Success is Happiness

Hello, Everyone!

It has been a long time since I have posted anything significant on Buzznet, but I guess Facebook has occupied my time.  I will try to spend more time on Buzznet over the summer, and post more stuff. 

As for my fanfic Interrogative...I will be discontinuing it in its present form.  That means that I am still going to be writing, but I am turning it into a piece of regular fiction.  I see a lot of potential in completing it as something more than a hobby.  This means that I am changing names, events, etc. to make it accessible to a regular audience who knows nothing about 30 Seconds to Mars.  If you would still like to read it, visit a website called FictionPress.com and search for author KellyVirg.  I have kept the title so it should be easy to find once you get to the page.  You do not have to sign in to view the writing, but you do have to register to comment or review.  If you have a Live Journal page, you can also visit me there.  My user name is adrienneeidric and Interrogative chapters one and two are already posted.  You do have to have an account to read and to comment.

Along with converting the piece to fiction, I am also doing a lot of grammatical corrections and plot changes with a Betareader on FictionPress.  If you guys can read it and come up with any comments that you didn't mention before, it would be great.  Even if you can't comment on the page, just message me here or drop me a note.  I really look forward to your new opinions. 

For some of you, you might not want to wait for me to finally catch up to chapter 42, where I should be starting if I were to continue on with the story today.  I am going through the rest of the story so I can make any major changes along the way and not have to fix them all later.  I will post another announcement once I have reached the chapter 42 mark.  That will be several months though.  i've got a lot of chapters to go through and I will not be posting more than twice a week.  I would not plan on that announcement until September at the earliest.  I also have hopes to start other works, so your update may be delayed.

I hope you all will read my posts on one of the two sites and tell me what you think.

Thanks. :)

Letofan07

Here is the second rough draft.  It is worth reading again because I added a couple paragraphs, fixed most the spelling and grammatical errors and deleted/rephrased many sentences.  Tell me what you think! :)

We split into groups in search of Ms. Babcock.  The lights had flickered intermittently, but this time they remained off.  Hours before I had been called down to receive final instructions from Ms. Babcock.  I observed patently that Ms. Babcock would not be coming down from her chambers when, two hours after nine that night, she still had not descended the tall stairs leading to her grandiose ballroom.  Others around me wondered if her illness had finally killed her or rather stupidly if the thick sheet of ice blanketing the steeply sloped driveway triggered a “tragic” fall.  Without warning, the lights had begun to blink until they blinked for the last time, showering me in the devil’s darkness.

Now only the iridescent glow of the moon showed light through the towering, angelic windows of Ms. Babcock’s grand ballroom.  Whispers engulfed the room, some hysteric, others curious.  Not too far from my person I saw the warm, harvest glow of a cigarette lighter riser into the air.  I could sense the crescendo of mutterings from the other guests slowly hush and turn to the only comforting source of light: the flick of hellish fire.

            The man holding the instrument waited only a moment before he spoke, “So no one has seen Ms. Eugenia Babcock all day?”  His voice had a rich resonance, deep in thought and trippingly smooth.  No doubt he was a member of elite society.  Only a man of such despicable status could portray such evil pride.

            The guests released a universal utterance of agreement and echoing murmurs.  I regressed to my usual patient self.  Calm.  Collective.  Just watching.

            “Ladies and Gentlemen!” he called, grabbing the crowds attention, “My name is Jonathan Anderson.  I know we all came here with the hope of receiving the 250 million dollars, but unless we find Ms. Babcock, the money is going nowhere.  We need to split into groups of no more than six and cover as much ground as possible.” 

The crowd became restless again. 

“Ms. Babcock’s staff has a large supply of flashlights.  If you could come over here, they will pass them out,” he said, waving a flashlight in his hand instead of the fire.

The guests stumbled to the fire’s glow and one by one white lights scattered on the walls and people split into groups.

It ever amused me, chaos.  I could not help it.  Inevitably, I would grin and revel in the fluctuating timbre of the human voice.  Of course, amidst the chaos, I could not speak.  Calmness overrode any irrational thought and directed all of my energy to relishing the sights and sounds around me.

I joined a group headed north out of the ballroom.  Staying comfortable in the back, I kept up with them at a speedy pace.  A flash of a fiery glow caught my eye.  I was with the man from hell.  The shadows of the night revealed the identity of the others in the groups.  There were two insignificant men I spotted by their broad shoulders and a beautiful black silhouette of a woman directly in front of me.

“Where are we looking for her?” the woman asked breathily, trying to keep up with Jonathan.  “How do you know where we are going?”

Jonathan replied nastily, “We are looking anywhere lady.  In case you haven’t noticed, we split into groups because no one knows where the hell they are going.  We have a better chance of finding her split up.”

“My name is Christy, by the way,” she retorted.  “You do not have to be so rude about it.”

He sighed irritably, shrugging her off.  “Just follow me.”

What a brute.

We turned sharply left and were at two clear glass doors leading to an indoor swimming pool.  I entered last just behind Christy and the blue glow of the chlorinated water reflected on the walls and glass ceiling.

Jonathan proceeded to the end of the room, leaving Christy, the two men, and I behind.  He was too eager of a man.  Wonderful.

Christy pivoted facing the opposite end of the room and stepped gently, impossibly slow.

I heard a thump come from behind me.  As I turned, Jonathan shined his flashlight on Christy.  I smiled.  She had fallen.  Gasps filled the room and Christy, getting to her feet, looked down, bewilderedly at what had caused her fall.

“Ah!” she screamed and jumped back from the body of Ms. Eugenia Babcock, fidgeting.  It must have been all of the excitement.

The lights blinked back.

Ms. Babcock lay dead on the marble floor, stretched out; skin slightly translucent, and a pale blue.  Her eyes were empty, lifeless.  Her middle-aged face no longer occupied by fine wrinkles.

The expressions of my peers brought me delight.  Which one of them could have expected to discover a dead corpse on their hopeful vacation of sorts?  Let alone one so deserving of death as Ms. Eugenia Babcock.  True, she would have died in several months, but finding her dead before her time….  That must leave a person in sheer amazement.

Everyone knew Ms. Babcock, the great philanthropist and the charitable one, but they overlooked her evils, her sins.  How she cheated her way to greatness, through methods unclean.  When she found she only had months to live, she knew she had to cleanse herself.  If not, where else would the afterlife take her but to dine with fire.  She knew she must buy her way into the light.  But she could not be allowed to.  The money was evil, fortunes of sin.  A moment of repent could not change a lifetime of unholy deeds.

But, the human soul is weak.  We are too easily tempted.  I knew I had to cease the desire she inspired in her admirers.  She had to die!  There was no other way.  The money could not be found.  It could not fall into the hands of weak humans.

So the night before, early in the morning, I lured Ms. Babcock on a tour of the estate.  I complimented her.  Appeased her.  Degraded my person to flirt with the witch, for she would not follow if I did not.  I led her to the site of her murder in the darkness of the night.  She fell for my charms and revealed the secrets of her sins and whispered the location of her indulgence in my ear.  At this proximity I brought my arms around her back, closer and closer to her white neck and jerked my palms around that column of flesh.  She struggled at first.  I saw the sin in the endless black pools that were her eyes.   Forcing her down to the marble floor, I felt the convulsions dim; the demons die in her eyes.  At last she was still.  A bloodless death.  Finally, an end to her pride and cheating ways.

 Grinning, I spent several minutes staring at her frozen form, admiring my approaching sainthood.  I knew God would take me now.  My mother and father would be so proud.

Back through the palatial estate, up two flights of stairs to the door of her chambers, I entered the sinner’s sanctuary.  A fire was ablaze twenty feet away from me.  I dared not touch her infested belongings.  They were too far-gone.  I had one goal: to find the money…and burn it.  She had hidden it in the holy book.  The witch.  Only she would dare.  The fallen book lay on her beside table and I gently lifted each page until I saw a thin, rectangular card.  Plastic.  Black.  I tore it from the book, broke it in half with my bare hands and thrust it into the fire.

My suite then called to me and I waited anxiously until we were called to the ballroom at nine the following night.  Excitement filled me.  I could not wait for everyone to applaud me.  I had saved them from inevitable sin.  They would be so proud of me.

Now, as Ms. Babcock’s dead body lay before me, I saw the awe in my peers.  A grandiose smile occupied my lips.  They couldn’t take their eyes off me; they were so thankful.  I began to laugh, a rich, joyous laugh not be compared.  I could not stop.  God would take me now.

 

Hey, guys!  I've got a journal for you to read although, unfortunately, it's not for my fanfic.  This is for an English assignment that is due next Friday.  I just want some input. :)

Basically we had to write a short story about a rich business executive, Ms. Babcock, who is murdered at a party she is throwing to give away 250 million dollars.  However, the reason she is giving away her millions is because she has just found out that she has a few months to live.  So my character is invited randomly and after she is murdered we are supposed to build up suspense to when the killer is revealed. 

I took a different twist on the story because as the prompt is written it is like a cheesy dramatic mystery, so I hopefully strayed far away from that feel.  If any of you have read Edgar Allan Poe, I went for a feel like he has in most of his work, mainly "The Cask of Amontillado."  It's supposed to be very intense, and psychological and time jumps a few times.  Please let me know if you are confused at all with the time jumping!  Also, let me know if you think the side characters are developed enough.  Other than that, ask me any questions that come to mind.  I'm letting my English teacher read it, but I want outside opinions as well.  Thanks. :)

    

            We split into groups in search of Ms. Babcock.  The lights had flickered intermittently, but this last time they remained off.  Now only the iridescent glow of the moon showed light through the towering, angelic windows of Ms. Babcock’s grand ballroom.  Whispers engulfed the room, some hysteric, others curious.  Not too far from my person I saw the warm, harvest glow of a cigarette lighter riser into the air.  It cast distorted, dark shadows on its holder’s fiery face.  I could sense the crescendo of mutterings from the other guests slowly hush and turn to the only comforting source of light: the flick of hellish fire.

            A man, another guest, was holding that instrument and waited only a moment before he spoke.  “So no one has seen Ms. Eugenia Babcock all day?”  His voice had a rich resonance, deep in thought, and trippingly smooth.  No doubt he was a member of elite society.

            The guests released a universal utterance of agreement.  The man paused for a moment.  A twisted frown appeared on his face.  The room filled with echoing murmurs.

            “Ladies and Gentlemen!” he called, grabbing the crowds attention, “My name is Jonathan Anderson.  I know we all came here with the hope of receiving the 250 million dollars, but unless we find Ms. Babcock, the money is going nowhere.  We need to split into groups of no more than six and cover as much ground as possible.” 

The crowd became restless again. 

“Ms. Babcock’s attendees have a large supply of flashlights if you could come over here,” he said, waving a flashlight in his hand instead of the fire from hell.

The guests stumbled to the fire’s glow and one by one white lights scattered on the walls and people split into groups.

Amidst the chaos I joined a group headed north out of the ballroom.  I stayed comfortable in the back and kept up with them at a speedy pace.  I saw a flash of a fiery glow again.  I was with the man from hell.  The shadows of the night revealed the identity of the others in the groups.  There were two insignificant men I spotted by their broad shoulders and a beautiful black silhouette woman directly in front of me.

“Where are we looking for her?” the woman asked breathily, trying to keep up with Jonathan.  “How do you know where we are going?”

Jonathan replied nastily, “We are looking anywhere lady.  In case you haven’t noticed, we split into groups because no one knows where they are going and we have a better chance of finding her.”

“My name is Christy, by the way,” she retorted.  “You don’t have to be so rude about it.”

He sighed irritably, shrugging her off.  “Just follow me.”

What a brute.

We turned sharply left and were at two clear glass doors leading to an indoor swimming pool.  I entered last just behind Christy and the blue glow of the chlorinated water reflected on the walls and glass ceiling.

Jonathan strutted to the end of the room, leaving Christy, the two men, and I behind.  He was too eager a man.  Wonderful.

Christy backtracked to an opposite end of the room, stepping gently, impossibly slow.

I heard a thump come from behind me.  As I turned, Jonathan shined his flashlight on Christy.  I smiled.  She had fallen.  Gasps filled the room and Christy, bewildered, looked down.

“Ah!” she screamed and jumped back from the body of Ms. Eugenia Babcock.  She began to fidget.  It must have been all of the excitement.

The lights lit up around us. 

“Another groups must have found the generator,” Jonathan mumbled in awe.

Ms. Babcock laid dead on the marble floor, stretched, skin slightly translucent, and a pale blue.

The expressions of my peers brought me delight.  Which one of them could have expected to discover a dead corpse on their hopeful vacation of sorts?  Let alone one so deserving of death as Ms. Eugenia Babcock.  True, she was diagnosed with fatal familial insomnia and would have died in several months, but finding her dead before her time….  That must leave a person in sheer amazement.

Everyone knew Ms. Babcock, the great philanthropist and the charitable one, but they overlooked her evils, her sins.  How she cheated her way to greatness, through methods unclean.  When she found she only had months to live, she knew she had to cleanse herself.  If not, where else would the afterlife take her but to dine with fire.  She knew she must buy her way into the light.  But she could not be allowed to.  The money was evil, money of sin.  A moment of repent could not change a lifetime of unholy deeds.

But, the human soul is weak.  We are too easily tempted.  I knew I had to cease the desire she inspired in her admirers.  She had to die!  There was no other way.  The money could not be found.  It could not fall into the hands of weak humans.

So the night before, early in the morning, I lured Ms. Babcock on a tour of the estate.  I complimented her.  I appeased her.  I degraded my person to flirt with the witch, for she would not follow if I did not.  I led her to the site of her murder in the darkness of the night.  She fell for my charms and revealed the secrets of her sins and whispered the location of her indulgence in my ear.  At this proximity I brought my arms around her back, closer and closer to her white neck and jerked my palms around that column of flesh.  She struggled at first.  I saw the sin in the endless black pools that were her eyes.  I forced her down to the marble floor and felt the convulsions dim; the demons die in her eyes.  At last she was still.  A bloodless death.  Finally, an end to her pride and cheating ways.

I grinned and spent several minutes staring at her frozen form, admiring my approaching sainthood.  I knew God would take me now.  My mother and father would be so proud.

I crept back through the palatial estate, up two flights of stairs to the door of her chambers.  I entered the sinner’s sanctuary.  A fire was ablaze 20 feet away from me.  I dared not touch her infested belongs.  They were too far-gone.  I had one goal: to find the money…and burn it.  She had hidden in the holy book.  The witch.  Only she would dare.  I found the fallen book and gently lifted each page until I saw a thin, rectangular card.  Plastic.  Black.  I tore it from the book, broke in half with my bare hands and thrust it into the fire.

I headed back to my suite afterward and waited anxiously until we were called to the ballroom at 9:00 PM sharp.  Excitement filled me.  I couldn’t wait for everyone to applaud me.  I had saved them from inevitable sin.  They would be so proud of me.

Now, as Ms. Babcock’s dead body lay before me, I saw the awe in my peers.  I smiled bigger than ever.  They couldn’t take their eyes off me; they were so thankful.  I began to laugh, a rich, joyous laugh not be compared.  I couldn’t stop.  God would take me now.

 

p.s. I am also stuck on a catchy title, so if anything comes to your mind...let me know.  God, I've said that so many times! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has it actually been two months since my last post? 

I have been so busy with school and chorus that I haven't even thought about writing. My exams are in less than four weeks and that's all that's on my mind.

Except the fact that I made Barbershop in my 3rd period chorus and I am also completely preoccupied with working with two of my friends on an a cappella piece for our school's talent show auditions on January 7 or 8.  But, guess what that piece is??

"The Kill" by 30 Seconds to Mars.  I found a fellow 30stm fan in my chorus and we are working another friend on a 3 part harmony to the Kill.  I'm singing soprano (the highest part).

The catch?  We haven't really started on it.  We decided to do it last Wednesday, and turned the form in the next day.  We worked on it a little on Friday during class, but our first real rehearsal was today.  It doesn't seem that hard to write a 3 part harmony (meaning soprano, soprano 2, and alto)...but it is. 

We actually have to arrange the piece.  Not to mention there isn't a choral version of the song.  Essentially we are adding the alto and soprano 2 parts.  I'm basically singing what Jared sings, but an octave (eight notes) higher.  Obviously he goes too low for me to sing.  We worked 6 hours straight today on it, and since we also have to figure out note duration in the 3/4 or 6/8 time signature, it's taking a while.  My friend is using software online to neatly print out this music.  It will take a while.

