Disconnected

by Bethany Daniel

  He steps back and puts his hands up in surrender. "Sorry, sorry man. My lips are sealed."

  I shoot him another glare and make my way to the front desk. "Reservations for Liam and Scott," I tell the receptionist.

  She quickly looks at her schedule and back up at me with a timid smile. "Right this way Mr. Warren."

  I sit in the chair and go through the motions of having my hair washed and trimmed and just zone out through the whole process. I'm actually nervous about this date. I feel like I need to make a good impression with her or something...but Katy knows the real me already, I don't have to put on a show for her. I take a deep breath and force myself to relax until I'm told that they're finished with me.

  "Thank you," I nod at the stylists and go to the lobby area to wait on Scott.

  Once he's finally done and comes back out looking a lot more like himself, we hurry out to the limo. Despite it getting darker, there's always the chance of lingering paparazzi.

  "What time is it?" Scott asks, looking out the window at the stars coming out.

  "About 8, I'm about to call up Katy."

  I dial her number and relax into my seat, waiting to hear her voice over the line.

  "Hey there, movie star,” she answers, and I laugh.

  "Hey yourself, beautiful, um, what are you and Krista doing tonight?" I ask and feel those nerves start to set in again. I feel like I'm 15 all over again.

  "Uh not much, just studying a little bit, why?"

  "Well, Scott and I thought it would be nice for us to all go on a double date.”

  "Tonight? Is that really smart?” she asks, and it sounds like she's moving around the room.

  "We have bodyguards, remember? And where we’re going, we don't have to worry anyway."

  "And where exactly will we be going? And what should we wear?"

  "A private club, private room for us and any special guests, and there'll be a bouncer on top of our own security. As for your clothes...do you have a little black dress?” I ask, smirking to myself.

  She laughs in my ear and I hear what sounds like hangers sliding. “Yes, I do, and some nice little black heels that go along with it."

  Scott starts nudging me while I'm lost in thoughts of Katy in a sleek little black dress. "Mmm, that, definitely that...oh, wait a sec...” I turn to Scott and cover the mouthpiece of the phone. "What?"

  "Tell her to tell Krista to wear something red, it's my favorite color." He smiles and leans back and I roll my eyes.

  "Scott says to tell Krista to wear something red."

  "Right, ok. Um, when should we be ready exactly?"

  "In an hour, we're in the limo coming to get you."

  "An hour? Are you crazy? We have to take showers, do our make-up and all that stuff!" She squeals loud enough for even Scott to hear and we both start laughing.

  "Then I have to get off the phone, like, now! Bye!” She hangs up and as I slide the phone into my jacket pocket I smile over at Scott. "We're on."

  Chapter 8

  Just a little bit later we drive up in front of the girls' dorm. When we come to a stop the driver walks around and opens the door and Scott quickly climbs out, stopping in his tracks when he looks Krista over.

  "Wow," is all he says and I hear her tell him hi, but all my attention is drawn to where Katy is standing.

  She's wearing a classic little black dress, spaghetti straps and a belt around the middle, and at least three inch heels to top it all off. She looks amazing.

  "You look amazing, Krista," Scott tells her as he pulls her over to him.

  "Thank you," she responds with a timid smile.

  I step around them and pull Katy into my arms. "She does....and so does my wife."

  "Well, thank you." She smiles up at me. "You look pretty good yourself."

  I smile as I lean down to kiss her and wrap my arms around to settle on her lower back. I am enjoying this moment of just feeling happy, until Scott clears his throat, interrupting the moment, and I send him a glare over Katy's head.

  "Alright you love birds, get in before we make the bodyguards anxious," Scott says and Katy looks up and laughs at me before we all slide into the limo.

  I take a minute to just soak this in. Sitting here, listening to Scott and Krista chit chat about who knows what, and Katy sitting next to me after all this time, seems so surreal. I just hope I can keep her beside me this time. Katy squeezing my hand brings me back to reality.

