Isaac and Zac walked into the Blue Rose Cafe. Ahh, this brought back memories.
"This was a good idea of yours Ike," Zac commented. "It's been ages since we've been here."
"That it has," Isaac replied.
A waitor was soon with them and showed them to a table. Isaac and Zac settled themselves down with the menus.
"Menu hasn't changed a bit," Isaac mused.
Zac burst out laughing and Isaac looked at him in confusion:
"It's not that funny..."
"No, not the menu. The stage!"
Isaac looked up and noted two young women on stage. One was centre stage with a guitar, and the other slightly back on percussion.
"Okay... I've missed something..."
"The girl with the guitar? Her name's Tristan. We've been bumping into each other, like every week for the past month. She a part time student, part time model, part time spruker, and evidently, part time singer/song writer. She's funny. She's a Dath with Smoke Screen - "
"Now there's a power I haven't met many people with."
"It's rare, and don't change the subject. She likes video games. She has a cousin named Meg. And when we met up with each other last week, we discussed - in jest - about how I'm stalking her and have turned my bedroom into a shrine dedicated to her. Amongst other things."
"I see."
"Don't you get it Ike? I know Tristan almost as well as I know any of my friends from bumping into her so often, and I haven't even got her phone number."
"Zac..." Isaac eyed him warily.
"Ike, I have the phone numbers of friends as well as lovers," Zac frowned at him.
"Yeah, well, I don't believe that you have any of the latter at the moment."
"And I'm not looking either."
"Gotten over your little addition have you?"
"I believe I have passed the withdrawl symptoms stage. Geez. Here I am, telling you about how well I know Tristan and we're not even intentionally in contact with each other, and you get all... all... all stupid about it."
"Sorry Zac."
"Eh, it's okay. I know that it's Tay and Nat everyone wants to see children coming from right now, not any more from me."
Tristan
Tristan noticed someone out of the corner of her eye as she was singing and after looking at him for a good 30 seconds, she realised it was Zac. She finished up the song she was playing and let out a laugh.
"Ok, so there's this guy I met like a month ago? Something like that. And since that first meeting, we've managed to run into each other about a thousand times, so I finally questioned him about it last time, and it turns out, he's stalking me. Which is kinda cool, I feel like I'm finally getting my big break, you know? A stalker, an EP out, it's all happening for Trizzy. I mean, I've waited years for a stalker, and to finally have one? It's a dream come true," Tristan told the crowd.
"Woooo! Stalker!" a group of guys yelled from the corner, applauding loudly.
"Exactly," Tristan said, nodding. "So in honour of my stalker being here, I dedicate this song..."
She winked at Zac, then stepped back slightly to start playing her guitar.
"Ohh no don't you come at me
With that look you got so down
You got me floating like a bubble
Ever since you came around
And even strangers seem to notice
And all my friends can tell
To keep you comin I just keep on running
But your lovin tripped me and I fell
I hope I always
Always feel this way
Always feel this way
Pushin my buttons like we're on the elevator
Keep your eyes on this, but savin it for later
Cause we never rushed, and we always took our time
Make sure to make me yours, I'll make sure to make you mine
And then we'll always, always
feel this way
always feel this way
Cause you got what I want
You got what I need
Baby I don't wanna settle for no other
Can't you see
All you need is me
To always feel this way...
So if you're wishin on stars
You better go out and get it
Cause you if you want it bad enough
You won't stop until you have it
Don't let them tell you
what you can and cannot do
You've got to see it through
Like you always knew
It'd feel this way..."
Isaac and Zac
Zac cracked up laughing at Tristan's intro. Isaac shook his head.
"See?" Zac chuckled. "I told you."
"Yes... she now believes that you're stalking her."
"Aww, I'm not really. Just a joke - shh! Wanna listen!"
And Zac made Isaac shut up while Tristan sang her song.
"I don't know, Zac... I mean, she's the one who's dedicated a song to you. Maybe she's stalking you."
"Umm, I don't think so," Zac replied. "I mean, it was your idea to come here, and unless she has some telepathic friend who can manipulate - oh, wait, you have that shield Tanya gave you... won't work."
Isaac shook his head as the waitor reappeared to take their order.
Tristan
"So we just came back from Australia like... 2 months ago," Tristan started. "We did a mini tour down there. And more or less just surfed and played shows."
