Making Hits for Your Heart

2 weeks worth of shows with Jamison coming out during “Ho Ho Hopefully” each night (mostly due to John dragging or carrying her out on stage) they had finally made it back home to Arizona 2 days before Christmas. After dropping Gary off at the airport John slowly dropped everyone else at their respective homes before dropping heading to his parents house.

“Why am I suddenly nervous?” Jamison said, with a nervous laugh as John pulled up to the driveway of his parents’ house.

“Don’t be…” John said reassuringly as he stopped the car and took off his seatbelt.

“I don’t know why I am…”

“My parents are nice people, they won’t eat you alive—they are however curious… so if it seems like they are asking you a lot of questions… let me know.” He said, putting his hand on her shoulder supportively.

“No worries.” She said, as they began getting out of the car and grabbing their things.

The minute they headed inside John’s family who were standing in the foyer with smiles upon their faces greeted them happily.

“My son is home!” Ms. O’Callaghan said, going up to hug her oldest son. “Why does it feel even longer this time around? You weren’t even on tour.” She kissed his cheek.

“Hi Mom.” John said, sheepishly with a smile on his face. His mother was always so sensitive and fawned over him. He would always be a mama’s boy to a certain degree.

“I told you not to come home till Pioneer went gold.” Mr. O’Callaghan said jokingly as he went up to hug his son.

“Dad.” John chuckled at his father’s words as he embraced him.

“This must be Jamison…” Ms. O’Callaghan said, beaming at the girl in front her.

“This is my mom Jenny and my dad John the Fourth but we call him Jay.” John introduced as Jamison smiled and let out her hand to shake.

“Hi Mr. and Mrs. O’Callaghan. Thank you for letting me join in with your family’s festivities.” Jamison said, graciously.

“Nonsense, we were so happy to hear John would be bringing you… and please call us by Jenny and Jay.” Ms. O’Callaghan said, with a smile as she pulled Jamison into a hug.

Jamison chuckled. “It’s a habit but I promise I’ll eventually call you by your names instead of Mr. and Mrs. O’Callaghan… eventually” She assured her as she looked over at John’s brothers who had what seemed like smiles with mischievous smirks mixed in.

“These are my knucklehead brothers—Shane and Ross.” John introduced respectively, while looking over at his brothers internally shaking his head wondering what shit would come out of their mouths.

“Hi.” Jamison said with a wave.

“She’s even cuter in person than in all the videos and photos I saw.” Shane said to John like Jamison wasn’t even in front of him.

She chuckled nervously. “Thank you?” She said, not knowing how to react to Shane’s words.

“Stop macking on her… she’s only been here for like 5 minutes.” John said, smacking the back of his youngest brother’s head.

“Hi, I’m Ross obviously the normal one out of the 3.” Ross said confidently as he let his hand out for Jamison to shake while she stifled her laugh.

“You wish.” John said, smacking Ross’ head causing Mr. and Ms. O’Callaghan to look at each other and roll their eyes.

“Nice to meet you.” Jamison said, with a chuckle at the banter going on in front of her. This is what it must have felt like when people watched her and Brendan in the studio.

“We set up the guest room for you.” Ms. O’Callaghan said, “John, help her with her things…” She motioned to Jamison’s things as John quickly grabbed them and lead her to the staircase.

“Come on…” John motioned his head up the staircase as he guided her to the guest bedroom, which was right next to his old room, which was still exactly how he left it even since he had moved out.

“You guys have such a nice house.” Jamison said, looking around her surroundings as they ended up in the guest room with a bed neatly made and fresh towels on the bed.

“Thank you mom and dad…” John said appreciating his parents for a moment, “I grew up in a nice place.” He agreed looking around at the place he had called home even now.

“That you did…”

“We’re only here till Christmas then you’re moving to my place with me and Eric…”

“Featuring the infamous Ruby?” Jamison said with a smile refering to Eric's dog.

