LETTERS (Part Two of Fifteen)
LETTERS
A Kradam Romance in Fifteen Parts
Chapter Two: In Reply to Adam
By: Lady Michaelis
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Kris Allen, Cale Mills/Cassidy Haley
Rating: PG - NC17
Warnings: Sexual situations, voyeurism, foul language
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humor
Summary: Kris Allen never thought he would find a friend in the form of an old letter.
Disclaimers:I will never, ever own Kradam (or any of the other characters here, for that matter). If you know anyone featured in this fic - or worse, if you find your name here - please don’t kill me. What happens here may not be happening in real time right now, but they probably will sooner or later. Just you wait, you non-tinhatters. Just you wait.
Kris woke up bright and early the next day to get a headstart on his chore list. He was eager to sift through the rest of Adam’s letters, but he had things to do. He needed to go into town to go grocery shopping and meet the real estate agent to fork over the month’s rent. Personally, he would have liked to transact directly with this Adam character (Kris was already intrigued by his letter) so he could meet him, but Adam obviously wanted to keep himself a mystery and there was nothing Kris could do about that.
There was also nothing he could do about the fact that the town was about ten miles away and he would have to walk that length to be able to pick out a rented vehicle to use.
“Jesus, I can be so smart sometimes”, he scowled, scuffing the sole of his sneaker on the ground. “I should’ve asked Cassidy if this joint came with a vehicle -”
“Well, hello there, little lost puppy”, a female voice drawled, interrupting his little tirade. “I had no idea Mister Lambert already found himself a renter.”
Kris found himself gawking at the woman who was talking to him, for he had never seen anyone hotter in his entire life. She was tall, leggy and blond with pretty eyes and a tattooed sleeve.
“Hi, I’m Megan Joy”, she held out her hand for him to shake. “I live a few yards from here, which makes me your nearest neighbor.”
“Um, hi”, Kris smiled shyly, shaking her hand. “I’m Kris Allen, and I just moved in yesterday.”
“I’m surprised Adam didn’t move you in with him”, Megan chuckled. “He must have been possessed when he met you or else he’d keep you on a leash.”
Kris stared at her. “Huh?”
“Let me guess, Adam pulled an incognito trick again, huh?” Megan wrinkled her nose in annoyance. “Honestly, he can get so weird sometimes. If you’ve never met him and he just rented the place off to you via Cassidy Haley, I won’t be surprised. It’s almost exactly like the time when he suddenly showed up at my door looking like a complete stranger. I mean, we folk here were used to seeing him as a freckle-faced redhead, then suddenly there was this raven-haired, totally made-up hottie at my door speaking in Adam’s voice and - oh dear, I’m confusing the hell out of you, am I not?”
“Well, yeah”, Kris scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “I know next to nothing about Adam.”
His mind went back to the letters, but he wasn’t up to bringing them up just yet. There was something about them that seemed so secret that he couldn’t even divulge their existence to Adam’s actual friend. For some reason, he felt like he would be betraying Adam if he told anyone about them.
“I can educate you on the way to town if you’re interested”, Megan gestured to her pickup truck. “I have a feeling you’re looking for a ride into town.”
“…can I hug you?” Kris asked meekly, suddenly all shy again.
Laughing, Megan pulled him to her and hugged him like she would do a little brother.
“You’re welcome”, she grinned once she let him go. “Now, shall we?”
Nodding agreeably, Kris followed her to her vehicle, where he ended up gawking again. It was a very non-girly car, and even he wouldn’t have the gusto to drive it.
“Wow, Megan”, he said admiringly. “You’re one tough lady to be able to drive this baby.”
“Good thing you know”, Megan said grandly, making a show of opening the passenger door for Kris. “Megan Joy is not your average everyday woman, honey bunny.”
Kris grinned, feeling his earlier feelings of apprehension wash away. He liked Megan already.
“So, what are you here for, Kris Allen?” Megan asked as she shifted gears and pulled out of Kris’ front lawn. “You look like a little puppy lost in the wilderness.”
