A Changed Life (2 page)

“I get it, Dad. You want me to
fake
it.”

“You are exasperating at times, Michael.”

“So I can leave then?”

“No, you may not!”

As my father droned on about my responsibilities, I stared down over the balcony to the fountain below. I had never seen such a beautiful girl in my life. I was mesmerized. “Dad, who’s that girl standing near the fountain?” I asked with my curiosity now piqued.

“Honestly, Michael,” my father grunted and looked down below at the girl who I was referring to.

“That would be Nicolette Vanelle. She’s the daughter of the new songwriting team we just hired to write the score for
No Surrender
.”

“Well, since today is about being fake and working the crowd, I think she’s just the person to start with.”

“Listen, Michael, you behave and keep your hands to yourself!”

“Oh dad, don’t I always?” I said with a smirk.

I was left on my own to walk around and then someone tapped me on my shoulder. Startled, I turned around to see piercing brown eyes staring back at me.

“Hello…Nicolette,” he said with a cool manner in his voice, sending shivers up my spine. His eyes perused over my body and landed on my name badge, before saying, “I’m Michael St. Clair. Welcome to our home, and our annual Fourth of July celebration.”

“Nice to meet you, Michael.”

“Will you dance with me? I love the song the band is playing.”

I was a little unsure, but I did promise my parents I would mingle. I could feel his piercing brown eyes staring back at me, waiting for an answer.

“Please, Nicolette…one dance? I will be a perfect gentleman.”

Silently thinking to myself,
Sure you will,
as he is winking at me
.

“Okay.”

“So, what’s your deal, Nicolette? For such a beautiful girl, why the sour face?” Michael had asked me as he twirled us around the dance floor. I felt as if people were staring. I wasn’t comfortable with being the center of attention.

“Not to be rude, Michael, but I didn’t want to be here today.”

“Why ever not?” he asked. “It’s a party with lots of fascinating people, good food, and of course, me.”

I burst into laughter. Michael laughed, too.

“Now that our awkward moment has passed, tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything you’re willing to tell me.”

I honestly didn’t feel like giving a complete stranger a play by play on myself or my life. I tried to keep it as uncomplicated as I could.

“I’m seventeen…Starting my senior year at a new high school. The best part, I won’t know a single person.”

“Starting over is not so terrible. I’m sure you will meet new friends sooner than you think. You already know me, and I’m awesome.”

“Wow. You are full of yourself, Michael St. Clair!”

“Well, what can I say? It’s in the California water.” He laughed.

“What’s your story, Michael?”

“I’m nineteen and ready to start my sophomore year at Stanford University,” he proudly tells me.

The song had ended and he thanked me for the dance. I excused myself from Michael’s company and walked over to the bar for some water. Michael was quickly at my side again.

“Would you like something a little stronger than water?”

“No thank you, I don’t drink.”

“How about some champagne? One glass is not going to hurt you.”

“I’ll stick to water, but thank you.”

“Ok then. I will get myself a glass and be right back. Please wait here, okay?”

“I’ll be around, Michael.”

“Oh, I hope so, Nicolette.”

I didn’t feel like standing and waiting for a guy I had just met, so I decided to walk down to the beach. I couldn’t resist the beautiful ocean.

“Sam, I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“Will you stop complaining? Since when do you miss an opportunity to mess with that jerk-off, St. Clair?”

“Who are you referring to, Sam?”

“Ha! I knew you couldn’t resist, dude! Get your ass up here now and take a look.”

I grabbed the binoculars and scanned the crowd. Of course, the usual blondes were in attendance. I saw Alexis and Bailey, twin robots. I scoffed and then continued on to the other mindless beauties.

“Simon, don’t you think it’s time to saddle up again, my friend?”

“The last time I checked, I wasn’t a cowboy, Sam.”

Sam laughed but said, “Hey, just saying, dude. It’s been months since the accident, Simon. Don’t you think it’s time to move on with your life? Jennifer is gone.”

“It’s not like I have forgotten, Sam, but thank you for the reminder. She was my first real girlfriend here in California, and I cared about her. That is something that you just don’t forget. I wouldn’t be telling you I was okay if I wasn’t.”

“Okay, fair enough man. Now get back to scanning the crowd. I’m sure there has to be someone who appeals to you.”

I was ready to give up when my eyes find someone who wasn’t familiar to me. For some reason, I feel drawn to her.
What the hell?
That’s never happened to me before, not even with Jennifer.

