Chapter 4: Jason

I am surprised when she does, her lips warm, but before pulling back she whispers in my ear, "What the hell jackass! You are done for," She smiled sweetly when she sat down and I gulped.

"I am so freaking tired, does this interview really have to be tonight?" I ask Reyna as she taps away on her phone, probably making my schedule for next month.

"Yes Jason, this is probably the best time in your schedule. If we booked it at any other time, you'd be way too schedule and eventually burn down. Plus it's too late to reschedule so don't be such a big baby," Reyna says without once looking up from her phone. Her eyebrows are frozen in a way that you can tell she's thinking. It's one of the things I've picked up about her spending so much time with her. It also helps that she's my best friend for 4 years now. We met in 11th grade through Student Council. It was election week and we both had an equal amount of votes. So it was decreed fair that we would be co-presidents. Kind of like praetors, at least that's what Reyna said. Since then we've been through thick and thin, even when I got offered this gig and refused every manager till Reyna offered and then I accepted. She gave up going to NYU for me so I owed her, big time.

"I am not being a baby," I said and pouted a little. She looked up from her phone, her eyebrow raised and then I sighed. "I don't like you," I said with my arms crossed.

"Well you aren't a catch either fella," Reyna replied looking back at her phone screen. It was silent for a moment, I just leaned against the wall while she sat on my bed. Suddenly, her cell phone went off and I looked over at her. She checked the Caller ID and suddenly her eyes lighted up. She had a gleeful expression but she did not smile. Instead, she her eyes flickered to me. "I gotta take this," she said and ran out of the room. Me being her best friend, propped myself against the door to try and listen. Reyna was standing outside the door so whatever she said, I could clearly hear. "Hello? Shove off smartass and tell me why you really called," Reyna said smiling just the faintest bit. I wonder who she's talking to. "Scarlet? Really? I went to school with Jason and I never saw her. Are you sure they went to school together? Jason did what now? He couldn't have, he's too nice! Maybe it just felt that way to her. Are you sure? I'll ask him about it," On the other line I could her a loud, "NO!" Reyna looked surprised and she replied," Why not?" It was quiet for a minute and I couldn't hear him clearly but it was definitely a boy. What were they talking about, Scarlet going to school? What did that have to do with me? After a minute, Reyna spoke again, "Fine, I won't ask or tell him. Directly that is. You owe me for this Camp Bomber," Again there was a pause and then Reyna said, "I'll stop calling you that when you stop being an idiot. That means you better get used to it. Bye Fire Boy," Reyna said before tapping her phone off. I quickly scrambled to jump on my bed and grab a magazine before she got back in. About a millisecond after I got on the bed, she opened the door.

Without looking up, I asked, "Hey Rey, who was it?" If she lied, that meant it was either a surprise or a secret. Either way I'd find out, I don't like secrets or surprises.

"No one important," she said after looking at me funny. I stared back at her before looking back at my magazine.

"If it wasn't important, why'd you stay out so long?" I asked narrowing my eyes.

"Why is your magazine upside down?" she countered.

I, flushed, flipped it right side up and looked back at her, "Touché. But just so you know, I like my magazines upside down. It's more of a challenge," I say. Now I sit up and look directly at her.

"Yeah, whatever. Let's get in the car, we have to leave," Reyna got up and grabbed her bag. She opened the door and but I stayed on the bed. She looked back at me and stared. Then she said, "Well, you coming?"

I crossed my arms and stayed on the bed, "I am not leaving till you tell me who that was." It was the truth, I wasn't leaving. But it was mostly because I was now comfy on the bed and really didn't want to get up.

"Jason," she rubbed her forehead, "you are so childish,"

I nodded, "So I've heard."

She sighs, "He-"

I stand up, "Oh! It's a he?" I say wiggling my eyebrows.

She looks away but keeps talking, "He is an associate. His name is Leo Valdez. He also happens to be Scarlet Hues manager so before you ask, no I do not have a thing for him so shut up, get out and into the car," Reyna says.

I get up off the bed and raise my hands in surrender. I say, "Okay, okay..." but I give her a knowing smile and she slaps my arm. I yelp out in pain and she just pushes me out the door. "You are so mean." I complain.

"Shut it."

