Chapter 16

"Maria, think rationally. You need to work. You can’t quit," Alex implored. Maria went about the lab, collecting her things.

"I’m not working with that bitch. And if Kyle thinks more of her than of me, then he can have her," Maria said, furiously.

"You’re jealous? Come on, you know that you’re the better photographer. She’s shit. She’s nothing," Alex told her. Maria just kept collecting her things.

"Surprise!" Alex turned to see Erik, Ashley, Trevor and Jacob walking into the room, along with Mike C. and a cameraman. "Um…surprise?" Erik said again when they didn’t acknowledge them.

"What’s going on?" Jacob asked, seeing the look on Maria’s face as she…packed?

"I quit. I no longer work here," Maria answered. The guys looked at Alex, who shrugged. Susan then came running into the lab.

"Maria, don’t do anything just yet. Let Kyle think about it. I’m sure something can be worked out," she said. "Hi, guys," she said over her shoulder. They nodded, but were still confused as to what was happening. Another woman then entered the room. Her eyebrows went up when she saw the guys. She turned to Maria.

"Please don’t quit. It was an honest mistake. Really," she said. Maria glared at her.

"You’ve wanted me gone since Kyle hired you. You’re not upset at all that I’m leaving," she said to her.

"You’re not leaving!" Susan yelled.

"I think this is a bad time for a visit," Trevor remarked to the guys. Maria walked over to them.

"No, it’s the perfect time. Guys, this is Jocelyn, the bitch. Bitch, these are four of the guys in O-Town, the band that you think we ‘wasted’ a cover issue on," she sneered.

"I’m not the bitch here," Jocelyn said, starting to get mad. "You went on tour with them and Mr. Walsh needed someone to help him while you were gone. You come back with an attitude, like you’re the only photographer alive and hate me before you even know me. Then, you end up all traumatized and in therapy because of what happened in New York and you’re gone some more. You haven’t been thinking about anyone but yourself for months now, so don’t be calling me a bitch because you quit!" she shouted. Maria went for her, slapping her hard across the face.

"Well, this is fun," Erik said. Alex elbowed him in the ribcage. Jacob jumped forward to grab Maria, while Susan tried to hold Jocelyn back, but she was too strong. Erik moved in and grabbed Jocelyn’s arms before she could reach Maria. "Easy, tiger," he said.

"Maria, stop it!" Jacob said, as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to calm her down. It wasn’t working.

"Let me go, Jacob! She deserves it!" Maria yelled as she struggled to get out of his embrace. Jacob had never seen Maria so out of control. Something else was bothering her besides this Jocelyn woman, who was the unfortunate party that Maria was taking her anger out on.

"Maria, stop it," Jacob whispered calmly into Maria’s ear. Maria stopped struggling. She stood there breathing heavily, glaring at Jocelyn.

"Maria, I want you to go home and we’ll talk when you are calmer." Everyone turned to see Kyle Walsh standing in the doorway of the lab. Maria looked away from him. "Boys, it’s good to see you again," Kyle said. They nodded in his direction. Mike left with him to discuss the magazine and its’ sales figures.

Maria turned, still in Jacob’s embrace and that’s when she noticed the camera for the first time. "What the hell?" she asked. Jacob followed her gaze and rolled his eyes.

"They started filming last week," he said. Maria turned back to Jocelyn. Erik was still holding her arms. Maria sure as hell wasn’t going to apologize to her.

Jocelyn turned to look at who was holding her. She smiled at him. "You can let me go. I don’t go hitting people like her. I’m a lady," she said, sweetly. Alex frowned and Maria started struggling again in Jacob’s grasp.

"’Lady,’ my ass!" she yelled.

"Erik, get her out of here," Susan ordered. Erik pulled Jocelyn toward the door. Alex followed them. The camera stayed in the lab. Jacob felt Maria relax as soon as Jocelyn was gone. He slowly loosened his hold on her and she walked over to the table where her work lay. She had more than a few binders of photos. There was no way she could just leave. This was her life. She wanted to stay.

"We could go," Trevor said. Maria’s head shot up.

"No, guys. You came to visit and ran right into a…a disagreement. I’m sorry," she said. Jacob smiled and walked over to her. He rubbed her back gently.

"Don’t be. Are you okay now?" he asked. Maria nodded and turned to Susan.

"I won’t leave until I talk to Kyle," she said. Susan nodded, exasperated. She then left the room, glancing curiously at the camera.

"So, is my little grudge match gonna be on an episode of Making The Band?" Maria asked with a small laugh.

"It’s great TV," Ashley said, smiling. "I can hear the promo now, ‘Two chicks going at it on the next Making The Band!’" Trevor pushed him playfully.

"Nothing will be shown that you don’t want shown," he said. "Besides you haven’t signed any papers allowing your beautiful face to be shown on the show." Maria smiled and nodded.

"So, shouldn’t you guys be dancing or singing or something? What brings you here?" she asked. Jacob kissed her cheek.

"Maybe we just wanted to see you," he said.

"Well, why don’t you come hang out at the loft? I’ve been ordered to go home, so you guys can come with me if you want," Maria said. She threw the envelope of the WTC pictures into her shoulder bag. "Let’s go."

