In Our Hearts

8 ~ BRIN

I was sitting on my bed in yet another hotel room near the Arena, exercising the muscles on my thumb by flipping through French channels after channels. My mind was never in any of the moving pictures inside the LED screen across me. I received enough numbers of messages and phone calls to know what exactly is circling the internet and the entertainment media since this morning. 

"Dude, this shit is crazy." Daniel muttered under his breath while he is browsing the internet, with his feet dangling on the edge of the bed. I had been so succumb with my thoughts since I got back in the hotel that I didn't even remember when did Daniel knock on my door to pass the time in my room while waiting for tomorrow's move for the next leg of the tour. He's in the bass guitar from the band playing with me during tours.

"Knock it off." I let out a deep breath and press random two numbers from the remote not caring which channel it will lead me to. He doesn't have to tell me what he's looking at. I don't normally fall asleep after a gig. Most of the times, I hang out with the band and crews, have some drinks and have a little celebration but not tonight. My body is craving every fiber of the soft bed beneath me but my mind is nowhere near in passing out. I hope she's coping well. 

Everyone I knew who asked me about the alleged caught date, I think of how this is affecting her; what could have Kourtney done or said to her; or are they still speaking now? Knowing Kourtney, it's not best to speak to her whilst the issue is still fresh. I should have told her to give it some time to let Kourtney cool her head down. But I don't think Star is the type of person who will let things like this just passed a day without making any action. In fact, I just realized as I turn the television off, I don't think Star had ever been into any headlines which mainly concerns rumors and false publicity. I slide my body down and completely lay my back on the bed. I closed my eyes as I rest my arm across my forehead. I am convincing myself that there is nothing I have to worry. I remember her smile vividly as she fan herself in front on me inside the van. She is a strong woman, she is not the girl I thought she was. She can get through this. Rumors leave as fast they come and she should know this. I never meant to get her in any kind of these trouble but I don't regret pulling her away from those people harassing her. 

Three knocks on my hotel door, murmurs and laughters made me open my eyes again. Daniel check thru the peep hole and open it after a seconds. The other members of the band crash in with one of the body guards trailing behind them. The body guard regarded me with a salute and went outside of the room as soon as he knows the drunks will be locked safely in the room, away from the public.

"Brother!" Nathan called to me with a bottle of some French Liquor in one hand. He check his other hand, mocking like he's checking the time with his invisible wrist watch. "Is it already Grand Pa's bed time?" the man in guitars added. 

"Get up there, Brin!" Franklin shouted as he lay, jumping into the bed that made me bounce from my side. He taps my head with his two forefingers like how he always does with his drums to keep me from sleeping. "Stop it, Frank. I'm thousand miles away from sleeping. I'm just tired." and it is genuinely evident from my voice as I lazily push his fingers away from my face.

"Let me guess?" Logan stand on the side of the bed where I lay and he have an arm stretch to the wall against the headrest for support. "Is that thousand miles away with LA?" and there were laughters. I roll from my back and bury my head under the pillow pretending to be annoyed but I merely did it to cover the heating building up in my face. "Please, everyone. I had enough of it for the day." I whine but our keyboardist is no where near of letting it go. "But really, Brin. Don't you have any plans on dating her? I heard you said it with one of your ambush interview earlier." he persists.

The tone in his voice made my male instinct alert lights up. "Why? Do you like her?" I asked even before I completely turn to face him, checking any hints of denial or truth on his face. "The fuck, man. That's Star Gomez. Of course! But it's not as if I am gonna make any move on her." It calms me down to hear the honesty in his voice but it made me realize Logan's male instinct was also alerted and made me feel I sounded like some douche claiming dibs on a girl that isn't even mine. 

"Yes, no pun intended but it's like you say you're planning to make a move on Kourtney Stewart!" Nathan cut in with confidence boosted from the alcohol. "She's not one bit same with Kourtney." I muttered a little too loud before I could stop myself. "Said the man who claims that he's neither close to her nor interested in her." Daniel added, joining the banter. 

"Why? Can you not all see? Her sweet face says it all!..... Look, I don't even see the point in explaining myself. So what? Are you all some sort of gossip juicer now?" My words made me sat on the bed and the band watch me with mix expressions. Some confuse, some stifling a laugh and some just lost for words as Nathan attest to it. "Well, man I think Logan here is implying that he is some keyboardist on the background who doesn't have courage to even introduce himself to someone like Star Gomez." He finish his words with a shrug. "And I agree, she. is... really cute." Frank added with a mocking expression on his face as he raise the glass in his hand to no one in particular. "Cut this conversation now. I know all of you are not going to stop until you get me to drink. Fine! You guys, win!" and I jump out of the bed before I heard any response.

I went inside the bathroom and splash my face with cold water. Her sweet face says it all! I hear my voice echoing inside my head. "Your dumb mouth will expose it all." I hissed under my breath to my reflection in the mirror. I splash my face some more with cold water and preaching myself to keep my mouth shut until everyone forgets our encounter. The music is blasting out of the hotel speaker already when I get out of the bathroom and my hand got wrap around a glass in a second. I gulp it fast as it reach my hand. "Slow down Brin or you'll be kick out of this team that never sleeps." Logan warns but handed me another glass of liquor only mixed with ice. I intend to shut my brain before someone starts talking about her again.