Fic: You Found Me (Adam/Kris) Part 1
Title: You Found Me
Pairing: Adam/Kris
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slash, past minor character death
Words: 11,986
Disclaimer: This is all made up. Never happened and never will.
Summary: Like everything else in his life, this wasn't planned.
Kris' head is spinning; he's nauseous, his palms are sweaty and his heart is beating out of his chest. When he imagines his list of worst possible things that could ever happen, this is at the top. This just can not be happening. He tells himself to breath as his eyes scan the crowded food court in the mall. Crowded is an understatement. Isn't there a law against having this many people in one place at a time?
“Daddy why is your hand all wet?”
Kris looks down at the small boy gripping his left hand. “Not right now Jack.”
Jack stomps his foot and tugs at Kris' hand. “But Daddy you said we could go see the toys.”
Kris has to take a deep breath to calm himself down. He really doesn't wanna get mad at his son. After all its not his fault.
“Jack. I said not right now.”
Kris glances back up and sees a mall security guard standing only feet away.
“Hey..excuse me!” Kris calls out as he makes his way over, tugging the boy along with him.
The guy looks up. “Yes?”
“I..I'm looking for my daughter. She's gone. Oh God..” Kris scrubs his hand through his hair. “I can't believe this is happening. I turned away for a second...”
“I'm sure she's around here somewhere.” The mall cop tries to reassure him. But Kris guesses he would tell anyone that to calm them down. “What was she wearing?”
“Um..” What the hell was she wearing? Kris picked out her clothes this morning and dressed her, he should know. “I..I don't know. I'm an awful parent.” The last part wasn't meant for the cop to hear. More to himself.
“How about her name and age?”
“Her name is-” Kris starts.
“Daddy!!”
Kris turns around at the familiar voice. Oh thank God. He gets down on his knee and the little girl runs into his arms. “Cecilia.”
Kris closes his eyes and squeezes his little girl tightly. If something had happen to her...He can't think about it.
“We all set here? I gotta run.”
Kris turns his head around to the mall cop and nods. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Kris squeezed Cecilia again and then pulls back. “What happen? I told you to stay close to me.”
“I want ice cream.” Cecilia says softly and Kris follows his daughter's tiny arm as she points to the ice cream stand on the other side of the food court. There is a women in a princess costume standing in front with a tray handing out samples. Way to get kids over there, Kris thinks.
Kris turns Cecilia's face so he can look her in the eyes. “You can't just run off like that. You could have gotten lost.”
“It's okay Daddy. Adam helped me back.” Cecilia turns her head. Searching for someone or something.
His heart nearly stops. “Adam?”
Kris sees his daughter's face light up when she seems to spot who she's looking for.
“Adam!” Cecilia breaks out of Kris' grip and jumps up and down in place. “I'm right here!” Then his daughter begins to wave her arms up in the air. It would be pretty comical if Kris wasn't so freaked out about this “Adam” guy.
Before Kris can grab her Cecilia is skipping the short distance towards a complete stranger. “Get back here Cecilia!”
Before Kris has the chance to follow her, Cecilia is dragging a man over by the hand. The guy has a hat on his head and sunglasses over his eyes. That in itself makes Kris a little leary. Kris looks at the stranger. Even with dark glasses over his eyes, Kris can see the amused expression on his face. More then likely because he's being dragged through the mall by a five year old.
“This is my Daddy.” Cecilia says to the man.
The man smiles down at Cecilia. “Oh yeah?”
Cecilia nods her head. “Adam said I can have ice cream.”
Kris eyes the man in front of him. “Did he now?”
“But only if you ask your Dad first.” This Adam guy says.
Cecilia giggles. “Oh yeah. Daddy can I have ice cream?”
Kris has to cut in before his daughter invites this guy over for dinner and a slumber party. “Give us a second Cec.” He turns his attention to the mystery man. “So..uh..thanks I guess.”
The guy shrugs his shoulders. “You don't have to thank me. She was just standing there calling your name”
“And looking for ice cream.” Kris ads.
The stranger laughs. “Yeah that too. I told her she'd have to ask you first.”
Kris smiles softly. “She's been asking since we got here.”
“She'll probably keep asking to if she doesn't get some.” He jokes.
