It wasn't just her clumsiness that made her fall, it was the fact that someone cleared their throat from the shadows.

That wasn't a comforting notion since she had been thinking about ghosts.

Thankfully, the guitar fell on top of Keely as she tumbled down to the ground yet again for what seemed like the millionth time in the past few days. And lying in an awfully odd formation, Keely watched as Miss Jones came out from those shadows.

Her cheeks burning, Keely scrambled to her feet, gripping the acousitc fender by the neck.

"Miss Jones?" she asked incredulously, though a little suspiciously. Who showed up at ten o'clock at night?

But Miss Jones just smiled, her incredibly white teeth showing in the darkness. She looked as if she had just come from a party. Makeup made her mocha skin glow, and her already dark eyes became sooty. She was wearing a knee high pencil skirt and a low riding shirt, but still looked appropriate for a mother of a four year old child, a good looking mother of a four year old child.

"I just came to give you this," Miss Jones said holding out a bright white envelope.

Curiously, Keely pulled open the slit to look inside. "Thank you," she said smiling, all suspicion gone as she saw the money for the lesson.

Keely would not be spending her job money on shoes or clothes like other sixteen year olds. Seeing as it was hard enough to keep the farm afloat and pay for that incredibly expensive private school, all Keely's riding lesson money either went to her own rare lessons or the grocery fund for the house.

"Do you have much experience with music and preforming?" Miss Jones asked, her eyes alight with interest.

"Ah," she started, befuddled with the question Miss Jones had proposed. What did it matter to her if Keely had any experience with music or preforming? "I haven't played in front of anyone besides my father since I was seven," Keely admitted. "But music is like my life, I don't think I could live without it. I mean, my whole room is covered in records."

"Hmm," Miss Jones murmured thoughtfully.

After a long moment of silence with Miss Jones looking at her house's window contemplatively and Keely looking at her bemused, Keely asked a burning question. "Why did you want to know?"

"So you don't know who I am..." Miss Jones murmured, turning her head back to Keely.

"Mitchie's mother?" she suggested, getting more confused by every word that came out of her companion's mouth.

Suddenly Miss Jones looked extremely satisfied, the kind of satisfaction that Keely thought would be nice to have at the moment. "Then I guess I should tell you, shouldn't I?"

"Yes, yes, you should," Keely agreed.

"Have you ever heard of the major record label called UAE Records?" She asked.

"Of course I have..." despite the words that were obviously being said by Miss Jones to vanish her confusion, Keely's mind still wasn't connecting the dots, and she wasn't a dumb person. "Who hasn't heard of them? They've signed some of the biggest bands in history and the present. Even thought most of the bands they have today aren't too good, the old artists they used to sign were great."

Smiling like she was holding a secret, Miss Jones answered, "Do you know the name of the owner of UAE Records?"

"Isn't something like Margret Jones?" Keely asked.

"Maureen Jones," she corrected.

"What does she have to do with anything in Bellingham?" Keely asked bewildered. But then words from two weeks ago repeated in her mind.

"Hello?" I asked absently into the mouth piece, trying to not roll my eyes again at Joe.

"Keely Staub?" a rough yet high voice answered me on the phone making me thankful that the woman wasn't speaking to me face to face because of the wince that graced my face. Joe sent me a sympathetic smile.

"This is her," I replied, and couldn't help but be confused.

"I'm calling about riding lessons for my daughter, Mitchie," the voice explained. "And you came recommended."

Even though I was mostly a modest person - mostly - I couldn't help but feel the warm glow of accomplishment in my stomach. Even though I would have to admit that most of the compliments should be directed in Evelyn's direction. "Thank you," I said politely, "And this is?"

A tinkling laugh ran across the wire, surprising me with the contrast from the raspy voice. "Maureen Jones."

"You're her," Keely whispered, one hundred percent mortified.

Miss Jones laughed delightedly, "Finally caught on did you?"

"I'm so sorry," she started her stammering self-abasement apologies in a steady stream. "I hope what I said didn't insult you or anything."

"Don't worry," Miss Jones waved a hand in the air. "I actually agree with you, though some of those bands started out great and then changed their music to accommodate people with no taste."

Keely just made a sound of agreement in her throat.

"Can I see the music you have?" she asked suddenly after a long moment of silence.

"Oh sure," Keely answered slowly grabbing her guitar by the neck and leading Miss Jones up the steps towards the house. The idea of Miss Jones looking at her music didn't bother Keely, now that she knew who Miss Jones really was, she was actually excited to show Miss Jones her music, maybe she would meet someone who loved it almost as much as herself. No one had really felt the same about it as she did, really, music was keeping her alive through her whole life. Joe liked music, but he didn't understand.