“Yes, our lovely resident girlfriend Ruby will also be happily greeting you.” John said with a laugh.

“Can’t wait…”

“So, tomorrow we’re having a party with our friends of 8123 and hometown friends. You will be the guest of honor…” John said teasingly at the latter statement causing Jamison to roll her eyes.

“The outsider.” She joked.

“Hardly…”

“I am joking… kind of.”

Just then, Ross interrupted the two by walking into the room. “We’re going to have dinner soon, so you two can get changed or whatever…”

“Thanks Ross.” John said, “We’ll be down soon.” Ross shook his head before heading back into his room.

Dinner was mostly an event to get to know Jamison and eat Jenny’s infamous cooking, but mostly a mild debriefing of Jamison —who she was, what she liked, and everything in between. Jenny and Jay seemed to be shooting out questions like this would be the only time they could.

“So Jamison, do you live in Nashville?” Jenny asked, as she watched Jamison chew her food before answering her question.

Jamison nodded her head. “I live in quite a few places. I co- own the house in Nashville which John stayed in, I own my house in San Francisco, and an apartment in New York.” She explained, as she took a sip of her water.

“That’s quite a few places, isn’t it?” Jay asked, curiously.

“It only made sense since I am always traveling for work… not extensive as John but I still live in certain places for months before possibly living somewhere else. I just thought of it as an investment with the money I’ve made over the years—I never really spent the money I made on anything besides real estate and work related things. Plus, I have a friend subletting a room in my house in San Francisco, bands come in and out of the house in Nashville, and I let friends stay in my apartment in New York when they are in town. All in all, nothing is going to waste…” Jamison explained, as John watched her in a bit of awe as she answered every question without missing a beat.

“Very admirable.” Jay said, with a smile.

Jamison smiled. “Thank you.”

“John says you’ve started working since you were 14… you must have worked with so many people.” Ross said, as he picked at his food.

“The list is quite extensive… I am a very lucky girl.” Jamison answered, shaking her head gratefully.

“Do you have a secret to it all?” Shane asked.

“Honestly, I don’t even know how I am constantly working…” She said half jokingly with a laugh; “I am very fortunate to have friends who constantly recommend me for jobs. Most of my success is cause of them.”

“Oh I’m sure you talent has a huge part in it.” Jenny said, not believing the modesty that was coming out of Jamison’s mouth.

“My talent, if you can call it that doesn’t have much to do with it.” Jamison assured everyone as she shook her head.

“It has a lot to do with it… don’t sell yourself short.” John said, patting her on the back as Jamison looked at John.

“I’m just try and help people with their music…” Jamison began, “I’m not like John where I put myself out there and unknowingly help people with their lives. What John does requires talent and it’s just a gift. The way he writes music and shares it with the world, how his songs can possibly save someone or just brighten someone’s day—he is a constant reminder to his fans that… they aren’t alone in this sometimes dreary world. I think that’s real talent… and a bit of magic.” She looked at John with a smile before looking back at his parents who stared at their son proudly.

“We are very proud of him.” Jay said, as he gave his son a nod.

“I would be too…” Jamison said, with a smile.

After dinner everyone sat in the living room and talked more about topics ranging from Jamison’s life to random current events before Jenny and Jay called it a night. Jamison went back to the guest room and changed into her pajamas and went through her work emails before there was a knock on her door.

“Come in…” She said, turning off her phone as she looked up to see John in his pajamas with a hoodie draped on him.

“Come on… put on a hoodie or something.” John said quietly, as Jamison got up and grabbed a hoodie from her suitcase.

“What are we doing?” She asked, as she put on her hoodie and followed John out to the driveway.

“Going on an adventure… of some sorts.” He said, as they were outside in front of the van.

“Alright.” Jamison just stood next to John a bit confused.

“Get in the van…” He told her as he got out the keys and opened the driver’s side of the door to get in.

“So bossy…” She teased as John rolled his eyes and laughed.

