Loving the Band (7 page)

‘OK.’

‘Tell me what happened with your ex,’ he asked all of a sudden.

I raised my eyebrows. Was that it? Was Shaq thinking that Jacob was still in my life?

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. This was a painful one to discuss. ‘Well, we’d been going out forever. As forever as it gets in school, that is. And he wasn’t just my boyfriend, he felt like one of my best friends. In fact, he got on massively well with my two best girlfriends – Tegan, who you know, of course, and Lucy. The three of us girls were so tight. We’d grown up together.

‘And then all of a sudden Jacob started acting distant – and so did Lucy. Slowly I realized that they’d fallen for each other behind my back. When it all came out, I told Jacob to get lost, to get out of my life. I didn’t need him, but I needed my best friend. I said we could work it out, that I would forgive and forget eventually. But she chose him. And it broke my heart.’

Shaq brushed the tears out of my eyes. ‘Would you do it again, Jess? Would you still ask your best friend to come back to you over the boy?’

‘Not now with Lucy. Not knowing what she did. But if the situation were to repeat itself or if I saw anyone else having the same dilemma, I would tell them the same. That friends are more important than boys,’ I said.

‘That’s what I thought,’ Shaq replied sadly. ‘You’re a
good person, you know that, Jessica?’

He got out of the car and walked round to open the door for me. ‘Are you coming up?’ he asked. I looked at him, a bit confused by what had just happened in the car. I went to reach for his hand, but he walked away. He didn’t say anything else, but I knew something had just changed between us.

Shaq knocked on the hotel door and Tyler opened it. ‘Hey, guys.’

‘Hi, Tyler,’ I turned to say goodbye to Shaq and leave when suddenly I heard another familiar voice.

‘JESS!’ Callum shouted, running towards me, grabbing me into a massive hug and pulling me into the room with the boys. I giggled, hugging him back. When he set me down, he put his hat on my head.

‘Hey! Logan, help me, Jess stole my hat!’

‘Hey! I did not!’ I laughed.

‘SUPERMAN TO THE RESCUE!’ I heard Logan shout as he came running into the room. My eyes began to widen as I noticed that he was coming straight for me. I moved out of the way and he ran straight into Tyler’s arms. He leaped off Tyler and straight towards me, tackling me down and on to the sofa. He was on top of me, tickling my ribs – my most ticklish place.

I began to scream with laughter. ‘LOGAN! Get off me!’ My breathing became heavier as more laughter escaped my mouth.

Down the hallway came Riley with a green light sabre
in his hand, shouting, ‘Whoom, whoom!’

‘I will save my Jessica!’ he shouted. He rushed over and pulled Logan off me, sweeping me up into his arms.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shaq watching me sadly before turning and going to his room.

After calming themselves down, the other boys went to get ready for the interview. Riley declared he only needed five minutes and would do it later, insisting I sit down with him on the sofa instead of leaving, as I tried to do again.

We flicked through the TV channels, laughing at some of the terrible stuff that was on, when suddenly Riley noticed the plaster on the side of my head.

‘Hey, what happened?’

Shaq came out with Logan just behind him.

‘You and Shaq have a bit too much fun last night, eh?’ Logan joked. I felt Riley’s body stiffen next to me.

‘No, Jess fell over and cut her head,’ Shaq snapped at the others.

‘OK, mate.’ Logan held his hands up in defence at Shaq’s abruptness.

‘Everyone’s so grumpy today,’ Riley joked. He took my hand and pulled me towards his room. ‘Come with me,
lovely Jess, and help me choose my outfit for this evening.’

Shaq watched us with a pained expression on his face and a suspicion about his behaviour started to form in my mind.

‘Sorry about the mess,’ Riley grinned, not looking very sorry at all.

His room was big but completely covered in piles of clothes, music sheets and empty Coke cans. I wouldn’t have wanted to be their maid.

I laughed. ‘Don’t worry about it. Let’s have a look at these outfit choices, then.’

Riley wandered over to his wardrobe and started half-heartedly sorting through some of his things on the rail. But then he stopped suddenly and turned round.

‘Jess, forgive me for asking, but is there something going on with you and Shaq?’

‘Riley!’ I frowned at the personal question.

He laughed. ‘You’re cute when you’re angry, you know that?’

