Bad Boy vs Millionaire

by Candy J. Starr

  I'd leaned against his chest, gasping for breath and maybe even whimpering a little. He held me until I felt safe. Then the manager side of my brain kicked in and I realised he should be in the television studio giving the performance of his life instead of rescuing me.

  Is that what I wanted to return to? Because mixed up with those gooey feelings of his strong arms and the comfort of his chest, were the demons sticking pitchforks in my brain. Those forks reminded me that he'd betrayed my trust. I could never take anything he said or did at face value.

  As we walked around the corner, a narrow street of shops appeared before us. I grinned at the potential. I wanted to pull out my camera and take photos but I thought it might be a bit dorky and touristy. Still, these shops were so incredibly cute, especially the one with the whitewashed front and all the baskets of fake flowers adding a riot of colour. And all the signs around me with random English words made me grin.

  “Hey, shops. I need to buy things. Then I need to drink more coffee then I need to buy more things. That's my plan.”

  Tamaki smiled at me. The kind of smile you give an indulged child, which would have annoyed me except I intended to use him as a pack horse for all my shopping.

  I ran into the first shop I came to, exclaiming at the awesomeness of everything. I picked up a skirt to try on while ducking under a tree branch suspended from the ceiling.

  “Um, Hannah, you realise that skirt is… “ He lowered his head as if to tell me something shocking, “… second-hand.”

  I flinched for a moment but the skirt was really cute and I was sure it'd been washed before they put it in the shop. Anyway, if I came home with cool vintage shit, Angie would go gaga.

  “You… you might get a rash or something. At least buy it without trying it on then you can make sure it's clean before you get home.”

  Something about the way he said it made me want to put the skirt on and wear it all day.

  I looked around for the counter or a sales assistant but couldn't see either. There was a table that might be considered a counter, covered in buttons and badges and, slap-bang in the middle, sat a stuffed owl. I walked over and a girl popped up with bright blue hair and a chain running from her nose piercing to her ear. It made me realise that I'd not seen people with piercings or tattoos or anything like that since I'd got there.

  She beamed at me and I wondered if she could speak English. I didn't trust Tamaki to translate that I wanted to try on the skirt.

  “You are so cute,” the girl said, reaching out to touch my hair.

  “Can I try this on?” I asked.

  “Sorry, no change room.” The girl gestured around the shop. There really wasn't any space for a change room among the racks of clothing.

  I smiled and paid for the skirt.

  We wandered around some more shops. I couldn't help but buy stuff. Stuff for me. Stuff for Eric. I thought about buying stuff for Jack. I found some awesome t-shirts, but somehow it felt weird to be buying clothes for him. I bought them anyway. I didn't have to give them to him.

  “Can we stop for coffee now?” Tamaki had his arms full of my shopping bags but he hadn’t complained. You didn't have to ask me twice about coffee.

  I spotted a cute coffee shop with paintings of bats all over the outside.

  “I don't know if they'll make good coffee. I was thinking of going somewhere else. Somewhere in a different neighbourhood. Maybe somewhere more… stylish.”

  Tamaki hung back but I thought the little cafe looked charming. The whole neighbourhood with its graffitied walls and little shops and narrow little streets leading to more shops and more cafes and bars delighted me. It made me feel a whole lot more like I was on holidays than being in a street of designer shops that looked exactly the same as every city in the world. Was I forgetting how to be rich? Was it like algebra? Something you forgot the minute you no longer needed it?

  I sat down on a cushion at a low table while Tamaki ordered. I wasn’t sure what to do with my legs, if I should be kneeling or folding them. Also, I wondered if they had cake. How did you say “cake” in Japanese anyway?

  The only other people in the tiny cafe were a couple, both dressed in leopard print outfits. He had long, black hair and huge metal rings on all his fingers. He was also wearing more eyeliner than she was.

  Tamaki returned and sat down, his long legs sprawling out from under the table.