I just thought this would be great to share with some of favorite 30stm fans.  I will post the music if I can.  I just can't believe we are actually arranging a piece of music.  It's a good thing my friend took AP Music Theory (this would be 10 times harder without her).  I've got a hard two weeks ahead of me.  There may not be any Interrogative updates this break.  I hope there will be, but who knows. 

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and New Year and any other holiday you may celebrate!  I'm celebrating my birthday on New Years (15 years of life on Earth).

Letofan07

Harassment Statement 10/21/08

 

            So, today I was harassed.  Whether it’s sexual or physical I am not sure, but I know for a fact that I was.  To describe how I feel right now, I’d say it’s anxious, overwhelmed, self-conscious, angry, and confused.  I feel like I want to cry, but the emotion just wont come out.  I will go through my day so far.

 

5:30 am.  I wake up and get ready for school.

6:19 am.  I go out to the bus stop.

6:45 am.  I arrive at school.  Libby, Kayla, Isaac, and I head to our normal table in the cafeteria and talk for a few minutes.  Libby’s friend wants her to sit with her at another spot in the cafeteria.  Kayla decides to go sit with her friends since Libby had gone.  She leaves.  Isaac goes to look for a girl named Courtney and he leaves.  I decided to go to the gym since everyone else had left.  I was alone.  Healthful Living is my first period class and I’ve been there before early with no one else.  I walk in and the lights are on and I set my backpack and jacket down and lean against the right side bleachers. 

6:55 am.  I see the guy walking past the gym and suspect nothing of it.  He is a Special Needs student and has come randomly in the gym before and has walked right back out.  He has also done that during class.  This time he comes in and walks toward me.  I lean away from the bleachers and walk to my book bag to find a book.  I didn’t think he would actually talk to me.  I had been planning on reading.  I like quiet in the morning.  He starts talking to me and fires questions at me back to back.  Some include:  “Do you know me?” “Do you like my shirt?” (It said  ‘NC STATE’ and I said “yes.”) “Does your sister go here?” (I said “no.”) “Why not?” (I said, “She’s in college.”) “Do you know my brother?” (I said “no.”).  The questions continue and I can’t remember all of them.  He has a Spanish accent and I can’t fully understand every thing he said.  I had to ask him several times to repeat himself.  He asks if we can walk and I say unsteadily, “Sure.”  We take a few steps, stop, then he motions to my leg and says, “I like that.”  After that, he touches my arm and asks, “What is that.”  I replied that it was my arm.  Then, he takes my hand in his and says that it is pretty and that his brother thinks I’m pretty.  He asks for a hug then and I anxiously say “sure” and give him one.  At this point I’m officially “freaked out” and just want to get away.  Every time I take a step back, he follows me and continues to get closer.  He asks if I can come over to his house and I tell him that I didn’t think my parents would like it very much.  He asks me again two more times and I say the same thing. 

7:03 am.  A girl suddenly comes in the gym.  I tell him that I really need to talk to her, that I have a big project that I need to discuss with her.  He tells me, “No, just two more minutes” several times.  I get nervous as I watch her leave the gym.  I am alone again.  I try to get around him but he blocks me.  We are very close to a wall now and I try to get around him, I end up getting closer and closer to the wall until I am standing against it.  He gets extremely close to me and looks me up and down several times as he talks incomprehensibly.  He puts his hands on the wall, one on either side of my head, blocking me entirely from seeing anything else.  He is about an inch or two from my face. 

7:05 am.  I tell him to let me out, but he says, once again, “No, just two more minutes.” When I ask again, he grabs my wrists and holds me against wall.  I say twice calmly say, “Can you let me go?”  He ignores me and grips a little tighter.  My voice becomes more panicked and desperate and I start pushing away from him trying to get around him and toward the door (which is 50 steps away).  He pulls me back to him.  A janitor comes in and hears me say, “Let me go!” and yells at him to get away from me.  I walk, away, irritated and stressed, wanting to groan and shake my shoulders.  Three people in my health class come into the gym then, confused.

7:12 am.  The janitor waves me over to him and leads me out the gym doors where two Assistant principals are coming towards us.  One is Mr. Chang.  We head back into the gym and they question us about what happened.  The guy is standing right there.  I tell a brief summary including the fact that he pinned me against the wall.  The guy says, “I have classes with her.”  I dart my eyes to the assistant principals and shake my head subtly, “No.”  One leads the guy out to another class and Mr. Chang tells me to follow him.  We walk through the cafeteria and I pass Henriette who I give a small smile to.  I suppose I was trying to keep up a good appearance.

7:16 am.  We reach Mr. Chang’s office and he talks to me a little about what happened.  I tell him the basic story, although a little more in depth than I had in front of the guy.  He gives me paper and pen to write the statement on.  He looks at my record and notices my straight “A’s.”  He asks if he should call my parents and I say that I probably should.  He says that he knows the kid and that he’s almost positive that he had no mean-spirited intent.  As to that, I am not sure I agree.  He asked if I thought it was a single incident type thing and I said, “probably,” although, now that I’m thinking straight I have doubts about that too.  When dealing with special needs people, it’s hard to know what they are thinking.  What are they going to do?  They don’t think like I do and I can’t read the intent on their faces as I can with others.  What would have happened if the janitor hadn’t stopped it?  Who knows what he could have done?  And now, I’m not sure if it will really be a single incident.  If I’m ever alone again, who’s to say he doesn’t have an infatuation that he’ll want to pursue.  I have no way to be sure if it will or will not happen again.  All I know is that I was extremely uncomfortable and felt (and still do) violated of my personal space and confidence.  Anyway, Mr. Chang called my mom after my dad was unsuccessfully contacted and I told her the story.  My mom asks if I think she should come take me home and I said no.  I didn’t want to miss school because of this.  Mr. Chang said that he would arrange the appropriate punishment and keep my statement on file.  He gives me a pass to my first period class.

7:30 am.  In first period, I give Ms. O’Connor the pass and ask if I can talk to her about what happened.  I tell her a little bit and I get emotional.  She remembers the janitor telling her about it and asks me if I think I should talk to a counselor.  I say, “Yes.”  She takes me down to the guidance office and we find Ms. Taylor after some searching.  In her office, I retell the story and she lets me talk with another counselor, whom I also retell the story with.  After a few minutes, I tell her that I should call my mom and ask her to pick me up.  All I would do the whole day is think about what happened.  I go to the attendance office and call her.

7:53 am.  I report back to health, where everyone is dressed out.  We go outside for gym and do tennis.

8:15 am.  My mom picks me up.

 

Now my whole family knows.  Great.  And there's going to be rumors circulating now.  It'll turn from sexual harassment to rape.  Awesome.  I'll update you later.

                              YELENA (sighing)

There are exceptions to every rule.  And sometimes it’s necessary to do worse things.

 

                              NATHAN

Have you killed anyone?

 

(YELENA stands and quickly replies.)

 

                              YELENA

Yes.  I have.  But, don’t glorify it.  I don’t have pride in that.  I did what I had to do.  At this point, they will kill me if I don’t.

 

(The walkie-talkie beeps.  YELENA pulls it off her belt loop.)

 

                              YELENA

Vinn?  What is it?

 

                              VINN (frantic)

YELENA!  GET MOVING NOW!  I don’t know how they found out.  The cops.

 

                              YELENA

What?  We can’t get out.  Edik hasn’t come yet.

 

                              VINN

He said he’d be there in a second.  Just be ready!

 

                              YELENA

Okay.  Got it.  Out.

 

(To NATHAN)

 

                              YELENA

We’ve got to leave.  They found us.

 

(A cracking, drilling sound begins, starting quiet and increasing to a single, loud roar.  EDIK, dirty all over, in another black ensemble and heavy boots, enters up stage left, coughing.)

 

                              EDIK

Come on, we’ve got to go.

 

                              YELENA (rushing to EDIK)

Are you okay?”

 

(OFFICER HAUSEN and MR. FREI enter up stage right and walk to the vault door.  HAUSEN is man in his early to mid 50’s with gray, slightly balding hair.  FREI is a cold man in his late 30’s with a “perfect” appearance.)

 

                              EDIK

It doesn’t matter.  Come on!

 

(Bangings are made my HAUSEN and FREI on the other side of the vault door.)

 

                              HAUSEN

Open up!  We know you’re in there, thieves.  There’s no way out.  Give it up.

 

                              FREI

You idiot, Hausen.  They aren’t just going to come out.  Move!

 

(FREI shoves HAUSEN downstage and starts on the keypad.)

 

                              EDIK

American, come here.  NOW! —Unless you want to be caught.

 

(NATHAN runs over to EDIK and YELENA.  EDIK grabs YELENA’S arm and pulls her closer to him.  He points offstage, up left.)

 

                              EDIK

Go down that tunnel.  Go as fast as you can and don’t stop.  The floor is going to have so stay open.

 

                              NATHAN

They can follow us?!

 

(EDIK pushes YELENA and then NATHAN offstage.  He notices the backpack on the floor near the stool YELENA had been sitting on and grabs it before running off behind them.)

 

                              FREI (angry)

Why won’t this door open!

 

                              HAUSEN

Mr. Frei, do you have the right combination?

 

                              FREI

YES!  I own this bank.  Of course I know the combination.

 

(The door suddenly starts cranking open.  HAUSEN and FREI step back until the door is fully open, and then rush inside to see a mess of paper and security deposit boxes everywhere.)

 

                              FREI

Damn!  The jewels.  They got the jewels.

 

                              HAUSEN

You mean the crown’s?

 

                              FREI (calm, then furious)

No.  YES, OF COURSE THE CROWN JEWELS HAUSEN!

 

(FREI kicks a stool over and slumps down against the upstage wall of boxes.  The curtain closes.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's it.  Once again, tell me of any typos or confusing parts. :)

Okay, guys, this thing is messing up so it's centered, but anyway, this is the midterm project for my Theatre Arts 1 class.  We basically had to write a ten-minute play with one setting.  I wrote this all of Saturday so I'm sort of sick of writing now.  And today I started and am about to finish my World History project which is to make an African mask and then do a "research" paper.  She gave us all of the information though, so it's not that hard.  I just had to make sure it was phrased smoothly.  Anyway, I'm totally relaxed now because I don't have to worry about another project until December when my big World History project is due.  Now, just enjoy:

 

The Bank Vault

A Short Play

 

(The curtain rises and dim lights come up to create a night-like effect.  It is 2:25 am in Amsterdam, Holland.  We are at the national bank in the most top-secret sector.  Center stage, we see a large vault door placed on a diagonal so that it is almost vertical to the audience.  A crank and electronic combination pad are located on the door.  Lights snap to reveal a cold, sterile, metal room, and a fluorescent effect.  NATHAN pops into view up stage left in a secretive, nervous pose.  All lights black out, except for a white spot light on him.  NATHAN is wearing a black ensemble, tight fitted, with a backpack on his shoulders.  His head is uncovered to reveal brown hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.  He is slender, but not very fit.  The spot follows him as he slowly, cautiously creeps to the door.  He digs in his pocket to find a small slip of paper.  He read it and punches the written combination into the keypad on the vault.  A moment of silence, and the vault door cranks, then juts open.  NATHAN sneaks inside, keeping a hand on the vault door.  YELENA enters center stage left, still in darkness, and stands behind NATHAN, keeping out of the spot light.  NATHAN turns around and another spot flashes on YELENA.  She is an attractive, very fit woman with dark brown hair and eyes, clad in another black suit.  NATHAN jumps and yelps, accidentally shutting the door behind him.  A thud sounds.)

 

NATHAN

Oh, God, Yelena!  It’s you.

 

YELENA (with Russian accent)

Be quiet!  Yes.  What took you so long?

 

                              NATHAN

Guards were patrolling outside.  And you said they weren’t going to be there!

 

                              YELENA (grabbing his arm)

Nathan!  I said be quiet.  I can’t control everything that happens.  You need to expect the unexpected.

 

                              NATHAN (with attitude)

I’m sorry.  Maybe you could just tell me that next time.

 

                              YELENA

That defeats the purpose.  I wouldn’t be testing you then would I?  I don’t get that opportunity to know ahead.  Why should you?

 

                              NATHAN

Because I come from nowhere.  It’s not like I’ve ever done anything like this before.  Coming from being a bank accountant in New York to this—I’d say that’s a huge change.

 

(Full lights come up to reveal the left part of the set.  One wall of safety deposit boxes is placed upstage creating a right angle with the upstage side of the vault door and another is at a right angle with the same wall.  In the center, two black stools are set up.  Upstage right, a tower is standing with a platform up top.  VINN is standing there dressed in black, but lights are not fully shined upon him.  He is outside keeping watch.  YELENA walks stage left to the wall of safety deposit boxes.)

 

                              YELENA

You’re not going to win this argument.  You know the deal.  Either you do this or you die.  Get used to it.  Now, come here.  And pay attention.  You’ll be doing it alone next time.

 

(NATHAN crosses.)

 

                              YELENA

Give me your backpack.

 

(NATHAN takes his backpack off and hands it to her.  YELENA sinks down to the floor on her knees and digs through the bag.)

 

                              NATHAN

What are you looking for?

 

                              YELENA

A key.

 

(YELENA finds a wallet and snaps it open.)

 

                              NATHAN

For what?

 

(YELENA flashes two keys to NATHAN.)

 

                              YELENA

Got it!  What do you think?  We’re opening these boxes.

 

(YELENA stands back up and hands NATHAN one of the keys, then heads to the top row of boxes on the wall.)

 

                              YELENA

Start trying them.

 

                              NATHAN

I still don’t understand why we’re doing this.  This is illegal.  Don’t you care that we’re stealing the crown jewels of Holland?  We can be sent to prison for life.  This wasn’t what I bargained for.

 

(YELENA whips around.)

 

                              YELENA (deadly serious)

You didn’t bargain for anything.  You brought yourself into this.  If you hadn’t stayed late at work with your little girlfriend, we wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t have caught me and we wouldn’t be stuck with each other, got it?  Now, get going.

 

(YELENA turns back to the wall and NATHAN glumly starts helping.)

 

                              NATHAN

I told you I wouldn’t tell.

 

                              YELENA

And I’m supposed to believe you?  Be thankful.  If it weren’t up to me you’d be dead…like your girlfriend.

 

(NATHAN is silent, surprised.  He continues working on the boxes.  One works.)

 

                              NATHAN

I think I got it.

 

(YELENA instantly stops and steps to him.)

 

                              YELENA (gruffly)

Move.

 

(NATHAN steps back.  YELENA pulls the box out and turns around.  She sets it on a stool.)

 

                              NATHAN

Is that it?

 

                              YELENA

Give me a second.

 

(YELENA sifts through the papers on top, giving them to NATHAN.)

 

                              YELENA

Take these.

 

(At the bottom, she finds a pile of jewels.)

 

                              YELENA (smiling, excited)

Yes!  It’s here.  Keep unlocking them.  The next sixteen should all have the jewels in them.

 

(NATHAN goes back to the wall, while YELENA reaches for the backpack and dumps the jewels inside.  She pulls out a walkie-talkie and stands.)

 

                              YELENA

Vinn?

 

(Lights increase on VINN at the tower, up stage right, keeping at night effect, however.)

 

                              VINN (with Russian accent)

Yelena?  Yeah, I’m here.

 

                              YELENA

Is everything clear?

 

                              VINN (smiling)

Spotless.  Everything is normal.

 

                              YELENA

Good.  Any word on Edik?

 

                              VINN

He’ll be there soon.  Last he talked to me, he estimated ten-ish minutes.  That was about four minutes ago.

 

                              YELENA

Okay.  Good.  We’re on schedule.

 

                              VINN

I’ll call you back with any updates.

 

                              YELENA

Thanks.  Out.

 

(Walkie-talkies turn off.  YELENA puts the walkie-talkie on belt of pants.  Lights dim again on VINN.  NATHAN has now opened ten boxes.  YELENA goes to get the boxes out and starts dumping out the paper, and placing the jewels in the backpack.)

 

                              NATHAN

Who’s Edik?

 

                              YELENA (still working.)

My husband.  We’ve been married for five years.

 

                              NATHAN

How’d you meet?

 

                              YELENA

I met him on my first job.

 

                              NATHAN

Like me?

 

                              YELENA

No.  I volunteered.  Technically, we aren’t supposed to be married.  No one else knows except for Vinn—and now you.

 

                              NATHAN (sarcastically)

Well, I feel so privileged.

 

                              YELENA

Cut the sarcasm, okay.  I don’t feel like dealing with it right now.