"Alright, you're going to be live in 10 minutes. Just so you know, I'm Leo Valdez, Scarlet's manager," A boy with curly black hair tells me. So this is Leo! He is about my age but looks younger. He smiles and I notice he has two dimples on either sides of his face. His ears are pointed up like elf ears and for some strange reason I want to push them down. I fully see his outfit and he's wearing an orange plaid button down with suspender pants and brown loafers. On me it would probably look ridiculous but it some how weirdly suited him.

"Hi, Jason Grace," I greet and shake his hand confidently. His hands are warm against mine but aren't sweaty. I am glad for that, I hate insanitation.

"Hi Jason. So Scarlet will be here in about two. I want you two to get to know each other a little since you'll be interviewed together. You don't have to necessarily need to know each others' life story but try to get some basic facts so in case your asked you can answer them," Leo tells me.

I get confused, "Why would they ask me about Scarlet?"

"Just in case they do, it's happened before. Plus R]eyna told me to tell you these directions so you'd have to ask her, not me," Leo replies. He snaps his suspenders and walks away and he reminds me a Latino Santa's elf. I have no idea how Reyna ever got interested in him. Whoops, I mean "associated."

As I'm waiting for the diva, I wipe of invisible dust from my black suit. Apparently when you're "young and hot," suits are really in. So here I am, wearing a black suit with a simple black tie and black dress shoes. Why? I don't know. Do I want to know? Not really. Do I want to wear it? Eh.

I look up to see her royal highness come towards me, probably to sit in the seat next to me. She is wearing a black dress to match mine but it had grey assents. The dress is sleeveless and stops right above her knees going down water fall style. Her long legs are tan and she's wearing black wedges. Her hair is in curls, down up half in half a bun and half free flowing on one side. Her eyes are painted in a smoky eye with her signature heavy eyeliner. Her lips are red but it doesn't look like too much was used. Her hazel eyes stand out boldly from the eye make up. So in all, she's beautiful. When she looks at me, she gulps slightly and looks a little scared. But once she comes in a five foot radius, she puts her chin up and is some how the most confident person here. I look up at her and stand up. I smile at her, the smile I've learned to perfect so it melts every girl's heart. You know, except Reyna's. "Hello, I am Jason Grace," I say reaching my hand out to shake hands.

She ignores my hand and sits down next to me. Not looking at me, but at the camera, she says, "I know who you are. And I believe you understand who I am. You do not need to tell me anything about yourself, your manager gave me note cards I memorized yesterday. Here are some basic facts, just remember them so we can get this over with and we never have to meet again, " she says coldly without looking at me. In her hands is a flashcard with things written in beautiful calligraphy. As she hands me the card, I notice her nails are painted black with a grey flower design. Diva much?

"O-kay? Why the cold shoulder?" I say grabbing the cards from her hand. She still doesn't look at me but this apparently catches her attention.

"I am not giving you the cold shoulder, that's just how I am. I hope I didn't hurt your wittle feeling," she said saying "wittle" instead of "little.

I scrunched up my eyebrows and glanced at her. "Why are you being such a bitch?" I blurt out. Dang it, Reyna said I was supposed to give her a chance! But to be honest, she was honestly being a, you know, bitch.

She finally looked at me, hurt evident in her eyes but not on her face. "Listen to me Grace. I am going to be frank with you. I don't like you and I am sure you don't like me. So can we not play this game where you try to befriend me? Please? Thank you," she turns back to the camera and has no expression.

"One minute!" Some random person yells and the host sits on the seat.

"Hi guys, I'm [insert name here]. I'm your host and I hope your comfy," he says. Someone puts on a wireless mic on him.

"Twenty seconds!" Someone else yells and I take a deep breath. I feel Scarlet's eyes on me but when I turn to look at her she isn't looking at me anymore. "10, 9, 8, 7," someone says, "6, 5, 4, 3, 2!"

"Hello, my name is Dylan Kaplan! Welcome to E! News! Today we are here with the young and handsome new actor Jason Grace!" The "crowd" applauds and I smile and wave looking into the camera. "We also have the most gorgeous and talented, Scarlet Hues! She just got off her tour last night!" Scarlet looks into the camera and smiles, her white teeth showing off. She crosses her legs and places her hands neatly on her knees.