“Probably.” Kris laughs. They stand there in silence for a second and then Kris wants to kick himself because he hasn't even introduced himself yet. “I'm Kris by the way. With a K.” He holds his hand out in front of him.
“It's a pleasure to meet you Kris with a K.” The guy grins and he reaches out to shake Kris' hand. “I'm Adam.”
Kris looks down at their hands, he can feel the cold metal of Adam's rings. The guy has a lot of rings.
Kris turns his head when he feels tapping on his wrist. “Daddy can we go to the toy store now?”
“Yeah, just a sec..” Kris ruffles his hair. “This is my son Jack.”
Kris watches Adam look down and smile at his son. “Well hello there Jack.”
Kris can feel his son moving to stand behind his back. “Sorry he's a little bit shy.”
Kris can see the wheels turning in Adam's head as he looks between both of the kids. “Are they twins?”
Kris' face lights up. He gets this a lot. “Yeah they are.”
“They're like the spitting image of you.” Adam comments.
Kris' smile falters a little bit and he just shrugs. “I always thought they looked more like their mother.”
Adam opens his mouth to say something but then his phone rings. “Oh sorry. Just a second.”
Kris watches Adam pull his hand out of his daughter's, whose been grasping it since she brought him over, and he walks away to take the call.
Kris knows its not polite to eavesdrop but he can't help it. Adam is to far away for him to hear anything. Then Cecilia is saying something so he forgets about Adam and turns his attention to his daughter. “What is it?”
“Can we get ice cream now?” This kid and ice cream.
Kris sighs and runs his hand through his hair. It's been a long day and he just wants to go home. But if he doesn't get her ice cream and he doesn't take Jack to the toy store, he'll never hear the end of it. So he nods. “Alright.”
Cecilia jumps up and down like getting ice cream is the best thing in the world. The little things in life, Kris thinks. “Can Adam get ice cream with us? Please?”
“Can Adam do what?” Kris looks up to see Adam coming back over to them.
Before Kris has a chance to say anything Cecilia, who's still bouncing around excitedly, say, “Do you want to come with me, Daddy, and Jack to get ice cream?”
Adam smiles politely. “Uhh..”
“Pretty please with a cherry on top?” Kris is torn between cracking up and rolling his eyes. Cecilia is standing there with her bottom lip sticking out and her fingers locked together.
“Don't feel obligated to come. But I do kind of owe you for helping my daughter out.” Kris says. And its true. If it wasn't for Adam he'd still be freaking out.
Adam rubs the back of his neck and glances down at his phone.
“Unless you have to go.” Kris nods at the phone.
Adam shakes his head, smiles and shoves his phone in his pocket. “Work can wait. Besides I can always go for some ice cream.”
- - -
Ten minutes later they are all seated in a quiet corner away from prying eyes, to Adam's request. Kris doesn't find it that weird. It's really loud and busy here today and maybe Adam doesn't like big crowds?
“Daddy..” Jack whines.
Kris looks over and sighs. He knew he'd regret letting Jack get the cone. Little kids and ice cream cones do not mix. Jack's chocolate ice cream is running down the side of the cone and onto his tiny hand.
Kris is searching for a napkin when he looks up and sees Adam reaching over with his own napkin to clean up the mess.
“You have to eat it fast or it'll melt all over the place.” Adam says.
“Look at this Adam.” Cecelia says happily as she holds up the cherry on top of her sundae and bites it off it's stem, like she's showing Adam this new and amazing thing.
Adam smiles brightly back at her, which seems to please Cec because she goes on to show Adam several different ways to eat the ice cream, laughing and smiling the whole time.
Kris finds the whole site oddly endearing. He's sitting here with his two kids and some guy he met barley twenty minutes ago eating ice cream. And strangely enough its not that weird. It's comfortable. Like they've known each other for years.
It's not just that though. Its that his kids don't always take to just anyone. Jack is really shy and unless he knows you, he probably wont talk to you. Cecilia has always been friendly and out going so its not like he's to shocked that she's taken to Adam. But it all really scares Kris because they've just met and Adam seems pretty amazing with his kids and Kris wants to get to know him better. But it's not just that. It's other stuff that freaks Kris out and he doesn't want his mind to even go there.
“So..” Kris says. He feels a little bad for getting lost in his train of thoughts while Adam keeps his kids entertained.
