23
JACOBI
J
acobi sat on the sofa, confused. She was hurting, physically and emotionally. Her stomach ached badly, and her heart was hurt. Katydid and Shooby had done a number on her, but she knew she had to let it go. They were from her past, and now their friendship was the sameâpast tense. In a way, she felt sorry for them. Katydid had ruined her life, become a teen statistic, and was having a baby while she was just a baby herself. She didn't understand it. She'd liked Shooby for years, but had never thought about giving herself to him in that way. She wasn't ready for sex or the problems that came with it. Especially a baby. She changed her mind by the minute about her future career, but she was certain about her goals in life. And success and happiness were what she craved.
Malone plopped down beside her, startling her. In the midst of being caught up in her feelings, she'd almost forgotten that she was at his house. His and Alissa's and Alek's house minus their parents, she reminded herself, and tensed. She'd suspected Malone to be a player, smooth with his game, and capable of pulling any girl. But she wasn't any girl, and she wasn't going to let him take advantage of her. No way.
“You want something to drink? A cold towel to wipe your eyes? A shower?” He rattled off questions, looking into her eyes.
Jacobi stiffened. He was too close. “I'm ... I'm ... I'm ...” she began, then stood up. “I gotta go,” she said.
Malone stood, too. “Why?” he questioned innocently.
Jacobi just laughed. Like earlier at Shooby's, she couldn't believe the nerve of people who thought she was a fool. She might make barely average grades, but she wasn't stupid. “Look, Malone. You're cuteâgorgeous. You're talented with perfect teeth,” she said, pointing to his mouth then showing him her braces, as if reminding him. “You're only a teenager and already you're rich. You're on TV ...” She shrugged. “What else would you want me for, except the one thing I'm not going to give up?”
It was Malone's turn to laugh. “Serious?” He waved his hand over her body like it was a magic wand. “Look at yourself, Jacobi. Maybe if you really looked, you'd see what I do. You're beautifulâwhere it counts.” He touched his index finger to her temple, then toward her heart, careful not to touch her chest. “Ever since I first saw you, you've been on top of your game. You carry a camera, filming. You dabble with stocks. How many creative girls do you know that also know how to play Wall Street? And why do you think I keep telling Alek to back up? We usually play the who-can-get-the-girl-first game, but I wasn't having that with you.”
Jacobi smiled. She'd never considered herself so talented or beautiful. One look into Malone's eyes told her he was being truthful. He really did see her the way he'd described. She blushed and looked down at the floor. She didn't know what else to do. The scene was playing out like something in the movies, and it scared her. What was he going to do next? Get down on bended knee and propose? she wondered.
“Look at me,” Malone said, lifting her face up toward his. “I mean it. I know it's all awkward, us being here alone, but you can stay here if you like. You can sleep in my room, and I'll stay on the sofa. That way you won't have to see your dadâwhose car still isn't in the driveway, by the way.”
A warm feeling moved through Jacobi while she considered his offer. It was tempting, and she didn't want to let on to her father that she'd lied about getting her period just so she could get out of the house.
“Plus it's late. And what if you go home and he pulls into the driveway while you're at the door? What if he catches you?” Malone asked, all of his questions making huge sense to her.
“Sure? I don't know ... I've never spent the night at a boy's house before. And if Diggs finds out, he's going to kill meâafter he kills you. He's protective,” she said.
Malone put his hands in his pockets and laughed. “I feel him. If some dude messes with Alissaâas much as we clashâI'd hurt him. But we don't have to worry about that. I'm not going to bother you, I promise. And you won't be spending the night at just some boy's house; you'll be staying over at Alissa's. Think of it that way.”
Jacobi's stomach tied up in knots and an intense heat moved through her. She nodded, feeling the sudden need to lie down. “Okay. But I'm staying in Alissa's room and locking the door.”
Malone smiled. “Cool. And in the morning, we can sneak you back into the car so your dad won't see, and I'm taking you somewhere.”
“Where?” Jacobi asked.
Malone bent forward and planted his lips on her forehead. “On our first date.”
Â
Jacobi turned from side to side in Alissa's bed. Her stomach burned and felt like someone was punching her from the inside. Wrapping her arms around her middle, she balled up into a fetal position and tried to breathe her way through it. She moaned as an intense ache overtook her lower back. “Ooh,” she whimpered. She was in desperate need of pain medicine. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin. She'd welcome anything that would make it go away, she decided, focusing her eyes in Alissa's dark room, looking for the route to the bathroom. She didn't want to stub her toe or trip on anything; she was hurting bad enough as it was, and she couldn't afford more pain.
