Snapshot (The Jamieson Collection)

by Angie Stanton

  Adam didn’t know if he wanted to applaud or cry at the beauty of her playing. Marti slumped in her seat, clearly spent. He wanted to embrace and kiss her and beg her to let him back in her crazy world.

  He approached the piano. “I thought you didn’t like musicians, and here you are rockin’ it out.”

  Marti jumped and jerked around. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I heard the music and had to check it out. I didn’t realize I’d get a concert from a virtuoso.”

  “Not hardly.” She pulled her hands away from the ivory keys.

  “You never mentioned you play piano.” He sat next to her on the tiny piano bench. His leg brushed against hers.

  “Like you never mentioned you play guitar for Jamieson.” She scooted to the far edge of the bench.

  “That’s different.” He really didn’t want to start that whole argument again. “Who taught you to play?”

  She cringed, and he knew the answer. “Your dad.”

  She nodded and then seemed to sigh in defeat.

  He waited, hoping she’d continue.

  She trailed her fingers across the smooth ivories. “When I was super little, every once in a while he would sit me on his lap and teach me songs. They were never children’s tunes, more like some super simplified version of a classic.”

  “Like Brahms’ lullaby?”

  “Exactly.”

  “He taught you well. You’re amazing. Seriously.”

  “Not really, I swear the man is bipolar. He used to scream if he heard me practicing. Said it made him want to,” she mimicked her father’s cruel, low voice. “Gouge his fucking ears out.”

  Adam grimaced. “That’s horrible. I can’t believe he’d talk to you like that. You were a kid.”

  “He used to say a lot of things like that when he was drunk or high on coke. He’s a lot more than the rehearsed sound bites people hear in interviews. That was only one example of who he is. Anything less than perfection he considered a piece of... well, you know what I mean. But it drove me to practice harder and play the best I could.” She lightly pressed one piano key and then another.

  “You sure succeeded there. I’m sorry he treated you so bad. You deserve so much better.” He couldn’t get past the horrible story she told him. He knew of Steven Hunter’s amazing accomplishments in the music industry. He was known as eccentric and unpredictable, but Adam never realized how cruel he was to others, particularly his own talented, beautiful daughter. What was wrong with the man?

  Marti reached for a music book laying on the piano and tapped her finger on it. “It’s thanks to my grandma that I play well. She found me the most amazing instructor and encouraged me to play.”

  “With talent like yours, you probably didn’t need an instructor.” Adam figured she inherited the genius musical gene from her dad, but knew she wouldn’t want to hear it.

  “Oh no, I do! I mean, playing does come easily, but I have to work hard to rein in my careless approach.”

  Adam understood how playing came naturally. He felt the same way with the guitar. It just clicked. He could play as easily as he could breathe.

  “My instructor says I play like someone riding a motocross bike. Wild and dangerous.”

  He leaned his elbow on the piano frame and angled toward her. “That’s funny. I have to admit, I love wild and dangerous.”

  Marti smirked. Adam was happy to see her fighting back a smile. The light from the turtle tank cast a golden glow on her face. She looked vulnerable and open. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure,” she said, sounding guarded.

  “Why do you dislike me so much? I’m not whatever kind of horrible guy you think I am. I’m not a drug addict, and I never will be! I’m not a loser. I’m like everyone else.”

  She shook her head and silky strands of hair fell forward. She pushed it back behind her ear and answered. “Not to hurt your feelings or anything, but you’re not like everyone else. You are overpaid, coddled and given every opportunity you could ever dream of. You live an entitled life.”

  “Wow, tell me how you really feel,” he said, but didn’t back away from her words. He wanted to get inside her head so he could show her who he really was.

  “You asked.” She laughed. “When’s the last time you waited in line at the movies for popcorn?” She raised an eyebrow and drummed her fingers.

