Chapter 2
As I headed home, the cars back cover was down, my long hair was flying everywhere, getting completely windblown but I didn't care.
I didn't even mind when I got stuck in LA's morning traffic for half an hour.
Not one little bit.
My best friend was back in town after nearly eight months of back-to-back filming movies on location! I couldn't stop smiling. It had been eight months since we'd last seen each other in person.
Sure we text and emailed everyday and occasionally I sent him photos of me at high school and he sent me set photos of him on wires in front of those green CGI screens or him in some crazy makeup he had to wear for a role.
His photos were usually cooler than mine as you can probably tell.
I hate to admit it, but, somewhere, deep in the pit of my stomach I was a little bit nervous. OK, so we sent texts and emails everyday but it wasn't the same as seeing each other. I mean I definitely saw pictures of him more than he ever saw ones of me, due to the fact that he was usually on one or another major magazine each month. That, and he seems to be being tracked by paparazzi everywhere he goes these days.
I usually tried to stay away from them though, since journalists always give him this completely different persona when they write about him, they go on about how hot he is and all about whom he's rumored to be dating. Lately he's supposed to be with Taylor Cutter the latest bubblegum pop princess to hit the charts. Last month it was Jennifer Lopez - it wasn't even believable-I mean she's married with kids!
I find it a bit creepy to be honest.
And it had been eight months, what if things had changed with so long apart?
We'd never been separated for so long without visiting eachother.
He used to fly back and visit in-between filming breaks but recently his schedule had gotten way busier, which meant no more trips home.
But it wasn't just that, in the eight months he'd been on location, two films he'd shot last year had been released, tear jerker' The after life of Ryan' and epic romance 'Tristian and Isolde' which had propelled him firmly into the A list Hollywood status.
And he deserved it. His acting was amazing in both films and the reviews internationally had reflected it.
Though now he wasn't an emerging young star anymore who'd landed roles in a run of incredibly popular cult films growing up, like when he'd left - he was a big time triple AAA mega watt star now having joined the ranks of Leonardo Di Caprio and Rob Patternson - and I knew that deep down I was a little scared of that.
Of what that might mean for our friendship....
I shook myself,
Stop being stupid Isabel! It means nothing! It's just his job.
You have eight months worth of solid texts, emails and a few incredibly expensive phone bills to tell you otherwise!
At the thought of seeing him again I couldn't help but break out in a smile.
I had missed him more than I thought possible, though I would have never have told him how much. I don't think I could put it into words.
It was the little things, like hanging out and watching cartoons together, his huge bear hugs, laughing at his stupid jokes or arguing over what movie to rent. I even missed the way we used to be able to just sit in comfortable silence with each other. Never feeling awkward or needing to constantly speak. I think that was one of the main things I missed, just being with him.
Our own little team: Isabel and Aaron.
I was still smiling as I parked pulled into my house driveway and parked in the garage. I walked up the steps to my front door, unlocked it and walked into the foyer, dumping my handbag on the floor. The house was really quiet but the lights were on. "Hello?" I called out. My voice rang in the house unanswered. Nothing.
Hmm that's weird. It's 8.00 am on a Saturday morning and everyone was out?
I'm an early riser but none else in my family even considers getting up before the clock hour hits double digits. I sighed, about to ring my mum and ask her where she was when my stomach growled.
Oh yeah - I hadn't gotten breakfast yet! I walked into the kitchen, which is large, and open plan, with subtle spotlight lighting that made the grey granite worktops and the metallic fridge glisten. My mum believes that the kitchen is the heart of the home, so she had this expensive imported wood brought over to make the cabinets. Personally I couldn'tsee the difference.
OK, so your probably wondering if my family is stinking rich from that description, and I guess were pretty well-off but were not loaded. My dad and mum co-own a top law firm in LA , though they sometimes have long work hours but they can work from home if they choose because they own their company. I like that, it means that I see them often and they're not always at the office, which was great beccause it meant we were pretty close.
I searched around the cabinets for a muffin or something but decided to settle on cereal. I sat down at the table, poured my milk into my Cheerio's, thinking about my day as I ate.
Aaron's private flight is supposed to arrive at 10.am at LAX, but seeing as I cant exactly meet him at the airport without being tramped by the paparazzi, I'll just have to go up to Aarons house two streets down and hang out there until he arrives home.