"I was petrified of surfing," Jen spoke up, tcuking some hair behind her ears. "I just kept thinking I was going to get eaten by a shark."
"Shark's love to eat musicians, you see," Tristan added.
"No, they love to eat white Jewish chicks," Jen protested. "But hey, didn't get eaten, or even close to being eaten, so that was a plus! I will go back to Australia."
Tristan snickered. "Shut up and play your box," she said good naturedly.
"She hardly ever lets me out!" Jen joked.
Tristan let out a laugh and looked back at Jen, both of them giggling. "Alright, so this is a song about another boy who was lame."
And with that, she proceeded to sing another song.
Isaac and Zac
"Please note Zac, she said 'another boy who was lame'. Another," Isaac said, waggling his eyebrows.
"Dork," Zac replied.
Isaac chuckled.
"Speaking of lameboys, when Tay and Nat coming back from their honeymoon?"
"Soon. I don't remember what day."
"That's a help."
"Sorry."
"Actually..."
"What?"
"Well, sooner or later - hopefully sooner - Nat's going to move in."
"Yeah?"
"Well, I was thinking I might move out."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, give the lovebirds some room. I mean, I only moved in with Tay in the first place because of his alterego problem, and that's no longer an issue."
"True."
"Wouldn't want to cramp their style."
"Nope."
"Wouldn't want to cramp yours either."
"I'm not like that Zac."
"I know. You're so boring."
"Ner."
"So, is this your way of asking whether you can move in with me?"
Isaac shrugged.
"I hadn't really decided whether to ask you or Mom and Dad, actually. I barely had any time to enjoy my little bachelor pad in the basement before moving out."
Zac chuckled.
"She's really good," Isaac commented.
"Yep."
Tristan
"So I guess it has become the time for me to wrap up this little show. Thanks for coming and listening to my rambling stories," Tristan said, smiling. "I'll be playing in a few weeks time, real life has sorta interfered at the moment, so you can check on my website for more details. Don't forget to buy the Love EP, if you haven't already."
"She's always getting busted custard for not plugging her merch," Jen added.
"Exactly, and we don't want old Trizzy getting in trouble."
Tristan gave another wave and headed offstage. She put her guitar in the stand, took a long swig of water, and took her cardigan off, then headed out to the cafe to get some food, maybe say hi to Zac.
Isaac and Zac
Isaac and Zac applauded loudly.
"Do you have her CD, too?" Isaac asked.
"No. Didn't realise she had one," Zac mused. "Although it makes sense... I shall pick up a copy, methinks."
Isaac nodded as their food arrived.
Tristan
Tristan and Jen were heading over to their own table, which happened to lead them past Isaac and Zac's table.
"Hey Zac," she said, slowing down a little, but not stopping altogether.
Jen was already at the table.
Isaac and Zac
"Hi Tristan," Zac waved. "Long time no see."
Isaac chuckled.
"This is my brother, Ike."
"Hey. Good show."
Tristan
"Hey," Tristan greeted Isaac. "Thanks, I'm glad you liked it."
She looked over at her table.
"Hey, I should grab some food, but maybe we'll catch up later?"
Isaac and Zac
"Sure, that be great," Zac replied.
"I'm sure at the rate you two have been bumping into each other, it'll be inevitable," Isaac joked.
Zac grinned.
Tristan
Tristan laughed, sketched a salute and then headed off to her table. She sat down opposite Jen, who had already ordered for both of them.
"It's that guy again," Jen said, discreetly gesturing at Zac.
"Yeah, I know, it's weird, hey? I keep running into him," Tristan replied, looking up as the waitress put the big plate of nachos down in between them on the table.
"Thanks."
Jen grinned. "I wouldn't mind running into him more. He's cute!"
"I know," Tristan laughed. "But he's actually also a really nice guy as well."
The pair continued to gossip about Zac for awhile over dinner, before moving onto different topics.
"I should go pack my stuff," Jen commented, finishing off her drink.
"Yeah, I've gotta get the merch stuff organised."
Tristan and Jen got up from their table, having already paid, and went their separate ways, Jen heading out the back, and Tristan heading for her merch table.
