When Harry finished his presentation, they were dismissed.
“Well, it was nice meetin’ y’all,” Jimmy said.
“Don’t you wanna go do something?” Sam asked. “We’re in New York, City,” she reminded them, “and the night is young.”
Jimmy shrugged. “I think I’m gonna stay here… go back to my room and practice for tomorrow.”
“Me too,” Tristan said. “If you want, you can come over to my room, and we’ll practice together.”
“What’d be the point?” Corey interrupted. “I mean, it’s a solo competition.”
“Oh, okay,” Tristan said. “Sorry, I just thought….”
“It’s okay, kid. If we make it through, we can practice together for group. I mean, if you wanna be in our group.”
“Sure,” he answered, his voice going up an octave.
“Well, good luck tomorrow,” Jimmy said as he rose from his seat. “It was nice meeting everyone.”
Corey glared at Tristan after Jimmy had left. The kid was being so obvious. He clearly had the hots for Jimmy and was flirting. He tried laughing it off, telling himself it didn’t matter, but for some reason it bugged him.
“Guess I’ll go back to my room too,” the kid said.
“Good luck tomorrow,” Teri said.
Once he was gone, Corey turned to Sam. “Didn’t it seem like that kid was a little strange?”
“What do ya mean?” she asked. “He seemed okay to me.”
“I don’t know. I just kept thinking he was… ya know… flirting with Jimmy.”
Sam cracked up. “Dude, the kid looks like he’s in junior high. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Corey said defensively. “Who said I’m worried? I was just making an observation.”
“I think you’re jealous,” she said.
At this point, Jeremy and Teri were talking with each other, not listening to Corey and Sam’s conversation. “That’s crazy. Why would I be jealous?” Corey asked. “Jimmy doesn’t even like me… and I couldn’t care less what he thinks of that kid. Or of me, for that matter.”
“Oh, okay. If you say so.”
“Anyway, I’m gonna go back to my room,” he said.
“Dude, no way!” Sam objected. “We gotta go do something. I didn’t come all the way to New York just to sit in my hotel room.”
“Well, if we make it through the solo competition, we can celebrate. But Jimmy’s right. We need to focus on this first, or at least I do.”
“Well, wait. At least give me your cell number before you go.”
They exchanged numbers before Corey headed back to his room. In all honesty, he knew he didn’t need any more practice. He’d rehearsed his song a thousand times. What he really needed was to get back to his room and check on Jimmy. He didn’t like the way things had gone at dinner. There was no question that Tristan had been hitting on him, and Sam was right. It did make him a little jealous. Yeah, the kid looked really young, but he was cute, and Corey sensed that Jimmy had been attracted to him.
Well, Corey was gonna have to fix that. He needed to give Jimmy something else to think about.
W
HEN
Jimmy got back to his room, the first thing he did was call home. Charlie answered and was thrilled to hear his big brother’s voice. Jimmy took a seat in the corner, using the only chair in the hotel room, and spent twenty minutes talking about his flight and the things he’d seen so far.
“And guess what? There’s this kid here who looks almost exactly like you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, well, not exactly, but he reminds me of you. His name’s Tristan.”
“Is he… ya know, like you?”
“Oh, gay, you mean? Nah. Well, I don’t know. I guess I didn’t even think of that. I doubt it.”
“That’s cool, though,” Charlie said. “It’ll be like watching myself on TV.”
“Yeah, they’re gonna start the cameras tomorrow. Ya know who
is
gay, though? My roommate.”
“Wow. Do you like him?”
“I dunno. I didn’t like him at first. I met him back in Detroit when I auditioned. He was kind of a liar.”
Charlie laughed. “How can you be ‘kind of’ a liar?”
“Let’s just say he fibbed a little to get on the show. I didn’t like it.”
“Can he sing?”
“Oh, he can sing. His voice is amazing. Very talented.”
“So he’s your competition,” Charlie reminded him.
“Well,” Jimmy sighed, “I’m not really thinking of anyone in that way just yet. We’re all here for the same reason—to get through this week. I’m tryin’ to be friendly to everyone.”
“Just remember, bro, if that dude would lie to get on the show, he’d probably do anything to win. So watch your back.”
“Good point,” he said. Just then the door opened and Corey walked in. “Hey, listen, I should get goin’. I gotta practice and get ready for tomorrow.”
“Call me afterward,” Charlie said.
“I will. Hey, I love ya, man.”
