OUR EMPIRE STATE (working title) CHAPTER FOUR - PART I

"What the hell do you wear to a date, when you don't know where your going?" I was flicking through all the shirts I had stuffed into my wardrobe, a complete mess.

"Why is every channel in this country the news? I am so bored of watching the news. All you hear about is people being murdered on your doorstep. I think I might buy a gun." Mike was sat on the end of my bed glued to my television.

"Mike, are you even listening? I'm having a dilemma over here."

"What? Oh, wear a shirt mate, can't go wrong with a shirt can you."

I looked at the line up of shirts I had in front of me, "A shirt? Okay, but which bloody one? Pink, brown, yellow, black?" I picked a selection of the shirts out of the wardrobe.

"What are you?" Mike asked, looking up.

"Excuse me?"

"What are you?" He asked again, looking at the shirts in my hand.

"What size am I?" I asked back.

"No you muppet, I couldn't care what size you are. Are you a man?" Mike looked up at me.

"Mike, we have known each other for years, by now you should have established my gender. Yes I am a man." I placed the shirts down on my bed, looking in confusion at Mike.

"Do you have balls?"

"Yes thank you. Where are you going with this?" I questioned.

"And do you exude masculinity?" Mike picked up two of the shirts.

"I like to think so." I replied.

"Well, wear the pink one then." Mike handed me the casual pink shirt in his hand.

"Yes, but it is a bit cold for just a shirt don't you think? I held the shirt in front of me.

"Well, wear that blazer you have and that chunky nit scarf hanging there, add to that a pair of jeans and some casual loafers and you are sorted mate." Mike had his head stuck in my wardrobe, throwing clothes back into the room behind him as he searched around.

"Right, Mike have you been watching Queer Eye re-runs again?" I began to button up the pink shirt and stood in front of my mirror, "This new side to you is starting to freak me out. People will start to talk." 

"Let them, I am comfortable mate, it's good to be able to talk about fashion confidently, the ladies love it." Mike grabbed his coat and made his way to my front door. He turned back and looked me up and down. "That's it mate, I think my work here is done. Good luck, I am off to get some dinner from that deli on the corner. Let me know how it goes." 

"Cheers mate, I will call you later."

Mike left my apartment, leaving me to my own thoughts. Panic set in while I was thrusting wax through my hair. Where is she going to take me? Is she even going to turn up? Do I look good? Is she going to look so good that I am lost for words? Am I actually going to like her? Will she even like me? It was too late to worry by now, I had to get a move on.

It was cold outside, even with my scarf on gloves on I could feel a draft up my back. I walked a couple of blocks to get my head straight and then caught a taxi down to 5th Avenue to meet up with Stephanie. I was giving myself a good 40 minutes to get there to ensure I wasn't late. Traffic was light so the journey was shorter than I was anticipating, I got out of the cab a couple of blocks from our meeting spot and took a light stroll, buying some gum on my way. 

As I approached the Apple store I could feel my heart racing. It had been months since I had gone on a first date, it was my first date with a true american girl, and my first date in the city. So many things could go wrong, and knowing my luck, all of them would.

I rounded the last corner and immediately spotted her stood waiting for me just to the left of the Apple store. She was wearing a long knitted jacket, a large scarf, skinny jeans and boots, and the cute hat she wore the first time I saw her. To be cliche, my heart skipped a beat, I paused for a moment, composing myself. She was carrying a pair of ice skates over her shoulder.

"Stephanie, am I late?" I tapped her gently on the arm.

"Hi Jack, no your not. I'm early."

"Oh good, you had me worried for a second there. So how are..."

"Guess what?" Stephanie interrupted.

"Hmm..."

"We are going ice skating!" She beamed with a smile.

"But I can't..."

"Well, you will just have to learn won't you. Come on, the light is fading and the view from the rink in the park is just amazing." She said as she grabbed my hand and made her way towards the road.

I couldn't get a word in edge ways. "But...Okay I guess I could give it a..." 

"It's my turn to try and break your legs now, you better be ready for this." She looked back at me, her eyes burning a bright shade of blue. She looked a little too excited.

"Oh I don't think I will ever be ready for this love." I replied, with fear in my shaky voice.

JACK AND STEPHANIE - WHERE SHOULD I TAKE IT/THEM?!

Okay - serious one here.

While I have been turning the story into a script I have slowly realised how badly written the story is so far. Considering how much readers liked it when I first posted the installments, it leads me to believe that if I were to rewrite it, it would just be even move loved! 

Here is the deal . . . I have an idea!!!

I could keep the J&S story as a short story being released onto the blog as short installments and rewrite what I have posted on the blog so far and re-post it . . . 

OR

I could continue to write the story as a script - taking it into the realm of a COMEDY-DRAMA and post it onto the blog act by act . . . 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?!?! WOULD LOVE SOME OPINIONS - ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE WHO ARE TRUELY FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY!!!

Back To Normal

A quote - "Jack of all trades, a master of nothing!"

I think this applies to me. Agree?

Jack, Stephanie And Me Are Entering A Competition!

So, I am entering a big competition that is being held in the UK. The winner gets to help write a mini episode of a teenage comedy-drama called Skins that will promote the coming series and will also be on set to help direct and produce the mini series. It would be an unbelievably amazing opportunity and one which I plan not to miss.

I have to write a 1600 word original script and send it in by December 9th. I only found out about it last night so I am starting the mission today. I have never written a script before so I am a bit anxious. I thought long and hard about a story, plot and narrative to base my script around but was struggling to come up with anything good. Then it hit me . . . JACK AND STEPHANIE! Over the summer those two, and their adventures seemed to be enjoyed by so many readers I thought "Why don't I turn the story into a script?!" I had thought about this before and it is what I am going to do. 

So wish me luck and I will keep you updated on how I do . . . if I win I will keep a diary of all the events that lead up to the ten sessions with the writers of the show and the 4 days of production.

But lets face it . . . I am never going to win am I?!

I Will Never Forget . . .

. . . The memory of playing a gig with two strippers on stilts dancing around in the crowd! What an awesome night that was!

REALLY awesome to see people are still loving the Jack and Stephanie saga! I was worried about the last installment, I felt that I had rushed it and that it wasn't perfect, but yet you all seem to love it so that makes me feel better!

I have a busy two weeks ahead of me, another gig this week and then LEEDS FESTIVAL next week which is going to be amazing! Along with all this I have to sort out some bills and things that I diddn't realise I was still paying, and also rewrite some crappy essays and assignments from last year at uni which I failed - I have never been academic and these essays appeared at times when my world was being turned upside down! Thats my excuse anyway . . .

I have big plans for the next installment of Jack and Stephanie, I have all the ideas for it lolling around inside my head and I want to take my time on it! It probably won't be online for another couple of weeks, but I can assure you it will certainly be worth the wait!

I am still really enjoying excercising (spelling?!) my creative writing side - it has been wicked reading all your comments! I am not an arogant person but I love the feeling of recieveing good feedback on the things that I do. It is hard in music and also with the advertising work I do because the feedback in very personal, and if often negative in some way. Whether it is from your lecturer or from a random guy in a bar, it all hits you hard! With this story I have been able to hide behind the characters and this has been a whole new window to explore for me! I have always thought that being an actor would be more powerful and better than being the writer behind the scenes, maybe this isn't the case in the real world!

I have also been pondering something else while I get more and more involved with the story, maybe the Jack and Stephanie saga is reading more like a mini sitcom than a full on novel. I am loving writing the cliff hanger endings and leaving you all hanging on for more, I also like the idea of exploring the other characters I have in my head as well.

I would love to know what you think?!