Catch You (Love Me, I'm Famous Book 0)

by M. H. Soars

  On my way to the car, I walk behind some girls who are talking about a party this weekend. I hear them mention Alex and my interest is piqued. I walk faster to catch up with them. I recognize one of them. She’s in my Chemistry class. Her name is Bonnie or Barbara, I can’t remember. All I know is that her friends call her B. Enough info for me.

  “Hey, B. Wait up.”

  Both girls stop and look over their shoulders. B’s friend has the annoyed bitch look down to a science. B is only staring at me in surprise. I don’t blame her. This is the first time I have addressed her ever, and I’ve shared plenty of classes with the girl in the past.

  “Were you guys talking about a party this Friday?”

  They trade looks, then B’s friend sneers at me. “Yes. What’s it to you anyway? You’re not thinking about crashing it, are you?”

  “I’m writing an article about Alex Martin, for the paper.”

  The friend throws her head back and laughs, the high pitched noise making her sound like a hyena. Yikes, gotta work on that, sweetheart. “This is too funny. Ice Queen has had a taste of jock, now she wants to try the entire team.”

  “Cassie, be nice,” B says.

  I’m fucking pissed at Bitch Face’s insinuations, but I swallow it down, a bitter jagged little pill. Thanks, Alanis, for the visual.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t sleep with Owen. I have no intention to touch him or any of his team mates, not even with a ten-foot pole. But I did hear Alex say he’s finally ready to move on, to find a steady girlfriend. Since I’m writing an expose on the guy, I could always share some of the intel I gain with the right girl.”

  B and Cassie trade looks again. Gee, I’m stuck in a generic, teen movie. Even my hook is lame, but they seem to take the bait.

  “Whatever,” Cassie says. “The party is at this house, after the game. He only invited people who matter.”

  I hear her message loud and clear, but instead of bitch-slapping her, I give her a tight smile. That’s why I’ve always maintained my distance from the school royals. Bunch of over-entitled morons.

  “Thanks a lot.” I walk away, but Cassie yells at me.

  “Don’t forget our deal.”

  I smile to myself. I wonder if Cassie is into dating inmates.

  Chapter 12

  Kimberly

  Plans to talk to Alex foiled, I decide to pay a visit to the mall. I have no idea if Alicia will be working today, but I have nothing else to do. Plus, I need to check up on Larissa anyway.

  Littleton’s Mall is not far away from school, and it takes me less than ten minutes to get there. Larissa and Alicia work at Forever 21 and I have more than once taken advantage of Larissa’s employee discount. Today, I barely notice the pretty clothes. Larissa is at the checkout counter and there’s a line of at least five customers waiting for their turn. I won’t be able to talk her first like I planned.

  I search for Alicia and thank my luck that she’s manning the dressing rooms. Much easier to approach. I grab a handful of clothes and make a beeline to her. She glances my way, a look of pure boredom in her glazed eyes.

  “How many?” she asks.

  I look at the stack of clothes in my arms. “I have no freaking clue.”

  “Well, you can only try on five items at a time.”

  I begin to count the items folded over my arm and give her the extras. She eyes an ugly, brown peasant blouse that’s way too large for me and twists her nose.

  “My grandmother loves Forever 21,” I say and she laughs.

  “Phew. I was worried about your taste for a moment.”

  I laugh and then I make my move. “I know you. Didn’t you use to date Alex Martin?”

  The easy going demeanor she had a moment ago vanishes like it never was. “Yup.”

  “Oh, it’s all coming back to me now. You were like the cutest couple ever. Like my role model of relationships. I was so crushed when I learned about the break up.”

  Alicia raises an eyebrow at me, calling me on my bullshit. I don’t blame her. I have a reputation after all and it ain’t the dreamy and shallow type.

  “We were hardly a role model to anyone.”

  “Well, whatever you guys had must have been something pretty special. He hasn’t had a serious girlfriend since.”

  “No, fucking a different girl every week is enough for him now.”

