by Watkins, TM
Yes, I wanted to punch him. Nate, not the guy. This was nothing like what I found attractive. I wasn't superficial, my list had been pretty broad but this guy was in the complete opposite direction.
Now I sat in a diner with him, a diner that was a mile down the road from the pizzeria and the paparazzi. I had to sneak out. I had to disguise myself. The man Neville, looked at me like I was crazy. No, I wasn't crazy but the people that I hung around with were.
The man in front of me wore a long sleeved shirt, a woolen vest and a bow tie. A god damn bow tie. Since when did Nate ever talk to anyone that owned a bow tie? I did not believe that he was friends with this guy.
“So I filed the form with the agency and I waited.”
The drone of his voice was monotonous. I wanted to find some excuse just to leave but there was none. El was picking me up and wouldn't be here for another half an hour. I was stuck. His face was expressionless as he sat in front of me. I twirled the straw in my drink, finding the ice cubes more interesting.
“Two weeks later I rung them and they told me they didn't have it. Never saw it. So it's gone missing.”
Not a flinch of shock or dismay at his terrible misfortune. His arms rested on the edge of the edge of the table, his hands clasped together.
“That's terrible.” I offered as I looked at the glass of juice.
There was something dark in there and I prayed it was pulp. With the straw I pulled out the dead bug and pushed the glass away, suddenly feeling rather sick.
The bell over the door rang as the door swung open, I was faced with a cheerful Jaxon. It was one of those moments that could be taken any number of ways. Happy that I had someone interesting to talk to now, angry that he was interfering yet again.
“Hey Kaylee.”
He sat on the bench seat beside me with such force that the padding actually lifted me slightly. Jaxon sighed happily and picked up the menu.
“Have you ordered yet?”
“Yes.” I hissed.
“Who is your friend?”
His eyes shone bright as he looked up at Neville with a smile. I could see he was intimidated. Jaxon was rippling muscles, tattoos and piercings. He was almost twice the size of the poor little lamb.
“This is Neville, he and I are having lunch together.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” Jaxon said under his breath.
“So Neville, what did you say you did?”
“I didn't.” he frowned. “I'm an accountant.”
“And how is it that you know Nate?”
Finally I got a flinch of emotion as Neville looked at me. He didn't know what was going on or who this crazy man was. Why he sat down when it was clearly obvious that we were on a lunch date. Or why he was asking questions.
“I'm his accountant.”
“Is that so?” Jaxon hummed with mirth.
Right. I am officially going to kill him. As soon as I'm free from mister drab pants.
“I might go and check to see how far away lunch is.”
Neville slid across the bench seat and walked to the counter, no longer visible to us.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Pardon?” he said as he stared blankly at me.
“I'm trying to find a boyfriend and you keep interrupting my attempts.”
Jaxon sneered slightly. “With him? Or veggie boy? Kaylee, you need to get better taste in men.”
I do but he won't acknowledge my fucking existence. He keeps trying to destroy all attempts to find someone. Like he has some crazy need to find me mister perfect and anyone that is less than perfect is going to be intimidated to the point where they don't come back for a second date.
A waitress wandered over and put the two plates of burgers in front of us.
“Can we get two more drinks?”
“Sure thing hun.” she grinned at Jaxon.
“Hey, didn't the guy ask you where these were?”
“You mean the guy that just fled like the place was on fire?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “That would be the one.”
Well that was the end of him. Clearly Jaxon's efforts to freak him out had worked. The waitress wandered off, I wished I could join her. Except that I was trapped against the wall. My only escape was blocked by an interfering thorn in my side.
“Aww gross, he got onions.”
Jaxon started picking the offending items out of the burger that he had just claimed as his own.
“You know onions give you bad breath.”
“Is that right?”
He nodded and set the top of the bun back onto the burger.
“Did you get a nice dress yesterday?”
“Yeah.”
“Got pictures?”
“Nope.”
I felt the vibration against my thigh, a message coming through.
Nate: How's it going?
Kaylee: He fled when Jaxon turned up.
Nate: Are you kidding me? He found you again?
Kaylee: Yeah but it's okay because Neville was as boring as bat shit. Thanks for that. The bow tie was a nice touch.
Nate: Third time lucky, I promise.
I rolled my eyes as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. Eating in silence. Watching the world pass me by in silence. Wishing for an end to the nightmare, in silence.
El stared from her car, rather shocked as Jaxon exited the diner as well.
“Lunch was great. Have fun at the pampering thing with your mom.”
Jaxon turned and walked down the street, almost strutting. The bastard. He'd won his silent battle, he'd come out at the top and now walked like he was the king of all that he surveyed.
I quickly climbed into the passenger seat.
“Did anyone tell him where I was?”
“No.” El said quietly.
“And the pampering?”
“Only your father knows and he wouldn't tell anyone.”
I sighed as I rested my head against the head rest, wondering how he figured it all out.
“I don't know how he knew about the appointment at the spa, maybe someone is feeding him information.”