  He grimaced. What could he say? The only movies he’d seen the past three years were when the theater manager snuck them in the side entrance after the previews started. Someone on staff always brought them whatever they wanted to eat, because, hell, he couldn’t exactly walk into the lobby area. If someone recognized him and started making a big deal, it could ruin the movie for everyone.

  “See.” She cocked her head.

  “Okay, but it’s pretty obvious why I can’t do that. It’s not like I have much choice in the matter.”

  “When’s the last time you mowed your lawn? Do you even know how to wash a load of jeans?”

  Adam opened his mouth to protest, but stopped himself. He mowed the grass once when he was thirteen. After that, the band worked full time to put their first album together. Then they promoted it at practically every school and mall across America. That’s how they got their break. Fans put them on Youtube, and Jamieson went viral. After that, the record label picked them up, and life had been insane ever since.

  Marti cocked her pretty little head again. “You haven’t done anything normal in years. Don’t try to tell me otherwise. I know better.”

  “Fine, so sue me! I’m not like every other high school guy, but I didn’t go looking for this, my brothers did. I got pulled into it because I played guitar so well.” Better than both his brothers put together was more like it, but he wasn’t about to say that.

  “While I may not know how to work a washing machine, I lost out on a lot of things too.” He gazed into her eyes, but she looked stubborn and unconvinced.

  She drummed her fingers and pretended to ignore him.

  “I used to love soccer. I played in a competitive league in middle school. We were really good, but the first year the band started to take off, I had to quit. Our soccer team went undefeated. All my friends were on the team, and I missed everything. I had to spend that summer squished into a van with my family and our equipment. We stayed at cheesy little roadside motels. We couldn’t afford the kind that had a pool. My mom cooked our meals in the motel room in an electric fry pan. I ate enough Hamburger Helper to last a lifetime.”

  Marti rolled her eyes and looked toward the cooling fireplace.

  “And I haven’t been to a friend’s birthday party since that summer. Not one. The time my friends played laser tag, I was crammed in a van for a six-hour drive to perform at a mall in a town no one ever even heard of.”

  “Poor baby,” she cooed.

  It sounded pretty trivial, but those things had hurt. “And the year they all went to my friend Scott’s cabin, I was stuck in the recording studio for a whole month. It was July and I looked like an albino.”

  Marti picked up a music book and brushed her thumb across the edge, peeling through the pages. “Yeah, I guess that would suck, and it must have been hard to give up soccer.”

  He pressed his advantage. “Once the band started, I couldn’t do any regular stuff. That’s when I got my first real camera. I couldn’t hang out with kids my age, so I’d take pictures of them instead. It was like I became the boy in the plastic bubble. I couldn’t exactly make lasting friendships, so I would take pictures. Plus, if you have a camera in front of your face, people don’t recognize you.”

  She smiled, and his heart jumped. “Now will you let go of this crazy idea that I’m bad news?” He leaned over and gently bumped her shoulder with his. She didn’t move away. Progress!

  “Fine. You’re not a horrible person. Yet.” She grinned. “I just, I don’t know. I would never want to be compared to all those other girls you’ve been w
ith.” She peeled the corner pages of the music book some more.

  “What girls?” Had he forgotten about some former girlfriend? Apparently she thought he had.

  Marti glared. “Duh! The girls you’re always hugging and kissing. I’m not an idiot! I’ve seen the magazines; my friend buys them all the time.”

  Adam laughed. “Oh, them! You mean the fans.” For a second he thought she believed he had girlfriends.

  “Yeah, the fans! There’s a million of them! They’re always hanging all over you.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re jealous.” He leaned forward to peek at her.

  “Oh please.” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Come on. You’ve been kissing all these girls, and I don’t really want to become one on your long list.”

  A smirk curled the corner of Adam’s mouth. “Marti, I’ve never really kissed a girl.”

  He dipped his head in embarrassment. “Except, of course, you, that first night of camp.” And they were the most awesome kisses! And right now, more than anything, he wanted to replay that night.

  “Of course, you have! I’m not stupid.” She rolled her eyes. He wanted to laugh. She thought he was lying!