Adam smiles. “So..”
“Do you live around here?”
Adam shakes his head. “Just visiting. I'm actually from LA.”
“Oh.” That disappoints Kris a little bit. More then it should. He has to remind himself that this guy is a stranger, there not gonna be hanging out again. “Uh..you've come along way just to go shopping.”
Adam laughs. “No actually I'm here for work. But don't think I wouldn't come this far for shopping.”
Kris is just about to ask Adam what he does for work, when Cecilia says, “Why do you wear sun glasses Adam? Are you like that man we saw at the zoo with the dog?”
Kris kind of wants to laugh and cringe all at once. Cecilia is referring to a blind man they saw at the zoo a couple weeks ago. Although Kris is curious as well, he'd never ask. “Cec, that's not polite.”
Cecilia pouts. “Why not?”
Adam looks a little bit uncomfortable but answers anyways. “I'm incognito.”
“Whats that?” Cecilia asks.
This is making Kris a tad bit uneasy. Why would he be in disguise? Whats he hiding from?
Adam opens his mouth to speak but then a women shouting his name has all four of their heads turning.
“Where have you been?” The women shouts as she makes her way over to them.
“Lane, hey.”
“Don't 'Lane, hey' me!” Now mystery women with a loud voice is looming over their table. “I've been looking all over for you? You said you'd meet me by the entrance.”
Adam sighs. “I'm sorry.” Adam turns to Kris. “This is Lane.”
“Hi.” Kris says.
“And these are his kids, Jack and Cecilia.” Adam motions to the children.
Lane smiles politely at everyone and focuses her attention back on Adam. “We need to go.”
Kris notices Adam's shoulders sag. He seem disappointed. “Fine.” Adam turns to Kris. “It was really good meeting you. All of you. Thanks for the ice cream.”
Kris smiles. He's slightly disappointed himself. Adam is still a complete mystery to him. “No thank you. For finding my daughter..I was so worried.”
“Don't mention it.” Adam reaches across the table and takes Kris' hand in his. “Really, it was great meeting you.”
Kris grasps Adam's hand. “Like wise.”
Then Adam is letting go and standing up. “It was great meeting you two.” He ruffles Cecelia's hair and waves at Jack.
“But why can't you stay?” Cecilia asks sadly.
“I have stuff to do for work. I'm sorry, I wish I could stay longer.” Adam says.
“It's okay Cec. We should be going soon anyways,” says Kris.
Then Cecilia is sniffling and her eyes are filled with tears. “B-but I w-want Adam to stay.”
Kris doesn't know what to say. The kids are five, its confusing for them to have someone in their life one moment and the next moment there gone.
“Hey kiddo, don't cry.” Adam gently rubs Cecilia's back. “Your gonna make me sad.”
“I don't wanna make you sad.” Cecilia says softly.
“Adam! Adam!” Adam's head whips around at the screams. There's a crowd of girls standing on the other side of the food court.
“Now Adam.” Lane says as she grabs Adam's arm.
“Whats going on?” Kris asks. He really wants to know whats going on. Who is Adam? Who is this women? Who are those girls calling his name?
“I'm sorry. I have to go.” And Adam does seem apologetic but Kris doesn't know whats going on. But before he has a chance to ask again, Adam is being quickly lead away by Lane.
“Daddy? Where is Adam going?” Jack asks from beside him.
Kris shakes his head. “Uh..he has to go buh-bye.”
“Can he come over our house?” Cecilia asks innocently.
Kris hated disappointing his kids more then anything. They've been disappointed so much in their short little lives. It's stupid really, they haven't even known Adam for an hour but it feels like they've lost someone. There is so much he wants to know about Adam. And know he'll probably never get the chance.
“I'm sorry baby, I don't think he'll be coming over.”
Cecilia's face drops and she puts her ice cream down on the table. Kris wants to tell her to pick it up quick so it doesn't make a mess but the look on her face kind of breaks his heart.
“How about we go home?” Kris suggests. Both of the kids nod.
Later on he remembers that he forgot to take Jack to the toy store like he wanted. He never asked again though. They were both quiet on the way home. Kris secretly hopes that when they wake up tomorrow morning they'll forget any of this ever happened. There kids ya know? They have short term memory right?
