KISS (13 page)

“
Chaz, calm down,” his
manager said to angry youth. He hadn’t seen the boy this upset
since he was fourteen years old. He truly cared about him. He
wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, but Chester had been taken
advantage of numerous amount of times and his heart had grown cold.
It was even starting to reflect in his music.

“
How can I be calm when you
are standing here in my face? I’m on vacation. I’m still recording
if that’s what everyone is concern about.”

“
Chaz it isn’t like that. I
swear.” Chester cut him off. “Did anyone follow you?” he
asked.

“
Of course not.”

“
Good.” The small reprieve
allowed some of the tension to leave him. The last thing he wanted
was for Iris to be dragged into this when she wasn’t ready. “Tell
the others I’ll be back in a week.” A light knock on the door
halted all conversation.

“
Yeah?” he
shouted.

“
Mom wanted me to see if
you guys needed anything?” Chester sighed walking to the
door.

“
We’ll deal with this
later,” he said dismissing his manager. He opened the door and
watched Kevin leave. He saw him pause briefly as his eyes fell upon
Iris. People couldn’t help it. Her eyes were a golden honey color.
He’d never seen anything like it. He could lose himself in them.
Clearing his throat he invited Iris in and closed the door behind
him.

He pulled her into his arms smiling as
she sank into him. “Are you okay?” she mumbled into his
chest.

“
Of course I am,” he said
releasing her. She really was stunning and so oblivious to her
beauty. He tilted her head up and kissed her. He deepen he kiss
moving towards the desk. “You’re so beautiful,” he muttered before
sealing their lips together once again. Iris blood rushed in her
ears. It was at these times Chester seemed so different. He licked
her bottom lip and her mouth parted in response. In an instant,
Chester swept his tongue inside of her mouth. He inserted one of
his legs in between hers. Iris could feel him pressing into her
thigh. She broke the kiss and gasped as his hand slid under her
shirt. Chester moved towards her neck leaving trails off kisses
there. Iris whispered his name when his thumbs grazed her nipples.
She wasn’t ready. It—her body screamed touch her, but her mind said
no. Besides, she was still nervous.

Akjlrhjdfkljd, how did it
get to that point so fast? I’m a regular harlot these days. I have
got to get a grip.

“
Guys! Are you coming for
dinner?”

“
Yes mom!” she shouted
through the door, grateful for the interruption. Chester left her
stunned as he grabbed her butt and grinded into her. “This is what
a man feels like,” he whispered huskily into her ear. Naturally she
blushed and wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Wasn’t he
a kid just like her? She pulled away from him and fled while his
chuckle floated behind her. No man would be so blatant about his so
called prowess.

Boys are so
stupid!

Once dinner was finished and Chester
left. Iris helped her mother clean the kitchen. She was trying to
figure out how to bring the subject of Jay/ Axel up. She never
showed any interested in her mother’s work, but now she wanted to
help him out. She could do a piece and see if it her father could
feature it in his gallery. She didn’t believe in taking money from
people when it wasn’t hers, she wanted to earn it; her parents
raised her this way. She supposed it was their way of making sure
she remained down to earth. There were no handouts in
life.

“
Mom?”

“
What is it sweetie?”
Giselle wondered what it could be. Usually her daughter would be
hiding in her father’s studio.

“
What made you go into
medicine?” Iris asked biting her lip. It wasn’t what she really
wanted to ask, but she figure she could lead up to big
question.

“
Honestly sweetie, I love
helping people. I’ve always had a knack for the sciences and the
heart is a complicated organ that never cease to amaze me. Now tell
me, what is it you really want to ask?”

Iris started to think her mother was
psychic. “Mom, I know this kid and his mom is really sick. She has
some rare heart condition and his father doesn’t want to pay for
the procedure because there’s a fifty percent chance it could fail
and they are already drowning in medical bills.” This was all said
in rush. Iris didn’t like asking for help, she enjoyed being
independent, but something a big as this she needed an adult’s
perspective. Iris felt tears burn her eyes thinking of his
distraught face. Why did she care so much? Why the attachment? She
looked up as her mother eyes met her own. Giselle pulled her
daughter into her arms and held her tight.

“
If there’s anything I can
do sweetie. I will help. Now tell me who this boy is?”

“
His name is Axel
Rotterdam. He’s the football captain at the school I attend.” She
sank gratefully into her mother’s arm now that burden was over
with.

Giselle held her little girl in her
arms. Iris never came to her for anything, and although she never
asked for much, she and Angelo wanted to give her the world. They
both made sure she had the latest in technology, fashion, etc. She
missed those days of dressing Iris in cute little toddler outfits.
She was too young then to realize she hated the dress. Sometimes it
was so hard not to be jealous of Iris’s relationship with her
father. Giselle often felt alone. Finally, her baby was requesting
something of her. And she was going to do everything in her power
to help. Besides, who could say no to those tears?

“
Now sweetie, I want you to
understand something. If we go through with this, you’ll be
exposed. There will be no shielding you from the public’s eye. Are
you willing to sacrifice everything you worked so hard for to help
this boy?” Iris blanched. Why couldn’t they keep it a secret? What
about her relationship with Cheese? Would that be exposed too?
Would she be able to continue to attend public school. If word got
out she was a prodigy, would that make her freak?

Her mind exploded seeking answers to
the infinite questions that bombarded her. She felt daze at their
incessant ability to hound her relentlessly. How was this going to
work? She needed time. Axel’s desperate face flashed across her
mind a beautiful portrait forever frozen in its torment. She wanted
to free him...to help him.

“
Yes, I’m sure.”

Oh god. I’m going to be
sick. Why am I so sweaty?

