Loving the Band (16 page)

‘Thanks, Shaq. You look very handsome,’ I said truthfully.

I heard the brunette girl let out a very fake cough.

‘Oh, right,’ Shaq said, shaking his head. ‘Jess, this is Gaby. Gaby, Jess,’ he said, gesturing towards me.

The brunette girl stepped forward and I could see her looking me up and down, evaluating me. Instantly I noticed how beautiful she was. I offered her my hand, but she looked at me like I was dirt underneath her shoe. I withdrew my hand awkwardly and said, ‘Nice to meet you,’ forcing a smile.

‘You too,’ she replied with a well-practised, fake smile on her face. ‘Come on, Shaq, some reporters wanted to talk to us.’ She took his hand and dragged him away.

‘Well,’ I said when she was out of sight, ‘I don’t think she likes me.’ I laughed nervously.

Riley chuckled, walking me slowly down the carpet. ‘Don’t worry, she doesn’t like me either!’

‘Riley! Mind having a quick chat to us with the beautiful Jess?’ I heard a woman say.

‘Do you want to?’ Riley asked me quietly.

I half smiled, looking at the excited woman leaning over the barricade with a microphone pointed in our direction. ‘Sure.’

We both walked up to her and she clapped her hands excitedly, telling the cameraman to start rolling. Riley let his arm drop from my shoulder, moving it round my waist.

‘Hey, Riley, Jess. I’m Simone from Channel B3. How’re you guys doing tonight?’ she asked with a wide smile, pointing the microphone towards us.

‘We’re doing good. Very excited to be here,’ Riley said simply. Simone smiled, pointing the microphone at me. ‘How about you, Jess?’

‘I … I …’ I stuttered, feeling the stage fright come back again. Riley gave me a reassuring smile and pulled me closer to him. ‘It’s very exciting to be here. I’m slightly nervous, though,’ I laughed, hoping I didn’t come across as a dumb blonde.

‘Ah. Well, that’s to be expected, isn’t it? This is your first premiere, isn’t that right?’ she asked, her smile as wide as ever.

I nodded my head. ‘Yep, that’s right. My first real experience with famous people, actually.’ I laughed when Riley chuckled at the side of me.

‘Well, you have to be used to it, right? Being friends with one of the biggest boy bands of our time?’

I laughed, shaking my head. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be used to that.’

‘How does it feel? Being friends with them, I mean,’ she said, watching Riley out of the corner of her eye.

‘The same as it feels to be friends with anyone else.’ I shrugged my shoulders and looked up to see Riley watching me intently. ‘They just remind me of the guys back home. They’re real people, just like everyone else.’

Simone looked at me strangely, like she didn’t believe a word I had just said.

‘Right. So, Riley, tell me what you think about the rumour that you and Rebecca Ishta are romantically involved,’ she said, pointing the microphone towards Riley. Turning to look at Riley I felt myself frown, but strangely I didn’t feel jealous.

Riley shrugged. ‘Like you said – a rumour. We’re only friends.’

‘So, no new girlfriend on the cards?’ she asked, taking a glance at me. Riley simply shrugged again, glancing at me too.

‘Well … What about you and Jess?’ she asked, smiling at both of us.

‘Me and Riley are jus–’ I started, but Riley cut me off.

‘… Just taking things as they come. We’re quite close as friends and, if anything happens, then it happens.’ He flashed his trademark cheeky grin.

I felt my mouth drop open. Has Riley seriously just suggested that we were ‘taking things as they come’?

‘Thanks for your time, guys!’ the reporter chirped, obviously happy with the new juicy gossip. I felt Riley pull me along, stopping me from saying anything. Oh God. I started to feel trapped, and all I wanted was to be away from the cameras so that I could process Riley’s comment.

I headed towards the venue, bypassing celebrity after celebrity on the way. I can’t believe that Riley had actually said that to a reporter. By tomorrow the headlines would be ‘Riley Townsend and Mystery Scottish Blonde’. Or worse: ‘Riley Townsend Dates a Nobody’. Argh! How could he be so stupid?

Suddenly I felt my body come into contact with something, or someone, causing me to stumble backwards. ‘Oh my … I’m s-so sorry!’ I stuttered. I felt my jaw hit the floor when I looked up, coming across probably the most beautiful person on the face of this earth. ‘Oh my God … you’re Aaron Kingston,’ I whispered, feeling my legs go weak underneath me.

