I Wanna Be With You

Chapter Three: Superfan

We spend the next forty-five minutes talking about everything from music to dance to our favourite colours.

"So how's school for you so far?" Gaga asks. "What grade are you in? Nine?"

"Yeah, I just started a new school this semester, we move around a lot so it's kinda hard for me to make friends." I say quietly. Gaga nods. "I don't know, it's kinda like I just exist in school. Like I'm just the girl that's kind of... just... there." I continue. I can't believe I just told her that, I must sound like such a loser.

"Yeah, I totally get that." Gaga says. "I always felt like a freak in school."

"I don't really hang out with kids my age after school. Mostly because I'm always working and when I'm not working, I'm spending time with my sisters." I say.

"Oh where do you work?" Gaga asks.

"Well on Mondays and Wednesdays, I work at the grocery store. Then on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I work at the library till five, then on Tuesdays and Fridays after I'm done at the library, I work at a restaurant until nine." I say casually. Gaga's eyes grow wide.

"So you work three jobs? And you're still in high school?" Gaga asks in amazement. "Does your mom drive you everywhere all the time?" I flinch, I don't really wanna start up a conversation about my parent situation, but I feel like I can trust Gaga.

"No..." I say slowly. "I mostly walk, because it doesn't cost any money." I say. Should I tell her? I take a deep breath and continue. "Also I live in a group home with my sisters and a bunch of other parentless kids." I say trying to sound casual. "So no, my mom doesn't drive me." I fake a laugh, trying to keep a light tone. Gaga slowly opens her mouth, then closes it again.

"Wha.. what do you mean?" She asks, looking concerned.

"Um.. Well my mom left my sisters and I... She like.. Um sort of abandoned us a couple years ago. We don't have any other relatives that would take us in so for the last few years we've moved from foster homes and group homes all over the place." I say quickly. I talked so fast that I have to take a minute to catch my breath. Gaga's eyes fill with sadness.

"Rylin, I'm so sorry, that must be so hard on you and your sisters." Gaga says sadly. "Where is your dad?" Gaga asks.

"Oh I've never met him." I say. "My mom was like seventeen or something when she had me and my dad left I guess. I don't even know his name. I'm just sorta used to people walking away." Gaga looks like she's about to cry. I've made her sad, I don't like it.

"Oh Rylin I'm so sorry. This isn't fair, you don't deserve this." Gaga cries, throwing her arms around me.

"Gaga, it's not your fault!" I exclaim.

"Well," Gaga says pulling back. "You know what they say, you have to be kicked in the teeth a couple of times in your life, it isn't fair but it just means that your going to be a strong young woman when you grow up. It's really amazing, how you care about your sisters so much." Gaga says.

"Yeah, well they're all I have, and that's why I'm always working, because I'm trying to make a better life for them." I say.

"Rylin, that's so amazing.." Gaga says trailing off in thought. "How old are they?" Gaga asks looking at me.

"Well Jessie is eight years old and Ava Kate is six." I say smiling, I love talking about my sisters.

"I would love to meet them someday, they sound adorable." Gaga says.

"Yeah definitely." I say, I'm sure they would love to meet Lady Gaga.

"Ava Kate, that's an interesting name, I like it." Gaga says smiling.

"Yeah," I laugh, "it's short for Avlin Katerina, but everyone calls her Ava or Ava Kate. Jessie's real name is Jeslin. Notice that all of our names have a 'lin' somewhere in them. I guess my mom was a real nut ball!" I say jokingly.

"That's so cool." Gaga says. "My parents kinda did the same thing with my sister Natali and I, both our names end with 'i's'."

"Hmm.. 'Lady Gaga'.. Is the 'i' silent?" I ask jokingly. Gaga rolls her eyes.

"No, my birth name is Stefani" she says laughing. "Gaga is my nickname."

"I know, I know." I laugh. "I am a superfan after all, I was just teasing you." Gaga laughs.

We spend the next thirty minutes talking. It's so crazy, I already feel so close to her, usually it takes me months to become comfortable around a person but I feel like I could trust Gaga with anything, even though I've only really known her for two hours.

"Gaga, this has been so fun, but I have to leave soon, I promised my boss at the grocery store that I would help her stack boxes for a couple of hours today." I say. I'm not looking forward to leaving Gaga, I'm having so much fun talking to her.

"Yeah, I have to be going soon too, I have a meeting with the Haus tonight. We still have to discuss the Swine music video more, you should come over to my place sometime and we can have a meeting with the Haus." Gaga says clicking her IPhone on.

"Sure, that sounds good." I try to sound casual, Lady Gaga wants me to come over to her apartment, oh my god.

"Hey!" Gaga says suddenly looking up from her phone. "I have a nail appointment with my friend Tara tomorrow, you should come with, Tara would love to meet you. We can have a spa day!" Gaga says excitedly.

"That sounds fun!"

"Yeah! Bring your sisters, we can have a girls day out!" Gaga exclaims.

"I think they will love that!" I say.

"Awesome, I'll arrange to have a car pick you guys up at nine o'clock tomorrow morning." Gaga says. "Do you have a phone? I'll give you my number."

"Well, um no, I don't have one." I say awkwardly.

"Oh okay." Gaga says. "Do you have a number I can contact you at?" I sigh, I don't really wanna give her the group home number, it's so embarrassing, but I guess Gaga of all people wouldn't judge me.

"Well... If you call the group home, and ask to speak to me, I'm sure they will let me talk to you, but I think they listen on the other end to make sure I'm not talking to drug dealers or something, so don't give away any secrets." I say jokingly as she hands me her phone.

"Really? You think they would listen to people's conversations? That's so weird! I'll have to get you a cellphone so I can talk to you easier." Gaga says as I type the group home number into her phone.

"Oh! That's ok, you don't need to do that, I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed a cellphone in the group home anyways, they have some pretty strict rules." I laugh.

"What the hell?!" Gaga says laughing. "It's not like you're a prison inmate or something, you're a fourteen year old girl, for god sakes, you need to have some freedom."

"I'm basically a prison inmate in their minds." I laugh. "Tomorrow, you'll have to bust my sisters and I out like in the Telephone video!" I laugh.

"If that's what it takes!"

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, Gaga." I say, standing up. Gaga walks over to where my coat is hanging and hands it to me.

"See you tomorrow, Rylin." Gaga says pulling me into a hug.