"It's great to be here with you Dylan. I'm just glad to be here right now with you. I was so elated to know I was being interviewed with Jason," Scarlet said with a sweet smile. I mentally barfed, how fake could a person get? Even though I wanted to yak, I put on a dazzling smile.

"The feelings are mutual. To be here with such an amazing musician, only one can dream," That is what you call acting.

"That's so sweet, I liked you ever since I laid eyes on you," she replied. It was weird, it was like she was telling the truth. Her eyes showed no evidence of lying, which I am a master at detecting. It was like she meant it. I was about to fall for it when she pinched my hand with her fingernails. She used her eyes to direct me towards the host. It was like she was saying, Look at the host dumbass! Don't mess everything up you idiot! Guess I was staring, but why'd she have to pinch me? Bitch...

"Uh, thanks," my the pain in my hand was subsiding but I still kept my other hand over it, slowly rubbing it.

"So, how about you tell us about yourselves?" Dylan asked us.

I was about to speak when Scarlet spoke up, "Well Dylan, depends. What do you want to know?" She smiled again and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful her smile was. Wait, what the heck! Snap out of it Jason! Remember, she's a stuck up fake bitch. I repeat that over in my head until I hear Dan's voice.

"Well let's talk about Jason, did you have any high school honey's before all this?" The "crowd" makes teasing noises as if I was in trouble.

I can feel myself turn a little red but I speak nonetheless. "Uh, not really," I start. I feel Scarlet's eyes on me again. I sit back so I can see both of them clearly and Scarlet's eyes are clearly trained on me. It was like she was anticipating an answer. Why? I don't know. "I had a date here and there but I never had a real girlfriend before," I admit.

Scarlet's eyes are still on me as Dylan speaks, "Come on, that's not possible! A handsome fellow like you, you must have had girls falling all over you," we both laugh while Scarlet stays mum. I look at her and she's scowling which isn't good for the audience but in a weird way, it was cute. "Oh alright. You must have at least had one girl. A girl you had been interested in, an old crush?" Dylan asks. Now I really feel Scarlet's eyes on me, her gaze burning into my soul. It was a weird sensation.

I pretend thought about it for a minute before answering, "No, not really. None of the girls I've met have really been my type, I never really found a girl that makes me feel, I dunno, special?" I answer with that and Dylan laughs, his laugh like thundering storm clouds. I laugh and take a look over at Scarlet and she's not looking at me anymore. She laughing lightly but she's looking over at Leo, gripping the chair so tightly that her knuckles are white. Her eyes are pleading, slowly getting misty. Leo looks at her guiltily, mouthing, "I'm sorry." I want to ask her what's wrong but then I remember we're on live television.

After Dylan stops laughing, he looks over at Scarlet. She looks him in the eye and smiles, her eyes softening at once. Not even close the cold shoulder she gave me before. It was like she was a different person. If she was an actor, she'd probably get all the roles. "Well Scarlet, tell me about your life before stardom. When you were first introduced, it was like you came out of nowhere! No one had even heard of you and we hear your music and bam! you're a star. You're only twenty right?" Scarlet nods and I can't help but notice we're the same age. Not knowing why, I smile. What is going on with me today. "Tell us about high school, old friends, old boyfriends?" Dylan says smiling, teeth whiter than Piper's.

Piper's expression darkens a little but I think I'm the only one who can notice, you know, since I'm so close. "There's nothing to tell. I went to school, graduated and was discovered. I wasn't a really popular person," Gee, I wonder why?, I think in my head. Piper gulps, taking a shaky breath. Now I am a little worried. Is, is she going to cry?

"Impossible! How could someone so pretty and talented not have millions of friends?" Dylan asked leaning forward.

"Well, I was a pretty quite person. It was weird, if someone told me I was going to be here right now, making music with millions of fans, I would've laughed at that person. I wasn't really the most outgoing or, I guess, participant person. I mean I got great grades and I played a bunch of sports but people play sports to make friends. I just played to play," Scarlet explained. I was surprised, I expected Scarlet to be little Miss Popular. You know, a mean girl who picked on the geeks. A make up clown who wore pink on Wednesdays? I was actually interested in her story, I was actually listening and from what I heard, Scarlet was a normal girl.

"Well what about boyfriends? Crushes?" Dylan asked. Why were we talking about this stuff? I thought we were here to talk about my movie and her tour.

