*****1*****

It was the ordinary evening of the ordinary day. Daniel was sitting in his studio alone trying to make the computer work, when telephone rang. "Who the hell is it at that time?" - He thought. - "May be Kathleen's looking for me?" No, she would call on mobile... So Daniel was managed to stand up and answer the phone.
- Hello?
- Daniel? You'd never change! I knew you're there despite of that late time! That's John Woodruff
- Oh, John! Hi! It's so nice to hear you! How're you doing?.
John Woodruff was the first person who 10 years ago took serious two ordinary Brisbane boys, the person thanks to whom Savage Garden ever exist. Since that time John and Dan were really good friend in spite of the fact Savage Garden split up.
- Everything's fine, thank you! I'm calling coz I have a request for you. Official offer, to be more exact. You know about ARIA awards, don't you?
- Of course, I know!
- Well, the producers of the ceremony would like to see you and Kathleen there to present "best single" nominee. So what do you think?
- Hmmm... I should say that I'm impressed. I'll come with great pleasure! I think Kathleen will agree too! You know, I love ARIA!
They both laugh.
- I had no doubt! It's only they who were afraid that you'll refuse! I'll call you tomorrow morning to check out some details, ok?
- Surely! I'll be waiting!
- Good luck!
- Buy!

Daniel hung off the phone and sat down in deep pensivess. For many years, since he was little boy, he was watching ARIA on TV, looking excitedly on the screen... In his dreams he was already there, on stage. It was that time when he swore to himself that he'll become a rock star. And now, in last 2 years, he entered the ceremony as talented composer, successful producer and just respected person in musical business... But somehow he distinctly remember that ceremony in 1997 then he realized for the first time that he managed to make his dream came truth...

...1997. ARIA evening... He and Darren, yesterday ordinary boys from small town and now - the authors of ¹1 hit in national chart, are presented in 13 nominees and are performing one of their best songs "To The Moon And Back" with Sydney's Symphonic Orchestra...
- Dan... I...I'm nervous as hell! - Darren bit his lip and looked at Daniel with panic in his blue eyes. The last minutes before their performance were quickly going by...
- Come on, Darren, there's nothing to be worried about! - Daniel clapped Darren on shoulder and tried to smile, but he was really scared himself. - We're not children who have done something bad and afraid of punishment! We're the heroes of this event!
- And that's exactly why I'm so scared!
"Ladies and gentlemen! We're very glad to present you that guys who seem to take the big part of all our awards tonight! Here's Savage Garden with their great hit To The Moon And Back! "
Darren and Daniel looked at each other for the last time, breathed in deeply and came out on stage...
Their performance was really amazing and as addition to that they won 10 nominees of Australian Record Industry Awards and that was absolute record in the whole history of ceremony.
Time passed by... They won a few more ARIAs... Had many performances, which were called "hella good"... And sometimes they felt like they really were "national heroes"... But they still were excited before every single performance...
Now Daniel was not longer a guitarist standing in the spotlight, no longer a star giving autographs and interviews, but the memories of that and many more evenings were with him for ever. So he has no doubt that he's ready to come back to that stage one more time...

*****2*****

- Oh, no, not E.T.! - Darren had to jump up from the sofa to save the toy from Wally. - You CAN"T do that!!
The dog looked on his owner with the expression of deep guilt in his eyes. He put the toy on the floor and his view was saying something like "Why are you getting so nervous about such a trifle? "
- Look, you have favorite toys, don't you? So do I - Darren was explaining patiently to his dog, putting E.T. on the higher shelf. - Even if I'm already a big boy - he added with light sight, returning back to the sofa.

