by JL Paul
“No problem,” I smiled. “Are you done?”
“I think,” she said. I handed her the bottle of water, and she immediately rinsed her mouth. Once she finished, I left her briefly to dig out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I helped her change then tucked her into Annie’s bed. Jake watched quietly and as soon as Cammy’s breathing evened out, he patted the spot next to him. I sat down and rested my cheek on his shoulder.
“This has been an interesting night,” he teased. He eased me closer to his side. “I know you don’t want to leave her alone so how about we watch one of those DVDs until I have to get out of here?”
I agreed. As he chose one and loaded it into the machine, I wondered how I’d been so lucky to be the one he carjacked that night.
Chapter Eight
Mondays are usually dreadful days for me. And after the weekend I’d spent with Jake, the Monday after the Fall Festival was especially horrific. It was a dreary, cold and rainy day, one that urged people to stay in bed. So I did just that – smacking the snooze on my alarm until I missed breakfast and ran to my first hour class fifteen minutes late. Talk about embarrassing.
The day definitely didn’t get much better, either. Before I’d even made it to lunch, at least twenty people stopped me between classes to ask me about Jake. And not even people I talked to from time to time. People who hadn’t said two words to me the entire time I’d been enrolled at Meridian Valley suddenly appeared next to me, happy to walk me to class. Some of them got really personal, making my cheeks flush scarlet. Like I knew if he wore boxers or briefs. Or boxer briefs. Geez.
I trudged across campus, head down and backpack hoisted over my shoulder, and made my way to the cafeteria. I wasn’t the least bit hungry.
“Bella!”
I closed my eyes and counted backwards from ten. This day was about to get worse. “Hi, Lance,” I mumbled as he caught up to me. “Did you enjoy your weekend?”
“Yeah. How about you?” His eyes sparkled and set me immediately on guard. “Is Jake still in town?”
Here we go again.
“No. He left early Sunday morning.” I picked up the pace, the cafeteria in sight. “He had to catch up with his band.”
An empty feeling gnawed at my stomach. It had started Saturday night when I had walked Jake to his car and told him goodbye, and it had only grown larger every time I thought about him.
Lance nodded vaguely. We reached the building, and he put out a hand to prevent me from opening the door. I looked at him in alarm.
“I broke things off with Krysti Saturday night. I don’t know what I was thinking when I got back with her.”
I didn’t know what to say so I just kept my mouth shut, for once. I listened as he went on about how fake she was and how she was only concerned with appearances. I managed to keep my eye roll at bay. I mean, how could he not know how shallow Krysti was? And why, exactly, did he think I cared?
“I guess I wanted to thank you and um, Jake for pointing that out to me.”
Wait, what? I crossed my arms over my chest and straightened to my full height. I knew it wasn’t very intimidating but I tried. “What are you talking about, Lance?”
He shrugged. “When Jake kind of let Krysti have it for making out with the roadie, I guess I realized how little self-respect she must have. I don’t want to be with someone like that.” I had no comment so he smiled. “Anyway, thank Jake for me when you talk to him next, will you?”
“Sure,” I muttered, having no intention whatsoever. I reached for the door again but he beat me to it and opened it for me. I headed toward the food line, startled to find Lance still behind me. I figured he’d run off to join Dean and his other little friends.
“So, are you and Jake dating now?”
I was considering hiring a sky writer to announce to the school that no, I was not dating Jake. “Jake and I are friends. I don’t know why people keep asking me that.”
Lance’s shoulders relaxed and a knowing grin toyed with his lips. “Oh, I don’t know. Probably because of how protective he was and how close you two seemed.”
I did roll my eyes this time – Jake’s little quirk most have rubbed off on me. “That’s just Jake. That’s the way he is.” I decided not to waste my time or food by filling a tray of stuff I wouldn’t eat. I stepped out of line but Lance snagged my arm.
“Do you really think that Jake only sees you as a friend?”
I blinked slowly. What was the big deal?