Because Kris will forget. It's so not that big of a deal. They'll never see each other again. Life will go on. Kris will pretend that spending time with Adam hadn't made him feel better then he has in months. Sort of hopeful. He doesn't know Adam. The guy could be a serial killer for all he knows. But the man brought his daughter back to him. And at the end of the day, thats all that matters. It will all just be a distant memory soon enough.
- - -
“Not in the house you guys.” Kris watches Megan stand up and shoo the three laughing and muddy children outside. “Your gonna get the house all dirty. And don't even think about putting that in your mouth Ryder!”
She closes the screen door behind the children and comes back to sit across from Kris at the table.
“So..” She says, sipping at her tea.
Megan Joy is one of Kris' closest friends. Megan moved to Arkansas with her son Ryder after her divorce. She lives a couple miles from Kris and they both teach at the same school. They quickly became friends, with things in common like music and well they both have kids. He owes her big time for being such an incredible friend these last six months. She was there when he needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to and she has watched his kids more times then he can count. She's the greatest and he wouldn't trade her for the world.
“So..” Kris says back.
“I tried calling you yesterday. I took Ryder to the park and I wanted to see if you guys wanted to come.”
“I took the kids to the mall in Little Rock.” Kris says. This morning when the kids got up, Cecilia asked if Adam could come for breakfast. After that though there was no mention of the guy so Kris was kind of glad for that. But was he really? “Oh you'll never guess what happen though. I lost Cecilia.”
“What?!”
Kris scratches the back of his neck. Just talking about it makes Kris' heart beat fast. “I turned around and she was gone.”
“Oh my God.” Megan covers her mouth with her hand in shock.
“It was awful.”
“I would have just about died if something like that happen to Ryder.”
“I don't even wanna think about it.”
Megan reaches across the table and squeezes Kris' hand. “Well I got something that might cheer you up.” Kris watches a look pass over her face and then she lets out a chuckle. “Okay maybe it won't cheer you up. But it would make me really happy if you said yes.”
“Now I'm worried.” Kris says.
“Well don't be.” Megan says. “So Alexis is sick and can't come to the concert tonight.”
“Oh.” Kris says and then he understands what Megan is trying to say. “Oh. No I'm not coming. Don't even think about it.”
“Come on Kristopher. I don't wanna waste a ticket and plus I really don't feel like going alone.”
“Well it would be a waste because I don't even like Adam Lambert.”
Megan sighs, frustrated. “You won't even give him a chance.”
“I gave him a chance.” Kris says. “And then he did that thing on the AMA's.”
“That was like forever ago.”
“My kids saw it!”
Megan rolls her eyes. “Are you gonna come? Or do I have to drag you there?”
“Who's gonna watch the kids now that I'm going?”
Megan shrugs. “Your parents?”
Kris sighs loudly. “Fine.”
“Yay!” Megan jumps up out of her seat. “Wait right here. I'm gonna show you what I'm wearing tonight.”
Kris sighs and rests his head on the table. He really isn't looking forward to going tonight. Megan has been a huge Adam Lambert fan since his Idol days. Kris could admit that the guy had a great voice but with two young kids Kris just didn't want to expose them to that. Now Kris wasn't homophobic by any means and nor was he a prude, but he just didn't appreciate some of the things Adam did on stage. He didn't even follow the guy's career. The only things he knows about Adam is what Megan tells him.
“Kris! Get your ass in here!”
Kris' head shot up and he jumps out of his seat, following Megan's voice into the living room. She's standing in front of the television pointing her finger at the screen.
“What?” Kris asks.
“Adam Lambert who is currently in town for his tour was spotted at Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock yesterday afternoon. The fans caught a glimpse of him doing some shopping and having a bite to eat..”
Kris' mouth drops open and his heart stops as he watches the video play out on the screen. It's grainy, probably taken from someones cell phone, but you can tell whats going on.
“Oh my God.” Megan says from beside him.
Kris doesn't even know what to say. They play it over again and Kris watches as the videos shows Adam - Adam Lambert - being led away from the table, away from Kris and the kids.
“Adam was escorted out by security-”
Then Adam is being led out of the mall, still wearing his dark sunglasses and hat, by security and that loud mouth women. Lynn? Kris couldn't remember. He watches the paparazzi surround Adam as he gets into a car...
