Center Stage - Chapter 6

As I got home from school, I mostly wanted to call Kat, both to talk to her about tutoring, since she’d gotten me through all of my previous rough spots in school, and to just check in with her about how I was feeling. I really did want to finish my senior year in person, so I could graduate with my friends, but the more I was gone, the further I felt from everyone, to the point where I felt more like an observer than a peer.

Unfortunately, her schedule in the afternoons was tight. She had a late afternoon class that wouldn’t finish until four, and then pool time with her coaches until nine. I loved her and supported all of her achievements, but having an internationally competitive athlete as a girlfriend made it hard to find time together. Not that I had room to talk. My schedule was just as busy as hers.

Today was no different. I’d gotten a text from Warren just as I got out of school that he’d arranged a call with the family of the man who’d gotten injured in Los Angeles.

“Hey, Charlie,” Mrs. Phillips called as I came through the front door. “How was school?”

“It was okay,” I said, surprised to see her home this early. “Just a lot going on, you know?”

“I can only imagine. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Thanks, I will.” I headed upstairs, throwing my backpack on the bed.

I’d go down and talk to her when I was done with Warren, but I mostly needed to commiserate with someone my own age. Mrs. Phillips was great, and I appreciated her immensely, but I also knew she’d tell me that this was just one part of my life and I’d soon be off to “bigger and better” things. That was probably true, but it also wasn’t enormously helpful either.

“Charlie, perfect timing,” he said, picking up on the first ring. “I’ve got the Saunders on the other line. You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I said, sitting on the edge of my bed.

I’d suggested this, but now that we were down to it, I wasn’t even sure what I was going to say to them: “Hi, I’m Charlie, and I’d like to use your tragedy to help me get more books!”

“Hello? Is this Charlie?” a woman with some kind of European accent said.

“Hi. Yeah, this is Charlie,” I said, trying to sound confident and reassuring. “How are you holding up?”

“We’re ... managing,” she said carefully. “It’s been a difficult few days.”

“I can only imagine, and I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. I know Warren talked to you about some of this already, but I wanted to talk to you personally first. I’ve heard about what you’re all going through, and I’m so sorry. I know this must be an incredibly tough time for your family. I know this is all very strange and probably hard to believe, since we don’t know each other, but I really want to help you all out. Did Warren tell you about the donation of my earnings for Sunday’s show toward your family’s medical expenses and we’d begin the process of setting up a campaign where people can donate directly to your family to help with expenses?”

There was a long pause.

“He did. As I said to your Mr. Rice, this is very generous of you, but we couldn’t possibly accept such a large sum from a stranger.”

“Please, I insist. I know this probably sounds like some kind of a scam, and I can respect your being hesitant. What I can say is I also know what it’s like to struggle, to worry about how you’re going to pay for the basics, let alone unexpected medical bills. My father was a traveling musician when I was young and we grew up living out of a small RV. I grew up without insurance, and my mom and I were homeless for a big chunk of my childhood. I know how one emergency can just ... wreck everything you’ve built.”

When she didn’t answer right away, I pressed on.

“I happened to get very lucky, mostly because I had people who helped me when I needed it most. And now I’m in a position to pay that forward. I know it might be hard to trust some kid you’ve never met, but I also know what kind of difference this can make. I just want to help however I can.”

“This is ... incredibly kind of you, Charlie,” she said, the doubt in her voice finally seeming to strip away. “I don’t know what to say.”

I could hear her start to become emotional. I know exactly what she was feeling. That moment when all you can see is darkness with no way out, and someone shows up with a life line. It can be overwhelming.

“You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to focus on taking care of your husband and your kids. We’ll handle most of the work to get the money to you. But, I wanted to make sure we kept you informed about what we were doing, if for nothing else, to give you peace of mind that this is real and not some kind of set up.”

“That’s … that’s wonderful news. This will make such a difference for us. I can’t even begin to express our gratitude.”

“I’m just happy I can help. Aside from your medical bills, I remember what it was like, watching my mother trying juggle dealing with me and making sure I had everything I needed while making sure we had food and … everything else. I know it was hard on her, and I can imagine you’re under a similar kind of strain. I know there are local organizations that specialize in helping families in situations like yours, helping with things like childcare when you have to go to the hospital, transportation, and maybe even finding a way to get you guys on some kind of supplemented insurance. I can’t promise anything, but Warren has already started calling around to these groups to see if he can find some willing to help you. I think he’s also already talked to my lawyers to see if they could help.”

“I have, and Arthur is looking into it.”

“Good,” I said. “I don’t know how long that will take to set up, but we’ll stay on top of it and make sure you get actual, physical help, in addition to the money.”