 

                              NATHAN

‘Dealing with it’?  It’s not that hard.

 

                              YELENA

You Americans.  First off, fully understanding what you are saying normally is hard enough.  When you add in twists to the language, it makes it ten times harder.  You try learning Russian and see how it feels.

 

                              NATHAN

Fine.  For goodness sake.

 

                              YELENA

This is no time to joke around.  If you don’t pay attention, you’ll be in prison next time when you fail.

 

(NATHAN doesn’t respond.  YELENA finishes the rest of the boxes that NATHAN had unlocked.)

 

                              NATHAN

That should be all of them.  So, how are we supposed to get out of here?  The door shut when you scared me.

 

                              YELENA

Did you just think of that now?

 

                              NATHAN

No.  I started wondering after you told me how to get in.  I thought it was weird that you hadn’t set an escape route—or at least you hadn’t told me about it.

 

                              YELENA (laughing)

Well, I see you did learn something at least.

 

                              NATHAN

Impossible right?

 

                              YELENA (shrugging)

Who knows?

 

(YELENA finishes dumping the jewels and zips the backpack up.)

 

                              YELENA

No, we’ve got a plan.  Been setting it up for a few months now.  During the nights, we’ve been digging a tunnel under the floor of the antique shop a few doors down.  It’s leading here.  Edik is doing the final digging tonight so they wouldn’t find out--obviously.  Speaking of that, he should be here any moment.

 

                              NATHAN

Why did you get into this business?

 

                              YELENA

If you want to call it that, sure.

 

(YELENA sits on a stool, pausing as if trying to decide whether or not to answer NATHAN.)

 

                              YELENA

It’s in my family.  I grew up around crime.  I suppose it’s natural to me.  It makes sense for me to carry on the “business” as you call it.

 

                              NATHAN

So, are your family mobsters of some kind?

 

                              YELENA

Personally, I’ve never liked that term.  We don’t harm people directly or indirectly.  We don’t distribute drugs or guns and we don’t blackmail people.

 

                              NATHAN (coughing)

Um…Me?

 

The rest is in part 2.  Please tell me of any typos.  I'm going to be turning in this typed copy, so just tell me...and if there is anything that is confusing, PLEASE ask. :)

Yes, it has been officially FOREVER!!  I'm so sorry.  I really don't have an excuse, except that I've been thinking about school more and thus I haven't felt like writing, typing, or even logging on to buzznet as much.  Well, at least I've finally gotten to another chapter.  I was just bored on Sunday night and suddenly had an urge.  I didn't do tons of spellcheck, but it shouldn't be anything you can't figure out.  The chapter is pretty simple.  So, Enjoy!

It Won't Feel Right

 

We finally got to my parent’s house at exactly 1:54 pm.  I had wanted to get there earlier, but thanks to the hunger pains of Shannon, we had to stop by Wendy’s.  I was so anxious I didn’t order anything.  Meanwhile, Jared, Tomo, and Shannon all got fries and a frosty.  Honestly, it grossed me out.  The last thing I want to think about when I’m nervous is food.  Of course, they decided to rub it in by dunking the fries in the frosties—at least Shannon and Tomo did.

 

When we arrived, I practically leaped out of the car.  As much as I didn’t want to wait for the guys to catch up with me, I did.  Only to be respectful.  They slowly meandered to the front door and I could feel the frustration building in my chest.

 

Jared saw it and double-timed his way to my side.

 

“Hurry up you guys!” I complained harshly to Shannon and Tomo.

 

They quickened their pace only by a fraction, but reached me before I wanted to smack them on the head.

 

I rang the doorbell.  A moment later, my father answered the door and greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

 

“Hey, grandpa, is Kelly here yet?”

 

I heard Alex yelling it from the kitchen and then saw him walk down the hall to the door.

 

“Yep.  She’s here, along with two new fellows.  Well, lets stop standing halfway in and halfway out.  It’s a waste of air conditions and you know how your mom is.  Come on it!”

 

I stepped in, followed by the guys and gave Alex a hug.

 

“I like your hair, Kelly.” Alex said.

 

I laughed.  “Thanks.  I just put it up in a ponytail.”

 

I heard the door shut behind me.

 

“Well, Alex,” I continued,  “I guess I should introduce you.”

 

I turned around into the circle.  Tomo had just finished shaking my father’s hand.

 

“Okay,” I began, pointing, “this is Tomo, Shannon, and you’ve already met Jared.”

 

“Nice to meet you,” Tomo smiled.

 

“Awesome,” remarked Alex.  “I’ve rally been getting into you music since Jared came over with Kelly.”

 

Shannon chuckled.  From what I heard it was a little bit more than that.  I heard Jared interrupted a quiet evening.

 

We all laughed.  He couldn’t have been more wrong, but we’d rather just laugh it off.

 

“So, Alex,” I said, “ how many people are here?”

 

“Um…several.  Mom and dad haven’t gotten here yet.  But, Davis and them are here and Lynne too.”

 

My dad whispered, “She brought that jerk ex-boyfriend of hers.”

 

I sighed.  “Rafe?”

 

He nodded and I groaned in response.

 

“Hey, wait!  What aren’t your parents here?” I asked Alex.

 

“Oh, mom and dad dropped me and Janey and Addison off last week to stay for a while.  Plus, they thought we would be good help to set the part up.”

 

Jared tapped me on the shoulder.  “Hey, the guys and I are going to get a drink and introduce ourselves.”

 

“Oh, okay,” I replied.

 

My father led them to the kitchen.

 

“Alex, what do you mean ‘set the party up’?”

 

“Oh, it looks really cool outside.  Come on, follow me!”

 

He led me to the back deck and I was completely shocked by what I saw:

 

There were a dozen tables spread throughout the yard and a couple of wood piles randomly placed on the outside edges.  To the far right I could see a long table obviously meant for the food assembly line.  To top it off, there was a square dance floor in the center of it all and overhead strings of lights hung daintily.

 

“Oh, my God, Alex.  How in the world—“

 

“Don’t even start it.  We won’t be seeing you for a while so we went all out.”

 

“All out? This is like a wedding or something.”

 

Alex laughed.

 

But, I was serious.  It looked like I was coming here to have my reception after getting married at the church down the street.  It was really unsettling.

 

All of a sudden, I felt someone pinch my waist and I jumped and yelped and saw who the perpetrator was: Madison.

 

“Jesus Christ, Madison!”

 

Once I calmed down, I gave her a hug.  Alex promptly left, more than likely assuming I’d want to talk with her.

 

She was still laughing.

 

“Fuck,” I whispered, “you know I hate that.”

 

“Exactly,” she said.  “There’s no better way to grab your attention.”

 

I rolled my eyes.  “True.”

 

“So, what do you think?” she asked, motioning to the back yard.

 

“Well, I love it, but is it just a little over-the-top?”

 

“Oh, come on, little miss pessimist.  I designed it and then I sent it your mom after.  She did pretty good.”

 

“And here I was thinking it was going to be a simple cook out,” I said sarcastically, smiling.

 

“It will be even more amazing once it gets dark.  The light fixtures are going to look like glowing starts.”

 

“Maybe you should be an even planner.”

 

“I’ve always had a knack for design, but instead of lighting, this time it’s arrangement of furniture and atmosphere.”

 

“Hey, have you met the guys yet tonight?”

 

“Not physically, no, but I saw them in the kitchen with Lynne.  Did you know Rafe was—“

 

“Yeah,” I grumbled.  “ I just heard.  I’d better go save them.”

 

Back inside, I noticed there were triple the amount of people than there had been moments before.  I even saw Natalie and Davey talking with Haden in the formal living room.  Instantly, I caught up with Jared and slid my hand into his.  Tomo and Shannon were positioned to Jared’s left with Rafe and Lynne across them.  Realizing it was me; he gave me a quick kiss on the lips and squeezed my hand tightly for a second.  Madison left to talk with Natalie, I presumed.

 

When I looked back up, I could see Rafe staring at me, then he jerked his eyes to Jared.

 

“I’m sorry,” he said, cocking his jaw, “I can’t help but wonder if I’ve seen you before.  It’s just for the past few minutes I’ve been trying to remember you from somewhere.”  He added a fake laugh at the end and couldn’t help himself.

 

“I’m sure you have, Rafe,” I responded.  Yes, technically Jared should have answered, but I wanted to save Jared from having to talk to the biggest asshole in the world.

 

“It’s always nice to see you again, Kelly,” he began.  “I didn’t expect to have to come and talk to you.”

 

“Oh, I feel the exact same way—more so, I believe.  I’m actually more surprised that Lynne decided to invite you.  It was very gracious of her.”

 

He simply nodded, stiffly.

 

“Beside that, you might have seen Jared in some films or perhaps some music,” I said.  “Anyway, Jared—guys—there’s some people I want you to meet.  They just got here.”

 

With Jared’s hand in mine, I led him to the living room.  Natalie immediately saw me and rushed to give me a hug.  It seemed everyone I remotely brushed past was doing so.

 

“Oh, my God, it’s good to see you again.  And, it feels weird on such casual terms.  Normally, it’s just during the work day,” she laughed.  “So, who are these gentlemen?”

 

She held out her hand to Jared, who shook hers.

 

“I’m Jared,” he said.

 

She twisted around to me.  “As in—“

 

“Yes,” I confirmed, “he is.”

 

“And you guys are…dating?  Friends?  What?”

 

“Uh…” I stumbled.

Jared helped me out.  “We haven’t really given it a name.  It doesn’t sound right when we say boyfriend and girlfriend, but essentially that’s what we are.”

 

“I think your ages probably play a role in that confusion,” Tomo suggested.

 

“As it does in everything,” I joked.  “That is Tomo and that’s Shannon.”

 

Haden came up beside Natalie and we both gave each other a hug at the same time.  He was really the closest guys friend I had.  The only other had now left me and moved on to Kerrang.  When I pulled out of his arms, I looked for Davey.

 

“Hey, Davey, how are you doing?”

 

“Great.  Actually, Natalie and I have been seeing each other for a little while.”

 

My eyes widened.  “What?” I exclaimed, turning to Natalie.  “You didn’t tell me?”

 

“Well, you’ve been so busy.  You haven’t really been talking to tons of people.  Besides, don’t’ even start.  You didn’t’ tell me about Jared over here.”

 

“Okay, okay, that’s fair I guess.”

 

In the corner of my eye I saw Oty come through the front door wit his friend, Barry.  I grew up with Barry always coming over, so he knew me pretty well.  I really needed to talk to Oty though.  We hadn’t really communicated well since Jared first came over.  I didn’t want to leave for English with any tension.

 

“Hey, guys, can I leave you for a bit?  I need to talk with someone.”

 

“Sure,” they chorused, then laughed.

 

“Wow,” I smiled.  “Thanks for the general consensus.”

 

As I turned to go away, Jared touched his hand against mine.  He came over with me a few steps.

 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

 

“Oh, nothing.  I need to talk to my brother, just to smooth things out with him.”

 

“Oh, yeah, go ahead.”  He pulled me to him and kissed me again, a little bit deeper, on the lips.

 

“I’ll find you when I’m done.  I just wouldn’t feel right—“

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

I smiled.  “Okay.”

---

 

I found Oty with Barry on the outside deck.  He didn’t seem to be in the best of moods.  I suppose he brought Barry along so that he wouldn’t have to face the family alone.  Wren had been at his side for so many months and now that she was gone, he needed his wingman back.

 

Oty saw me come up to him and went silent in his conversation with Barry.

 

“Hey, Kelly,” Barry said, welcomingly.

 

“Hi, Barry.  It’s been a while hasn’t it?”

 

“Yeah.  Freshmen year of college for me, I think.”

 

“You’re probably right,” I chuckled.

 

I glanced at Oty.  “Can I talk with you?”

 

After a moment of uneasiness, he replied, “Yeah.  Upstairs.”

 

I nodded.  “Okay.”

 

“I’ll go help your mom,” Barry muttered.  He brushed past my shoulder, leaving Oty and I alone to face each other.  We didn’t stand long before Oty found his way back inside and wove through the increasing crowd.  I followed him up the stairs and we found that Oty’s old bedroom had been converted into a reading room.  Plenty of sun shown through the windows, instantly lightening the room and making it feel bigger and more airy.  In the corner of the room there was a loveseat positioned against the wall.  The sun was directly shining on it, although with the sun dimming ever so slightly, the white pastel of the loveseat became a golden yellow.

 

Oty sat down first and I quickly followed.  This wasn’t by any means a comfortable situation, but it had to be done nonetheless and I felt no regret about what I was going to say to him.

 

“What did you want to talk about?” Oty asked with a twinge of boredom. 

 

I collected my thoughts for a brief second and led his tone pass.  “I don’t want this tension between us anymore.  Without you, there’s no one I can talk to…except for Jared, and even we have our problems.”

 

Oty cocked his jaw, irritated.  I continued:

 

“I know you want to blame what happened between you and Wren on me—and, yes, I should have asked you first—but it’s not my fault.  Do you really think it’s wrong of me to assume you tell your fiancé and thus you’ve told the family as well?”

 

He was silent, but he wasn’t embittered.

 

“Why didn’t you tell them you were moving?” I asked.

 

I wanted to be sympathetic, I really did.  It wasn’t like Oty to keep such huge secrets.  I didn’t feel guilty as if it was my fault in any way for his situation, but at the same time I didn’t’ want the tension between us to exist anymore.  I was more desperate than anything else.

 

Oty turned his face to mine, almost instantly saddened.  “I’m not too happy about moving.  The less people that knew, the less guilt I’d feel.”

 

“You’re still moving?” I said, surprised.  I had thought that after everything that had happened in our family and his break up with Wren, he would decide not to go.  Besides, how would he pay for all of it?  Wren and her family were supporting him almost fully since they got engaged.  How was he going to afford moving up to Seattle and work at a hospital that wasn’t going to pay him?  Worse, he’d be there all of the time, so there wouldn’t be time for him to make any extra money.

 

“Yeah, I am.  I want to be a neurologist.  I have to.  I need the best training possible and if that means moving to Seattle, two states away, then I’m doing it.  And I hate to say it, but now I don’t have Wren and her family holding me back.”

 

“But, what about money?” I asked.

 

He sighed.  “Dad is helping me out.  He’s waiting for the right time to tell mom.”

 

I smiled.  “I’m sure mom won’t be ecstatic about cutting back.”

 

I hope you liked it!  The next chapter should be finishing up the party and them going on to England.  I will just tell you that some pretty interesting things happen in England!!

 

Letofan07

This is in response to Echelon92's journal, "Change."

I completely understand where you are coming from and it's interesting because I have been seeing almost the exact same thing from all that people that I thought I really knew.  Mine, however, is a mix of drugs and severe depression.

So, to start off, I have two relatives who are bipolar and during their "down" times consider suicide seriously.  One is my aunt and the other is my sister.  She happens to be "down" right now.

Next, and along the same path, are several girls at my bus stop.  One is what some might call "emo" and she has committed suicide before unsuccessfully.  Another is a girl who is still severely depressed and is a cutter and was sent to a mental institution the week before last.  Yet another is my closest friend at the bus stop who hates living with her mom and stepdad and thus thinks about suicide, and finally is a girl who previously had such thoughts but has gotten better.

Then, there are the druggies I'm surrounded by.  Two of the girls mentioned above (the "emo" and "cutter") both experiment with drugs and are sexually active.  A guy at my bus stop is a serious marijuana addict and three guys and a girl at my stop are smokers.  I see them walk up to the bus stop in the dark and put out their cigarette just before getting there.

Finally, the worst thing infact is the crime that was committed by a guy in my neighborhood.  Apparently, he was out drinking one night and got very drunk and ended up breaking into an elderly couple's house.  He beat the man to unconsciousness and raped the older lady.

I feel so great to know I'm associated with these people.

That's all. 

Letofan07

HEY!!  It has been a while, I know.  Believe it or not (and this makes it even worse) I've had this chapter written for over a week.  I just didn't feel like typing.  I know, I'm bad. lol.  Anyway, I'm so excited that I've made it to the fortieth chapter.  Time goes by so fast and slow when I'm updating. lol.  So, here's the chapter.  Enjoy:

Expectations

Jared drove us back to my place.  We seemed to subconsciously vary where we spent our nights.  It was my house on Sunday, his on Monday and Tuesday, mine again on Wednesday, and I’d slept over at Jared’s on Thursday.  I guess tonight was my night yet again.

 

It was 11:25 pm when we finally got back.  I was tired, exhausted really, and I just wanted to sleep.  I changed as soon as I could into comfortable clothes: pajama shorts and a tank top.