  “This place is quaint. Is that what you say?”

  He smiled at me and it changed his face from the stern mask into something charming. I nodded that you would indeed call it quaint. The waitress, dressed as a bunny, sat our cups down on the table. I looked at the tiny little teacup, thinking that it barely held enough coffee to sustain me, and tried to hook my finger through the tiny handle. Not great coffee but drinkable.

  “You really like coffee?”

  “It's one of the things that make life worth living.”

  Tamaki picked up the glass containing a single flower blossom from the table and twisted it in his hand.

  “Hannah.” He looked up at me. “Your name, Hana, means flower in Japanese.”

  I smiled, not really sure want to reply to that.

  “Do you want some French toast?”

  “Hell yeah!”

  “Ah, good because I order you some.”

  I smiled for real this time. At this moment, Tamaki was my favourite person in the whole world. My affection was easily bought with French toast.

  “You bought a lot of things for your friend. A close friend?”

  “Angie, yes. She really helped me out a lot over the last few months. A lot more than most of my other so-called friends. And now she's looking out for my band for me.”

  “Band?”

  “Yes, I manage a band. Didn't my father tell you?”

  I wondered just what Dad had said. Had he told them that he'd lost all his money and was pretty much on the run? Had he told them he'd left me behind with no money and just the contract to manage Storm? I didn't want to say too much and mess things up for Dad but it really was a pain not knowing what to say.

  “That must be a fun hobby. Maybe I should do something like that? It would be novel to have a fun, I think.”

  What was with this guy? Didn't he have fun? I didn't want to correct his English but I did notice that when he got enthused about something the grammar slipped a little. At least he’d started to warm up a bit instead of being all aloof.

  “What do you do? With your friends, I mean.”

  Tamaki stared at the girl working behind the counter. “Do you think it's hygienic for her to working as a rabbit? My friends… we go out drinking, clubbing. Normal things. We went to university together and now we all work for our family companies. We have the same problems so it's good to be able to talk amongst ourselves with that understanding but sometimes…”

  Even though he didn't finish the sentence, I knew exactly what he meant. It was easy and comfortable but not very exciting.

  “Sometimes people need more than work and shopping and going skiing, right.”

  I laughed. They sure did. Even with the credit card Dad had given me and the orders to spend up, I still only wanted to wander around these little shops, poking around at all the interesting things. I had no desire to go on a spree at designer boutiques.

  “If you've finished your coffee, let's go for a drive. I can show you some of the city.”

  I nodded. I thought sightseeing sounded good but I wondered why Tamaki had so much free time. Shouldn’t he be working? His father had been really insistent that he showed me around though.

  When we got out of the city, Tamaki put the top down on the car. I loved the feeling of the wind in my hair plus it meant I didn't have to try to make conversation. I felt as though I’d reached the limit of small talk for the day. We drove along the bay and I watched the ships with the backdrop of the city behind them.

  Finally Tamaki pulled over by the sea where they could look back to the city. We both got out of
the car.

  “On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji from here.”

  I looked in the direction he pointed, trying to imagine a mountain there. How does a mountain just disappear if it's not a clear day? How thick was that fog?

  “Let's go to see the giant Buddha.”

  Yeah, that sounded fun. Buddhas are all the same, no matter how big they are. My phone beeped and I rushed to get it out of my bag.

  Are you having fun? Ask Tamaki about his car. He likes to talk about his car.

  That pissed me off. It wasn’t as if I was expecting it to be anyone else or that my hopes had risen just a tiny bit. But really, I didn’t need dating advice. And I couldn’t ignore the sinking in my heart when I realised the message was just from Dad.

  Tamaki had moved beside me, his arm almost touching mine. I closed the message before he could read it.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing at all.” I turned my phone off and threw it back into my bag, thinking it was a bit rude of him to ask about my personal messages anyway. It was none of his business.