He chuckled. ‘I sure am. And who’s this beautiful lady?’ he asked, offering me his hand. I had to resist the urge to turn round, because he couldn’t be talking to me, right?

‘Erm … I’m …’
Oh my God – what’s my name?
‘I’m Jessica Wright,’ I finally managed to splutter, placing my hand in his.

‘Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Jessica,’ he said before letting go of my hand. I felt my whole body turn to jelly when he said my name. ‘Well, I have to keep going. Are you going to the after party?’ I nodded my head without even giving a second thought as to whether I was or not. ‘Nice, well, I’ll see you there.’ He smiled, melting my heart. ‘We should have a talk over a few drinks.’

Oh my, Aaron Kingston has just asked me to get a drink with him.

‘Sure,’ I finally breathed.

‘Good, well, I’ll see you later,’ he said, before walking back out on to the red carpet.

I stood there for a few minutes trying to process what had just actually happened. Aaron Kingston, the star of the film, had just asked to have a drink with me. I must be dreaming, right? But I wasn’t, and he had.

‘Jess,’ I heard a familiar voice say from behind me. I turned round to see Riley standing with his hands stuffed into his trouser pockets. I rolled my eyes at him before heading towards the bar.

‘Vodka and coke, please,’ I said to the barman as I slid on to a chrome stool. He passed the drink and immediately I took a big gulp.

‘Trying to get drunk?’ I heard someone ask from the side of me. I didn’t even have to turn my head to know that Riley had followed me in here.

‘After what just happened? Yes,’ I replied bluntly, taking another big mouthful. ‘Why’d you tell the reporter that? It’ll be all over the gossip pages tomorrow.’

‘Aw, please don’t be mad at me. I didn’t know what else to say,’ Riley begged, widening his puppy-dog eyes at me.

That look wasn’t going to work this time. I downed the last of my drink, slamming the glass on the table. ‘Whatever.’

‘Want another drink?’ Riley offered while getting up from his seat.

‘Absolutely,’ I said, moving the empty glass around in my hands. ‘I’m really cross with you, Riley.’

‘What’s the magic word?’ Riley teased.

‘Don’t push your luck, Riley,’ I said, emotionless.

‘All right,’ he chuckled, holding his hands up and moving a little along the bar to catch the barman’s eye.

I heard someone fake cough next to me in attempt to gain my attention. I smiled and turned my head, feeling my smile fade slowly as I looked at the person standing
before me.

‘Hi,’ I said as politely as I could.

‘Mmm,’ Gaby mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

I felt myself frown as I had no clue why she was being so cold with me.

‘Do you want anything in particular?’ I asked frostily.

‘I do, actually,’ she said, taking a step closer to me. ‘I just wanted to tell you to stay away from Shaq.’ As she spoke, she jabbed her finger menacingly into my chest.

I raised my eyebrows. ‘Excuse me?’ I asked, certain that I must have misheard her.

‘You heard me,’ she hissed.

‘And why would I do that?’ I snapped, feeling my frustration grow.

‘Because he’s
mine.
’

I turned my head away from her. ‘Last time I checked, you and Shaq had broken up. Besides, Shaq isn’t a belonging.’

‘You’d better watch yourself,
Jessica.
Shaq and I operate in circles that you’ll never be a part of,’ she replied in an aggressive tone.

‘Are you threatening me?’ I asked in disbelief.

Gaby replied with a smile before turning round and skipping away.

‘What was that about?’ Riley asked as he placed our drinks on the bar.

‘I … I don’t have a clue’ I said, taking the glass in my hands and downing its contents.

‘Hey, we haven’t even seen the film yet. Maybe you should save that stuff for the after party,’ Riley said, taking the glass out of my hands. ‘Look, everyone’s going in now. Let’s go.’ He stood up, offering me his arm and, begrudgingly, I looped my arm in his.

‘That was AMAZING!’ Tegan exclaimed as the ending credits to the film began to roll across the screen.

She was right, the film was incredible. In fact, the whole night had been incredible. Bar a few incidents, that is. My highlight had to be meeting Aaron, though.

We made our way to the after party and it was safe to say I was extremely excited.

‘Names?’ the scary-looking bouncer asked as we got to the door.

‘The Only Truth,’ Tyler replied.

The bouncer stepped to the side. ‘Have a nice night.’