 

Jared insisted on a movie and I had to yawn before replying that I would fall asleep a quarter through it.  He just wrapped his hand around my waist, pulling me to him, and he kissed me several times, lightly, on the mouth.  It was one of those entirely loving kisses that you give when you only want care and support rather than all-consuming passion.  When we drew back, I was still in his arms.  I leaned against him, resting my head against his shoulder.  In the dim light I could just barely tell that my red lipstick hadn’t smeared onto his face.  More than likely it had sunk into my lips or the side of my lime seltzer glass was now a candy-apple red.  My lips were slightly dry, but before I had the opportunity to lick them back to life, Jared whispered into my ear,” That’s okay.  Fall asleep.  I just want you in my arms.”

 

I smiled to myself and hugged Jared ever tighter against me.  A warm rush spread through my body.  I had never felt as safe or loved in my entire life.

 

We grabbed a bunch of blankets and pillows and snuggled as close as we could together on my black leather sofa.  It wasn’t as supportive for normal sitting as it used to be, but for snuggling and feeling as comfortable as possible, it was the best couch in the world.  We sank in the cushions and I laid my head on his chest, reaching for the remote control on the coffee table inches away.

 

“What do you want to watch?” I asked.  “We’ll order it On Demand.”

 

“I don’t know,” Jared said.  “How about something light hearted and fun?”

 

I thought for a moment.

 

“What about your favorite movie as a kid?” Jared suggested.

 

I grinned, knowing the perfect movie.  “The Wizard of Oz.”

 

“Absolutely.”

 

Within moments, Dorothy was in the tornado and had landed in the magical world of color…and Munchkinland.  After we met the scarecrow, I started feeling a little drowsy.  My eyes didn’t want to stay open, forcing me to do so.

 

Jared nudged the side of my head.  They had just found the Tin Man now.  “You tired?” he asked.

 

I nodded slowly.

 

“Do you want to stay awake?”

 

“Yeah,” I yawned.

 

“I know what we can do,” he said quietly, running his hand up and down my arm.

 

It took a minute for me to process what he was saying.  “What?” I moaned.

 

Jared rolled me under him so fast I didn’t know what he’d done until his eyes were parallel above mine and piercing through me.  We stayed together, eyes locked, then Jared gently pressed his lips to mine.  It started innocent, without demands, just a tender, loving, borderline chaste kiss, but suddenly I felt a pulse start within me.  Desire.  I pushed my lips harder to his own, not erotic, but slightly stimulating.  I opened my mouth to his and it took a moment for Jared to finally, delicately slide his tongue into me.  I savored the experience of Jared exploring my mouth without my aggression battling his.  Jared retracted his tongue, opening himself to me.  I slipped past his lips, but instead of exploring him, I begged him to join me. 

 

I rubbed my hands all over Jared’s back and sides, occasionally grabbing him, yearning to feel his lust in return.  He was firm against my thigh.

 

Jared complied, twisting his tongue with mine, going deeper and deeper to the point I wanted to moan in ecstasy, but he tore away and moved to my jaw line, then neck, and down to my collarbone.

 

I pulled at him to kiss my lips again and he did so, passionately, while he pushed my tank top from the top of my hips, up my torso and over my breasts, revealing them.  Jared jumped down my legs so that his face was level with my breasts.  He kissed all about them, making me smiled, as his hands kneaded up my body.  He started a trail of kisses down the middle of my abdomen.  At the same time, his hands captured my breasts and I gasped.  His kisses traveled ever lower, ever so slowly to the elastic band of my shorts and underwear and he tried to use his chin playfully to work them down.  It made me laugh and Jared gave a lighthearted sigh against me.  His warm breath made me arch my back sharply, overwhelmingly.

 

My hands, which had been grasping any surface, pillow, blanket, whatever, reached down to my hips and gently began pushing the shorts down, giving Jared an eyeful.

 

Abruptly, he stopped my hands, gripping them tightly.

 

I furrowed my brow, confused.

 

Jared only grinned and led my hands to his belt buckle.  I took my time unfastening him; while he hurriedly threw off his shirt to the carpet and watched me, intently, undo him.

 

Jared lifted himself off of my body and stood next to the couch, divesting himself of his clothes.  I sighed in desperation.  God, why did he have to do that?  I couldn’t help but stare.  Lovingly.  Devilishly.  Passionately.

 

He knelt down to my face and kissed me hard on the mouth.  I brushed through his new hair with my fingers.

 

I felt one of his free hands travel across my stomach, back to the bands of my shorts and panties and as he began to tug them down my hips, his mouth left mine.  We kept eye contact, neither one of us daring to look away, but eventually he had to as he climbed onto the end of the couch and sweepingly removed the rest of my clothing.  Now, I was entirely bare for him, except for the tank, pushed past my breasts.

 

Jared crawled over me, spreading my legs with his body.  One of my legs was pressed deeply into the back of the couch, while the other dangled off the side.

 

I felt Jared’s warmth against me, between my legs, and I held onto his shoulders, aching for him to enter.

 

He lifted my dangling leg onto his hips and I held it there, positioning myself just right for him.

 

He kissed me, tongues twisting, as he slid inside me.  I cried out into his mouth, the sound muffled, but reverberating between us.

 

Jared held himself utterly still inside me, pulled from our kiss, and opened his eyes, as did I, and he seemed to gaze through my eyes and into my being, my soul.

 

Slowly, he shifted in me and began to move, making a moan escape my lips.  As I dug into him, he thrust harder, wordless cries leaving me one after the next.  He was propped above me, and both of us moved to opposing rhythms; everything became intensified, passionate, impossibly deep.  I could feel a heat growing, building in my center.  Small waves spread farther through me with each thrust, until the small waves compiled into one, large and indescribable.  I bucked under him, climaxing, screaming, frozen still, while he continued, reaching his own climax.  Then he froze above me, shuddering, groaning, and collapsed onto my chest as gently as possible.

 

Our harsh, laborious breaths intermingled, making me sigh and close my eyes.

 

The Wizard of Oz still played.  The Emerald City was merely feet away.

 

**

 

In the morning I awoke to a blaring TV, replaying The Wizard of Oz for what must have been the fourth time.  Once again, she had just entered Oz and Munchkinland.

 

I blinked several times, forcing myself awake, and let out a slow breath against the heavy, naked resistance of Jared’s body.  I was naked underneath him and warm.  Looking down at him, he was still sound asleep.  He looked so cute, so innocent.  When people watched me sleep, I always felt terribly embarrassed afterward.  You never know what deformed face you may be making when you sleep.

 

Judging by the light outside, I could tell it was probably around seven.  I needed to start getting dressed.  Jared and the rest of 30 Seconds to Mars would be accompanying me to our—or my—goodbye party.  We needed to pick up Shannon and Tomo on the way, too, so in a little over an hour we needed to be on the road.

 

I didn’t want to make Jared get up, but there was no other way.  Technically, he could sleep for another hour.  It’s nothing for a man to get ready.

 

“Jared,” I whispered, trying to wake him up.  I pushed his new bangs out of his eyes, hoping it would help.  “Jared,” I said again, propping myself onto my elbows.  I couldn’t hold his weight, however, and I plopped back down to couch, finally waking Jared up.  I heard him inhale sharply, a normal reaction.

 

“What is it?” he moaned.

 

I smiled.  Jared seemed to make the most irritable moment of the day cute.  “I have to get up,” I said.  “We need to leave in soon.”

 

“Why?” he moaned again.

 

“Because!” I cried.  “We need to pick up Shannon and Tomo and go to my parents’ house.  Remember?”

 

He sighed dreamily.  “Oh, yeah.”

 

“So, let me up,” I said, shifting against him, causing him to jump up and scream.

 

“What!” I asked.

 

“That tickled,” he said modestly.

 

I couldn’t help but laugh, a full laugh, not a soft five-second one.

 

“It’s not funny,” he said.

 

I couldn’t stop laughing.  “Yes, it is!”

 

“No, it’s not,” he said, thrusting himself upon me and tickling my waist and neck, making me laugh and scream even harder.

 

“Stop!” I cried.

 

“Is it funny anymore?” he said, jokingly, almost inaudible through my yells.

 

In fact, I was about to cry and I could hardly breathe.

 

“Yes!  I mean, NO!!!  Just stop, please!”

 

Jared pressed his body down to mine and gazed up at me.  I was catching my breath and calming myself down.  He craned his neck to my face and kissed me on the lips.  It was a moderate kiss.  Not too deep or gentle.

 

“Well, now at least you’re up and awake,” I said as he pulled away.

 

“True, true,” he said, smiling and kissed me again, but lightly this time.

 

Jared continued to lay heavy atop me.

 

“Are you going to let me up?” I asked cleverly.

 

“Never,” he hissed, kissing my chest and shoulders.

 

“Come on, Jare!  I’ve got to get going.  It’ll take me an hour to get ready.  It only takes you—what?—fifteen minutes?”

 

Jared kissed lower, between my breasts, to my stomach.  His hands ran up my thighs, to my hips and lower back and he lifted me up in an impossible seated position.

 

“Jared,” I sighed.  “We can’t do this right now.”

 

“We can be a little late.  It’s your party.”

 

He caught my mouth, ravishing me, and laid me back down, looking down my body.

 

“First off, that is exactly why I need to be there on time, if not earlier.  It’s my party.  And second, this is nothing like you.  I think you are just trying to be spontaneous about sex, but it’s really at a bad time.

 

He situated himself between my legs and it made me shudder.

 

“Jared, please—“

 

“Won’t it feel good though?  Knowing we’re doing something sort of dangerous?  It’s a secret between only you and I?”

 

“But, I’ll feel guilty—“

 

He kissed my words away.

 

“I don’t like being late,” I began and kissed me again, stealing my breath.  “I’ll have an anxiety attack or something….”

 

He shushed me and trailed kisses down my body, going lower and lower until I couldn’t take it and grabbed his shoulders, freezing him.

 

“Jared, I really don’t want to.  I’m sorry.”

 

He slumped against me, making my back arch.

 

“You’re body wants to,” he growled seductively.

 

“Well, it’s good that my body doesn’t control my actions.”

 

**

 

Jared wasn’t upset at me.  Maybe a little upset that he couldn’t finish, but he wasn’t mad at me for saying no.  When I thought about it, I actually hadn’t ever said no to him.  Well, at the beginning…. No, that was different.  Back then I wasn’t just denying sex, but the entire idea that we would—could—be together.

 

Now we were in the car, driving to pick up Tomo at him apartment.  The radio was on and found itself, yet again, in another set of commercials that lasted longer than the music they played.  When one, especially cheesy car dealership commercial came on for the third time, I groaned and turned down the volume to zero.

 

“I take it you don’t like that commercial,” Jared smiled.

 

“Ha!  Not only that, I despise it.  I mainly hate the stupid song…and the fact that it’s played ten times in five minutes.”

 

Jared quirked his brow skeptically.

 

“Okay, that’s an exaggeration.  But, sometimes the commercial will repeat itself three times in a row!”

 

Jared laughed.

 

“What?”

 

“I love the little things that drive you crazy.  It’s the only time you seem less mature than me.”

 

My mouth gaped open, aghast.  “Well, you are sort of right.”

 

We laughed together and Jared calmed down first to ask me a question.

 

“So, when did you tell your parents about the trip?”

 

I sighed, pondering.  “Four days ago, maybe?  I didn’t want to tell them until I was sure I would be able to go.”

 

“And if Adrian had just said no?”

 

I chuckled.  “Well, then, I would be fired and I would have told them that I was on a work trip, anyway.  They are really possessive about my job.  It’s a little weird sometimes.  They care about my job more than I do.”

 

“Well, I’m sure they just don’t want you to lose the status you’ve gained.”

 

“Jared, I don’t think I’ve told you this, but when I was an editorialist, my family thought I wrote under Sophia Murreto.”

 

“Was she your ghost writer?”

 

I made an mmnnnnnnn sound, not denying or confirming.  “Sort of.  Except Sophia was a real person.  But, of course, I had to explain why K. Eidric was writing, so I just told them that there was another person by that name.”

 

“Why?  Why did you do all that?”

 

Exhaling, I answered.  “Well, as you know, my parents are very conservative and they wouldn’t have approved of my real, brutal—almost bitchy—writing, so I had to tell them I wrote under Sophia so that they would think I wrote…fluff articles instead.”

 

“Are you ever going to tell them?”

 

“I don’t know,” I remarked rather lightly.  “I mean, I feel like I should, but I don’t want to feel shamed by them.  It’s hard to be the person they think and want me to be because I’m not like that at all really, and my writing is definitely not like that.”

 

We were quiet for a minute and Jared spoke up again.

 

“Well, I know your mom would probably flip, but she should be happy if you are happy.”

 

I nodded in agreement.  Yes, she should be happy for me…but she wasn’t.

 

“Everyone can’t be against it, can they?” Jared inquired.

 

“Oty and you are the only two people on the planet that know.  And the only reason Oty found out was because of me being insanely drunk.  That was a few years ago.  But, Jared, it’s no the raving anger that I can’t handle; it’s the silent disappointment.  I’d get that from Chris and Davis, but mainly my dad and that would be the worst.”

 

We were quiet again for a bit and we would be at Tomo’s in about five minutes.

 

It felt weird stopping the conversation so abruptly.  I didn’t want to leave it that way.  “I’ll probably tell them when I have kids or something,” I blurted…and instantly cursed myself.  Once again, I pushed us to the topic of kids.

 

“What do you mean?” Jared asked, curious.

 

I slapped my thigh, angry with myself.  “It doesn’t matter.  I’m so exhausted.  I don’t know what I’m thinking, much less what comes out of my mouth.”

 

“Kelly, you know we never really finished talking about that the last time.  I think we should.”

 

“Now?” I snapped.

 

He nodded.  “If it will get it off your chest, yes.  What did you mean by that?”

 

I sighed.  “Jared, you’ve seen Davis and Chris and how they all have their happy little families and Davis just go a new baby, Caroline, and now that my parents have given up on Lynne, they have decided to put all of that on me.  They want me to get married and quit my job and stay at home, pop out four kids or something and be content in that role.”

 

“Do you want kids?”

 

“Yes,” I said simply.  “Maybe in my thirties, but not in the next four years.  I’m not ready for it.”

 

Jared pulled up to Tomo’s apartment complex and parked the car.  He looked at me deeply, understanding, but I could tell he wanted to say something.  He was holding he true feelings back.

 

“What is it?” I asked. 

 

He still said nothing, hesitant.

 

“Jared, just say it.  I want to know how you feel.”

 

After a few seconds, he finally spoke.  “Kelly, I don’t know how long you are really wanting to wait, but it’s a little nerve wracking.  By the time you think you’re ready, more than likely, I’ll be desperate.  This is where the ten years could catch us.  And who says you’re not ready?  We aren’t in the fifties.  You can still pursue your dreams and I wouldn’t want it any other way from you.  It’s not a handicap.  If that’s what’s stopping you, there’s no reason for you to feel that way.”

 

Jared’s phone started ringing.  He picked it up, said a “hey,” “yeah,” “okay,” and, “bye,” and turned back to me.

 

“Tomo?” I asked.

 

“Yeah.  He’s coming down…so—“

 

“Can we talk about this later, please?” I whispered.

 

“Yeah,” he said.  “Come here.”

 

I fell into his harms and he kissed me on my lips lovingly, comfortingly.

 

“I’m sorry,” I muttered.

 

“Me too,” he said, hugging me tighter.  “I love you.”

 

“I love you too,” I said softly and kissed him again.

 

Tomo entered the car as we pulled away and we picked up Shannon a couple minutes later.  A five hour drive awaited us.

Yay!!  I can post the entire chapter!  Just enjoy!

The Party

Jared was still very careful when he kissed me.  As much as he didn’t want to smudge the bright red all over my face, I doubt he wanted a red stain on his either.  It took a minute, but I finally pulled Jared into the passion of the moment and made him give in fully as I know he wanted to.  Admittedly, when we pulled our lips apart and looked at each other, a red perimeter was present around both of our mouths.  Jared’s was more dramatic than mine, but that was likely because I had never seen him in candy-apple lipstick—or any other lipstick for that matter.

 

We went into my bathroom hurriedly, so not to be late, and while Jared removed the red with a few splashes of water, I delicately wiped it away with a wet towel and applied more color.  No matter what the commercials said, there was no way a hydrating bright red lipstick could not smear.

 

“You ready?” Jared asked when he saw I was almost done. 