“Oh, that would be amazing,” she said, sounding overwhelmed. “It’s been so hard trying to juggle everything while Sheldon is in the hospital. I feel like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions.”

“These services exist for this exact reason,” Warren said. “You shouldn’t have to handle all of this on your own. We’ll do everything we can to make this process as smooth as possible for you. If there’s anything else we can do, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“That’s incredibly generous of you. I can’t even begin to thank you enough.”

“I have one other thing,” Warren said. “You don’t have to feel obliged to do this, but Charlie will be performing in Las Vegas this coming weekend. I was thinking that, if you could use a little break from all of the stuff going on, we’d offer you an invitation to the show. We’ll provide airline tickets and show tickets for everyone, let you and the kids come back stage. If you do decide to go, I’ll make sure I’m there to help escort you all around and make it as care-free and fun of an event as possible. If nothing else, to give your kids a break from what I’m sure has been a lot of stress.”

“I hope you do take Warren up on that offer,” I added. “It would mean a lot to me personally to have you all there, and meet you in person.”

“I … I’ll talk to Sheldon, but I’m sure he’ll say we should go and have a good time.”

“Do you know when he’s going to be released from the hospital?” I asked.

“He’s in stable condition and they have him on medication that should help control his condition, for now. It isn’t long term, which is why he needs the surgery, but he’ll at least get to come home.”

“That’s great news. Make sure he knows this invitation is for him too, if his doctors say it’s okay.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“Good. You have Warren’s information if you need anything, and we’ll handle everything else. Please do consider it.”

“I will. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.”

“You’re very welcome. Take care, Mrs. Saunders. We’ll be in touch.”

As the call ended, I turned to Warren. “The Vegas show invitation was a nice touch. I didn’t know we were doing that.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. The tour manager got wind of what we were planning and thought it would be a good opportunity to promote the show. I worked it out with him a few hours ago, but I was so focused on getting the family on board, I forgot to mention it to you.”

“No worries, man. It’s a great idea, I was just surprised is all.”

“Good, good,” Warren said, sounding relieved. “I didn’t want you to think I was going behind your back or anything.”

“Not at all. I trust you to handle this kind of stuff. I will admit, I’m feeling a little guilty that I’m not being entirely forthcoming about our ulterior motives here, or those from the tour.”

“Charlie, what you’re doing is a good thing, period. Yes, it’ll probably generate some good press for you, but so what? You’re still helping a family in need. That’s what matters.”

“I guess,” I said.

When I hung up a few minutes later, I still wasn’t completely convinced he was right, though.

Hanging up with Warren, my evening had only barely started. I still had band practice in an hour and a mountain of homework to do. Before that, though, I still had one other call to make.

At least this one I wasn’t dreading.

“Hey, what’s up?” Kat said when she answered, sounding distracted and a bit out of breath.

“Hey, is everything okay? You sound kinda frazzled.”

“Ugh, yeah, sorry. It’s just been a couple of days at practice and I’m trying to get all of my homework done before my biology group in thirty minutes so I can squeeze in a little more pool time tonight before it closes.”

“Is everything going alright in practice?” I asked.

Kat liked to keep a schedule, doing her routines the same every day. If she was trying to get extra pool time, it meant something was going wrong or she was worried about something. The something was obvious, since we were only about five and a half months out from the Olympics, but that still left a big area open for specifics.

“I’m still behind on my times for the eight hundred and fifteen hundred freestyle. I was good enough to make the event, but there are at least ten other swimmers putting up better times than I did at trials. I’m not going to do all this for eleventh place. On top of that, Marlene, she just won’t let up. Keeps messing with me for no damn reason.”

“Seriously? I thought she’d backed off since you’re not even competing against each other right now.”

Marlene was two years ahead of Kat and had been the best freestyle swimmer on the team until Kat showed up. She had not taken well to being knocked to second best, especially by a freshman, and had made her displeasure known as often as possible. Kat had hoped she’d back off this semester, since Kat had pulled out of all team events with the blessings of the coaching staff except for one near the end of the year against their rivals, in order to get ready for the Olympics. Which meant, for a while at least, Marlene got to go back to being first.

“She feels like I’m trying to show her up by ‘letting’ her win races again, and is still trying to get the others to complain to the coaches about my taking up all of the facilities.”

“No one’s listening to her, though. Right?”

“Not yet. That’s how I heard about it. She still hasn’t learned how to be subtle, and she won’t let up, so it’s pissing a lot of them off too.”

“She’s just jealous. As long as she’s not getting anywhere, just ignore her. It’s killing her that she knows the only reason she gets to start winning races again is because you’ve got better things to deal with. That and she loves the drama. Ignore her.”

