We Play Pretend

Chapter 1: Nashville

It has been an extremely long week for me. Work has been super busy. I was ready for a break. Luckily, I have a trip to Nashville, Tennessee for a music festival coming up soon. My mom and aunt planned the trip, and I was planning on bring a guy I was talking to. I love my family but sometimes it is embarrassing going to showing was you parents or aunt. Don't get me wrong I enjoy it when they go with me. But people don't approach you the same as when you are with friends. I want to be a normal 24-year-old and go out and have fun with people my age. After this week I only have three more days till my trip. I can not wait.

   It is the day before I leave for my trip, and I have not heard from the guy I have been talking to in a couple of days. I sent him multiple text messages and no response. I send him one more saying "hey, I have not heard from you a few days. I hope everything is okay. Are you still able to go on the trip we were planning?" I few minutes later I hear my phone chime. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check it and noticed a notification saying, "sorry can't go. I promise a girl I would take them somewhere." My stomach started to feel sick. I really liked this guy. He didn't seem like the rest. But of course, I was wrong. I try to fight back tears so my family would not worry. I put my headphones on and played Julie and the phantoms as I finished packing for my trip to Nashville.

   Before I knew it, I could hear my mom telling me it is time to load the car to leave. I loaded all my stuff into her car, and we were on our way. We were meeting my aunt there. During the whole drive I tried thinking of other things other than what happened earlier. But it was hard.

   Once we were in Nashville we made our way to the hotel. When we pulled in, we found my aunt was already there waiting. She already checked us in. From the outside the hotel look expensive. We walked inside and it was jaw dropping. "This is the fanciest hotel I have ever been in." I said out loud without thinking. We made our way to our room.
 
   We unpacked and I changed my clothes. I want to go out and drink after the day I had. As I exited the bathroom my mom and aunt both said "wow, you look beautiful." "Thank you. Well, I'm going to go out for a while. I'll let you all know if I need anything. Love you." I said as I exited the door. I walk out the hotel and I could feel the tears fight to come out. I pushed them back down. I took a deep breath of the cool night air of Nashville then started walking towards Broadway.

    After a few minutes I found myself inside a bar. They of course card me at the door and let me in. I walk through the crowd and found a seat at the bar. "What can I get for you, pretty lady?" A cute guy bartender asked. "A jack and coke. And keep the tab open please. Thank you." He nodded and took my card and walked away. Shortly after he came back with my drink. "Anything else you may need?" He asked. "Do you all have a food menu?" I asked. He then handed me a menu. I just realized I haven't really eaten today.

    Before he walked away, I ordered some bacon, cheese fries. Before I knew it my food was handed to me. I started to eat. Once I finished my food I ordered another drink. After the bartender handed me my new drink and girl walked up to me.

    "Hey girl. Your outfit it to die for. Are you here by yourself?" She asked. "Thank you and yeah. I had a rough day and just wanted to be alone for awhile." I told her. "Girl, you can not be by yourself. Here come hang out with us." She said as she gently pulls me towards her friend group. "Girls, I made us a new friend. This is..." She said as she remembered she never asked for my name. "My name is Kaitlyn." I stated to the group. "Well Kaitlyn. I'm Emma." The girl that pulled me away from the bar said. "This is Abby." Emma said as she pointed to the girl to her left. "And this is Kara." She said as she pointed the the girl on the other side of me. "Nice to meet you all. Well, I'm going to go back to my seat. You all have fun." I said as I tried to turn away. "Kaitlyn, come on. Have a girls night with us." Emma said to me. I turned back to the group.
 
  "Okay, Kaitlyn. One important question. Do you have any celebrity crushes? If so who." Kara asked. I went silent for a moment, trying to decide if I should tell these complete strangers or not. Or if they would even know who it is. "I do. But I don't know if you know who the guy is." I said to them. "Oh, come on. If not, we can always google him." Abby said. "Okay. Fine. But do not make fun of me. His name is Charlie Gallespie." I said to them. All three of their mouths fell wide open. Honestly, I was a little scared to know what was about to happen next. "Shut up. The one guy from Julie and the Phantoms?" Emma asked. I shyly nodded my head. "Wait which guy? There is multiple." Kara asked. "The hot lead of Sunset Curve." Emma said to Kara. Wait they knew the show. "You all watched the show?" I asked them. "Yeah. Actually, that's why we are here. We heard some of the cast was making a trip to Nashville. We don't know if it is true or not. But fun time either way." Abby said. I could not help but to laugh. I was kind of expecting them to make fun of me for watching that show but with their reactions I assume that they like the show also.