“Inspiration”, Kris replied. “There was too much familiarity back in Arkansas, so I couldn’t write any songs with new insights. To actually have a career in the music-making business, I have to think outside the box. I thought it would be best to leave the nest and experience new things on my way. That way, I’d be able to collect new perspectives about the smallest things. Call it a journey, if you may.”
“Damn, Adam sure was stupid not to meet with you”, Megan shook her head. “He’s in the music business too, but he’s the recording artist variety. Dude, that man CAN SING, I tell you. He’s wild, crazy and strange, but I think the two of you would have gotten along well. He was here for the same reason you are, then he found his wings and flew off. People never stay here for long.”
“Well, I just might”, Kris smiled serenely. “I like the peace and quiet of this place. Even if some hotshot recording artist picked up my songs, I’d still want to come home to a place like this.”
“So I take it you’re not fond of parties and drinking?” Megan asked.
“Nah”, Kris shook his head. “I feel out of my natural element at such events. Believe me; I would love it if my life consisted of family, close friends and music-making.”
“You’re a sweet kid”, Megan smiled. “I’m surprised you’re not attached yet.”
“I have no talent with girls”, Kris laughed. “Every single girl I get close to ends up wanting to adopt me as her little brother or something.”
“Which is exactly what I feel about you, though I suspect we’re the same age”, Megan grinned, punching him playfully on the shoulder. “And I could teach you a few things, baby Allen.”
“Like what?” Kris blinked.
“Oh, just how to be a free spirit”, Megan said casually.
The town wasn’t that far away by car, and Kris found himself admiring it like a fascinated child, his nose pressed to the window.
“It’s like I’m in a mystery novel”, he said excitedly. “I love how Old West-inspired this place is!”
“It’s a charming place”, Megan agreed, turning off her ignition. “Montana is one of the more mountainous states, so you can expect the Old West instead of strip clubs.”
“I’m already in love”, Kris said automatically, hopping out of the truck. “Hey, would you mind directing me to the grocery? I need to pick up a few things for the house.”
“No problem”, Megan replied, escorting him into a building that looked like a grand saloon. “This is it, actually. It looks epic on the outside, but it’s your normal grocery on the inside -”
“With staff dressed like cowboys”, Kris interrupted her happily. “I’m in love with this town already.”
“Good to know”, the tall woman grinned. “Anyway, what’s on your grocery list?”
“Stuff I need to pick up in the frozen food section like fish, meat and poultry”, Kris answered, letting his new friend lead him to the said aisle. “After that, some condiments and a week’s worth of bottled water. I’d buy a month’s worth, but even both of us aren’t man enough to carry all of it.”
“And that is the one thing that sucks about where we live”, Megan pointed out. “You really have to buy your water in town if you’re not a fan of boiling tap water.”
“And I am not, so buy water it is”, Kris said firmly as he hefted a few frozen food items into his cart. “Hey, you’re welcome to join me for breakfast whenever you want.”
“That’d be awesome, thanks!” Megan’s eyes lit up. “I’ll bring something every time I visit to save you the trouble of cooking extra dishes.”
“Nah, don’t trouble yourself”, Kris smiled. “I guess I’m just in need of company.”
“I don’t blame you”, Megan declared, handing Kris the milk carton he wanted. “It’s awesome living on your own, but it gets a little lonely sometimes.”
“Do you live on your own?”
“No”, Megan answered. “I live with my son Ryder and a student named Allison. She came here for college and rents my guestroom.”
“…you have a son?” Kris stared at her. “But you’re my age.”
“I married early, but it fell apart”, she explained. “I realized that I could get on better without him, so I moved away from Utah and settled here. From then on, I’ve felt good about everything that’s been happening to me. This is like, ‘The Place for Megan Joy - if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah”, Kris nodded. “I want it to be ‘The Place for Kris Allen’, too.”
“Who knows?” Megan grinned, clapping him playfully on the shoulder. “It might just be.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So, Kris, how do you like the cabin?”
Cassidy Haley leaned back in his seat, casually taking a sip from his coffee mug. He was sitting in a booth at a quaint old restaurant, having lunch with Kris and Megan. The duo had run into him in the grocery, and Megan suggested that they all hit Ye Olde West Saloon for lunch.
“I had a good first night”, Kris replied. “It felt good to fall asleep to the sounds of howling coyotes.”
