It's a pretty short first chapter, but I wanted to get the story started so I can stay on track. If anyone watches The Hills, I kind of imagine Jordan Avery to be a little bit like 'Justin Bobby,' Audrina's ridiculous boyfriend, with the way he acts and talks down to people. Maybe even looks a little like him, but cleaner cause Justin Bobby is gross. Anyways, I hope you like it and thanks to everyone who reviewed about being excited to read it. It means a lot to me.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
"You know, for being bona fide rock stars, it's hard to believe that you three hates these kinds of parties," Jude said to Spiederman, Wally, and Kyle as they made their way into the VIP section of Les Deux in LA while on a promotional tour of the States. "I mean, it's free alcohol, pretty girls, and good music, for the most part. What's not to like?"
"Dude, we've been up since 5:30," Spiederman whined. "Even I have to draw the line somewhere."
Tommy just laughed. "To be honest, I'm not surprised. These three hit their energy peak around 4:30 and it's a downfall from there. We'll have to carry them out in half an hour."
"If we're only staying half an hour, why are we even here?" Kyle yawned. "We've promoted everywhere else."
"Last stop," Tommy assured them. "This is a big spot to promote cause if Jude can have remixes spun here, it'll be huge for her career."
"Wouldn't that kind of make her a slight sell-out?" Wally wondered. "I mean, a rock goddess having remixes made of her songs to be played in a club? Sounds like sell-out material to me."
Jude glared at Tommy. "Will this make me a sell-out?"
"Jude, you're listening to the Three Stooges," Tommy pointed out dryly. "Would I jeopardize your musical integrity? I only have your best interests at heart."
"All right," she reluctantly agreed as they were seated at their reserved table. "This place definitely has it's fill of Young Hollywood, huh?"
Spiederman rubbed his eyes and caught glimpses of Lauren "LC" Conrad from The Hills, pro snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White, and Chad Michael Murray. "It's crawling with B-listers and wannabes, neither of which are we."
"Ooh, an elitist," a cool female voice said from behind them. "Never would've pegged you as that."
He froze. After watching countless specials on them and seeing them in various commercials, he knew each voice of every Victoria's Secret supermodel and this was no exception. He knew Nic Hill was standing behind him and he had no desire to turn around and look stupid.
"He's embarrassed," Jude spoke up. "He's a huge fan of Nic 'the Face' Hill."
"Is that so?" Nic smirked. "Well, that's sweet."
"Dude, your face is so red right now," Wally whispered, clearly enjoying his friend's discomfort. "It's dark and I can still tell."
Spiederman nudged him, straightened himself out, and looked over his shoulder. There she was, in simple jeans and a red tank top, drinking bottled water. "I didn't mean that in a bad way. I just meant that we don't know any of these people."
"I do," she remarked. "Shaun's a friend and I met Lauren at a fashion show in the spring. But, I won't hold that against you."
"Nic, what are you doing here?" Tommy demanded. "I told you we'd be at Les Deux tonight."
"Don't worry, brother dear," Nic assured him. "I came to meet with Jordan, not to ruin your plans."
"Did she just call him her brother?" Wally asked Jude, Tommy's girlfriend of over two years. "Nic Hill is Tommy's sister?"
"Yeah," Jude confirmed. "Every summer, when we spend two weeks in Malibu, it's at her beach house. It's so funny to watch them together."
Spiederman was irritated. "How could Squinty not tell me Nic Hill is his sister? I hate him so bad right now."
"More than usual?" Jude teased. "And he didn't tell you because they aren't public about it. When she signed with Elite Models at 14, she dropped 'Quincy' and shortened her middle name from Hillary to 'Hill' and the rest is history. She didn't want to rise to fame because of her more famous brother. There are a few media outlets who know, but they've agreed to keep it under wraps until the time is right."
"So, Tommy, Jude, when's the wedding?" Nic asked, squeezing into their table next to Kyle. "I need to know so I can fit it into my schedule."
Jude rolled her eyes. "Hilarious, Nicola. Speaking of Jordan, where's the scumbag at?"
"No idea," Nic admitted vaguely. "If he doesn't show, I'm probably better off."
"Why's that?" Tommy wondered.
"Because, if you haven't noticed in the few times you've met him, Jordan Avery is a prime douchebag," Nic pointed out in reference to her actor boyfriend.
Kyle was confused. "Then why do you date him? I mean, and Spied would definitely agree, you're way too good-looking for him. I mean, he makes decent action thrillers, but you're the Face! You get paid thousands of dollars a day to stand and look hot."
"Well, thanks," she scoffed. "Unfortunately, I can't say why I stay with him cause I don't really know," she answered softly. "Must be something in him that I see every once in a while."
