Exposing the Bad Boy

by Nora Flite

  Ellie must have taken that message to heart.

  She's worried about me. Not my performance... but my life.

  Reaching across, I wiped a crumb from the side of her mouth. To my satisfaction, she went ram-rod straight in her chair. “I won't mess up today. I'm better than that. Have some faith in me.”

  She touched her fingertips to her face, exploring where I'd made contact. The way she smiled caused the sunlight to sparkle over her glossy bottom lip. “Are you excited about the jump?”

  “Yeah. I'm not sure what to even expect.” I'd spent so much time lost in my head about Ellie, the jump had been tertiary. Now that she'd asked, I enjoyed the familiar flutter growing in my mood. “I have a feeling it will be memorable, though.”

  Ellie's expression softened. “I think so, too.”

  It was so easy to get lost in the forest of her eyes. They were greener than ancient pine trees, deeper than a mossy cavern that traversed the earth. For the first time, I noticed the freckles that danced over the bridge of her nose.

  Suddenly she looked away, as if recognizing where we were. “Oh, the time. We need to get going, come on.”

  I followed her example, dusting myself off as we hurried to leave the breakfast nook. “Wait,” I said, “Do I need to change or anything?”

  “No no no.” Peeking at her phone, she darted towards the elevator. “We have an outfit for you. You'll change in a minute. Upstairs we have makeup, hair, you name it. There's an entire floor dedicated to this shoot.”

  I wanted to ask more, but she lifted a finger to silence me. Business-Ellie was amazing to watch. As we rumbled up the the Burj Al Arab, she plugged one ear and chattered into her cellphone. I caught snippets, could tell she was phoning multiple people, telling them where to go or what to do.

  Then, we stepped out onto the sixtieth floor.

  People ran around, most with headsets, all in the black, branded shirt belonging to Maximal. I wished I'd worn a different shade, hating the idea of being mistaken as a worker-grunt. The looks we were getting said I didn't have to worry, everyone knew who I was.

  That... was new for me.

  “Ellie!” A rail-thin man ran up to us, clipboard in hand. He gave me a quick once over. “Let's get him changed, they want to make sure everything fits.”

  She nodded, pushing her hand into the small of my back. Her touch, even among this insanity, remained with me when it was gone. “Go on, Pike. This is Alexander, he'll get you ready.”

  Alexander offered his hand; I shook it briskly. “Sure, but I—” Ellie never heard me. The last thing I saw was her dark hair, glimmering in the wide windows that surrounded the hallway.

  “Don't mind Ellie,” Alexander said, crooking a finger at me to follow him. “When she gets in 'shark mode' she doesn't focus on anything else.”

  “I did suspect she had sharp teeth,” I mumbled. Alex laughed, shooting me an appreciative look.

  Ducking through the murmuring groups of people, I entered the room he opened for us. Clearly, it had once been a normal hotel room. Someone had transformed it, leaving clothes strewn on the bed and racks flooded with more on hangers.

  Quirking an eyebrow, I folded my arms. “That's a lot of clothing for one person.”

  “We brought all sorts of stuff. You never know what can happen on a shoot.” Scooping up some pieces from the bed, he handed them to me. “Okay, hurry and put these on. The camera guys on the roof are getting anxious.”

  I didn't blame them. I was getting excited, too.

  Without shame, I stripped down to my boxers. Alex was polite, facing away while I slipped on the clothing. The top was fitted, tight enough to stay in place while I fell through the air. It had no sleeves, the neck and back-holes both low, exposing the art on my body.

  Dark in color, it had gold designs spiraling from top to bottom. Maximal Energy, I mused, reading the logo. It made sense that I was doing my first commercial for their product.

  Buckling the black, canvas textured pants into place, I tested my movement. “It fits good,” I said, stretching my legs. Kneeling, I tied on the custom sneakers, amused that the Maximal logo was on the soles as well as the tops. “Is this everything?”

  “Hardly,” Alexander chuckled. Facing me again, he lifted a brand new parachute into view. I could tell it would be gold and pitch black, like everything else. “Corbin had this designed specifically for you. First time Maximal has had a chute created. It had a lot of the team pretty stoked.”

