by K E Osborn
“I do have a question,” I mumble quietly. “What about my accent?”
The Director smiles. “We love your Aussie tone. It’s very endearing and we want it for the film,” he states.
Thank goodness, I think because if there’s one thing I’m bad at, it’s trying to act with a different accent.
Chapter Eight
~ WILL ~
After being accepted as a potential to play Cohen Russ with Kat playing Zaylie Winters in the Nightwalker movies I want to celebrate. Kat is coming around after her last class to work on our song, but also to talk about our amazing opportunity.
I still can’t believe our luck.
I hear a knock at the door and Olsen answers it.
“Hello lovely ladies, come in,” Olsen says. They walk past him and I see him eyeing Kat’s ass when she walks toward me.
“Hey Dan. Hey Will.” Kat waves as she enters.
“Hey yourself, beautiful,” I say then lean down and kiss her on those delectable lips.
“Hey Kat,” Dan announces without looking up as he continues to play on his computer.
Everyone takes their usual positions on the sofa and this time Kat sits in my lap on the one-seater.
“So I hear you two will be famous movie stars soon?” Brooke queries making us laugh.
“Nah, the film is Indie. It won’t be a big hit or anything, probably only our family and friends will see it,” I dismiss.
“Still pretty awesome though, right?” Charlie asks, handing me a slice of pizza from the giant box they brought with them.
“Yeah, I guess,” Kat says.
“C’mon babe! We might make the movie the best in the history of the world. With our chemistry and great acting ability– ”
“Bahahaha,” Olsen cracks up interrupting me making the rest of us laugh loudly.
“Great acting ability my ass,” Olsen chides.
Charlie slaps him hard on his thigh.
“You’re just jealous you didn’t get the lead with Kat,” I joke trying to stir him up.
He looks at me, his body’s tense. “Am not,” he mumbles making us laugh even more.
“We have a song to practice, so we should get on with it, Will,” Kat says, standing from my lap and taking another slice of pizza with her. I grasp her hand and we head down the hallway to my bedroom.
“Have fun,” Charlie calls out.
Oh, I intend to!
“We’re practicing the song, Charlie, nothing else,” Kat yells out when we reach my door.
I frown at Kat and she laughs while we make our way into my room. She pushes me, causing me to sit on the bed, I wink while she closes and locks the bedroom door. She looks at me with hooded lust filled eyes and immediately my cock starts to stiffen. She moves toward me and pushes my chest. I lay down on the bed, closing my eyes and complying with her demands. I lay there waiting for her to crawl on top of me, but nothing. I look up and she’s over by the window retrieving my guitar.
Buzz kill. She really does want to just practice.
She starts to sing the words to Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way”, while strumming the guitar softly. I can see in her eyes the words have meaning for her.
“No, you’re right. Loving me isn’t the right thing to do,” I say.
She lowers her head and closes her eyes. I can see her disappointment. Maybe she thought things would be different because of what happened today, but I still can’t risk letting her in that way. It’s not right for either of us.
“Will, I don’t understand,” she inquires softly, placing the guitar on the edge of the bed.
I rub my forehead in frustration and pat the bed next to me for her to sit down.
“You don’t understand why you shouldn’t love me?” I ask. “Because I’m not capable of giving it back to you, Kat, and that could ruin things for us. If one felt more than the other, I… I just can’t fall for you.”
She stares me straight in the eyes and I see her bottom lip quiver.
Fuck!
“I’m sorry,” I say while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Can’t or won’t?”
I raise my eyebrows.
“Can’t or won’t fall for me?”
Shit, this got serious fast.
“Um, well… ” Fuck either way I answer, this it’s going to hurt her.
“Well?”
“Kat, let’s not blur the lines here. We’re friends, right?”
She nods, but I can see the hurt in her eyes when she realizes that I don’t want to take this up a notch.
“Then let’s stay ‘friends with benefits’, no line crossing into the relationship zone unless we’re acting. I thought we had all this sorted. We’ve been happy with this arrangement for months, Kat.”
