Chris and his Tramp were reunited back at his penthouse. I speed walked back to my room and avoided looking at them making out drunk. The rest of the night was pretty awkward for me due to the really loud noises coming from Chris' room. Ew. I put my headphones in and knocked out.
*****
I woke up no earlier than 2 PM the next day. Chris was gone by the time I woke up. He left a note saying he was at the studio. I don't know how he did it. I could never party all night then just wake up in the morning, ignore the hangover and get back to work.
I needed to find something to do to keep me busy. Job searching would probably be a good idea right now but that didn't sound like too much fun plus I was already getting paid now so that was unnecessary.
I fed my growling stomach and threw myself across the couch to watch some cartoons. I didn't even need to change the channel because when I flipped the TV on it was already at cartoon network. Chris is also a fan of cartoons that's one of our similarities. My phone decided to ring as soon as I got in a really comfortable position on the couch.
Whoever's calling better have a legit reason for making me get out of my seat, I thought as I got up to get my phone off the kitchen counter.
Emmet's name flashed on the screen. I got the butterflies in my stomach again like some kind of fifth grade girl with a crush.
"Emmet!" I exclaimed into the phone, "How are you?"
"I'm great, how was your day?" He said returning the enthusiasm.
"Just woke up not too long ago actually, what's up?"
I loved how we were talking like we had been friends for so long even though we only met last night.
"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today," He said cutting to the chase. "You know if you're not busy or anything," He added.
"Of course!" I said a little too eagerly. Then I stopped myself before I could make a desperate fool out of myself.
"You like coffee?" He asked.
"I love coffee," I said. That was partially true. I didn't like all coffee. I was very picky about the kind of coffee I liked.
"Great," he said. I could tell he was smiling. I tried to picture his smile in my mind but I hadn't seen him enough times to be able to remember it. Not that it was easily forgettable or anything.
Emmet and I agreed to meet up at starbucks. He told me to bring some of my writing so he could check it out.
I got dressed in record speeds, printed out a few pages of the story I was working on and headed to the door. I opened it to find Chris digging around in his pockets looking for his keys.
"How'd you know I was at the door?" He asked confused.
"I didn't," I said as I pushed past him.
"Hey! Where ya going?!" he I heard him call as I pushed for the elevator.
"Places," I said smirking at him.
"Like?"
Without saying another word I waved at him as I boarded the elevator. I could see annoyance on his face. He didnt need to know where I was going. Just because I was pretending to be his girlfriend didn't mean he owned me.
I met Emmet at the starbucks. He was chilling there with his laptop and a caramel machiato. He said he didn't buy mine ahead of time because he didn't want it getting cold, and then he got up to try and buy me one but I told him not to. I'm glad he didn't buy me anything ahead of time because that would've been a waste.
"I don't like any of these really sugary drinks," I confessed. "I like my cofffee bitter."
He chuckled. "Cool, let me get you a bitter one then," He offered.
"Thanks but I got this," I said winking at him as I walked over to the counter to order.
I didn't want Emmet to start buying me things just yet.
"So you're a writer," He said when I came back with my Classic roast coffee.
"Yeah, unfortunately I haven't finished any manuscripts just yet," I said sipping my coffee too fast and burning my tongue.
Emmet noticed. "Are you okay?" He said genuinely concerned.
"I'm fine," I said. I make this mistake all the time.
"You're into journalism?" I asked. Scanning some newspaper articles with his name on it.
"Yep"
"impressive," I said.
"I occasionally get to write articles for the LA times."
"Occasionally?" I asked.
"Yeah, they can't decided on whether to hire me permanently or not,"
"Do they even pay you for those articles?"
"No?" He admitted but it came out sounding like a question. I could tell he was waiting for my reaction.
I laughed.
"What?" He asked confused.
"That's cute," I said.
"What is?" He said easing up a bit.
"That you'd do something for free simply because you love it. Most people I know wouldn't do that," When I said that I was referring to Chris. When you're in the music industry it's all about the money.
Emmet and I were at Starbucks for a long time. Time totally got away from us. It was pretty empty but soon people started coming in and that's when I realized going somewhere as public as Starbucks with Emmet was a mistake. I was suppose to be dating Chris. Thank god no paparazzi came yet.
In the middle of Emmet and I's game of 20 questions I spotted a group of guys with cameras outside Starbucks. I totally jinxed myself because the paps were here now. I had to leave without being seen with Emmet - fast.
"Aw man that coffee went right through me," I said. "I need to visit the little ladies room."
He chuckled. "You always need the bathroom when we're out," He said.
I pulled a fake laugh. "You're right what a coinkydink," I said and dashed off to the bathroom.
I stood in the bathroom and tried to come up with a way to leave without Emmet seeing me. If only the bathroom had a window. Then I could conveniently jump out of it. That's when I remembered the back door. The only problem was it was located behind the employees so I had to sneak past them undetected which was impossible to do.
I decided to risk it. What was the worst that could happen if they caught me anyway? I crawled behind the counter and one of the guys saw me immediately.
"What on earth are you doing?" He asked.
"Shhhh," I hushed him. "I just need to get out the back door."
He was nice enough not to question me. He simply unlocked the door for me and I crawled out.
The people outside were looking at me funny so I got up off the ground and dusted myself off. Lucky for me my car wasn't parked in the direction of the paps. Why were so many of them here anyway?
As I drove my car past them I realized why they were all here. Justin Bieber was having coffee with Selena Gomez outside. I must've been too caught up in my conversation with Emmet to notice. Then I realized I needed to come up with a very good reason for leaving Emmet like that before he called.
I unlocked the door to Chris' penthouse to find him watching Ed Edd n Eddy.
"Wacha doin," I said skipping across the room.
He looked at me funny. "Nothing."
"That doesn't look like nothing," I said pointing at his drawing of some of the cartoon characters. "It's good. I like it." I added before he closed his sketch book.
I speed walked out of the living room to my room. Chris was probably wondering what the heck had gone into me but truth is I was afraid he would find out about my little "date" and fire me and that I would lose my only source of income and end up broke living in Rose's basement.
I decided to review my copy of the contract I signed with Chris and his management. It didn't say that I couldn't date anyone it only said that i couldn't get caught dating anyone other than Chris by the paps.
I wasn't worried about Chris anymore. Now I just had to come up with an excuse for Emmet before he called.
My phone rang on que. "Hello?"
"Jasmine where'd you disappear to?" Emmet asked.
"Uhh...I'm not in the bathroom anymore," I confessed.
"I figured," I said.
"Sorry Emmet something came up and I really had to go. I'll make it up to you," I apologized.
Just then Chris thought it was okay to pop into my room once again without knocking.
"Jasmine I need you to help me pick something out," Chris said.
"Who's that?" Emmet asked.
"Uhh...that's just my annoying brother," I lied as I motioned for Chris, who was starring at me confused, to get out.
"Maybe I'll get to meet him sometime," Emmet said.
"Yeah maybe..." My voice trailed off as I tried to make up an excuse to get off the phone, but I didn't need to because Emmet said he had to go anyway and then asked me if I was free on Friday night. I most likely wasn't but I decided I would turn down going clubbing with Chris and Hang out with Emmet instead. I told Emmet I wasn't busy and we made a date on Friday.
Oh boy, I thought when I hung up the phone what have I gotten myself into? This better be all worth it.