Chapter Forty-Six
“Hello,” Kaci says waking up to answer her phone, finding that Alex has joined her.
“Jess, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About us,” Jose says.
“Hold on a second, let me go where we can talk in private.”
Kaci gets up out of bed and goes to A.J.’s studio to talk to Jose.
“So, what do we need to talk about?” Kaci says closing the door to the studio.
“I’m moving out, I can’t stay with you anymore.”
“Where’s this coming from?”
“I just don’t feel comfortable here.”
“Are you breaking up with me or just moving somewhere else?”
“I don’t know. I just can’t stay at your house right now.”
“What don’t you know? Are you with me or not? I’m not going to wonder whether we are together or not.”
“I could say the same thing to you Jess.”
“I’m going to hang up and go back to sleep so that I won’t be tired at the show tonight. We’ll talk when I get back.”
Kaci and Jose hang up and Kaci goes back to A.J.’s bedroom.
“When do we have to leave to go to the show tonight?” Kaci asks getting back in bed.
“Around three. What’s wrong, you look upset baby,” A.J. says pulling Kaci into his arms.
“Jose all of a sudden decided to move out today instead of when he originally told me.”
“I’m sorry baby,” A.J. says kissing Kaci’s forehead.
“Well, I’m going to try and not think about it.”
“Well that’s good to hear. I’m sure tonight will take your mind off everything.”
“I hope so!”
Kaci and A.J. lay in his bed for a little while, with Kaci in A.J.’s arms.
To: KACI
From: Maksim
Where do you want to go tonight?
4/29/03 12:30pm
*****
To: MAKS
From: Kaci
No idea. Never really been here b4
4/29/03 12:31pm
*****
To: KACI
From: Maksim
Ask Alex & let me know! Off to rehearsal for tonights show!
4/29/03 12:34pm
*****
“Baby, where should we go tonight with Maks?”
“That’s up to you and him babe.”
“But I don’t know where to go; I’ve never been out here before!”
“Are you serious? Well, are we just going out clubbing or are we getting something to eat or what are we doing?”
“Let’s get dinner and then go out. So where should we go out to dinner?”
“Well, there’s Koi, which is like sushi and stuff, Nick and Aaron always go there, and there’s The Ivy, which is American, more your style.”
“Okay, what about after?”
“There’s plenty to choose from. Maks usually goes to ONE Sunset Club after the show with Karina and Cheryl though.”
“Alright, so I’ll text him and let him know what we decided.”
Kaci grabs her cell phone and texts Maksim.
*****
To: MAKS
From: Kaci
How does The Ivy for dinner and ONE Sunset Club sound?
4/29/03 12:45pm
*****
Kaci and A.J. fall asleep and are woken up by Maksim responding to Kaci’s text message.
“Hey!” Kaci says half asleep.
“Were you sleeping?” Maks asks.
“Yeah,” Kaci says laughing. “Alex and I are a little tired.”
“Oh well if you guys are tired, we don’t have to go out.”
“Oh yes we do!” Kaci insists.
“Alright, if you insist. I was just calling to let you know that what you suggested sounded okay to me. Do you mind if Karina comes?”
“Yes, I do insist. Are you and Karina like dating?”
“Oh, I thought you knew or Alex had told you. Yeah, Karina and I are together.”
“That’s cool. I will let Alex know. I guess we will see you later.”
“Alright. Hey, call me when you guys get here, maybe we could hang out for a bit before the show starts.”
“Okay, sounds good to me, we will see you later,” Kaci says hanging up and falling back asleep in A.J.’s arms.
Kaci and A.J. doze off again, and Kaci is again woken up by her cell phone.
“Hello?” Kaci says answering her phone not knowing who it is that is calling her.
“Jessica?”
“Yeah, who’s this?”
“I got in touch with Angela and she gave me your number. It’s Pete.”
“Pete?” Kaci asks confused.
“Wentz.”
