Chapter Forty-Seven

Kaci and Alex head to the Dancing With The Stars studio.

“Hey Maks, we’re here,” A.J. says when Maksim answers his phone.
“What’s wrong, you don’t sound happy. Is everything okay?”
“I can’t really talk about it right now.”
“Does it have to do with Jess?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. Are you sure that you guys want to go out tonight. We don’t have to.”
“I don’t know, we will discuss it later. Just come get us.”
“I’ll send Karina out to get you guys. Text me what is going on!”
“Alright, thanks,” A.J. says then hangs up with Maksim.
“What was that about?”
“He’s busy. He is sending Karina to get us.”
“Oh.”
“You can go over to the entrance and wait for her, I have got to take care of something real quick. It will only take me a minute.”
“Alright,” Kaci says feeling the tension between her and Alex. “I’ll just go wait for her by myself.”

Kaci walks over to the entrance, pulling out her phone to occupy herself while waiting for Karina to come get her. Meanwhile, Alex calls Maksim back.

“I sent her to go wait for Karina,” A.J. says when Maksim answers his phone.
“What happened with you two?”
“We got in a fight because she invited PETE WENTZ over to my house!”
“How does she know him?”
“They grew up together apparently. And yes, they dated.”
“Wow, I’m sorry man. That must suck! I’m guessing she had no idea about that whole issue between you and Pete?”
“No, and she had the nerve to tell me that Pete would never do anything like that! She basically took his side over mine on something she knows nothing about!”
“I’m sorry man. So, are you going to come out tonight still?”
“I probably won’t even stay tonight, I’m thinking about just going back to the house. But I’m sure she won’t pass up the opportunity that you presented her,” A.J. says looking up at Kaci waiting for Karina. “Actually, I’m not going to stay for the show. Just bring her back to my house after, will you?”
“Um, okay. You sure you want to do that?”
“Yeah, I can’t be around her right now.”
“Alright,” Maksim says taking a deep breath. “I will keep an eye on her for you. We will talk later though.”
“Yeah, definitely. And please don’t stay out late. I don’t need her bitching and complaining about it when she gets home.”
“No problem. I’m going to go see where Karina is and then get ready for the show. Do you want me to just tell her that you weren’t feeling well and went back to the house?”
“Whatever, just text me with whatever excuse you give her.”
“Okay, talk to you later.”

A.J. and Maksim hang up and Maksim goes to get Kaci with Karina.

“Hey Jess,” Maksim says when he and Karina find her waiting for them at the entrance.
“Hey Maks,” Kaci says giving him a hug.
“You ready to go in?”
“Yeah,” Kaci says starting to walk in with Maksim. “What about Alex?”
“He called me and said that he was going to go back to the house, that he wasn’t feeling very well, it just hit him suddenly as he was waiting for us to come get you guys. We can still go out afterwards, he said just to bring you home.”
“Oh,” Kaci says wondering what is really going on. “Well, it was nice of him to tell me that!”
“He said he was sorry. He just wanted to get home and rest.”
“Well, I hope everything is okay. We got in a fight just before we left to come here and he wasn’t very happy with me.”
“Don’t worry about it. We are going to have fun tonight.”
“I hope so,” Kaci says.
“You really don’t seem like you want to be here,” Karina says to Kaci.
“Honestly, I don’t. I don’t want to deal with Kristin and honestly, I don’t want to deal with Alex either. He has his panties all up in a bunch over something so damn stupid that he doesn’t even know if it’s true or not!”
“Unfortunately, you have to deal with Kristin. Just don’t let her start prying you for answers about Alex and why he isn’t here.”
“Oh I won’t.”
“Alright, well, we’re going to go backstage, you going to be okay out here by yourself until Kristin comes?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine, I’m sure I will find a way to occupy myself.”
“Okay. If you need anything, just shoot me a text.”
“Alright,” Kaci says laughing. “I’ll see you after the show.”

