Authors: Jacqueline Smith
The fact that Josh has kissed Sam more than I have, I’m not going to lie, is kind of depressing. Of course, Josh’s kisses are never on the lips. I’m guessing he reserves that for the girls he actually wants to date. No, the kisses we receive are always on the cheek or on the forehead, or sometimes on the back of the neck.
Cory finally joins us about thirty minutes later. There are a few slices of pizza left, but they’re all the small, wimpy pieces that no one wanted. By that point, the rest of us are pretty much stuffed and are all lounging around on pillows while Josh flips through the channels on the television, trying to find something to watch. Sam is lying next to me, and every once in a while, he twirls his fingers through my hair or leans over and pretends he’s going to poke me in the ear.
I don’t know why, but I don’t like people messing with my ears. I never have. If you have a guy friend, never tell him what you don’t like, because he will find a way to use it against you. For some reason, they think it’s really funny. Or maybe it’s their way of getting attention. As for Sam, I think he just gets bored, so to entertain himself, he starts picking on me.
Don’t tell him, but I’m secretly okay with it.
“So how is Miss Tara Meeks tonight?” Jesse asks Cory once he’s settled in with us.
“She’s doing well, thank you,” Cory responds cheerfully. “I invited her to come visit the set tomorrow.”
“Noooo. Why?” Joni groans.
“Because she’s never been on the set of a music video before.”
“Neither has that weird smelly guy that sat by me in ninth grade algebra but you don’t see me inviting him to visit us on set,” Joni counters.
“I want to make a joke about Sam being the weird smelly guy from ninth grade algebra, but I’m too full and tired,” I mutter.
“Hey.” Sam glares at me. “That’s not nice.” And to punish me, he sticks his finger in my ear.
Seriously, do any other girls put up with that kind of stuff?
“Cory, do you really think it’s very professional to have you girlfriend out here while you guys are on a very strict time schedule?” Joni continues to push the issue.
“Sis, I’m not sure you’ve noticed, but we’re quite possibly the least professional people on the planet.”
To be fair, I think that’s only partly true. No, they’ll never be poster children for modern day professionalism, but as far as musicians go, I think the guys are very professional. They’re well-mannered and gracious. They don’t stir up drama. They don’t get drunk or trash hotel rooms. They’re usually pretty punctual. Everywhere we go, everyone always talks about how surprised they are that the guys are so well-behaved.
“My mum thinks we’re professional,” Oliver comments with a sleepy yawn.
The rest of us snicker, but Joni is still scolding her brother. “You need to tell her that this isn’t a date and she’s not a part of production in any way. She is strictly a guest and she needs to stay on the sidelines. Do you understand?”
Cory clearly doesn’t like being bossed around by his sister, but he also knows better than to try to argue with her.
“Yeah, fine. Whatever you say.”
Which is how discussions with Joni usually end.
CHAPTER 3
“
Don’t you think
You ought to know by now
How you make me
Crazy, crazy
My heart’s racing, racing.
And don’t you think
We should be one by now
You know that you’re
The only one for me
So baby, don’t you think
That maybe we should be
Together now.”
Song: “Together Now”
Artist: The Kind of September
From the Album
:
The Kind of September
There’s always a bit of a melodrama whenever one of the guys gets a new girlfriend.
First, there’s the speculation. He’ll be spotted chatting with her backstage, or maybe the paparazzi will catch them leaving a restaurant together. Fans will notice that he’s paying her a little extra attention on Twitter or maybe that he posted an extra-friendly picture of them on Instagram.
Then, there’s the debate. Are they just good friends? Are they dating casually? Is it all a publicity stunt? Did they have a one night stand and now she’s expecting his child and he’s with her only because he has to be? Is i
t
lov
e
?! The most controversial part is when the fans split up into teams. They’re either very, very super supportive of the couple, in which case they will welcome the new love interest with open arms and post on all their social media sites about how cute they are, or simply, they’re not. When that’s the case, the girl can, at times, be the target of online attacks, bullying, and gossip.
Then, of course, there are the relationships that the tabloids and the gossip columns make up just because they can. Like a few days ago when rumors were flying around about Sam dating Kelli Barnett, the reality star. It happens to all five of the guys all the time, but for some reason, Sam is their main target. He’s actually got something a reputation for being a player, which is ridiculous because he’s only had two real girlfriends in his life and neither lasted longer than a few months.
The bottom line is when you date one of the guys, even if you’re just reported to be dating one of them, you kind of become famous by default, and not always in a positive way. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is.
Josh has always said that he has to like a girl a whole lot to deal with that kind of pressure and publicity. Fortunately for the guys, they’re all still very young and most fans understand that yeah, they’re going to be dating. They’re cute, famous, successful, and could pretty much have any girls in the world. Of course they’re going to date.
Unfortunately, not everyone is going to be happy about it. Joni, for example.
Now granted, she’s unhappy for completely different reasons, seeing as her brother is the one who invited his girlfriend to set today, but it’s still stirring up a bit of drama. When Joni doesn’t approve of something, she makes sure that everyone knows it. If you don’t agree with her, you’re wrong and probably in for at least a few hours of passive aggressive cold-shouldering.
Today, however, there’s too much to get done for her to dwell on Cory and Tara for too long.