Five minutes later, Keely was placing her guitar in its case as Miss Jones thumbed through her music.

"This is a great album," she murmured.

Interested, Keely walked over to her seeing Miss Jones holding one of Keely's favourite records, it was Jimi Hendrix's Axis: Bold As Love. "That was one of the first records I ever got," she said fondly.

"I just hope Mitchie will like good music," Maureen mused.

"It might take a while," Keely grinned. "I think I have pretty great taste in music, but I do still know the dances to a few Spice Girls' songs."

"We're all allowed to be kids for a while," she answered philosophically, "I've been trying to get this album for a while. You'd think I of all people would be able to get it, but I've wanted it on vinyl and I can't seem to find a music store carrying it."

"You can borrow it if you want," Keely offered.

"Are you sure?" Maureen asked incredulously. "I mean, I would bite of anyone's hand who even tried to borrow one of my records, I would never ever lend one of them to someone I didn't even know."

Laughing Keely sat cross legged on her computer chair. "I had to learn how to share, you remember Joe right? Well, he's always over at my house borrowing music from me. He just knows if he ruins one of them he might die, and seeing as you own one of the biggest record labels on the earth, I think you might be able to pay me back for the album."

"Money to music isn't a fair trade," she pointed out.

Immediately feeling comradeship, Keely smiled. "That's true as the sun, but you can also buy the album from that money."

"And I can see why your friends come to borrow music from you," Miss Jones said taking a step back to admire Keely's wall full of records and CDs. "You must have more music than a store."

"So I've been told. Why did you ask me if I had experience in preforming?" Keely asked, that burning question had never really been answered.

Looking as if she wanted to get comfortable, she leaned against the pole on Keely's four poster bed, folding her arms and crossing her legs as she looked across the room to where the young girl was sitting was sitting. "You sounded great, even though you have to watch your pitch at some points."

Even though Miss Jones was criticizing her, Keely couldn't even say a word in her amazement. 'You sounded great,' repeated inside of her head. The owner of a major record label thinks I'm good!

Smiling understandingly, Maureen continued, "So I was wondering what you would say to a record deal? This might be abrupt, but I really don't care. I've found some of my favourite bands in the most bizarre places."

“More bizarre than this?” asked Keely dazed.

Maureen smiled understandingly, “I first heard one of those bands playing in the middle of a parking lot at one in the morning.”

“Anyways,” she continued, now switching to a business like tone. “Don't get me wrong, though people think so, the life is not easy. It means late nights, early mornings, paparazzi driving you crazy, and mental break downs. And, while you may have a pretty good sound, you will still have to work on your music."

Keely couldn't say a word.

"You know my number," Miss Jones said straightening. "Take all the time you need, it's a big decision. I know my way out."

Even as Maureen left the room, Keely just continued to stare at the recently vacated spot by her bed.

Not knowing what else to do, Keely grabbed Joe's giant black sweater that hit her on the knees and pulled it on. Ignoring the breath that iced before her eyes, Keely walked hastily over to Joe's house. The only light that was on in the house was thankfully Joe's room.

Feeling like a thief in the night, Keely snuck around the edge of the house.

Thankfully, Joe's room was on the first floor and one of his two doors lead immediately to the back porch.

"Keely?" Joe asked in surprise when she opened his door. He had been stretched out across his simple unadorned bed, the lamp on his end table on while reading a book. He laid the book beside him on the bed seeing her distraught face.

"What's wrong?" He asked concerned, pushing himself off the bed.

She had completely forgot that he was hiding something from her, and Keely just crawled up onto his bed without a word and hugged him closely.

"Keely?" he enquired surprised, hugging her back.

"Can I sleep here tonight?" she whispered.

"Of course," he patted her hair comfortingly. "But what's wrong Keels?"

"Nothing," she lied.

- Na na na na na!

I bet you didn't see that one coming! Ha ha! What do you think about that? What do you think?! Yeah I know that seemed abrupt, but I don't know how else to make that happen! Did anyone think that was going to happen?

Anyways, sleep is a good thing, again. Sincerely.

Now I'm going to go have a movie day with my most awesomest friend in the world, she makes me laugh. It's a good think it's kind of gross and cold in Vancouver today. We are going to watch 80's movies, so Back to The Future, Ghostbusters, The Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Ferris Buellers Day Off and many many more. It shall be a good day of mocking everything that happens, eating junk food, lots of coffee and laughter.

Ah, I love our movies days! Although her big dog appreciates slobbering, though I love the dog to death. Wow, that's a bit awkward, I just told you my plans until about four in the morning when I realize how late it is and come back home...

Whatever, that just means no more updates today!