  "So, tell me about where we're going,” she says as she angles herself towards me.

  "It's called The Infinity; it's a really nice place, private rooms, good for dancing, having a drink, and just forgetting everything for a while.

  "Sounds good to me," she whispers as she lays her head on my shoulder.

  The last bit of the ride towards the club is in a comfortable silence. This is just the first stop in a whole ride of crazy to come. Everything is just so much more now than it was four years ago. Now there are billboards with my picture down every strip of road, and cameras flashing anytime I step out in public. Katy and Krista are going to be big news, especially as a couple of college girls that caught the attention of Scott Adams and Liam Warren. Word has already gotten around about Katy being my long-lost wife. I can only imagine what stories those guys can come up with.

  I take a deep breath as we pull to a stop in front of The Infinity. Here goes nothing, I think as I look over at Katy.

  "Ok, Nate and Eric are close by, but when we get out of the limo, keep your head down and stay near me so the paps don't cause a big scene, alright?"

  I open the door and quickly pull Katy tight against my side and speed walk towards the door, stealing occasional glances to make sure she's ok and that the cameras aren't driving her crazy. Once I get to the door I open it and pull her in front of me and look behind me to make sure Scott and Krista aren't far behind us.

  "Everything's good inside, right?" Katy asks uneasily, looking where all the paparazzi are now behind the door.

  "Yep, inside there's no cameras allowed. Come on, our room is this way." I grab her hand and start down the hallway, looking at the little plaques on the doors until I see the one marked "Reserved for Excite Entertainment". We walk into a room painted red and black, with big black leather couches to lounge on and a bar in the middle with two bartenders doing fancy tricks with bottles.

  "Whoa, this is just...wow," Krista says and I smile when Katy says she agrees. If they're amazed at a place like this then they have a lot of shocks coming if they stick with us. There are much bigger, fancier places outside of Georgia that I'm sure they haven't ever seen.

  "Come on ladies....time to have some fun," Scott says, smiling as he pulls a now giggling Krista onto the dance floor.

  "Want to dance, Katy?" I ask as I pull her against me and sway a bit to the music blaring through the speakers.

  "You know I'm not much of a dancer."

  An idea comes to mind and I smile as I lean down to her ear to whisper it. "We could always go back to that corner and just make out....we were always good at that."

  A blush fills her cheeks as she shakes her head at me. "Slow down there mister....how about we try to figure out how to dance to this crazy fast music?"

  I pull her further onto the dance floor and we eventually find our own rhythm moving to the music. It feels good to be like this with her. Like this, it feels like it’s only us and no one else is outside of our bubble of space.

  As I run my hands down her sides and grip her hips, I start trailing kisses down her neck and whisper, "I really, really love this dress."

  Katy lets out a happy sigh and wraps her arms around my neck before pulling my mouth onto hers, and I devour her while I have this moment.

  “I like this." Katy whispers as she pulls back and lays her head against my chest and her arms go around my middle and squeeze.

  “Me too Katy, I’ve missed this, missed us." We're swaying to the music that has now slowed down and all my attention belongs to her.

  "
I did too."

  I relax getting into the music, and smile as a memory comes to me of us, just like this.

  "Do you remember the first time we had to dance together?"

  "I remember I was very mad at you for picking on me, and we were at someone's wedding and our moms made us dance together because it was 'just so cute'."

  I laugh at her scrunched up face and reach out to smooth out the little wrinkles. "We were what, like 15 then?"

  "Mm, something like that, you were a big jerk then." She raises an eyebrow to show she's teasing and I put on a mock shocked face.

  "I was not....I was just already falling for you and you wouldn't give me the time of day."

  "If I remember right, you were dating that Lindy girl then." She rolls her eyes. I knew she was jealous back then and she just proved it, I think with a smirk.

  "Yeah...because I wanted you to be jealous!"