With all the strength she could muster, she straightened herself up, got out of bed, and walked toward the bathroom. Before she could put her hand on the knob, it felt like someone was stepping on her bladder. All of a sudden she had to pee as if she'd been holding it forever. “Oh God, what next?” she asked, flipping on the light switch and half running to the toilet. She'd barely made it behind the glass partition and pulled down her pajama pants and panties when she began relieving her bladder practically before her bottom hit the seat. “Whew,” she sighed, then seemed to pee away most of her pain. Her shoulders relaxed and she breathed easier. She didn't know how urinating could relieve pain, and she didn't care. As long as most of the pain was gone, she was fine, she decided, wiping herself dry. “Oh. My. God.” Her heart raced, and she panicked. She had her first period.
In the house with Malone? Serious?
She shook her head. God had a sense of humor.
Jacobi pulled a gob of tissue off the roll, wrapped it around her hand until it became a wad, and placed it on the crotch of her panties. She pulled up her clothes. Thankfully, she knew where Alissa kept all her feminine products. She walked quickly to the cabinets and opened them. Nothing. She shook her head. She was sure she'd picked the right one. “Maybe not,” she said, checking the other one. Still nothing. Now she really panicked. What was she supposed to do? she wondered, opening and closing everything that had a drawer pull on it in Alissa's bathroom and not finding one feminine product.
Her heart raced. She knew by now her father was home, and she couldn't just walk in the door, especially this late. She guessed it had to be at least two in the morning or later, and that killed her next idea. Kassidy was probably sleeping, so texting or calling her was out of the question, and the same thing applied to Alissa. Jacobi breathed deeply. She knew what she had to do. Malone was her only hope. And if he liked her like he said he did, he'd help her.
As he'd promised, he was sleeping on the sofa. The television was on, and his cell phone was by his side. He looked so peaceful, Jacobi didn't want to wake him. But she had to. She just couldn't go all night with a wad of tissue in her panties, especially because she didn't want to take a chance and mess up her clothesâor worse, Alissa's bed.
“Malone,” she said, shaking him gently.
He awoke with a start. “You okay?” he asked, half asleep.
Jacobi shook her head in the negative, then tears tracked down her cheeks. She didn't know what was up with all the crying and emotional feelings surging through her body lately, but attributed it to womanhood. It must've been the reason she'd hugged Kassidy, she was sure.
“What's wrong?” he asked, sitting up.
Jacobi gulped. “I don't know how to say it ... but ... I tried Alissa's bathroom. You know, I got girl problems?” she said, making her statement sound more like a question.
Malone nodded, not seeming the least bit affected. “Okay. No problem. Check my parents' bathroom. My mom keeps a boatload of stuff there.” He smiled. “No need to be embarrassed. I remember when I asked my dad why he didn't mind going to the store to get that stuff for my mom, and he said two things: One, everyone knew it wasn't for him. And two: at least he had a woman, which is more than he could say for a lot of his friends. So, Jacobi, as you see, all dudes aren't so lucky.” Malone laughed. “So if you don't find what you need in my mom's bathroom, I'll run to the store to get what you need. I'm my pops's son ... and you're going to be my girlfriend, anyway. Might as well start now.”
Jacobi laughed. Malone was more than perfectâhe was all right with her! He was worthy. Despite her once thinking that he was too good for her, Malone had proved that he
was
good for her. He was boyfriend material. It didn't matter that he was perfectly rich, smart, and popular. What counted was that he put her before himself. That was a lot more than she could say for Shooby. “You know what, Malone? I think you might be right. If you keep this up, you will have a girlfriend.”
Malone laughed. “Really? Who?”
“Let's just say that she's super talented with a video camera and likes the stock market.”
24
KASSIDY
K
assidy waltzed into the modeling agency with her head held high. The blue-haired girl sat behind the reception desk, chewing on a pencil and talking on the headset. Her eyes widened when she glanced at Kassidy. She held up one finger, signaling that she'd be with her in a minute. Kassidy sat down in the adjoining waiting area, tapping her foot and looking at her watch. She hated to be late, and it annoyed her even more when other people were. As if sensing her irritation, Yummy waltzed in mouthing
sorry
and waving her hand at the blue-haired girl like
don't even bother me
. She sat next to Kassidy and smiled. Kassidy looked at Yummy, and Yummy shrugged, tossing back her newly cut hair and grinning between glossed lips. It was amazing what a makeover could do for someone, Kassidy thought, looking at her new and improved stepsister; she'd had a ball recreating Yummy's look.
