by JL Paul
“Stop it,” Cammy pleaded. “That’s enough!”
I could take it no more. They could harass me all they wanted but I was not going to allow them to attack my best friend. I jumped out of the car and wrapped my arms around Cammy’s waist, trying to tug her to the rental. She stood her ground, shouting at the reporters, more angry than I’d ever seen her.
Finally, a police officer arrived, stationing himself between me and Cammy and the rabid reporters. He ordered us to get in the car and leave. I could have kissed him, even if he was forty and…well…not quite as in shape as he should be. Instead I yelled out my thanks as I shoved Cammy at the car, begging her to get us away from that scene.
I flew out the next morning. Alone.
I had just collected my luggage and was stumbling around the parking garage, trying to remember where I’d parked my car, when my phone rang. It was Greta.
“Hi, Greta!” I greeted with false cheerfulness. “How are you?”
“Where are you?” she asked. “I saw you on television this morning trying to escape a bunch of reporters in Florida.”
“I’m actually in a parking garage at O’Hare at this moment.” I frowned, twirling around to see if anything looked remotely familiar.
“Stop here on your way home, please,” she begged. “I want to see you.”
My heart flipped, my hands shaking. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“My stupid brother isn’t here, don’t worry. I miss you.”
I released another desperate sigh, disappointed but relieved at the same time. “Okay. But I need directions.”
She gave me directions as I hung up and finally located my car. I drove slowly to her house, praying she wasn’t lying. I wasn’t ready to see Jake yet.
She bounded from the house as soon as I pulled in the drive, reminding me of a happy hound greeting its master. She yanked my door open and hugged me.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
I smiled, genuinely happy to see her. Snatching a bag from the front seat, I followed her inside. Once we settled on the sofa, I gave her a cute seashell anklet I’d found in Florida. She thanked me over and over as she quickly put it on.
“You almost look good,” she said.
“Huh?”
She took my hand. “What’s going on? I heard on TV you and Jake had a fight but he won’t tell me anything. He’s been over here every night and locks himself away with Dad in his office.”
“Is he okay?” I asked, anxiety rattling my heart.
“No,” she grunted. “He’s as miserable as you are.”
When the front door opened, I jumped in agitation. But it was James Johnson who walked in and greeted me with a surprised smile. He embraced me and dropped a friendly kiss on my head.
“How are you, Iz?”
I shrugged with a trembling smile. I presented him with a loud tie I brought back for him – hoping to keep the Jake questions at bay. He laughed and promised to wear it to work.
“Why aren’t you at work today?” I frowned. He didn’t look sick or anything.
“I’m supposed to go over and help Jake with the downstairs bathroom. Love the puppy, by the way.” He grinned, his smile so achingly familiar to Jake’s.
“Me, too,” Greta exclaimed. “He’s adorable. He follows Jake everywhere.”
We all sat on the sofa and the silence was thick with tension. James took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Iz, you don’t look as rested as you should. But neither does he. He’s been over every night this week, asking me what to do, worried sick about you.”
“He didn’t call,” I mumbled.
“Well, I think he wanted to give you a little space. He’s upset with himself over the whole Monique business. He knows he should have told you.”
I just nodded, afraid the water works would start up again if I spoke.
“He’s a mess,” Greta said.
“He is,” James agreed. “He loves you very much, Iz. I knew that the first time I saw you two together. He’s worried about what all this is doing to you, and he doesn’t know what to do about it.”
“He warned me it would happen. He told me in the beginning,” I said, swiping angrily at a tear on my cheek.
“He would know,” James said. “He went through it with Monique only it didn’t bother him so much. He’s very protective of you, Iz. He’s afraid someone is going to hurt you. He wants to do the right thing by you.”
“I just wish I could talk to him about this but I don’t know what to say,” I cried.
James smiled gently and patted my hands. “You’re about to get your wish.”
My eyes immediately dried as they grew to the size of hubcaps. Getting to my feet, I turned around to find Jake standing in the doorway.
“Me and Greta will go see about lunch,” James said as he tugged Greta toward the kitchen.
“Iz,” Jake said as he stepped into the room. His shoulders slouched and his face was pale and drawn. His once brilliant blue eyes were dull and it ripped my heart wide open. “Are you okay? I saw what they did to you in Florida.”
“I’m fine,” I said as my traitorous feet led me straight to him. My arms wrapped around his neck as I sank into his body, silent sobs shaking my frame. His arms tightened around me and I felt his lips in my hair. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too, angel,” he mumbled in my hair. He held me for a few minutes and allowed me to cry on his shirt. When my emotions settled, he edged me back and brushed the hair out of my face. He kissed me softly and led me back to the sofa. “I love you, Iz. I love you so much, but I can’t do this to you anymore. I think we need to chill out for a little while.”
Wait a second. What?!
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Jake, what do you mean?” I choked, staring into his pained eyes. I had thought that I saw this coming, but I guess I really hadn’t. Not totally.
He held my hand in his. “Angel, you have a lot of school work to do, plus finals and this charity concert that I dumped on you. You have so much on your plate right now. Sorry I put that concert on you, by the way.”