  Gingerly, I took the backpack shaped package. I could tell, just from touching it, that the gear was well made—expensive. “I'll need to check it before I jump.”

  Alex tapped his watch, not hiding his distress. “Go ahead, but hurry. We're pushing our time here.”

  “Fuck the time.” Spreading the chute on the bed, I poured over it. “I'm gambling with my life. You do understand that?”

  He said nothing. That was fine.

  Refolding the material tightly, I hoisted it around my shoulders. The weight was comforting. “This looks good. And the helmet?”

  Opening the door, Alexander motioned for me. “What? Oh, no. Corbin wants your face in the shoot. A helmet would hide that.”

  My scalp itched, but I held my reservations in check. I could hear Ellie freaking out already. “Wouldn't it be wiser to be safe? What does my face fucking matter?”

  The hallway was alive with noise; he guided us to a staircase, speed-climbing up it. “You're what we're selling here, Pike.” He pulled out his phone, thumb dancing over the keys. “We're going to make you famous. People need to see you for that to happen.” Stopping his fast walk, he twisted to give me a side-eye. “This won't be a problem, will it? You've jumped before without a helmet.”

  Acid roiled in my guts. So he's seen the video. Of course he has. “Nope. Not a problem.” And honestly, it didn't bother me that much. I had grown used to jumping helmet-free. It wasn't smart, I knew that, but...

  My thoughts fled as we broke through the open door and onto the roof. Vibrant blue and yellow sky painted a backdrop over the city below. Salt tickled my nose—the ocean. Turning, I saw that the field of water was lying behind the hotel on one side. The building was perched between society and wild lawlessness.

  And I stood in the middle.

  “Pike! Over here!” Ellie waved at me, her hair rustling in the wind. As I watched, she gathered it up, tried to imprison it in a ponytail.

  I knew I was staring, my senses were in overdrive. Between Ellie and the height of the world I now crested, my heart couldn't handle much more. I was ready to just take off over the edge right then.

  She met me in the middle, sunlight bouncing in her stare. “You look fantastic,” she said, gazing over my outfit.

  Grinning, I plucked at the front of my shirt. “You just like seeing me covered in your brand.”

  Nudging me in the ribs, she pulled me towards a group of men with cameras. “Here,” she said, stepping away from me. “This is Kano and his team. They'll be filming you. They've got cameras set up down the entire length of the building, as well on some of the ones across from here. The angles will be perfect.”

  Kano wasn't much of a smiler. I could see the permanent frown lines engraved on his face. “So you're Pike,” he grunted. Looking away, he pointed at a young man in a pair of dark sunglasses. “Flick, come here. Go show Pike where he needs to run from, all of the steps, so we can get moving.” His last look at me was full of doubt. “We're going to be here all day, trust me.”

  He was trying to get under my skin. I didn't know why, I didn't even care. I was too high to give a shit what some dick-head thought about me. Beaming, I clasped Flick on the shoulder. “Nice to meet you. Show me what the hell I'm doing, before I jump over the side of this hotel from impatience.”

  Flick's mouth fell open. “Uh, yeah! Right. This way.”

  The breakdown was simple enough. Flick explained that I was supposed to burst through the roof doors. Then, I would charge across the distance, sn
atch a bottle from one of the guys about to drink it near the ledge, and just... jump. In the air, before I reached the bottom, they wanted me to take a big mouthful of the drink.

  Wiping my sweaty palms on my pants, I said, “Tell your boss I'm ready.”

  Flick pulled his chin to his neck. “What?”

  “Tell him I'm ready.” My heart was starting to pulsate. “I'm going, even if they're not prepared. Have him call out 'action' or whatever the fuck.”

  Stepping backwards, Flick decided to take me seriously. Good. He ran back to Kano, talking frantically in his ear. Across the roof, I could see the amused disbelief on Kano's features.

  I gave him a thumbs up, then stepped into the shadows of the stairwell. They had five minutes, or I was going. He thought we'd need to do this all day? Fine. I wanted to start.

  I needed to start.

  Shuffling and voices reached me. From what I picked up on, they were clearing the roof. I pictured Ellie standing on the sidelines, eagerly awaiting my arrival.