“Okay, fine,” she barks picking up the guitar.
She continues to sing the song and I start to feel like a complete asshole for treating her this way. I mean she’s beautiful, talented and wants me just as much as I want her, but my stupid fucking rules make it harder for me to let my guard down. We practice for a couple of hours, letting the song rip me to shreds as we sing it together.
Eventually she leaves without a kiss goodbye or even a hug. I know she’s really pissed at me this time. I suppose I can’t blame her. In class today I showed her how much I need her when we were ‘acting’ and I know she felt as moved by it as I was. But even so, I can’t fall into the love trap again. I can’t let her rip me apart like Rebecca did. My heart wants more, but my brain only wants ‘friends with benefits’ and my brain is winning the war.
~ KAT ~
I leave Will’s place after a couple of hours of practicing our song and I can’t help but feel completely overwhelmed. I don’t understand why he continues to not want a relationship with me when I know he feels exactly what I’m feeling. I can see it in his eyes and that he feels the surge, that spark, the magnetism between us whenever we’re together. I walk slowly back to our bungalow and Charlie and Brooke are sitting in the living room watching television when I walk in.
“I thought you’d be staying at Will’s tonight?” Charlie questions.
I shake my head and walk to the sofa, plonking myself down.
“No, I think agreeing to the whole ‘friends with benefits’ thing was just stupid,” I mutter putting my feet up on the coffee table.
“Oh, Kat, you knew it would be difficult with Will. I guess you have to decide if he’s worth the bad as well as the good,” Charlie says patting me on the knee.
I inhale sharply and then exhale letting my frustrations out with my breath.
“I know I can’t control myself when I’m with him, and he seems to be as affected as I am, but he still has this wall up about being together in any sort of relationship. I thought I could do it and not be bothered by it, but after all this time it’s worn off, and I want more than ‘friends with benefits’.” I sulk leaning my head back against the sofa and closing my eyes.
“Okay, we’re going out,” Charlie announces. She stands abruptly, making me turn my attention toward her. I giggle at her enthusiasm.
“Okay, let’s go,” I say while Brooke purses her lips.
“I think I’ll stay in tonight, I have an assignment due tomorrow,” she states.
“Boo, boring,” Charlie quips. She grabs my arm and pulls me toward our bedroom. I laugh on the way and give Brooke an apologetic look.
After making me look sexy with smoky eyes, my glittery red halter neck top and very tight fitting jeans, Charlie takes me to the local bar. We don’t want to go to the Campus Café in case Will shows up. Charlie is tapping on her cell as we enter and we walk over to the counter where a very hot bartender is waiting to serve us. We take a seat on a bar stool and start a conversation with him.
“Hi, I’m Charlie and this is my very single friend Kat.”
The bartender laughs, and raises an eyebrow at Charlie. I love her, she’s my best friend and all, but sometimes she can be a little blunt.
“Tequila shots,” I exclaim.
He nods and walks away to grab a bottle of Tequila and some shot glasses.
“Charlie, Kat, what are you girls doing here?” I hear a voice chime in from behind us. I swivel around and see two girls from our vocals class.
“Hi Brandi, Renee,” I call out over the music.
“Hi girls, have a seat,” Charlie says.
They sit next to us at the bar. Jonah returns with shot glasses and a bottle of Tequila. He places the salt shaker in front of Charlie along with a small bowl of lemon wedges.
“Bottom’s up, ladies,” Jonah laughs looking directly at me. I blush and lick my hand, ready to place the salt on it.
~ WILL ~
“Yo, dude. I just got a text from Charlie. They’re at Bruno’s bar. You wanna go?” Olsen asks.
I’m sitting here just brooding over what happened with Kat. “Yeah dude, I need to get wasted.”