Tommy wasn't buying his sister's act; he knew better than that. Even though they hadn't lived together since he was 14, they were still close and spoke on the phone at least once a day. He knew things with Jordan, whom she'd been dating for almost a year, were rough, but it was deeper than that now.
"Nic, are you sure you're okay?" he questioned quietly.
"I'm fine," she assured him, though with no eye contact. "Don't worry about me, Tommy."
"I always do," he murmured. "Okay, Jude, I'm gonna go talk to the DJ, an old friend from Boyz Attack days, and we'll see what he can do with 'It's Just Noise' to keep it rock, but danceable." He excused himself from the table and hurried away.
"Nic, are you sure things are okay with Jordan?" Jude asked. "If they're not, you can tell me."
Nic sighed in exasperation. "Jude, it's cool. I know I can talk to you about anything, I usually do, but Jordan's all right. We just go through rough patches; I'm sure you and Tommy do the same."
"Yeah," Jude agreed, "but I'd never openly call him a 'douche bag' or anything similar."
"Well, I'm more outspoken than you are, Jude," Nic reminded her. "And I don't care if he finds out."
Wally caught his eye on someone. "Well, good thing, cause he just walked in."
Nic made a face as she felt his presence next to her. "Hey."
"Hi," he grumbled, taking Tommy's vacant seat. "Who are these people?"
"Jordan, don't be dumb," Nic advised. "You've met Jude, you know who she is. And this is her back-up band, the Spiederman Mind Explosion, whom you also know."
"Oh," Jordan mumbled, sipping the Corona he'd brought up with him from the bar. "Hey."
Nic leaned into Kyle. "See? Total douche bag."
"Definitely," Kyle agreed. "So, Jordan, are you working on anything new right now?"
"I've got a lot of offers," Jordan reported. "But they're not offering my asking price, so I'm negotiating."
Nic scoffed. "He was offered a small part in a new Quentin Tarantino film. They offered $14,000 and he thinks it's worth $55,000. I read the part; it's not worth $2,000."
"Whose side are you on?" Jordan demanded harshly.
"The side that's right," she replied quickly. "It's a small part, Jord, that's all. You're acting like you've been in Hollywood long enough to demand a big salary but you haven't."
Before Jordan could say anything, the opening beats of a song from Jude's latest album, Four in a Million, 'It's Just Noise,' started playing through the speakers and even though people were dancing, Jude didn't feel exploited. She gave Tommy the thumbs up and smiled. "It sounds good."
"It sounds like crap," Jordan put in. "Who is this?"
"It's Jude," Nic told him. "God, are you stupid tonight or what?"
"I don't like being talked to that way," Jordan snapped. "So don't do it."
Jude could see that Nic was becoming uncomfortable, so she tried to change the subject. "Nic, when's the fashion show gonna be on?"
"Next Friday," Nic explained, referring to the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. "Britney Spears performed this year and it was hot. Plus, I rocked the Diamond Bra, pissing off Adriana, so it was awesome."
"It was boring," Jordan interrupted. "Who wants to sit in the front row of a fashion show and watch girls show off bras no one could ever afford?"
"Uhh, any straight guy?" Spiederman answered.
Jordan glared at him. "I don't even know you, so don't talk to me."
"That's it!" Nic cried, standing up. "We're leaving cause you're pissing me off." She grabbed her Marc Jacobs clutch. "I apologize for his crappy behavior. Jude, I'll call you tomorrow. Tell Tommy I'm sorry for leaving like this." She grabbed Jordan's hand and pulled him away.
Jude sighed. "I'm worried about her. I don't think Jordan Avery is a very good guy."
"I didn't like him," Spiederman agreed. "And not just because he's dating the girl of my dreams; he just came off like a total jerk."
Tommy wasn't too thrilled that his sister had left by the time he got back to the VIP section, but he didn't make them stay much longer. He said good-bye to the owners, put everyone into a taxi van, and had them driven to the Roosevelt Hotel where they were staying before heading back to Toronto the next afternoon.
"I think Nic should lose that guy," Tommy admitted, changing into a pair of pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt. "I didn't see him there tonight, but something was off about her when she was talking about him."
"I know," Jude nodded. "He talks to her like she's absolute crap and I hated that."
He sighed. "I can't do anything about it, so let's just go to bed."
Early the next morning, they were woken up by the sound of someone banging on their door. Assuming it was Spiederman or one of the other boys, Tommy moved at a glacial pace to answer it.
"Yeah?" he barked, pulling the door back. He was horrified to see his baby sister standing in front of him with a black eye and busted lip. "Nic?"
"Can I come in?" she whimpered.