Kaci gives Maksim a hug for good luck and the same for Karina and then heads to her seat to wait for the show to start. To occupy her time while she waits for the show to start, she texts Pete.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Im bored, Alex is pissed, we need to talk!
4/29/03 4:30pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Why is Alex pissed? What do we need to talk about??
4/29/03 4:30pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
You should know what we need to talk about. I thought thats why you left the house earlier.
4/29/03 4:31pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Oh. What did he tell you?
4/29/03 4:32pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
That you hooked up with some bitch he was with. Is it true?????
4/29/03 4:32pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Somewhat. I kissed her that was it.
4/29/03 4:33pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Is that ALL you did??? He made it seem like he was still with her and you started fucking her. I defended you Pete, and now Alex is pissed at me!
4/29/03 4:35pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Im sorry he is pissed at you, but i swear to you thats all that happened!!! The only person we have in common that weve dated is you!
4/29/03 4:36pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Alright, we will talk about this later. I dont think im going to stay there tonight. Can I crash at your place tonight?
4/29/03 4:37pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
I don’t want any trouble Jess. Maybe you should work things out with him.
4/29/03 4:37pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Are you saying that I cant stay with you?????
4/29/03 4:38pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Not necessarily. I just don’t want any trouble with Alex, that’s all.
4/29/03 4:39pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Fuck Alex!! Ive known you a hell of a lot longer than him, if he cant handle you and me being friends longer than Ive been friends with him, then he can go fuck himself! Im sick and tired of stupid jealousy bullshit like this! Can I stay with you tonight or what?
4/29/03 4:42pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Of course! Do I need to pick you up from his house or are you going to get dropped off at my house?
4/29/03 4:43pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
I don’t know quite yet, but I will let you know. Ive gotta go now though, the show is about to start. I will text you when its over.
4/29/03 4:44pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Sounds like a plan to me. Have fun Jess, don’t think about whats going on with him! :)
4/29/03 4:45pm

*****

Kaci turns her phone to vibrate and the show starts. Both Maksim and Karina are both safe with their partners to dance another week on the show. After the show, Kristin leaves without saying a word to Kaci, and Kaci heads back to Maksim’s dressing room to wait for him and Karina so that they can go out.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Show’s over, waiting for Maks and Karina to do what they have to do before leaving here.
4/29/03 6:25pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Are you in a better mood now?
4/29/03 6:30pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Not really. Kristin pissed me off. Oh and we’re not going to ONE Sunset! The other pros are going to Hyde, so that’s where Maks and Karina want to go now. You wanna go?
4/29/03 6:34pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Text me when you get there and I’ll come by and hang out and then we can leave. Alex wont find out, will he?
4/29/03 6:36pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Not unless he finds out from someone else! Ill talk to Maks, but I really dont care Pete. We were cool way before I met Alex! He needs to get over it, unless he has a valid reason and theres something you arent telling me!
4/29/03 6:40pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
No, Im being honest with you! Text me when I should leave to go to Hyde to meet up with you, Im going to go grab something to eat and take Hemingway out.
4/29/03 6:43pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Fine. I’ll let you know when we leave after getting something to eat. =)
4/29/03 6:45pm

*****

“Who you busy texting?” Maksim asks sitting down next to Kaci on the couch in his dressing room.
“A friend.”
“Is that all he is?” Maksim asks having a hunch that it was Pete that Kaci was texting back and forth with.
“Yes, that’s all he is.”
“You do know that Alex doesn’t like him, don’t you?”
“I really don’t care Maks. There’s people Alex hangs out with that I don’t like, but you don’t see me acting like he is, do you? If all I’m going to get tonight is a bunch of bullshit because of this, then you and Karina can go out and I’ll find something else to do to occupy my time tonight.”
“I’m just looking out for my friend, that’s all Jess. I don’t want to see EITHER of you get hurt.”
“That’s nice, I appreciate it, but I know Pete better than both you and Alex combined. I knew him before I knew Alex. I wish you both would just DROP the subject!” Kaci says, extremely annoyed, and gets up to leave Maksim’s dressing room.
“Where you going?”
“Outside to get some fresh air. Is Karina almost ready?”
“Yeah, we should be leaving any minute.”
“Alright, well, I’m just going to go sit outside to clear my head and get some fresh air.”

