SS: NOT-Just another Love story - Page 5

I went downstairs. Since my cousin was asleep, I turned on the TV and a newscaster appeared. Adrian may be cool, but his taste in TV was hideous. News??? What was he, 40? Even my uncle watched more soap operas lately. I was about to flip to another channel but they suddenly presented a picture of Shock Face and I stopped. The newscaster was saying:

'Justin Tyler might be the best singer the world has seen in a few years but it would seem that he too has troubles of an average guy. Travelling incognito, Justin's identity was revealed, accidentally, by the mystery girl who is supposed to have been travelling with him. Eyewitnesses claim that Justin had a violent argument with his companion who, enraged, slapped him hard enough to knock his glasses off, leading to his subsequent identification. It's no wonder he looked so shocked.

Our sympathies, nonetheless, are with Chloe Rage, Justin Tyler's stylist and (though neither admit it) girlfriend, since the boy seems to have trouble keeping himself committed. For more news, let us turn to our reporter on the airport''

No wonder he had looked familiar; I was shocked but I still listened.

'The airport is in complete chaos.' Their reporter said, smiling gleefully. 'Although the airport authorities have given no comments, it is rumoured that Justin Tyler is being sneaked off the airport in a luggage van''

I turned off the television. Secret girlfriend??? Me? And poor Justin Tyler, stuck in a luggage van because I was too stupid to realize who he was'

Just then the telephone rang and I was glad of the interruption. I rushed over and picked it up. To my surprise, it was Lily Ryan, my best friend. She yelled in my ear.

'Surprise''

'Hey Lily.' I held the phone away from my ear. 'So, how are you?' But she overrode my question.

'Did you see him?'

'What? Who?'

'Justin! You were on the same air port, right?'

'Oh that,' I thought about the news again. 'Um, no, I didn't'' For a moment I was tempted to reveal the identity of the mystery girl but Lily's next words chased any such notions away.

'Boy, if I ever meet that tramp, I'd '' she went into an expletive, detailed description of exactly what she'd do to me if she ever found me out. Apart from being crazy Justin fan, she was also a staunch supporter of Joey (Justin + Chloe).

Thankfully, she calmed down enough to ask me how I was.

'I'm good,' I lied, now feeling both stupid and sick.

'Hey, listen, I gotta dash. The bus is here but I'll call you later. Snap loads of pictures and send me. And, didn't you say Adrian looks like Matt Damon?'

'Yeah...' Lily knew that, had pointed it out in the first place; I wondered what was coming next.

'Well, give him a kiss from me and tell him I love him''

'You!' I laughed, joined by Lily, who told me to take care and hung off.

I replaced the receiver, grinning. Talking to her had cheered me up, thought I was still feeling exceptionally dumb. Just then, the bell rang.

Adrian had just slumped into the kitchen and he asked me to get the door. I did so gladly, shuddering at the thought of kissing him for Lily.

All such thoughts fled my mind when I opened the door.

There stood, silhouetted against the door frame, the handsomest guy I'd ever seen. My mind immediately went to my dream; catching myself before my jaw hit the floor, I summoned my best smile. He smiled back and I felt my knees go weak.

'Hey.' He sounded faraway to my dizzy ears.

'Hi.' To my annoyance, my voice sounded breathless and husky, sure to give me away.

Just then, Adrian came out of the kitchen.

'Yo V, what's keeping you?' Then he looked up, saw our caller and smiled. 'Sup Jake? I see you've met Ivory.'

'Ivory, is it?'Jake smiled again, thrusting a big hand which I took gladly.

'Yup, that's me.' I looked meaningfully at Adrian, who was completely oblivious to my discomfort. Thankfully, he took my hint.

'Ivory's my cousin; or actually, more like my little sister. She's here to complete high school and then audition.'

'Audition? Wow.' He sounded impressed. 'What for?'

'Oh I don't know' singing, dancing, acting?' To my surprise, Adrian added. 'You should hear her sing' oh and the way she dances''

I elbowed him but he continued, 'She's amazing.'

Then he turned to me and said in a low voice, that was obviously not low enough, 'What? I thought you wanted to impress him.'

To my chagrin, Jake heard it. He smiled embarrassedly, then loudly cleared his throat and interrupted.

'Well, Romeo, I brought your breakfast. Mom said hi.'

'Romeo?' I said but Adrian overrode my interruption.

'Thanks a lot, man. Say hi to your mom and tell her she needn't worry. Ivory here is a great cook''

I opened my mouth and closed it again after a few seconds. Cooking? I'd be lucky to find the right cereal box. Jake looked like he didn't know what to say. That made two of us.

'Well, 'He blinked and shook himself. 'Well, I guess I'll get going.'

'Oh, hey, can you, like show her around?' Adrian gestured vaguely towards me. 'You know, she's new around here and I've got a few extra lectures to attend today.'

I immediately postponed the idea of beating him to a pulp; Jake, to my surprise, agreed readily.

After arranging to pick me up at five, he left and I rounded on Adrian.

'Romeo? Really?' in all the time we'd spent together, I'd never known him to be a bombastic guy. He shrugged nonchalantly. 'That's what the ladies like to call me!'

I punched him. 'Speaking of ladies, what did you think you were doing?'

'Geez,' He dodged my other punch. 'I was just tryin' to help. You looked like you were ready to drop.'

'I did not.' I stopped indignantly. Was I really that obvious?

'Oh, don't worry. I don't think Jake noticed or anything. He was too busy staring at you.'

'Really?' I brightened.

He shook his head. 'Pathetic little kids. Be ready for your date and don't expect anymore help from me.' He went back to the kitchen, muttering and rubbing his arms.

I sighed happily. Incredible, I thought. Wait till I tell Lily. And after his help today, I might even kiss Adrian for Lily.

Five minutes later, seeing him shovel his food down his throat, I changed my mind.

He eyed me critically and swallowed hugely. 'You should go and change' greeting someone in your pyjamas is not impressive.'

I shrugged. 'What am I supposed to do while you're gone?'

'Hmm'' he looked thoughtful. 'Well, there's dishes and laundry and dusting and a whole lot of cleaning' oh, and cooking.' He added mischievously.

'Oh come on.' I whined, 'I'll do the dishes and the cleaning but the rest''

'Just kidding; okay, just do the dishes. We'll share the rest of the chores.'

''k, and what am I supposed to do after that?'

He rolled his eyes.

'Set up the room idiot' and talk to mum and dad, they'll want to hear from you.'

After finishing a delicious breakfast sent by Mrs. Austin, Adrian left for the extra lectures he was supposed to attend and I went upstairs to start unpacking.

It took most of the morning and I only came down once to make myself a cold chicken sandwich. So much for my cooking!

At half past three, I went to dress up. Telling myself it had nothing to do with impressing Jake, I tried most of my wardrobe and discarded it. Finally, I settled for a tank top and jeans, and tied my hair up in a ponytail. It was almost five, so I went down to wait.

At five sharp, the bell rang and I rushed to the door, stopping to catch my breath and hitch my smile back in place before opening the door.

Jake stood there, looking great. He smiled at me and my tummy did a funny flip within me.

'You ready?' He asked.

'Yeah, let's go.' I locked the door and headed to his car. He opened the door to the passenger seat with, I suspected, added gallantry and then slid into the driver's seat.

'Where to, my lady?' He accented his voice.

'To LA.' I answered imperiously and grinned happily as we rode away.

Chapter 4: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/62474184