We all thanked him as we went through the door. I felt my mouth drop open for what felt like the millionth time that evening. The venue was absolutely packed with people laughing and dancing under a giant chandelier; the music was blaring and everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives. The walls were painted a deep crimson, and although the room was huge it also felt really intimate.

‘Come on,’ Riley shouted over the music, and he placed his hand on the small of my back, ushering me through the crowd of people to a large circular booth, the rest of the group in tow.

‘Do you want a drink?’ Riley shouted over the music, nodding his head towards the bar.

‘Please!’ I shouted back.

‘Hey, Jess,’ I heard someone say in my ear.

I turned my head to see Shaq next to me, a drink in his hand.

‘Hey,’ I shouted over the music. I didn’t really know what else to say. After our rambling confession in the hotel room, I was embarrassed beyond belief. And now here we were – Shaq with his ex and me with Riley. What a mess.

I glanced in Gaby’s direction. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under by now.

‘We need to talk,’ Shaq shouted.

I simply shrugged my shoulders.

‘Do you want to go outside for a bit?’ he said in my ear, and I could feel his breath tickle the back of my neck and the smell of his aftershave filled my nostrils.

I looked up just in time to see Riley returning with our drinks.

‘Riley’s back with my drink, sorry,’ I shouted, pointing towards Riley.

‘Oh,’ Shaq replied, slumping back down into the booth.

I took the drink from Riley’s hand and downed it in one gulp, feeling Gaby’s stare bore into my forehead. I watched
her as she shuffled up to Shaq and placed her hand on his knee, smiling triumphantly. She whispered something in his ear and then led him to the dance floor. Why was I so affected by this? Maybe it was time to get some fresh air.

I stood up to leave, but Riley pushed me back down.

‘Jess, wait.’

‘What?’ I blurted, turning round to face him.

‘Are you OK? You really don’t seem yourself. Why are you drinking so much and so fast?’ he asked, sounding worried.

I let my eyes trail up to his, and I could see him searching my face for any sign of emotion.

‘Why wouldn’t I be all right? I’m at a party – I’m allowed to drink,’ I said, trying to laugh it off and discreetly wriggle my wrist from his grip.

He cupped my face tenderly in his hands. ‘Jess. I can’t bear seeing you like this. I know why you’re so distracted and why you’re drinking so fast.’ He paused. ‘Jess, you’re the girl for me, you know that? I’m in love with you. But I just don’t think that you love me.’

I was stunned into silence. Riley loved me?

‘Jess, please say something. Let’s go back to the hotel and talk?’

I was totally flabbergasted. I’d never seen Riley so serious – where had all this talk of love come from? And was I really so transparent? Through the haze of alcohol I realized that maybe going back to the hotel was the right thing to do.

I remained speechless as Riley took both my hands in
his and steered me towards the door. I let Riley lead me away, but I soon heard footsteps behind us.

‘Hey!’ Shaq shouted as he caught up with us. ‘Where are you going with Jess in that state?’

‘I’m taking her back to the hotel, not that it’s any of your business, Shaq. She’s in this state because of you,’ Riley replied coldly, tightening his grip round my waist.

‘What’s that meant to mean?’ Shaq snapped at Riley.

‘Don’t tell me you can’t see it, Shaq. It’s so obvious. And there you are, whiling away the evening with your ex, apparently oblivious to everyone else. You’re not even on a real date, Shaq! Do you know what I’d do to get Jess to look at me the way she looks at you?’

I was rooted to the spot in fear. This was my worst nightmare come true. The last thing I had ever wanted was to come between two best friends. I couldn’t watch the boys shout at one another a minute longer. My flight instinct took over and before I knew what was happening I was running towards the door, out into the cold night air and the pouring rain, through the unfamiliar streets, holding my dress as I urged myself to go faster and faster. I had no idea where I was going, but it didn’t seem to matter. I wanted to be as far away from everyone as possible.

Eventually I reached a point where I just couldn’t run any more. I collapsed into the stairwell of a beautiful old church to shelter from the rain. I looked around me: I had no idea where I was. The cold air and exercise had sobered
me up, and now I felt the full extent of my emotions flood over me. I was so confused. And embarrassed. How could I have come between these two wonderful boys? I ran my fingers through my hair, shuddering at how matted and wild it must be looking. I wiped the tears and rain away from my face, looking at my mascara-smeared hand in disgust. I must look a state.

Suddenly I was blinded by car headlights.

‘Jess? Jess, is that you?’ I heard a tentative voice call my name. Could I be hearing things?