They both put on their seat belts before John handed her his iPod. “You’re in charge.” He said, as he started the car and began backing out of the driveway.

Jamison looked through his iPod library for a moment before the car speakers began filling with the music of Tom Waits’ ‘The Heart Of Saturday Night’

“I love this album…” John said, as a smile formed on his face keeping his eyes on the road.

“I got mad ‘The Heart Of Saturday Night’ vibes when we recorded ‘These Four Words’.” Jamison said, watching the road as well.

“I was kind of going for that vibe…”

“Success.” She chuckled.

“By the way thanks for saying those things at dinner… my mom totally loves you now if she didn’t already.” John said, looking over at Jamison with a smile who was still focused on the road.

“I didn’t say it to hear thanks, I meant every word… what you do is so amazing, and I don’t think you even know how much of an impact you’re making in this world…” She said, with a smile upon her face.

“Still… hearing that from someone I respect immensely—it’s kind of surreal.”

She shook her head taking in his words. “So, where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see…”

After a few minutes they ended up in deserted parking lot and walked in front of a building Jamison had never been to.

“So, we’re here because?” She asked staring at the building as John got out another set of keys and began opening the door.

“Besides coming here to pick up truck.” He admitted with a chuckle, This is the 8123 offices… and one of the best places where you can see Arizona sunsets. Granted, we’re here at night but… it’s still nice to look at anytime of day.” He said as he guided her up to the rooftop that showed the cityscape.

“You guys are really doing something here…” She said, looking around as they walked up the stairs that lead to the rooftop.

“One day if you ever make a record, I’m going hound Tim to sign you and have you apart of 8123.” John chuckled, as he took a seat on the patio furniture that was laid out with Jamison taking a seat next to him.

“Never going to happen—the record making part.” She said, with a chuckle shaking her head.

“I would buy 100 copies if you made one.” He teased, causing her to roll her eyes and laugh.

“Reassuring but I don’t ever think so…”

“You’ve never thought about making one? Ever?” He asked, curiously.

“I can’t say I haven’t thought of the idea of doing it—I want to do a lot of things. Collaborating with friends… doing projects musically or otherwise with them beyond the studio. Yeah, I’ve thought of it but… with my own music, it’s different for me.” Jamison explained, as she was taking in the view.

“Why is that?” John looked at her curiously wondering what her reason would be.

“Music is my life. I am married to my job, which is music, it is everything I am… but it’s also a drug if you think about it. The way a song can take your head over and make you feel so intensely and so immediately. It’s like snorting the powder; it goes straight to your brain… to your heart.” She began, “Music is something that reminds you that you are alive when you’re numb—it’s suppose to make you feel each time you listen. I’m afraid if I make my own music, that won’t happen—plus, I don’t have anything I need to say right now.” She explained, with a small smile as she looked over at John who stared at her in amazement.

“You love it so much, don’t you?” John said, hearing her love for music. It’s exactly how he had felt about it.

“I do…” She nodded, “It gives me strength… which I don’t have much of.” She nervously chuckled looking back at the view.

“I think you’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. You have all these scars, you’ve overcome them, you’re alive, you’re living… and you’re here. I think that’s a testament to something.” John smiled, “You told me once you do this to give back to music… maybe making music beyond what you’re doing now could be another way to give back to what music has done for you. So maybe when you have something to say… you can try.” He said hopefully as he also looked back at the view.

“Maybe one day then…”

“I’ll take a maybe over a no…” He smiled to himself, as he let out a content sigh.

“So this is your world…”

“Another part of it.”

“It’s nice.” Jamison mused.

“Melding you into all parts of it…” John said jokingly with a laugh.

“So far, I’m not minding it.” She chuckled.

“You’re fitting right into all of it seamlessly like you’ve always been around, kind of like you were meant to be around.” He said, looking over at Jamison as she looked at John with a thankful smile.