I didn’t say anything.

‘Sorry. I was just asking because … because … well, I like you. You don’t have to do anything about it or say anything. I just wanted to say it.’

‘Oh.’ I blushed. I didn’t know what to say.

He returned my blush, but looked up at me with a hopeful look on his face. ‘So there’s not anything going on, then?’

I thought about last night with Shaq, then my heart sank as I thought about our conversation in the car and
his actions ever since. ‘No, Riley,’ I said sadly. ‘No, I don’t think there is.’

He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. ‘Then just stay until after we get back from the interview?’

I sighed. I knew I shouldn’t, and that this was getting complicated, but Riley made me feel better about myself and I wanted Shaq to tell me himself what was going on.

‘I’ll see you later,’ I agreed softly.

To my surprise I found quite a few things to keep myself occupied. First I went and made something to eat – the hotel fridge was packed with amazing food and drinks. The boys had everything they wanted here.

I settled down on the sofa and realized that I hadn’t called Tegan to tell her what was going on so I rang her number. It took several rings before she actually picked up.

‘Hello?’ she sounded groggy.

‘Tegan, tell me you’re not still asleep!’

‘I’m on holiday! I fell asleep watching TV,’ she protested. ‘Anyway, where are you? Are you still at the boys’ hotel?’

‘Yeah, I was just calling to check up on you.’

‘Aw, well, I’m fine. Looking forward to hearing about everything that’s going on with you and a certain member of The Only Truth, though.’

‘Hmm … I think that there may be nothing to tell now.’ I suddenly thought of Riley. ‘Or maybe there’s too much
going on. I don’t know. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. Prob this evening.’

‘All right, chick. Take care of yourself. And remember why we’re here for this fortnight, Jess. To have fun! And to look out for ourselves. Make sure that you’re looking after yourself, first of all.’

‘Bye, Tegan.’

I looked up at the clock; it was five o’clock. The interview must have begun! I switched channels and found it just as the boys had started answering questions. The interviewer, a beautiful curly-haired brunette in her twenties went through what sounded like all the scripted kind of questions about the boys’ album, tour and fans. To their credit, the boys were answering everything perfectly. Together they were an amazing mix of fun, flirtatiousness and complete dedication to their fans. You could see why they were so popular with millions of girls all over the world.

Then the interviewer leaned in closer to the boys with a twinkle in her eye. ‘But let’s move on to the ladies, boys. The nation’s women want to know it all! Logan, is there anyone special in your life?’

‘No, not at the moment,’ he said, looking sad and playing the camera. ‘I’m waiting for that special someone.’

‘Ooo, did you hear that, girls?’ the interviewer squealed. ‘You could be Logan’s special someone.’

I groaned at how cheesy this all was.

But then she turned to Shaq. ‘Shaq, you all must have beautiful girls throwing themselves at you all the time.
What happens when you and a bandmate like the same girl?’

Shaq froze. I couldn’t breathe. I leaned closer to the television, trembling as I waited for his response. Suddenly, and I might have imagined it, I thought I saw his eyes flick to Riley, who was busy chatting quietly to Callum. ‘We’re best friends and I would have to sacrifice everything for friendship.’ He looked directly at the camera, as if speaking to me himself. ‘Someone close to me told me how they’d been hurt recently when that had happened to them. And I promised myself that I would always do the right thing and, because of what they said, put friendship first.’

That was it. This was Shaq’s message to me. My suspicions had been right. He’d chosen Riley over me. And it was my fault. I’d practically told him to do it.

I went to turn the television off when the interviewer trilled that she had one last question. ‘Riley! You’ve been very quiet over there! Dash a nation’s hopes and tell us who holds your heart.’

‘Actually, there is someone I’ve been thinking about a lot.’

Shaq visibly flinched.

‘She’s someone new in my life and I’m not sure if she feels the same, but I think there’s something there.’ I looked at his eyes twinkling on the screen. There was so much feeling behind them and I felt my heart melting a little. ‘And, well, who knows what could happen if she thought it was worth the risk.’

I decided to clear up my things and go back for some time to myself to think. An hour or so later, singing a sad ballad to myself that had recently been in the charts and seemed to suit my mood, I picked up my keys.

‘I told you she was amazing.’

