“ I don't actually know why you've got to be so pissed off at this, Karl is helping us find my dream, a dream which I believed was once lost.... I never agreed to it at first, you was the one who wanted me to go to that show, I just don't understand why you're against it right now....”, Caro said, the tension in the van gently going high.
“ I never said I was pissed off baby, I am just not in support of his actions, he just showed up out of nowhere, he came to us urgently and just told, hey.... I fixed another show for you guys which would be happening tomorrow, do we look like a f**king slave to him or something?, Was he the one that f**king employed us?, We agreed to that show because it was a vacation weekend and it would be a great memory to enjoy, but now, today, we have left the restaurant just for an urgent show....”. Williams replied, eyes never leaving the road while the argument went on.
“ $5000?, Doesn't a huge amount like that worth it?..... We can't even get half of that cash in a month at the restaurant, but here we're, about to get it in a day, for just few hours......”. Caro replied, speaking as if she was trying to convince Williams to look at the situation from her own angle.
“ I'm never against the show Caro, I never said I was, what I am trying to make clear here is that, with the information coming so late, it's best to reject it than kind of sell ourselves like that, I am just saying ”. Both of them are trying to make the other look at it from their way but none was ready to listen to the other. I'm just seated in the middle between them, frustration gently creeping in into Caro's face.
“ You know what Willy?..... forget about it, we've already agreed to this, there's no need this argument.....”, Caro said, eyes looking out the window. “ Fine....”, Williams said, eyes never leaving the road, at least that shows we're in safe hands.
“ I appreciate that you guys has concluded with this argument, but the looks on your faces doesn't say so, I don't know whether I should put up my opinion on this matter, but I believe you guys should hear it.... Both of you are right, Mr Karl did came late if we're really going for this today, but since Caro here is the one performing and she agrees with the urgency, then I believe we should just respect her decision and take this cash offered to us or I can say you guys if I shouldn't get ahead of myself....”.
I said my mind, in here, we have freedom of speech, so I can share with them what's in my mind. “ You're part of the family Ember, stop counting yourself out....”, Williams said and Caro seems to agree with him, reducing the intensity of isolation between them.
Here we're again, standing at the back stage, watching Caro take everyone's mind out of this world with her voice and song, the smile on Williams face was worth more than gold, they were genuine and relaxed, having that proud look that Caro belongs to him alone.
“ Hey Ember, thought I would see you here and I sure did....”. It was Ryan, he's standing right next to me, all his attention on my face rather than on the stage where Caro was performing. “ I guess you can never stop staring?...”, I said to him, my eyes on the stage but can still see him with the side angle of my eyes, he was just staring at me.
“ I can't seem to help it Ember, I feel like I have to memorize your face and print them into my mind....”, he said. I turned to him this time, surprised that he can't seem to run out of words. His hands were placed right inside his pocket as he now looks away, staring at Caro sing.
“ Wait here for me Ember, I have to look into something, you and Caro should wait here for my return....”, Williams said and walked away from us, I wonder where he's headed too, somewhere urgent that requires us to stay behind and wait for his return.
“ You know..... My Dad told me you came here the last time too, that's why I decided to come with him today, believing you would be here, and here you're....”, Ryan said to me, his attention has returned to me again, but this time, he turned his body at me, his frame facing me and his back on the stage as he acted too confident for a boy his age.
“ I believe you shouldn't focus on me Ryan, you should focus on learning how to swim first.....”, I said to him. The look on his face turned to excitement, “ I thought you would never ask, I indulge into a serious training on swimming, now I am good at it in just few days, I believe I will impress you with my skills on the perfect day ”. His smile was reaching his eyes as he say those words.
I never knew Caro was done singing until I saw her by my side, “ Where's Williams?...”, she asked me, I told her exactly what he told me, she wasn't impressed by it, but we stayed there and waited like we were ordered.
“ Common guys we have to go!, We have to get out of here immediately, there's no time....”, Williams was in a hurry, trying to get us going, we were confused about his sudden action, what's wrong?.
He was about taking us with him, but stopped, then looked at Ryan who was there with us, “ keep them safe for me, I will be back!...”.