Now Darren was in that soul condition he doesn't even know how to describe. His new album was finished and promo was about to start, he was even thinking about first single and video... A lot of work to do... Darren was able to make a little break-up now, but he doesn't want to stop even for a minute. But from the other side he wasn't sure that he is ready to give his "child" to judgment of critics, journalists and listeners. This album was completely different from everything he's done before and it was amazing for everyone including the author himself. Darren was already imagining all the same questions the journalists would ask him again. He was sure that it would be the questions they asked a year ago... The questions that make him sick... He always did his work the best way he ever could and he loved his job, that was truly the meaning of his life, but this press-conferences and interview sometimes just drove him crazy. "Oh God, how could they ask the same all the time?!" - he thought, patiently telling "Yes, it's my true hair color", "Yes, Daniel is still my good friend" and "I called my first solo album Spin because..." thousand times...
The loud sound of door bell made him flinch. He jump up and run to hall.
- I'm coming! - he called out, trying to figure out who could visit him now.
It was Leoni standing at the doorway. And she obviously was really excited.
- Hey! Leo! - Darren stepped back to let her come in.
- Hi! - Leoni gave Darren light kiss and asked - Will you come to ARIA?
- I'm sorry... What? - Darren was rather discouragen by that strange question.
- ARIA Awards, that's ceremony in Australia...
- I remember that, but I don't understand what you mean anyway... Why don't you come into living room and tell me everything?
Leoni came into living room and was really loudly greeted by Wally, who was incredibly happy to see his "aunt". Darren came in too, sat cross-legs on the carpet and looked at Leo.
- So... What happened?
- Oh, OK! I'm sorry for that sudden strange question! Have you ever heard about Delta Goodrem?
- Yes, surely! - Although Darren didn't spend much time in Australia, he heard about that talented girl, whose album was #1 in national chart for a few weeks already. The girl was only 18... Her life could seem a dream came truth, but some time ago the whole world was surprised by the news that Delta has cancer... - Life is so damned unfair sometimes! - he added with a sign.
Leo continued:
- She has 10 nominees at that ARIA. But she can't perform by herself... John Woodruff called me literally a few minutes ago and said that the producers of the ceremony wanted you to sing Delta's song there.
Darren looked at Leoni with great amazement:
- They want me to do it? Why namely me?
- Well... They know that you are able to sing that song and besides that, they suppose that only you could express that feelings of sympathy and love that everyone feel about Delta and only your voice could make people literally cry and...
- Oh, stop, please! You make me feel confused! Which song it is?
- "Lost without you"
- How much time I have before the ceremony?
- 2 days.
- Oh, OK! So I need the lyric and musical part of it and it's better to hurry up!
- So you want to say that you agree to do it?
- Of course, I do! It's nothing to discuss here! This girl needs support now and if I could help somehow...
- In that case you'll find the lyrics and notes in your e-mail! John was sure that you'll agree! - Leo said in answer to Darren's amused glance.

But now it was her turn to get amused coz Darren rushed to turn on the computer and not even listened to her last phrase. "He'll always be surprising me" - she thought...

Darren turned the computer on and opened his mail program. "OK, here it is!" - He opened the file and pressed "print" button. With a silent buzzing printer gave out a few sheets of paper. Darren sat straight on the floor leaning against the wall and began to read...
I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes
A little righteous and too proud
I just want to find a way to compromise
Cos I believe that we can work things out...

Darren closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He suddenly had strange feeling that he had written these words by himself many years ago, coz they was characterizing him perfectly. How many times he was too stubborn... prefer to have his own opinion, even if others refused to understand him. That kind of person he was at school and now in music business as well... But that didn't mean that he refused to compromise... That he wanted to be alone...

I keep trying to find my way
but all I know is I'm lost without you
I keep trying to face the day
I'm lost without you

Find his own way... It seemed that he managed to do it... But no one even guess that sometimes he had sad thoughts, that he, who was inspiring thousands people, sometimes needed inspiration himself. That was the reason he agreed to sing "Lost without you" for Delta, not vanity. He just understood her need for help and supporting...

- Dar... - Leoni who just came into the room, interrupted herself - what's wrong with you?
- Nothing... but that song is just perfect... - he raised his head, his eyes were glistening. - it's simply amazing... I just HAVE to sing it... I have feeling that I'm 18 again and I wrote it... about everything that happened with me...
Suddenly he stood up from the floor and took the phone.
- Do you have John's phone number or I should tell someone else that I agree to perform that song?

*****3*****

He came to Australia in top secret condition. Organizers of the ceremony insisted that his performance should be secret till last minute. So even his parents didn't know that he will be in Sydney that evening. May be it was even better. He had an ability to come there and not answer to endless questions, to pose for photographs and video cameras.
He was standing behind the scene repeating the text of song and suddenly saw John Woodruff.
- Darren! So nice to see you! It's great that you agreed to come here!
- Hi! How could I refuse?! But my performance here is kind of secret, so I'm not even able to speak to anyone not mentioning Delta!
- And so you hadn't seen Daniel yet?
- Daniel?... - Darren was really amused. - Is he here tonight too?
- Yes, he is! He and Kathleen. They're presenting one of the nominees. Didn't you know?
- No, I don't know anything about it... ("So interesting if Leo didn't know anything too, or it was some purpose in not telling me about that? Why is all the people so concerned about that? I thought that we'd found all the answers...") I guess I should find him! After my performance...
- I'm glad that your relationship is fine now! I'm waiting for your performance impatiently!
- Oh, God... I'm so nervous... Everyone is expecting something from me... I'm afraid I'm not going make it right...
- What are you talking about?! You know, I always believed... in you both! And don't even dare not to come to talk to me after show! Good luck!
With that words John went out to solve his producer's problems, leaving Darren in full bewilderment and confusion. Daniel... Daniel is here... Yes, it seemed that they'd solved all the problems, but...
Suddenly at this moment he remembered their first ARIA ceremony in 1997. That day he was extremely nervous too, because it was their first so big Australian performance, because they were nominated in 13 categories... There were so many "because"... And they hold that record till present time... "And why I have the feeling like I'm going to do my first performance?"

