Tamia
A girlfriend. Of course. But why am I mad? I have a boyfriend. I just told him that— wait, could that be why he said he had a girlfriend? No. He was just being nice and had absolutely no interest in me... but why did he want to walk me to my car? Not that I had driven— I don't even have a car. Morrissa drove.
Jason
After I said what I said, she was silent. Was she upset? No, she's with someone. Shoot, I almost forgot that I was with someone.
Let me explain: Six months ago, we had our album release party. It was about two weeks before we went on tour for the album. At the party, I met a girl— Onise Taylor. She's an actress, but unlike any other actress I've ever met. She was very down to earth, and wasn't high maintenance. We started talking at the party and she was congratulating me and telling me how much she liked my music. I figured she was genuine and wasn't after my money because she had money herself.
Well we started dating casually, going places here and there, but then it was time for me to go on tour with my brothers. She also had to go on location for a movie. It was understood that we wouldn't date anyone else during the time we were apart (it's not that I was looking to date another girl anyway), and we kept in touch as much as we could. However, our schedules got hectic and communication stopped. I always thought about her, but I had no idea if she thought about me as much. Like me, she isn't super active on social media— she's more focused on her work.
But still... in my mind, she was my girlfriend and I wasn't going to do anything to hurt or betray her.
Tamia
After the long pause I let out a sigh... "No, really, it's okay," I finally said. "I really appreciate your kindness. And..."
I had already blurted out that I had boyfriend, so I was trying to find the words to make things seem less awkward. Now that I knew he had a girlfriend and was just being friendly, would it really hurt to keep talking to him?
Suddenly, my phone dinged with a text from our group message from Morrissa:
Nails, DONE! And guess what?!?!? I have GREAT news! I'LL MEET Y'ALL AT THE FOOD COURT!!
"It looks like you really need to go so I'll just leave you alone," Jason said as I was reading my message.
Maybe I could use this as an excuse to get him to stay. So I open up my mouth and say, "Oh no, actually one of my friends wants to meet me here in the food court so I don't have to leave right away. You're welcome to stay with me if you want."
"Y-your friend?" Jason asks, almost nervously.
"Yeah, her name's M—" I start to say, but I'm cut off by my phone ringing. It's Morrissa.
"I'm sorry, that's her," I said. "Hello?"
"Okay girl, I can't wait 'til I get to the food court to tell you this! Plus, Vie's already here with me and I already told her!" Morrissa screams excitedly.
I'm sure Jason can hear her too.
"Okay, okay," I say, "Tell me what?"
"Okay, remember how we were telling you about The Draper Brothers just this morning?" Morrissa asked.
"Yeah," I say rolling my eyes. I turn to smile at Jason because at this point I know he can hear Morrissa practically screaming into my ear. I noticed Jason's eyes got really big.
"Well, I just got the alert that they'll be doing a show next month, RIGHT HERE IN LA, and I bought us tickets!" Morrissa shouted excitedly. "Now you can finally see them!"
"Um, okay," I say. "I guess that'll be cool."
"Alright girl," Morrissa continued, "We're still on our way to the food court. Are you still there?"
"Yeah," I say.
"Alright, see you soon." Morrissa and I hang up, and I turn my attention back to Jason.
His eyes are still really huge. "Are you okay?" I ask.
Jason
As she begins to give me an answer, she gets a message on her phone.
"It looks like you really need to go so I'll just leave you alone," I say to her. I'm 100% sure that that was her boyfriend messaging her, wondering where she's at.
But to my surprise she says, "Oh no, actually one of my friends wants to meet me here in the food court so I don't have to leave right away. You're welcome to stay with me if you want."
Just as I was about to say yes, it hit me. "Y-your friend?" I stuttered. What if her friend recognizes me? Do any of her friends listen to contemporary music? Wait, is friend is another guy?
Just then, we were both interrupted by her phone ringing. She lets me know that that's her (her friend) and answers.