“Hey, Sam, do you know that girl?”

Sam took the binoculars from me to take a look.

“No, never seen her before.” I scaled my way down the wall, jumping onto the sand, as Sam called out to me.

“Hey! Where are you going dude?”

“To meet someone new.” I was sprinting off to meet the mysterious beauty.

The warm sun and breeze coming off the ocean felt so good on my face. Removing my sandals, I bury my feet in the sand. I lean back on my elbows and scan the beautiful beach. Taking it all in, something grabs my attention. I notice a hot boy walking over to me. Trying not to stare, but he was shirtless and his stomach was ripped with muscles. His sexy, beach tousled hair was blowing in the breeze…the perfect hair I easily could rake my fingers through.
Where did that come from?

“Hi, how are you?”

“I’m okay. How are you?”

The handsome stranger smiled at me and said, “Lucky.”

“Why lucky?” I asked.

“Feeling lucky because I picked the right time to walk on the beach.”

I giggled and now my cheeks were red from blushing. “Hey…you stole that line from a movie!”

“Yup! And it worked!” As he smiled back at me and laughed. Extending his hand, “I’m Simon…Simon Paulson.”

“I’m Nicolette Vanelle, nice to meet you.” As if he was reading my mind, he answered my unspoken question.

“I’m a party crasher, if you must know. My friend lives on the other side of that retaining wall. If you sit on the top of it, you can see everything that is happening over at the St. Clair estate.”

“Oh…I see. Seems more like a peeping tom to me. Do you know them?” I asked.

“Unfortunately I do, but I try to keep my distance.”

“Why don’t you get along with them?”

“Too complicated and too long to explain,” he replied.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“You didn’t. I would rather sit here and get to know you, then to talk about them. Why are you here, if you don’t mind me asking?” Something in his voice gave me a safe and comfortable feeling.

“I’m here with my parents, who are working with Mr. St. Clair.”

“Do they work at Paramount?” Simon asked.

“No, they don’t. My parents are songwriters, they are writing the score for Paramount’s new movie.”

“Writing songs sounds like a cool job.”

“I guess it is. They love what they do.”

“You don’t seem too happy about it.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for my parents. It’s just taking some time getting used to living here.”

“Where are you from?”

“I just moved here four months ago from Chicago.”

“That explains it then.”

I was confused by his comment. “Explains what?”

“I knew you couldn’t be from around here, not with that accent of yours and the color of your hair.”

“Wow, you figured all of that out with just looking at my hair and listening to how I talk.” Now I was teasing him.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Most of the girls around here either have natural blonde hair, or they color it blonde. Your hair is beautiful…natural.”

I believe I may have blushed with his flattery. He was quite the flirt, it seemed.

“Well, thank goodness for that. I wouldn’t want to look like everyone else, now would I?”

“I don’t think you can, Nicolette, you’re already a stand out in the crowd.” He gave me a sexy wink and here comes the blushing again. Simon and I were enjoying each other’s company when Michael showed up.

“I’ve been looking for you, Nicolette. I asked you to wait for me.” Michael seemed annoyed with me, though I had no idea why. I glanced over to Simon, who was glaring at Michael.

“I wanted to walk on the beach.” Michael looked at me like I had slapped him across the face.

“Oh, well my father’s parties tend to be on the boring side.” He tried to play it off. “Anyway, I see you met Simon here.” Michael gestures to me with his hand. “I don’t remember seeing your name on the guest list.”

“Hmm. I’m sure you forgot to add me,” Simon said, earning a soft chuckle from me.

“How did you get in here?” asked Michael.

“Here’s the funny thing, Michael. I used my two feet. Relax, I was just leaving anyway.”

Leaning over to Nicolette, I kissed her on her cheek, promising to see her again. I jogged down the beach with thoughts of Nicolette, she was so beautiful. I think my heart was beating faster just being around her. I saw Sam waiting for me by the wall.

“Hey, how did it go?”

“Have you been waiting here the whole time?”

“Uh, yeah man! I came down here to get a better look at what sent you racing off. Who’s the girl, Simon?”

“Her name is Nicolette Vanelle, and she may just be the future Mrs. Simon Paulson, my friend.”

“I’m happy for you buddy, now find me a girlfriend, and maybe my senior year won’t suck.”

“I’ll see what I can do, Sam. Let’s grab the boards, and get some surfing in before we totally lose the day.”

Oh yes, I will definitely be seeing Nicolette again,
I thought to myself.