Alex stood frowning with her arms crossed over her chest as Jocelyn flirted with Erik. "I didn’t really mean that Maria ‘wasted’ a cover on you guys. In fact, I think that the article came out great and the pictures? H-O-T," she said, smiling.

"Yeah, well, Maria’s good at what she does," Erik said, looking over at Alex, who didn’t look too happy.

"She really is. I never meant to upset her. It really was a mistake. She’s got a really short fuse, doesn’t she?" Jocelyn asked, running a well-manicured hand through her short hair.

"You started it!" Alex shouted. Erik didn’t want another fight to break out, so he put his arm around Alex and steered her back toward the lab.

"It was nice meeting you. We’ll be going now," Erik said.

"Maybe we can hang out some time?" Jocelyn purred. Alex spun around.

"Over my dead body!" she yelled. Erik pushed her forward, while smiling behind him at Jocelyn, who was smiling seductively back at him.

Erik and Alex met the others coming out of the lab. Mike came walking quickly down the hallway. "We’re going over to Maria’s," Ashley said. "How about you, Alex?"

"I have some work to do, but I’ll stop by later," she said. Erik kissed her on the cheek. Alex guessed he chose to kiss her cheek because the camera was there. She patted Maria’s back gently. "Do you want me to take her out? You know, make her disappear or something?" Maria smirked.

"Let it look like an accident and don’t leave her body where anyone can find it," she said softly. They looked at each other and started laughing. Alex hugged Maria and they all left. "Are you gonna ride wit me?" Maria asked. Jacob laughed.

"Sure, babe. I’ll go wit chu," he said, putting an arm around her. The guys heard this and laughed. Maria was confused.

"Jake, don’t fight her, dude. She’s not Ikaika," Ashley called over. Jacob smiled. Maria still looked confused.

"Inside joke," Jacob told her. Maria just nodded as she climbed behind the wheel.

"What a day," she said, leaning her head back against the seat.

"It’ll get better," Jacob told her, rubbing the back of her neck.

"It better because it can’t get any worse," Maria said as she started the jeep.

"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked incredulously.

"I came to see my daughters. Is that okay?" Caroline asked as she pulled her luggage into the loft. Sarah watched her. "You can help me." Sarah went into the hallway to get the rest of her mother’s luggage.

"Why didn’t you call?" Sarah asked. Maria was going to go ballistic.

"It was very last minute. After you told me why Maria hadn’t called me or returned my calls in over a month, I was worried. Why didn’t you tell me sooner that she had been at the Twin Towers when they had been attacked? I should have been here for her," Caroline said, sounding hurt. "I’m sure she was very upset."

"You can say that," Sarah said.

"My poor baby. Is she home?" Caroline asked, looking around the loft. Sarah shook her head.

"No. She works, remember?" Sarah was confused. Why the hell was her mother acting all maternal all of a sudden? It didn’t make sense.

"Oh, well. I’ll just get settled in until she comes home."

"You’re staying here? Shouldn’t you ask Maria first?" Sarah asked.

"I’m her mother," Caroline laughed. "Where else would I stay?"

"Yeah, but Emily and I share the guestroom. There’s no place else to sleep," Sarah said. Caroline looked at the couch, and then back at Sarah, who pretended not to notice. ‘Maria’s gonna freak,’ Sarah thought.

"How is Emily? I haven’t seen her in years," Caroline said. "I talked to Annette a while ago and she mentioned that Emily had moved in here. I can’t keep track of what’s going on within my own family anymore." Sarah just stood there. Heathcliff was smelling Caroline’s luggage. "When did Maria get a cat? There’s probably fur everywhere. Scat!" Caroline shooed Heathcliff away. The kitten ran away into Maria’s bedroom. Sarah could see that her mother showing up unannounced was a disaster waiting to happen.

"Stop looking at me," Maria said as she drove. Jacob turned to look out the window instead.

"You really have a great right hook. Remind me never to make you mad," Jacob told her, smirking. A small smile appeared on Maria’s lips.

"Maybe I can wrestle her. You have to teach me how," Maria said, glancing over at him. Jacob looked back at her.

"You’re on," he said, knowing what would probably happen if they ever wound up wrestling. Just thinking about it aroused him. Maria smirked, noticing Jacob’s discomfort. She reached over and put a hand on his thigh. Jacob pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"So, stranger, what have you been doing with your time? How did the concert go?" Maria hadn’t realized how long it had been since she’d seen him or spoken with him. Although Jacob had invited her to go to New York for the concert, Maria had turned him down. She wasn’t ready to back to the city yet…it was too soon.

"It went well. I think it’ll make a good DVD slash video. At least fans that haven’t gotten to one of our concerts will get to see a live performance," Jacob said as he stroked her fingers gently.

"And the camera? I’m sure you guys love being followed around and filmed all the time again," Maria said. His touch was sending jolts of electricity through her.

"We’re used to it. It’s still annoying, though," Jacob said, kissing her fingers.

"Stop it or I’m going to have to pull over," Maria told him. Jacob smiled.

"Why’s that?"

