The Hidden Genre (C. H. H. Ain't Dead 01)

chapter eight - part two

The celebrity was speechless. This must have been how the critics, who wrote Luke Chase off, felt when the unexpected happened. Isaac could have waited for Luke to come to North City before approaching him. Instead, he travelled all the way to Fortuna Island. He came all this way to . . . apologize?

   “Isaac –” started Luke, but he was interrupted by a knock on the door. The event manager entered straight afterwards, “Is now a good time?” his lips read.

   The women, who couldn't wait to get a piece of the celebrity, stormed past the manager. A few took on Isaac as if he was an option. One would think that the music video for So Enjoyable was about to be made.

   Isaac got touched in ways he would rather have his future wife do than them. He pushed himself away from the girls, but that resulted in giggles from the gorgeous women. One felt more attracted to his innocence like she wanted the reward of being his first.

   “Ladies, please give me and my friend five more minutes,” said Luke gently, “then we can party all night.”

   The women moaned and tried to convince him otherwise, but the event manager grabbed their attention with loud explosive claps. They couldn't hear his voice, but they knew what he would say. It was their cue to leave, or else . . .

   Luke saw the models out while Isaac needed some water after such heat. He got a foam cup and found an open jug.

   “Oh, man, those were some beauties.” Luke took every possible second to admire the women leaving, “You know what I always say? A woman with no token is a woman not taken.” He turned around, “Bro that ain't –”

   Isaac spat the transparent drink out, “What is this?”

   “Don't worry,” replied Luke, “just know it ain't water, man . . .”

   “Then why is it in an open jug?” asked a gasping Isaac.

   “When I went to America, the laws stated that I couldn't drink, cause I'm not yet 21,” Luke got spring water out of the fridge, “Nick came up with this plan which somehow worked, but just between you and me, I think he paid the officers.”

   Isaac gave off a strange expression, like paying officers weren't common, or was he not surprised by Nick's actions?

   “This atmosphere is dangerous,” he took a sip of the water and followed it with much more as if he was trying to flush the alcohol out of his system. “I need to say what I need to say and leave asap.”

   They put their drinks on the side as they took their seats.

   “Here it is: I'm sorry for the past three years, Luke. I became distance with many people and I'm sorry that you were one of them. Life hasn't exactly been the same since my father's passing, but I've slowly come to accept it. I’m not using that as an excuse. I just sincerely came to apologize.”

   The celebrity sat back and took a deep breath.

   “I'll understand if you don't –” added Isaac, but Luke lifted his hand to signal silence. Mr. Banner's death hit him harder than he let on. Only Nick knew that that  was the reason behind the delay in the album release. Now wasn't the time for someone else to know, especially Isaac. He would probably go on and on about how Luke should have dedicated the album to Mr. Banner.

   “Look, man, I accept your apology . . .” Liquor. The urge to take that fourth drink became stronger. “And I'm really sorry about what happened to your pops,” said the celebrity, “he was a great man, and like a father figure to me.”