 

I turned the stick back into its tube and popped the cap back on until I heard the faint ‘click!’  “Yeah,” I said, smiling.

 

It was getting dark out now.  The sky could just barely keep its orange glow.

 

“Hey, Jared?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“You remember that whole thing with out secret getting out?”

 

“Oh, yeah.  How could I forget?  I was starting to wonder when you’d vent.”

 

I grinned.  “Well, there’s no need for me to vent because the secret is safe.”

 

“I wish it didn’t have to be a secret sometimes.  I just want people to know and I want them to be happy for us.”

 

“I know, Jared,” I said, taking his hand in mine.  “If you weren’t famous this would be so much easier.”

 

“I guess you’re right,” Jared said sadly.

 

I jumped.  “No!  Don’t you even think about stopping just for me.  I love you exactly the way you are.  If I thought our relationship would be detrimental to your career, I wouldn’t have started it in the first place.  So, don’t even think like that.”

 

Jared glanced at me trying to spot any doubt.  There was none in my face.  I had meant every word.  I wasn’t lying and I would leave him before he quit singing and acting because of me.

 

“Well, what happened?” Jared asked.  “About—Gisele?—I think?”

 

“That’s right.  She, uh, confronted me just to tell me that she wouldn’t tell anyone.”

 

“See?” he mocked.  “It was nothing to get worked up over.”

 

“Yeah, well, that part was good, but she mentioned briefly that they have pictures of us together.  She made it seem like they were rather intimate.”

 

“How intimate?” he wondered cautiously, turning a corner.

 

“I don’t know.  I don’t think it’s anything explicit.  I mean, how could they have gotten that?  But, you know, maybe times like after the hair appointment and when we made out next to the car….”

 

“But it was night.”

 

“That doesn’t stop them.  We would have seen camera flashes, yes, but a simple video camera?  They could just turn it to night vision and see everything.”

 

He sighed.  “Whatever happens, happens.  We’ll deal with it when it comes up…which means admitting it and moving on.  You can handle that, right?  At that point, no more hiding.”

 

“Fine,” I said, reluctantly.

 

“Besides, Kelly, I’m not that newsworthy.  Gisele probably isn’t paying much to keep it secret.  It’s not like you’re a big movie star or anything.”

 

“What?  Like your other girls?” I spat it out bitterly and instantly regretted it.  “Sorry.  I shouldn’t have said that.”  I pulled my hand out of his.

 

“No.  It was going to come up eventually.  And six months is as good a time as any.  Actually, I’m surprised you didn’t spring it on me earlier.”

 

“Still.  It was uncalled for.  You wouldn’t want to know about all my other guys…even though I didn’t have many.  I’ll fell more at ease once we’re in England.”

 

Jared nodded and stayed quiet for a moment.  “We’re still friends, okay,” he said, patting my knee.  “There’s no hard feelings between any of the others and I and I don’t love them like I love you.”  He grabbed my hand again.  “I think you’ll like my mom.  She’s amazing.  A bit less uptight than your though.”

 

I smiled.  “You’ve told her about me, right?”

 

He laughed.  “Of course.  Briefly.  I didn’t want to spoil the surprise before she met you for herself.  I’ll let her come to her own conclusions.”

 

I let out a deep breath.  “Thank God.  I won’t deny that it would have been a little awkward if you hadn’t.”

 

“I couldn’t resist talking about you to her.”

 

We arrived at the party, where a bunch of people were already inside.  It would be completely dark in a half hour or so.

 

Upon entering, Jared encircled my waist with his arm, supporting me.  Indeed, I didn’t know any of the people in the room.  A though struck me.  What if they noticed Jared and I?  We were standing so close together; they would have to suspect something.

 

“Should we—“

 

“No,” Jared said, reading my mind.  He was too good at reading my nerves.

 

Shannon came up behind us and grabbed both of our shoulders.  “Hey, guys!  Rather, one guy and a girl.  Do you want something to drink?”

 

Jared shook his head no.

 

Shannon nodded to me.

 

“Oh, um, what do you have?”

 

“Anything!” he laughed.  “There’s a whole bar in the corner.”

 

“Well, then, I’ll keep it simple and go for a seltzer with lime over ice.”

 

“What?  You feeling okay?” he joked, bringing his hand to my forehead.

 

“I like it.  It’s refreshing.  And my grandmother brought me up on it.  Except, she’d add the vodka when no one was looking.”

 

Jared and Shannon laughed heartily.

 

A woman came up beside Shannon, next to Jared.  I noticed she was gently aging, but was still beautiful considering.  She had long blonde hair and deep colored eyes that almost looked like a mix of Jared and Shannon’s eye color.

 

“Hey, boys,” she said, pulling Shannon to her for a quick kiss on the cheek and then Jared.  “So, what was so funny?”

 

“Kelly?”  Shannon smiled.

 

I chuckled, slight nerves popped up.  “Oh, Shannon was making fun of the drink I asked for and I told them that my grandmother got me into it, except she added vodka when she thought no one was looking.”

 

She smiled.  “What drink was it?”

 

“Oh, really simple.  Just seltzer water and lime juice.  My grandmother would either add vodka or replace the seltzer it altogether.”

 

“I believe I’ve tried it once—without the vodka.  It was…an acquired taste.”

 

“Yeah.  I didn’t like it at first either.  Now I tend to drink it most often when I got to my grandparents’ beach house.  It just has a beachy feel to it.  I can’t explain it.  Maybe it’s the citrus.”

 

Shannon tapped my shoulder.  “I’ll go get it for you.  You sure you don’t want vodka?”

 

I shook my head.  “No thanks.  I think I’ll stay totally sober tonight.”

 

Shannon maneuvered through the crowd until he disappeared and I turned back to Jared and his mother. 

 

“So, Jared, you going to introduce us?”

 

Jared jumped.  “Oh, yeah, sorry.  Mom, this is Kelly.  Kelly, this is my mom, Constance.”

 

I held out my hand.  She took it and we shaked hands.

 

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” I said, smiling.

 

“You too.  So, you guys have been together for how long now?”

 

“About six months?” I said, turning to Jared for confirmation.

 

He nodded.  “Yeah, about that long.”

 

“Wow.  That’s like—what?—three years in Hollywood?”

 

“Mom that’s with marriage,” Jared muttered.

 

“Oh,” she giggled.  “Shows how much I know.  I don’t really get into all of the hype.”

 

“I understand,” I began.  “It’s hard to focus once you get sucked into the Hollywood lifestyle.  I think my family and job have really helped me stay out of trouble.”

 

“Oh, what do you do?”

 

“I work at a magazine.  Rockies?  I don’t know if you’ve heard of it.  I work as the head of the Interrogatory Division.  We set up and conduct interviews, etcetera.”

 

“Wait.  You’re K. Eidric.  Didn’t you used to—“

 

“Yeah.  I’m more famous for my old job than my current one.  But, it brought me to Jared, so it was all worth it.  It was hard…at the beginning.”

 

Jared spoke up.  “We didn’t exactly adore each other.  It was more her than me though.”

 

My mouth gaped open.  I hit him in the stomach.  “What!” I said as he playfully keeled over.  “Actually, he’s right.  Life was not good for me at the time.  But it only took a weekend for it to finally click.”

 

Jared stood back up.  “I surprised her at her house.  She’s got a huge family.  It was a lot of fun.”

 

Constance oo’ed.  “How many siblings do you have?”

 

“Four,” I replied.  “All are older except for my little brother.”

 

“Little?”

 

“Oh, well.  Oty’s not really ‘little,’ I just always think of him that way.  I’m possessive.”

 

“It’s great that you are so close to your family.”

 

“Well, my dad and Oty are the only two that I’ve really bonded with.  But, I do love my nieces and nephews.  They are awesome kids.”

 

“So, how old are you?”

 

“I am 26 years old.”

 

“Good age.  Better than some of them.”

 

“Yeah, that’s what I told Jared pretty close the start.  I’m pretty stable at this point in my life.  I know where I’m going.”

 

Shannon suddenly came back up behind me with my drink.  “Here you go,” he said, handing it to me.

 

“Took you long enough,” I said sarcastically.

 

“They’re back-logged!  I had to wait.”

 

“You know I’m joking.”

 

“Yeah…right,” he said quietly before I slapped his shoulder and he laughed.

 

I felt Jared rub my back.  He bent over and whispered into my ear.  “I’ll give you some time with her.”

 

I leaned back as I muttered, “Okay.”

 

“Hey.  Shannon, come here.  I want to show you something,” Jared said, walking off with his harm around Shannon’s shoulder.

 

Constance and I were left alone, the large crowd surrounding us.

 

“Do you want to find somewhere quiet and talk?” she asked.

 

I nodded my head.  “Sure.  That would be great.”

 

She led me out the back door and we found an empty bench a few feet away.  We sat down and she delved right into the heart of Jared’s relationship and mine.

 

“So, where do you see this going?  You and Jared?”

 

I sighed, thinking it over.  “You know, I’ve asked myself that several times and the truth is…I love your son.  More passionately than anyone else in my entire life and honestly, I can see myself—ten years from now—married…maybe starting a family?  Just really settling down.  I mean, I’m not naïve enough to think that that future would be possible in the next year or even the next five years.  I think it’s going to take a while for us both to be ready for a huge commitment such as children.  But, besides that, Jared loves his career so plainly and I love mine—it could be better—but I like where I’m at, you know.  The experience is going to make me stronger later and I want to keep pushing myself as far as I can before I have to worry about another life besides Jared.  Because, I know that having a family means putting your children before yourself and I’m not going to lie and say that I’m ready for that because I’m really not.  And Jared…he’s too in love with his acting and 30 Seconds to Mars to really want to settle down.  But, I definitely want to get married, eventually.  I want that stability and safety and I feel that around Jared.”

 

Constance seemed to review in her mind everything I had just said.  “That was a very genuine response, thank you.  And you are right.  I don’t think Jared is ready for a family responsibility yet, although I do think he wants one.”

 

I nodded.

 

“You seem like a very mature, responsible, and strong-willed woman and I think that you would do very good keeping Jared in check.  And you’re independence is also crucial to being with any celebrity, much less Jared.  I would think that you wouldn’t want to be on the road constantly, so having a strong career of your own is obviously very important.”

 

“I agree.  Actually, I’m going to Europe with Jared these next few months.  It’s part work, part play.  I’m doing interviews at all the big music awards.”

 

“It’s great that you can blend it.”

 

“Yeah.  I was really anxious that my boss wouldn’t let me go, but I don’t know how much longer I want to work at Rockies anyway.  Jared is encouraging me to become a novelist.  To dedicate myself full-time to fiction works.  I think I’m probably headed in that direction.”

 

We finished out talk in the next few minutes and headed back in.  A few hours later, I was exhausted and ready to head back home.  There was another late night ahead of us.

 

At around 10:00, the party was winding down and I pulled Jared to me.  She kissed me on the side of my head.

 

“I’m hungry,” I said.

 

“Me too,” he whispered.  “What do you want?”

 

“Normal food,” I laughed into his chest.

 

We left soon after and went through the drive-thru at McDonalds.

Welcome to part two!  Just enjoy, once again. :)

"For Someone Afraid of Being Judged, You Are Awfully Judgmental."

 

It was July 18, four days after.  I was preparing to meet Jared’s mother for the first time.  How much did she know about me?  Did she even know I existed?  That would be embarrassing.  We’d start talking and all of a sudden she’d ask,” And who are you?”  I’d be extremely polite and answer, “Oh, my name is Kelly Eidric and I’ve been dating your soon for six months now.  Surprise!” 

 

Even if she didn’t know my name, I could deal with that.  I just wanted her to at least know her son was dating someone.

 

6:47.  The clock kept flashing those three numbers in the corner of my eye.  I had tried to fix the flashing.  I even hit the damned thing in my utter frustration.  It didn’t stop.  Apparently the power had blinked while I was at work.

 

I got off an hour early just to get ready for the party at 7:30.  Adrian was nowhere near as hostile as he had been before our chat on my trip to Europe.  He let me go easily.  For the past few days I had been teaching Kyle little tricks of the trade.  Yesterday I finally told the division that I would be leaving and that Kyle would be in charge.  Some of the older Employees’ faces sank.  I could understand that, but they had never expressed any interest in a promotion, so I left it.  At the same time, I could see the delight and awe emanating from the new, younger employees.  I suppose they though Kyle would instigate a party during my absence.  They would be surprised.

 

I only had one more full day of work: Monday.  I would have to cherish it.  In fact, I was leaving with Jared, Emma, and the rest of 30 Seconds to Mars to England just three hours after I got off work.  I knew I was going to miss my friends and Family in California, but it was a job—I just happened to be with the man I loved the entire time.

 

For a goodbye, my parents were hosting a Bar-be-Que for family and friends on Saturday night, tomorrow.

 

I skipped to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.  I wasn’t almost ready.  I wore a shimmering teal top that was corseted to the curve of my torso just below my breasts and then flared out in a silky plane over my black pencil skirt.  Jared told me not to dress too over-the-top, so any dress was out of the question.  I decided to do a fancy version of a work outfit.  My hair was in a wavy ponytail and was wrapped in an elastic to the side, spilling over my shoulder.  I carefully applied a shade of candy-apple-red lipstick and wiped away a smudge that had fallen on my teeth.

 

I walked to the bed and sat down, sliding on a pair of silver strappy heels.  There were two and a half inches high and defined my calves perfectly.

 

I sighed and started to stand up, when I heard my cell phone ring.  It was Madison.

 

“Hey, Madison!  What’s up?” I asked, plopping back down.

 

“Hey!  I just wanted to tell you some news that I think you’ll like.”  She sounded happy on the other end.

 

“Well, what is it?” I inquired, excited.

 

“I just filed for divorce!” she laughed.

 

My mouth gaped open.  “What!”

 

“Yeah.  I just went to my lawyer’s office and the process has started.  God, I’m so excited.”

 

For the average person, getting a divorce would have been sad…or at least exhausting, but Madison couldn’t have been more enthusiastic.  Thank God there was no custody hearing necessary.

 

“That’s great,” I said.  “Does Ben know yet?”

 

“No.  I was going to tell him soon.”

 

“Madison, you never know how Ben could react.  Be careful.”

 

“Oh, yeah, of course.  I know the perfect time.  This coming Thursday I’m traveling to Florida for Warped and I was going to have my lawyer present the papers while I’m gone.”

 

“Well that’s good.  You won’t even have to be there when he vents.”

 

“Yeah.  I can’t wait to be single again.  I can sex with anyone I want!”

 

“Okay, okay.  Too much information,” I laughed.

 

The doorbell rang.

 

“Wait.  Madison, someone is at the door.”  I hopped up and walked down the hallway.  “It should be Jared.  I’m going to meet his mom tonight.  There’s a jewelry party.”

 

“Ooooo…”

 

“Yeah, I know.  Well, look, I’ll see you at the party tomorrow.  2 pm, remember?”

 

I reached the front door and smiled when I saw Jared there.

 

“I remember.  See you then.  Bye!”

 

“Buh-bye,” I said, hanging up.

 

I immediately pulled Jared in the house and gave him a big hug.  He had a big bag in his hands that he set down.

 

“Can I get a kiss?” he asked.

 

“Do you want red lipstick to wipe off?” I joked.

 

He laughed.  “Maybe not then.”

 

I pulled back and kissed him very lightly on the lips.

 

“There.  Not too much,” I said, rubbing my middle finger over his lips.

 

“You look absolutely gorgeous,” he whispered and kissed my cheek.

 

I glanced at what he was wearing: a Henley top, jeans, and sunglasses clipped to his shirt.

 

“You could have told me it was casual wear,” I said.

 

“Oh, come on.  You’re not wearing anything insanely fancy, just…polished.”

 

I squinted at him and he smiled.

 

He took my hand and led me to the couch, bringing the big bag with him.  “I bought you a little something.”

 

“What?  What is it this time?”

 

He reached into the bag and pulled out a large, square box made of navy velvet.

 

I sighed.  “What is it?”

 

“Open it,” he said, placing the box in my palm.

 

I cracked it open slowly.

 

I gasped.

 

It was a three-piece jewelry set: earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet.  They were all plated in high quality platinum.  The pair of earrings were in the shape of maple leaves, the necklace and bracelet bearing the same resemblance. 

 

“Oh, my God, Jared.  I don’t know what to say.  I love them.”

 

“My mom designed them.  There are her favorite.”

 

I breathed out deeply.  “Jared, thank you.  Thank you so much.”  I leaned over and gave him another big hug.  “You want me to wear them?”

