Chapter Two: How You Got Me
This chapter's about how Keith and Tori started dating.
Crap. Tori was going to be late to the lunch with her mom. They'd been planning it forever, because her mom thought they barely saw each other anymore. Tori really didn't see how to not be late at this point. She was all the way across town.
If only I brought my friggin' watch, she thought, mentally making a note to bring it everywhere. What time was it? She really ought to bring a watch from now on.
Her phone battery was dead, so she couldn't look at the time that way, or call to tell her mom she'd be late. Really crap.
She went up to the first person she saw. He was wearing a big, grey hoody, and black, ripped jeans. She tapped him on the shoulder, put on a smile (as Trina says, best way to get things you want is to appear approachable-but Tori isn't as scary as her sister), and tapped the hooded guy on the shoulder. "Excuse me," she said, sounding a little too perky.
"Hell," The guy said, and she could detect a British accent. He turned around, revealing perfect white teeth, perfect features that fit on a perfect face, and dark sunglasses blocking her view of probably perfect eyes. Something about him seemed familiar, but when she couldn't place it, she gave up. "Autograph, right?" He barked. He was way too hot to sound so rude. Before she could answer, he continued. "Everywhere I go I have to sign a bloody autograph. Why can't I just be left alone?"
"Well, Rude Guy," Tori answered, scowling. "That really would've put me in my place if I'd wanted an autograph. But sorry, I don't go around asking for stranger's signatures. I was just gonna ask if you had the time. But I guess I'll ask someone else."
She turned to leave, but he called, "Sorry for being rude. I just thought you were a crazy fan."
She turned back to look at him, and she once again recognized his face from somewhere. Autograph? Recognition? Obviously, this guy was some kind of famous person. A rude one at that. "Well, I can tell you're some kind of famous person, and you know it. Why should the fact that I'm your fan or not influence the way you treat me? You should be polite to everyone, especially people who look up to you. I can tell you, if I was a fan and you just talked to me like that, I'd stop being a 'crazy fan'."
She turned to go once again, but he stopped her. Again. "You don't know who I am?"
She faced him. "Sure I do," She smiled fakely and racked her brain, coming up with nothing. "You're . . . that guy . . . Who did . . . That thing,"
He laughed, a deep, cute sound. "You really don't know who I am?"
She faked a gasp. "You really don't know who I am? Are you serious?"
He laughed again. Then he stuck out his hand. "Keith Jameson, actor."
She shook it, giving him a little smile. "Tori Vega, singer. Or, wanna-be."
He beamed at her, which looked so much cute on his face then a scowl. "Well, not that we officially know who the other is, why don't we go get some ice-cream? My treat?"
When she started to shake her head, he said, "As an apology for being so rude?"
"I really have to be at this thing with my mom. Rain check?" She looked into his blue eyes and smiled. "How about you give me your number and I'll call you?"
She turned around to grab the bag that she'd dropped, and heard Keith say, "How do I know you'll be true to your word?"
But when she turned around, he was scribbling on a piece of paper with a fancy looking pen. "How'd you get that stuff so fast?"
"You'll never know."
He grinned, and she shoved the paper in her bag without looking at it. She slung the bag on her shoulder and asked, "Do you happen to know the time?"
He pulled an iPhone out of his back pocket, glanced at it, and read, "Eleven oh eight,"
"Crap," She said, out loud this time. "I have to meet my mom in twenty minutes."
She started to jog away, and as an afterthought, yelled, "See you, Keith Jameson!"
Everyone in the mall looked up.
Tori was sure that Keith could hear her laughter through the sound of screaming girls.
The next time they met was accidental.
Tori went to the park, a place she'd like to visit lately. There was a creek where she'd only ever seen one other person, and she liked to go there to be alone. With Hope's "Who Am I To Say" chiming in her ears, she felt completely peaceful at the creek.
She couldn't hear the creek flowing, but she could see the water rapidly moving. She could make out some fish under the surface, their breaths making little bubbles that popped when they reached the surface.
Butterflies and bees danced on wildflowers, all pretty and sweet. She decided to stop listening to the music, and put her iPod into her pocket.
There were trees surrounding the perfect spot she found. It was a big patch of grass right next to the creek, in a way that she could stick her feet it, and it was surrounded by multicolored flowers. Sun trickled in from the spaces in the branches, and she leaned back on her hands with a smile.
"'Listen close, little brother,'"
Tori nearly falls into the creek, but catches herself, digging her bare feet into the muddy bottom so her whole body didn't fly forward.
She stood up, upset that someone had found her secret place. She didn't say anything, though. She got up and climbed through the foliage silently. She peeked from behind a tree, trying to catch a glimpse of the person. She heard him guffaw.
"'Do you know what I've done for you?'"
Tori made it to the edge of her creek, and peered from behind the tree.
They were more trees, of course. But in the middle of them was Keith Jameson, glaring and ranting about nothing. Tori thought he might be insane, but then she saw the script he was gripping.
"'I gave up my life, for you, and now you're just wasting it! You're wasting everything I've ever given you! I did everything for you, and you spat on it!'"
Tori put her hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle.
"'If only mom could see you now,'" he growled.
"Wow," said Tori, stepping out of the shadows. "Your brother sounds like a jerk."
Keith was so surprised that he dropped the script. "I was¾rehearsing¾for the movie,"
Tori picked up the script and handed it to him. She noticed that his cute accent was back. "Wanna know how to fix that scene a little?"
He paused, but, then, nodded. "They say work on it and come back."