“Why didn't you tell me?” Megan finally says.
“What?” Kris can't even think right now. “I...I didn't even know.”
“What were you doing with him?”
“Uhh...” Kris shakes his head. Not right now, he wants to tell her. “He..uh..he found Cec.”
“Huh?”
“Cecilia must have gotten freaked out and couldn't find me. Adam was there and helped her find me.” Kris explains.
“How could you not know it was Adam freaking Lambert?!”
“Because!” Kris shouts back. “He had a hat and sunglasses on. I couldn't see his face.”
“Well I would have recognized him.” Megan mumbles.
“I'm sorry for not being obsessed with the guy.” Kris shoots back.
“Oh puh-lease.” Megan says. “I am so not obsessed with him.”
Kris rolls his eyes. “Yeah, okay.”
“What are you gonna do?”
Kris eyes his friend. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.” She smirks.
“Uh..no I don't.” Kris looks at her, he honestly doesn't know what she means.
“Were going to his concert tonight. What are you gonna do?”
“Nothing.” Kris says. “What do you want me to do? Rush the stage or something? “Adam, Adam! Remember me? We met at the mall yesterday.”
Megan's face lights up and she laughs. “That could work.”
“Were gonna go, I'll pretend to have a good time for your sake and then we'll go home.” Kris says. “No drawing attention to ourselves or trying to get his attention..”
“Fine, fine.” Megan says. “I'll behave.”
Kris smirks. “You better.”
- - -
Megan bumps her shoulder against Kris' as they make their way into the huge theater. “You look good tonight.”
Kris ducks his head. He was wearing fitted jeans and his plaid button up shirt. It certainly wasn't anything fancy, but compared to some of the stuff he's been sporting lately, this is fancy. He figured he'd go for something mildly dressy because, though he'd never admit it out loud, it made him feel a tiny bit better.
Megan smirks, knowing that she's making Kris uncomfortable. Then she smiles, gentle and just genuinely happy. “I'm really glad you came tonight.”
“Well I didn't really have a choice did I?” Kris mutters as he follows Megan down the aisle.
Megan stops walking and turns to face Kris. “I'm serious Kris. I worry about you sometimes.”
Kris wants to laugh it off and tell her to stop being stupid but the look on her face makes Kris' stomach turn. It's this feeling he gets every time somebody tries to bring it up.
“Meg stop..” It comes out sort of desperate and pleading. “Can we just try to go and have a good time and not talk about this. Especially not here.”
“C'mon Kris..” She says which comes out just as pleading as Kris.
“Megan.” Kris warns. He's not trying to be a dick, he just really doesn't wanna talk about it.
She huffs out a breath. “Okay fine. Where up front.”
Megan throws her arm over Kris' shoulder and guides him all the way down front.
“You didn't tell me you had front row tickets.” Kris say weary.
“What? Scared he's gonna see you?” Megan teases lightly, just enough to feel him out, make sure Kris isn't that pist off after their little moment.
Kris rolls his eyes. “Yeah, me scared. I'm more scared for him. God knows what you'll do being this close to him and all.”
“Oh honey, don't you worry. I can contain myself. You though...”
“What?!” Kris shakes his head. “I don't get why you keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
Kris' hands move frantically in front of him. “You..you..keep implying that there's something going on..”
“Huh?” Megan looks confused for a moment and then her face light up. “Oh..I get it! You like him.”
Kris scoffs. It's insane that Megan would even think of something like that. Kris isn't gay and if he was it defiantly wouldn't be for Adam Lambert. Sure the guy seemed nice enough when they met at the mall but that could have been all a show. On top of it all though was something he couldn't ignore. It was the idea of dating that made Kris cringe. He didn't want to date anyone. Not even rock star Mr. Adam Lambert.
“First off, I don't even like the guy.” Kris shakes his head. “I don't even know him! Secondly, maybe you haven't noticed but I'm not into dudes. I don't even know what gave you the impression that I liked him.”
“First off,” Megan mocked. “..I was teasing. Joking you know? Ha ha. Secondly, whats your God damn problem? You've had your panties in a twist since you found out about Adam.”
“No I haven't!” Kris says back, loud enough to get the attention of the people around them.
“Keep it down, Allen.”
Kris sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Let's just talk about this later, okay?”
“You better believe we will.”