Isaac and Zac
The waitor dropped off the bill. Isaac picked it up, glanced at it, then handed to to Zac and started fishing out his share.
"I think..." Zac said, "that when I get her album, I might try to get her phone number as well."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I think that if we're going to continue to see each other all the time, we ought to make it official."
Isaac chuckled.
"Well," he said, nodding his head in Tristan's direction, "if you give me your share, I can go pay, and you can talk to her."
"Cool."
Zac handed over his share, and then made his way over to the merch table.
"Hey," he said.
Tristan
Tristan looked up from the CD jacket she'd been signing for some other guy, one of the fans that kept track of her gigs, and smiled warmly at Zac.
"Hey."
She finished signing her name with a flourish and handed it back to the guy. "Good to see you again, Jay."
"You were awesome, as always Trizzy. Anyway, I'll get those fliers sorted and get my team together to post them around town," he said.
"Thanks man."
"No probs." Jay saluted, taking his CD and left Zac and Tristan alone.
"So, have a good dinner?" Tristan laughed, tucking some hair behind her ears.
Zac
"I did, yes," Zac replied. "Thanks for asking. So I figured it's about time I bought your CD. I mean, every good stalker's supposed to have stacks of their victim - err, I mean, object of affections' things, right?"
He grinned mischeviously at her.
Tristan
Tristan giggled.
"That's very true, and no doubt you want to excel in your stalker field, and maybe become the number one stalker..."
She handed Zac a CD.
"Do you want me to sign it? So that you can take it home and put it in your Tristan shrine?"
Zac
"Sure," Zac replied. "It's most sporting of you."
He grinned at Tristan.
"But all joking aside... okay, stalker jokes aside, umm, could I get your number? Y'know seeing as how we keep bumping into each other all the time, y'know... may as well make our friendship official, huh? Y'know... assuming you'd like to be friends. Otherwise I guess we'll just have to stick with being aquaintences who keep on bumping into each other all the time and make stalker jokes."
Tristan
Tristan laughed.
"Yeah sure."
She opened the CD case and pulled out the little booklet, then wrote a note on it for Zac.
'To my favourite stalker,
Stop watching me in the shower, I'm starting to feel self conscious!
Love Tristan xx'
She pulled out her phone, then handed Zac his CD.
Zac
"Thanks," Zac said.
He pulled the money for the CD out of his pocket and handed it to her, then checked out what she wrote in the booklet and laughed.
Tristan
"Taa muchly," Tristan replied, taking the money and giving him the appropriate change.
She scribbled her number down on a piece of paper and handed it to him.
"Just prank my cell, I'll get your number that way."
Zac and Isaac
"Rightio then," Zac replied.
It was then that Isaac joined them.
"Hey," he said.
Now there's an inspiring entrance. Ahem.
Tristan
"Hey," Tristan greeted.
She straightened up her CD display while talking to the brothers.
"So, your plans for the rest of the night? And don't say nothing, because the night is young, and so are we."
Zac and Isaac
"Isn't there are song with that line?" Zac mused. "I'm almost sure there is..."
"And if there's not, there should be?" Isaac asked, amused.
"Yes. I think I'll look it up on google when I get home. Google is our friend."
"You have interesting friends, Zac."
"Well, yes, this is true. So, what were we going to do after dinner anyway, Ikers?"
"I don't know about you, but I was planning on going home and doing more research."
"Ike?"
"Yes, Zac?"
"Are you ever going to finish, and actually produce the darn book?"
"I've gotten that much material I'm thinking of writing a series."
"You worry me," and Zac turned back to Tristan. "Okay, so Ikers was planning on being stupid and working tonight instead of crusing for chicks or something sane like that. I was actually planning on listening to your CD, but those plans can change."
Tristan
"You're writing a book?" Tristan asked Ike, looking interested. "That's pretty awesome."
She glanced at Zac for a second.
"Well, I felt like cruising around listening to music, how about it, Zac-man?"
Isaac and Zac
"Sounds like a plan, Triz-girl," Zac replied.
"Well, it looks like you two are decided," Isaac grinned.
Tristan
"Awesome, well I have my van out the back," Tristan said, nodding. "A combi. A shagging wagon, if you will."
She laughed.
"I even have shag carpeting in the back, so when I tour, I can sleep there."