“
Alright sweetie. I will
make some phone calls.”

***

Chester returned home...err Iris house
to retrieve his lyric book. He came through the back door not
wanting to bother the family. He couldn’t help overhearing the
conversation Iris had with her mother. Who was this guy? Why was
she willing to risk everything for him when Chester had been trying
to get her to stop hiding all this time? Did it mean this guy meant
more to her than he did? Fury filled his body and he felt something
akin to a deep hatred bloom in his chest. He was going to find him
and put a stop to this shit. She belonged to him. He turned on his
heels and never looked back.

17

Hollywood Unveiled

Iris opened her eyes. She had to
attend class today. She didn’t get a chance to see Chester before
he left. She was so worried about Axel/Jay that she neglected to
pay any attention to Cheese. She swallowed the lump forming in her
throat. At least, she had some good news for Axel when she got to
school. Her mother was going to take care of everything and they
wouldn’t have to worry about medical expenses. Rushing to the
adjoining bathroom she took a quick shower got dressed. She put on
a pair of black jeans and a black and white striped shirt.
Shuffling downstairs, surprise flickered across her face when she
didn’t see Chester sitting at the island or her mom.

“
Hey sweet
heart.”

“
Hey dad, where’s
mom?”

“
We’ll she’s at the
hospital. She’s prepping for surgery. It’s going to be an
all-nighter for her. I just don’t understand why.” Iris briefly
glance at her father while she was fixing her cup of
coffee.

“
What’s wrong dad?” She sat
across from him, noting his hunched shoulders and the weary lines
at the corner of his eyes.

“
Your mother, I don’t
understand why she would take on such a difficult case, especially
when there’s a fifty percent chance of success or failure. If this
goes bad this could ruin her medical career that she worked so hard
to build.”

Iris sat stunned realizing how selfish
her demands had been. “Iris honey you’re going to be
late.”

“
Yeah right, bye dad.”
Grabbing her things she rushed out of the house searching for Ryan
their driver. He waited patiently in the driveway.

“
Morning Miss
McDerman.”

“
Ryan do you think I’m
selfish?”

“
Miss, what brought this
on? Since you asked such a question, it would indicate you are
not.” She bit her lip while she mulled his words over. She just
hoped everything went well.

Would he hate me if his
mother didn’t survive?

Arriving at school she was surprised
to see Crystal and Amie rushing up to her with smiles on their
faces. Confused she frowned at them. Why were they so friendly
now?

“
Omg, what your mom is
doing for Axel is so nice.”

“
Wait a minute, how’d you
know.”

“
It’s all over the news,”
they gushed. “Why didn’t you tell us your dad is a world renowned
artist?” Wait a minute, information about her family was plastered
all over the news but why? She backed away from the girls, she
didn’t want this. She saw Natasha leaning against the lockers and
Iris was surprised by the look on her face.

“
Are we not got enough for
you?” Natasha sneered at her.

“
C’mon Tasha don’t be that
way. I had my reasons,” she said reaching for her. Iris took a step
back, noting the rage in her friend’s light brown eyes. “What are
you playing at? Is this a game? Do you even care about him? How
serious are you about Jay?”

Iris stared at her friend bewildered.
How was she supposed to answer those questions, when there were so
many parts of Jay/ Axel that she hadn’t explored yet? She should
leave him alone. She had Chester. He was an infamous rock star. The
paparazzi would have a field day if they found out about them. She
still hadn’t told him about the kiss.

“
That’s what I thought,”
Natasha said turning away.

“
Are you serious? Why are
you so angry?” she followed behind her. She had to know. Natasha
was her only friend and she didn’t understand what she had done to
warrant such a reaction from her.

My enemies were trying to
become my friends and my friends well friend my enemy. This is why
I didn’t want to say anything. Are people really that freaking
fickle. I bet my ass she’s hiding something. I mean she’s acting
like I betrayed her or something.

“
Tasha, tell me! What are
you hiding from me?” she asked desperately placing her had on her
friends shoulder and turning her around to face her. Iris wasn’t
prepared for the contempt that entered her friend’s
eyes.

“
You can have him!” she
screamed breaking Iris’s hold on her.

“
Why didn’t you tell me you
love him?” she asked stunned.

Flabbergasted and dazed, she stood
there long after the bell had rung and the halls had cleared.
Defeated she turned to leave. There was no point in attending
classes today. She would have to transfer schools after all. Her
cover blown, she remained exposed like a new born babe taking its
first breath in a new world. She’d call Ryan and have him pick her
up from café down the street. She needed something to calm her
nerves. A cup of tea should help. Pushing open the door Iris was
bombarded by cameras and flashes of light. How did it come to
this?

I’ve given up everything
for a boy I don’t even know. I just hope his mom makes it through
the procedure.

Pushing past the paparazzi, she wished
for normalcy. “Iris, can you tell us about yourself? How does it
fell to be among the elite crowd of young Hollywood?” “You had a
birthday not too long ago, can you tell us who was there? Who’s
your best friend?”

She’d been hit. She was a tennis ball
that bounced up and down the court relentlessly until there was a
break in the player’s game. Feeling a hand on her arm, jarred her
out of her shocked state.

“
Don’t you touch she me,”
she snarled at the guy who grabbed her. Running with them hot on
her trail she pulled out her cell to call for help. Her feet
pounded the pavement and her heart thumped in her throat; being
hunted like a wild animal was something she never imagined
happening to her. Still the questions came. The loud engine of a
motorcycle halted the paps momentarily, and in her haste to get
away she jumped on the back and took the helmet he offered her. She
recognized the bike anywhere. It was Chester to the rescue. Leaning
into him, she breathe a sigh of relief as they raced
away.