I tried to smile but failed. Miserably. My heart was chipping away, the tiny pieces fluttering to the floor.
“You want to break up with me?” I asked, trying to comprehend the whole situation.
He squeezed my hand.
“I don’t want to, but you need to be concentrating on school. You don’t need to be worrying about reporters and tabloids and photographers.” He ran one hand through his dark hair. “I can’t keep putting you through this.”
“I can handle it,” I pleaded, my voice feeble and weak.
He took my face in his hands and kissed me.
“I don’t want you to have to handle it.” He stood, holding my hand. “Let’s go out back. Dad hates it when I smoke in the house.”
“I hate it when you smoke, period,” I grumbled behind him.
He chuckled. “I’ll quit, Iz. I’ll quit before the charity concert. I promise.”
I nodded, wondering if he’d quit me too.
He settled us into a couple comfortable deck chairs but didn’t light up like I thought he would. He just pulled his chair closer to mine and rested his hands on my thighs.
“Iz,” he began with a deep breath. “All I am suggesting is that we take a break, lay low, until you finish school. You don’t need these distractions.”
He had a point but I couldn’t admit it. My heart wouldn’t accept it. I ducked my head and studied the treated wood under my feet. “I don’t want to lose you, Jake.”
Placing a finger under my chin, he forced my face to his. His lips touched mine as he pulled me closer. My heart jumped. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
But he broke the kiss and placed his forehead against mine. “You’re not losing me, I promise. You can call me anytime you want or need.”
“But…I won’t be your girlfriend anymore, will I?” The words pained every organ in my body as they tumb
led from my mouth.
He sighed. “Technically, no. Not right now.”
What was left of my heart dropped to my feet and shattered into a million shards that stabbed me and made me bleed. “What about Monique?”
“Monique has nothing to do with us. As a matter of fact, I took your suggestion and talked her into going to France for a while. I spent the week making arrangements and just dropped her off at the airport before I came here to get my dad.” He edged away and tucked my hair behind my ears. “Iz, when you finish your finals, we’ll talk. If we still want to be with each other, we’ll try again.”
“Is there someone else?” I sniffed. The thought struck me suddenly and stomped on the pieces of my heart.
“Definitely not. There’s never been anyone but you, Iz. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you and I never will again.” He kissed my cheek. “Besides, me and the band will be in L.A. until the end of May working on a new CD.”
I stood abruptly, needing to escape. It was getting harder to breathe and I didn’t want to suffocate in front of him. “I need to head back.”
He got to his feet and clutched my waist. “Why don’t you stay here tonight? I’ll go home.”
I shook my head. I needed to put as much space between him and me as possible. “I want to get back to school.”
He accompanied me back inside so I could say my goodbyes and walked me to my car. Leaning against it, he pulled me to his chest. “Thanks for the puppy. I love him.”
“Good,” I said with a forced smile. “What did you name him?”
“BK, of course,” he said with a wink.
“Just be sure to feed him puppy food and not cheeseburgers,” I tried to joke as I reached around him and opened the door. He seized my arm before I could get in.
“I do love you, Iz. Very much.”
“I know,” I said, lips trembling. “I love you, too.”
I stood on my toes and kissed him quickly before climbing inside.
I drove all the way back to school without breaking down once.
***
A greeting party met me in the parking lot as I killed the engine and banged my head against the steering wheel. Taking a deep breath, I collected my bags, and walked purposely to the gates.
“Isabella, is it true you and Jake split up?”
“Did you meet someone new in Florida?”
“Did Jake run off to France with Monique?”
Tears threatened to spill as I bobbled one of my bags. I tried desperately to get control of it while keeping a hand on the other. Suddenly someone took it from my hand and pushed me through the crowd.
“Back off,” the firm, familiar voice ordered. “You’ve caused enough damage.”
I gasped as Alicia Phelps ushered me through the gates and to the Admin building. Once we checked in, she carried my bag to my dorm.
“Thanks,” I said when she set it down in my room.
“Sure,” she answered, nonchalant. She sank to Annie’s bed and studied me, her eyes narrow but not hard or mean. “It was me, Bella. I was the one who called the tabloids. I didn’t tell them anything, though, and after I called I felt really bad.”
“Why?” I asked as all strength left my legs and I fell to my bed. “We used to be friends but lately you’ve treated me like something stuck to the bottom of your shoe.”
“I was jealous,” she admitted, picking at her nails. “When you and Lance got together, I was really jealous. I’ve liked him for a long time. Then I found out what he did, and I was happy. I blamed you, though, because I didn’t want to believe he would do something so horrible. But when you started dating Jake Johnson, I became even more jealous. You had it all. When all the reporters started hounding you, I thought that was what you deserved. Until I saw what it was doing to you, and I remembered what a good friend you’d been to me in the past. The guilt was terrible.”
Her face fell and she bowed her head. “I’m really sorry.”
I wasn’t sure what to say—Alicia Phelps was not the type to feel remorse. And I was tired of it – tired of everything. I just didn’t care anymore.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Besides, Jake and I decided to split for a while.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said in a genuine voice.