  Curling my fingers, I popped my joints. I had too much kinetic energy inside of me, it had to go somewhere. If Kano didn't call for me, I wasn't sure my threat would remain a threat. The ringing in my ears grew as I strained for my cue.

  “Action!”

  And there it was. Like a bullet, I exploded through the roof doors. They slammed loudly, cracking the air with my arrival. To my left, I caught a glimpse of green eyes. I didn't break my stride, I couldn't. Not anymore.

  This need for the fall was as good as blood lust. As firm as rocks in the core of our planet. I'd like to say I was in command of myself, but I didn't really know.

  In front of me, a group of men reacted to my approach. They were actors, sitting at a small table they'd arranged. One of them stumbled backwards, splaying near the ledge of the hotel. If this went wrong, I realized I could accidentally take him over the side with me.

  Had no one thought about that?

  Narrowing my eyes, I felt the air as it slid over my forehead. Every muscle bunched, every fiber working to coordinate my movements. People say time slows down when you're aware of it, but not for me.

  At rocket speeds, I snatched the bottle from the guy's fingers. He saw me coming, stepping out of the way as covertly as he could for the cameras.

  Good for him. He'd live through this.

  And even though there was always a chance I wouldn't... I still dove headfirst into the empty valley of the sky without a single flash of doubt.

  Wingless, I was finally free again.

  Here, in the beautiful expanse of color and electric energy, was the one place I could truly feel at home. No where else gave me this. How could it?

  For a moment, I closed my eyes—not out of fear, but hope. Look at me. Wind clawed at my eyelashes, numbed my nose, even in the heat. Do you believe this, Dad?

  I felt for the ghost of his presence.

  Bursting with serenity, I looked down on the city that was eager to eat me alive. My free hand clutched my chute, opening it with regret. Falling forever would be a true gift.

  Up here, doing this, it's the only place I...

  The force of my chute took hold; cameras glinted as I passed. While I glided down, I almost forgot about the bottle in my grip. Right. The commercial.

  It had been so easy to forget what I was doing here.

  Arching my head back, I took a deep drink.

  I could tell you how the air felt on my skin.

  How the hairs on my neck tingled.

  Or how my teeth felt like they were growing in my skull.

  But as I floated back to the ground, returning to the world of mortals, I couldn't have said what that drink tasted like.

  - Chapter Eleven -

  Ellie

  “Excuse me,” I said, breaking through the wall of bodies. Some glanced at me, a few gave me friendly nods. As big of a party as this was, there were still plenty of Maximal employees in the mix.

  The hotel had arranged a row of connected suites for us to use for the post-commercial wrap. Of course, Maximal had done their part, too. We'd hired three DJs, packed the place with girls, and spread the word that a 'celebrity' would be here.

  Grunting, I finally made it to the nearest bar. In the slinky silver dress I'd put on, the heat of the room was making me sweat.

  Turning, the bartender nodded my way. “How can I help you?”

  “Whiskey,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ears. “Neat, please.”

  His eyebrows raised, but he made no comment. Pouring my drink, he passed me the glass, hurrying to cater to the rest of the crowd.

  Tilting my chin up, I downed a mouthful of the sharp liquid. After such a stressful day, it was exactly what I needed.

  The stool beside me shifted, someone settling on it. “Still drinking the hard stuff, huh?”

  I tossed Alexander a smug smile. “Still jealous that you can't handle it?”

  “Ouch!” Touching his chest, his eyes went wide. “That hurts, Ellie. You know I pride myself on taking it hard.”

  My eyes rolled as hard as they could. “Nice. Very mature.” Shaking my head, I peered over my co-worker's outfit. He'd slid into something far too purple and even more shiny. “Hoping to catch a few eyes tonight?”

  Tapping the counter, he waved for the barkeep. “If I'm lucky, more than a few.”

  “I'll make sure to wish you luck,” I giggled.

  “Don't get all judging on me.” His thin eyebrows brushed his low hanging bangs. “We can't all be lucky enough to crush on just one person at a time.”

  Catching his meaning, I turned stiff—then bright red. On reflex I scanned the crowd, expecting Pike to be staring at me. “You're imagining things, Alex. I'm not 'crushing' on anyone.”