Kaci walks out of Maksim’s dressing room to go sit outside the trailer to get her mind off the unnecessary drama being caused by A.J. and Maksim ganging up against her because of Pete.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
You know, Im ready to say come pick me up from here and say fuck it all about going out tonight!
4/29/03 6:59pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Why is that babe?
4/29/03 7:04pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Because Im being ganged up on by Alex and Maks about you! And I like it when you call me babe =)
4/29/03 7:05pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Well, with you spending the night here with me, I don’t think you will ever hear the end of it! Why do they not like me anyways? Because of some rumor that Alex heard?!
4/29/03 7:07pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
I don’t care, that’s why Im looking forward to seeing you! I know it will piss Alex off, and the fact that I don’t care scares me a bit, but its not like Im with him, so its not his right to bitch and complain. And I guess its because of that rumor, but when it comes to Alex, you never know, it could be jealousy.
4/29/03 7:10pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Jealousy? Of what??
4/29/03 7:11pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
You and me. At least that’s my guess. Oh hey, we’re leaving to get something to eat; I’ll text you when we leave to go to Hyde, if I even still want to go.
4/29/03 7:13pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Keep me updated. :)
4/29/03 7:13pm

*****

“You ready to go?” Maksim says walking out of his dressing room.
“Been ready, was waiting all this time on you and Karina,” Kaci says.
“You heard we were going to head to Hyde, right?”
“Yeah, after dinner, right?”
“No, we’re going right now.”
“I haven’t had anything to eat and you want me to go to Hyde NOW?!” Kaci says pissed, and doesn’t care if she shows she’s pissed.
“Sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Whatever, I’ll figure something out.”
“Do you want me to stop and get you something to eat before we go to Hyde?” Maksim asks as the three arrive at his car.
“No, just go to Hyde,” Kaci says getting in the car.

Maksim heads to Hyde, and on the way there, Kaci texts Pete.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
So, Im on my way to Hyde. Meet me there!! I DON’T want to be there!
4/29/03 7:30pm

*****

Pete tries calling Kaci to talk to her, but she puts him to voicemail.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
I cant talk, Im in the car with Maks and Karina!! Just meet me at Hyde ASAP! =(
4/29/03 7:32pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Will do babe. So what happened? I thought you were going to dinner first?
4/29/03 7:33pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
I have no idea! I was just told that we were going to Hyde. I haven’t had anything to eat and they want me to go to Hyde! HELL NO! Im PISSED Pete!!!
4/29/03 7:35pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Do you want me to pick you up something? I haven’t had anything to eat, you’ve been keeping me occupied ;-) … or we could go out and get something.
4/29/03 7:37pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Just pick me up from Hyde, we will figure it out once I get the hell out of there. Text me when you get there that way I’ll just leave and we can go wherever, k?
4/29/03 7:40pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Okay babe. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Im taking the RR.
4/29/03 7:42pm

*****

“What is it with you and that phone tonight? You haven’t gotten off it all night!”
“I must be real popular tonight.”
“Yeah with one certain person,” Maksim says under his breath.
“I fucking heard that Maksim!”
“Good.”
“Ugh! Will you drive faster so I can get away from you for a while so I don’t have to hear crap like that?”

Maksim ignores Kaci’s request, and purposely drives the speed limit the entire way to Hyde. When the three arrive at Hyde, Pete is already there and Kaci goes inside Hyde with Maksim and Karina.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
I saw you but it would be obvious if I get here and then hop in your car!
4/29/03 8:08pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete Wentz
What do you want me to do? I cant sit out here!
4/29/03 8:09pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Drive around for like 10 minutes? Or go get me something to eat from like McD’s or something?
4/29/03 8:11pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Just say you’re going to the restroom and leave!! Im not driving around here for 10 minutes!!!
4/29/03 8:12pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
Ugh fine. I’ll be out soon. Give me like 5 minutes, that should be enough time to down a drink. Don’t text back so I can pull this off!!!
4/29/03 8:15pm

*****

Kaci sits down in VIP with Maksim and Karina.