“You really are a Neanderthal”, Cassidy chuckled. “Adam called me once in the middle of the night to complain about the howling coyotes. He said it was disrupting his beauty sleep.”
“I remember that”, Megan grinned. “It was as if he could complain about howling coyotes the way people complain about their neighbor’s dogs.”
“Adam is such a city boy”, Cassidy said fondly. “I miss the guy.”
“This Adam person seems like an interesting guy”, Kris remarked, trying not to sound too interested. “What kind of person is he?”
“The sweetest, funniest drama queen you could ever imagine”, Megan answered. “I told you about how he turned himself into a sex god, right? Well, he has the sex god attitude to go with it. He used to invite Cass and me over to the cabin for some drinks and good music. That was as close we could get to partying within the vicinity of our homes, but they were good times. It’s a shame that you two never met. I think he would have really liked you.”
“In more ways than one”, Cassidy added, carefully measuring Kris’ reaction. “You’re his type.”
“…as in, lover type?” Kris choked on his beer.
“You catch on fast, little lost puppy”, Megan crowed. “Yeah, Adam’s gay and awesome like that. He used to go out with a guy named Cheeks, but they broke up when Cheeks moved to NYC.”
“Kris does look a little like Cheeks”, Cassidy said analytically, bending forward to examine Kris’ face. “I’ve always teased Adam about having a type, so it’s too bad he missed his chance.”
Kris stared at his two new friends, wondering if they were planning to marry him off to this Adam guy.
“Kris, we’re kidding”, Megan said lightly. “I don’t know if you swing the other way, but we are just joking about pushing you into Adam’s arms. I just really think that it’d be nice if you two had met.”
“Well, I don’t know what way I swing”, Kris mumbled, staring at his plate of baby back ribs. “I guess I’m pretty much asexual since I haven’t crooned about any specific guy or girl. Also, my friends tease me about my domesticity. They say I’m a bit of a kitchen princess.”
“We are so crashing at your place tomorrow for lunch”, Megan said quickly, with Cassidy nodding solemnly beside her. “I want to be introduced to the Kris Allen menu.”
“I certainly wouldn’t mind”, Kris gave them his crinkly-eyed smile. “I can’t say I didn’t feel lonely last night.”
“Oh, we shall annoy the gay out of you”, Cassidy smirked. “Trust me, Megan and I are excellent at providing world-class entertainment.”
Kris stared at him for a moment, and then burst out laughing. He was definitely going to enjoy hanging out with these two.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kris listened to his new song one last time before giving the laptop a rest, extremely pleased at how it came out. He had come home a little later than expected since Cassidy and Megan insisted on showing him around town, so he ended up arriving at five instead of three. He cooked himself an early dinner, then immediately immersed himself in a serious music-making session, determined to finish a song before midnight. It was now eleven in the evening, and he had come up with something he was willing to let a record executive hear. More than satisfied for the first time in two years, Kris changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed, Adam’s stack of envelopes in hand. Mind going back to his earlier conversation with Cassidy and Megan, Kris found himself rereading the first letter again, wondering if they really would have gotten along if Adam were physically present here.
They have a point, he thought, browsing through the letter for the nth time. Just by reading the first letter, I’ve already grown quite interested in his character. He seems smart, determined and sweet, and we have a lot of things in common - it’s like ‘The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse’.
Based on the letter’s content, he realized he wouldn’t have a problem carrying a conversation with this Adam if given the chance. Inspired, he picked up his pen and a clean notebook. He was going to write again, but it wasn’t going to be a song this time. Instead, he was going to use his imagination and construct a reply to his mysterious landlord. Carefully propping Adam’s letter on his lap as a guide, Kris began to write.
June 27, 2010
Dear Adam,
Hi, my name is Kristopher Neil Allen, and I’m your present tenant. As you predicted - or somehow hoped - someone successfully located your letters in that hiding spot. I don’t know if you would have wanted someone like me to find them, but I did, anyway. My pen rolled into the crevice, and that’s how I stumbled upon all of this. If it comforts you, you’re probably twenty-seven years old now, and neither sixty-seven nor dead.