“Love you too.”
Jimmy set down his phone and looked up at Corey, who was now standing by his bed. “I thought you were goin’ out with the gang,” he said.
Corey shook his head and flopped down on his mattress. “Nah, you were right. I need to focus on tomorrow. It’s too soon to go out celebrating.”
“It’s still early,” Jimmy said. “Just ’cause I’m a homebody don’t mean you gotta be.”
“No, it’s not that,” Corey said.
“Well, I know we just ate, but I can get us a pizza later if you’re hungry.”
“Really?”
“Sure, why not?” Jimmy said. “Don’t you like pizza?”
“I love pizza, but I’ve got to be careful. I don’t have much money.”
“I wouldn’t have much either,” Jimmy said, “but my daddy slipped me some cash before I took off. What kind of job you got up in Michigan?”
“I work at a grocery store. Cashier.”
Jimmy grinned. “That’s funny. I used to be a bag boy. Now I work at a garage.”
“Really? You mean you’re a mechanic?”
“Sort of. I work at one of those quick lube joints.”
Corey raised his eyebrows and looked over at Jimmy, a smile on his face. “Quick lube, huh?”
Jimmy rolled his eyes and bent over to pick up his guitar. “You have a dirty mind,” Jimmy said.
“What do ya mean? I didn’t even say anything? I think you’re the one with a dirty mind.”
“So you’re gay, huh?” Jimmy said. He didn’t look at Corey when he said it. “You got a boyfriend?”
“Why?” Corey responded.
“Just wondered. Figured it was the polite thing to ask.”
“Oh… well, no. I’m single.”
There was a pause as Jimmy positioned the guitar on his knee.
“What about you?” Corey asked.
“What about me what?” Jimmy said, looking down at his guitar while positioning his fingers on the frets.
“Are you single?”
“Yeah,” Jimmy said, then he strummed a note.
“Oh. I heard you on the phone, saying you loved someone.”
Jimmy raised his head, unable to resist the urge to grin. “Yeah? Well, I get around. Don’t mean I’m serious about any one person.” He couldn’t believe Corey thought he’d been talking to a boyfriend when it was only his brother.
“So does he think…?”
“What’s it to you?” Jimmy asked. He strummed a couple chords.
Corey shrugged. “Nothin’, I guess. I just….”
“I was talkin’ to my baby brother, dude,” Jimmy said, laughing. “I always tell him I love him before I hang up. Ya know, when you almost lose someone in your family….”
“Oh, sorry,” Corey said. He lay back on the bed and covered his face with his hands as he sighed. “I just can’t ever say the right thing to you,” he complained.
Jimmy continued to stare at him. Corey looked kind of cute, the way he was lying there, stretched out. And there was no denying the guy had a nice body. Jimmy didn’t respond to Corey’s remark, but instead started strumming the guitar and singing.
It was a ballad, a Josh Turner song, one of Jimmy’s favorites. The lyrics were quite suggestive. “Baby, lock the door and turn the lights down low….”
As he began to sing, Corey sat up again, looking over at him.
He got to the second verse: “There’s no need to hurry, don’t you worry, we can take our time….”
Corey pulled his legs up, sitting cross-legged on the bed as he leaned forward, listening to every word.
“Wow,” Corey said, his voice a whisper. “That was… um… beautiful.”
“You like?”
“Very much,” Corey said. “The judges are gonna love your deep voice.”
“Thanks,” Jimmy said. “What’s
your
song?”
“‘Flying Without Wings’,” Corey answered.
Jimmy immediately began to strum the guitar. He knew the song well, and as he played, Corey sang. The song began softly and built up to a crescendo, which Corey belted out. He was on his feet at the edge of the bed, hands outstretched, as he sang the words to Jimmy.
“Amazing,” Jimmy said, setting the guitar on the bed beside him. Corey was out of breath and appeared on the verge of becoming emotional. “Are you okay, man?” Jimmy asked.
“It’s the song.” Corey reached up to wipe his eyes. “Maybe not the greatest choice. I mean… well, I don’t wanna lose it tomorrow, get all emotional.”
“You’ll be fine,” Jimmy assured him, “and even if you do cry, that’s not always a bad thing. They might like it.” He stood up and stepped over to Corey, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, they’ll love it. You’ll do great.”
“Thanks,” Corey said, smiling through his tears. “It’s just… God, I’m so nervous.”
