Little Drummer Boy

Not This Time

"H-hi, Vince," I stuttered.

"Raelynn? What's going on?" Luna asked, reminding me that she was still on the phone. "Are you still there-"

"I'll talk to you later," I said before abruptly hanging up. Vince chuckled before helping me stand up right. We stood there for a few moments, hands in our pockets, switching back and forth from looking at each other and our feet.

Vince finally cleared his throat. "So, uh, it's been a while."

"Yeah, it has," I agreed.

"You look good."

"You look better," I replied, making him chuckle. Vince had grown taller since I had last seen him. His hair was a bit longer and he seemed to have a few more freckles. It was back to awkward silence. Vince then gestured to a nearby bench and I nodded in response.

Once we sat down, he said, "So, uh, how's your modeling thing going?"

"Oh, it's good. I actually just came back from an audition for a runway show."

"No way! That's so cool!" he exclaimed.

I giggled. "If I get a spot, it'd be my first one."

"Well I'm sure you'll get it, you've always been great at that stuff."

"Luna said the same thing. But now I'm not so sure..."

"Well why is that?" he questioned, looking genuinely concerned. So I told him how many other girls were there and about what Cassidy had said and it felt just like old times when I could talk to Vince about almost anything. He always understood me, and if he didn't he'd try his best. "Since when do you care what some airhead thinks?" he said after I finished.

"Since it affects my career," I answered.

"Well what does she know? She's just trying to get in your head," he assured. "This Assidy-"

"Cassidy," I laughed.

"That's what I said," he claimed with a straight face, making me laugh even more. He couldn't resist so he finally laughed with me. "Anyway, this Cassidy girl can't possibly know what she's talking about because she doesn't know you. And if these people don't choose you they're out of their minds."

"Thank you," I said. He still knew just what to say. "So, what brings you into the city?" I asked, acting like I didn't know.

"Kind of a long story," he responded.

"I've got time," I said, crossing my legs and resting my chin in my hand.

Vince smacked his lips and leaned back on the bench, resting his hands behind his head. "Well, a few months after you left, I met these guys at an open mic and we decided to try a song together. It was amazing, Rae. It felt like we were a couple of puzzle pieces just waiting to be put together and from the first chord we fit perfectly. So we named ourselves Sticks and Stones and started doing little garage concerts and we played prom last year. Then a couple months ago we were playing at a coffee shop and this music producer guy was there and before we knew it, we had a record deal."

"A record deal? Vince that's awesome!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, so we started recording songs and got ourselves a manager and the manager booked us a tour of the east coast. We played all over Pennsylvania and now New York is our second stop."

"Where you headed next?" I asked.

"We're going to Vermont after our concerts next week," he informed me.

My smile slightly faded. "So, you're only gonna be here for a week?"

Vince removed his hands from behind his head. "Yeah...But hey, we still have plenty of time to hang out and catch up some more! You can come to my concerts, and oh! You have to meet the band!"

"That sounds great, but-"

"Raelynn things are gonna be different this time! We're not gonna lose each other again!" He said excitedly. Then face fell straight. " I...I can't lose you again..." He stared into my eyes and I pursed my lips.

"It's okay, Vince," I agreed, swallowing my doubts. "That's not gonna happen. Not this time." This made Vince smile, his eyes filling with a childlike wonder as he pulled me into a tight hug. "Vince, your kinda hurting me."

He quickly released me as he blushed and said, "Sorry, I'm just really happy to be sitting next to you again."

I smiled. "Same here."

Just then, Vince's phone buzzed, interrupting our moment. He pulled it out of his pocket and to check the notification.

"It's my manager," he sighed. "He's calling an emergency rehearsal in 10 minutes."

"Oh, you better get going then."

"Yeah," he said, standing up from the bench. "But hey, are you free tomorrow?"

"I believe so," I answered.

"Great!" he said, clapping his hands together. "Keep it that way. I'll text you."

"Um, okay?" I said, confused, as he started to walk away. Soon enough he disappeared into the crowd like the mirage I had known him to be for so long until today.

Despite the excitement this conversation had filled me with, my eyes felt heavy and my feet felt soar, so I hailed a cab to take me home.