To start with, I should tell you a few things about myself as well. I’m twenty-three years old and I hail from Conway, Arkansas, a conservative state down south you probably wouldn’t be interested in. Well, I can’t blame you, because I kind of got bored of it as well. You see, I love writing songs, and being in my home base was affecting my inspiration flow because I was surrounded by things that were all too familiar. I realized I could no longer be inspired by the things I grew up with because I wrote songs about them already. If I want to make it big, I need to break free from my comfort zone and dive into an ocean full of things I’ve never seen before. Originally, I thought of New York or LA, but that would be too much of a culture shock for little old Kris. Just like you, I needed to find myself. I felt the overwhelming need to start out on my own in a new place, so I immediately called Cassidy as soon as I saw the ad you ran in the paper.
I’m really starting to like it here. I met Megan this morning, and she told me a little bit about you. Cassidy mentioned over lunch that I was your type, which made me stare at him for a few moments. Just so you know, I don’t really fuss over people’s sexual preferences - heck, at least you have one. I consider myself asexual because I can’t seem to see myself with either sex. Friends back in Conway describe me as a domestic creature, but I don’t think that would be enough to turn me gay. It’s all about meeting the right person, I guess.
Sexuality aside, both Megs and Cass seemed adamant about the fact that we’d get along well, and I think it’s probably true. We’d probably have a friendship like the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, but we’d get along despite our differences. I mean, we’re both into music, so that’s a good way to start. I’d really like to hear you sing someday. If I come across your CD when it’s out, I’d buy it out of sheer curiosity. It’d be nice if I could send you a few things I wrote as well.
Anyway, it’s getting late. I can hear the coyotes howling outside, and I can’t help but think of you. It would be nice if I knew how you looked, but since I don’t, this letter will be sufficient enough. Goodnight, Adam, sleep well in the city of angels.
Cheers,
Kris
Satisfied, Kris tore the page from his notebook, and then inserted it into a small envelope. He put Adam’s letter back into its own envelope, and then joined their letters together with a paper clip. He placed them almost reverently on his bedside drawer before turning out the lights and burying himself under the covers.
He would definitely look at the next letter after breakfast.
A Kradam Romance in Fifteen Parts
Chapter Two: In Reply to Adam
By: Lady Michaelis
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Kris Allen, Cale Mills/Cassidy Haley
Rating: PG - NC17
Warnings: Sexual situations, voyeurism, foul language
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humor
Summary: Kris Allen never thought he would find a friend in the form of an old letter.
Disclaimers:I will never, ever own Kradam (or any of the other characters here, for that matter). If you know anyone featured in this fic - or worse, if you find your name here - please don’t kill me. What happens here may not be happening in real time right now, but they probably will sooner or later. Just you wait, you non-tinhatters. Just you wait.
Kris woke up bright and early the next day to get a headstart on his chore list. He was eager to sift through the rest of Adam’s letters, but he had things to do. He needed to go into town to go grocery shopping and meet the real estate agent to fork over the month’s rent. Personally, he would have liked to transact directly with this Adam character (Kris was already intrigued by his letter) so he could meet him, but Adam obviously wanted to keep himself a mystery and there was nothing Kris could do about that.
There was also nothing he could do about the fact that the town was about ten miles away and he would have to walk that length to be able to pick out a rented vehicle to use.
“Jesus, I can be so smart sometimes”, he scowled, scuffing the sole of his sneaker on the ground. “I should’ve asked Cassidy if this joint came with a vehicle -”
“Well, hello there, little lost puppy”, a female voice drawled, interrupting his little tirade. “I had no idea Mister Lambert already found himself a renter.”
Kris found himself gawking at the woman who was talking to him, for he had never seen anyone hotter in his entire life. She was tall, leggy and blond with pretty eyes and a tattooed sleeve.
“Hi, I’m Megan Joy”, she held out her hand for him to shake. “I live a few yards from here, which makes me your nearest neighbor.”
“Um, hi”, Kris smiled shyly, shaking her hand. “I’m Kris Allen, and I just moved in yesterday.”
“I’m surprised Adam didn’t move you in with him”, Megan chuckled. “He must have been possessed when he met you or else he’d keep you on a leash.”
