SKYWAY, CHAPTER TWENTY: “HEARTBREAK GIRL”
I ignore her and run away, sprinting to the nearest Starbucks and go in. I order myself a Frappuccino Mocha and look around in the small place. –‘Aye, aren’t you that girl from that band? The one that sings about the stars and skies?’ –‘You mean Skyway? Nah, mate, you’ve got the wrong one.’ –‘No, I’m pretty sure you are her. Hey, guys! We’ve got a celebrity!’ Damn it. I leave my coffee and sprint outside, quickly dialling Jake’s number; he’s our security guard and manager. He picks me up in the black van and drops me home, but of course with a thousand of questions on our way. –‘I thought you were with Jessica?’ –‘Yes, I was at hers but I had to go, and as it was ten, I thought why not take a Starbucks? But someone recognized me and I had to leave before he let the press know. Not that I was doing something worth writing, but still.’ Jake laughs and pulls up outside her house. –‘So, today it the 23th, right?’ –‘Yes.’ –‘What about that week off?’ –‘Really?!’ –‘Yes. But you will get called a few times for some radio interviews.’ –‘That’s alright. Thank you so much!’ It’s quiet for a moment. –‘Hey, Jake, I was wondering… I promised my niece to take her on holiday with me, and well, she’s five, what about you coming with us? With Rebecca and Louis?’ –‘Really? That would be great!’ –‘I’ll call Holly; I think she’d like to come along too. It’s going to be great!’
Cooking dinner that night, I suddenly hear my phone ring in the living room, on the coffee table to be exact. I quickly dry my hands and make my way to the living room and pick it up. –‘Emeli?’ –‘Yeah, it’s me, what’s wrong Jessica? You have been crying?’ –‘No, I’m not okay…’ I hear her sniff softly. –‘Do you want to come over and talk to me about it?’ –‘Err… now is not the right time.’ –‘Could you just please tell me what’s wrong?’ –‘I got screwed over again, and again I’m the one left heartbroken.’ –‘Jessica, don’t blame yourself, they are just not right for you.’ –‘Thanks for being a friend when I need one, Em.’ MAJOR FRIENDZONE HERE. –‘Yeah, you’re welcome.’ –‘Really though, thanks…’ I hear her breakdown in tears on the other side of the line. –‘Jess…’ I take a deep breath, ‘Honestly, I love being your friend. Whenever you feel sad, or down, or even when you’re just really happy, you know you can call me or text me any time of the day. All I want is you to be happy, alright? I wish you the best. Because that’s what you deserve.’ –‘Really?’ –‘Yes. I’d do anything to make you happy, and I’m coming back to my offer now, do you want to come over?’ –‘I’m in Sydney, hun.’ –‘Oh. Right. Yeah, I didn’t know that.’ I hear her giggle, making me smile instantly. –‘I wish I could see your smile right now.’ I hear Jess laugh again. –‘I’ll call you tomorrow at ten, alright?’ –‘Alright. Wait, your time or my time? Jess? JESS!?’ She laughs again and hangs up, without answering my question.
-‘LADS!’ I run into the studio at eleven in the evening, where they are sitting in front of a laptop, chewing their lip or tapping with pens on the table as if they are drumming. –‘I have written a new song!’ I say and hold the papers up in the air as if it was Simba from The Lion King. –‘Really?’ –‘Of course!.’ –‘AWESOME! Thank you so much Em!’
We get in the recording booth, Jim at the drums and me and Phil both with our guitars.
You call me up
It’s like a broken record
Saying that your heart hurts
That you’ll never get over him getting over you
And you end up crying
And I end up lying
‘Cause I’m just a sucker for anything that you do
