I personally really liked the last chapter, but wow, I hardly received any reviews. I hope you guys like this next one.
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Chapter 9:
To my extreme disappointment, it didn't take long for Ana to get to Sam and Emily's. I severely underestimated how much faster it is to get here by vehicle, than by foot.
Ana, of course, was as giddy as a school girl. She was practically undressing Paul with her eyes, the moment she walked through the door.
I tried to ignore it.
But it bothered me greatly.
Very greatly.
Currently she was sitting on the couch talking to Jared about how much she loved his artistic talent. He was being very polite to her, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. I smiled every time he glanced at Kim, giving her a face that even I could read as begging 'save me.'
Of course Ana was oblivious; she didn't even really want to be talking to Jared. I could see her looking out of the corner of her eye every few minutes at Paul.
Paul.
He was leaning against the counter talking to Emily and me, as we finished up the rest of the dishes. I tried focusing my attention on washing the pans, but it was really hard with him asking me questions.
The questions were endless, but I let him ask away anyways. It was only fair since I asked him a million in the past two days.
Had it really only been two days? It didn't seem like it was that short of time. It felt more like forever.
I went to swipe a piece of hair out of my face, but remembered that my hands were soapy. Instead I tried blowing it away, which did absolutely nothing. I don't even know if at this point it was bothering me because it was tickling or if it was just bothering me because it was there. Either way, I was in the process of struggling with my shoulder to move it when Paul's hand touched my face.
I stopped, my eyes colliding with his as he brushed the piece of hair behind my ear.
"Is that better," he asked huskily.
"Yes," I said hoarsely, wanting to grab his face for a whole different reason than what he was holding mine for.
The idea of me kissing him was…
I couldn't let myself go there. I sighed, some dreams just don't come true.
"We have to go," Ana said, interrupting my staring fest with Paul.
"Wh..what?" I looked at her, when did she get so close?
"Yah," she seemed a little angry. "You should start packing for tomorrow, that way you're not stuck doing it all tonight."
She was right. Emily had already invited the both of us over for dinner, and if yesterday's dinner was any kind of prelude for tonight, we wouldn't get back until really late. Therefore, I should get a start on it now.
"Wait," Paul said, no longer slouching on the counter. "What do you mean start packing? You're ticket is for a week."
I didn't miss his quick glance at Sam, or Sam moving over to us. "What's the problem?"
Paul looked at Sam. "Talliah is leaving tomorrow. I thought you booked the tickets for a week. Fix it."
I narrowed my eyes at Paul, "You don't have to be rude you know."
He shrugged, still glaring at Sam.
"Talli," Ana chastised.
"Ana," I said right back, to annoyed to let her peevish temperament bother me. I could tell she was shocked that I snapped back at her, but come on, if someone was rude, I didn't care if they were famous.
"I could have sworn – "
I cut Sam off and gave Paul a fierce look, "Don't worry, you did your job correctly. I received a ticket for a week's stay."
Paul growled, "Why didn't you just say that then?"
I growled right back. "It's none of your business. Besides I can't take a week off work, Todd would be in a coma by the time I returned."
He started shaking. "You returned your ticket because of work!"
"Yes!" I said just as loudly. By now, everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and were watching Paul and me argue.
"Paul," Sam said his name in warning, as if chastising a child.
Paul was starting to really shake. Ana and Emily were stepping back, but I stood my ground.
"Oh stop it," I said, taking a few more steps towards Paul. Sam blocked me with his arm, before I could stop my reaction; I flicked him in the chest.
Sam just stared at me as if I had gone insane.
I took this stunned opportunity to go under his arm and stand right in front of a shaking Paul.
"Did you hear me," I said. "Stop it!" I flicked him on the side of his neck.
He looked at me, still shaking.
"Stop it," I flicked him again. "I'm on to you buster."
"You just start shaking," Flick "to get your way." Flick "Well that's not going to," Flick "work with me anymore." Flick
His eyes got bigger and he stopped shaking.
"Did that just happen?" asked Jared from behind Paul's shoulder.
"Damn right," I said, glaring at Paul. "You can't get your way every time Paul. You need to suck it up and be a man."
I scoped the room, looking for Ana. "Let's go," I said, not bothering to wait for her answer.
Turning to Emily, I said, "Thank you so much for breakfast, you'll understand if we leave now, won't you?"
She looked to be stunned, a grinning Kim nudged her. "Yah," she said, clearing her throat, "Yup".
I plastered a genuine smile on my face, "Thanks."
Turning towards the door, Paul was blocking my path, my smile was replaced with a glower.
He winced.
I walked around him. At the door I stopped and spun around, Paul looked a little relieved.
To bad for you, I thought, ignoring him to look at Jared and Sam. "It was nice meeting the both of you."
Jared stood there in shock, Sam at least nodded.