 

Jared chuckled.  “Only if you want to.”

 

I pulled away and laughed.  “Of course I do.  Here, let me turn around.”  I shifted on the couch, my back finally facing him.  “Put the necklace on?”  I handed the box back to Jared.

 

“Sure.” 

 

I heard him unhook the necklace and place it around the front of my neck.  I lifted my side ponytail and Jared pulled the other side through.  He joined the clasp at the base of my neck and kissed me there when he was done.  I closed my eyes at the intimacy and turned back around and put on the earrings.  Jared helped me with the bracelet.

 

I stared into his eyes and lifted my hand to sift through his straightened hair near his ear.

 

“I want to kiss you so bad,” Jared whispered.

 

I pulled my body closer to his, letting my hand fall.  “Then do it.”

 

He raised his hand and hand and his fingers traced along my jaw line.  “I don’t want to mess—“

 

I put my finger to his lips.  “Kiss me.”

So, Buzznet has decided to be a complete ass and not allow me to post the entire chapter.  This is part one.  Enjoy!

"For Someone Afraid of Being Judged, You Are Awfully Judgmental."

When I thought about it, I didn’t know why I was so nervous about Gisele finding out.  Jared and I had agreed that we wouldn’t deliberately hide our relationship.  But, when we promised that, we in a bout of love.  The last thing on my mind was my coworker, Gisele.  I tried not to think of her at all if I could.  All I knew was that I desperately needed to call Jared and ask him what to do.  Honestly, I could live with people knowing, but it wasn’t my career that would be most impacted.  I was okay with losing my job anyway.  The last thing Jared needed was for his fans to suddenly disappear over petty jealousy.

 

At her office door, I told Gisele that I needed to use the restroom.  She waved me off with a smile on her face as if I was infinitely below her.

 

In the restroom, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Jared’s number.  I was anxious and my hands were jittery.

 

“Hello?” he answered.

 

“Hey, Jared?  Um, I need to keep this quick—“

 

“Hold on, Kelly,” he took the phone away from his ear and I could hear faint mutterings in the background.

 

“It’s Kelly.  She sounds a little distraught.”

 

“Okay, give it to me.”

 

The phone came back into it’s normal, full sound.

 

“Hello, Kelly?”  the man asked.

 

I was completely confused.  “Jared?”

 

“Yeah, it’s me.”

 

“What?  Wait, who was I talking to before?”

 

“Oh, it was Shannon.  I just walked away from the phone a sec.  Wait, guess what!  For the rental car I an ultra-low emission BMW.  It’s really nice—“

 

“Jared!  Stop.  Look, I’m sorry.  That’s nice, but right now I think we have a bigger problem than a new BMW.”

 

“Well, what happened?”

 

“Jared, I’ve got to keep this short.  Gisele—she heads the Gossip Division—knows about us.  I just know it.  I think she may have gotten some pictures of us or something.  What do I do?  Do I admit it to her?  I mean I don’t want it to affect you.”

 

“Kelly, calm down.  I think you need to tell her if she pries.  If you don’t tell the truth, there will be constant speculation and they will think we are together anyway.  Plus, they’ll add in a few more nasty rumors.”

 

“But—“

 

He tried to rationalize with me.  “Kelly, it’s not a huge deal.  We talked about not denying—“

 

“Yeah, and we talked about not admitting it either.  ‘Just ignore them’ you said.”

 

“Yes, I did, but they will never leave us alone.  If they know more then they will realize that our life isn’t that spectacular and they’ll move on to the next Britney Spears scandal.”

 

I sighed.  “Jared, Gisele won’t let this go though.  She’ll push and push and I can’t stand working here—not that it’s a big deal.  I was ready to be fired today.”

 

“Kelly, I’ve told you what I think.  Now, calm down.  It’ll be all right.  Don’t lie.  It will only make it worse.”

 

I whimpered, wishing there was another way.  We would be guilty as charged no matter we did.  “Okay.” 

 

“Okay?” he asked, confirming.

 

“Yeah,” I whispered.  “Well, I’ve got to go now.  I’ve already talked too long.  She’ll wonder.  I’ll tell you how it goes.”

 

“All right then.  I love you,” he said.

 

“Love you too,” I responded, hanging up.

 

I heard a knock at the door.

 

“One minute!” I yelled and took a deep breath.  Stay calm, I told myself.

 

I flushed the toilet, pretending to have gone and turned the water faucet on for a few seconds.  I left immediately, ignoring the woman.

 

I thrust open Gisele’s office door.  It was positioned at the end of a long hall, in a similar fashion as Adrian’s.

 

“So, what is it?” I asked with an irritated demeanor.  “What is it you think you know?”

 

Gisele was seated comfortably in her black leather chair behind a rich mahogany desk.  I hadn’t been in her office in months.  Some serious upgrades were put in, including a 42-inch plasma screen TV.  I bet she used it for research purposes only.  She smiled at me.  “Kelly, believe it or not, I really do know what you are hiding and you a perfectly good reason not to want me to know.”

 

My jaw dropped in anger.  She was so presumptuous.  I took a few steps toward her.  I was hovering stiffly over her poised, mocking body.  “Whatever you think you know is really none of your business,” I said.

 

“Actually it is,” she laughed.  “It’s in my job description so I would say that it directly matches the definition of ‘my business.’”

 

“You are such a bitch,” I cursed.  “You have absolutely no respect for others.  You have no fucking idea what I’ve had to do to get where I am—“

 

“No, I think I do.  I’ve seen very intimately what you’ve done to get here.”

 

“As have I,” I muttered.  “Pretty soon, fucking the boss won’t be good enough for you.  What are you going to do then?  Marry him?  Have his children?  You’ll have your life made until the day you die.  No more work for you.”

 

She was silent.  I knew I’d pushed one of her buttons and I wouldn’t leave it that.  “Everyone thinks that.  They just don’t say it to your face.  You trade sex for money.  That’s sort of the definition of a whore, isn’t it?”

 

“Are you done?” she spat.

 

I didn’t reply.

 

“Don’t think I don’t know what people think of me. “  She stood up and walked around the desk, approaching my left.  “I just don’t care.  Whether or not you believe it, I do love him…and money just happened to be a benefit.  But, enough of me.  This is about you.”

 

“You don’t know anything about me…to judge me.”

 

She snapped back nonchalantly.  “I’m not judging you.  I would have done the exact same thing.  I know you are with Jared, Kelly.  And besides the pictures and camera footage that Rockies has paid off, I knew way before anyone else here.  It’s funny how love is instantly uplifting.  Going from depressed to super confident doesn’t happen without a reason and Mr. Leto is that reason.”  She returned to her chair and sat down, coolly.

 

“So, what do you want?” I asked.  “I’m not being blackmailed this time.  Tell everyone.  I don’t care.”

 

“And Jared?”

 

“He doesn’t care either.  And whatever you are thinking about won’t work.”

 

“You know, Kelly, I don’t think you know me well enough to predict me actions.  For someone afraid of being judged, you are awfully judgmental.”

 

“I’m fully aware of that.  Having been an editorialist, what do you think I did all day?  I judged the situation and wrote my opinion on it.  It’s what I do—“ shit—“It’s what I did.  It doesn’t mean I like being judged any better.  It’s the same with you.  You report on celebrities and using your judgment decide the tone.  You are able to diss celebrities or promote them.”

 

Gisele nodded and smiled.  “Well, it’s seems we are both aware of our hypocritical tendencies.  I just wanted to let you know that…we are not reporting on you and Jared.  Frankly, we’ll leave it to the trashy magazines.  When they pay the photographers to disclose the photos more than I’m paying to hold them…secret’s out.”

 

I sighed.  I was also shocked.  This was truly a day of miracles.  Three’s a charm.

 

“Why?” I asked.

 

“Because…I do have class and I do have respect, aside from what people think.  And just because I think you deserve to know this—and I don’t know why—Adrian and I broke up a last week.”

 

“What?” I said, dumbfound.

 

“We’re keeping it friendly—“

 

“And sexual,” I mumbled.

 

She twitched her lips, knowingly.  “Yes.  But, it’s not going to anywhere.  Turns out I’m just another one of his girl friends.  I wanted the same thing as all of them.  It’s over.  He just happens to be the boss and I the employee.  And we happen to like sex.”  She laughed at that last.  “I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell everyone this.  I just wanted someone to know.”

 

I remained silent, watching.  “It’s won’t get out.”  I turned around and took a step to toward the door.

 

“Just so you know,” Gisele called,” I never said anything to make Adrian distrust you.”

 

“You made him fire Angela!” I said incredulously.

 

“That has nothing to do with you.  And no one liked her anyway.  I know you didn’t.”

 

I laughed.  “Well…you’re right.  She was definitely a different breed of bitch.”

 

It was her turn to chuckle.  When she quieted, I spoke up again.  “I need to thank you.”

 

She cocked her head, baffled.

 

“You led me the article,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.   If you hadn’t blackmailed me…well…I wouldn’t have met Jared.  So, thank you.”

 

She nodded graciously, understanding.

 

I swiveled on my heel and shut the door behind me.

Hello, Everyone!

I know it has been an insanely long time since I said I was going to post the next chapter.  I thought I would fill you in on why because now I'm feeling the guilt. lol.

Basically, I have started working on a new story.  It is not a fanfic.  It is something that will hopefully not be tucked away into my 5 binders of 'UNFINISHED/DRAFTED WORKS.'  So far as a working title, I've called it "God, Help Us."  It's about a group of on-the-run criminals (or something of the sort) that take a family hostage. 

Currently I am working on the character profiles, which is where I detail for myself their birthday, age, parent's names, hair color, etc. along with their personality and background.  I go into a lot of detail for each character so that I only have to refer to a piece of paper if I am confused on a character trait.  This takes a lot of time for me to make each character memorable and unique.  Right now there are 11 major characters that I must do this for.

So, I am here to ask for a little help on character names.  I will give a brief description of each and I guess you can tell me if you think the name fits or is way off.  You don't have to suggest other names, but just tell me which character may seem off...but don't hesitate if you can think of a better name.  I love input! :)

Jeaniene (Je-neene) Carterey (Car-ter-ae)- she is 16 with light brunette hair and brown eyes and medium skin tone.  She is a dancer (ballroom and contemporary) and wants to attend Juliard (for those that don't know, Juliard is a prestigious school of the arts in the US).  She has just broken up with her boyfriend, Eric Hayes.

Alexander Carterey- he is 18 and Jeaniene's brother.  He has dark brunette hair and blue eyes.  He has just graduated from high school where he was the most popular football player.  He has taken a break from his long-time relationship with Shayn to look around before committing fully to her.

Madeline Carterey- she is Jeaniene's and Alex's younger sister at 12 years old.  She is athletic and loves soccer and track/field.  She doesn't have the best grades, but tries nonetheless.  She sings in competitions in her free time and has won awards.  She has dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Nicole Carterey- she is the mother of the above 3 and is 39 years old.  She has dark brown hair and brown eyes (almost the spitting image of Madeline).  She stuck out from her other 3 siblings, all girls, as quiet, responsible, and passionate.  She attended Cornell University in New York with her husband and married.

Richard Carterey- he is 42 years old with light brown hair and blue eyes.  He was brought up an orthodox Mormon in Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah is basically the Mormon capital of America) and quickly wanted to leave the religion.  His family was firmly against him marrying a nonmormon, Nicole.  He works as a novelist.

Davis Maass (Moss...I know the spelling is weird.  I know a guy who's last name is spelled and pronounced this way)- Maass (37, brown hair, blue eyes), his nickname, is the leader of the group of criminals.  His younger brother Jan was diagnosed with Leukemia, so he turned to selling/distributing drugs to gain the money to support the medical bills.  When, he brother dies, he leaves home and seeks revenge, meeting the rest of the group along the way.

Malin Strey (Stray)- Malin is 28 years old with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes.  She was brought up in a wealthy family, but was neglected and thus turned to alcohol which eventually led to her cocaine addiction.  After high school she turned to prostitution to support her habit and along the way met Maass.  They are lovers.

Jeremy Hoss- Jeremy is a brunette with blue eyes and is 36 years old.  He grew up with Maass as his best friend and loved being an only child until his sister was born.  He leaves with Maass and is his true confidant.

Reece Duram (Dur-um)- his parents die when he is young and he is sent into foster care.  He has an obessive personality and when he meets Jeaniene he develops a passion for her that she does not return.  He makes a deal with Maass to get Jeaniene's attentions.  He is 16 with brown hair and blue eyes.

Merrik Duram- he is Reece's older brother of 21 with dirty blonde hair and green eyes.  He was sent to a different foster care in NYC after his parent's death and starts a meth addiction.  He makes a deal with Maass and stops paying.  Maass, instead of killing him, takes him in.  Merrik gains contact with Reece and begs him to help.

Gabriel Tenneson- Gabe is born to a young unwed mother and when she marries her husband sexually abuses him.  He is sent away to his grandmother and after high school leaves to NYC where he conducts a series of rapes/murders.  He joins the group while attempting to rape Malin (Maass stops him).  He is a brunette with brown eyes and is 29 years old.

So, that's it guys.  Tell me what you think and ask question if you need to.  :)

These are some more sketches that I've drawn.  The most recent is the last one, which I 'modified' today.  All of the others were done a little over two years ago.  Enjoy! :) 

1.

2.

 

3.

 

4.

5.

6.

7.

That's it! :)  Tell me what you think! XD

Suspicion

We made love several times that night.  By the time my alarm clock had gone off, I’d only gotten here hours of sleep.  Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea considering the fact that I would be discussing going to Europe with Adrian today.  I didn’t want or need to be in an irritable mood.  But, it was the only way I wouldn’t have to think about work and what I had to do.  The sensations overrode my sense of reality and all I could think about was Jared and what he did to me.  A fantastic way to escape, but not necessarily productive. 

 

Now, I was all worked up again.  Shit! 

 

He was going to say no.  I just knew it.

 

Everything was perfect before that stupid fucking article.  I was exactly where I wanted to be in my life.  I was doing what I loved: writing, making great money while doing it, having sex with countless numbers of hot guys, and all the while I felt free and respected, not looked down on because of it.  I’d give anything to be able to go back that.

 

But, then I wouldn’t have met Jared.  I wouldn’t have grown.  I wouldn’t have truly loved, as I did now.  I would have probably already slept with Adrian and gotten a pay raise.  And then Gisele would start hating me, following Madison, and after her the entire staff.  Then where would I be?

 

Worse than where I was now.  I could deal with being called many things, but whore or racist were the two things I could not tolerate.  And it really would have been sex for money, even if I hadn’t planned on it.

 

So, I guess, in a way, the article saved me.  It humbled me and taught me huge life lessons that I never would have learned otherwise.  My fucking ego would have gotten in the way.  And—oh, how I hated to admit it—I guess Gisele was responsible for this turn around.  She had been the one to dream up the editorial subject and she was the one who blackmailed me into publishing it.  In a way, she was owed thanks.  As if she would ever get it.  But, look where she was now.  Now, she was the slut and the whore that everyone hated.  Personally, I never cared.  I had my own love of my life and, thankfully, he wasn’t my boss.

 

Jared teased me and begged that he be able to take a shower with me.  I laughed and firmly declined.

 

I left Jared at the house, reminding him to get himself a rental car while I was gone.  He nodded and I caught a brief glimpse of him picking up the phone as I shut the door behind me.

 

In the car, found that my nerves had suddenly vanished.  Why wasn’t I nervous anymore?  Maybe it was subconscious.  Maybe I had, unbeknownst to me, come to terms with the inevitable.  Yes or no was the answer and I could go with Jared no matter what Adrian said.  It only depended on me.  Then, the real reason struck my conscious mind.  I knew why.  The decision was in my hands, not Adrian’s.  Whatever Adrian said, my choice overrode him.

 

Up the elevator I went, passing by both Haden and Natalie, all the while beaming confidence.  It was going to take me much farther in my quest than anxiety and shyness.

 

Once I reached my floor, I instantly found Kyle.  He had been standing by the coffee room and I noticed that as soon as he saw me he raced to my trail.

 

Around Kyle I relaxed a little.  What had I to prove to him?  Only that I wasn’t going to criticize him at any moment.

 

At the door of my office, I abruptly stopped and swerved around facing Kyle.  He almost tripped and just barely saved the coffee in his hand from spilling.  I took a cautious step back and he handed me the cup.

 

“Kyle, can you get in touch with Adrian’s secretaries and tell them that I need to speak with him as soon as possible?”