  The music starts to go a little faster again and I pull Katy's back against me as she dances. I run a hand down her belly and around to her hip, leaning down to her ear. "We're good together, baby."

  She turns back around and we're flush against each other.

  "We were....we can learn how to be again."

  Chapter 9

  There are so many things I want to say to her, lay myself out in the open. But before I can even mutter a word, Krista marches over pulling Scott behind her and takes any attention Katy had on me.

  "Oh my gosh, Kate, this place is, like, the best ever!" Krista announces, grabbing hold of Katy and spinning in a circle.

  "Whoa, Krista...Kris," Katy says more adamantly and stops the spinning.

  "Are you drunk? What did you drink?"

  Katy glares over at Scott for being careless and I join her. Did he really think supplying her with that much to drink was really smart? And he knew this was supposed to be our "first date" and now it looks like it’s over.

  "Scott...why did you let her get drunk?" Katy asks angrily, and I have to resist the urge to smack him upside his head.

  "I'm sorry! We were just sitting and talking and the bartender just kept refilling her drink when it got low," he mutters, and looks down at his feet.

  "Well, as you can tell, she's a lightweight! Look...we need to get her home before she crashes. Can you have the car brought around?" Katy turns to me, exasperated.

  I nod and step around them, shaking my head. Scott is going to get chewed out after we leave here. He knows better; if she's seen stumbling drunk while out with us she'll be on the cover of a trashy magazine first thing in the morning.

  As I dial the limo service I lean back against the wall and take a glance at where Katy, Scott, and Krista are standing. Katy really cares about her best friend--she's like a little mother hen making sure she's ok. I smile to myself as I watch them.

  "Georgian Limo Services," a voice says in my ear.

  "This is Liam Warren. I need my driver to return to pick us up."

  "Right away, sir," the voice responds immediately, and I hang up the phone.

  I pull away from the wall and make my way back towards my little group of friends.

  "They'll be here in a couple minutes," I tell them, and put my hands on Katy's hips.

  "Good." She smiles at me and leans over to whisper something to Krista and I take the chance to look over at Scott and just shake my head at him. He rolls his eyes and then Krista yells out, "Of course not!" and throws herself into Scott's arms.

  "Alright, sweetheart, let's go get you some fresh air. On our next date, no drinking allowed, that sound good?" he says as he helps her towards the exit.

  "Looks like our night got cut short," I frown, looking down at Katy.

  "Rain check?" She smiles up at me and plays with a piece of hair by my eye.

  "You bet." I return her smile and pull her towards where Scott and Krista just disappeared to.

  I spot the limo pulling up in front and turn towards Katy. "Don't forget, duck your head!"

  We push past the flashing cameras and photographers trying to get our attention, and as we slide into the back I breathe a sigh of relief.

  The driver has to do some maneuvering to get us out, but once we're pulling away from the madness I pull Katy a little closer.

  "So, when will we be able to get together again?" she asks, pressing into my side, and I soak in the warmth of her there.

  "Well, we're finishing up final scenes and things this week, so maybe by the weekend we can cut loose." I shrug and absently rub her back. If I could have my way she would be with me 24-7. Having her in eyesight at all times to know she's really there and not keeping me out of her life anymore would make me a very happy man. I feel like I could lose her at any time.

  Before I know it we're back at the girls' dorm and Krista is making little gagging noises. I think Katy is in for a messy night.

  "Oh, God," Krista moans, bolting out of the limo and making a beeline for the door.

  "Oh boy...sorry guys, I better go help her." Katy gives me a quick look and small smile before getting out and starting to run after Krista.

  "Call me when everything gets settled, ok?" I yell out the window.

  "I will!" She yells back, waving, and then she's gone.

  I sigh and sink back into the seat and look over at Scott.

  "Don't even start," he warns me, rubbing his eyes.

  "I didn't say anything!"

  "You don't have to. You've given me enough death glares in the last hour to let me know you're pissed."