“OH!” Kaci says realizing who it is. “What’s up? How you been? I haven’t seen you in FOREVER!”
“I’m good. I heard you were out here in Los Angeles, I was wondering if it were true if maybe we could hang out, for old time’s sake, and catch up.”
“Um, when were you thinking? I have plans already for tonight.”
“What are your plans for tonight, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Well,” Kaci says getting up out of A.J.’s bed to go talk to Pete in private. “Hold on a second, let me go somewhere where we can talk.”
Kaci walks down to A.J.’s studio to have some privacy while she talks to Pete.
“Okay, that’s better,” Kaci says walking into the studio and closing the door and locking it so that she is not interrupted.
“Where exactly are you?”
“I’m with Alex at his house. We’re going out tonight with a couple of his friends.”
“Oh, I see. How long are you here for?”
“Honestly, I am not really sure. I came out here to deal with the label and I don’t know when exactly I’m going back to Florida. I was supposed to go back to Florida on the fourth, but I don’t know if that’s still the case.”
“Would you be able to hang out tomorrow?”
“I’m pretty sure I would be. I don’t think Alex has anything set up for tomorrow.”
“Alright, so it’s a deal, we will hang out tomorrow. If you don’t mind me asking, are you and Alex still together?”
“No, we’re not together. We’re just friends, I thought you knew that.”
“Well, it’s been a few years, you never know Jess.”
“Well what about you? You seeing anybody I should know about?”
“No, nobody specifically. I’m so busy with recording and traveling and performing that I don’t really have time to be with someone at the moment.”
“Yeah, that sounds all too familiar.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m afraid that I am going to have to use that excuse when I get back home.”
“What do you mean? Are you seeing someone?”
“Yeah, I’m seeing someone, but with everything going on, with the new label and everything, I just don’t think there will be time to have someone in my life on that level. You know that just as well as any of my other friends in this business.”
“That is very true. So, you mentioned a label. Who signed you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I don’t mind, I’ve always been open with you about everything, we’ve never had any secrets or anything. Angela works for Latium Entertainment and they signed me to a contract. That’s why I’m out here in Los Angeles; I had to meet with them this morning to go over everything.”
A.J. knocks on his studio door looking for Kaci.
“Jess baby, are you in here?”
“Yeah, I’m on the phone Alex.”
“I just got off the phone with Maks, we’re going to be leaving in an hour or so. You need to hurry up and get ready baby.”
“Okay, I’ll be off in a minute,” Kaci says then goes back to talking to Pete. “So yeah, where were we?”
“If you have to go, don’t let me keep you!”
“No, it’s okay. I know when we’re supposed to leave and everything. I have plenty of time.”
“When do you need to leave?”
“Around three, so I have plenty of time.”
“Where are you going?”
“Alex and I are going to the Dancing With The Stars show and then afterwards we’re going out with one of the professional dancers on the show to dinner and a club.”
“Oh that’s cool. You sound real excited about it.”
“I am! I wish you could come, that way we could catch up!”
“Eh, I’d rather not. Definitely not my scene. I’m surprised Alex would go to something like that, to be honest with you!”
“Kevin’s on the show, he’s been going to support Kevin. And he is also friends with one of the professionals, so he has more than one reason to go.”
“And what about you? I know you were never fond of Kevin, why are you going?”
“Yes, I never really understood Kevin or why he never liked me, but I enjoyed the show last night, so going to it is exciting for me. I never said you had to come Pete, I was just saying that it would have been cool and we could have caught up tonight instead of having to wait until tomorrow.”
“Yeah, it would be great to see you tonight, but I am not stepping foot anywhere near that show! Where are you going afterwards? You said you were going out to a club.”
“After the show we are going to dinner and then to ONE Sunset Club.”
“So if I just happen to show up at ONE Sunset, you wouldn’t ignore me because you were with Alex and his friends, would you?”
“Are you saying that you are going to show up there?”
