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By: Soxy “Jules, Amy, you there?” “You’re on speaker phone Mike, what’s the matter? Tell me you got my message?” Jules asked anxiously. Lord only knew what Justin could have done to the girl… “I kissed him,” Mike said, her cheeks flushed at the memory of it. She was getting herself into trouble and she wasn’t even looking back. “YOU DID WHAT? WHO? JUSTIN? OH, GOD!” The hysterical shrieks emanating from Amy made both Jules and Mike cringe. “No, not Justin, for God sakes, Orlando,” Mike clarified, interrupting. “Oh hell yeah,” Jules chortled at the mention. “I want details now!” Just at the tone, despite not being physically in the same room, Mike could picture her friend moving closer to the phone as if it would make the story that much better. A tepid smile graced her lips. “I was out with Justin last night,” Mike began. “Celia’s got to have gotten a huge story from it. You’ve been warned.” “Screw Justin and stories,” Jules ranted back impatiently. “I want more details about the gorgeous boy himself!” “I’m telling Justin you said that,” Mike teased wryly, only imagining the eye rolling that had to be going on at the other side of the line for that comment. She cleared her throat. “So we headed to a different club, Sable, then the rest of the gang, turns out they decide to go to Sable too. No one came over or anything, but we definitely gave Celia what she probably thinks is the story of the century. Then this morning, actually about an hour ago, I go downstairs to workout.” “It’s sick how much you do that,” Amy commented with a snort. Mike ignored the comment and continued. “Anyway, I’m down on the treadmill for maybe 15 minutes when he walks in.” She closed her eyes remembering the look on his face. “He, as in Orlando?” Jules questioned. “Yes, Orlando. He scared the shit out of me, nearly fell off the mill.” “That’s all we need, you with a broken something. How would we have explained that? …good gosh could you be careful, please?” Jules cautioned, an obvious reminder that her public relations state of mind was always on. “Yeah, sure, so next time a gorgeous guy who I’m in lust with walks in and I don’t notice until the last minute, I’ll just say ‘Excuse me, Jules asked me to be careful’,” Mike replied sarcastically at the suggestion, before continuing on with her story. “Anyway, so we argued a little but then. God, I kissed him. We were both talking about being confused and not knowing what to do. He admitted to being jealous of Justin…and I just kissed him.” “How was it?” Amy asked before Jules could get a word in. “He has perfected the art of kissing…” Mike sighed. “If I say so myself, he owns it…God.” She comically waved her face at the memory. “Oh how I wish I got to make out with boys like him,” Amy muttered with disdain, slumping back into her chair. “Reminds me, how come Justin guys?” Mike inquired, eager to change the subject. “I know AJ and Nick owe me and y’all, why not one of them?” At the reminder of their earlier process of elimination, Amy’s nose wrinkled. “No one does cocky pop star quite like Justin. That, and, Nick wouldn’t have been believable, hell, for that matter neither would have AJ.” “Ooh...So is Jules grinning like an idiot at the repeated mention of Nick’s name?” Mike instigated. ”I never got how she liked him, she’s too damn intelligent.” “Yes, she is, and she is also right here. Could you not talk about me like I’m not here?” Jules commented flippantly. “I swear Mike, if you’re not nice I won’t tell you my news!” “Your news?” Mike asked, slipping her thick socks on, preparing to meet the whole crew for some skiing fun. “I completely forgot that you called, is everything ok?” Amy and Jules shared a smile, before Jules leaned into the phone. “What would you do if I told you you were just asked to perform at the Grammy’s?” she pondered aloud thoughtfully. The silence was present but for a moment. Then Mike starting screaming in joy, “Oh MY FREAKING GOD---NO WAY!?!?!?!” Amy giggled at her friend’s enthusiasm. “And as you know, the myth is, those who perform win…well except if you’re Nsync or the Backstreet Boys - poor babies. But can you believe it?” she exclaimed. “Oh and there’s one more thing…” Jules cut-in, with an excited burst of laughter, “and God - it’s freaking huge!” And as she sat there, squealing, giggling, and crying over the best news that had ever come to her career, Mike thought, Maybe, just maybe, life can be this good. ~*~*~*~* She met up with the group shortly after her exciting phone call, glowing. “Hey guys!” She called out waving her hand. She did her best not to look at Orlando, but it couldn’t be helped. It was then she noticed he wasn’t there yet. Interesting. She then focused her eyes on Dom. “Miss me?” Dom nodded and patted her shoulder, “I saw your fine self last night. What a heart breaker you are, love.” Mike grinned and rolled her eyes, “yeah and why didn’t you come