The conversation drifts after that, they make small talk about this and that. It's not long after that though that the lights dim and the screaming begins.
The band starts playing and its loud and the stage is dark until the spot light comes on and theres fog, lots of fog, and then through the smoky air comes this magnificent voice. It almost knocks Kris off his feet because he had forgotten how beautiful it was. He very rarely listens to Adam. Usually if he's driving in the car with Megan and she has it on. But now he sort of regrets not jumping on the bandwagon like most of America, hell even most of the world, did.
The smoke clears and its Adam, strutting across the stage towards the audience. Kris has to do a double take and he begins to question whether or not its really the same man he met at the mall yesterday. The man on the stage is made up with glitter and a ton of makeup. He's wearing tight leather pants and a jacket with spikes and studs. Hardly the same man with the hat and sunglasses who brought his daughter back to him. The man that was dressed casually, blending into the crowd.
As Adam dances across the stage and rubs himself up against his bass player, as he uses the mic stand to grind against, Kris can't even imagine that this is the same man who had ice cream and was totally sweet to his kids.
Kris even goes as far as to think that maybe they got it all wrong and this isn't really the same Adam, but he remembers the evidence. The pictures and videos played out on the news earlier. Stage Adam and normal Adam seem so different. Kris isn't sure who the real Adam is. But it doesn't matter and its not even Kris' place to compare both sides of this men when they don't even know each other. They talked for a bit, Adam helped Kris out, that's that.
“Where gonna slow it down now.” Adam says pulling up a stool in front of his mic stand. “This is called Broken Open.”
The song is slow and Adam's voice is relaxing. Not in a boring way, just calm and soothing. It amazes Kris to think that a few minutes ago he was gyrating around on stage and now here he is.
Kris gets so lost in the song that he doesn't feel Megan nudging his side.
“Kris.” She hisses.
“Hmm..?” He looks over at Megan who jerks her head in the direction of the stage. Kris turns his head back to the stage and his breath catches in his throat. Adam's eyes are locked on his.
Kris doesn't know what to do, how to react. But before he has a chance to duck or cover his face Adam is turning his head, eyes focusing on the rest of the crowd.
Megan is leaning in and saying something to him but all can do it think about what just happen. So Adam saw him? Not a big deal right? Adam probably didn't even recognize him. He meets a million people a day, Kris was just another face.
Kris is being ridiculous. It's not a crime to go to a concert. It's not a crime to go to Adam Lambert's concert! He doesn't get why he feels guilty or nervous for being caught.
Kris hold himself firmly in place. He's itching to move back from the stage lights, away from Adam's view. But he doesn't, he stands still and tries to enjoy the rest of the show.
Kris tries not to be disappointed when Adam doesn't pay any further attention to him. Kris decides that Adam probably didn't even recognize him. He was just making eye contact with people in the audience.
“I wanna thank you all for coming out tonight!” Adam says, cheers erupting from the crowd. “Thank you so much for all the support! Goodnight Arkansas!!”
Adam bows, the band waves to the audience and the stage lights go out. Kris cringes, the screams are loud and there's a sweaty people being pushed into him. He's about ready to head out.
“He was amazing!” Megan yells over the noise. Kris just shrugs. Adam was good. Really good. But Megan doesn't need to know that.
“Let's get out of here!” Kris yells back. “If we don't get out of here now we'll be stuck in traffic forever!”
There making there way through the crowd when Kris feels a lard hand grasp onto his shoulder. Kris freezes and slowly turns around, coming face to face, well more like face to chest with a very large man. Bodyguard or security? Oh God, what did they do wrong?
“You need to come with me.” He said.
“Uhh..” Kris isn't sure what to say. He glances at Megan for a little help. She looks freaked out, curious and a little bit excited all at once. “Why?”
“Just doing my job sir.” He takes Kris by the shoulder to get him moving and Kris considers shrugging it off but Kris is well...tiny. And he really doesn't want to mess with this guy. So he grabs onto Megan's hand and they move through the crowd.
They are led through a door on the side of the stage and Kris is moments away from screaming.
“Whats going on?” Megan whispers in his ear.
“I don't know.” Kris leans his head back a little to say. “Just stay calm. It's probably nothing.”