Isaac and Zac
"Ha ha, awesome," Zac said.
"Okay, well, I'll take this moment to depart," Isaac said.
"Okay Ikers. See ya tomorrow?"
"No doubt. Oh, and Zac?"
"Yes'm?"
"No shagging in the shagging wagon."
Zac pulled a face at him.
"Don't say that," he said. "It only serves to reminds us that youv'e been hanging around me way too long. Sounds like something I would say."
Isaac chuckled.
"Later Tristan."
Tristan
"See ya," Tristan said, grinning.
She turned to face Zac.
"So, Stalker-boy, wanna help me pack this up? Then we'll cruise like the cool kids we are?"
Zac and Isaac
"Sounds like a plan," Zac nodded as Isaac departed.
He looked at the table.
"Where would you like me to start?"
Tristan
"Um, could you fold the table up in a sec?"
Tristan was putting her CD's and stickers into a box, and gestured to the table.
She put the filled box onto the ground and then looked at Zac, holding onto one end of the table to help him.
Zac
Zac loosend and collasped the legs, then took hold of the now flat table.
"Alrighty then. That everything?"
Tristan
"Yep, just gotta load it into Agnes," Tristan told him, referring to her van.
She grabbed her bag and the box of CD's and led him outside.
Zac
"Agnes?" Zac questioned.
Carrying the table, he followed Tristan out.
"Oh, your van! Cool, you named your van? I have a van too. He doesn't have a name though."
Tristan
"Yep, Agnes and I, we've gone through some times together."
Tristan laughed.
"Zac, you HAVE to name your van! It's like... it's like the rule of vans. They must all be named."
Zac
"Yes... yes you're quite right," Zac nodded.
He stood by the van waiting for Tristan to open up so he could put the table in for her.
"Lemme see... What to name my van?" he pondered.
Tristan
"Something old-man-ish, as that is the rule of vans."
Tristan nodded, opening the back of the van so she could load it up with the merch.
"Like Boris. Or something."
Zac
Zac loaded in the table and gave Tristan a hand loading the merc.
"Hmm... how about Gertrude? Or Irma? Or Leopold?"
Tristan
"Well you referred to your van as a 'he', so I guess it needs a boys name."
Tristan finished packing the boot and closed it, going around to the passenger side and unlocking Zac's door before going around to her own side.
Zac
"This is a good point," Zac nodded.
He climbed into the van and waited for Tristan to open her door before continuing:
"Leopold it is."
Tristan
"We'll have to introduce Leopold and Agnes one day."
Tristan grinned, as she turned the key to start the van.
"So, to wherever the night takes us?"
Zac
"Yes," Zac nodded.
He pulled down the seat belt and buckled himself in.
"Oooh, do you suppose Agnes and Leopold will hit it off?" he asked. "Y'know, date? They could go to the drive in movie theatre, and go to the mechanics together."
Tristan
"I don't know," Tristan said, giving Zac a sideways glance. "The last van Agnes dated turned out to be a real bomb."
She grinned slightly.
Zac
"Aww, that's a shame," Zac replied, grinning back. "But I'm sure that Leopold will be able to sweep Agnes off her wheels."
He chuckled.
Tristan
"Confident. I like it."
Tristan flicked the switch of the radio, so her iPod, which was connected, would start playing.
"So... what to do? Cow tipping? Playgrounds... the mall?"
Zac
"Ummmmmmm, welllll, cow tipping is only fun if you're drunk, and I've sworn off the kero, so that's out," Zac said.
Yes, let's try to avoid sex this time, eh?
"What do you want to do at the playground?"
Tristan
"I don't know, moonlight slippery dipping?"
Tristan shrugged slightly, rounding the corner.
"Pick a place, and we'll go there."
Zac
"Yes!" Zac exhulted. "Moonlight slippery dipping! Why should kids have all the fun?"
He grinned broadly.
"To the playground, Robin," he said, pointing his hand in the air.
Tristan
Tristan laughed and turned the car in the direction of the playground.
"Jeepers," she said dryly.
She flicked her headlights on highbeam for a second, then cut them as she pulled into a parking space.
Zac
Zac chuckled, and got out of the van when the engine stopped.
"Whoo hoo! Playground!"
He rounded the van so he was near Tristan's door and opened it for her.