Kris stared at her. “Huh?”
“Let me guess, Adam pulled an incognito trick again, huh?” Megan wrinkled her nose in annoyance. “Honestly, he can get so weird sometimes. If you’ve never met him and he just rented the place off to you via Cassidy Haley, I won’t be surprised. It’s almost exactly like the time when he suddenly showed up at my door looking like a complete stranger. I mean, we folk here were used to seeing him as a freckle-faced redhead, then suddenly there was this raven-haired, totally made-up hottie at my door speaking in Adam’s voice and - oh dear, I’m confusing the hell out of you, am I not?”
“Well, yeah”, Kris scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “I know next to nothing about Adam.”
His mind went back to the letters, but he wasn’t up to bringing them up just yet. There was something about them that seemed so secret that he couldn’t even divulge their existence to Adam’s actual friend. For some reason, he felt like he would be betraying Adam if he told anyone about them.
“I can educate you on the way to town if you’re interested”, Megan gestured to her pickup truck. “I have a feeling you’re looking for a ride into town.”
“…can I hug you?” Kris asked meekly, suddenly all shy again.
Laughing, Megan pulled him to her and hugged him like she would do a little brother.
“You’re welcome”, she grinned once she let him go. “Now, shall we?”
Nodding agreeably, Kris followed her to her vehicle, where he ended up gawking again. It was a very non-girly car, and even he wouldn’t have the gusto to drive it.
“Wow, Megan”, he said admiringly. “You’re one tough lady to be able to drive this baby.”
“Good thing you know”, Megan said grandly, making a show of opening the passenger door for Kris. “Megan Joy is not your average everyday woman, honey bunny.”
Kris grinned, feeling his earlier feelings of apprehension wash away. He liked Megan already.
“So, what are you here for, Kris Allen?” Megan asked as she shifted gears and pulled out of Kris’ front lawn. “You look like a little puppy lost in the wilderness.”
“Inspiration”, Kris replied. “There was too much familiarity back in Arkansas, so I couldn’t write any songs with new insights. To actually have a career in the music-making business, I have to think outside the box. I thought it would be best to leave the nest and experience new things on my way. That way, I’d be able to collect new perspectives about the smallest things. Call it a journey, if you may.”
“Damn, Adam sure was stupid not to meet with you”, Megan shook her head. “He’s in the music business too, but he’s the recording artist variety. Dude, that man CAN SING, I tell you. He’s wild, crazy and strange, but I think the two of you would have gotten along well. He was here for the same reason you are, then he found his wings and flew off. People never stay here for long.”
“Well, I just might”, Kris smiled serenely. “I like the peace and quiet of this place. Even if some hotshot recording artist picked up my songs, I’d still want to come home to a place like this.”
“So I take it you’re not fond of parties and drinking?” Megan asked.
“Nah”, Kris shook his head. “I feel out of my natural element at such events. Believe me; I would love it if my life consisted of family, close friends and music-making.”
“You’re a sweet kid”, Megan smiled. “I’m surprised you’re not attached yet.”
“I have no talent with girls”, Kris laughed. “Every single girl I get close to ends up wanting to adopt me as her little brother or something.”
“Which is exactly what I feel about you, though I suspect we’re the same age”, Megan grinned, punching him playfully on the shoulder. “And I could teach you a few things, baby Allen.”
“Like what?” Kris blinked.
“Oh, just how to be a free spirit”, Megan said casually.
The town wasn’t that far away by car, and Kris found himself admiring it like a fascinated child, his nose pressed to the window.
“It’s like I’m in a mystery novel”, he said excitedly. “I love how Old West-inspired this place is!”
“It’s a charming place”, Megan agreed, turning off her ignition. “Montana is one of the more mountainous states, so you can expect the Old West instead of strip clubs.”
“I’m already in love”, Kris said automatically, hopping out of the truck. “Hey, would you mind directing me to the grocery? I need to pick up a few things for the house.”
“No problem”, Megan replied, escorting him into a building that looked like a grand saloon. “This is it, actually. It looks epic on the outside, but it’s your normal grocery on the inside -”
“With staff dressed like cowboys”, Kris interrupted her happily. “I’m in love with this town already.”
