Chapter 1:
The noise and the heat in Berlin Airport pressed all around me, and I slumped listlessly in my uncomfortable chair. The zipper of my leather jacket dug into my side. I knew my hair was a mess, and last night's eyeliner perfectly complimented my raging hangover. For someone studying health, I thought, I'm doing a wretched job taking care of myself.
My phone buzzed and I wearily picked it up. "Hey, Sarah," I said, cracking a tired smile.
"Hey Kat, how was the rest of the conference?"
"It was a great couple of weeks β I learned a lot of new massage techniques. But I missed you when you left! I went out with everybody last night to celebrate and now my head hurts..."
Sarah laughed at me, and then turned serious. "So...I couldn't get tickets for the Tokio Hotel concert."
"What?!?"
"I went online as soon as I got home from the airport, but it was too late! Can you believe they sold out Key Arena in one day?"
"Ugh," I groaned, letting my head flop back against the seat. "And the Portland show?"
"It's been sold out for weeks."
"Crap, we're not missing Tokio Hotel's first show in Seattle!" I said, a little too loudly. "Especially since I haven't seen even a stalker picture of the boys since I've been in Berlin. It's like they went into hiding after they finished the European tour!"
"Damn shame," said Sarah. "Every woman who visits Germany should get to see the boys in their natural habitat."
I laughed hoarsely. "Well, we can find some damn scalper to buy tickets off of. Whatever it takes, we'll be at that show."
"I'm with you, Kit-Kat. When does your flight leave?"
"In a minute. My original flight was overbooked, so I gave up my seat in return for an upgrade to first class," I said with a weak grin. "I'll be in New York tonight and Seattle in the morning."
"Ooh la la, you live such a glamorous lifestyle. Call me when you get to Seattle, okay? I'll come pick you up."
"Okay, thanks darling. I'm going to get on the plane and sleep off this headache." I slung my bag over my shoulder and dragged myself towards the gate. I looked down to put my phone in my bag and walked right into a serious-looking security guard. "Scheis- I mean, enschuldigung!" I said, brushing my hair out of my face and looking around. There was a lot of security, I suddenly noticed, but I couldn't see a reason for it. It quickly slipped my mind as I shuffled into the plane. First class was luxurious, but all I could think about was sleep. I curled my legs underneath myself, leaned my head against the window, and crashed.
I shifted my legs and groaned, not wanting to be awake. I could still feel the headache lurking in the back of my skull, and now I had a cramp in my neck. How long have I slept?
"HallΓΆchen!" said a cheerful voice to my left. Maybe if I just ignore them, I thought...but there was something familiar about the voice. I opened one eye, but the seat next to me was empty. Confused, I looked around β and my heart stopped. Bill Kaulitz was sitting across the aisle from me.
Chapter 2:
I stared, taking in his tight black t-shirt, the unusually subtle, yet flawless makeup, his signature nails wrapped around a drink, and his hair flowing casually over his shoulders. He was smiling at me with one pierced eyebrow raised, as if he was waiting for my reaction. My heart started beating again and tripled its normal pace. I opened my mouth, but someone moved between us.
With Bill blocked from view, my trance was broken, and I looked up to see Tom sit down in the empty seat next to me. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty is awake!" he said in German. "I wanted to throw Skittles down your shirt, but Bill saw that it was a Tokio Hotel shirt and well...we couldn't do that to a fan. Wie heisst du eigentlich?"
I took a deep breath. "Kat...Kat Wilder." I forced myself to smile confidently as I shook Tom's hand. Don't be a crazy fangirl, I told myself sternly. Just be yourself.
I leaned across Tom to shake Bill's hand. Bill's handshake was strong, and I couldn't help smiling as I met his smoky eyes.
"So what are you guys doing in New York?" I asked in German.
Tom gave me a strange look. "You know our US tour starts tomorrow, right?"
I laughed. "Wow, I totally forgot. I've just been so busy..." I yawned.
"Too busy to follow our every move? I'm offended," Tom said with a smile. He looked over at Bill, who rolled his eyes. "Just ignore my brother, Kat," Bill said. "So, what do you do?"
I explained that I was a student, and that I work in a massage clinic. Tom wolf-whistled at that. I ignored him, but couldn't help smirking as I kept talking to Bill. "Ja, I was just at a massage conference in Berlin, but I'm from Seattle. I'm on my way home right now."
Bill tilted his head to the side, puzzled. "Du bist nicht Deutsch?"
"Nope!" I switched to my best Southern accent. "Born and raised in the USA."
"Wow." Bill stared at me. "You really sound German."
"Ja!" Tom jumped in. "You hardly have an accent. But I could tell." He winked at me. His eyes were friendly, and I almost forgot to respond.
"Thanks, boys!" No matter how many times it happened, I still felt honored when a native speaker complimented my German. Their accents when they spoke English tickled me, and I grinned. How is this happening to me?
"Where's the rest of the band?" I asked. Bill pointed a few rows behind us. I leaned over Tom again and waved; Georg smiled and waved back, and Gustav looked confused. "So where are you guys playing in New York?"
"Madison Square Garden!" the twins said in unison. "Sold out show," added Tom, with his signature cocky smile.
"Wow." I looked at them. They're a year younger than I am, and they sold out Madison Square Garden? I'm so proud of them. Their life must be so different from mine.
Ding! "Ladies and Gentlemen, this your captain speaking. We're starting our descent into New York; local time is eleven pm and the temperature is fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit. We hope you enjoy your stay in New York, or wherever your final destination may be."
My heart sank. Five hours on a plane with Tokio Hotel and I slept through all but the last half hour? Well, at least it didn't give me time to make a fool of myself. I smiled at Tom and then looked out the window. The city lights rose up beneath us. No city in the world glows like New York, I thought.