As the theme song to I Dream of Jeannie played over the television, I picked up the velvet journal and a red pen. I flipped to a blank page and began to write in it. I was midsentence when I heard a familiar male voice say, "Hello Kate."
I looked up and found Justin standing in the doorway. "Oh. It's you." I studied him, and then noticed that his normally unruly mop of dirty blonde curls were done back in... "Cornrows?" I asked as I felt my face scrunch up in sour disapointment.
"What? Don't you like them?" he asked.
"Does the phrase 'hell no' mean anything to you? I don't like you, Justin."
Justin shook his head. "Au contrair, mon amie," he said. "You think my hair is sexy, admit it."
I rolled my eyes. "Please."
He walked over and sat on the bed next to me. "Look me in the eye and say that," he said sharply.
I turned to him. "Your hair is not sexy."
"You didn't look me in the eye." He took his hands and turned my face to him. "Now say it."
For the first time since I'd met him, my heart started pounding wildly. My hormones went into overdrive, and for the first time ever.... I studied Justin's eyes. They were a deep, intense shade of blue, the blue you see in the deepest parts of tropical oceans. I was mezmerized by them, and I found myself not wanting to look away. It was almost like being held under some sort of mind control.
"Uhh..." I stammered. "Well..."
"Yes, Katerina dear?" he asked, his voice low and whispery.
That brought me back down to reality. No one calls me Katerina. "Your hair is not, I emphasize, not sexy at all. Why thirteen year olds go psycotic at the sight of your hair is so far beyond me..." I didn't even bother to complete my sentence as I got up.
Justin followed behind me. "Where ya goin', Kate?" he asked, walking so close behind me that I was basically in his shadow.
"None of your business! Go find someone else to antagonize! Or go primp in the mirror! Surely there's other ways that a big, international pop star like you can spend your time other than harrassing an innocent college girl!" I shouted in reply. I walked faster, not wanting him to be able to turn me around so I could be drawn into the allure of those deep blue eyes.
"Oh come on," Justin said. "I've got down time--can't I spend it with my girlfriend?"
"I'm not your girlfriend, dammit!" I shrieked, my voice cracking at saying 'girlfriend'. I hadn't liked that term since I'd broken up with Rob, although that had been years ago. So what? I thought bitterly. I'm allowed to hold a grudge.
But for that that long? a voice in the back of my mind replied. God, Kate, that happened when you were sixteen--three years ago! Get over it!
"Whatever," I muttered before walking though a set of doors, Justin still behind me. I tried to slam the door in his face, but it was no use. He simply barged on through and continued following me.
"Oh, but you forget that as far as the general public is concerned, you are my girlfriend." At that, Justin finally caught me, and pinned me to the wall, facing him. I was forced to have my eyes meet with his and to stare at his face.
"What the hell is this for?" I said, my voice growing harsh. I struggled to keep my eyes from focusing on his, afraid that there would be something I'd seen in them that I'd like.
"No reason, Kate... no reason at all. I just wanted to gaze upon your beauty. You are quite gorgeous."
I bit my lip. Was he flirting with me? Or was he just screwing with my mind? "Get away from me," I whispered softly, despite the fact that he had most of his body weight keeping me against that wall, and that my hands had somehow ended up clenched on his upper arms for support. My fingers were in complete contact with his soft, slightly tanned skin. It was then that I noticed that my hands were cold and that they were getting heat from that touch. Oh God... what's happening to me? The whole moment was extremely surreal. I wanted to let go but some horrid force of nature wouldn't let my hands pry loose. I wanted to let go, but I couldn't. Yet, there was also a part of me that didn't want to let go.
Finally, I tore myself away from his grasp. "Keep your hands off of me, or else I will make sure you'll never be able to pelvic thrust again!" I screamed at him. Then, I ran. I can't remember where I was planning on going, but I ended up standing outside in the balmy June heat. Despite the fact that it was about ninety degrees outside, I had cold chills working their way through my body. I tried to make sense of this entire stituation. What had Justin tried to do to me? Whatever it had been, he had probably succeeded. He'd made me feel so emotional just then--my palms were cold, my knees were weak, and my heartbeat was all fluttery. And I'd been entranced on how nice and firm his arm muscles had felt.
"Dammit!" I shrieked in frustration. "I can't like the human Chia Pet! I can't! He's an asshole!" I wanted to kick something, but the only thing around was Chris' dog Busta, who was now staring at me as if I were terminally insane. (and I wasn't about to kick a dog--I would have had to have been some sort of evil person to do that. Besides, Chris would have killed me.)
"I'm sorry, Busta," I said, stooping to pet him. "I know I might seem insane, but... you know the human who's got that big puff of what's supposed to be hair on his head? Justin? Well... he's trying to make me like him or something, and I just don't want to. I can't. I just can't like another guy right now, because I'm still getting over what happened with the last one I was with. I know you can't understand me, but at least you're listening."
Busta barked at me happily.
"And while you're listening... can you keep a secret? Huh puppy?" I asked. "Okay... here it is." In a low whisper, I confessed, "I know I hate Justin and everything... but I've seen him completely shirtless, and he has one fine body. I mean... good God."
"What're you doing?"
I turned to see Chris standing behind me, arms crossed over his chest. I blushed, praying that he hadn't heard me talking to Busta. "Ohh... nothing, Chris. I'm just sitting here with Busta."
"Oh, great! You found him!" Chris said excitedly. "I've been looking all over the place for this dog..." He bent down to pick up Busta, and muttered a few affectionate words into his ears. "Come on in, Kate--it's burning hot out here."
I hesitated, fearing that I'd run into Justin and have another odd confrontation with him. "Okay," I said, getting up. "Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"Um..." my voice squeaked. "Did you... hear anything I was telling Busta?"
Chris gave me an odd look. "Did I hear? No, I didn't hear anything... except for that thing about Justin having a fine body..."
"CHRIS!" I buried my head in my hands, completely humiliated. "Oh God... NO ONE was supposed to hear that! Please, don't repeat that to anyone!"
"Okay, okay... I swear I won't." Chris looked me in the eye. "This is between me and you."
"And Busta," I said, forcing myself to laugh a little.
"And Busta," Chris replied. "Come on. It's almost time for the show."
"Right," I repeated. At least I don't have to worry too much about him trying to drive me crazy with his eyes from backstage! I thought as I walked down the hallways of the arena with Chris. But, then again... he has beautiful eyes...