“You think I’m not nervous too?” Jimmy said. “I’m scared out of my mind. If I get sent home during the first round, it’ll be like everything I ever dreamed of has suddenly been shattered.”
“I know,” Corey said. “That’s how I feel too. That’s why….” He exhaled and looked into Jimmy’s eyes. “That’s why I picked that song. From the time I was old enough to walk, I’ve been singing. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but now here I am, grown up, working at a grocery store and going to community college.”
“Least you ain’t a grease monkey, like me.” Jimmy winked at him.
“Someday you’re gonna be a country megastar. Mark my words. It may be sooner than you think too. When I hear you sing, Jimmy, it touches my heart. You have one of the most beautiful, smooth voices I’ve ever heard. I don’t think Josh Turner himself sings that song as well as you do.”
In spite of all Jimmy’s apprehension, when Corey said those words to him, he seemed sincere. Jimmy believed him. He reached up with his other hand and placed it on Corey’s opposite shoulder, now holding him at arm’s length.
“Thank you,” Jimmy whispered. And then in spite of himself, he leaned in. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t even logical, but it was the only thing he could do. He leaned in to press his mouth against Corey’s. As their lips brushed together, they were startled by a banging on the door. Jimmy quickly let go of Corey’s shoulders and jumped back.
Corey stared up at him, wide-eyed. “Uh, I’ll get it,” he said, spinning around and then stepping over to the door.
“Hi,” Tristan said as Corey opened the door. “Sorry to bother you….”
“Come on in,” Jimmy said. “We were just practicing.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?” Tristan said.
“Yeah, I’m totally sure. Come on, you can have pizza with us.”
“Uh… I don’t wanna intrude. It’s just… uh, well, I don’t have a roommate. They put me in a room by myself because one of my parents was supposed to come with me. My mom couldn’t come, though.”
“You’re cool,” Jimmy said. “Right, Corey?”
“Um, yeah, sure,” Corey said, rather unconvincingly.
Tristan stepped in, and Corey closed the door behind him.
“Hey, I wanna show you something,” Jimmy said. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “See this picture here? That there’s my kid brother. His name’s Charlie.”
“Wow,” Tristan said. He started laughing. “He looks… well, like
me
.”
“Weird, ain’t it?” Jimmy said.
“Let me see,” Corey said. “That’s crazy. Same eyes, same nose.” Corey took the wallet from Jimmy’s hand and held the photo up next to Tristan’s face. “Are you sure you two aren’t related?”
“So do people tell your brother he looks like Justin Bieber too?”
Jimmy shook his head. “I don’t think either of you look like Bieber. Maybe a little bit. You two look a lot more like each other. You’re even the same height and everything.”
“Your brother’s hair is shorter,” Corey said.
“In this picture it is,” he said. “It’s longer now. His eyes are a little different too. But anyway, there is definitely a resemblance.”
“Maybe I’ll get to meet him,” Tristan said. “If we both make it through….”
“That’d be cool. Charlie’s been sick, though. I don’t know if he’ll be up to traveling though. And if we make it through, we gotta go clear out to California.”
Corey sat down on the bed and grabbed the TV remote from the nightstand. He turned the TV on. Tristan sat on Jimmy’s bed, while Jimmy sat next to him in the chair. The three of them talked, and it became clear to Jimmy that Tristan was basically just a little nervous. He was a bit insecure and kind of freaked out being away from home by himself. He thought about Charlie’s question on the phone, whether or not Tristan was gay, and Jimmy really didn’t get the impression that he was.
Corey, on the other hand, didn’t seem overly fond of Tristan. He noticed Corey rolling his eyes a couple times behind Tristan’s back. At least he was being nice to the kid. Jimmy had already decided that he was going to look out for Tristan. As long as the kid was there, Jimmy would make sure he was all right. Maybe part of it was that he looked so much like Charlie.
After surfing through the channels a few times, Corey finally settled on a reality TV show.
“And now here we are on a reality show ourselves!” Tristan said. “It’s gonna be weird tomorrow with all those cameras.”
“They say that after a while you stop noticing them,” Corey said. “Well, that’s what contestants from
Real World
have said, like in interviews and stuff.”
“On
Superstar
last year there was this one mother who was badmouthing all the other contestants,” Tristan said. “She was saying all kinds of mean things about everyone and then going on camera to brag about how great her daughter was. Then when the other contestants were around, she was, like, hugging on them and being all nice.”