“I thought everybody else was going to be here?”
“They will be.”
“Well, can you at least get me a drink since you dragged me here?”
“Go get it, the bar is over there,” Maksim says pointing to the area of the bar.

Kaci gets up and heads to the bar area then to the bathroom.

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
I’ll be out in a minute, I gotta make sure he cant see me leave.
4/29/03 8:20pm

*****

To: JESS ROMAN
From: Pete
Make it quick! Ive already had to move, so I’ll drive back to where I was when you got here.
4/29/03 8:21pm

*****

To: PETE WENTZ
From: Kaci
K, thnks. Ill be out any minute now! =)
4/29/03 8:22pm

*****

Kaci manages to leave Hyde without Maksim or Karina noticing that she left. When she gets outside, she sees Pete standing by the entrance waiting for her, and tons of paparazzi around him.

“You look good,” Pete says giving Kaci a hug.
"Thanks,” Kaci says smiling.
“Let’s get out of here,” Pete says grabbing Kaci’s hand and leaving Hyde with her.

Pete and Kaci walk to his car and head back towards his house, stopping at McDonald’s to grab a quick bite to eat on the way.

“So, what are you going to do when they realize that you completely left?”
“I haven’t a clue. I better come up with some excuse though, huh.”
“And make it quick. Do you know anyone else out here?”
“Not really. I mean Kevin and Kristin are here and they didn’t go to Hyde, but that wouldn’t work because of the many reasons and complications involved in that.”
“What about your label?”
“What about it?”
“What if you said that you ran into someone from that and they invited you to hang out with them?”
“That’s not a bad idea. But what about when they leave and want to bring me back to Alex’s?”
“Same excuse. Just say you’re hanging out with people from your label and they’ll take you to his place.”
“I knew I liked you for a reason!” Kaci says to Pete, sticking her tongue out at him.

Kaci and Pete arrive back at his house. On the way to his house, they drove by A.J.’s house and noticed that he wasn’t even home.

“Where do you think he went?” Pete asks Kaci as they walk into his house and are greeted by Hemingway, Pete’s English Bulldog puppy.
“I haven’t the slightest idea. As far as I know, he thought we were going to ONE Sunset. Maybe he went there? I really don’t care though.”
“And why don’t you care any more?”
“I’m not a fan of jealousy. It’s a disease and he needs to get over it.”
“But he is apparently jealous of me. I can kind of understand the whole Michelle thing, but I don’t think it’s just that any more. I think it started this afternoon.”
“Why would he be jealous of the whole Michelle thing? He had her, you didn’t do anything with her. To me, it seems like he is pissed because he couldn’t KEEP her.”
“Well, I kissed her, but like I said, that was all.”
“But a kiss is nothing. It’s when it goes further that he would be justified in not liking you.”
“Well, then I have no idea. Let me show you the house!”

Pete takes Kaci’s hand and shows her his house, and much like A.J. did, leaving his bedroom for last.