  Her answer is laced with bitterness and I sense she’s not over him. Funny. I was under the impression she dumped him.

  “Do you still love him?”

  Alicia jerks back, like my question has physically hurt her.

  “I’m sorry.” I continue. “I didn’t mean to pry. That’s none of my business.”

  “Why are you asking? Are you into him?” She narrows her eyes at me.

  “Me? Hell no.”

  Alicia mulls my words over. “Oh, that’s right. You like Owen, right?”

  I take a sharp intake of breath and end up choking on my own saliva. I begin to cough, trying to get air into my lungs. Alicia is forced to tap my back a couple of times.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I say after I regain the ability to breathe. “And to answer your question. I don’t like Owen. I’m actually asking you all these random questions because I’m writing an article about Alex.”

  “Oh. Sorry, I can’t really help you with that.”

  “Why not?”

  “This article, it’s about how wonderful Alex Martin is, right?”

  “Yeah, sort of.”

  “Well, I can’t contribute to anything.”

  “Are you implying that Alex is not a good person?”

  Alicia shakes her head. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You broke up with him, but your reaction tells me you still have feelings for the guy. Did Alex hurt you, Alicia?”

  The poor girl’s eyes widen and I know I’m on the right track.

  “He didn’t hurt me. Not in the way you’re implying, anyway. I just know things about him I wish I didn’t, that’s all.”

  It’s time to get serious now. “Alicia, I’m not writing an article about Alex. A friend of mine is in deep trouble and it seems Alex is involved somehow. I’m trying to find out if it’s true.”

  Alicia’s face pales. “Are you talking about Lorenzo?”

  “Yes.”

  She glances at the floor and shifts uneasily. “I really don’t want to get involved in this.”

  “Please, Alicia. An innocent guy might be sent to jail for a very long time if you don’t help me.”

  “Listen, I don’t know anything about the computer theft. All I know is I wouldn’t be surprised if Alex was involved.”

  “Why?”

  “Nobody knows this, but Alex’s father lost his job at the bank and a lot of money as well. The family is living on appearances. A few months ago, I accidentally found a stash of cocaine in Alex’s room.”

  “Do you think he’s dealing?”

  “I asked him that and he denied it, of course. But I don’t see how Alex could still spend they way he does if he wasn’t making serious money somehow. That’s why we broke up. I don’t want to be tangled in whatever mess Alex is involved in.”

  “Now things are beginning to make sense.”

  Alicia holds my arm. “Kimmy, you can’t tell anyone you heard this from me. Alex is different now. I can see it in his eyes. He scares me.”

  “Don’t worry, Alicia. Your secret is safe with me.”

  When I leave the dressing room I catch Larissa’s attention. She’s still behind the register. I ask her if we can talk, but she shakes her head and points at the line of customers. I signal that I will call her later and leave the store. I’m kind of in a hurry to get back home with the new knowledge I’ve gained from Alicia.

 
At dinner, I tell my parents what Alicia told me and ask if Dad heard anything from Mr. Coleman.

  Dad wipes his mouth with his napkin and leans back on his chair. “Yeah, I spoke to John yesterday.”

  “And you didn’t tell me?”

  “Sorry, it slipped my mind.”

  I stare hard at my father. I know he’s not telling the truth. “So, what did he say?”

  By the flat, thin line of his lips, I know the information he received from John is not something he wants to share with me. Mom touches his arm. “Just tell her, hon.”

  “John pulled a favor and managed to visit Lorenzo in jail. But the kid wouldn’t say a thing. He’s clammed up, Kimmy.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It means someone scared the heck out of him. I don’t want you messing with this investigation anymore. Let his lawyer find the proof of his innocence.”

  I open my mouth to complain, but Dad raises his hand. “This is my final word on the matter, Kimmy. You will drop the investigation.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek and stare at my plate. There’s no chance in hell I’m dropping this now.