-------

It was Christmas Eve, John and Jamison spent the morning helping Jenny with baking Christmas goodies and now were getting ready for the 8123 Christmas Eve Party.

“What’s the dress code?” Jamison asked John as walked into her room.

“Anything you want to wear.” He simply answered, as he adjusted his bowtie. Deciding to wear a denim button up shirt, a plaid bowtie, along with a pair of black skinny jeans that were tucked into his shirt.

“I guess I should bust out my suspenders… it is the holidays.” Jamison said, grabbing her suspenders and adding them onto her outfit she was already wearing which consisted of a long sleeved stripped black and white shirt tucked into a pair of black skinny jeans.

“Classy Jamie.” He teased, as she gave him the finger. “Did you wish your parents a Merry Christmas?”

“Yeah, called them this morning… they are having fun in Korea. Christmas is a couple’s holiday there… and we just don’t celebrate holidays in my family. It was like any other weekly phone call I had with them. But they did love the mixer and camera I sent them…” She said, with a laugh.

“I’m glad.” He smiled, “Come on, let’s get going…”

Jamison and John arrived to the 8123 building with the whole place completely decorated and hearing people in distance talking and conversing. The minute they had walked in immediately being greeted by Garrett and Jared.

“Jamison! How is staying at John’s? If it’s horrible you can crash with me and my brother Trey—I’m sure he’d love you… he’s actually here.” Garrett said, hugging Jamison as she laughed at Garrett’s offer.

“She’s having a great time thank you very much…” John said, punching Garrett in the shoulder.

“You can always crash with me and Tessa.” Jared said in mock whisper so John could here.

“You guys suck.” John said, as everyone laughed at the punches being thrown at John. Moments later Pat, Kennedy, and Tim had walked into the entrance holding various drinks and snacks in each hand.

“Hey John, you made it.” Tim said, greeting his friend with a hug.

“This is Tim Kirch, Pat’s brother and the man behind 8123…” John introduced, “This is the infamous Jamison Song.” He smirked to himself at the introduction he chose.

“Nice to meet you.” Jamison said, with a chuckle at John’s choice of words.

“Jamison Song… nice to finally meet you.” Tim said with a smile, “You sent a package here…”

“That I did.” She confirmed.

“I didn’t open it cause it was addressed to these guys and the box said do not open before Christmas… so, can we see what you sent now?” Tim asked curiously.

“Go for it.”

Everyone walked over to the back shed where they had been using to store excess merchandise and gear they weren’t using. They walked inside to see a huge box in the middle of the room.

“What is it?” Jared asked staring at the box wondering what it could be.

“Group Christmas present of some sorts…” Jamison explained, “Merry Christmas guys…”

Tim grabbed a box cutter and began tearing apart the box as everyone began crowding around it and were in complete shock when they realized what was in front of them.

“Shut the fuck up…” Garrett said speechless, as he wasn’t sure if he was dreaming or not.

“You did not buy us the MCI 618B…” Pat said, staring in complete awe at the identical soundboard that they used to create “Forever Halloween”.

“I did… and thankfully it got here on time.” Jamison said, looking at the soundboard nonchalantly not even noticing the reactions around her.

“I don’t even—“ John sputtered.

“This is way too much…” Kennedy said, not sure how to react to the situation.

“We can’t take this…” Jared said, knowing how expensive gear was… especially studio gear.

“Yeah you can, and you will cause we already have that board in the studio and I bought it for you guys…” Jamison said firmly as she finally looked up at the guys who were in utter disbelief.

“But—“ Garrett began.

“I remember one night you guys were talking about wanting to have your 8123 studio where you can make music whenever and just do it yourselves. You wanted to keep doing things by tape and I thought what better way to help you start by giving you the board you guys learned how to do things on.” She explained, “I know you guys are all about DIY and not asking for handouts but… I wanted to contribute to the great things that 8123 is doing for music. This is my gift to you… so you have to take it.”

“You are—“ John said, staring at her in complete awe.