Last minutes before going on stage... Darren breathed in deeply and whispered "I'll be fine! Everything's going to be OK!"
And finally the owner of the ceremony announced "Ladies and gentlemen! Darren Hayes!" He crossed his fingers and stepped into dark. Pale white light revealed his figure. Piano melody started. Darren stood near microphone, hung his head and closed his eyes. He carefully was counting "Three... Four..." And...

I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes...
A little righteous and too proud...

Suddenly he felt unusual inspiration. No, he always gave his soul out and every single concert was in some way like confession for him... But now... he realized that right understanding of that song could have serious effect on him... and may be not only on him...
He was singing and in his mind he saw faces of all the people who played important part in his life... and then disappeared... Colby... His first real love and his first real pain, that inspired him to write songs, those are still important for him. Daniel... The first person who saw real interest and enthusiasm in his eyes and said "Hey, we will rock the world!" in the situation when every other would have pointed at the doorway... And like a flash of light suddenly a thought came in Darren's mind "Dan is here tonight, so why doesn't you two just speak with each over?!"

Darren was looking at the crowd. He wasn't able to see the faces of the onlookers, but he felt their emotions in the air. They all were listening with great attention. And at these moment Darren realized that all the time he was really going by his OWN RIGHT way, that now was lying just before him. He knew that he will stay on stage as long as he'll be able to say something important, something that could lead his listeners to their own conclusions and decisions. He wasn't trying to be a preacher leading the crowd, but... if his music could help someone to find himself and get soul balance - it has the right to exist!

He looked at Delta, who was sitting in the front row.
"If I could only hold you now
Make the pain just go away...
Can't stop the tears from running down my face..."

He saw tears in her wide open eyes. She was so nice in her pretty dress... So nice, young and talented, but... Why it's unfair sometimes?! But now Darren wanted to believe only in good things... and he knew that Delta believed in that too.
He tried to express all his feeling and emotions in last lines of the song... and then the last notes turned into silence he saw that the entire crowd stood up and Delta's wiping tears from her eyes... Darren had never felt so happy and so embarrassed at the same time. He felt that tears in his eyes too and he was leaving the stage with the thought that all these years he wasn't wasting his time and he'd done everything well.

Behind the scene he saw Daniel... Who didn't say anything but just looked in his eyes and smiled. And the expression of admiration and amusement was more important for Darren than any words.

It was Delta's night. She won 7 prizes and every journalist wanted to get her interview. She was really tied but still smiling and answering endless questions.
What Darren wanted most was get back home and go to bed because that evening was very emotional for him too. And he was just about to do it when he heard quiet voice behind him:
- Dar... Excuse me...
He turned back and saw Daniel. His face lighted with smile.
- Oh, Dan! Hi!
- To be honest, I didn't expected to see you here tonight!
- It was a secret... surprise...
- I know we didn't talk much in last few months but... I just wanted to say that I'm bemused by your performance... May be you don't want to speak to me or to see me, but I just wanted to say that!
- You know, while I was singing that song tonight I understood that people don't have to loose each other... Love and friendship are too important to be destroyed by some silly things... Yes, we had some disagreement in the past but I guess we are grown-up enough... And I'd like to apologize for everything I had said about you and me, that could hurt you... Although I'm afraid that you'll tell me something like "go to hell", I want to offer you... to forget about past?
- You understand that it's impossible to forget about everything, don't you? And for what purpose? Good things are much better to remember forever... I guess I should apologize too... for leaving the band... and letting you do all the promo and stuff... It's not your fault, there's a big part of mine...
- Let's just think about all the good things we had, OK?
- So... - Daniel put his hand on Darren's shoulder - Friends again?
- Friends again! - Darren smiled. - We are not going to behave like silly children anymore!
- Yes, we are! I guess we got a lot things to talk about... but... a few minutes later...
- What do you mean?
He looked back and saw Herald Sun Sydney photographer who was staring at them with eyes wide open.
They hugged each other on shoulders and smiled to the camera.
- I guess, Australia got something to talk about now too! - Darren whispered with laugh.

***** The End ******