When I got out to the car, I was practically hyperventilating. Any minute now, I was expecting my phone to ring with Emily on the other line canceling our dinner plans.
I couldn't believe I acted that way. I was so…
I just can't believe I acted that way.
I felt like hitting my head against the back of the seat. I was so stupid.
Ana slammed her door.
My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel.
If she said one word. ONE word, I would flip.
"HUMP," she glowered.
Technically that wasn't a word, it was a sound.
The car ride back to the motel was long, silent and very tense.
Damn drive! I started swearing in my head. It takes five fricken minutes for Ana to get to Sam and Emily's but it takes me two hours to get back!
By the time we got to the motel, my temper had cooled.
I had now moved on to the blushing stage.
I was such an idiot.
I was so stupid.
Did I seriously just flick him to death?
I groaned. Why, oh why Talli? Why were you born this way?
Ana unbuckled her seatbelt and slammed the door on her way out of the car. I winced.
I may have calmed down, but knowing Little Miss Sunshine, she had a ways to go.
I sat in the car for another five minutes, not because I needed time to simmer down, but rather out of fear. Ana was going to rip me a new one.
I gulped just thinking about it.
Ugh, I can't wait to get back home.
Gathering up enough courage, I walked into the motel.
Of course the first thing I saw was Mrs. Dits with a big Cheshire cat grin on her face. "Is something troubling your friend?"
Wouldn't you like to know you little weasel, I thought.
Instead, I replied, "It's her time of the month." Fake smiling, I added, "You know, period cramps."
I left a speechless Mrs. Dits standing in the hallway as I walked to our room. Who knew a fowl old lady would be the first one to make me smile after such an epic disaster.
And epic it was.
Of major proportions.
I would officially go down in the history books as the worst female obsessed fan ever. People would pity me in years to come. They'd point and stare saying, 'Isn't that the girl that flicked Paul and all his friends when she liked them?'
I half laughed half cried, they would probably be curious to know what I'd do if I didn't like someone.
Ask Mrs. Dits, I thought.
Reaching our door, I sucked in a deep breath. Ready cowboy?
Cowboy? Where did that come from? If anything I would be more of a cowgirl –
Ana whipped the door open, breaking off my train of thought. "Get in here," she glowered, grabbing my arm and pulling me in.
And so it begins.
Slamming the door shut, she crossed her arms in front of her and glared.
What happened to the love?
"I can't believe you just did that."
You and me both.
I shrugged.
"Don't you dare shrug," she ordered.
I was about to shrug again, but caught myself.
"What were you thinking?" she asked, starting to walk back and forth in front of the beds.
"Did some evil spirit take over my best friend's body or what?" she rattled on. "Are you even aware of what you just did?"
"Yah," I spoke up. "I put a famous person in his place, so sue me."
If looks could kill, I'd be deceased.
I didn't know why I wasn't freaking out, especially since that was all I'd been thinking about since I left the house.
It's just, I know it was horrible to say…but whenever Ana freaks out, I generally don't. It has something to do with the fact, that Ana always flips over the little things that mean nothing to me, so maybe in a way my mentally obsessed brain was no longer worried.
Basically, if Ana worried about something, it really wasn't that big of a deal.
Wow, I totally lost best friend points over that one.
"Yoohoo," Ana said, snapping her fingers.
"Hmm?"
"Aren't you listening?" shrieked Ana.
"Yah Ana, I am," I said, getting a little frustrated.
"Then what have you got to say?"
"About what?" I asked. "My behavior?"
She gave me a look that said I was an idiot.
"Nothing, I have absolutely nothing to say."
"What do you mean 'you have nothing to say'?"
"Exactly what I said Ana," I huffed. "Paul shouldn't have been rude. Yah maybe I went a little over bored, but did a flick really hurt him? No, but it sure helped to get my point across."
"You're actually defending yourself?" shrilled Ana.
"What's there to defend?" I shrugged, no longer caring if it made her angry, because damn it, she was making me angry.
"Are you serious?" she asked.
I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. "Ana, I love you but nothing you'll say will make me think I made a bad decision."
Personally, I thought I ruined my life. She didn't need to know that.
Now, not only would Paul no longer be a hypothetical possibility in my life. He would forever remain the 'could have been', not that he really could have been because he wasn't even aware of our hypothetical relationship.
Oh man, was I messed up.
"This is Paul we're talking about. You –"
"Yes this is Paul we're talking about. Paul, who doesn't know us. Paul who will not see us past this week. Paul who is a famous singer that deals with millions of fans that love him daily. Paul who won't remember our names once we leave. YES, we're talking about Paul."
She just stared at me.
I didn't blame her. I felt all my sadness pour out. He wouldn't remember my name. He doesn't care that my heart is breaking just thinking about leaving him tomorrow. He didn't care when I flicked him. He'll just go on seeing other fans, flirting with other girls.