  It was complicated. How could he explain it so she’d understand and he didn’t look like a total dweeb? “Sure, I hug fans and kiss girls on the cheek all the time.” Marti rolled her eyes again. “But! It was always at meet and greets and record signings. I’ve never actually talked to any of those girls for more than a minute and a half. I couldn’t tell you any of their names or if they skinny dip, hate loud train whistles, or swear when they get mad.”

  “You know a lot of stuff about me.” Her expression softened.

  “Yup.” He was making progress.

  “You’ve never even kissed a girl while playing Truth or Dare at a party? Or on the bus coming back from a football game?”

  Adam cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. He watched realization wash over Marti.

  “Oh! You don’t go to parties or football games.” She nibbled her lower lip, which reminded him of its softness.

  “Nope. You were my first real kiss,” he said softly and hoped he didn’t sound too pitiful.

  “That’s kind of pathetic.” She peeked at him from behind her long, dark lashes.

  Adam chuckled. “That’s an understatement! I’m supposed to be some sort of teen idol, and I never even had a decent kiss until three days ago.”

  Marti smiled in a satisfied way, and he could tell she really liked that she’d been his first. He realized this was his moment, and he better not blow it. He placed his lips on hers. An instant rush rocked him as he tasted the same soft mouth from the other night. He felt her tense but refused to stop.

  He placed his hand on her neck and caressed her cheek with his thumb. Her body relaxed. She sighed and her sweet breath warmed him. Marti was fast becoming his drug of choice. Everything about her made his body tingle. She was beautiful, sassy, strong and her kisses transported him to a place he never wanted to leave.

  Their kiss deepened, and he knew she was putty in his hands, oblivious to the outside world. And then the worst thing happened.

  The flash of a camera.

  Marti jumped away; her hand covered her mouth. Stunned, they looked up to find Ryan and Kyle outside the window, laughing.

  Marti looked at the guys and back at Adam. She rushed from his side and out of the room without another word, disappearing into the night.

  Adam banged his head against the piano lid and swore.

  * * *

  The next day, Marti continued to avoid Adam. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d let her guard down, but then the other guys showed up, and she pictured Adam bragging about kissing her. On the other hand, she enjoyed hearing him talk about the sacrifices he made. He seemed more human. But, it would be best to keep her distance.

  Today, her friends still obsessed in protecting Adam’s identity. They didn’t seem to notice she hung back. And because they all wanted a little of Adam’s celebrity gold to rub off on them, they stuck to his side, which annoyed her. Adam never got a chance to approach her. Not that she wanted him to, but it would have been interesting to see if he did.

  The afternoon turned cooler and a strong breeze kicked up. During free time, a bunch of kids went to play Ping-Pong in the rec hall. Marti zipped on a fleece jacket, slipped her camera strap over her head and followed a new trail that headed off behind the main lodge.

  She desperately needed to escape all the Adam drama. The woods provided a huge canopy across the wide forest path. After a few minutes, the path led her into a low valley where a stone labyrinth wound in a peaceful, mazy circle. She thought about walking the maze, but decided to leave it for another time. Instead, she climbed the hill on the other side and trekked down a narrow path.

  As she hiked deeper into the forest, thoughts of Adam still pursued her. Whenever she thought about him, her emotions jumbled into a big tangled mess. He wasn’t a bad person. Not really. But his life would inevitably change him someday, and she hated that thought.

  The path curved and led her around the perimeter of the lake. The sky was a bright blue with big, white, puffy clouds sailing fast. The trees helped block the brisk breeze. Still, she zipped her fleece higher. She discovered patches of wild trillium and paused to take a few pictures.

  A while later, she came across some sort of lookout tower. She had walked so far, she wondered if she’d left camp property. She knew there was national forest land nearby; perhaps she was now on it. The tower’s wooden ladder was aged with rusty nails. She shook it; it appeared secure. She carefully climbed the ten rungs and ended up in a lovely, six-by-six foot look-out station. Or maybe it was a deer hunter’s stand. The sides were constructed with wooden slats, like on a deck.