“Good to know”, the tall woman grinned. “Anyway, what’s on your grocery list?”
“Stuff I need to pick up in the frozen food section like fish, meat and poultry”, Kris answered, letting his new friend lead him to the said aisle. “After that, some condiments and a week’s worth of bottled water. I’d buy a month’s worth, but even both of us aren’t man enough to carry all of it.”
“And that is the one thing that sucks about where we live”, Megan pointed out. “You really have to buy your water in town if you’re not a fan of boiling tap water.”
“And I am not, so buy water it is”, Kris said firmly as he hefted a few frozen food items into his cart. “Hey, you’re welcome to join me for breakfast whenever you want.”
“That’d be awesome, thanks!” Megan’s eyes lit up. “I’ll bring something every time I visit to save you the trouble of cooking extra dishes.”
“Nah, don’t trouble yourself”, Kris smiled. “I guess I’m just in need of company.”
“I don’t blame you”, Megan declared, handing Kris the milk carton he wanted. “It’s awesome living on your own, but it gets a little lonely sometimes.”
“Do you live on your own?”
“No”, Megan answered. “I live with my son Ryder and a student named Allison. She came here for college and rents my guestroom.”
“…you have a son?” Kris stared at her. “But you’re my age.”
“I married early, but it fell apart”, she explained. “I realized that I could get on better without him, so I moved away from Utah and settled here. From then on, I’ve felt good about everything that’s been happening to me. This is like, ‘The Place for Megan Joy - if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah”, Kris nodded. “I want it to be ‘The Place for Kris Allen’, too.”
“Who knows?” Megan grinned, clapping him playfully on the shoulder. “It might just be.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So, Kris, how do you like the cabin?”
Cassidy Haley leaned back in his seat, casually taking a sip from his coffee mug. He was sitting in a booth at a quaint old restaurant, having lunch with Kris and Megan. The duo had run into him in the grocery, and Megan suggested that they all hit Ye Olde West Saloon for lunch.
“I had a good first night”, Kris replied. “It felt good to fall asleep to the sounds of howling coyotes.”
“You really are a Neanderthal”, Cassidy chuckled. “Adam called me once in the middle of the night to complain about the howling coyotes. He said it was disrupting his beauty sleep.”
“I remember that”, Megan grinned. “It was as if he could complain about howling coyotes the way people complain about their neighbor’s dogs.”
“Adam is such a city boy”, Cassidy said fondly. “I miss the guy.”
“This Adam person seems like an interesting guy”, Kris remarked, trying not to sound too interested. “What kind of person is he?”
“The sweetest, funniest drama queen you could ever imagine”, Megan answered. “I told you about how he turned himself into a sex god, right? Well, he has the sex god attitude to go with it. He used to invite Cass and me over to the cabin for some drinks and good music. That was as close we could get to partying within the vicinity of our homes, but they were good times. It’s a shame that you two never met. I think he would have really liked you.”
“In more ways than one”, Cassidy added, carefully measuring Kris’ reaction. “You’re his type.”
“…as in, lover type?” Kris choked on his beer.
“You catch on fast, little lost puppy”, Megan crowed. “Yeah, Adam’s gay and awesome like that. He used to go out with a guy named Cheeks, but they broke up when Cheeks moved to NYC.”
“Kris does look a little like Cheeks”, Cassidy said analytically, bending forward to examine Kris’ face. “I’ve always teased Adam about having a type, so it’s too bad he missed his chance.”
Kris stared at his two new friends, wondering if they were planning to marry him off to this Adam guy.
“Kris, we’re kidding”, Megan said lightly. “I don’t know if you swing the other way, but we are just joking about pushing you into Adam’s arms. I just really think that it’d be nice if you two had met.”
“Well, I don’t know what way I swing”, Kris mumbled, staring at his plate of baby back ribs. “I guess I’m pretty much asexual since I haven’t crooned about any specific guy or girl. Also, my friends tease me about my domesticity. They say I’m a bit of a kitchen princess.”
“We are so crashing at your place tomorrow for lunch”, Megan said quickly, with Cassidy nodding solemnly beside her. “I want to be introduced to the Kris Allen menu.”