"Hello?" she says into the phone.
"Okay girl, I can't wait 'til I get to the food court to tell you this!" I hear her friend shouting into the phone. I try not to be rude and listen in on her conversation, but it was almost impossible with how loudly her friend was speaking.
As hard as I was trying not to listen, something she said caught my attention and my heart sank.
"Okay, remember how we were telling you about The Draper Brothers just this morning?"
Oh no, I thought. Her friend has heard of me and my brothers. And they were just talking about us this morning? Tamia still doesn't seem to know. Maybe she didn't show her pictures? But if I stick around, her friend will definitely recognize me. Wait, what if she's already spotted one or both of my brothers?
The next thing I hear her friend say also sends a shock through my body: "Well, I just got the alert that they'll be doing a show next month, RIGHT HERE IN LA, and I bought us tickets!"
We're doing a show? Next month?? How come I haven't heard anything about... Caiden! He probably planned one, and posted tickets for sale. Oh no. Now Tamia will definitely figure out who I am.
I noticed that her call had ended and she was staring at me with concern. "Are you okay?" she asks.
"Oh, uh y-yeah, I'm fine." I managed to say. I wanted to tell her, but not here. Not now. Not like this. But I also had to hurry and split before her friend arrived. But how will I ever find her again? I take a deep breath and say, "Uh, w-would it be okay if I could have your phone number? I mean, I actually need to get going and I don't want to be rude and just leave you... and..."
"Sure, give me your phone," she says, cutting me off. "I mean, I'll probably see you around school, but I wouldn't mind keeping in touch before then. Also, I could help you find your classes if you want."
I almost fell over. I forgot! I will see her at school! And she wants to keep in touch before then? Oh no, school! Man I need to tell her who I really am. I don't want her to find out about it at school. Then I remembered that she asked for my phone to put her number in... and guess what I don't have on me? Bingo.
"I actually didn't carry my phone with me today," I say honestly.
"Really?" she asks surprised, but giggles. "I don't think I've ever met a teenager without their phone on them at all times! You can just give me your number then."
"Uh, I actually don't remember my own number," I say.
She giggles again. "Okay, well here," she says. She reaches into the purse that's crossed over her body and pulls out a pen. She grabs my hand and writes:
818-555-4906
I look down at the number and smile.
"I know we just met today, but you're not like other guys at all," she says to me. "You're so down to earth and not cocky at all. And... I would really like it if we could be friends— just friends— you know, because we're both dating someone else."
I smiled. Even though I was dating Onise, I couldn't help but feel excited. I get to be Tamia's friend! I've never really had friends before, and now here was my chance. I also felt a little jealous because she had her own friends. I didn't really want to share her; I mean, she has a boyfriend so I'm already sharing her with him!
"I'd like that too," I say. "I don't have many friends."
"Really?" she asks again, "As nice as you are, I'd think you'd have lots of friends! But it's okay, I totally get it. I don't have many friends either."
Now it was my turn to be shocked. "Really?"
"Yeah," she continued. "All I have is Morrissa, the one on the phone and Vie."
Wow, so I guess I kind of would be a special friend for her. But then I realized that her friends would soon be here, so I said, "Well I'll definitely call you later, but I should get going. See ya."
"Bye," she said, giving a subtle wave.
Just as I turned to walk away, I hear some girls yell, "Mia!"
Ah, just in time. But I just couldn't help feeling guilty that I didn't tell her who I really was. But I couldn't. not in the mall. Not with her friends— who are fans— on the way to meet her.
But she said that I'm not like other guys at all, but she meant it in a good way! Would she still think of me the same way when she finds out that I'm a celebrity? Now I didn't want to tell her at all. But she has to know the truth and she'll find out eventually.
Man, I wish there were a way... Ugh, either way I'll have to tell her before I start school. Luckily, I wasn't starting school until Wednesday, so I had three whole days to figure this all out.