  Somehow, the day seemed a little less bright and I knew looking at a giant Buddha was not where I wanted to be.

  Chapter 4. Angie

  After taking some time to think about the phone call, I still couldn't decide what to do. I'd sent Hannah an email but she hadn't replied. I wasn't sure if I should tell her to come home or if I should try to deal with it myself. I didn't want to seem incapable but I didn't want to screw things up either. Maybe Hannah could phone them and sort things out that way. That would work. I cursed myself for encouraging Hannah to go away in the first place. It didn't matter about all that love stuff. Business was more important, surely.

  What to do next? I couldn't sit around my apartment waiting for Hannah's reply and it was far too early to get to class.

  I decided I'd go over to Jack and Eric and tell them about the offer. Why had not thought of that before? It was a genius plan. They'd be so excited, they'd shower me with food and awesome. Speaking of showers, how long had it been? Maybe I should shower first. And do hair and some makeup. Casual, “just popped around on the spur of the moment” makeup. Even though I got to hang out with them now, I still felt a stirring of fan girl excitement. And I’d never actually been to their place. Hannah had left me with the address in case of an emergency.

  Clothes, clothes? What would look best? Not too hardcore. Something cute and quirky. My vintage dress in red and white polka dot. That would be perfect. With ankle socks and black lace up shoes. And hair in two braids with a red flower clip.

  Well that was sorted at least.

  Before I even got to the apartment, I saw Jack Colt walking down the street. In his boots and skintight jeans, with a guitar slung over his back, he looked as if he'd just stepped out of a video clip. I hadn’t even thought about the possibility that they might not be home.

  “Hey, Bon Jovi, I was on my way to see you guys. I've got major news. Is Eric home too?”

  “I have no idea.”

  I looked Jack over. The dark circles under his eyes and the gauntness to his face would have ruined the looks of a lesser man but on Jack Colt, they just gave him an extra edge. My gaze wandered down his body until I remembered this guy was now off limits. The last thing Hannah needed while she was dealing with her dad was her friend making a move. And plus we had a deal, killer boots.

  “Well, no point going over things twice. I'll tell you both together.” Even though keeping the news inside practically killed me.

  Jack led the way inside, not talking. I thought he'd ask about Hannah and try to get some news but he didn't. Instead the topic hung between us like a giant wall, making all other conversation impossible.

  He really felt something for her, that was plain. It wasn’t just a fling for him or he'd not have any problem mentioning her name.

  “When's the new song going to be ready?”

  Jack shrugged.

  “Sheesh, don't just shrug at me. Do you know how annoying that is? People shouldn't just shrug. Do you have a time frame? Next week? Next month? And, even though you haven't asked, she's still in Tokyo. She's fine but just having some issues ― again ― with her father. She hasn't mentioned you either but that's because you are both a pair of stubborn idiots. In fact, she wanted to come home but I told her to stay longer.”

  “Why?”

  “Because there is a pair of killer boots in this shop in Harajuku that I need and if she doesn't buy them for me, I'll have to pay a small fortune in postage. In this life, if it comes down to me having killer boots or your love life, I pick the boots okay. Do you have a problem with that?”

  I glared at him to challenge his answer and, for the first time, I saw a twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth and it made me soften a bit.

  “I told her to stay away for a while. Get her head together. The two of you, well things were getting a bit intense, you know. Not giving any advice here, except be careful. Hannah isn't the type to fool around. I think you need some space to work out what you want too.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Eric came out of his room, wearing a pair of Spiderman PJs. Did he have any idea how cute that looked? It made Jack’s rocker outfit seem contrived. And he had fluffy bed hair that flopped over his eyes.

  I turned back to Jack so I’d stop thinking about that hair. When they both sat down, I dropped the news on them.

  “A nationwide tour opening for Monkey Bride? Fuck yeah we want to do it.”

