Something more Hollywood Heights

Pick 5 Chapter 17

Loren looks at Danny. "Can we talk later?"

Eddie walks to where Loren is sitting, he knows what Danny wants to say, he'll be sure Danny doesn't anything to Loren.

"Hey Dan, sorry, Loren and I have a video to work on." Eddie tells Danny.

Danny isn't pleased they were interrupted. "A video?"

"Yes, Loren wrote a hit song, if there was no music, I'm sure you heard the song, you can talk to her on your own time."

He ignores Eddie, he looks at Loren. "Can we have lunch tomorrow?"

Eddie loves getting into Danny's face. "We're going to be busy."

"I'm not talking to you Eddie, I'm asking Loren."

Danny walks towards Eddie, Loren notices, she steps between the two. "We can meet another day, I'm busy today and tomorrow."

"I'll text you later Loren." He places a quick peck her on the cheek.

Danny walks out, Eddie rolls his eyes. "What's his problem?"

"I don't know." Loren responds.

"Bet he wants to tell you he likes you." Eddie smirks.

She looks at him. "We're just friends."

"The way he looks at you? Nope, he likes you." Eddie adds.

"Why are you laughing?" Loren questions.

"I could tell he's annoyed, he was going to declare his love for you, I interrupted him, that's funny."

"I'm glad I was able to make you laugh." Loren tells him.

"Ahh come on Loren, be a good sport! "

"I'll wait until you stop laughing."

Eddie changes the subject. "Did you pick a dress?"

"I chose five favorite dresses; it's hard to pick one."

Eddie tries to peek, Loren stops him. "Oh no you don't, it's going to be a surprise, you're going to have to wait until that night."

He locks eyes with her. "Oh really!" He leans close to Loren, their noses almost touch. Loren doesn't move, within a few seconds they take a few steps back, Kelly walk in. "Video time you two."

Loren closes the computer; they walk to the back of the office. They practice the steps over and over, before recording, Liam, the dance choreographer helps with the steps.

He gives them instructions. "Hold Loren from the waist when you start with the first line (The soundtracks would disappear; Bruno couldn't catch a grenade) …. hold her hand and swing her…bring her close to your chest, repeat the first steps, continue the other steps and swing her several around several times."

They follow every instruction, after several hours, they're able to record. Jake walks in. "Ok guys, we'll continue tomorrow, great job, Loren, l love the extra steps you added towards the end of the song." She smiles. "Thanks Jake."

"We'll be here tomorrow, what time?" Loren wonders.

"Noon is fine, have a great night you two."

Loren gets her things together, Kelly walks in. "Did you pick your favorite five?"

"Yes I did." She gives her the flash drive. "We'll meet with the designers next week; you'll chose the one you're wearing that special night."

"Sounds great Kelly, I'll see you tomorrow, give the boys a kiss for me."

Eddie waits by the door. "You hungry?"

"I'm starving!"

"Great, let's get something to eat, my treat."

Loren's excited and unsure. "I'd rather go home."

"I heard you love Pastrami sandwiches; I know a great place a few blocks away."

He gives Loren puppy eyes; she can't resist. "I didn't know Eddie Duran could turn into a cute puppy."

"You think I'm cute?"

She avoids looking him in the eyes. "I said puppies are cute."

"You don't think I'm cute?"

"Eddie! You're making puppy eyes, I said that's cute."

He won't give up. "Oh I get it, puppies are cute, any puppy is cute, but I'm not."

"Oh my God, Eddie, what is it with you lately?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know, feeling insecure."

"You insecure? I find that very hard to believe." They walk towards their cars.

"You drive; you can bring me back to my car." Eddie tells her.

"Sure, hop in." She gets into the driver seat and adjusts her seatbelt. She turns to him. "Seatbelts please."

He smiles. "Yes ma'am." Eddie guides her to the place, when they arrive he takes out his cap from his pocket. "First lesson, Super Star, carry a cap and sun glasses when you're out and about."

"Is it really necessary?" Loren parks, they exit the car. She laughs. "There you go again what's so funny now?"

"I can tell it's you." Eddie adds.

"Of course you can, you know it's me." Loren teases.

Loren gets her sunglasses. "I'd know you anywhere."

"Really? How sure are you?" Eddie wonders with a smirk.

She puts her glasses on. "Are you this needy all of the time?"

"Wait, first, I wasn't cute, now I'm needy."

They walk to the sandwich shop. Mel and Ian are across the street. "Hey look, it's Loren and Eddie."

Mel stops and looks their way. "You're right, I'd know Loren anywhere."

"There's a lot of smiling going on over there."

Mel glances at Ian. "Is there something I need to know?"

"No! Why?"

Mel holds Ian's arm and drags him across the street. "Why are we headed their way?"