“It’s a nice house Pete,” Kaci says amazed at how a boy like Pete could live like he is living.
“It’d be nicer if I had someone to stay here with me,” Pete says smiling at Kaci.
“Well, I’m staying here at least for tonight!” Kaci says smiling back at Pete.
“You know, we have so much to catch up on. I need details about your aspiring career little Miss Jessica!”
“You do?” Kaci says laughing. “Well, when am I going to get details on yours? You know I’m into music, but I never did get into that Punk stuff!”
“Oh, you will love it, it’s not like you would think!” Pete says grabbing Kaci around her waist and walking into his bedroom.
“This is so you,” Kaci says noticing how he has his bedroom.
“What else would you expect?” Pete says sitting down on his bed with Kaci. “So, I was wondering, when are you going back to Chicago to visit?”
“Um, wow, I honestly haven’t the slightest idea! My parents usually go back in the summer, but I usually go out on tour with Justin if he is touring with Vi3 or I stay home with Justin. I would love to go back and visit with friends and everyone though!”
“Well, how about you go with me?”
“What do you mean?” Kaci asks, confused.
“The group, we’re going on tour,” Pete says.
“I can’t tour with you!”
“I’m not asking you to go on the whole tour Jess! I was asking if you would go to the Chicago show, and maybe a few others. And when we go to South Florida, I can get you and your friends tickets and backstage passes.”
“Oh, well that sounds like it would be a lot of fun!”
“So would you go?”
“When are we talking about? I mean, I would rearrange my schedule and everything to go, but I just need to know when!”
“Well, the tour starts in like three weeks. We kick off in Chicago. C’mon Jess, it could be my birthday present to you! A little late, but better late than never, right?”
“You get me the exact date and I will so totally be there!”
“Done. Hold on one second, don’t move, I will be right back!” Pete says rushing out of his bedroom to the living room to check his schedule.

Pete turns on his laptop and checks his schedule to see when his tour with his band (Fall Out Boy) begins.

“Okay, it starts on May 20th. I’m going to be there a couple days before.”
“Shit Pete, that’s right around Justin’s birthday!”
“Okay, I know you and your brother are extremely close, but do you think he would really care if you missed his birthday?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know if he has anything planned. I’ll call him tomorrow and ask him.”
“Call him right now!” Pete suggests.
“Are you crazy? It’s like after midnight back home!”
“Your point? You know Justin will answer your calls.”
“Alright, fine, but if he gets pissed, I’m putting you on the phone with him!”
“Alright, it’s a deal. Call him!”

Kaci grabs her cell phone out of her purse and calls her brother.

“What are you doing?” Kaci asks when Justin answers.
“Hanging out in the guest house working on some songs. What’s up? Why are you calling me so late?”
“I’m with Pete. I was wondering what you were doing for your birthday?”
“Who’s Pete?”
“You know Pete. Remember when we lived in Chi and I was always hanging out with that one kid that Dad didn’t like because of the music he liked?”
“OH, Pete Wentz?”
“Yeah, him. Now, what are you doing for your birthday?”
“Having a party, what else would I do Jess?”
“Well, when’s the party?”
“What’s with all these questions?”
“I’m trying to work out my schedule. Your birthday is a potential conflict if you decide to have a party on a certain few days.”
“Schedule for what?”
“I’m going to go back to Chi, now, when were you planning on having this lovely birthday party of yours old man?”
“On the day of my birthday, when else?”
“Perfect. I’ll talk to you later. Don’t tell Dad anything because he will not let me go if he finds out!”
“What in the hell are you up to Jessica?!”
“Nothing, don’t worry about it. Gotta go!”

Kaci hangs up with Justin before he can question her any more about what she is planning.

“Okay, so, when are YOU heading to Chicago?”
“I’m flying there on the 17th and as you know, the tour starts on the 20th.”
“When should I fly up there?”
“Either the 18th or the 19th, that’s up to you babe. If you want to hang out and see friends then I would suggest that you fly up on the 18th. There’s a bunch of things I need to handle on the 19th so I wouldn’t be able to pick you up from the airport if you flew in then. I guess the 18th is your best bet.”
“Alright, then the 18th it is. Book me the flight and everything Pete!”
“We can do that in the morning,” Pete says lying down on his bed. “Come here.”
“Hold on,” Kaci says grabbing her phone. “Picture!” Kaci says taking a picture of Pete lying on his bed trying to get her to join him.
“And what was that for?” Pete asks, still trying to get Kaci to lay down with him.
“You just looked so damn cute, I had to capture it!”
“Let me see,” Pete says, finally managing to grab Kaci and pull her to him to cuddle in his bed.
“You know, a girl could get used to this,” Kaci says.
“I could get used to it too,” Pete says then kisses Kaci.

Kaci and Pete eventually end up falling asleep in each others arms.

Chapter 46/Story Index/Chapter 48/E-mail Brittany