Tamia
My first year of college was officially over, and I was back home for summer break. So much has happened in the last few months school-wise, but not much has happened between Jason and me. The night he flew to San Diego to see me was the last time we talked in person, but we've talked on the phone and texted since then.
I was lying in my bed, wondering what he was doing. *Ugh, I've got to stop thinking about him so much*, I sighed to myself. Suddenly my phone buzzed.
It was Jason.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey, how's your summer going?" Jason asked.
I smiled to myself. "School just got out a week ago," I laughed.
"So it's boring, huh?" Jason laughed back.
"I'm not gonna lie, it could be better," I said, "and I don't have much planned this summer... except for a music camp thing I applied for."
"Wait, did you say music?" Jason asked. "I thought your major was psychology."
"It still is," I replied, "but I was looking into music therapy."
"Music therapy?" he asked.
"Yeah," I replied. "It combines psychotherapy and music, and the program I applied to teaches music lessons and applies principles of psychotherapy. But it's in New York."
"That's good to hear," Jason said.
"And why is that?" I asked. "That means we won't be able to hang out as much this summer."
"Well, I wanted to ask you to come to New York with me and my brothers," he replied.
"Wait, I thought your U.S. tour ended last month," I said, confused.
"It did," Jason replied, "but now we're going on location... for a movie."
"Really?" I asked excitedly. "That's great! And you wanted to ask me to come?"
"We all do," Jason said.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The Draper Brothers were getting ready to film a movie, and they wanted me to come with them... and I could!
*** *New York City* ***
Jason
Two weeks after Tamia told me that she was spending six weeks of her summer in New York, my brothers and I were in the same city for our new movie: Neon Nights. It's loosely based on our lives, about three brothers trying to make it into a music festival in New York. Filming takes place in Manhattan and that's where our temporary apartment was, but since Tamia was staying in Brooklyn, I talked the producer into finding us a place there. She had already been there a week before we started filming, so I was excited when it time for us to finally fly out there.
"Brooklyn?" Caiden asked during our car ride to the apartment. "I thought we were staying in Manhattan."
"Tamia's in Brooklyn," Raymond replied, "so we're in Brooklyn."
"Wait, Tamia's here?" asked Caiden.
"Caiden, man, you never listen!" I said. "I told you we were staying in Brooklyn to look out for Tamia while she was here."
"Yeah," Raymond said sarcastically, "we're 'looking out for her'. This isn't about you wanting to be close to her."
"Ray," I said.
"No, it's okay," Raymond said. "I get it. We know you still like her... but have you told her about Millie?"
"There's nothing to tell," I said.
"Yeah, why say anything?" Caiden chimed in. "She'll find out about her when she watches the movie and sees you two kissing."
"It's just a movie," I said. "Tamia will understand that I'm playing a role."
"And you two aren't even dating, so it's okay," Raymond said.
Yeah, I thought. It's okay. But why didn't it feel okay? Maybe because my path with Millie Stevens crossed before, and I knew that she liked me. Now she was my love interest in this movie. Great.
Tamia
* *Knock-knock* *
"Coming!" I called as I got up from the piano that was in my New York studio apartment. I expected it to be one of the directors from the music program, since we were all on the same floor, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.
"Jason!" I exclaimed. "I didn't know you were here already."
"I wanted to surprise you," he replied.
"Where are Caiden and Raymond?" I asked.
"They're back at our apartment," Jason said.
"I can't believe your apartment is in Brooklyn too," I said. "Of course, it's probably in a better neighborhood and a lot bigger than this." It's true, my temporary home was very small-- my dorm-style apartment back on campus was bigger than this.
"My place isn't that big," Jason said modestly. "And this is a really good neighborhood."
I couldn't help but smile. Jason and I were finally spending time together again, and he could be himself-- no disguises and no interruptions. Even though he and his brothers would be filming all day, almost every day, he told me that I could visit the set whenever I was free.
"Was that you playing the piano I heard when I walked up to the door?" Jason asked.
"Um, yeah," I replied, "but it wasn't that great."
"You sounded really good!" Jason exclaimed. "Have you played before?"
"No," I admitted. "I mean, I've played around on a keyboard before, but I've never actually taken lessons."
"I could give you private lessons," Jason offered.
The way he said that made me blush. Private lessons from Jason? Not Jason Draper the superstar, but Jason Draper my best friend... and the guy I've been crushing on for far too long now.
"I'd like that," I said finally, "but I've been practicing all morning, and I'm hungry."
"We can have lunch and then head over to the set," Jason said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah," he replied, "we're meeting with some of the team and our costars..." his voice trailed off.
"That sounds like fun!" I exclaimed.
Jason
"Hey Tamia!" Raymond exclaimed as Tamia and I walked onto the set.
"Hey Ray!" Tamia said back as they hugged. "Where's Caiden?"
"Right here," he replied, as he walked up behind us. He was with our makeup artist, Faith.
I noticed that Tamia's eyes widen when she saw her. Faith was a beautiful young woman with light blond hair, and her makeup was well put together because she's a makeup artist. I have to admit, it felt good to know that Tamia still gets a little worried every time a beautiful girl comes around me. It let me know that she still had feelings for me... and I still had feelings for her. I also wanted to let her know that she didn't need to worry.
I snaked my arm around her waist, but I was suddenly pulled away.
"Jason!" squealed a familiar voice as she pulled me into an embrace.
"Millie," I said, pulling away. I quickly looked over at Tamia. She quickly turned her head away. "Millie," I continued, "this is Tamia. She's my--" but I was cut off.
"It's about time we do a movie together," Millie continued. "And we get to kiss in this one!"
I saw Tamia's jaw drop out of the corner of my eye. This isn't how I wanted her to find about about that scene in the movie, but now it was out.
"I'll see you later," Millie said, but not leaving before kissing me on the cheek.
Tamia
I couldn't believe what I'd just heard and just witnessed. Actress Millie Stevens-- who also happened to be one of my favorite actresses-- said that she was going to kiss Jason in this movie. And she kissed him on the cheek before she walked off.
"So," I started. "...that was Millie Stevens. She's one of my favorite actresses."
"Really?" Jason asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Yeah," I said, swallowing a lump in my throat.
At this point, Raymond and Caiden quietly walked away.
"Look, Tamia," Jason started, but I cut him off.
"Jason, it's okay," I said. "You're a successful musician and soon-to-be successful actor. You're going to have girls all over you. And you're allowed to date whoever you want."
Saying this out loud made me once again realize how different we are. Even if we were dating, I'd have to be okay with him possibly kissing other girls in movie roles. At this point, I wasn't even okay with that being his friend, let alone his girlfriend. I guess this was the confirmation that I needed yet again that we could only be friends because we live in two different worlds.