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Chapter 31: Save the Date (Pt. 1)

  However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you  

Lovesong - The Cure

I WAS BROUGHT back to awareness from my drowsy state of sleepiness by the sudden pressure in my ears. I remembered falling asleep as soon as the plane took off from Heathrow, and, by the pop my ears made when I yawned, I could tell we were beginning to descend in JFK. As soon as the aircraft tires ghosted the tarmac, my heart started pounding. I had been away from home for almost two months and the feeling of finally being back found me extremely excited.

"I missed you so much," Jill said with a shaky voice over my shoulder while we hugged each other as close as we could. I also missed her a lot, ever since she started working as my assistant, she had been like a shadow making my life easier, and I adored her as the little sister I never had. Her family lived in Lexington, Kentucky, where she grew up. So we became family fast, bonding over the rootlessness feeling that being so far away from home unavoidably gave us.

"I don't know how I did without you!" I whined still wrapped in her arms. We walked together through the airport towards the elevator that led to the parking lot, managing to only get the attention of a few people along the way.

"So, tell me everything about the tour, how was it?" She asked.

"Exhausting," A deep sigh escaped from my lips as soon as I pronounced the word, "I think I need to sleep for a month straight, and I wasn't even working. It was a lot of fun, though, there weren't quiet moments, really."

My mind quickly wandered and flashes of the past couple of months paraded in my head. How we'd wake up every other morning in different cities, the mind-blowing effect that the fervent love of the fans still had in me after every show, how some of them had warmly approached me to talk and how, on the last show, surrounded by everyone's family, I jumped until I was left out of breath to the rhythm of 'Act my age', one of their funniest songs. It had been an unforgettable ride, and, having the chance of experiencing it, filled me with joy.

The city skyline slowly started to make its appearance on the horizon, and I think I hadn't realized how much I missed New York until my eyes caught a glimpse of it. The city was exactly as I remembered, the same buildings, the same people doing the same things, the same noises, and the same particular smell I half loved and hated. It was almost as if everything had been standing static waiting for my return.

Jill cleared her throat and I turned my head to look at her, realizing I had been silent for a while, "So, I have to tell you something," she announced pressing her lips anxiously.

I, being myself and always prone to thinking the worst, instantly panicked, "Please say you're not leaving me!" I begged.

Jill let go a loud laugh before shaking her head, "I could never do that, I'm here for good, I told you!"

Even though she always assured me she would never leave me, I was realistic enough to see she was only 25 and had huge potential that could only be wasted staying by my side. I was scared thinking about the moment I'll have to push her into growing as a professional because she deserved better than just being my assistant.

"Thank God!" I joked, "So, if you're staying with me, then what else could it be?"

"Chris and I had finally set a date!" She almost yelled in excitement, "We're getting married on June 3rd."

Jill and Chris were engaged for almost five years, even before Matt and I even considered the idea of doing the same. I was starting to get concerned about how long it was taking them to set a date, but I guess my worry was unfounded.