  Jack sat on the armchair with his leg over the arm. A grin broke out over his face. You could tell his was the stuff a guy like him dreamt of. The kind of stuff that took a band from playing dingy bars to playing stadiums. Opening for a huge overseas act. He'd never say no to that.

  Eric looked less excited.

  “We need Hannah, don't we? We can't go into these negotiations without her. We've all heard the stories about bands getting totally screwed in situations like this. Ending up owing more money than they made.”

  “Technically, we don't need her. We could get a lawyer ourselves. Someone who handles this kind of thing. If she wants to be off travelling the world, then we shouldn't mess with that.”

  Jack had fallen so hard. He was totally pining away and trying to put on the “don't care” attitude. A light came into his eyes when her name was mentioned and he tried to avoid eye contact, as though he knew and wanted to hide it.

  “Jack, we need Hannah. She can deal with the lawyers. We have no idea.”

  I smiled at Eric. He knew sense. Hannah had been right about him.

  “It's too late anyway, Jack. I've emailed her. She's not got back to me yet but I have no idea what the time difference is or anything.” I knew full well what the time difference was but had no intention of saying anything about Hannah hanging out with some Richy McRicherson rich guy.

  “Hey, if she comes home, she comes home. I'm just saying I’m not going to ask her.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair, still not making eye contact with me then he picked up his guitar and walked upstairs. As he got to his door, he turned back.

  “Opening for Monkey Bride, that's really something.”

  Somehow it seemed a bit awkward with just Eric and me left behind. Like I didn't quite know what to say.

  “I should go too,” I said. “Lots of work to do for school. And I bet you are busy.”

  “Actually, I've been working on some new graphics for the band. Do you want to see them?”

  Hells yeah I wanted to see them. Eric was a graphic genius. Everything he'd done for the band had been so fantastic. I couldn't even imagine how he came up with the ideas he had.

  “Are they super cool and amazing?”

  Eric scrunched up his face. “You'll have to decide that for yourself. Come see.”

  I nearly died when I saw Eric's workspace.

  “This is some sweet equipment. And I mean that in the nicest possible sense. Wow, I'd love to have a set
up like this.”

  Eric blushed and bought up the graphics to show me. From the room next door, I could hear Jack playing guitar – a woeful, dirge-like song. The kind of song you listen to when you find out your dog has just died.

  “Fantastic. Cute yet cool. Chicks will love this. We'll sell a heap of stuff, especially during the tour.” I could just imagine the design on t-shirts.

  “I know. I really wanted to go for sparkles and glitter but toned back.”

  “Totally works. Maybe we should think about some sparkly outfits for the band. Rainbow sparkles for Jack.” I giggled. I'd like to see that.

  “I don't think…”

  “I was kidding,” I replied.

  Eric frowned at me. He had something on his mind.

  “Jack’s not good, you know. He keeps making mistakes at rehearsal. Sometimes playing the same riff over and over and never getting it right. Jack never makes mistakes. He’s the one always on our backs for not being able to keep up with him. Any normal person, you could ask them what was wrong and they'd tell you and you could talk it out. But not Jack. He'll walk around with this all messed up inside him, never saying a thing and getting all snarly if you mentioned anything.”

  “Hannah?” I asked.

  Eric nodded.

  “And now there’s all this tension with Spud as well. Spud says stupid things and the look in Jack’s eyes sometimes, would terrify anyone with a normal amount of nous. Spud, however, is oblivious. He hasn't noticed the way that Jack doesn’t contact him or answer his calls. He hasn’t even noticed the strained atmosphere in the rehearsal studio. I’m trying to keep it all sane but it’s not easy.”

  “Sheesh, that sounds shit but you aren’t their mother. Maybe they just need to figure stuff out for themselves.”

  Eric smiled at me, our eyes meeting for the first time in this confined space. Suddenly, it seemed that we were too close. I was sure he could hear my heart pounding.

  I sat up straight and looked at the artwork on the display board behind his computer.

  “You are a super talented guy, you know.”