“I know, I know.”

“Don’t ‘I know, I know.’ I’m serious. She’s just a distraction. She wants to get in your head. You’ve worked too hard for someone like Marlene to throw you off. You’ll get your times up and kill it this summer.”

“I hope so. Some days I wonder if it’s all worth it, you know? The constant training, the pressure, dealing with teammates who seem more interested in tearing me down than building me up. Plus... I’ve still got classes to pass.”

“You and I both know you’re smart enough to sleepwalk through those classes.”

“I wish,” she said. “Sorry for dumping all of that on you”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m always here if you need to vent. You shouldn’t have to deal with all this stress alone.”

“Thanks, Charlie. I appreciate that. I really do. Normally, I’d talk to Hanna about it, but … she’s never around lately and when she is, she’s in such a foul mood.”

“The Professor?” I said, venturing a guess.

“Probably, but I don’t know. She’s stopped talking about him altogether. All I know is she’s fine when she pops in after class to grab something on her way to see him, but if she has to spend the night in the dorm? Watch out.”

“The last time I talked to her, just before the start of the semester, she said some things that make me think Cross has started hunting for his next conquest. She was really worried about him talking to other girls.”

“Sounds about right. I’m shocked he’s stuck it out with one student for so long, based on what I’ve heard about him. I hope it’s true, then maybe she’ll finally get her head out of her ass.”

“Maybe,” I said, although I doubted that would solve her real problem.

Hanna had terrible taste in men. Cross wasn’t the first bad choice she’d made, and I doubted he’d be the last. At least, not until she hit rock bottom. Who knows, maybe things would go so bad this would be rock bottom. Not that I hoped for a terrible outcome for my friend, but if it was the only way to get her to start making better decisions, that was preferable to the alternative.

“Yeah,” she said. “Anyway, enough about my drama, you called me. What’s up? Or did you just want to hear my voice and tell me how great I am.”

“Well, I did want to do that, but I actually do need some help with something. I’m having trouble with the new format we worked out for my remote learning, and Ms. Hayes suggested I needed to start doing tutoring again. I guess she talked to some of my teachers from sophomore year.”

“Oh, well, I could help with that,” Kat said, although she sounded a lot less confident than the words she used would indicate. “I could try to set up some time to work with you on Mondays, although we were just talking about adding an additional practice later this month as we get closer. I could ask about moving or canceling it, or maybe Thursday before my study group, although I’d have to skip. …”

“Hey. Wait. I don’t want you canceling anything you have planned or moving anything around. Don’t feel like you have to say yes. I know how busy you are, if you can’t do it, that’s fine.”

But I want to help,” she insisted.

“I know you do, and I love you for it. But part of your healing is learning that you don’t have to please everyone all the time, especially not me. I’ll love you even if you’re busy, Kat. More so, actually, because it means you’re focusing on yourself and your goals.”

There was a pause and I knew she was silently arguing with herself. She might be a completely different person than she was three years ago, but that didn’t mean she was completely cured. The way her doctor explained it, she would probably have to deal with it in some way for the rest of her life.

“Kat. I’m serious. If you’re too busy, please say no. I’d rather that than to find out later you pushed yourself too far.”

After another short pause she said, “Okay, fine. You’re right. I’m sorry, really, I just ... I want to be there for you.”

“And you are. More so if you’re doing everything you need to do for yourself, and not sacrificing for me. In fact, don’t wait for me to call you if Marlene is driving you crazy. I call you to vent when I’m upset, you need to do the same. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Okay, do you need to do any more? I can help plot ways to get her shipped off to Alaska or something.”

“No,” she said, letting out a relieved little laugh. “No. I’m good. Thank you. I’m feeling much better. Actually, I need to get going. My group is in like, ten minutes and it’ll take that long to walk to the library.”

“Go, have fun, make friends,” I said, smiling. “Try not to embarrass them all by showing them how much smarter you are or anything.”

Kat laughed, and the sound warmed my heart. “I’ll do my best. I love you, Charlie.”

“I love you too, Kat. So much.”

I hung up the phone and stared at the blank screen. Although I’d never tell Kat, I did feel a little dejected. Not because she was busy. I really did want her living her own life, but on top of what had happened at LUHC, it kind of piled on to the sense of isolation I was feeling.

Disconnected from school, not really working out with Chef or going up there on weekend nights, Kat and Hanna busy. I still had the band, but that was more of an extension of music, which is what was pulling me away. I was slowly losing the person I thought I was, and it made me a little sad.

Plus, I still needed to find a tutor.