“No, I’m asking if I happen to be in the area and since I know you are going to be there that if I happen to stop by for a few, that you wouldn’t ignore me.”
“I would never ignore you Pete!”
“Can I get that in writing? You didn’t even know it was me when I called you!”
“But I didn’t ignore you! I haven’t had your number in years; you can’t blame me for asking who it was that was calling me!”
“So, what is the deal going to be for tomorrow? Am I going to pick you up or what is going to get you to see me tomorrow?”
“Um, I have no idea! You could come here, I’m sure Alex wouldn’t mind. Hold on a second, let me check with him, just to be sure.”
“Alright, make it quick though!”
“I will be right back! I’m going to leave the phone in here, don’t hang up on me Pete!” Kaci says then goes to find A.J.
Kaci walks into A.J.’s bedroom to find A.J., but he is not there. She checks downstairs in the living room, but he is not there. She checks the entire house, but she can’t find him.
“Um, Pete, we have a problem,” Kaci says when she gets back to the studio.
“What’s the problem Jess?”
“I have NO idea where Alex is! I looked all over the house for him!”
“Are you sure he’s there? He wouldn’t leave without you, would he?”
“No! He knows where I am and he definitely wouldn’t leave without me!”
“Well, that is quite weird. Do you want me to come over? I don’t live that far from Alex, I could be there in like five, ten minutes tops.”
“Really, you live that close?”
“Yeah! Jot down this address, incase you have to come tomorrow.”
“Okay, hold on a second, let me grab a piece of paper so I can write it down,” Kaci says grabbing a piece of paper off of a pile of paper Alex has in his studio. “Okay, I’m ready, give me that address.”
“Okay, it’s 7435 Palo Vista Drive, Hollywood Hills.”
“Oh wow, you do live close by! Just come on over, I have no idea where Alex went off to!”
“Okay, I will be right over.”
Kaci and Pete hang up with each other, and Kaci continues to look for A.J. before Pete comes over to visit.
“ALEX!” Kaci yells trying to find him.
Not being able to find A.J., Kaci goes downstairs to the living room to wait for Pete to come over. After a while, there’s a knock on A.J.’s front door and Kaci gets up to see who it is.
“Pete!” Kaci says looking through the peephole in the door.
“Jess!” Pete says giving Kaci a big hug when she opens the door.
“Come in! I still haven’t found Alex! I’ve looked all over, and if he is here, he doesn’t answer me when I yell for him.”
“I didn’t know he was selling the house, when did he decide that?”
“I have no idea. He is moving back to Florida, I just found that out when he surprised me by throwing me a party for my 21st birthday.”
“Oh yeah, your birthday was a couple weeks ago. Well, I will have to come up with something for tomorrow to celebrate your birthday!”
“Aww Pete, you don’t have to do anything,” Kaci says grabbing Pete’s hand and taking him to the living room to hang out and catch up.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I haven’t seen you in a while; I feel I have a few birthdays to make up for.”
“No you don’t! It’s not your fault!”
“Jess, baby, we’re leaving in thirty minutes, you ready to go?” A.J. says walking out of his bedroom half dressed.
“Ummm,” Kaci says hesitantly, wondering what A.J. is going to say when he notices Pete is visiting.
“Jess, baby,” A.J. says walking into the living room. “Oh, hey Pete, when did you get here?” A.J. says looking at Kaci confused.
“I just stopped by to say hi to Jess. I heard she was in town, so I wanted to wish her a happy birthday. She said she didn’t know where you were, so she said I could come in and we could catch up. If you guys need to leave, I can catch up with Jess another time,” Pete explains to A.J.
“Why didn’t you answer me when I was looking for you?” Kaci questions A.J.
“I was in the shower, I must not have heard you.”
“Um, I’m going to head on back to the house,” Pete says looking at Kaci.
Noticing that Pete feels uncomfortable with the tension building between A.J. and Kaci, Kaci walks Pete to the front door and steps outside with him.