“I don't know. Romero brought me,” Yummy said, batting her long fake lashes. “Diggs said he'd be here, and I believe he will.”
Kassidy nodded. “Okay. I hope so. I really need him here for this.”
“Hey!” Diggs said, walking in and speaking loudly to everyone.
The blue-haired girl perked up. She waved and gave Diggs the biggest smile Kassidy had ever seen, and she'd encountered many. It was obvious that the girl had it bad for him, and that gave Kassidy the confidence she needed. “One sec,” the girl sang to Diggs.
Kassidy rolled her eyes at the girl's blatancy.
Yuck
. “So, Diggs,” Kassidy began, but then the cell phone in her purse started vibrating and singing. The ringtone on Faith's phone that had sounded familiar had come to life, and Kassidy had a lightbulb moment. “I do know that ring. I do!” she said, taking the cell out of her designer bag. “Oh. No.” She held up the phone, showing it to Yummy.
“Brent? Is that your Brent?” Yummy asked.
Diggs huffed.
Kassidy froze, staring at the screen.
Yummy snatched the phone from her hand, answering it and pressing the Speaker button so they could all hear. “Brent?” she asked, trying to make her voice sound like Faith's.
“What's up? I got your message yesterday. You know I miss you, too, right?” he asked.
Yummy giggled, still trying to mimic Faith. “Mm-hmm,” she said. “I think I'm catching a cold, so if I sound funny ...”
“Oh no, baby. I'm sorry to hear that. Does that mean you won't be able to come back and finish the shoot? I really wish I could do it with you like last time. I don't know how you worked that out 'cause I heard some dude named Duggs was doing it, but I thank you,” he said, messing up Diggs's name.
Diggs shook his head. Brent had confirmed all he needed to hear.
“I'm coming. But first I gotta see Kassidy ...” Yummy said between fake coughs, still disguising her voice.
Brent grunted through the line. “Why are you going to see that trick? After all she's done to you? C'mon now, Faith. You even said so yourselfâshe slept with your cousin Carsen and half of Cali in less than two weeks. How can you deal with her, knowing she switched appointments with you so she could steal your contract? I don't know how she tricked me, because I thought she was a good girl. I mean, we never went
there
â” Brent paused, then whispered, “I'm saving all this for you.”
Kassidy grabbed the phone. “Save it for her, Brent. Save it and give it to her. You two deserve each other.”
“
Kassidy?
” Brent asked. “Is that you? What, you're playing on my phone? After you blocked me from your phone and kept sending me straight to voice mail ...”
Kassidy crinkled her brows. She hadn't sent Brent to voice mail, only blocked unknown numbers. “Not true, Brent. Maybe you should unblock your number ...”
“What the ... ? Oh no. Don't tell me ... ? Hold on,” he said. The line got quiet. The clicking of buttons could be heard, and Kassidy guessed he still had a BlackBerry. “Oh, this trick didn't ... Can you believe Faith set my phone to Private? You know that makes your number come up unknown.”
Everybody nodded, but it was too late. She looked at Brent's contact picture on Faith's phone. It was a photo of him and Faith kissing, lip to lip. “Take care, Brent. It was nice while it lasted,” she said, more angry and disappointed than defeated. She looked over at Diggs, realizing that she'd been over Brent longer than she'd known. It was the not being able to find him that had piqued her curiosity more than anything. She just couldn't live with thinking he'd ditched her, rather than the other way around. It was a player hazard, she told herself.
“Can I help you?” the blue-haired receptionist asked Diggs.
Diggs pointed to Kassidy.
Kassidy waltzed up to the desk. “You can help us. I have proof that my appointment was sabotaged. And if you don't let me speak to your boss, I'm going to let them know that you may have been privy to it.”
The girl looked at Diggs as he made his way over to Kassidy. He laughed and nodded. “Yeah. What she said.” He pointed again at Kassidy.
Blue-haired girl lost all the warm color from her face. “C'mon, Diggs. You know I might get in trouble ...”
Diggs shrugged. “Not as much trouble as you'll be in if I tell them you told me I wasn't needed at my next shoot,” he threatened warmly. He reached out and put his hand on hers. “Don't make me do you like that. Just take us to the back, and I'll tell them you had nothing to do with it, that we found out another way.” He held up the mustard-colored
Contracts
envelope. “Like this ... We could've just found this.”