 

Kyle didn’t respond for a minute.  He had a puzzled expression on his face.  No doubt he had never heard me ask him to do something.

 

“Uh…yeah—yes!” he said.

“Good.  And when you are done, come into my office.  I need to talk with you.  And don’t worry.  It’s a good thing,” I said, smiling.  He’d had a look of shock and fear in his eyes.

 

I shut my office door and was relieved to be in complete silence.  Alone time, finally, I thought.

 

I sat in my chair and just breathed.  Then, I looked around me.  If I was still working here by the end of the day, then I would have to do some serious redecorating.  I was tired of such a cold, dark, sterile environment.  It wasn’t conducive to positive thinking.

 

A knock came at the door.  Kyle.

 

“Come in,” I said, still relaxed.

 

Kyle closed the door behind him and, surprisingly, took the initiative to sit down.

 

“Did they saw how long?” I asked.

 

“Ten to fifteen minutes.  He’s finishing up a meeting.”

 

I smiled.  “Since when do they have meetings this early on a Monday?”

 

It was a rhetorical question and, surprisingly, yet again, Kyle got it.

 

“So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked.

 

“Well, I though I should just fill you in on things,” I said, leaning closer to Kyle, resting my elbows on my desk.

 

“Okay?” he said, confused.

 

I sped things up.  Ten minutes would go by fast.

 

“Basically, Kyle, one way or another I won’t be here for a couple months starting in a few weeks.  I know you are going to ask why and I am not going to tell you the fully story because if it does slip out, you are not just ruining my career.”

 

Kyle very clearly thought I was high or something.

 

“Okay?” he muttered again.

 

“I am going to Europe.  Now, by this point, I can currently think of no one else to replace me while I am gone—if I come back—than you.  You know what the job entails and you know the ins and outs that even I didn’t get.  So, no matter what happens you will receive my recommendation to fill in for me, however long that may be.”

 

Kyle wasn’t very shaken at what I told him, surprisingly.  He was full of surprises today.

 

“There is one thing that you are going to have to do to get the job and that is to gain some confidence and at least not show the world if you aren’t.  I just need to know that you won’t freak out when it comes time for you to go interview bands.”

 

Kyle looked directly at me.  “I can do that!  I’m more relaxed around strangers.”

 

Now it was my turn to look puzzled.  “Wait, so the reason you are so shy around me is because…you know me?”

 

“Yeah,” he said, laughing.  “It’s weird, I know.  The only person it’s not like that with is my girl friend, which good, I guess.  I just don’t like people judging me and I feel like the more people know me, the more they have to judge.  Whoa!” he burst out spontaneously.  “That felt good.  I haven’t told anyone that.  Only my girl friend…and my mom.”

 

I can’t really describe how I felt at that moment.  It was like one of those movie scenes where the guy tells an unbearable secret that he’s been keeping for years and the person he told is completely spellbound into silence.

 

Well, I wasn’t quite spellbound, but there was a long, dramatic, and slightly awkward pause.

 

“All right then,” I said, utterly believing him and wanting to drop the subject entirely.  “Well, I guess that was it.  Now,” I began, standing up,” it’s time to see Adrian.  I’ll see you in a few.” 

 

Pleasantly, I left him with a genuine smile on both of our faces.  I finally felt that I had gotten through to him that I wasn’t going to bite, however strange it had been executed.  Oh, well, the job was in good hands.  Besides, if anything came up, I knew Kyle would be the last person to hesitate to call.  I thought the thing he would have to get the most used to was becoming an authority figure.  If all went well, it would only last for two months, three tops.

 

That’s when I really started thinking.  Did I really want to continue working at Rockies?  Yes, I had some great friends: Madison, Natalie, Davey, Haden, but it just wasn’t fun anymore.  I didn’t love doing it and I most certainly didn’t look forward to coming to work every morning.  Maybe it was time for a change, like a real newspaper, or—as Jared suggested—novels.  Now that would be a dream.

 

I was at Adrian’s door before I knew it and all I could think about was life with Jared after Rockies.  No more stress!

 

Without knocking, I entered his office.  Delightfully, Gisele wasn’t there.  She always seemed to be ten feet away from him at the farthest at all times.  Odd.  And very irresponsible, considering she did head the Gossip Division now.  At least when she was a normal employee, it didn’t matter if she slacked off.

 

I saw Adrian at the window, staring down at the busy city of Los Angeles.

 

“What did you so urgently need to see me about?” he asked, rather depressed and irritable, still staring out the window.

 

It was rare indeed when I saw Adrian so ticked.  I thought I’d milk it a little.

 

“What about that ‘meeting?’  As far as I know, we’ve never conducted a meeting at 8 am on a Monday no less.”

 

He still didn’t look at me.  Now he was being more than rude and it was pissing me off.

 

“Was it Judith and the kids?  Or did something happen between you and Gisele?”

 

“Just answer the damned question!” he yelled, banging a hand on the windowpane.  He still couldn’t manage to look me in the eye.  I would have felt sorry for him, if I didn’t hate him so much.

 

“I’d like it if you could actually look at me when I’m answering your question.”

 

Adrian stilled and hesitated before finally turning to me.

 

I resumed my answer.  “It’s more of a favor or…a request.”

 

He rolled his eyes.  “What is it?” He walked over to his desk and sat down.

 

I sat down in the chair on the left in front of his desk.  “I’d like to take a couple—few—months off…to Europe.”

 

He laughed.  “What?  Two—no, three—months off?  With pay?”

 

I nodded, understanding exactly why it sounded ludicrous.  “Preferably.”

 

He calmed himself and glared at me.  “Kelly, you can’t just leave for three months.”

 

“I’m not any use around here anymore.  I don’t do anything!  Sure, writing and asking questions is a very thought-provoking profession.  Damn it, Adrian!  Anyone with a remotely pleasant personality and some responsibility can do that.  And I most certainly don’t fit the first.  I take it upon myself to remain indifferent at work.  Why do you even keep me?  Palmer is hardly doing anything spectacular in the Editorial Division and the same goes for me.  I’m not saying you should fire me, but—“

 

“And who is supposed to replace you?”

 

“My intern.  Kyle?  I’ve already set up a recommendation for him.”

 

“Why?  Recommendations are for permanent transfer.”

 

I smiled and nodded.  “I know.  I don’t know how much longer I can stay here, Adrian.  But, I can still work while I’m away.  The computer truly is a wondrous thing.”

 

“How am I supposed to use you when you are thousands of miles away?  Who knows where you will be at any given time.  Paris on Monday, Munich on Thursday, and Venice on Saturday.  That doesn’t exactly work well with interviews, Kelly.  You need to be where the band is, not the other way around.  And do you know how hard it is to coordinate foreign interviews.  I’d have to add a new section on ‘bands in Europe.’”

 

“So do it!  We need something new and refreshing, not the same thing every single month.  In fact, I think Rockies should turn weekly.”

 

“What?  Like Time Magazine?”

 

“Yes!  Exactly like Time.  Rockies could expand dramatically.  You know it.  You…never mind.”

 

Adrian frowned briefly at me, but let my unfinished thought go.  “Kelly, I wouldn’t be able to pay you a normal salary until I’m fully done coordinating the department.  Sixty-five percent is the best I can do and besides that, why?  Why go to Europe?”

 

I stuttered.  “I…I can’t really tell you.  It’s personal.”

 

“Oh,” he said, mocking me.  “Why should I let you go then?”

 

“Because.  I have a strong feeling that if Rockies pursues this, then sales will soar.  And do you know how many events there are across Europe in the summer and fall?  It’s crazy award time.  And I can get inside access to most, if not, all of them.”

 

“How?”

 

“It’s part of what I can’t tell you.  But, I can do some interviews and the best part is the convenience.  I’ll already be there.”

 

Adrian sighed.

 

I pushed on.  “I can do the Kerrang Awards, no problem.”

 

I could see Adrian thinking hard.  “I’ll need you to do two other events if you have to go.  The EMAs and the Latin VMAs.  Now, as to how you get to South America?  I don’t care.  That’s my condition.”

 

“Okay.  And where does the rest of my pay go?”

 

“The remaining thirty-five percent I planned to give to Kyle.  He’ll be working more frequently than you.”

 

“That’s what I wanted to hear,” I said.  “He deserves it.”

 

I stood up and walked toward his door.  I stopped and turned.  “So, what happened with the whole Green band thing?”

 

“Kerrang just did an issue on it.  Nash actually headed it.  I just thought it would be too repetitive.”

 

I nodded and exited.   Figures Nash would be on the same track as Rockies.

 

**

 

When I was in the elevator, I felt a buzzing against my hip.  It was my cell phone vibrating.  I looked at the ID.

 

“Jared!” I said, ecstatic.

 

There was no one else in the elevator to hear the squeal.

 

“Someone’s happy.  He said yes?”

 

“Yes!  I can’t believe it.  I mean, I caught him on a great day.  Well, it was great for me, bad for him.”

 

Jared laughed on the other side.

 

“So what did you call about?” I asked.

 

“Well, I just wanted—“

 

The DING! Of the elevator sounded.  As the door opened I saw it was Gisele.

 

Jared had continued talking, but I wasn’t listening.  All I wanted to do was hang up.  The last person in the world I wanted to know about Jared and I was Gisele.  She’d never let it go.

 

“Um…Jar—“ shit!  I can’t say that!

 

Gisele walked in and, eying my strange behavior, positioned herself calmly to my right.

 

“I’ve got to go.  I’ll talk to you later, I promise.  Love you.”  I hung up as soon as Jared said, “ I love you,” back.

 

“Who was that?” Gisele asked curiously.

 

“Oh, um, my brother.  Chris.”

 

That was a weird brother to choose.  We almost never talked.

 

“I didn’t know you and he were so close.  ‘Love you’?”

 

“We’ve gotten a little closer over the past few weeks,” I lied.  I doubt she would continue to pry over family issues that she didn’t know much of.

 

“Kelly, I know what you are hiding,” Gisele said, with an evil grin on her face.

 

“What?”

 

What was she talking about?  Did she really know?  And how?

 

The elevator doors opened again.  We were on Gisele’s floor.

 

“I know who you were talking to.  There’s only one person you would say ‘love you’ to.  And that is not Chris,” she said, exiting.

 

I remained inside.  “What do you know?”

 

She chuckled.  “Come with me.”

 

She began to walk away steadily and I just knew I couldn’t leave it like this.  She’s spread rumors everywhere and that was worse than the truth.  Painfully, I followed her. 

 

 

These are the designs for dresses that I have mentioned and that were mentioned in chapter 35 of Interrogative.  I did draw the figures using an original copy I made a while back.  Tell me what you think! :)

RED DRESS:

NAVY DRESS:

CANARY DRESS:

BLACK GOWN:

EGGPLANT DRESS:

SILVER DRESS:

This is my first time using a scanner and after some very frustrating hours trying to figure it out, I finally did it.  I'm not very keen with the computer. lol.  I don't know how to make the pictures larger and I don't feel like figuring it out.  haha

 

 

There was more I wanted to post with this, but it was too long.  It will definitely be in the next chapter.  Enjoy!!

Back in the Glory Days

We drove down to Beverly Hills for Jared’s hair appointment.  I held his hand as drove.

 

To think that something as innocent as shopping brought us closer together was a pleasant surprise to me.

 

Jared parked the car and I saw Emma waiting, fiddling with her blackberry.

 

“You ready?” I asked Jared.

 

We were still sitting in the car.

 

“Absolutely,” he replied.

 

After exiting the car, Emma walked over to us.

 

“Are you having a good few days off so far?” she asked.

 

Jared nodded.  “It’s been great.”

 

I stood by Jared calmly.  I hadn’t really gotten to know Emma, but I’d probably get that chance waiting for Jared.

 

“Well, one of the producers called and told me to tell you that shooting will be starting in Montreal instead of Belgium.”

 

“Oh, okay.  Thanks.  Did you bring the picture?”

 

She nodded quickly.  “Yep.  It’s in my pocket.”

 

“Okay then.  Let’s go.”

 

Emma and I walked on either side of Jared to the salon door.  I took a seat inside as Emma handed Jared the picture.  She then came over to me and sat down to my right.  We sat in silence for a moment.  Both of us, I think, were a bit indifferent about the other.  I decided it was time to speak up.

 

“So, what does Jared have in store for him for the next few weeks?”

 

She didn’t pull out her blackberry.  I guess she reviewed and edited the schedule often enough to have somewhat memorized it.

 

“Well, he’s got the Kerrang Awards in England in about six weeks and then he comes back here for a show and then,” she started to chuckle, “he goes back to England for a big concert at Brixton, and then filming starts on Mr. Nobody.”

 

I nodded.  “I’m sure he goes back and forth often.”

 

“Yeah, he does,” she laughed.  “So, are you planning on joining us for a while?”

 

I paused.  “Um…I have to figure out what to do about work, but it’s a likely possibility.”

 

I could see some concern on her face.  “You know that he’s never consistent with his schedule?  It’s almost always changing and there are few breaks.”

 

I smiled, knowing.  “Yeah, I know.  And I know that if I really want to be with Jared long-term, I’m going to have to either change jobs or have a different work situation.”

 

“I’m sorry, what do you do?”

 

Obviously she had gotten over the article.

 

“I’m an editor and—reporter, basically—for Rockies magazine.”

 

“Oh,” she said, genuinely intrigued.

 

“I’m not as busy as I was in my old position, but now I’ve got an asshole for a boss.”

 

“What did you do before?” she said, shifting in her chair to face me better.

 

“I was an editorialist and editor,” I said tightly.

 

She nodded, then a light bulb seemed to go off in her head.  “Wait!  You wrote—“

 

“Yeah,” I whispered.

 

“Oh, well, besides the article about Jared, I loved your perspective.  You brought up some interesting points.”

 

“Thank you.  I loved actually writing and not formulating questions.”  I smiled.  “That was in my glory days.”

 

Thirty minutes later, Jared walked over with a little spring in his step.  I think it was for show.  Emma and I had been talking about the ridiculous new cell phones that did way more than make a phone call.  How long had it been since there was a cell phone that only made calls?

 

“So, what do you think?” Jared asked.

 

I jolted from my seat and Emma slowly stood up after me.  I reached for Jared’s new hair and ran it through my fingers.  I felt so soft compared to his normal texture.  I was going to have to buy Jared some of that shampoo.

 

“It looks great!” I exclaimed.  “It’s really modern and more youthful.  Did they dye it?”

 

“Uh, yeah.  It’s a few shades lighter.  They made it more towards my natural hair color so I wouldn’t have to worry about roots.”

 

I finished playing with his hair and drew my hand back.

 

“Well, it looks absolutely fantastic and I love the side bangs.  Wow, this could be a normal, but individual, everyday haircut instead of a special one for a movie.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Oh, yeah!” Jared laughed.  “I like it a lot.  I’ll be able to do a lot with it later.”

 

“Well, I’m glad you like it—“

 

“Otherwise,” Emma added, “he would be complaining about it for the next three months!”

 

I smiled.

 

“Oh, come on,” Jared denied,” I would not.  I only did it once and they actually agreed that it didn’t look right, so they changed it just before shooting began.  That was a really, really long time ago.”

 

I could tell Jared was trying to prove to me there was a good reason behind it and I was perfectly fine with that.  I would have done the exact same thing.

 

“I know Jared.  I’m just kidding,” Emma said, and then turned to me.  “He really is very professional.  You’re lucky to be such a responsible, fun guys.  You find too many like that.”

 

“Yeah,” I began, “well, it might have something to do with the fact that I’ve never “dated” anyone at the same maturity level as me.  Guys tend to lag behind, you know.  It’s the only thing they are sluggish at.”

 

Emma laughed, openly amused.  Once she calmed down, her face returned to a glowing flesh-tone.  She was no longer a bright pink.

 

Meanwhile, Jared had pinched my wait and I yelped.  “Jared!”

 

The whole salon drew their eyes over to us.

 

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, then whipped my head back to Jared.  “I meant that as a compliment!”

 

Jared stepped closer to me.  Closer.  And closer.

 

“Jared?” I asked, suspicious.  “Jared, what are you doing?”

 

I backed away towards the door, a playful tone of fear in my steps and my voice.  “Jared!”