The guys just got out of makeup and Tim, the director, is going over his vision for the scene they’re about to shoot. They’re supposed to be following this guy around in a dream-like universe. The guy has fallen in love with this beautiful girl and he’s trying to work up the nerve to speak to her. She seems to be aware of his presence, but somehow, she never sees him, leaving the viewers to wonder if one of them might not be real. It’s actually a really cool concept.
Right as shooting begins, I notice Tara and another girl walking my way. I’m dressed pretty down but I have my very own name-tag lanyard and walkie-radio, so maybe I look official.
“Hey Joni!” Tara grins.
I turn around, expecting to see Joni standing behind me, but when I don’t, I realize Tara is talking to me. It’s kind of understandable. The only time she’s ever met me, I was with Joni, and we do sort of look alike. Well, not really. But we both have brown hair.
“Oh, um. Hi. I’m not Joni,” I tell her. It’s a little unnerving to talk to her. She’s 5’11, five inches taller than me, and so beautiful it’s kind of like looking into the sun.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Who are you again?”
“It’s okay. We’ve only met once. I’m Melissa Parker.”
“Huh. I don’t recognize your name,” Tara’s friend comments.
“Oh, I work behind the scenes. I’m not famous or anything.” It’s weird, but I almost feel like admitting that to these girls is like admitting that I don’t wash my hands after I go to the bathroom.
For the record, I always wash my hands. But I stand by my point.
Sure enough, Tara’s friend replies, “Aw, that’s cute.”
Okay.
“So, Meredith, do you know when Cory will have a break?” Tara asks. I’m guessing she’s talking to me since, you know, we’re the only ones standing there.
Bu
t
Meredit
h
? Really?
“Um, no, I don’t. They just started. But I can show you around and introduce you to the team if you’d like.”
“Oh no, that’s fine. We’re just here to see Cory. Oh, and Sam,” Tara exchanges a playful smirk with her friend.
You know that feeling when your blood runs cold and your heart speeds up and you get that weird tingling pain in your face? It’s that feeling when you know that something you really don’t want to happen is about to happen.
Yeah, that’s what I’m feeling.
“You know Sam?” I ask, hoping they can’t hear how out of breath I suddenly sound.
“No, but I promised I’d hook her up,” Tara says with a devious wink. “Oh, I guess I forgot to introduce you.”
“Gee, thanks. Some friend you are,” the girl teases.
“Meredith, this is my good friend, Courtney Vickers. She and I are represented by the same agency, but she’s also considering a career in music, which i
s
par
t
of the reason I brought her today.”
“Yeah, the other part is because my bestie Tara told me that she could get me an all-access pass to Sam Morneau,” Courtney nudges Tara’s shoulder and giggles. It’s only then that I become aware of just how gorgeou
s
sh
e
is. She’s not as tall as Tara, but she’s still taller than I am. Her hair is a rich and luscious auburn and her perfectly shaded eyes are what I think people refer to as starburst blue. Three different shades of blue, but amber around the pupil. I’ve always envied eyes like that.
Part of me isn’t worried that Sam will go for her. He can usually see right through girls who are actively trying to get famous. But another part of me realizes that Sam is only human, a male human at that, and male humans are often seduced by female humans, especially the ones who look like Courtney Vickers.
⋯
After two hours of shooting, Tim finally tells the guys to take a lunch break. Cory heads right over to Tara and Courtney. Much to my dismay, so does Sam. I’m hoping he’s just going over to say hello. Sam is, by far, the friendliest person I’ve ever met. Of course he’s going to go say hello to his friend’s girlfriend.
“So, who’s the new girl?” Oliver asks, taking a seat next to me at one of the lunch tables.
“Courtney. Tara’s friend. Hoping to hook up with Sam.” I try to act like I don’t care. Which I don’t. Not really. You know, in an alternate universe.
“Ah.” Apparently, he’s not surprised.
“Oh my God, I’m starving,” Josh says loudly, as he and Jesses sit themselves and their sandwiches down across the table from us.
“Hey, who’s that girl with Tara? She’s hot.” Jesse comments.
I’m going to get tired of this question.
Thankfully, I see Sam bid Tara and Courtney a cheery goodbye as he makes his way over to the makeshift sandwich buffet. By the time he finally joins us, he’s already eaten half the food on his plate.
“Does anyone have any napkins? I’ve got cheese powder under my fingernails,” he announces, his mouth full of Doritos. Courtney should see him like this, in his natural state.
“Why don’t you just wipe it on your pants like you always do?” I ask.
“Because Tiffany said if I ruin one more of her outfits, she’s going to kill me,” Sam says. Tiffany is their stylist and is always getting after him for being messy. Well, all the guys are messy, but for some reason, Sam is the only one who ever gets in trouble for it.
“Here.” Oliver passes a few napkins over to Sam.
“Oliver, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Or at least a pants-saver.” Jesse laughs.
“Almost just as important,” I comment.
“So, Sam. You want to tell us about Tara’s friend? Courtney?” Josh asks, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
“What about her?” Sam asks with a laugh that might mean he’s either amused, embarrassed, or potentially smitten. I’m hoping it’s one of the first two. Disgusted would be even better, but he rarely gets disgusted by anything. Except sponges.