I stopped in my tracks and turned round to some familiar faces, grinning at me.

‘You do have a stunning voice, Jess.’ Riley smiled at me. Not knowing if he knew that I’d seen the interview, I blushed.

‘Thanks, Riley.’

He looked at the keys in my hand. ‘You weren’t leaving, were you?’

‘Uh, yes, I thought I should get back and keep Tegan company.’

‘Aw, please stay,’ Logan pleaded.

‘Well, I … er … Hang on a minute. Where’s Shaq?’

‘He went off for a walk after the interview, saying he’d
be back tonight,’ Tyler explained. ‘He seemed to want some alone time.’

Riley looked at me curiously. ‘So will you stay, Jess? Spend some time with me – and the boys?’

Damn Shaq. He had obviously made his choice so I was going to have to make mine. Riley must have seen my expression change as he held out his hand – and I took it.

The boys were very gentlemanly and offered to let me pick the film, but I let them decide. It was absolutely the wrong choice. Callum ended up picking a gruesome horror movie that I had flat-out refused to see at the cinema. I was not good with scary films.

I pulled my knees up to my body and wrapped my arms round my legs, burying my head so that I didn’t have to see what was happening onscreen.

Riley nudged me gently. ‘Come here, Jess, you daft thing.’ And he pulled me in close to him with his arm round my waist.

‘Come on, woman,’ Logan teased from the opposite couch. ‘It’s just a film!’

I glared at him and he laughed.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,’ Riley whispered. I smiled back gratefully and hid my face in his chest as the next grisly scene appeared onscreen. His green jumper was soft against my face and his aftershave was fresh and clean-smelling. I nuzzled even further into his protective grasp.

When the film had finally finished, I still sat there in
Riley’s arms, too petrified to move.

‘Are you OK, Jess?’ Callum asked.

‘Yup. Think so. I … um … should get my stuff and go back home now.’

‘It’s the middle of the night – I don’t think you should drive when you’re this tired?’ Callum interjected.

‘Callum’s right,’ Riley agreed. ‘Stay here tonight.’

I flushed, wondering what he was suggesting.

‘Jess, I’ll bunk in with Callum. And you take my room. OK?’ Riley gave me a squeeze and I smiled back gratefully, tilting my face up to look at him.

‘OK.’

And just then the door was pushed open and Shaq walked in.

He took one look at Riley with his arm round me and stalked past. ‘I’m going to bed.’ His door slammed shut.

Callum whistled. ‘Oh well, I’m going to go too. Night, guys.’

Then it was just me and Riley. He pulled me up off the sofa with both hands. ‘Thanks for staying, Jess. I had fun this evening.’

I looked into his deep blue eyes, trying to forget what had just happened with Shaq. ‘So did I, Riley.’ And funnily enough I meant it. Riley made me feel good about myself and I needed that right now.

The sun shone through the curtains, streaks of light bouncing off the mirror and dancing along the walls.

I hadn’t slept much and couldn’t believe how different things were waking up this morning compared to yesterday. I had a sinking feeling in my tummy. I guess that meant my feelings for Shaq were still there, but it was clear he had made his choice.

I looked around Riley’s messy bedroom and smiled at the thought of him. He’d really looked after me, letting me stay here so I didn’t have to drive home in the middle of the night.

Glancing at my phone, I saw there was a message.
Tegan!
I’d totally forgotten about her! As I finished sending her an apologetic text that I was a rubbish friend, there was a knock on the door and a tousled and curly-haired head poked round the door.

‘Hi, Riley,’ I grinned, genuinely pleased to see him.

‘Hungry?’ he asked.

I nodded my head eagerly.

Riley made me a bowl of cereal and I sat next to him on the sofa, both of our legs touching. We were the only ones up, but that soon changed. Callum was the next to surface, his hair sticking up in every direction and a black vest clinging to his chest. He didn’t seem the least bit surprised that I was sitting there next to Riley. Tyler wandered past, wearing not a speck of clothing other than grey sweats and I almost choked on my cereal at the sight of his toned abs. He reminded me of the boys that I saw running on the beach in the morning when I visited America, with their perfect six-packs gleaming with sweat. I tried to pretend I hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. I was relieved when Tyler announced he was going to hit the shower.