“Yes. We’ve only known each other for a month or so. Okay, so we talk on the phone a lot, and I’ve told him stuff I’ve never told any guy, including Seth, but still, you know, we’re just friends.” There goes the rambling mouth again.
Lance considered me for a moment before releasing my arm. “Whatever you say, Bella. I need to find Dean. I’ll talk to you later.”
I nodded and watched him walk away.
***
About a week later, I sat in the Student Center working on my Calculus homework with one eye on VTV. It wasn’t very conducive to studying but it was better than my room. Annie and Cammy were experimenting with facial stuff and the smell was enough to gag a skunk.
A couple of freshmen were at one table, discussing a Bio project but other than that, the place was deserted. I was struggling with a problem when I heard Jake’s name and my eyes shot to the television.
A photo of the band appeared behind the heavily made-up VJ as she described a movie premiere, for what movie, I hadn’t a clue. The VJ turned to the monitor behind her as footage rolled of a red carpet event and there was Jake, arm around the tiny waist of an actress I recognized as Monique DuVois. I didn’t hear a word she said to her interviewer – my eyes were on Jake. He wore a smirk on his lips and a bored expression in his eyes. He looked nothing like my Jake. Once Monique finished speaking, she wrapped her arms around Jake’s waist and smiled warmly at him. He returned her smile and led her away toward the swanky theater. My stomach twisted so violently I thought I was going to lose my dinner.
I slammed my book shut, attracting the attention of the freshmen, and crammed it in my bag. I stormed out of the Center, amid curious glances, and stomped back to my dorm. As I approached my building, I slowed my pace. What was wrong with me? Hadn’t I just spent the last week or so convincing people that Jake and I were just friends? Was Jake not allowed to date because he’d escorted me to a high school dance?
Groaning, I opened the door, slinging my bag on my bed. Traces of the facial smell still hung in the air though not quite so powerful and Annie lifted a brow at my anger. She dropped the tabloid she was reading and watched as I paced the room.
“What’s wrong, Bella?”
I plopped on my bed, landing on my book bag, and cursed. “Damn it!”
Annie’s brows shot to her hairline. I wasn’t much of a potty mouth. “Problems?”
I scrunched up my nose, fighting tears of pain and … something else. “I just saw Jake on TV. He was at a movie premier with some actress.”
“Jealous?” she asked, irritating little smile on her face.
I froze, eyes wide in terror. Was I?
“I don’t know,” I admitted in a barely audible whisper. I stared at the wall. “At least that explains why he hasn’t called me since he returned to California.”
Annie dropped in my desk chair and booted up my laptop. Once she connected to the Internet, she pulled up Controlled Environment’s website. I smiled when a picture of Jake and the band appeared on the monitor. Annie chuckled and clicked on the TOUR link.
“Look,” she ordered, pointing the mouse arrow on all the tour dates. “He’s been all over L.A. this week and will be touring most of California until Thanksgiving.”
“I know. He told me.” I hated it when Annie made a valid point. Why couldn’t she let me pout in peace? “He just failed to mention Monique DuVois.”
Annie’s eyes brightened and she bit her lip. “Monique DuVois, huh?” I just nodded. Annie Googled Monique’s name and scrolle
d through a couple links until she found one she liked. She gazed at me uneasily before nodding at the screen. “Read that.”
Monique made her American Film debut when she was fifteen years-old, playing the role of Gabrielle in the film “The French Student.” Monique was born in Lyons, France and started acting at the tender age of 3.
“Scroll through the boring stuff,” Annie muttered, grabbing the mouse from me. “Here’s what I want you to read.”
In early summer of this year, Monique and her boyfriend, bad boy Jake Johnson, lead singer of the group Controlled Environment, split up after eighteen months. Monique claims it was a mutual, friendly break and insists that the two are still very close.
“Jake is someone very special to me,” Monique stated on the set of her latest movie due to premier this fall. “He’ll always be in my life as well as in my heart.”