They continue their journey down a long hall. Kris can hear the muffled sounds of the crowd outside and voices coming from down the hall. He doesn't recognize them but he can only guess.
His guess is pretty much confirmed when he spots the women from the mall. The loud mouth who dragged Adam away. She sees them and says something to someone Kris can't see and nods her head in their direction.
And his guess is absolutely confirmed when the rock star himself comes rounding the corner. Kris stops short and he can feel Megan freeze behind him.
“Kris with a K!”Adam says, big smile on his face, still dressed in his stage clothes. Kris can't help but smile back.
“Hi.”
Adam stands there for a moment, contemplating something, and then steps forward and envelopes Kris in a big hug. Kris freezes for a second, he isn't expected this. But it sort of makes him feel good as strange as it sounds so he hugs Adam back, wrapping his arms around Adam's waist.
“I didn't think I'd see you again.” Adam says and Kris can feel Adam's breath on his ear. And then he's pulling back, smile still on his face. “But I'm glad your here.”
“I didn't know.” Kris says. He's not even sure if that makes any sense.
Adam smiles. “I figured that much. I just assumed you would have said something if you knew who I was.”
“I saw the news this afternoon. I was shocked to say the least.”
“Sorry about that. Everyone has cameras..” Adam tries to explain.
He's sounds sincere, like he really feels bad about all the media attention. “I was trying to hide. Apparently the fans can see through the disguise. Anyways...” Adam ran his hand through his sweat soaked hair. “Were you planning on going to the concert or did you show up after..” Adam waves his hands around. “..everything?”
“I was planning on going before I found out.” Kris looks back at Megan. “This is my friend Megan.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you.” Adam says, stepping closer and reaching his arm out to shake her hand.
Kris watches her blush and he tries to hide his smirk. This is totally making her night. “It's good to meet you too. Your were amazing.”
Adam smiles wide like its the first time he's getting a compliment like this. “Thanks! I'm glad you could come.”
“So are you enjoying your time in Arkansas?” Megan asks Adam.
“Very much so. It's to bad I'm leaving tomorrow. I'd love to stay longer.”
Kris tries to ignore the pain in his chest when Adam says he'll be leaving. It's so silly, Kris thinks. They just met yesterday. There not even friends. But Adam is someone who Kris would like to get to know. So much for that. Adam lives in Hollywood and Kris lives in a small town in Arkansas. Not the most likely of friends. Adam's leaving must be some kind of sign. It just isn't mean it be. Whatever it is.
“Kris?”
“Huh?” Kris is so lost in his thoughts that he isn't paying any attention to what anyone is saying.
“I was gonna ask you if you wanted to go out for a drink?”
Oh. Well Kris really isn't expecting that. “Well..I..”
“If you can get a ride back later, I can take the car home and bring the kids back to my place.” Megan suggests. He's knows what she's up to. She's trying to get Adam and Kris alone together, for whatever reason. It's just strange that Megan would pass on going out tonight, considering the company.
“Perfect. I can have my driver take Kris home after woods.” Adam says.
“Great.” Megan says, clapping her hands together. It's as if the two of them are in on this little plan to get Kris alone with Adam or something. “You two stay out as long as you like. No need to rush home.”
Maybe its her plan to get Kris alone with Adam but he also thinks it has something to do with getting Kris out of the house for a night. He hasn't been out since. . .Well he hasn't been out in a long time.
- - -
“Know any good places around here?” Adam asks as they walk through the backstage area towards the exit. He's changed out of his performance outfit. Now he's just wearing jeans in a t-shirt. This Adam looks a lot like the one he met yesterday.
“Sure. There a place not far from here, Cajun's. They have good drinks.”
“I'm glad we get to hang out again.” Adam says, bumping his shoulder against Kris'. “Not that we really hung out yesterday.”
“Yeah me too.” Kris smiles. “My kids are gonna be jealous.”
Adam smiles back at Kris. “I hope they weren't to upset about yesterday.”
Kris shakes his head. “A little bit at first. There fine though.”
“That's good. It's not that I wanted to leave. Lane just gets upset when she can't find me and sometimes the fans can get a little out of control.”
Kris nods. “I understand. Sorta. Well not really.”
Adam laughs. “Yesterday was just a little taste of what my life can be like.”
“I don't know how you do it.”
“Sometimes I don't either.”
PART 2