  Chapter 13

  Friday, September 8th, 2006

  Owen

  Stupid is as stupid does is the phrase on a constant loop inside my head. Once Leah finished her jealousy rage after practice a couple of days ago, we ended up behind the bleachers, her panties down to her knees and me buried deep inside of her. Now she’s my girlfriend again. Which would have been fine if my mind wasn’t plagued with thoughts of another girl. Is that considering cheating? I’m pretty sure ten out of ten girls would say yes. Jesus, I’m so screwed. Luckily, my inner turmoil didn’t affect my performance on the field tonight. We won by a landslide, but again, the opposite team sucked ass.

  I pick Leah up to go to Alex’s party. She seems perkier than usual as she slides inside my car. She leans over to kiss my cheek, and the moment her floral perfume invades my nostrils, the sneeze-fest begins.

  “You’re not getting sick, are you?” Leah moves back as fast as she can, almost becoming one with the door.

  “No. It’s your bloody perfume. Jesus, Leah. Have you forgotten I’m allergic to flowers?”

  “I didn’t know that included designer perfume too.”

  I stare hard at her. We’ve been dating on and off for almost a year, I can’t believe she forgot my allergic reaction to her designer perfume on our first date. I open all the windows before I peel off from her driveway.

  “Owen, it’s freaking cold, plus the wind is going to mess up my hair.”

  I hit the break hard. “Fine! You take your own car, then.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Listen, babe. It’s either we drive with all the windows open or you take your own car. You pick.”

  I’m secretly hoping she will decide to drive, but of course, that would mess with her social status, arriving by herself, that is. She pouts and crosses her arms. “Fine, you win.”

  I’m in a terrible mood when we arrive at Alex’s party. I have a raging headache thanks to Leah’s perfume and bad attitude. When Alex sees us, he drops his gaze and shakes his head, almost imperceptibly. Even though we aren’t close, Alex is the kind of guy who truly cares about his players. I don’t think he has anything against Leah per say, he just thinks we are toxic for each other. I’m beginning to agree with him.

  Brad and Steve are way more vocal about their feelings. The moment Leah left me alone to say hello to her friends, they called me pussy-whipped. Their jabs never bothered me before, but tonight, they do. Simply because I can’t justify staying with Leah just because she’s good in bed anymore. It was all fun in the beginning, but the novelty of dating a hot senior has worn off. So what the hell am I doing with her?

  I push that issue to the side and try to enjoy the moment. I’m greeted as a hero as I walk further into the party and I won’t deny that strokes my ego real good. I was on fire on the field tonight and I totally deserve the praise. This party might not be a bust after all. I know there’s a keg in the kitchen with my name on it.

  Brad and Steve are already there, each with a red solo cup in their hands. Somebody passes me a bottle of tequila and I take a couple of long gulps. Fire spreads through my body and like magic, my mood begins to improve. After that I switch to beer and shoot the shit with my friends while Leah is gone. We mostly talk about the game.

  After ten minutes or so, Brad and Steve become antsy. They won’t relax until they find a girl to hook up with. So I follow them back to the party. I have a nice buzz going and I can’t help the big grin on my lips. But it dies the moment I spot Kimberly by the entrance, dressed in a tight black dress that hugs her in all the right places. I stop mid-step. If I thought the leather skirt she wore to school was sexy, what she has on now is a billion times worse. I finish my beer in one single gulp and mangle the empty cup beyond recognition.

  “Holy shit! Is that Kimberly Dawson?” Brad asks.

  “Damn! Ice Queen is fucking hot,” Steve continues.

  Kimberly glances my way and I will her to come to talk to me, for whatever crazy reason. I don’t like how the eyes of every single guy in the room are zeroed in on her. She doesn’t hold my stare, she doesn’t acknowledge she saw me. She veers to the left, disappearing from my line of vision.

  “Good thing you didn’t hook up with her, Owen. Because—”

  “Because what?” I whip my face toward him.

  “Because I’m all over that,” Brad continues.

  I get in his face faster than he can blink. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “Why the hell not? Wait. Are you into her?”