I was about half way through my bowl, sitting at the island, when I heard a distant clattering sound from the Garden. It was like someone was on the patio oustide....
Huh?
Were we being burgled?
Last time I thought we were being burgled was two summers ago; I had gone outside in my pajamas with my purple fluffy slippers, a baseball bat in hand, only to find Aaron swimming in our pool. He then proceeded to pull me in. Fluffy slippers included.
we'd spent the rest of the morning having a waterfight in the pool until our finger were shrivelled up like prunes.
I hopped off the stool, spoon In hand, and went to investigate.
As I walked out of the kitchen and past the living room I stopped, the TV was on, but silent and it was one for those five-minute celebrity gossip segments they have on the news. The woman presenting it looked like a moving life sized Malibu Barbie;she was smiling so har di thought her face might crack. Behind her there was a grainy picture of what looked like two dark silhouettes hugging outside a non-descript bar. Next up popped the headline ' IS THIS AARONS NEW FOXY LADY?' in big bold font.
"urghh.. what bull" I murmured to myself, picking up the remote from the coffee table and switching off the TV. If Ari had a girlfriend i would know about it.
What I didn't get is how everyone seemed to actually believe this cr*p- the silhouettes where so dark they could be anyone- In fact I'd bet money they are just random people that a paparazzi took a picture of for some easy money!
And the cheesy play on his name was ridiculous!
I couldn't help but smile to myself. Then I was broken out of my internal rant by another loud noise outside ... what was that? It sounded like a muffled voice?
I moved down the living room, past the black leather sofa and the flat screen TV towards the open glass sliding doors, which would look out onto the garden, except the white curtains were drawn. But I could see a shadow moving outside in the garden.... then all of a sudden the curtain moved and i jumped backwards slightly gasping.
Ahh the sliding door must be open , it's just the wind I reassured myself.
WAIT- the sliding doors are open? My parents never leave the back garden doors open.... especially not early in the morning. I took a deep breath.
1 ...2....3.... GO!
I pushed aside the curtains as I jumped out of the sliding doors, skidding onto the garden patio in my converse.
And there he was, standing in the middle of the garden, smiling at me. The most coveted guy in America and My best friend in the entire world,
Aaron Fox.
"Okay, I surrender Ella, as long as you slowly put down the spoon " he shouted jokingly across the garden at me , both his hands up in mock surrender.
"ARI!!!!!" I practically screamed in excitement as I ran towards him at full speed.
I couldn't believe he was here! He was supposed to be arriving in two hours!
As I ran towards him I couldn't hold back the smile, as he stood there with his arms open. I went flying straight into him, jumping on him so my legs wrapped around his waist as I hugged him.
The first thing I noticed as my body hit his was how hard his chest was now.... Wow It was like he was made of some kind of warm carved stone! Was that his muscles?
The second thing I noticed was his comforting smell of him that I had missed way too long, sweet like lemon. I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his smell as I kept myself locked around him. I felt him chuckling, the hard muscles of his stomach rippling underneath me.
He squeezed me tightly to him "I missed you so much Ella-Bear" he whispered, using his nickname for me.
I smiled against his neck "I missed you too Ari " I whispered back.
Slowly I pulled my head from his neck so I could look him in the face.
His golden sandy hair was all mussed up and I could see his amazing clear blue eyes that I'd always envied looking warmly back at me from what I have to admit, was one handsome face - in mean, you don't become a movie star being ugly.
Aaron smiled up at me; his teeth were perfectly straight and white as I tried to soak in the image of my best friend I hadn't seen in what felt like forever and a day.
He was looking at my face as if he was trying to memorize me.
"How come you're home so early? And why didn't you text me?" I asked, playfully ruffling his hair.
He chuckled "Oh turns out some paparazzi were trying to get tickets on the same plane so my agent booked me an earlier one last minute so no one would follow me. And I didn't tell you cause I wanted it to be a surprise. Plan worked huh?" he asked a big grin on his face, making slight dimples appear.
"You betcha! I thought I was being burgled I was ready to come out and whip some ass"
Aaron's eyebrow arched, and he looked amused " With a spoon?" he asked, whilst one hand played with a strand of my hair.
