chapter three
FOUR DAYS LATER
I sighed softly as I walked into the Seventeen offices, one of the editors wanting to see me about something.
I walked into Monica Evens’ office to find Thania and Razanna sitting side by side in front of the woman’s desk.
"You called for me." I stood in the doorway.
"Yes, Skyler, please have a seat." She indicated the empty seat beside Razanna.
I took it and waited for the woman to go on.
"It seems you three girls are a hot commodity among our Seventeen readers, especially you and Thania." She looked at the sisters beside me.
"Us? Why us?" Razanna questioned.
"Simple, because of the O-Town boys. It seems there's a rumor going around about Thania dating Jacob Underwood."
I held my breath at the accusation.
"Are you dating Jacob?" Monica questioned Thania.
"No, we’re just good friends."
I didn’t know if Thania was lying or not, but I knew that it wasn’t my place to judge her if she was.
"Good, you girls can be friends with the boys, but nothing more. And Skyler, it seems you’ve been getting cozy with the guys of No Authority."
"Yes, Eric Stretch and I grew up together. I’ve been with the guys since the start of No Authority, back when it was Josh Keaton instead of Tommy McCarthy."
"Is there anything going on between you and Danny Zavatsky?"
"I don’t see why that has anything to do with my modeling career or your magazine. It’s not like you're putting their faces on the covers." I shot back, becoming defensive of my personal life being probed. "Just because guys are starting to go ga-ga over me doesn’t mean you or anyone here can tell me who to date and who not to date. If there is anything going on between me and Danny, that is OUR business, just as if Thania and Jacob are together. That shouldn’t affect your readers, unless you let it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have places to be. Bye." I got up and walked out of the office, not knowing where the energy to stand up for myself came from.
"Skyler!" Thania ran after me.
I stopped and looked at her. "Sup?"
"Thanks, for standing up for me back there."
"I just did what I thought should be done."
"She had no right to ask those questions."
"Yeah well…" I just shrugged. "Say, I’m heading over to the studio to listen to Danny and the guys cut some tracks. You wanna tag along?"
"Sure, as long as I can drag you with me to see Jake and everyone."
"Oh, I get it!" I smiled.
"Actually, Jacob has a thing for you. You're all he’s talked about since you met each other a few days ago."
"Please tell me you're joking!" I begged.
Thania laughed as we headed out to my car, a gift from Eric on my eighteenth birthday. "Wow, nice car!"
I smiled at my metallic blue 2000 Ford Mustang convertible. "Thanks, gift from the guys. Hop in."
We got in then I headed for the studio where the guys were working.
"Are you serious about Jacob having a thing for me?" I asked over the wind.
She nodded, her curly hair flying every which way. "Oh yeah!"
"What about you? Who do you have a thing for?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah, honestly."
"Promise not to get upset?"
I laughed, "I promise. What, you think Danny’s hot or something?"
"Um…"
I laughed, "You think my boyfriend is lustworthy?"
She looked at the floorboard.
"It's cool if you do…it's weird! But it's cool." I shrugged as I pulled into a parking space beside Eric’s dad’s truck. Poor Eric, he smashed his! Cried for a straight week!
We walked in and were instantly greeted by the guys.
"Skylie!" Danny hugged me, I could tell he was glad for the interruption.
"Get off me you butthead!" I wiggled away from him, suddenly feeling weird around him.
I mentally shrugged it off, hugged the rest of the guys then introduced them to Thania. She smiled at them then looked shyly at Danny.
I noticed and smiled. "Danny, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah, sure." Danny followed me as we broke away from the crowd.
"I don’t know how to say this…"
"Sky, just say it."
"I don’t think we should be together anymore."
"You feel it too."
I looked at him oddly. "Feel what?"
"There’s not an attraction between us. I still feel like your friend…that…"
"What? Danny, we’re friends again, you can tell me."
"I kinda like Thania."
I smiled, "Good." I walked away and joined the others, ignoring Danny’s calls from behind me.
THE END