  “No, of course not.” I take a step back, appalled by my reaction.

  “Then I don’t see a problem.” Brad walks around me, going in the direction Kimberly disappeared to, and I can’t do a bloody thing to stop him.

  “Dude. Relax.” Steve taps my shoulder.

  “I am relaxed.”

  “Could have fooled me. For a moment there I thought you were going to pummel Brad into the ground.”

  I ignore Steve’s remark and go back to the kitchen. He’s not wrong and that annoys me even more. I have no right to feel this way about Kimberly. We’re only partners in a measly assignment. I have a girlfriend. She has a boyfriend. So what’s with my caveman attitude? God, I need more booze.

  Chapter 14

  Kimberly

  I pretend I don’t see Owen. He’s a distraction I don’t need. I go in search of Alex, the only reason I came this stupid party in the first place. I don’t find him right away, but I do see Leah with her cheerleader friends. She sees me and her faces twists into an angry scowl, like I don’t have the right to be there. Be angry as you want, bitch. I’m not here for you either.

  “Hello, there,” someone says to my right and I find a big guy with way too many freckles on his face staring at me. He looks vaguely familiar.

  “Hi,” I answer and then I scan the crowd.

  “I didn’t know you liked to party, Kimmy.”

  “I don’t.” My answer is dry and clipped, but unfortunately, it’s not enough hint for this guy. Come on, Alex. Where are you?

  “Maybe I can make you change your mind.”

  Oh, this dude is irritating me already. I whip my face to him once more, ready to tell him to get lost, when Owen appears by his side.

  “Hey, partner.”

  “Ugh! Not you too.”

  “Not me what? Is Brad bothering you?” Owen places a lazy arm over his friend’s shoulder.

  “I’m not bothering her. Piss off, Owen. Go entertain your girlfriend.” Brad removes Owen’s appendage with a jerky movement and a step to the side.

  That piques my interest but not in a good way. I thought Owen and Leah were broken up. I feel someone staring daggers at me
and sure enough, Leah is the owner of the death glare aimed in my direction. I turn to Owen.

  “I’m really not in the mood to be yelled at tonight. I’ve been very patient with your hormonal girlfriend, but if she calls me a slut one more time her face won’t be so pretty anymore.”

  I walk away, but Owen’s stupid friend follows me. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone overboard with the femme fatale look. How am I supposed to get close to Alex with this imbecile tagging along? I veer toward the kitchen, hoping I can find the man of the hour there. I stop by the door and quickly scan the room. Alex is not here either, but an old friend of mine is. Hello, Don Julio. I find a clean solo cup and pour myself a generous dose of the amber liquid. I shouldn’t drink while conducting an investigation, but hell if I don’t need a shot.

  “Whoa, I didn’t know you were a tequila girl,” Brad says. “Need lemon and salt?”

  I throw my head back and drink the whole shot in one gulp. The fire burns my throat, but it’s a good sensation.

  “Lemon and salt are for pussies,” I say.

  Alex comes into the kitchen through the back door and the word ‘finally’ almost bursts from my lips. I notice how his eyes go up and down my body and I fight not to squirm under his gaze. His interest is clear and I contemplate for a tiny second flirting with him to get the info I need, but then my stomach clenches and I abandon the idea. Sorry, Lorenzo. I’m not willing to go that far. There’s gotta be another way. Before I can say anything to Alex, Owen comes in with his girlfriend in tow. Gag.

  I reach for the tequila bottle and pour myself another shot. What follows next is the most ridiculous and cliché thing ever. Leah grabs Owen by the front of his shirt and pulls him closer for a long and wet kiss, making all the guys around wolf whistle and holler. What’s next? Is she going to pee on him to mark her territory? I want to be unaffected, but I can’t. I want him to pull away from her in disgust, but he doesn’t. I drink my second shot of tequila and common sense goes down the drain. I won’t say I’m drunk to the point that I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m certainly buzzed. I turn to Brad.