Â
Kassidy looked at the oversized garage and scrunched her nose. Motorcycles were all around, and she wasn't sure if she'd picked the right place to confront Carsen. She took a glance over her shoulder and saw that all of her supporters were in place. Diggs had come, even though he was supposed to be at the beach-house party already. Yummy stood next to Romero, who had admitted being interested in Yummy after Kassidy told him she'd never view him as more than a pretend brother-in-law. He looked at Kassidy and smiled, his arm around Yummy's shoulder. Yummy was looking like the plus-size model Kassidy was sure she could become with a little more work. Kassidy had three friends to back her up, one of whom was her stepsisterâthe stepsister she never thought she'd like, and it felt good. It would feel even better when they went to confront Faith next, and Kassidy could switch phones with her. Yes, it felt great. Almost better than clearing up all the confusion that had become her life. She no longer had to worry about an MIA boyfriend, who'd pretty much turned his back on her as soon as her plane left the tarmac and had taken a stranger's word that she was promiscuous. She no longer blamed Yummy for messing up her modeling appointment and snitching to Diggs about all the boyfriends she had. And Diggs no longer believed that she was a loose girl who gave her body to any boy who looked her way. In fact, he knew she was pure. No, none of those things concerned her anymore. Not even her job situation. Thanks to her own initiative in confronting the agent, she'd landed a go-see, and because of Diggs, she was almost certain that she'd get the Ralph ad.
Her hand banged against the huge garage door. It slid open, and some guy wearing a black motorcycle vest appeared. “Yeah?”
Kassidy gave him a smile that always disarmed guys. “I'm looking for Carsen.”
The guy whistled. “Wish it were me. Hold up.”
Kassidy looked around. She was still nervous, and hadn't really thought about what she was going to say.
Carsen appeared, smiling and looking as cute as ever. “Hey, Kassidy. What up? Didn't think I'd ever see you here.” He walked up to her, reaching out for a hug.
Kassidy stepped back. “Well, you texted me this address when we were going out before. But, listen, I need to ask you something. You know Faith?”
Carsen nodded. “Yeah. Unfortunately.”
Kassidy raised her brows and looked back at Diggs. He walked over immediately.
“Oh, so you're with him now?” Carsen asked, cockiness in his voice.
“We're just cool. He came with me to make sure I got here safely,” she lied. Diggs had come to make sure she was okay in case Carsen got out of order, but she wouldn't dare say that. That would start a fight. “What do you mean by âunfortunately'? I thought she was your cousin.”
Carsen nodded. “S'up?” he said to Diggs, then turned back to Kassidy. “Who's my cousin? That stalker? Please, man. Faith's no relative of mine.” He looked around, then up and down the street. “Matter of fact, if you see her, don't tell her where I am. Don't give her my number. Don't tell her nothing. My moms almost had to call the police to get rid of that girl.”
Kassidy's jaw dropped. Faith's mess was getting thicker and thicker by the second. “Speaking of your mom, how is she? She was really nice to me after you dropped me offâleft me for dead. I'm sorry, that's a New York expression. I mean when you left me on the doorstep with food poisoning and disappeared, never to be heard from again. It's a good thing we never hooked up,” she said, laughing; but she was serious. She needed Diggs to hear for himself that nothing had ever transpired between her and Carsen.
Carsen shrugged. “Well, ya know. We laid the rules down in the beginning. I'm no boyfriend material. I play around too much for that.” He looked her in the eye. “Thought you knew that. I was just
in
it to get in
it
.” He nodded, then looked at Diggs. “You a dude, ya feel me.”
Diggs shook his head. “Nah. Don't know nothing about that.”
Kassidy laughed. “You really thought that's what I wanted? Wow. I can't believe that. I never said it.” She looked at Diggs. Carsen wasn't boyfriend material, but Diggs was. Diggs didn't play and he didn't share. He was real about his, and Kassidy admired him for it. Diggs winked and she returned it. “What about you, Diggs?” she asked. “What kind of material are you?”
Diggs smiled as cool as he could. “I'm definitely not boyfriend material, either. My moms isn't raising a boy; she's raising a man. I'm a man about mine. I told you that. So if you're looking for a boyfriend, you gotta look somewhere else. When you want a man, come see me.” He pounded his fist on his chest.
“Haaa!” Carsen said. “I like that, partna. I like it in ya!”
Kassidy's eyes bulged and she stared at Diggs. “I'm seeing you now.”