  Looking out from all angles, she could see for miles. In one direction, she saw rolling hills of green forest. An occasional tree burst out in spurts of orange, as if it needed to remind everyone that autumn was near. Soon she’d be back at school starting her junior year, and Grandma, newly retired, would have more time on her hands to work on her quilt projects.

  This morning, she received a box in the mail; a tin of Grandma’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. Marti felt a twinge of guilt. She still hadn’t sent her an email. She’d been having so much fun and then been so distracted by Adam that she forgot all about it. She would do it later today; or maybe tomorrow at the latest.

  In another direction, storm clouds gathered and moved toward her. It would make for some awesome pictures.

  Stepping carefully over the faded boards, she could see across the lake to the beachfront of Camp Hiawatha. The boats were pulled on shore. She removed her camera from its case and snapped a few pictures.

  She didn’t spot anyone on the beach as the wind created small waves on the water. One look at the canoes, and she thought of Adam and how he’d flipped the canoe to get his sandal. She smiled. In hindsight, it was pretty funny. The way he looked with beads of green algae clinging to his short hair, his determination to get the boat flipped right, and how he pulled her into the boat on top of him.

  That reminded her of their kiss last night, as if she needed reminding. She couldn’t push it from her mind, it was so unexpected and perfect. For a guy who had never kissed before, he sure knew what he was doing. She shivered and touched her lips.

  Marti needed to refocus her thoughts, because thinking about his kisses made her want him. She aimed her camera at the oncoming storm and clicked off a few more shots of rolling clouds. She sighed, wishing that Ryan and Kyle hadn’t ruined last night’s moment by taking pictures. It reminded her of her dad and the paparazzi. His image still popped up on gossip magazines every six months or so when he did some lame ass thing. She cleared her head of those ugly thoughts of her dad and returned to the dreamy memory of Adam kissing her, first behind the tree on the first night and then again last night. She sighed, lowering her gaze.

  Out of the co
rner of her eye she saw movement. Thirty feet away, she spied Adam lowering his camera. He’d been watching her and taking pictures. She immediately blushed and felt infuriated by his eavesdropping, but a part of her leapt with excitement. She was a freakin’ yo yo when it came to him.

  “You keep showing up, like mold in the basement,” she called to him.

  He grinned his irresistible smile as if expecting her to say exactly that. “Room for one more in your tree fort?”

  She pretended to think it over, but knew she couldn’t stay away from him. “Sure, why not.”

  Adam approached and climbed the ladder. “Awesome view. Whoa! Get a look at those clouds. We’re gonna get nailed!”

  “I thought I’d get pictures of it coming in.”

  “Great idea. Mind if I join you?”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  Poor Adam, he acted so careful and polite, like he feared she’d get mad at him any second. Not that that was a surprise. She’d been all over the place with him, now she felt a little bad that he felt so unsure of her reactions, but she kind of liked having the upper hand with Mister Super Confident Rock Star. Bringing him down to size was something she could never do with her dad.

  Adam held his camera on the railing of the stand, adjusted his settings and took a couple shots. Marti did the same.

  The ominous clouds grew larger and darker as the front edge of the storm approached. They clicked off another shot about every 15 seconds.

  “Do you think we need to worry about lightning?” Marti eyed the rolling clouds.

  “Doesn’t look like a lightning storm. So far it’s just a storm front with high winds and rain. We had one like this before a big concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado earlier this summer. It was the coolest thing, but this is so much better, being right in it!”

  A huge blast of air gusted, blowing Marti’s hair straight back. Her fleece became useless against the cold, gale force winds.

  “Hang on!” Adam yelled, leaning his body into the storm. Marti’s heart pounded as the powerful storm loomed near. The black clouds rolled toward them with straight line winds. She clicked off pictures faster.