over to me, huh? I didn’t realize you were there until later. I figured you were avoiding me.” Her comical tone had him in laughter. “Hey, there you are,” Kate’s soft voice proclaimed as Orlando made his way over to the group. “Did you have a good workout?” Mike kept herself in check, but barely when he finally said, “Yeah, it was perfect. Does a body good, in the long run the heart too, ya know?” “You’re a goober, you know that right?” Billy commented rolling his eyes. “Thanks. Anyway,” Orlando looked up and coyly winked at Mike, “we ready to get going.” “Actually,” she started, “Justin’s coming too. I didn’t think y’all would mind.” Kate actually giggled, “oh my, are you and Justin Timberlake, like an item?” Mike shook her head and rolled her eyes, “nah, he’s been a very good friend of mine for about 4 years. We go way back, we just like to have some fun with the paparazzi. We share the same PR rep, my best friend Jules.” “Oh no you don’t! You are not standing there like nothings going on, Miss Modesty!” Justin’s voice rang out loud and clear as he literally jogged over to her to pull her into his arms. She squealed and giggled, knowing Jules had given him the news. “Shh, I didn’t tell everyone yet!” He put her down and she made introductions. Dom was the first to ask, “why Miss Modesty?” Biting her lip, but her eyes gleaming with excitement Mike spit out, “I just got asked to perform at the Grammy’s and I’ve been nominated for best song at the Oscars.” She was bombarded with laughs, hugs, and congratulations. “I know. I can’t believe it!” After all the well wishes were over Justin spoke up, “I just need to get my equipment. Orlando, mind joining me for a second, I could use some help.” Their eyes met, and Orlando got the message loud and clear. Following Justin he waited for the younger man to talk. “So...you’re Justin.” “And you’re Orlando. I have a house there.” The cockiness in Justin’s tone made Orlando cringe, just why was Mike friends with this guy? “Listen man, let’s cut through the shit. I’ll just put this as clearly as possible. You hurt her and I’ll kill you. She cries one tear, and I’ll hurt you. Don’t fuck this up. She’s very precious to me, and I won’t hesitate to be the bad guy if it means saving her any kind of pain.” “I understand, but I don’t see any problems,” Orlando said honestly. “I do,” Justin said easily. “She’s blonde and has been your girlfriend
for over a year. Don’t fuck this up.” With a ferocious look in his eyes,
he glared at Orlando. And with his unwavering point made, didn’t
hesitate for a response. “Hey Kate,” he called out instead, turning away,
“Girl, want to check out that hard slope with me, looks like a blast and
everyone else is too much of a pansy to try.”
~*~*~*~ She looked up and almost shyly said, “Hey.” Grinning, his eyes bright but his smile blinding he responded, “Hey.” She bit her lip and looked away. It was awkward but for some reason it felt incredible to her. She looked around towards Dom, Elijah, and Billy who were doing their best to pretend like they were doing something of importance and not look over towards the duo. “It wouldn’t look so good if I asked you to take the other slope with me, would it?” Orlando asked with a knowing grin. She shook her head with a smile, “no, that wouldn’t work. Justin kind of took that idea. Besides, I haven’t hung out with the guys since…well…Yesterday…” Looking away for a moment, she looked back, eyes twinkled with amusement, and asked him straight out,” so, he threatened you, huh?” Orlando rubbed a hand over his chin and tried his best not to grin like a moron. “I would have done the same in his situation.” She nodded. “Bad?” “Not overly so, just death,” he answered with an easy smile, “he’s a good friend to you.” “Yeah, he is. So…” “You know I was reading this article, about me,” Orlando started, and grinned when Mike coughed ‘cocky bastard’. “Anyway I was reading this article and it was talking about me as a heart throb, I always laughed at that. One of these girls said I was the perfect man. Which is totally ridiculous,” he didn’t finish the sentence, but sounded like he was in awe. “Am I supposed to just, you know, support your already overwhelming ego?” There was blatant laughter in her eyes and tone. “No, I just need you to know….when I’m with you…..I feel like I am…perfect that is,” he finished and looked away taking a deep breath. Licking her lips, Mike whispered, “hey.” Orlando looked up and met her eyes, a shy smile on his face, “yeah?” “I got a secret,” she said, a grin playing on her lips. “Do I get to hear it?” He asked wryly. This silly banter was accelerating his heart- he knew he was in trouble, but didn’t care. “Yeah…..I really want to kiss you right now,” she licked her lips again and looked down before looking back up at him. He held her gaze for a prolonged moment, and studied them before saying,
“yeah.”
Chapter
14
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