Of course there had to be a picture of the two. I sighed. They did look beautiful together. Monique’s sleek, dark hair hung elegantly over her shoulders, her brown eyes warm. Jake’s chin rested on her shoulder as his arms wrapped around her waist. He was smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling. It tore at my heart. Happiness seeped from them, spilling out of the computer monitor. My stomach twisted again.
“How come I didn’t know about this?” I asked.
“Well, do you two ever talk about former loves?”
“No,” I answered slowly, realizing another subject I’d never broached with Jake. Maybe because I never really had a boyfriend before. How selfish. “We mostly talk about what’s going on now. And how do you know this and I don’t?”
“Because I’m more into the people and you’re more into the music. Do you know anything about Jake’s band mates?”
I screwed up my face, trying to remember if Jake ever said anything about them. “Nick has been his best friend since they met in elementary school. He met Ronnie a few years later and Matt was last to join the band.” I smiled a bit smug.
“But do you know anything else about them?”
Okay, she had me. But to be fair, I didn’t think Jake knew a whole lot about Annie and Cammy, either. Jake and I were still getting to know each other. “Not really.”
“See, you’re into the music and I’m into the people,” she reiterated. “I read all the news magazines.”
“You mean trashy tabloids, don’t you?”
“Call it what you will,” she shrugged nonchalantly. “But they’re very informative.”
I blew a puff of air at a strand of hair in my face as my gaze found the picture of Jake and Monique again. “I guess I don’t understand how we can talk so much and not really know each other.”
“Bella,” Annie commiserated, arm around my shoulders. “Neither of you are going anywhere. And you’re not about to get married. Don’t rush it. You have plenty of time to talk and get to know each other better.”
I knew she was right and didn’t need to tell her. I guess I just thought after that magical night and all the talking we did that we’d somehow absorbed every detail of each other’s lives. I should have known better, though, because hadn’t I had trouble filling out a simple permission form about him so he could escort me to the dance?
I clicked the BACK button and returned to Controlled Environment’s website. I scrolled through the tour dates, trying to find out when he’d finally be finished.
“Look,” Annie, jabbing her finger at the screen. “Controlled Environment is doing that college tour with Flyby and Rhetorical Outlook. They’re going to be at Seth’s school after the holidays!”
“I wonder,” I began. An idea formulated in my head and I scrambled for my cell phone. I hit Jake’s number without even looking, Monique temporarily forced from my mind.
“What?” Annie asked as I waited for Jake to answer. I was about to hang up when his tired voice greeted me.
“Hey, Iz. Long time no talk. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “How about you? You sound exhausted. Are you getting enough rest?”
He chuckled softly and while the sound did rouse a flock of goose bumps, it didn’t relieve my anxiety. “Sure, angel. We played our final L.A. show last night and spent the day in meetings at the studio.”
“That sucks,” I commiserated. “Do you get to go home and rest soon?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan,” he said, yawning in the phone. “So what’s up? School going okay?”
“Actually,” I said, nibbling at my lip. “I was calling to ask for another favor.”
He grunted a tired laugh. “Anything, Iz. Need me to take you to prom? Want to auction me off for your beloved Drama Club?”
I smiled at his humor. “Not a bad idea,” I murmured, earning another bout of laughter. “But seriously, Annie and I were checking out your website and I see you’re doing the college tour in January.”
“Yeah, we can’t wait. It’s going to be fun.”
“Well,” I said, stretching out every syllable. “You’re going to be at Seth’s school. Do you think you can finagle me a couple tickets to give him for Christmas?”
“Is that all?” he snorted.
“What do you mean, is that all?” I frowned. “It’s kind of a big deal to us mere mortals, you know.”
“Hold on,” he said, still laughing. I heard him yell at someone on his end. I strained to make out the conversation but he must have been covering the phone. He came back a couple minutes later. “Not a problem. I’ll send them to you. How many do you need? Rob said you can have as many as you want.”