"It's my best friend with Eddie; I want to see what they're up too."

"Ahhh come on babe, I'd rather be with you." Ian tells her.

Mel pecks him on the lips. "You're the perfect boyfriend."

Loren and Eddie order their sandwiches, Ian and Mel walk in. "Hello you two!"

Eddie smiles, Loren rolls her eyes, she places her glasses above her head. "What are you doing here?"

Ian's the first to speak. "We weren't coming here that's for sure."

She looks at Mel. "Your idea?"

"I saw you two walk in here, thought the menu must be good."

"I bet." Loren smirks. Mel grabs Loren's arm. "I'll be right back."

"Where are we going?"

"Shhhhh." They walk into the restroom. "Spill it Lo."

"Spill what?"

"You and Duran here together, come on, what gives?"

"If you must know, we were working on a video, now we're hungry, we're here to eat, that's it."

"You two look very cozy; is Duran's flirting?"

"Nah, we were just talking."

"I know what flirting looks like, he's flirting."

"Let's get out of here, people are starting to stare." Loren washes her hands, they walk out, they find Eddie and Ian at a table.

"Thanks." Loren sits across from Eddie. Mel looks at them and turns her attention on Ian.

"Let's go Ian; I thought these two were having fun."

Eddie laughs, he looks at Loren. "I guess we're boring."

Loren takes a bite of her sandwich. Ian waves, they walk out the door. "What's with Mel?"

Loren shrugs her shoulders; she tries to talk but she's chewing. "Why?" she tries to swallow and talk.

"She dragged you to the restroom."

"Everything is an adventure with Mel, you should know that by now."

They eat and talk, Phil walks in. He stops by their table. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

Loren takes a drink. "Hey Phil, how did you know where I was?"

She hugs him, he smiles. "One guess?"

Phil acknowledges Eddie. "Hey, good to see you again."

"Same here."

"Mel told you where to find me?"
"I tried calling you, your phone went directly to voicemail."

Loren checks her phone. "I hadn't notice its dead."

"It's ok, I tried Mel, she told me where I can find you."

She notices Phil's nervous. "You ok?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Sit and join us." Phil looks at Eddie. "Privately?"

"Good thing I'm done; I'll make some calls." Eddie tells them.

Eddie moves to the adjacent table. Phil turns to Loren. "I'm sorry, you're on a date."

Loren blushes. "It's not a date."

"What? What's taking him so long?"

"Keep it low, he's not that far!"

"You're amazing, sweet and beautiful. You're the best thing to come into his life."

"It's ok, I'm ok, not meant to be."

"Wow, you expect me to believe you?"

Loren looks Phil's in the eyes. "Am I that transparent?"

"Sweetie, it's written all over your face, you never looked at me that way you look at him."

"We were young Phil, what is love during high school."

"Hey don't knock it, it can happen, what's he waiting for?"

"Chloe messed him up pretty bad, I honestly don't know, he's cut back from crazy dating, he's not getting serious any time soon."

"Sorry Loren, you deserve to be happy."

Loren sighs. "Thanks Phil, you're amazing too."

He holds Loren's hand and kisses it, Eddie notices, he furrows his eye, what is Phil doing? He wonders, he's on the phone and can't help but notice the interaction between them, he feels uncomfortable, why is Phil holding her hand and kissing it. He forgot he's on the phone.

"Listen, I'll call you with an answer tomorrow." Eddie hits the end button and casually looks to where Loren sits with Phil. He hasn't felt this way in a while, why is he upset?

Loren pulls her hair to the side. "Listen enough about me, why were you looking for me?"

"I almost forgot what I was doing here, remember I told you I've been seeing Adriana?"

Loren smiles. "Yes, did she turn back into a witch?"

Phil laughs. "No, I told you she's changed, she's amazing, you wouldn't recognize her if you saw her."

"I'm sorry, she put me through hell in high school, I don't know what her problem was."

"You need to give her another chance, I'm in love with her."

Loren sighs and caresses his face. "Ahh Phil, I'm happy for you, she better appreciate you, or I'll have a girl to girl talk with her."

Eddie notices, he's uneasy, why is she touching his face? What's with all this affection? His hands are sweaty; he pulls his hair back, something he does when he's upset or anxious.

"I want to ask Adriana to marry me."

Loren's eyes widen. "It's that serious?"

"Yes, I need your help."

Loren smiles. "Sure anything for you."

Phil takes something out of his pant pocket. Loren smiles when she sees the little velvet box.

He hands it to Loren. "Here tell me what you think?"

Eddie's eyes widen when he sees Phil place the small velvet box in her hand, he runs to her side. "Hey, what's going on here?"

Loren looks at him. Phil's wondering why Eddie's yelling.

Now what Eddie?