  “Uh huh.” His sarcasm dripped, thick as molasses. Taking a bottle of beer from behind the bar, he turned his probing squint back to me. “Say what you want. I could see it on your face today.”

  I blew air between my tight lips. “When?”

  Sipping his drink, he crossed his ankles. “On the roof. The instant I showed up with Pike.” The name made me squirm. “Yeah, you made a face sort of like that.”

  Fiddling with the ends of my hair, I scowled. “I was just impressed with the outfit Maximal designed.”

  “Oh please, you already knew what it looked like.”

  Heat swam up my neck. The whiskey didn't soothe my discomfort away.

  Sighing, Alex said, “And anyway, it wasn't just that. I was watching you when he jumped. Ellie, if your body wasn't glowing from how badly you wanted to tackle that boy's nuts, then I've lost touch with reality.”

  “Alex!” Gaping, I jerked my eyes side to side. “Be quieter, you're so vulgar.”

  “If that was vulgar, Ell, than you're in big trouble.” He gave me a gentle poke. I realized he was pointing, so I followed his arm. Not far away, laughing with a trio of women that surrounded him, was Pike. “Just look at him. I can tell he's a kinky type. Those tattoos, woof.”

  Finishing my drink, I pushed the glass away, rougher than I meant to. “You're wrong—about me, I mean, not how kinky he is—or—whatever.” I grimaced at Alex's delight. “Even if I did like him, come on.” I waved at Pike's entourage. “You've been with Maximal longer than me. You know what these guys are like once the fame hits them.”

  Shrugging, he continued to study Pike. I was having trouble looking away, too. He'd changed into tight jeans, a thick white belt pulling my attention to his slim waist. His pale grey shirt highlighted the definition of his muscles, exposing the vibrant art along his shoulders and forearms.

  Damn him for looking so good, I thought bitterly. Could I really blame the girls for draping all over him, giggling and vying for his approval?

  One of the woman—a tall brunette in taller heels—put her fingers to his neck, whispering in his ear. Pike's lips coiled in a wicked grin at their secret.

  Huh, why yes. I CAN blame them. Massaging my temples, I willed my disgust to fade away. I knew this was
going to happen. It was my fault for getting so involved. The only thing I could control about this situation was myself.

  I didn't have to sit here and watch Pike flirt.

  “Where are you going?” Alex asked, seeing me push off the bar.

  “To clear my head,” I mumbled, weaving through the dancing bodies. There was a chance I was overreacting. The thing is, I just didn't know! I'd never dealt with much... what was this even, jealousy?

  I'm jealous? Hah! What was there to be jealous of? What did Pike and I even have?

  The air around me vibrated with the earth-churning bass of the music. As it dug into me, I remembered the significant rush of energy I'd experienced the day I'd fallen through the sky.

  Fallen with him.

  Stumbling, I clutched at my stomach. Dammit. That was it, wasn't it? I'd thought I was only winning Pike's bet so he'd sign, but in reality, I'd done something so much more.

  Something even beyond conquering my fear of planes and heights.

  I'd wound my existence—my heart—into that daring moment...

  And I'd done it with Pike Moss.

  I wanted to laugh, it was that insane. I was supposed to rope this guy in for Maximal and collect my bonus. Instead, I'd roped myself up with him and didn't know where the knots began. I was trapped, and in the long run, that meant torment.

  Thanks to me, he'll be on TV. He'll be in the papers. I'll get to be reminded constantly of what he's doing with others.

  Without me.

  Over my shoulder, I glanced back at where I'd last seen Pike.

  His deep-ocean eyes were fixed right on me.

  Gasping, I bumped into a pair of people dancing beside me. They gave me a dirty look, then moved away to keep grinding on each other. Shit. The girls were still chattering at Pike, but unless I was imagining it, he wasn't listening.

  He's watching me. Why?

  It didn't matter why. I had to go get some fresh air. If I stayed, the pounding of feet and vibrato would tear me to ribbons. The whole party seemed to be slipping under my skin. I'd never felt so raw, so vulnerable.

  I wanted to run...

  So I did.

  People shouted; I ignored them. I just wanted—needed—to get away from... from all of this fakery. This was my world, and I'd fought so hard to be a part of it. Not once had it ever bothered me. It had a purpose, gave meaning to my success.