"Milady," he said.
Tristan
Tristan grinned and stepped out of the van, locking it behind her.
"Why thank you. So, shall we commence slippery dipping?"
Zac
"Yes, let's," Zac replied.
He bounced from one foot to the other, grinned broadly and said:
"Race ya!"
And he was off and running towards the slippery dip.
Tristan
Tristan grinned slightly and impaired one of his senses. More specifically, sight. A cloud surrounded Zac and while he was distracted, she zoomed past him to reach the play equipment, only dissolving the cloud once she was there.
She chuckled.
Zac
"Hey, no fair!" Zac complained as he stumbled and fell.
He picked himself up again and threw him arms out, then the cloud lifted, and he closed the distance to the slide.
"Meanie!"
Tristan
Tristan laughed and climbed up to the top of the slide.
"It's part of my charm."
Zac
"And how charming you are," Zac replied.
Once Tristan had moved far enough up the stair, Zac followed.
"Oooh nice view from here," he joked.
Tristan
"Oh, I can be very charming," Tristan said flirtatiously.
She sat down and then slid down the pipe... slide... thing.
Zac
Zac waited until she cleared the bottom and then slid down as well.
"Cowabun-" he began to shout.
Then he got to the end.
"Hmph. That's no fun. I never got to finish saying 'cowabunga'."
Tristan
"It's because you're too tall," Tristan informed him, running over to the swings.
"If you pull your knees up against your chest you might have a chance."
Zac
"Hmm, I see," Zac said. "Rightio then."
He ran after her, and sat himself in one of the swings.
"Bet I can swing higher than you," he challenged.
Tristan
"I'll have you know that I am a swing champion," Tristan retorted.
She started to swing higher.
Zac
"Bah! You shall fall to the ground at my swing!" Zac replied. "There comes a time where all champions must fall to their mighter challengers!"
He considered as he pumped his legs, swinging higher and higher.
"Unless... unless they chicken out and retire while they're still in their prime."
Tristan
"Oh you think you're worthy enough to compete with me, do you?"
Tristan swung her legs out, taking herself higher and higher.
Zac
"Not only to compete, but also to beat you," Zac confirmed.
Zac was now swinging so high, that the swing was starting to do that little jump thing.
Tristan
Tristan laughed, her hair flowing up behind her as she started to kick her legs out more, in order to beat Zac.
Well she was trying, until the swingset gave an almighty jump coupled with a loud groan and she suddenly had the feeling it was going to topple.
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!" she exclaimed, jumping off when she was in the air, completing a perfect flip and landing a few feet away, standing.
"Oh yeah, beat that."
Zac
"Okay, I will," Zac replied, accepting the challenge.
He swung back and forth a few more times, maintaining his momentum and when the timing was right jumped off into the air. He did a flip... and landed flat on his back.
Tristan
Tristan snorted.
"That was amazing."
She paused.
"Are you ok?"
Zac
Zac picked himself up.
"Yes, yes, I am fine. A little embarrassed maybe, but fine," he replied good-naturedly.
He brushed the dirt off his person.
Tristan
"Good to know."
Tristan glanced up at the sky, then went and perched on the swing again, slowly swinging this time, more or less dragging her feet in the sand.
Zac
Zac caught his swing (as it was still swinging), and sat down on it also.
"So," he said.
Tristan
Tristan suddenley realised that this could get awkward.
"So," she echoed, kicking her thongs off and letting her bare feet drag on the ground.
Zac
"So," Zac grinned. "So. So. So. So."
He chuckled.
"So, have any topics of discussion you would like to converse on? Or shall we keep saying so?"
Tristan
"Well, 'so' is a very good word," Tristan said. "It says a lot, I think."
She swung gently back and forth.
"What else is news?"
Zac
"Well, let me see..." Zac considered.
He stuck out his tongue and considered.
"My brothers and I are almost done with our next album."
Tristan
"Oh yeah, that's kinda cool."
Tristan scratched her chin absently.
"Planning a tour?"
Zac
"Not just yet," Zac replied. "We'll probably have a meeting in a couple of weeks to talk about a promo tour though."
He swung back and forth on the swing.
Tristan
"Need an opening act?" Tristan joked.
She stretched her legs out in front of her, using her arms to keep her balance on the swing.