"Because you’re driving me crazy," Maria said. "But I don’t think we should get caught doing anything by the side of the road."

"Why not?" Jacob asked. Maria came to a red light and the minute she stopped the jeep, she reached over and pulled Jacob to her, kissing him deeply. A horn honked behind them. Jacob and Maria pulled apart and turned to see the guys in the van cheering and laughing at them. "It’s green," Jacob said. Maria smiled and resumed driving.

When they arrived at the loft, Mike C. and the cameraman decided to head to a bar that was next door to Maria’s building. Mike told the guys that he’d come get them when it was time to return to the house. Maria led the way into the elevator, not minding the teasing that she and Jacob were receiving from the others one bit. Jacob, however, looked like he was annoyed by it.

"It’s a good thing the camera was with us and not you two. It would’ve been in your faces while you guys were, like, making out at the stop light," Ashley told them.

"Nice show you put on for the cars around you," Erik said, smirking.

"Shut up, you guys," Jacob said. Trevor hadn’t joined in the teasing. Seeing Maria and Jacob kissing, or what he could see anyway, had bothered him a little. He had to stop. It was a crush and Jacob was with Maria. That’s the way it was.

"Where’s Dan?" Maria asked as they exited the elevator and headed for the loft.

"He’s sick. He’s got laryngitis and is home sleeping," Trevor answered.

"Yeah, the camera’s filming every snore," Erik said with a smile.

"Now, that’s exciting television," Maria said, rolling her eyes. She got to the loft and unlocked the door. Jacob put his arms around her from behind.

"I can think of something exciting to do," he whispered in her ear.

"With or without the camera?" she whispered back. He smiled and kissed her cheek. Maria opened the door.

"Honey, you’re home!" Maria’s eyes opened wide when she saw her mother coming toward her. Sarah was behind her and shook her head as if to say, ‘It wasn’t me!’ Jacob immediately let go of Maria and stepped back when, the woman he presumed to be Maria’s mother, came over to hug her.

"Mom, what the hell are you doing here?" Maria said in exasperation.

"Is that any way to greet your mother?" Caroline asked with a frown. Maria slowly walked forward. The guys followed her. "Are these the young men that you were touring with?" Maria nodded.

"Yeah. Mom, this is four-fifths of O-Town. Erik, Ashley, Trevor and Jacob. Guys, this is my mother, Caroline Larson," she introduced them. The guys nodded. Caroline’s eyes landed on Jacob, who looked right back at her, not backing down under her penetrating gaze.

"It’s a pleasure," Caroline said, although she didn’t sound pleased to meet them. She turned back to Maria. "I heard about what happened. I wish I could’ve heard it from you, but when you didn’t call or anything, I figured something was wrong, so Sarah told me…" Maria turned on Sarah.

"Thanks, sis," she said. Sarah frowned.

"She was gonna find out sooner or later. I didn’t know that she’d come here," she said. Maria looked at her mother.

"Why did you come here? You never seemed interested in my well-being before," she said. Caroline frowned.

"That’s not true, Maria. What happened was horrible and to think that my baby was there…it scares the heck out of me," she said. Maria softened a bit.

"I’m sorry. I’m okay, though. I have friends who have helped me and I’m seeing a therapist…" Maria told her mother, whose frown deepened when she heard that.

"Really? Why? You’re not…unbalanced are you?" Caroline asked. Maria glanced over at Jacob who was biting his lip to keep from smiling.

"Um…no, Mom, just a little freaked out by almost being killed. It does that, you know?" Maria said. She glared at Jacob, who was now unable to hide a smile. "Don’t you dare smile, Underwood. It’s not funny."

"I’m sorry. You’re right…it’s not funny. You two just have a very interesting relationship," he said. Caroline looked at him and Jacob’s smile disappeared. She was very…intense. Not to mention a little wacko.

"Mom’s staying here," Sarah suddenly announced. Maria wanted to hurt someone. Where was Jocelyn when she needed her?

"Huh? Here? There’s no room. Where’s she gonna sleep? On the patio?" Maria asked. Ashley, Erik, Trevor and Jacob were enjoying this little family ‘play.’ It was very entertaining.

"I’m sure there’s room, dear," Caroline said.

"No, there’s not. The guestroom is Emily and Sarah’s room and my bedroom is the only other room," Maria said. Caroline looked into the sitting room.

"The couch is large. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind just for a couple of nights…" she said. Maria suddenly walked over, grabbed Jacob’s arm and dragged him to the bedroom. Caroline looked confused. Erik and Ashley burst out laughing. Sarah was smiling slightly. She liked when their mother upset Maria. In fact, their mother was the only one who could frustrate Maria to the point of Maria going insane. Sarah always got a kick out of it.

"Guys, come sit down. Mom, can I get you anything?" Sarah asked. Caroline was still looking at Maria’s bedroom, a frown on her face. There was no doubt in Sarah’s mind that her mother wouldn’t like Jacob. She had never liked any of Maria’s boyfriends. None of them were ever good enough for her ‘perfect baby.’ Sarah smiled. Jacob wasn’t just another guy, though. He had a totally different personality than any of the guys that Maria had seen in the past. It would be interesting.

part 3