 

He grabbed me around the waist and lifted me over his shoulders, taking me, thoroughly embarrassed, out the door.  Emma was behind me, or rather, behind Jared, because I could see her perfectly from this position.  Luckily, I didn’t also have to live through that embarrassment.  I was too preoccupied with Jared.  He had started tickling me.  I couldn’t stop laughing.  It was so bad I couldn’t breathe.  All I could do was beat at Jared’s back, but my tingling fingers couldn’t form fists, thus it was a useless attempt.  I yelled his name over and over again.  Before tears could come to my eyes, Jared flipped me off of his shoulder and into his arms.  I took some staggered breaths, as Jared stood me up on the concrete.  A deep breath over came me as I calmed down a bit, soothing my uneasiness.

 

“What was that for?” I said, choking on a breath.

 

I saw a huge grin on Emma’s face.

 

“’Guys tend to lag behind’?” he quoted playfully.

 

“Oh, come on!  I meant about maturity.  And now I think I might have to reconsider what I said about you being mature.”

 

“What?” Jared asked, reaching for me again.

 

I jumped back.  “No!  Please.  Stop!”

 

He caught me and buried me in his chest.

 

“Okay, okay, okay!” I squealed.

 

He let his grip loosen and gave a quick kiss on the lips.  After he’d completely let me go and we’d gained some composure, he turned to speak with Emma.  “So, there’s rehearsal tonight?”

 

“Yes.  You’ve got a little under two hours.  Just make sure you are there at seven.”

 

“Definitely.  You weren’t planning on coming were you?”

 

“I didn’t think so.  Why?  Do you need me there?”

 

“No, no.  I was just curious.  You can always come if you want to.”

 

“I know.  I’d just rather be somewhere where I don’t have to deal with you every two seconds,” she said sarcastically.

 

“All right, well, give me a call if there are any updates, okay?”

 

“Of course.  Don’t forget about the Kerrang Awards coming up.”

 

Jared bent over to give her a hug.  “I wont.  I guess I need to send out an email.  Time to vote again.”

 

Emma pulled out of the embrace and waved goodbye to me.

 

**

Jared took me to a sushi restaurant for dinner that night, before he had to go to band practice. 

 

“So, how often do you guys have these rehearsals?”

 

“Well, obviously, only during big breaks, meaning eight days or more, and then it’s about twice a week.  Sometimes just once.  It depends.  We just need to stay on our toes with songs.”

 

I nodded.

 

Jared continued.  “Did you want to come tonight?”

 

“I don’t know,” I said.  Then, I yawned.  “Sorry,” I laughed.

 

He smiled.

 

“I’m really tired.  Shopping really is exhausting sometimes.  I mean, we went nx for what…eight hours?”

 

“Almost,” he agreed.  “It’s fine.  I’ll take you back to your place.  You can come next time if you want.”

 

I sighed.  I hadn’t been this exhausted in a long time.  Now thoughts would creep into my mind.

 

“You okay?” Jared wondered.

 

I blinked my eyes hard, starting myself awake again.  “Huh? Yeah.  I’m fine.  When I’m sleepy, I look blank, I know.  Like I’m sick or something.”

 

“Sort of.  But, you look like you were thinking too hard as well.”

 

I decided to just tell him how I felt.  Holding it in wouldn’t get me anywhere put panic.  “I…I’m nervous.  I mean, you probably spent over twenty thousand dollars on me today and I don’t even know if I can go with you yet.  I’m really not thinking about the money, okay, but if I’m never going to wear them…what’s the point?”

 

Jared reached across the table and took my right hand into his left.

 

“Hey.  I’ve been thinking.  What if you work from a laptop?  You can email interviews and stuff and you can edit it from online.”

 

“Jared, editing other people’s work is only half of my job.  I also conduct interviews in LA, which means I have to go places to meet these bands.  I’m specifically paid to do that.  If I suddenly stop, half of income disappears.  Not to mention, I cold lose my job entirely.”

 

Jared was silent.  I knew he was irritated.  Not at me necessarily, but at the difficulty of this situation.

 

“If I were still an editorialist, this would so much easier,” I whispered.

 

“Kelly, the first I think you need to do is find out what you boss—Adrian?—says.  You can’t fully figure out anything until you know it’s tons of stress that you don’t need.”

 

He was right.  I just needed to ask Adrian tomorrow.  Even if I couldn’t be over there for the full duration, just a couple of weeks would be enough.

 

**

 

Jared pulled up to my house.  I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned over to give him a long, loving kiss.

 

“Thank you for today,” I muttered.

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

We remained silent a moment.

 

“I love you.” I said and kissed him lightly again.

 

Jared entwined his fingers with mine.  “I love you too,” he said simply.

 

We stayed quiet.

 

“Don’t forget the clothes,” he whispered.

 

I leaned back, let go of his hand and opened the car door.  I stepped out, but didn’t shut it behind me.  Instead, I opened the back door and took the group of dresses wrapped in a durable plastic by the hangers, off the hook.  I shut that door when I was done and returned to the passenger side.

 

“Do you want me to come over after?” Jared asked.

 

“It is my car isn’t it?  I have to get to work somehow.”

 

“Oh.  I was just thinking you’d take a taxi,” he said sarcastically.

 

I gave him a smirk.  “You are welcome to stay if you’d like.  Then, maybe you can rent a car while I’m at work tomorrow.  The extra key is under the blue flower pot.”

 

“Sounds good.  See you later then.”

 

“All right.  Bye!”

 

I closed the door.

 

Jared said good-bye through the collapsed windowpane and then drove off.

 

I entered my house through the front door and headed for my bedroom.  I hung the dresses up on the door of my closet and picked out some pajamas while I was there. 

 

I spent the rest of the evening watching “Click” on demand.  I was dead tired once it was done and walked wearily to my bed.

 

I was asleep on my side when Jared came back later that night.

 

He rubbed my back until I woke, a little drowsy.

 

“What time is it?” I mumbled.

 

“Eleven-fifteen,” he said, kissing my neck.

 

I inhaled deeply and rolled over on my back.

 

Jared was sitting on the bed leaning over my slightly, and I noticed he was in his underwear.  It intrigued me because I wore the exact same thing.  Every once and a while I would sleep topless and Jared caught the lucky night, although I wasn’t sure if it was deliberate or not.

 

I patted the bed where he sat.  “Lay down.”

 

Jared lifted the sheets and probably got a peek at me.  When he was comfortably underneath them, I turned on my side again to face him.  He was on his side too.  Our eyes locked.  He slowly pulled the sheet down.  Down the length of my body, past my breasts, arms, abdomen, and just past my hips to the line of my panties.  He toyed with the material at my hip.  I kept focus on his eyes.

 

“You know, we’ve had sex every night since you’ve come back.”

 

He grabbed the material and tugged them roughly down my thighs to just below my knees where I could wriggle my way out of them.

 

Jared rolled on top of me and settled himself between my legs.  “Do you want to continue that pattern?”

 

I held my eyes with his as I fumbled along his hips until I found the band of his briefs and shoved them down to his thighs.  He had his answer.

Yes, finally another chapter!!  The next one will be Monday at the EARLIEST.  I'm going to the beach for four days.  Hopefully I'll get something done.  The beach is really relaxing for me.  Anyway, here's a pretty simple chapter.  The next one is a biggy.  Enjoy!

Shopping

I suppose Jared really took me shopping to fill up some time.  We had almost six hours to spend and we might as well use it up doing something fun. 

I was truly happy that Jared loved fashion as much as me.  I wouldn’t feel like a complete ass going around into the stores and leaving Jared walking around awkwardly, like most men did.  But, especially with 30 Seconds to Mars, looks played a huge part in his daily life and every time he performed a lot of thought was put into what to wear, some times more than others.  However, I was just thrilled to find that Jared didn’t love fashion more than me.  Honestly.  I loved getting new clothes, but I wasn’t a big supporter of splurging pervasively for no reason.  I liked to mix a trip to Ralph Lauren with shopping at Target.

 

I had let Jared drive my car ever since he’d come back.  It felt, strangely, a natural course of action, plus guys always needed control over the car. 

 

He pulled into a parking space on the side of Rodeo Drive.  Obviously, Jared was in a money-spending mood today.  I’d probably only get one or two things.

 

When we were both out of the car and on the sidewalk, Jared took my hand in his and we began walking.  I noticed that there hadn’t been any inopportune phone calls for Jared since he had returned.  Then, I remembered what I had told him.  In our third or fourth conversation over the internet.  I told Jared that the one thing I would not tolerate from him would be constant phone calls barging in on our time together.  I wouldn’t be a fool out of and be disrespected so.  Of course, there were times when all the phone calls could come in, but not while we were doing any of three things: out a “date”, having a serious conversation, or meeting with family.  Other than that, phone lines were always open to business calls.  Jared often teased me about what a business call was versus a personal call.  Finally, I told him family and a close circle of friends.  Of course, us going shopping didn’t fall into any of those categories, really, unless Jared considered it a date.  I just took it to mean that he was being courteous.

 

“So,” I began, happily, “where are we going?”

 

Jared squeezed my hand, teasing me.  “Do you want to guess?”

 

I chuckled.  “Not particularly.  There are over twenty stores here.”

 

“You could always say each one and I’ll tell you ‘yes’ or ‘no’ accordingly.”

 

“I don’t think so.”

 

He laughed.  “I figured you’d say that.”

 

“Yeah.  You’re quite perceptive.”

 

Jared grinned, but remained silent for a moment.  “I was thinking about Marc Jacobs,” he said finally.

 

“Oh.  Why?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Yeah, why?  I’m curious.”

 

“Well, I remembered the first time we met you were wearing Marc Jacobs’ shoes instead of Jimmy Choos or something.”

 

“So?  I liked them.”

 

“Exactly.  For a woman like you to choose Marc Jacobs over the “Choos”, first off shows your class and individuality, and second, tells me that for you to choose him instead of all of the other designers available you must prefer his designs.”

 

“Wow.  You have a very in-depth analysis of my shopping habits.  It was relatively accurate.  I don’t splurge all that much though.  Did you sense that?”

 

“Actually, I haven’t really thought about it all that much.  I just made up the whole ‘analysis.’”

 

“What?” I joked.

 

“Anyway, I like Marc Jacobs.”

 

We entered the store through the front door.  It was absolutely gorgeous inside as always.  It was a very clean, white environment, oozing extravagance in the simplest of ways.

 

“You know,” I whispered,” I don’t really have anything that I need.  At least that’s worth spending this much.”

 

“Don’t start thinking about price.  I’m serious.  Just pick something you’d wear out.”

 

I laughed, walking over to a rack, where are turquoise blouse caught my eye.  “I don’t spend hundreds of dollars on just anything.”

 

Jared followed closely behind.  When I’d stopped by the shirt, his hand encircled my waist and tugged me close to him gently.  He bent down and muttered into my ear, “It’s all on me.”

 

I pulled away, dropping my hands from the blouse, and stared up at him, whispering desperately, “Oh, no.  You are not paying for all of this.  We’ve already talked about me not depending on you—“

 

“You’re not.  Why can’t I buy you something as a gift?”

 

I snapped back.  “A gift doesn’t have to cost a thousand dollars.”  Immediately I regretted saying that.  He only wanted to make me happy.  I sighed.  “I just feel guilty, that’s all.”

 

Jared rubbed my shoulders.  “Don’t.  I like doing stuff like this for you.”

 

I heard the click of high heels enclosing on me and I turned around slightly.

 

“Hello, is there anything I can do for you?” the woman asked.  I instantly noticed her British accent.

 

I shook my head.  Requesting help was something I never did.  I just…didn’t.  Too bad Jared didn’t agree.

 

“Yes, actually,” he said, causing me to stop shaking my hand and glare at him.  “We’re looking for dresses.”

 

My jaw dropped.  “What?  No we aren’t.”

 

“Yes, we are,” he whispered.  “I’m not just making a movie.  We’ve got award shows an stuff too.”

 

“And you expect me to come?”

 

Jared laughed as if it were a stupid question.  “Of course.”

 

I was too shocked to reply.  Meanwhile, Jared turned to the woman.  “We were thinking about something classic and elegant, not-to-flashy, but still eye-catching and sexy.”

 

I felt like I was on some sort of makeover show.  People were talking about what to do with me without my consent.  Normally that would have really pissed me off, but strangely, I found it amusing.  Another thing I found strangely amusing was my sudden interest in the woman’s name.  I looked at her nametag.  Her name was Elyssa, and apparently she wasn’t just some employee, but she was the manager of the store.  I really felt like an idiot now.

 

I saw her nod her head at Jared’s description, like she knew what to choose for me.  She shifted her eye line and looked at me.  “I definitely think we have what you are looking for.  What size?”

 

I laughed to myself.  Wasn’t that the big question?

 

“Well, I’m generally a four here.”

 

She nodded again.  I noticed that she held herself with the utmost respect.  “We have plenty in that size.  I’ll go pick out a few from the back and you and browse up here.”

 

“Okay.  Thank you,” Jared said, as she smiled and turned away.

 

I was just glad the size question was done with.

 

Turning to Jared, I kept a pleasant enough expression, then it turned into a laughing irritation.  I could really be mad, but we could have some fun with it.

 

“Jared!” I fumed, slapping him on the chest.  “Since when have I needed more dresses?  I’ll probably never wear them again.”

 

“You never know,” he teased, fueling our banter.  “I just think that you need a little more spice than a plain black cocktail dress or a summer dress like you have on.”

 

“Hey!  This is a wrap dress, first off, and it’s perfectly appropriate for going out during the day.”

 

“Yes, but not for a red carpet event.”

 

I lowered my voice.  “It’s not like I’m dying to be seen by all of the paparazzi.”

 

“I know.  But, you deserve to feel beautiful.”

 

I gave up.  He was too persistent.

 

---

 

We ended up getting five dresses.  Five!  One was a black, floor-length gown.  I had a feeling Jared knew exactly where I would be wearing that one.  I loved each dress and trying them on was the most fun.  Jared and I had quite a few laughs at some of the ridiculous designs.  The color choices were absolutely stunning as well: a deep navy blue, silver, an eggplant shade of purple, and, my favorite, a canary yellow.

 

Jared didn’t let me see the price tag to the “little” shopping spree, but as we walked out, I knew I couldn’t have been more surprised to hear Jared say, “Now it’s time for the red number.”

 

Once my senses returned, I spoke up.  “No, now it’s time for…” I looked at my watch.  It was one-fifteen.  “…Lunch and then your hair cut.”

 

“Oh, come on.  Lunch, dress, and then hair cut.  We’ve got four hours.  It doesn’t take that long to eat and shop for one outfit.”

 

“Fine,” I said and he hugged me to him.  This was seriously bad for my self-discipline.

 

After running to get some fast food, we ended up at Valentino.  His designs were incredible and I loved them, but curiously, I had never been into the store.  I guess I assumed they would be even more outrageously expensive than March Jacobs.

 

“Oh, shit, Jared.  I can’t take you spending all of this on me.”

 

“I can.  Seeing you in all of these dresses is priceless.”

 

“Awww…. Aren’t you sweet,” I said, kissing him on the cheek.

 

We had another woman helping us out.  She wasn’t a manager, but had good fashion sense.  Choosing a gorgeous red dress wasn’t as hard.

 

I wasn’t surprised to find that my size had risen to a six at Valentino.  Different designers, different ranges.

 

I found the perfect dress six or seven tries in.  Jared insisted on another floor-length; it got me thinking.  The gown was in Grecian style, but the candy-apple red kept it from looking too goddess-y.  It had an umpire waist, with white topaz and rubies embellishing the seaming.  From there, to the floor, the gown floated away from my body.  A thin layer of chiffon on top of the main fabric added to that air of weightlessness.

 

While looking at myself in the mirror, I felt like I was trying on wedding dresses, except they were all a not so virgin red.  I stole a peek at Jared’s face and he looked just as stunned as I was.  I turned around to him.

 

“So, what do you think?” I asked.  I just wanted to hear him say what he so obviously felt.

 

“Well, first off, do you like it?”

 

I couldn’t help but smile.  “I love it.  But what about you?”

 

He was speechless for a second.  “I think you look absolutely amazing.  Words really can’t describe how—God—how beautiful you look.”

 

I laughed and took a careful step over to him, not wanting to trip on the gown.  “Thank you,” I whispered, and then kissed him on the mouth quickly.  I wanted to do a lot more than a quick peck, but the surroundings dictated my actions. 

 

The woman stood behind us by a few paces and spoke up.  “That one is fourteen thousand, five hundred.  It’s a very nice choice if I say so myself.”

 

I jerked my head to her; I was only left to gape.

 

Jared laughed at my expression.  “We’ll take it.  Thank you.”

 

I swear, I wasn’t going to let Jared buy me anything for the next five years.