I sat down on my bed. "You just don't understand Ana—"
"I don't understand! I don't understand!" Ana practically yelled. "Please, enlighten me then, of whatever it is, I don't understand."
"Ugh," I groaned in frustration. "I'm sorry if you were somehow offended by what happened today, but you have to understand that I'm not like you. Just because I like someone, that doesn't mean I'm going to let them walk all over me. I just. I just can't."
There was silence.
She sat down on one of the beds. "What do you mean you 'like someone'? Who do you like?"
Did I just say that?
"What?" I asked, trying to distract her, but knowing it was pointless.
"You said you liked someone," she said slowly. "Who do you like?"
"When did I say that?" I pretended to be dense.
"Do you like Paul?" she looked hopeful, as if I was just making this all up.
I wanted to make like a dog and play dead.
"You like Paul?" she asked in a perplexed statement.
"I," but then I stopped talking. I had no idea of what to say.
I huffed, throwing myself on the bed. "It's not what you think."
Silence.
"I'm just being a crazy obsessed fan. Worse than you really."
She still didn't say anything.
"Trust me, nothing will come of it." I stated. "I'm leaving tomorrow remember?"
"How long have you liked him?" She asked, staring off, into space.
I groaned, why did she have to ask the number one question that would make me look stupid. "Since the kissing booth."
"What?" she whipped her head around, to look at me. "But you didn't even kiss him."
Ah yah, I'm VERY aware of that bad judgment call.
I nodded, "I know."
"Wow," she started to giggle, "Talli loves Paul."
Although I was very happy that she was starting to show signs of life again, I was not particularly happy in her way of showing it.
"Don't start Ana," I groan, pulling a pillow over my head.
"Oh my gosh," she exclaimed. "I can't believe the great Talli is falling for a celebrity. This is sooooo epic!"
I narrowed my eyes under the pillow. Yup, she was back to her old self. Why did I even bother worrying, of course she would take this opportunity to embarrass the hell out of me.
"Can I tell people?"
I about had a conniption fit, jumping up off of the bed I said, "NO!"
Ana just giggled louder. "I love this."
"Good," I said. "So you're okay with this stupid infatuation I have?"
"Oh my gosh!" she said, jumping up from off of the bed. "You just said the word 'infatuated'." She fake sniffed, "My little girl is growing up."
Ugh, this was not happening.
Two hours later, and it was still happening. She hadn't shut up.
Not for own damn second.
"You know Talli," Ana kept right on talking. "It's okay to have a crush on someone. You have to –"
I thanked God, when my cell phone started vibing in my pocket.
"Sorry," I said, wagging my phone in front of her face. "Phone call."
I ran for the door for some peace and quiet.
"Hello?"
"Talliah?"
It was Paul.
My heart flipped.
Then it flopped.
Then it did a summersault.
"Ah, Paul?"
Was he actually talking to me? I thought for sure he'd write me up on his stalker list, that he gave to Sam for security prepossess.
"Yah," he said, clearing his throat. "Uh, I wanted to call and… apologize for my behavior earlier today."
What was I supposed to say? Thank you? I couldn't say, 'Oh it's okay, I forgive you, you sexy piece of meat.'
Somehow, I couldn't see that working out to well.
"Okay," I said, lamely.
There was silence on both ends. Mine was stunned, his was probably revulsion.
"You're still coming to dinner right?"
My eyebrows came together, was he serious?
"Well I wasn't –"
"You have to come," he ordered.
I gave the phone a crazy look, "Excuse me?"
His tone of voice changed, "I mean, will you?"
Now I gave the phone an adoring look. "I don't know. I still have a lot of packing and –"
"Please," he wheedled. "The girls would love it and I know you'd love the food. You have to. Please."
Aw, when he said it like that, how could I resist. "Fine."
Damn it, I couldn't believe I was encouraging my obsession.
"Great," he said a little to chirper. Was he planning something? Was this dinner going to be his way of getting back at me?
I was in the middle of freaking out, when I heard a commotion from over the phone.
"Let me see it," came Claire's muffled voice.
"No," said Paul. I could just imagine him holding the phone over her head.
"Yes, give it to me," I imagined her jumping up and down.
"No," Paul said again.
"Quil," Claire whined.
I heard a guttural noise.
"Damn it Quil," yelled Paul. What was going on?
"Hello?" Claire said into the phone. "Hellooooo?"
"Yah, yah, I'm right here," I said. "What's going on?"
"You mean between Paul and Quil?" She said rhetorically, "Nothing, just men being animals."
"Oh, okay?"
"Anyways," Claire went on. "I heard what happened and I just wanted to say that I officially think you're awesome. Honestly, why hadn't I ever thought of flicking them to get my point across? Anyways, I'll see you tonight. Bye."
I sat there stunned, staring at the wall.
I need to get a life that didn't revolve around my own masochistic tendencies of self embarrassment.