Zac
Zac considered.
"Probably not for the promo tour," he replied finally. "But you are pretty good, and Ike's heard you perform now too, so it would just be talking Taylor into it. Maybe for the actual concert tour, if you're not busy with something else by then. Probably next year."
He knew that she had been asking in jest, but Zac felt the need to respond in sincerity.
Tristan
Tristan laughed slightly.
"Hey, it's all good, I was just kidding, don't look so serious kiddo."
She absently started swinging again.
Zac
Zac smiled.
"Well, you are good," he replied.
He stopped the swing so he could stand on the seat and swing.
Tristan
Tristan blushed slightly.
"Hey, I used to love doing that as a kid."
She stopped swinging to follow suit.
Zac
Zac grinned.
"Swinging while standing on swings is very cool," he said.
Tristan
Tristan laughed and leant back as far as she could without toppling backwards, her hands still clutching at the chains.
"It's tres awesome."
Zac
Zac grinned. He stepped down to steady the swing, stepped back up again and then started swinging side to side. He grabbed the chain of Tristan's swing.
"Hi!"
Tristan
Tristan looked over at him and smiled faintly.
"Hey."
Zac
Zac beamed at her.
"Wow, she looks so beautiful," he thought to himself, admiring the way she looked in the moonlight, with the faint glow of street lamps in the back ground. A light breeze gently blowing her brown hair.
And before he even thought about what he was doing, he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
Tristan
Tristan's eyes widened slightly with surprise, then she relaxed into it and kissed him back.
She pulled away a few moments later.
"Um."
Zac
It was then that Zac realised what just happened, and he let go of the swing.
"Sorry," he said, as his swing swung from side to side. "I'm sorry."
Tristan
Tristan jumped down from the swing and perched on the edge, blushing slightly.
"No, no, it's ok, I just don't normally... I don't normally just kiss random boys."
She realised she may just be babbling, but it was ok, she was still in shock.
Zac
"Really? I have the opposite problem," Zac replied ironically. "Why do you think I have an Adige wife? Because I have that many kids to that many different women they think I'm freaking fantastic and YIRAAS actually made a personal request that I marry one for dilomatic purposes."
He sighed.
"I'm sorry," he said again.
Tristan
Tristan stood from the swingset.
"I just don't usually kiss people unless I know it's going to go somewhere, and something tells me that this probably won't go anywhere, so I'm just gonna... are you right to get home from here, or do you need a lift?"
She half hoped he needed a lift, but that would be really awkward after that kiss and the fact that he had sorta snapped at her afterwards for having morals.
Zac
"I'm sorry," Zac repeated.
"Zac, stop repeating yourself!"
He forced himself to look at her.
"I... I would like to still be friends..." he said. "I'm... I'm not going to... I just couldn't... You looked so beautiful. And you're smart and charming and talented. And I swear, I'm not going to try and get you into bed or anything. I..."
He shook his head, his voice trailing off. He stopped the swing and sat down on it, looking back down at the ground.
"Nevermind," Zac said at last. "You're probably better off without me in your life. Some people get addicted to drugs, but I got addicted to sex. And that's what I turned to - or used to - whenever I was depressed. I... I think you're a really great person, Tristan. I don't want to ruin your life."
Tristan
Tristan sighed slightly and put her arm around Zac's shoulders.
"It's ok... I mean it was a little out of the blue, but it wasn't horrible. It's me, really. I just don't usually do anything until I'm in a relationship or anything... it's probably just me being a freak and old fashioned, but yeah."
She rubbed his back gently.
"But I would like to still be your friend."
Zac
Zac looked up at her, and smiled.
"Nothing wrong with being old fashioned," he said. "I kinda... don't want to... y'know, until I marry. Well, again. But if we both want to be friends, all is good. And I promise I'll refrain from kissing you again."
Tristan
"Cool."
Tristan paused awkwardly.
"So, do you need a lift home or anything?"
Zac
Zac stood up.
"Umm, yes please," he said. "If you don't mind."
Tristan
"K."
Tristan led him back over to her van and opened it up for him.
Zac
Before long, Zac was being dropped off at his door. He waved goodbye to his new friend, and as he walked inside, promised himself that he wouldn't do anything to screw up this friendship, like he almost did before it had even began.