"Hey, don't underestimate spoons." I said mock- scolding him
"Never Ella-Bear" Aaron said and suddenly pulled me into a tight hug, pressing me against his hard abs.
I hugged him back, realizing he was still holding me, my legs wrapped around his waist.
I must be getting really heavy for him.
"Okay, my fat butt is probably breaking your back, you should let me down before I do some serious damage" I told him. I didn't really want to stop hugging him. Besides I had eight months of No -Ari- Hugs to make up for.
Aaron laughed, smoothing a strand of my hair behind my ear " I think it'll take a little more than you to break me Ella Bear, so no I've got you now and I'm not letting you go again" Aaron said jokingly, though or a second I thought I saw a glimmer of seriousness flit across his face.
Then he was striding with me, as if I weighed nothing. I pressed my face back to his neck breathing him in as he carried me through the glass door, through the living room and into the Kitchen where he put me sitting on the island, standing between my legs, facing me. We stood they're for a while just smiling goofily at each other like complete nerds.
I couldn't believe he was here!
He was here and I thought my face might split from smiling so hard.
After eight moths of me missing him like crazy he was finally back!
Under the Kitchen lights I could see how tanned he was, the color of pure honey, contrasting with his white t-shirt and dark jeans.
I reached out touched his arm " Your so tanned! Looks like Australia treated you well ." I silently added to myself, you look older now.
Ari looked down at my hand on his arm and smiled "Yeah, It was great Ella Bear, it was really hot - and the surf out there is fantastic- the waves are huge! I'll have to take you with me one day. But enough about me-what about you? You're a senior now! And you grew your hair, I always liked it long, you look - you look great" he said excitedly.
I smiled as I watched as he absentmindedly played with my hair as he spoke, twisting it in his long, graceful fingers. " Yeah, I'm still the same old normal Isabel, nothing much has changed except from the hair Ari"
Aaron shook his head, confused " Are you kidding Ella?" he said as if I'd just told him I was Santa Claus, staring intently into my eyes. Then he grabbed my hand, pulling me off the island and leading me towards the full-length mirror we have in the hallway outside of the kitchen.
As we stood there, i remembered how painfully obvious it was how normal I am next to him.
He was just over 6'2; I could see the vague outline of a six-pack through his white t-shirt, hinting at the strength he had just shown when he carried me into the kitchen. It didn't help that they was combined with his even features, his perfect un -blemished skin, his strong jaw line which was covered in a slight dark stubble, and bright blue eyes and his mischievous smile - did I mention that he was now more tanned than I was? - and I live in LA!
It seemed like he'd gone away and all those little perfect bits about him had been heightened. I hadn't undergone any sort of similiar experience over the last eight months - not even with my OK physical attributes like my long blond hair, my green eyes.
Ari stood slightly behind me, " Ella you've never been 'old normal Isabel'" He said firmly, his piercing crystal blue eyes locking onto mine. I could see the faint thin white scar just below his hairline on the right side of his forehead that was about 2 cm long. He'd gotten it when he was six and he fell off a swing and something on the ground cut him. I breifly remembered how bloody it had been at the time, we had thought he might need stitches but luckily he didn't. Now you could hardly see it now if you didnt know what you were looking for.
I looked over my reflection quickly, Ok so I have long straight blond hair, which stops just half way down my back, I have a small smattering of light freckles near my nose, a slightly upturned nose that I hate. My greyish green eyes are probably the best things about my face. I trailed my eyes down to my body, which is pretty average; I'm a comfortable size 10 (uk size) and am about 5'7. Recently I found out I've gone up a cup size so I look a little bigger since last time he saw me - not that he'd ever notice.
"You're so" Ari started to say but I cut him off
He was probably planning on saying something like 'unique' that is usually code for 'I can't think of a descriptive word like pretty'. After all it was practically his job to hang around with other actors whose job It was to look beautiful - I can't even imagine how plain I must look to him.
" Totally Average Ari" I said, going behind Aaron and started pushing him down the hallway towards the kitchen.
I briefly heard Ari murmur something to him along the lines of " one day you'll see it" as I continued to struggle to push him down the hallway but I brushed it off and continued to push him.
