Spotlight Rivals

Chapter 2: The Confession

"She? Wait- Dad, she's not one of your GIRLFRIENDS, right?" I asked, my curiosity spiking.

"What?! N-no! Th-that's stupid Jake! Sh-she's just a friend, okay?" he stammered nervously.

I chuckled at his discomfort.

"Is she blonde or-"

"Jake Valore Sheeran! This is business! Now come home now or I'll-"

I cut him off.

"Fine, fine. Be there in..." I checked my watch. "15" I finished.

I hung up and headed to my car.

I unlocked the car and went inside. Turning on the engine, I drove home.

I got out of my car and handed the guy my car keys for valet service. I'm at the hotel I was staying in. I grabbed my bag and immediately entered the hotel. I went up to my hotel room- no. Hotel Suite. I found my dad talking on the phone.

"Taylor- I know, it's just I'm really busy and- huh. No wonder. Yeah, anyway how's your new song? Going great? Yeah, OK see you". Then he hung up.

He looked at me. I raised my eyebrow. He shook his head and pointed at the bathroom saying, "Get ready in five minutes." I rolled my eyes. And went inside the bathroom for a quick wash.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victoria's P.O.V

I looked at my reflection for what seems like the one hundredth time this evening. I was wearing a black short-skirt dress, with matching black earings and black heeled-boots to complete the look. I know right? All black. My hair is curled up into place as I added a last touch of make-up. I picked up my red bracelet and clasped it around my wrist. Done. "Mom! I'm ready!" I called out to my mom. She appeared in the doorway. She looked stunning with her red dress and red heels and red earings. She beamed at me. "You look amazing my little girl!". I raised my eyebrow. "Mom, I'm not a little girl anymore." She laughed. "I know. I know." I rolled my eyes. She chuckled and grabbed her purse ( if you're wondering what color is it, it's red). "Let's go then. We wouldn't want to keep our guest waiting do we?"she asked.

____________________________________________

"Mom! How long do we have to wait for them?" I groaned. We're at Eleven Madison Park, A.K.A the restaurant we're supposed to meet the 'Special' guest. She looked around nervously. I've never seen her look like this before. I looked at her. She was looking right to left, checking her silver watch every now and then. What's all that about?  

"Sorry Taylor. Got a little stuck on traffic. And paparazzi's. And Jake was in the bathroom for a little TOO long." a man's voice said.

I whipped my head around, and gasped.

I found Ed Sheeran smiling down at my mom, looking dishevelled and HOT.  Standing beside him is Jake. He was wearing a white button down shirt with a black jacket over and a white tie and matching black jeans, making his eyes and pale blond hair show out. Worse, though, me and him had a perfect clothing match.

My mom stood up and hugged Mr.Sheeran. She looked at Jake and raised her eyebrows. Jake politely held out his hand for a hand-shake. My mom smiled and accepted it. I was still in shock as Jake held out his hand for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jake's P.O.V

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      I held out my hand for her. She just looked at me with her mouth agape in shock. I smirked at her and that seems to snap her out of her trail of thoughts.

She gave me a forced smile and took my hand. I pulled her up from her chair and she just looked confused. I looked at my dad. He nodded, gesturing me to take Victoria to the garden outside. My dad and her mom wanted to talk about something private; business.

At least I can apologize, I thought.

  I nodded politely at Ms.Taylor and pulled Victoria out to the garden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     "Why did you bring me here?" Victoria asked.

I took a deep breath of the fresh cold air. It was nearing December already so winter is coming soon. I looked at Victoria. She looked beautiful tonight.

  She was wearing the outfit her mom used on her Speak Now album concert, Long Live. The black dress barely reached her knee, but her boots covered up most of her legs. She'd applied a little black eyeshadow, some pink blush and a touch of lipstick. 

I was still drooling over her when I realized she was shivering. She wrapped her arms around herself and glared at me.

"Can I get in now?" She asked.

I snapped back to reality and started to take off  my jacket.  She looked at me, puzzled, but then she realized what I intended to do. I stepped forward to wrap my jacket around her shoulders but she took a step back with her arms out, preventing me so.

"No! No way, am I accepting the "precious" honor of wearing Sir Jake's jacket." She said sarcastically,  while making air quotes with her fingers.

"What?" I looked at her, puzzled.

Then I remembered the times I bullied her, back in kindergarten in Long Island Sound. I remembered the times I made her cry. I remembered the times I wanted her attention.

I liked her.

That's why I bullied her, that's why I teased her. Because I had a major crush on her. I bullied her partly to prove that I don't like her, partly to get her attention.

Well, the planned worked.

Kinda.

She hated me, and of course, everyone thought I didn't like her. I wanted to stop bullying her, but it was too late. In Year 1 she moved to Manhattan, leaving me to regrett all the things I've done to her.  And all I've wanted to do is apologize to her.

Now I've got that chance.

But is she willing to forget the past and forgive me?

And am I ready to deal with a whole new level, just to get her?

That's something I will have to find out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victoria's P.O.V

___________________

       I looked at Jake. He looked down, remembering what he'd done to me. Those 6 years of my life, were the worst ones of my entire life.

I took a shaky deep breath. "Jake, just leave me alone."

He looked up. His eyes show pain. Wait. Pain?

He shook his head. "I- I just- I'm sorry." He whispered. 

I gasped and took a step back.

He took a deep breath and looked away from me. He faced me. "Vic, all those times I teased you, bullied you. I did that because I liked you. I- I-" His cheeks turned red a bit as he looked away. I couldn't help but think that he's a little cute like that. He looked at me straight in the eyes and said,"I have a crush on you."