14.

Massie's Beach House; Massie & Alicia's bedroom

11:30 AM

July 16th, Monday

"No."

"No."

"No."

"No, thanks."

"No."

"No."

"So you don't want anything?" Claire murmured, a concerned look blooming in her eye.

"No." Massie repeated, leaning back on the daybed. "What would be really great, is for you guys to leave me alone. Dyl, I know you have a a date with Chris."

Dylan parted her lips.

"No, no! I want you guys to go back out to the beach, enjoy, and then I want Dyl to go, and I want you guys to help her get ready. And then do whatever. I kinda just need to be alone."

"But-" Claire started, taking a step towards Massie. Her blonde hair was still matted with sea spray, and her pale not-yet-tanned hands grasped at a burnt orange printed towel.

"But nothing," Massie sighed, a tinge of annoyance entering her tone. "I'm fine. I just need some time. Alone."

Jacob Marley was never one to be ignored. And especially not by Massie.

I should have never let her go on that vacation alone, without me. Now she's probably met some beach hunk, and they're probably doing the dirty right under my nose!

"Stephanie!" He called the name of his assistant harshly. "Come in here, please."

"Yes sir!" The young blonde quickly appeared in the doorway, already slipping off her high heels and discarding them on the doorjam.

"Not that..." Jacob sighed. I swear, you seduce your secretary one... no two... times... and you get this.

"Oh, okay." Stephanie straightened, and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "What would you like?"

"You know that trip I have scheduled?"

"The NC one?"

"Can you have it moved up to two days from today?"

"Why? Your girlfriend," Stephanie's face contorted, "'s birthday is next week. Not two days from now."

"Is there a problem?"

"No, sir. I'll get right on that."

Jacob sighed, he loved how easy it was to rattle his staff, and moved on to contemplating what to do next.

His office didn't inspire him much, even though to most it would. The all-glass cube was on the top floor of the Inner City Arts building, and provided amazing views of his great city, Los Angeles. The threaded-cashmere shag rug would be a luxury to most, but to Jacob, it was a mere given of life. As with the flatscreen TV, the 48in custom-order iMac and the white suede couch, it wasn't much different than his house. Maybe even a step down.

The great thing about his office, was that the Paparazzi had no idea where it was, while his house on the hill was watched constantly by at least one van. So, therefore, it was the place that Jacob invited all of his girlfriends.

Jacob loved Massie, he really did, and she was gorgeous and had a classic body sure to rival all of his stand-ins; but the problem was, she wasn't always there. She was busy, he was busy, and so that's where all of this came in. He tried not to think if she might be doing the same thing, constantly rotating guys; because if she was, he would flip out. She was his. Only his.

A double-standard? Yeah, maybe. But, Jacob was one of the best actor/directors in LA, so... of course he was judged differently than everyone else. Including his girlfriend.

"I'm nawt going." Dylan stopped in her tracks. "I just can't go. I need to take care of Massie."

"We can deal with it. I said, go!" A pair of hands found her shoulder blades and pushed her out the door.

"But!" Dylan turning around, her dark scarlet curls floating in the wind. The mahogany door slammed, seconds before her fingers reached the handle. She stood frozen for half a second, then huffed and turned on her heel.

She quickly hopped down the few wood steps, and walked on the balls of her feet across the sandy gravel, in effort to keep her black espadrilles clean and new-looking. They were brand new, a gift from Alicia, and she wanted them to stay perfect. They added three inches to her tall-but-not-extremely-tall frame, letting her match up a little better to Chris's 6'6".

Waiting for her in front of the boy's house was Chris, in a black Escalade, with the windows rolled down and the music blaring. Dylan smiled, picked up the pace and hurried towards the rocking car.

I have finally seen the light.
And I... have finally realized.
What you mean...
And now, I need to know if it's real love.
Or is it just Madness,
Keeping us afloat, mmm.

Dylan beamed as she slid into the car, glad that her boyfriend shared her taste of music.

"Man I love this song." Chris smiled shyly at her, pulling the car into gear.

"Me too." Dylan's cheeks stretched so far, she thought they might snap. "It really just... gets my energy..." she trailed off, suddenly aware of the awkward silence in the car.

"I love this music revelation we're going through." Chris ran a hand through his wavy hair, oblivious to the tension rolling off Dylan in sheets.

"Wah... what do you mean?" Dylan fought a war against her tongue to speak.

"This old type of like... good music... like no more Nikki Minaj, you know?"

Dylan nodded like she did. Note to self: delete all Nikki Minaj songs from iTunes.

"I love this song, too." Chris leaned forward, brushing his arm against hers for half a second. Tingles rushed up her arm.

(Ho!) I've been trying to do it right

(Hey!) I've been living a lonely life

(Ho!) I've been sleeping here instead

(Hey!) I've been sleeping in my bed,

(Ho!) I've been sleeping in my bed...

With a deep breath, Dylan channeled Massie. "Ohmygosh! This is totally my favorite song!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's on... like, every playlist I have." Dylan smiled serenely, leaning forward. "The..." she leaned forward to check the artist, "... lumberjacks are totally my favorite band."

"The lumineers?" Chris's eyes crinkled, lighting up. "Hey, Dyl, it's fine if you like songs like Super Butt or whatever."

"Super bass?" Dylan cried instinctively, and then recoiled in her seat. Why? When she could have said anything... but that. Everyone knew men hated to be corrected, especially by their dates.

Chris didn't say a word, only clicking to the next song on his propped-up iPhone. When she recognized the song, the red on Dylan's cheeks bloomed into full force.

This one is for the boys with the boomin' system

Top down, AC with the coolin' system

When he come up in the club, he be blazin' up

Got stacks on deck like he savin' up

"You have this song?" She mumbled into her chest, suddenly aware of how stupid she looked. Here Chris was, so deep, with his songs and... she liked Nikki Minaj. Maybe she should just go home. Go cry with Massie. Give up.

"Dyl, come on. I like all music." Chris smile bloomed further, until Dylan was sure it would shatter his cerulean eyes. "Now, come on, I know you know this song. Rap with me."

Dylan giggled nervously, and then met his eyes. On a count of three, they both started rapping.

"Yes I did, yes I did

Somebody please tell him who the eff I is? I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up!

Back coupes up, and chuck the deuce up!

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away, Beating like a drum and it's coming your way eh eh...

Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boomBoom, badoom, boom bass?
He got that super bass... Boom, badoom, boomBoom, badoom, boom bass, yeah that super bass."

Dylan finally stopped, doubled over from laughter. Chris knew the words better than she did.

Oblivious, Chris continued, "This one is for the boys in the polos, entrepreneur niggas..." He trailed off, noticing Dylan wasn't singing along. Dylan laughed harder, until she was certain the mascara-tear tracks were staining her white blouse. Finally, she heard Chris's rusty jackhammar chuckle join in.

Best. Date. Ever. Even if it wasn't over yet.

How was that? Did you like the end?

Music credits: Madness - Muse

Ho Hey - (the) Lumineers

Super Bass - Nikki Minaj

I thought about adding Derrick's date with Tawny in too, but I thought this had enough plot development and a little bit of drama (JACOB!). Sorry for not updating in, like 3 weeks.

Any questions? Ask!

-sp