I dress in my jeans, black button up shirt and leather jacket and we head off to get drunk. We walk in and the first thing I see is Kat and Charlie sitting at the bar. Kat looks amazing and my cock twitches at the sight of her. Some douche bag, pretty boy bartender is flirting aimlessly with Kat and she seems to be enjoying it. She’s also drinking a lot by the amount of shot glasses surrounding her, as I watch her down another shot of Tequila. Olsen and I take a seat in a booth at the back of the bar without being seen. I watch Kat down yet another shot. I’m going to be carrying her home at his rate, and I know that she’s drinking heavily because of me. Olsen calls over a waitress and asks for a round of drinks. She comes back with two jugs of beer. Well, if Kat can get smashed, so can I. I pick up the jugs pouring it into a glass and downing it before Olsen has had a chance to even pour his.
Olsen laughs. “Easy Will, I don’t want to have to carry you home,” Olsen says patting me on the back.
I put the glass down and continue to watch Kat flirt with the bartender. I become increasingly irritated as the night moves on. She still doesn’t know I’m here watching her as she downs another fucking Tequila. I watch her and Charlie laughing with the bartender and I cringe with an intense stare and clenched jaw.
Fuck! If I don’t want her as more than a friend, then why am I so insanely fucking jealous?
That’s it! I’m going up there. I go to move out of the booth and Olsen stops me.
“Dude, chill. You look like you’re raging out of control. Have another jug. Waitress…” Olsen calls out, she nods and heads behind the bar to pour another two jugs of beer. She brings it over to us and again I pick it up and pour my glass, chugging it down as quick as I can.
Shit! I need to dull this God damned pain I have inside my chest.
Olsen laughs and shakes his head. “Are you drunk yet?” Olsen slurs after we finish our latest jug of beer.
I nod my head and as I do, I feel the fuzziness and then the dizzy feeling overtake me.
“Right, so she’s clearly flirting with that freak behind the bar, and she’s giving you a hard time about being in a relationship? Ha! If she wanted you that badly she’d be at home sulking instead of in a bar flirting with that bartender. I suggest you get her back,” Olsen announces.
“And how exactly would you suggest I do that?”
“Test her.”
“Huh, dude, you’re making no sense,” I say through a loud belch.
“No, really, test her. I dare you to go and ask some random woman out and when she realizes that you’re potentially dating someone else she’ll flip,” he taunts.
What, are we still in high school?
I look at him like he’s being ridiculous. Then, with an insane thought, I think he’s right. If she can do it, then why can’t I? Maybe if I ask someone else out that’ll get her back for flirting with the pretty boy behind the bar. My jealousy mixed with the effects of multiple jugs of beer are making me think that this is a good idea.
“Fuck it, okay, I will.”
I swallow the last of my beer and stand up. My head is foggy, my legs unsteady and deep down I know this is a crazy bad idea, but in my drunken state, mixed with my insecurities has me thinking that I need to make Kat as jealous as I’ve been for the past couple of hours.
I see Brandi from my vocals class with her friend Renee, so I make my move. I stroll over to Brandi and step in front of her effectively blocking her way to the ladies room. She smiles and looks me up and down.
“Hey Brandi,” I say with that smooth tone I’m renowned for.
“Will, you know my name?” she questions with her eyes focused downwards, she then looks across to Renee who has the widest smile plastered over her face.
I know ladies. I’m just that amazing!
“Of course I know your name, Brandi. I’ve been watching you in class and I think you’re gorgeous. I wonder if you’d consider going out with me, sometime?” I ask trying not to slur my words.
She looks at Renee then back at me. Her forehead crinkles in confusion.
“What… l… li… like on a d… da… date?” she asks stuttering her words.
“Yes, I thought we could go out for dinner next week,” I say, looking over at Kat, who still hasn’t noticed me.
Fuck! What’s the point if she’s not watching?
Immediately after saying it, I feel a massive sinking feeling, almost like dread. I’m going to hurt the woman that’s standing right in front of me and worse still the woman I really care for. Before I know it, she squeals with excitement and practically jumps wrapping her arms around me. Then she comes in for a kiss, I can’t help but back away and she recoils, her lip curling up and her eyes go cold.