“That would make sense. I made the appointment at home.” she said, glancing at me for a brief moment and then returning to the road.
“Well it's driving me crazy. That's two that he's interrupted and proved how imperfect and unsuited to me they are.”
She offered a sympathetic smile as she patted my thigh.
“You'll get there darling.”
The trip to the spa was worth every second of forgetting about Jaxon and his antics. I had been massaged so deeply that I almost fell asleep. The woman had magic hands. I now smelled of ginger and lime, having been also scrubbed with an exfoliating polish. It was rather indulgent and I wanted to make another booking for a week's time. But I restrained from doing so, this wasn't in the budget and there was no movement to accommodate it. My only indulgence was the waxing and that was because I couldn't be bothered to do it myself.
I also had a manicure and a pedicure, opting for the old Frenchie so that the colors don't clash with the dress. This girl thinks ahead. Facial and peels, hand scrub, foot scrub and scalp massage. My mother had booked everything and by the time I walked out of the place, it felt like I was floating.
I was so relaxed that I didn't even notice the extra car in the driveway when we got back to El's house.
“Pee-ew.”
Something clicked in my brain. Not sure what though.
“It smells like too much citrus.”
I turned to the sound, my head airy and light. It was bliss. I smiled at him, the bane of my existence.
“Fuck off Jaxon.”
Then I floated away to my room, leaving everyone standing around him rather gob smacked.
I was laying on the day bed on the patio that was attached to my old bedroom. Riding out the last of the euphoria associated with the most incredible pampering I have ever had.
“Hey.”
With a smile I look
ed up at Nate.
“Did you really tell Jaxon to fuck off?”
“I don't know, did I?”
“What have you been smoking Kaylee? You look high.”
“Just happy. Mom took me to a spa. Never felt so good, ever.”
He nodded and sat on the edge of the seat beside my legs. With a little chuckle he scratched at the back of his head.
“Think you might have crushed him. He's still here and doesn't look overly impressed. Dad's playing peacemaker at the moment and uh... well, he's invited him to stay for dinner.”
“That's nice.”
“You don't care?”
I shook my head and closed my eyes.
“Wake me when dinner is on the table and not a moment before.”
As I had requested, I was woken for dinner. To my disgust it wasn't Nate that woke me, it wasn't even one of my family members. No, it was Jaxon.
“Feeling better now?”
I rubbed my eyes, shrugging to his answer. Having an afternoon nap was probably the worst thing I could have done. Now I wouldn't sleep tonight.
“Have I crossed some line?”
His voice was low and rough. It was dark now, the pool lights reflecting off his serious expression.
“No.” I said as I yawned.
Wait, yes he had. Oh well, too late now.
“Just trying to figure out why you'd say that.”
“I say it all the time.”
“Not like that you don't.”
“Well then don't insult how I smell, simple.”
He sighed loudly and pulled me back when I tried to leave. My dinner was going cold and he decided that he wanted to talk. Great timing.
“So I did cross a line.”
“No.”
What, again? Damn it brain, function properly.
“Fine so it might have been out of line. El spent a shit load of money and you say I stink. And I wasn't exactly on earth so cut me some slack.”
I walked out of the room without another word from Jaxon. His heavy footsteps across the polished floorboards were always behind me. I floated, he stomped. I breezed, he huffed. I smiled, he frowned.
Everyone was already seated at the table when I walked into the dining room. Brad and Nate were beside each other on one side, Jerry and El at each end of the table. Which left two seats, side by side. I could have sworn it was a conspiracy.
“Feeling better darling?”
El smiled at me as I sat down.
“Well rested, thank you.”
Jaxon sat beside me, almost in a huff. Dinner in silence, much like my lunch. My life was forming patterns.
After dinner the other band members turned up, shocked that Jaxon was here but said nothing about it. They were off somewhere with Jerry, discussing something that was happening with the band.
“Shouldn't you be in there?”
Nate turned from the view of the television.
“In a minute.”
Dad ran his management company efficiently and devoted many hours to it. He expected the same for all employees, like Nate who seemed to be more interested in the television. It was just Hollywood rubbish.
“Anything?” Brad asked as he cracked a beer open.
“Nuh.”
He flopped onto the lounge beside me, like three peas in a pod we sat on the lounge and watched the entertainment report.
“There!” Nate exclaimed as he turned the sound up.
A picture from Evan and Harmony's weekend of debauchery appeared beside the reporter's head.
“It has been confirmed that Harmony Roberts will play the lead role in the latest from acclaimed director Ronnie Weiss. Also confirmed for the male lead is none other than her recently acquired husband and guitarist for Night Fire, Evan Cooper.”
“Holy shit.” I whispered, completely shocked.
“The reports of a soundtrack deal is yet to be confirmed by the management team for Night Fire but word is that it's a done deal.” The reporter continued.
“Well management team, is it a done deal?”
“Sure is.” Brad mumbled. “They're in there hammering out the details of the contract.”