"Well, I did have one boyfriend before I became an official musician. We broke up for different reasons but it didn't really hurt to break up with him. It was actually like a weight was lifted off my chest," Scarlet admitted. Dylan nodded sympathetically then used his hands to gesture, Go on. "And, um," she glanced at me for a second before looking back at Dylan, "I did have this crush on this boy, back in middle school. Well actually, I had a crush on him since kindergarten but I finally got the courage to speak to him in middle school. So I talked to him and he asked me out. Let's just say, I made a fool of myself by thinking he actually liked me," Scarlet said, bitterly laughing.

"Well right now he's probably watching you right now and regretting what he did," I blurted out. I don't know what came over me but I just had to say something. Whoever this jerk was, he definitely deserved a kick in the balls. As if he had any. But in a way, her talking gave me a weird feeling. It was like I knew her from before. Her voice, the normal one not the rigid one, brought back a distant and old memory of a girl I went to school with. It was a very faint memory but all I remember is laughing and crying.

Scarlet looked me straight in the eyes and paused. Her eyes that were cold and frigid at first were like liquid chocolate now. I may be going crazy but her eyes, they changed slightly. Maybe a lighter shade, is that even possible? Then she sighed, "I wish you were right Jason, I wish you were," I was glad she called me Jason instead of Grace. It made me feel like I made process.

Dylan sniffled a fake cry and clapped slowly. "You know, it's amazing to hear a star talk about her life, before stardom. No one would have expected you to have gone through what you just told us. I am just so glad you are past that part of your life and moving on,"

"Yeah, it's been a while. I've buried the ratchet," Scarlet said now grinning.

"Yup, and I bet it's all because of Jason," Dylan said smirking. What? What did I do? Both Scarlet and I looked at each other confused then at Dylan.

"Me? Why me? What did I do?" I asked.

Dylan smiled like he knew something we didn't, "Come on guys, there's no need to pretend anymore!" I looked at him more confused and I could tell Scarlet was doing the same. After we didn't answer, he smiled wider, "Everyone knows it, you know. Come on. We know you guys are dating!" I nervously laughed and loosened my collar. This must be Reyna's doings. She must have known dating one of the most popular singers would up my rep. Damn it Reyna!

"Wha-What are you-" Scarlet started.

I interrupted her, "Alright, you got us. How'd you know?" I faked smiling with all teeth.

I looked over at Scarlet and her face was mortified. I smile glared at her to start acting and she smiled like a loon. Well it's obvious," Dylan says, "You guys have such chemistry!"

I laughed my best Josh Hutcherson laugh and put my hands on Scarlet's. Her smile says happy but her narrowing of the eyes says I am so going to kill you. "Thanks Dylan, we were just trying to keep it on the DL," I say patting her hand with my other hand. The more I pat, the harder she squeezes my fingers. I am almost certain there's going to be a bruise there by tomorrow.

"Yes, with his movie and my tour, it was just better to keep it a secret," Scarlet says. She moves closer to me and leans in to kiss my cheek. I am surprised when she does, her lips warm, but before pulling back she whispers in my ear, "What the hell jackass! You are done for," She smiled sweetly when she sat down and I gulped. She was right, I'm dead meat.

"That is just adorable," Dylan said rubbing his hands. He was about to say something when he halted as he was getting a message through his wireless mic. "Uh huh. Well sorry folks, looks like our time is up," I gulp again, so is mine. I was so young..."Let's thank Scarlet and Jason for coming here today," The "audience" clapped, and Dylan spoke again, "Ladies and gentleman, Scarlet Hues and Jason Grace!" The prerecorded clapping and whistling went off and some hip hop came on as we stood up. "Right after the break, we'll be watching Rachel teaching us how to make pumpkin pies from left over jack-o-lanterns!" The hip hop kept going and we both shook hands with Dylan. We kept "talking" until someone yelled, "And we're off,"

Right at that moment, Scarlet's face was red and full of fiery. For the third time today, I gulped. This was not going to end well...

(Longest freaking chapter in my history of chapters. My chapters are usually 1000, 900 or 800. I hope this makes up for the short Jason chapter before. Up next is Scarlet's, Piper's, perception of this news she is now learning. It also the story of how Jason died. Just kidding! He is only mildly injured. ^_^)