Fuck!
“Sorry, but you have something in your teeth,” I say, trying to get her away from me.
This is such a stupid idea. I feel like I’m at grade school, playing out some ridiculous schoolboy crush, but for some stupid, fucking, insane reason I persist.
I keep looking over at Kat, who’s resting her head on the bar.
Shit, I hope she’s alright.
Charlie is rubbing her back and whispering in her ear.
I wonder what that’s about?
My attention is brought back to the situation unfolding front of me. Brandi, who’s staring straight at me.
“So will you go out with me Kat... ”
Shit!
Fuck!
Crap! I’m such a looser!
“I mean Brandi?” I ask quickly, kicking myself for the slip up in names. But Brandi didn’t seem to notice or she just ignored the fact that I mentioned Kat’s name. She lunges at me again, wrapping her legs around my waist, and her arms around my neck. I look over at Olsen.
What the fuck am I doing?
Brandi turns my head and kisses me, invading my mouth with her tongue. I instantly feel revulsion and try to pull back from the kiss. I smile, trying to hide my disdain, but I really hate myself right now. She drops her legs from around my waist and stands in front of me.
“Will, I didn’t even think you knew I existed. I’m so happy,” she confides.
I smile and nod my head in agreement. Olsen comes over and slaps me on the back.
“That was quite a display of affection you had going on there dude. Pity Kat didn’t see it,” he laughs and I punch him in the arm as hard as I can.
“Fuck off,” I say as Brandi wraps her arm in mine.
What the fuck have I done? I’m such an idiot!
Kat will be devastated when she hears about this. She’ll be so fucking hurt that I don’t know if she’ll recover. Not only will this hurt Kat, but the innocent Brandi as well. I should never have fucking listened to that fuck head Olsen. He knows how easily led I am when I’m drunk.
Shit, this has sobered me up and now I’m realizing what a fucking mess I’ve created. I need to talk to Kat right now before Brandi gets to her. I pull my arm from Brandi’s and look at Olsen with col
d hard eyes.
He shakes his head. “Don’t do it dude,” he pleads and I let my emotions get the better of me.
I need Kat in my life, and having her hear what I’ve done will rip her apart. I can’t do that to her. I know that I have trust issues with relationships, but Kat is nothing like Rebecca.
So why am I waiting? Why am I holding back on what could be an amazing relationship with Kat?
Even though I’m still inebriated, I’m thinking the clearest I have in ages. I walk up to Kat leaving Brandi, Renee and Olsen behind. I turn her around on the bar stool and move my hands to her cheeks. She looks completely shocked and I smile at her gorgeous face.
“Kat,” I whisper and I lean in and kiss her passionately. She moves her hands to my hair and she kisses me back with such fervor and lust that I pull her from the barstool and into a tight embrace. As usual, my cock goes instantly hard. She’s breathing heavily as I stabilize her in front of me.
“Kat, I need you. I know you’re drunk right now and so am I, but I want… no I need to be with you. I need you as my girlfriend, Kat, and I need to be in a relationship with you. I need you to be mine and mine alone. I can’t stand this… ” I say.
Her eyes glaze over. “Will you’re drunk and I know you’re not serious. You’ll change your mind in the morning when you wake up and realize you don’t want me… again.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“What do you mean, again?”
“You want me, then you don’t, then you do, then you don’t. I can’t keep up, Will,” she says making me wince.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Kat, I want this more than anything I’ve ever wanted. I want you and I know I still will in the morning. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. Never. You are it for me. You are my everything, Kat.”
She smiles and her eyes sparkle. “Are you being serious, because if this is some sort of game Will, I’m not interested,” she reprimands.
“I’m deadly serious. I need you,” I implore. “Kat, please, will you be in a relationship with me, I beg you?”
Olsen scoffs at me and I send him a piercing look, but then I focus back on Kat’s beautiful face.