asked. They were holding onto each other, surprised at my bold statement. Standing up on my tippy toes, waving my hands above my head, I call out to John, trying to get his attention. He turned around and smiled at me. I smiled and waved back, giggling to myself. I guess I should have told the girls on how I had met John Mayer on several occasions while in New York with my parents. This was going to be fun.

John came over and my new friends melted like sugar in the rain. “John, these are my new friends, Alexis and Bailey.” I then turn my attention to the trembling girls beside me. “Girls, this is John….John Mayer.”

“Nice to meet you…You better watch out for Nicolette though,” he said, as he bumped my arm with his elbow.

Swatting back at him, “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m a nice person.” Sticking my bottom lip out like a pouty two-year-old.

“I always did know how to rile you up, didn’t I?” Pulling me into a bear hug. John was really a nice guy, despite what all the gossip magazines said about him. He was down to earth and liked to have fun. I hadn’t seen him in several months. He still looked the same, wearing his jeans and signature t-shirt. Obviously dress codes for famous people were optional. I knew the twins would die if they didn’t get an autograph or better yet, a picture.

“Hey, John...can we get a picture with you?” saying in my most annoying giddy fan voice I could.

“They can, you, I’m not so sure about.” Laughing again and pulling me back into his arms. John signaled a waiter who was walking toward us. He asked him if he would mind taking a few photos for us. I was standing in front of John, as the twins were on either side. John leaned in and whispered, “Are you enjoying yourself, Nickel?”

I smiled and said, “That’s a private joke between me and my uncle. You swore to keep it a secret.”

The girls just stared and smiled while John and I continued with our lively conversation.

John laughed and said, “Sorry, but it kind of stuck with me after your uncle called you that.”

“It’s ok. You’re forgiven.”

“How do you like being a resident of California?”

“I’m planning my escape after my birthday.”

Laughing he said, “Nicolette, give California a chance. You never know…you may love it.” John suggested that maybe I was being stubborn and too hard on my parents by fighting with them about moving here.

A guy came over for John, saying something about how he needed to meet so and so. John didn’t look too interested, but said, “Nicolette, give California a chance. Again, you never know…you might just change your mind.”

“Doubtful,” I said while giving one of my famous eye rolls.

“There’s that eye roll that I love.”

“I did it just for you.”

“Okay. I have to get going. Have fun, Nicolette. You’re only young once.”

In my most dramatic attempt, I grabbed his arm, “Please, don’t leave me here. No…I’ll die.”

Laughing and shaking his head, “Don’t give up your day job, doll.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek before say goodbye to Alexis and Bailey. As he walked away, I continued with my theatrics, until he looked back over his shoulder with his beautiful smile, shaking his head. He disappeared through the crowd of people. I stopped and refocused my attention to the twins. They were both staring at me with their mouths wide open.

“What?” I said as innocently as possible.

“You’re kidding us, right?” They said in unison which was creeping me out a little. It was as if they couldn’t speak without the other.

“We are definitely going to be best friends.” Bailey said.

Alexis nodded, “That’s for sure.”

I giggled at them. I guess I found it funny they were so goo-goo over John Mayer, but I forget that I have parents who write songs and attend events and parties like this frequently. Meeting a celebrity is no big deal to me anymore, but to Alexis and Bailey it probably was just about the coolest thing that had ever happened to them. I smiled at the thought.

My stomach was rumbling something fierce since I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I walked over to the buffet table set up near the bar. I leaned over to examine my choices, and Michael pulled me into his hard chest.

“There you are.” He whispered into my ear. He released my arm and began to stroke his fingers up along the side of my face.

I stepped backward, feeling alarmed and uncomfortable by his touch.

“How about that drink now? The fireworks will be beginning soon. We could walk down to the beach to get a better view.”

“Sorry, I can’t, Michael. I need to find my parents.”

Michael smirked at me.

“Nicolette, your parents are with my father. Why don’t you join me? We can enjoy the firework display together.”

Michael was quite determined to change my mind. He stepped closer, folded my hands into his and whispered in to my ear before I had a chance to answer him. “I don’t usually hear the word ‘no’ quite often.”

I pulled my hands out from his grasp, clearly angry. I stared at him and said, “I don’t appreciate you putting your hands on me!”

“I’m sorry. I was just messing around.”

“Where I come from, your version of messing around will get your preppy ass kicked. Please do not put your hands on me again!”

After meeting someone fabulous like Simon today, I was just annoyed at this point. It was definitely time to go.

“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. Will you please accept my apologies?” Michael asked me, and once again his charming frat boy ways return.

“I have to go, Michael. Take care.”

I watched Nicolette, as she walked back into the main tent to be swept up by her father. My friend Seth, joined me after she walked away.

“What’s up, Michael? You can’t close the deal?”

“No, not yet, but I will. You know how I hate to be told
no
.”

Making my way through the crowd of partygoers, I finally reached my parents.

“Ready to go, sweetheart?” Mom asked.

“Yes…so ready to go.”

“Did you have a good time today?”

“Yes, I did. The party was fun.”
I was thinking of Simon, when I answered her question with a smile.
“I even met some girls, who announced they will be my best friends. I laughed. I also spent some time catching up with John.”

“That’s great, honey; I was hoping you would get the chance to talk to each other. He asked about you when he was talking with your father.” My mother suspiciously looked over to my father.

“What are you hiding from me now, Mother?”

“Oh, well, we do have some good news to report.”

Jumping up, “Sweet! We’re moving back to Chicago?”

“Nicolette…Really?”

“Come on, Mom, can’t you take a joke?”

“Do you care to know or not?”

“Of course.”

“Well, a certain someone...John, wants us to produce two new songs for him.”

“That’s great, Mom.”

“And…They will be included on the soundtrack we are writing for Sony.”

“That’s exciting news, Mom!” I was truly happy for my parents, and the perfect day they obviously had. I was thinking that it was time to ease up on them and accept my new life here. I was feeling exhausted and needed a hot bath to fall into. My angel of a housekeeper, Gracie, must have read my mind, because I walked into my bathroom to find her filling my tub with my favorite bath oils.

“Relax and enjoy your bath, Nicolette. Afterwards, I have a surprise for you.”

“Gracie, what surprise?”

“You have my homemade gelato waiting for you in the freezer.”

I hugged Gracie tightly. I relaxed and enjoyed the sweet smell of lavender, as I soaked and listened to Norah Jones sing, “Don’t know why.”

I was in heaven.

Feeling relaxed after my heavenly bath, I can’t get Simon out of my mind. I kick myself for not getting his phone number. He did say he would see me again, but how? I quickly write e-mails to some friends back home when my phone starts to alert me that I have a text message. As I opened my phone, I saw five messages, all from Michael.

How did he get my number? I didn’t even give it to him!
I was going to reply to him when I received yet another message.

Michael:
Nicolette, I am going to call you now! Please pick up your phone.