"In that scene, you were hurt, which made you angry. I'm guessing that your character is known as the 'bad boy', everyone's scared of him, except his family. His parents are dead, and he's the oldest so he's the guardian of his brothers. He'll always protect them, though, and he loves them even if he never says so. My guess is he thinks getting hurt is a weakness, and he hates being weak. Ergo, he hates whoever makes him feel weak. How am I so far?"
"A little . . ." Keith began, looking dazed. "Too good,"
"Well, in your scene you got the angry perfect¾but there was no hurt. My suggestion, make your eyes fill with tears, but don't cry, and put a little hoarseness¾y'know, how guys sound when they're about to cry¾when you say 'and you spat on it!'"
He smiled. "That's actually a really good suggestion."
She smiled right back at him. "I know."
It was quiet for a moment. Keith broke the silence by saying, "What are you doing here?"
She walked closer to him. "I come here all the time. The flowers, the birds, the trees, the water. It's beautiful, and completely peaceful. I like to come here to think."
His smile was small now. "What do you think about?"
She looked at the water. "What don't I think about. It's probably a shorter list."
He walked closer, but she stopped him when their eyes met. "What about you?" She asked.
"What?"
"Why are you here?" Tori clarified. "Of all the places, why this creek?"
"Because I knew I'd see you here?" He tried, but Tori was already shaking her head.
"I'm serious."
"Seriously," he began, not looking away from her face. "This place is right next to the house where I spent most of my teen years. I spent much time here after my brother died."
She didn't think about it. She grabbed his hand. He looked surprised, but he didn't pull away. After a second he relaxed. They stood there, hands intertwined, just looking and the bubbling water.
"Do you still not know why I'm significant?"
She laughed. "I meant to Google you. I never got around to it, though."
"You never called."
She didn't look at him, but she felt the slight smile on her face. "I never got around to that, either."
He smiled down at her. "How about that ice-cream?"
She grinned back. "It's a date."
They didn't let go of each other's hands as they walked to Ben 'N Jerry's.
2 months later . . . (Keith)
Keith's smile felt permanently stained on his face.
He was looking for Tori. He had something amazing to tell her, and he knew she'd be excited.
They've been spending a lot of time together, and his feelings for her are growing rapidly. Whenever anything good happens to him, he wants to share it with her, just for the chance to see her smile. When she laughs it's like the world is brighter.
He knows it's cheesy and cliché, but he doesn't care. Keith thinks he's in love with her, and they haven't done anything but talk and kiss.
He looks at his watch, and smiles. It's 4:30. At this time, he knows Tori will be at the creek. It's gone from My place in Keith's mind to Our place.
They've tried to keep their relationship out of the press, and so far it's worked. They just meet up at their place and get ice-cream, or other junk food. Whenever they see paparazzi, which barely ever happens, they leave. Since he's been with Tori, it's kind of like they just can't find him.
Keith never thought he'd be in love. Never in a million years. He's been with many women, and none of them were like Tori. He didn't think anyone on the face of the Earth was like Tori.
You have to walk through the beach to get to their place, so he kept his head down and walked quickly. He still couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"Are you Keith Jameson?"
He looked up to see a pre-teen with freckles and red hair. Her smile was broad, and not a hint of shyness was in her eyes.
"No," Keith grumbled and kept walking. She didn't follow him.
Tori was sitting by the creek when he found her. She was leaning back, singing a song he didn't recognize. Her voice was so lovely it made his breath catch.
"Love like song
Will you sing along?
It's funny how happy I can be
Without noticing . . ."
"Hello, love,"
Tori didn't jump, just glanced over her shoulder with a small smile. "Hey. Why are you so happy?"
She stood up, and smoothed out her skirt. Then he grabbed her and spun her around, pleasant emotions dancing inside him.
He set her down, and she was still laughing.
"Remember when you gave me advice about how to do that scene better?"
She nods.
"They said it was just what they were looking for! I got the part!"
She looked so happy for him that he knew, once again, he was in love.
"That's so great!" She hugged, him, and then pulled back and kissed him.
They kissed for a while. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but the time just never felt right. He was afraid of what she'd say, or that she wouldn't say anything. He'd never felt like such a girl.
1 week later . . . (Tori's POV)
Tori didn't know how she felt about Keith. She knew she liked him a lot. Did she love him? Maybe.
Shouldn't you just know when you're in love? Tori thought as she laid down on the grass. She ran one of her hands through the water, and another through the flowers. Shouldn't it just hit you? Shouldn't the words "I think" never cross your mind?
Just then, a cute blonde head was in front of her face, blocking her view of the treetops. "Hi," she said brightly, trying not to let her thoughts show on her face. Then she noticed his face. She sat up and so did he.
"What's wrong?"
"They canceled the movie." He told her stiffly.
"I sorry," she apologized, and hugged him. "Hey, you know, my school was thinking about doing a play. But we just couldn't get an idea. How about you be in it?"
She pulled back to look at him, and saw the skepticism etched in his features. "I don't know . . ."
"Please?" She tried. "Consider it a favor. And," she grabbed his hand, "it'll make you feel better."
He looked at her hopeful expression for a while, and then smiled. He looked as if he didn't notice he was grinning. "Okay."
"Yes!" She kissed him. It wasn't a long kiss this time, but it was amazing all the same. She pulled back. "Ice cream?"
He stood up, taking her with him by the hand. "Ice cream."
I'll tell my friends tomorrow. She thought as they walked away form their place.