“There are no fucking words…” Garrett said, as he went up to hug Jamison as everyone followed along turning it into a group hug.

“Merry Christmas you guys…” Jamison said.

“Come on, we got a party to attend…” Tim said, with a smirk breaking up the heartfelt moment that had just witnessed.

Everyone began filing out and walking back towards the main building. Jamison began walking out before John grabbed her arm.

“Stop being so amazing…” He said, as she turned to face him.

“Use it well, it better not be collecting dust… I’ll come check up on it.” She simply said, as they continued to walk back to the party.

Throughout the night John and the guys had introduced Jamison to everyone apart of 8123 and their (girl)friends. As John was catching up with Max, he would glance over at Jamison who seemed to be an intense conversation filled with laughter with Eric and Joel. He smiled to himself it had brought him much joy seeing his friends get along so well with one another.

A few minutes later Eric had walked up to John with a beer in one hand and a smile on his face.

“I like her—she’s quite awesome.” Eric said, as he stared at Jamison who was now taking with Jared and his girlfriend Tessa.

“Telling me things I already know.” John smirked to himself as he took a sip of his beer.

Eric nodded taking a sip of his beer watching Jamison. “She’s got some amazing stories…”

“She’s worked with the people who only wish we could be as cool as…” John laughed.

“True. She seems like a good friend to all of you not just someone who helped make the album. Garrett, Pat, Kenny, Jared, and you all just seem to really like her as a person.”

John shook his head in agreement to Eric’s words. “She’s been a great friend to us.”

“She seems like it… and she’s getting along with everyone.” Eric mused, “I think Tim wants to bring her into 8123.” He joked causing John to laugh.

“I think if Tim hears her sing, it’ll only fuel him to do so even more…” John said, looking at Eric who perked up at John’s statement.

“Really?” Eric said completely intrigued.

“We have still have that karaoke machine right?” John said with a smile.

After a night of random conversations about everything to photos being taken on Eric's disposable camera to (drunk) karaoke-ing to 90’s hits with a hilarious rendition of “No Scrubs” from Jamison and Eric, everyone had sobered up in the early hours of the morning and decided to head home to spend Christmas with their families.

“Did you have fun?” John asked, as he was driving Jamison back to his house.

“Immensely.” She said, with a nod. “Thanks for bringing me… everyone seemed lovely.”

John smiled at her words. “Thank you for coming along.”

John and Jamison headed up to their rooms and washed up to head to sleep. John had washed up and began walking towards his room before Jamison had stopped him.

“Hey John…” She said.

“Yeah?” John said, sticking his head into her room.

Jamison took out a Christmas decorated gift bag filled with tissue paper. “I didn’t give you your Christmas present…” She said as she handed him the bag.

“I thought—“ He was completely shocked to be receiving another gift from her after getting the soundboard.

“That was for all of you guys…” She explained, “This is your individual present.”

John looked at her with a thankful smile before opening the bag to see a book inside, “Selected Poems by Langston Hughes…” He brushed his hands across book.

“I really love his work… I marked the poems I liked.” She said, gesturing to the pages that were folded down on the corners. “Some reason, I thought you might like them.”

“Thanks, I’m excited to tackle this…” He said genuinely excited, he looked inside the bag to see one more gift. “And a mix CD…” he laughed to himself.

“What’s so funny?” She asked, looking at him with a confused expression.

John had ran to his room and came back with a jewel cd case in his hands, “I made you a mix CD…” He said, handing her his mix CD he had made for her.

“Great minds think alike…” She laughed, taking the case from him and looking at the tracklist that was written on the back. “Tom Petty’s ‘Don’t Fade On Me’… good first choice.”

“You picked Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ “You and I Will Meet Again’…” He chuckled surprised at the same choice of music they had put to start off their mixes. “Great minds do think alike…”

“Merry Christmas John.” Jamison said, looking at John with a smile.

“Merry Christmas Jamison.”