“I certainly wouldn’t mind”, Kris gave them his crinkly-eyed smile. “I can’t say I didn’t feel lonely last night.”
“Oh, we shall annoy the gay out of you”, Cassidy smirked. “Trust me, Megan and I are excellent at providing world-class entertainment.”
Kris stared at him for a moment, and then burst out laughing. He was definitely going to enjoy hanging out with these two.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kris listened to his new song one last time before giving the laptop a rest, extremely pleased at how it came out. He had come home a little later than expected since Cassidy and Megan insisted on showing him around town, so he ended up arriving at five instead of three. He cooked himself an early dinner, then immediately immersed himself in a serious music-making session, determined to finish a song before midnight. It was now eleven in the evening, and he had come up with something he was willing to let a record executive hear. More than satisfied for the first time in two years, Kris changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed, Adam’s stack of envelopes in hand. Mind going back to his earlier conversation with Cassidy and Megan, Kris found himself rereading the first letter again, wondering if they really would have gotten along if Adam were physically present here.
They have a point, he thought, browsing through the letter for the nth time. Just by reading the first letter, I’ve already grown quite interested in his character. He seems smart, determined and sweet, and we have a lot of things in common - it’s like ‘The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse’.
Based on the letter’s content, he realized he wouldn’t have a problem carrying a conversation with this Adam if given the chance. Inspired, he picked up his pen and a clean notebook. He was going to write again, but it wasn’t going to be a song this time. Instead, he was going to use his imagination and construct a reply to his mysterious landlord. Carefully propping Adam’s letter on his lap as a guide, Kris began to write.
June 27, 2010
Dear Adam,
Hi, my name is Kristopher Neil Allen, and I’m your present tenant. As you predicted - or somehow hoped - someone successfully located your letters in that hiding spot. I don’t know if you would have wanted someone like me to find them, but I did, anyway. My pen rolled into the crevice, and that’s how I stumbled upon all of this. If it comforts you, you’re probably twenty-seven years old now, and neither sixty-seven nor dead.
To start with, I should tell you a few things about myself as well. I’m twenty-three years old and I hail from Conway, Arkansas, a conservative state down south you probably wouldn’t be interested in. Well, I can’t blame you, because I kind of got bored of it as well. You see, I love writing songs, and being in my home base was affecting my inspiration flow because I was surrounded by things that were all too familiar. I realized I could no longer be inspired by the things I grew up with because I wrote songs about them already. If I want to make it big, I need to break free from my comfort zone and dive into an ocean full of things I’ve never seen before. Originally, I thought of New York or LA, but that would be too much of a culture shock for little old Kris. Just like you, I needed to find myself. I felt the overwhelming need to start out on my own in a new place, so I immediately called Cassidy as soon as I saw the ad you ran in the paper.
I’m really starting to like it here. I met Megan this morning, and she told me a little bit about you. Cassidy mentioned over lunch that I was your type, which made me stare at him for a few moments. Just so you know, I don’t really fuss over people’s sexual preferences - heck, at least you have one. I consider myself asexual because I can’t seem to see myself with either sex. Friends back in Conway describe me as a domestic creature, but I don’t think that would be enough to turn me gay. It’s all about meeting the right person, I guess.
Sexuality aside, both Megs and Cass seemed adamant about the fact that we’d get along well, and I think it’s probably true. We’d probably have a friendship like the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, but we’d get along despite our differences. I mean, we’re both into music, so that’s a good way to start. I’d really like to hear you sing someday. If I come across your CD when it’s out, I’d buy it out of sheer curiosity. It’d be nice if I could send you a few things I wrote as well.
Anyway, it’s getting late. I can hear the coyotes howling outside, and I can’t help but think of you. It would be nice if I knew how you looked, but since I don’t, this letter will be sufficient enough. Goodnight, Adam, sleep well in the city of angels.
Cheers,
Kris
Satisfied, Kris tore the page from his notebook, and then inserted it into a small envelope. He put Adam’s letter back into its own envelope, and then joined their letters together with a paper clip. He placed them almost reverently on his bedside drawer before turning out the lights and burying himself under the covers.
He would definitely look at the next letter after breakfast.