“We’ll talk later,” Kaci says giving Pete a hug.
“Yeah. Please work things out with him, before things get blown out of proportion. I know he is not fond of me, you don’t know that, but I do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, let’s just say that Alex and I aren’t the best of friends, and I doubt that we ever will be.”
“I don’t get it?” Kaci says, confused.
“I’m not going to explain it now. We will talk later about it if you really want to know,” Pete says leaning in to give Kaci a kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow, have fun tonight.”
“Okay,” Kaci says pulling away from Pete, looking down at the ground as his hands leave hers.
“Don’t Jess,” Pete says.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m going to go home. Call me later if you want. Just please don’t let Alex know. I don’t want you and him arguing over me.”
“Alright,” Kaci says giving Pete another hug. “We’ll definitely talk later.”
Pete leaves and Kaci goes back inside to face A.J., not knowing what to expect.
“Why was he here?” A.J. asks as soon as Kaci walks into the house.
“We’re friends Alex…I…”
“I don’t care. I don’t want him in my house!”
“What’s your problem? What do you have against Pete? I swear Alex, it better not have anything to do with me and him!”
“I don’t like him Jess. How do you know him anyways?”
“You are kidding, right?”
“No, I’m serious. How do you know him?”
“Um,” Kaci says hesitantly. “Well, if you really must know, I used to date him before I met you. We’ve been friends for a long time; we grew up together in Chicago. I thought you knew that. I thought that was the reason you flipped out!”
“No, but that’s just fucking great to know.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Kaci asks, not liking A.J.’s tone at all.
“Are you going to the show tonight dressed like that?”
“Don’t change the fucking subject Alex! You brought up this shit, now I want to know! What the hell is your problem with Pete?”
“Alright you really want to know, I’ll fucking tell you Jess.”
“Yes, please DO tell me.”
“Fine, I’ll tell you. I was seeing this girl, Michelle, and next thing I know, I’m told that she is with some other guy! Come to find out, it’s your boy Pete. I was cool with Pete, but then I find THIS out!”
“Are you fucking kidding me Alex?!”
“No, I’m not kidding! Does it look like I’m kidding Jessica?”
“So because he supposedly started dating some girl you liked, you don’t like him?”
“I was WITH her Jess!”
“Okay, so you were with her. Do you have actual PROOF or are you just going off of what you HEARD?”
“What are you trying to get at Jess? The guy was dating my girlfriend while I was still with her!”
“You don’t know that Alex! When was this anyways?”
“A while ago.”
“What’s ‘a while ago’ Alex?”
“After we broke up, maybe a couple months after that.”
“So, like I said, do you have actual proof or are you just going off of what you heard?”
“Why are you so insistent that he did nothing wrong Jess?”
“Because I KNOW Pete, Alex. He is not like that!”
“So what are you saying, that it was her and not him?”
“I don’t know, but I do know that Pete doesn’t go for the kind of girls that you go for…”
“He dated you.”
“Okay, so he and I had a thing back in the day before I met you. But seriously Alex, he doesn’t like the girls you go off and fuck. He’s a fucking emo kid Alex, you date those prissy Hollywood bitches or the porn stars. The only thing you and Pete have in common is that you both are in the business, you both have tattoos that I hate, you both have dated me, and you both wear eyeliner. Aside from that, you have nothing in common with him. Please, for the love of God, get over whatever you think happened! I am not going to be with you ever again if you are going to act like you are right now!”
“Don’t say that Jess, baby!”
“No, after this bullshit, I am not ‘Jess baby’, so don’t call me that!”
“Jess! I’m sorry!”
“No, whatever, I am going to go get ready for tonight. Oh and by the way, I’m spending the day with Pete tomorrow, so you can have some time to yourself to think about what you have gotten yourself into.”
Chapter 45/Story Index/Chapter 47/E-mail Brittany
Kaci goes into the guest bathroom to get ready for the Dancing With The Stars show and going out with Maksim afterwards.