chapter two
LATER
I smiled softly as I sat on the large, overstuffed couch facing the photo shoot ahead of me. I was dressed in a pair of faded flares, a baby blue Superman baby tee, and a pair of blue and white Nikes. My dark hair had been pulled up into a clip, thankfully off my neck. My makeup had been reduced somewhat, giving me an innocent look.
Over my ears, 3 Doors Down’s The Better Life played from Danny’s CD player that he had so graciously lent me…guess I should've told him…oh well!
He’s always taking my DMX and Sisqo CDs, serves the butthead right!
"Hey," Thania sat down beside me.
I stopped my CD player halfway through Down Poison and pulled my headphone down to my neck. "Hi."
"What are you listening to?" I knew she was trying to be friendly.
"3 Doors Down."
"Oh, my friend likes them. Aren't they the ones that sing that Superman song?"
I nodded, "that would be Kryptonite."
"I knew it had to do with him somehow."
"So what do you listen to?"
"Different things, mostly Pop music."
I cringed, "Pop music equals boybands in my book."
Thania laughed, "I take it you don’t like *NSYNC or BSB or Britney Spears?"
"Oh you mean NSEST, Bendover Boys, Slutney Shears?" I asked, using the names Eric and I called them.
She laughed again, "Yeah, them. Who do you listen to…besides 3 Doors Down?"
"Um…" I thought for a minute. "Papa Roach, Creed, KoRn, Tool, and some R&B stuff. My friends are always stealing my Sisqo and DMX CDs."
We talked a little longer then I was called to do the rest of my shoot, my CD player at my hip…or should I say Danny’s?
LATER
"Hey Skyler!" Thania called, one of the other models at her side.
I looked away from Danny and smiled. "Sup?"
She and her companion neared us. "What are you doing for dinner?"
I shrugged, not knowing if Eric and Danny had other plans or not.
"Would you like to go with me, my sister, and some friends of mine out to eat?"
I nodded, "Only if I can bring them along?"
She nodded.
"Oh! Thania, this is my best friend, Eric Stretch and his friend, Danny Zavatsky. Guys, this is Thania and I don’t know your name."
"I’m Razanna Peck, Thania’s sister." She smiled.
We shook hands then Danny turned to me. "I gotta go Kid, I promised Ma that I’d be home to spend some quality time with her and Jen."
I nodded, knowing how important his family was. "Okay, do you want me to drop by later?"
"Sure, I know Jen’s wanting to talk to you about something."
I nodded, Jen, Danny’s older sister, and I were really close…probably closer than Eric and me. We’re pretty close, but I can't tell him everything cause he’s a guy and he can't keep secrets very well. If I ever need to talk to anyone, I go to my best friend, Katherine or Kat.
"What about you Stretch? You coming with?"
"As enticing as it sounds, do you mind if I bail? I told Daniel that I’d go with him over to his mom’s. I left some stuff there. That and I don’t feel like driving to Yorba tonight."
I nodded, "I don’t feel much like it either."
"Then you two are crashing at my house. I’ll tell Mom to expect ya." Danny offered.
I smiled, hugged them bye, gave Danny a soft kiss then walked with Thania and Razanna over to where five guys stood waiting.
"Are you and…Danny?…going out?" Thania asked as we neared her friends.
"What makes you think that?" I let out a small smile, knowing I had been caught. Usually, Danny and I never showed PDA, public display of affection, out of fear that one of his fans’d see and cause a scene.
"You are, aren't you?" Razanna joined in.
"I’m not supposed to tell!" I yelped.
The sisters laughed, "Don’t worry," Thania assured me, "we won't tell."
I breathed a sigh of relief then met the five guys.
"Skyler, I’d like you to meet five friends of ours. This is Ashley Angel, Dan Miller, Erik Estrada, Trevor Penick."
I smiled and shook hands with each of the guys then waited for Thania to introduce the last one.
"…And this is Jacob Underwood."
"Hey," I smiled at him.
"Hi," he smiled back, his smile reflecting shyness.
"I’m hungry!" Trevor burst out suddenly.
I laughed, instantly being reminded of Eric. "You know, I am too."
"Ah! Then you're not some anorexic model huh? No offense to Thania or Razanna." Trevor wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me to the door.
I couldn’t help but look behind me at Jacob. There was something about him…something I couldn’t place…but there was definitely something about him that intrigued me.