“Who’s Rob?”
“He produces our stuff. And runs the studio. He’s the one who discovered us, you know.”
Oh, that Rob. I rolled my eyes sarcastically and Annie furrowed her brow, anxious to know everything Jake said. “I guess just four.”
“Are you going to come?” he asked.
“Maybe. Seth’s school is not too far from here.” Of course I’d be there but I couldn’t tell him that. I didn’t want to appear like a stalker.
“Just let me know. You don’t need a ticket; I’ll get you in.”
“Thanks so much,” I gushed. I took a deep breath, not wanting to end the call but not wanting to bring up Monique, either. Annie nudged me and I shot her a dirty look.
“Something wrong?” Jake asked.
I bit my lip. Hard. I winced as Annie nudged me again. “I saw you on television a little while ago. On the VTV News. At a movie premier.”
He was quiet for a moment and I was afraid we’d been cut off or something. “Oh. With Monique, huh?”
No, with Daisy Duck.
“Yeah. Her. Was it fun?”
His dry laugh startled me. “The movie sucked but the premier party was all right.” He went silent again. “You know, Iz, if you want to ask me something, just do it. I wouldn’t lie to you. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
“I…um…don’t. I just…you know…saw you on TV. That’s all,” I stammered.
He sighed and I could picture him running his hands through his dark hair. “Well, in case you were wondering, yeah, I do see Monique every now and again. She’s fun. But it’s nothing serious.”
Ouch.
“Oh. I’m glad. I mean, I’d hate for you to be lonely or anything. And if she’s nice, that’s even better. You deserve that.” So much for sounding only slightly interested and not at all bothered. “I really have to go now. I have a ton of homework to do. Thanks for the tickets.”
“Not a problem, angel,” he said, slightly bemused. “I’ll call you soon.”
Ending the call, I dug my Calculus book out of my bag. I flipped the pages until I found the one with my homework problems and prowled around looking for a pencil.
“Well?” Annie demanded.
“He’s going to send me tickets for Seth.” I shrugged as I rummaged around the bottom of my bag and found a pencil.
“I figured that much,” Annie said. “What about Monique?”
I was tempted to tell her to
go read one of her tabloids but I didn’t. It wasn’t her fault Jake enjoyed Monique’s company every now and again. It wasn’t her fault that I had a strange urge to snap my pencil in half and throw it at the picture of Monique wrapped in Jake’s arms.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to Annie. “He said they date sometimes but it’s nothing serious. He said she’s fun.”
I was horrified to feel tears building behind my eyes.
Annie’s face melted into sympathy and she hugged me close. “I’m sorry, Bella.”
I choked back the tears and smiled at her. “Don’t be stupid. I don’t like Jake that way.”
She gave me a look of clear disbelief. “Are you sure? Because I bet if you just said something to him—gave him the slightest encouragement, he’d be yours for the taking.”
I gasped. “How do you figure? Look at him and then look at me. He’s a famous rock star. I’m just a high school senior stuck at a ridiculously expensive boarding school. He has movie stars falling at his feet. I get dumped by football players days before our first date.”
“Yeah, but he took you to the dance and…”
I held up a hand and stopped her. “He took me to the dance as a favor. He felt sorry for me. It didn’t mean a thing.”
“What about all the birthday presents?”
I instinctively shook my wrist, jiggling the bracelet and letting the charm bounce off my arm. “He’s my friend. Friends buy friends stuff. You and Cammy bought me birthday presents, too. You don’t want to date me.”
Annie rubbed furious circles on her forehead. “I think you’re missing the point here.”
“No, I think you are,” I argued. “He doesn’t want to date me, and I don’t want to date him. We talk. We get together and laugh. That’s all.”
My cell phone rang before Annie could respond, and I was instantly grateful for the distraction. I figured it was Jake, calling back for something to do with the tickets but when I glanced at the number, it was one I didn’t recognize.
“Hello?” I answered timidly.