“How big?” I asked as I turned on the lounge to face him. “How many songs?”
Brad grinned as he lowered the can from his lips, his eyes gleaming bright.
“How about the whole fucking album, that big enough for ya?”
I sank back to the lounge with pure, undiluted shock. An entire album. Most bands get one, maybe two songs for a soundtrack.
This was big. This was huge. This was epic.
Chapter Nine
It was Friday, one day left before I turned twenty-one. If El had wanted to spend the day ensuring that preparations for the party tomorrow night were on track, she was mistaken. The clubhouse was being inundated with calls, it was so bad that I was no longer on holidays and she came in to help. Eden powered through the morning, amid the mad dashes to the bathroom to throw up. The boys were somewhere downstairs, in lock down for writing and composing this new album. They had a fair amount of time but they didn't want to be lazy about it.
Because of the nonsense with Jaxon, I was no longer Kaylee when answering the phone. I was the nameless nobody that answered, took the message and avoided their persistent questions. The constant attention was great for distracting the mind, forgetting about all of the things that were right and wrong with my life.
Hunger gnawed at me, under El's insistence I had an early lunch. Getting into the kitchen on the second floor wasn't easy when we were in lock down. There was an internal set of stairs between the studio and the chill out area, done this way so they could lock the doors at the main set of stairs to avoid being disturbed.
I huffed when my code wouldn't work on the keypad. They really hadn't thought about the layout properly when they built this place. Lock down meant that I couldn't get to the kitchen to get lunch and it's not as if I could walk outside to get lunch. So I went the long way around, going through the studio.
My thumping on the door earned me a frown from my father.
“The doors are locked.” I said as I pushed through.
“Yes, I know that Kaylee.”
“Yeah well, I want lunch.”
I trudged up the stairs and made my way through the mess in the lounge area, stopping at the doorway to the kitchen. A burning heat filled my body as I heard the giggles of an unknown woman. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, opening them again and stepped into the kitchen. Once in view of who was here, I could honestly say that I wasn't shocked.
She leaned on the bench and had the stupidest grin on her face as she nibbled on a red vine. She's touching my fucking vines, the bitch. Jaxon turned and gave me a tip of his head, a sly smirk on his face.
“Thought you were in lock down.”
“We are.”
“No guests allowed for lock down.”
Jaxon looked at me and he knew this was going to be one hell of a throw down. If he thinks he can swan into my world and destroy my attempts at finding someone without repercussion, he's got another thing coming.
“Sorry but she has to go.” I smiled sweetly.
His eyes narrowed at me as his hands went to his hips.
“Does Jerry know she's here?”
Eyes widened and then narrowed again. I'll take that as a no then.
“Sorry sweetheart.” I turned the smile to her. “I'm afraid you have to go. Here, let me help you out of the building.”
“What?” she frowned with confusion, looking to Jaxon.
I pulled her by the elbow and led her to the stairs. Rather than the main stairs, I dragged her through the studio so that everyone knew that she had been here. The looks on their faces were ones of impending doom, especially my father. It didn't help that Jaxon was two steps behind us, trying to stop me.
The crowd of paparazzi went crazy as I brought the woman to the front gate, pushing her through. I stepped into the little hut to speak with the guard.
<
br /> “She's not to come back, ever. Understand?”
“Yes ma'am.”
I turned around to the glass door, on the other side was Jaxon who looked pissed. The cameras trained on the two of us. His eyes flicked to the ones who were to our side, the clicks of the camera were almost deafening. I pushed through the door and said nothing, returning to the safety of the clubhouse.
My lips pursed at the sight, the packet of red vines ripped down the center and left open on the bench. Some of them had even fallen out onto the bench. The bench that was dirty because it had been subjected to a morning of eight men. The sticky note that was attached to it was cast aside, clearly no one cared about another person's proprietary claim.
I heard Jaxon stalk into the kitchen, before he could say a single word I picked up the sticky note and held it out.
“What does this say?”
His face became rigid as his hands went to his hips again, holding strong in his defensive pose.
“Did you or your friend open the packet?”
He glanced away, unable to look me in the eye which was all the confirmation I needed. The note was simple, it was written clearly and it was as it had always been in this place. I bought several packets of red vines for them but one was always mine. The note said that this packet was mine and that if they wanted any they had to get them from the jar.
The jar that was full of them. So it wasn't about a lack of long red candies, it was about sticking it to me in a quiet way. I tossed the note back to the counter and walked to the candy jar, lifting the lid.
“Did you want a red vine Jaxon? Did you not know that these were here? I buy one fucking packet and leave it in here for storage. Look at what you did. Then again, you weren't eating them. Were you? What's the matter, did she say that those ones weren't good enough? Did she fret for unsanitary fingers on those ones?”
Because that's the reason I had my own packet. I knew where these people put their fingers.
“Did she say that she wanted these and you said, yeah sure babe. Whatever you want. Who gives a shit if they belong to someone else?”
I grabbed my lunch out of the fridge and pushed past him.