  I sigh and look out the window. "I'm not pissed, ok? Just really, really frustrated."

  "I'm sorry man. I really didn't plan on her getting drunk." He shakes his head. "We had a lot of fun though," he grins, rubbing his chin.

  I roll my eyes. "No more double dates," I tell him, turning my eyes to him.

  "Agreed, and no more alcohol."

  "Agreed." I laugh. "Has Scott Adams been tamed?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.

  He frowns, stopping to think about it. "I don't know yet. But I think she's on the right track."

  "So, no more Excite parties, then?"

  He looks me in the eye and shakes his head. "I don't think so."

  Chapter 10

  Just a little bit after getting back to the hotel I sat down and flipped on the TV anxiously waiting for Katy to call me. I can only imagine what she has to deal with right now.

  I shake my head and scoot back as I hear my phone go off with a text.

  "Will call tomorrow, I'm beat, had a good time tonight though. Next time, maybe we can have an alone date?"

  I smile at that, my thoughts exactly. I'm not sharing my time or attention with anyone else when it comes to being with her. I gotta take what I can get.

  "For sure, I had fun too, can't wait to see you again. Night baby, I love you." I bite my lip after typing those last three words out. I don't know if she still loves me, but I never stopped loving her.

  The following week we are worked hard. Really early mornings and late nights, photo shoots, re-shoots, more script changes than I thought should be allowed and I've hardly gotten to talk to Katy, much less see her. I think not getting to see Krista is really bothering Scott too. They haven't even gotten to form much of a bond with each other, especially since the whole date fiasco. She sends him pictures and things but I can tell it's not enough for him, hell for me either. I really miss what time I can spend with Katy.

  "The girls are planning on coming to the set today, right?" Scott asks scooting into the chair next to mine.

  I nod taking a drink from a water bottle. "Yep, some time this afternoon after their classes are done for the day."

  He nods. "Good. I really want to make up for last week. I want her to be my official girlfriend." He looks around at all the people walking by. "She's really gotten under my skin."

  I laugh and shake my head. "I can tell. And for what it's worth, I'm glad."

  He smirks, "Me too."

  "So what's the plan for this morning anyways? I haven't seen m
uch of Mr. Johnson."

  "I'm not sure. But uh, just a heads up, I heard that Alexia is in a major mood today. All over any man that passes her by, and just all together creepier than normal."

  I sigh running a hand through my hair. "Great. I'll make sure to avoid her."

  A couple hours later, I get a text from Katy saying they will be here soon and smile to myself. I can't wait to see her again. I really want to convince her to come back to L.A with me, but I think it'll be a hard sell. She has so much of a life here with her schooling and Krista and unfortunately the old boyfriend, Lucas. I shake myself out of my thoughts; I don't want to think about him. He knows where Katy and I stand now; I don't think he's much of a threat anymore.

  Scott jogs up to me holding his phone. "Krista says they'll be here soon."

  "Just got the same message from Katy," I smile. "Want to go wait for them with me?"

  "Yeah, sure."

  Before we get very far, a bunch of make-up people and wardrobe people come and surround us.

  "So sorry, Mr. Warren and Mr. Adams, Mr. Johnson has asked us to make sure all four of the main characters are fresh."

  "Well, we're about to head towards the front anyways, can you come with us that way?" I ask.

  "Yes." One of the make-up people says and as we start walking Alexia comes to join us dressed in tiny jean shorts and a tank top bouncing as she goes and smiles widely when she sees me.

  "Liam, you look really sexy today." She looks me up and down, "All the better for our scene today."

  I cringe. Nothing would make me happier than not having to touch her ever again, even if it's in a professional setting. Her obsession with me is about on my last nerve.

  Our other co-star Aria soon joins us as we turn around a corner towards the main set. And then I see Katy and start to smile until my eyes hit on someone else there with her and Krista. Lucas. Why the hell is he here? I glare and clench my hands into fists. This won't end well.