Shrugging, I rose to my weary feet and heaved my bag to the bed. I had to keep busy to fend off the tears. “I figured it would happen.”
“I hope it works out for you,” she said, awkward. “I mean that.”
I nodded, keeping my back to her, as I heard the door shut.
***
Annie and Cammy returned late Saturday and I went through a box and a half of tissue, sobbing the entire story on each of their shoulders. They were sympathetic and understanding but didn’t offer any empty words of promise. They just let me cry until my tear ducts ran dry.
Jake called Sunday afternoon to check up on me. I assured him in my scratchy voice that I was fine. He told me another edition of the Star Gazer had come out and he voiced his concerns over the tabloid’s latest speculations. The gossip shows had a field day with all the photos and footage but I couldn’t churn up the energy to really care. None of it could hurt my already dead heart.
As April faded into May, the circus died down. Since Jake no longer made regular visits to the school, and since I rarely, if ever, left campus, the media frenzy slowly dwindled. I turned my focus solely on the charity concert and put all my effort into ensuring it would be a smashing success. I also joined some study groups to prepare myself for final exams.
Dean Fletcher called me to his office the first week in May to discuss ticket sales. He was concerned the paparazzi would buy them up in order to get a shot of me and Jake but I came up with a brilliant plan. We went over it with the school attorney and I left the office to okay it with Jake.
As soon as I reached my room, I called him. My hands shook as I waited for him to answer. I hadn’t spoken to him since spring break.
“Hey, Iz,” he greeted. I could hear the smile in his voice. “How are you?”
“I’m okay,” I said, a little breathless. I’d nearly forgotten how husky his voice was. “I just need your help on this concert thing.”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“Well, in an effort to stump the tabloid reporters, we’re limiting ticket sales to students only, at first. Since it is sort of a small school, any tickets not sold a week before the show will be auctioned online.” I took a deep breath. “I don’t think it will keep them all out but I’m hoping it will help. Plus, we’ve decided to have a short press conference before the show.”
“That’s a great idea,” he said. “What do you need help with?”
“The school attorney said the band and the label have to sign a waiver giving us permission to do it this way,” I explained. “He typed one up and I can fax it to you.”
“Sure,” Jake said. “Fax it to the studio. I’ll get the number for you.” He covered the phone and I heard a mumbled conversation between him and another person. “Go ahead and send it. Rob will sign.”
“Thanks, Jake. I really appreciate it.” The conversation was coming to an end and despair washed over me.
“How are you doing?” he asked in a soft voice.
“Fine. I’ve been keeping busy.”
“No one’s been bothering you?”
I smiled. “No.”
“You’re studying for your finals, right?”
“Yes, Jake,” I said with forced peppiness. “I’m pretty prepared.”
“Good. Listen, I have to go, angel. I have to get back in the studio. I’ll see you in a couple weeks.”
“Okay,” I said as much glee as I could muster before I hung up. I slid off my bed and trudged back to the Admin building to fax the waiver.
***
“I think we should go into town to get our hair done for prom,” Annie mused as she stared in the mirror, pulling a brush through her hair.
I rolled my eyes an
d focused on my Calculus book.
“That’s a great idea,” Cammy agreed. “I can make the appointment. What time do you think?”
I drew in a silent breath and kept my attention on my book. I knew they were trying to get me in the conversation but it wasn’t going to work.
“I don’t know,” Annie said as she turned around. “What time do you think, Bella?”
“Not too early or you two will have your hair a mess before dinner,” I mumbled, rereading the same page. I didn’t want to think about prom. I never usually got all excited about it, but this year, I’d hoped to take Jake. My heart twinged and I turned my thoughts back to the glaring numbers and symbols on the page. I didn’t want to think about him, either. It was much easier to present a carefully cultivated façade if my thoughts were on finals or meetings with the Education Organization.
“You will, too,” Cammy pointed out.
“Don’t bother. I’m not going,” I said as I slammed my book shut and placed it carefully on my desk.
“You have to go,” Annie pleaded. “It’s our senior year.”
I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Nope. I have no date, no dress, no shoes and no desire to go.”
“I don’t have a date, either,” Cammy said. “You can go with me.”
My brow furrowed. “What happened to Phillip?”
“Mono. He can’t go,” she said, waving the words away. “You can be my date.”
“No dress, no shoes,” I reminded her.
Annie grinned wickedly as Cammy giggled.
“Sure you do,” they said in unison.
My stomach lurched as my entire face fell. I didn’t like where this conversation was going at all. They both had that let’s-make-Bella-our-paper-doll look in their eyes. That only meant pain and torture for me.
“What are you two up to?” I asked warily.
“Come along,” Annie ordered as she dragged me to Cammy’s room. Like I had a choice. She shoved me to the bed as Cammy produced a white strapless gown ceremoniously from her closet.
“We got it just for you,” she announced proudly. “Oh, and we have shoes to match.”
Annie’s eyes took on a wicked glow as her lips fought a smile. “We chose white because we wanted to keep with the sweet and innocent persona.”