"Now come on I'll make you some coffee - I never got to finish my cheerio's cause this weird shifty looking guy was outside in my Garden- you may know him he was in all those movies"
Aaron stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned around to face me; an eyebrow raised and his face twisted into a fake shocked face " Weird Shifty Guy huh?"
I tried to stifle a giggle " Yeah total weirdo - EEEPPPP!" suddenly I was interrupted as Aaron strong warm hands enclosed around my waist as he slung me over his shoulder like I weighed less than a feather, putting me in a fireman's lift.
Did he take steroids or something when he was in Australia?
" What did you say about that guy again?" he asked laughing at I banged my fists against his back, still slightly shocked by his strength.
I realized I now had a really up close and personal view of his butt, in his dark denim jeans - God I bet most girls in the world would pay good money to be in my shoes.
I have to say he does have one fine ass - I mean it's ok I guess.
"Let me down Ari! Ari! I'm going to get you for this! And you better not think about letting one loose!" I told him as I continued to pummel his incredibly muscled back with my fists - does he have muscles everywhere now?
Aaron carried me into the kitchen, whistling to himself " Only if you say pretty, pretty please to me your amazingly cool best friend in the entire world"
I laughed, " Yeah right you're the most amazingly cool weirdo I've ever met Ari!" I said sarcastically I said through giggles.
Aaron laughed making his back muscles shift slightly under his t-shirt. Suddenly an errant thought popped into my head; what would that look like without his t-shirt?
I felt a blush when I realized what I had just wondered about my best friend. What was I thinking???
My best friend. Emphasis on the friend part Isabel.
Then I heard the front door click open, distracting me from my thoughts and my parents and Aaron's mum Linda walked into the kitchen. Thankfully I wasn't facing them - I was hanging over Ari's shoulder- so they wouldn't see my flushed cheeks.
My mum and Linda have been best friends since high school and it's why Aaron and me have known each other are whole lives. They live so close that Linda, Aarons mum is always round at ours or we go to theirs.
Though the fact that Aaron and I get on better than peanut butter and jelly is just the way we are.
"Aaron, it's so good to see you!" my mum smiled and pulled him into a hug, completely ignoring her daughter slung over his shoulder. "You should have told us you were coming back earlier!"
"it's great to be back! It's been too long! I just got on an earlier flight my manager booked - I didn't even tell my mum." He said.
The next person I heard speak up was my dad " Good to see you Aaron" I felt Aaron move hand to shake my dads " I would give you a hug son but I can see you've got your hands full" My dad said chuckling.
Then I felt Aaron slowly slide me off his shoulder and put me to the side of him, I huffed when I got to the ground
"And I didn't even have to say pretty please" I taunted, just resisting the urge to stick out my tongue at him. Aaron smiled down at me in an amused way before he gave his mum a quick hug cause the last time she went to visit him on set was about two weeks ago.
" We were waiting at Linda's and then we got a call from your agent to say you were on an earlier flight and that you'd asked to be driven here." My mum announced.
Aaron ran a hand through his hair " Yeah, I figured there wouldn't be any press outside your house. In about an hour they're going to be surrounding our place." He said looking at his mum.
Aarons mum smiled back, briefly glancing at my parents knowingly " Actually we were all talking about that on the way over and figured that maybe the best way for you to lay low would be to stay with Jennifer and John. (My parents names - it always sounds weird when other people call use them) That way you crazy kids can catch up and the paparazzi will cool off if you stay here out of sight."
Wow that was really logical. None would think to look here for him.
I couldn't help but break out In a huge grin! It was going to be like one big sleepover!
I wanted to jump up and down with happiness.
" Are you sure? What if the paparazzi find out I'm here - they'll mob the place" Aaron asked smiling.
My Parents laughed, " They wont find you both. You guys are going to practically be under house arrest for the next few days so that wont be a problem. and seeing as it's school's summer break , you wont be damaging your attendance record Isabel".
I couldn't hold my excitement any longer; I was like a little kid who just got told Christmas came early
" Ari! It's going to be like one big sleepover! Wooohhhhooo!" I shouted and gave Ari a huge hug, crushing myself against his hard abs.
(Hope you enjoy! Comment if you like.
Sorry if I didn't catch any grammar or spelling mistakes smile024:D )