I can't help but let a laugh, blurt out of my mouth.
"You are aren't you?" I can't keep the smile off my face.
"I am really happy for you Linds," his reply sounds forced.
"Then why have you been acting so cold?"
He's quiet, he doesn't look at me. His face is completely serious. I can feel my smile fade. Now I almost feel bad.
"Cee answer me please," I beg.
He inhales and there is a slight pause.
"At first I was a little jealous."
A sense of satisfaction runs through me. When I hear his words I almost want to smile again.
"But it's only because you are getting so popular. I mean I have worked my ass off with my music and you just happen to get lucky one day."
"So you're jealous of me because of fate? Something that is completely out of my control. Do you know how ridiculous you sound?" I stand up and look down at him. Fuck feeling sorry for Cee. "Well now you know how it feels to envy other people. For once now you know how I feel."
I've said too much. My clenched fist loosens. The wind blows perfectly causing the leaves to rustle, we both sit in silence.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he looks up at me but, before we can make eye contact I turn towards the door.
"Forget about it." I say walking into the door.
As I walk into the kitchen Vic and Jaime turn and look at me.
"Hey Linds, everything okay? We were wondering where you were," Jaime says.
I try to force a smile and make an excuse for where I was but instead I barely look up at them.
"I'm going to bed," Is all I manage to say
"But it's only 8:30?" Vic says.
"Yeah I'm aware." I say as I continue to walk outside.
Nettie and Paris are sitting along the pool. Smurph is on the phone standing on the lawn.
"Linds, have you seen Cee?" Nettie asks.
"Yeah he's in the front." I only half stop to talk to them.
"Where you going Lindsay," Paris asks.
"To bed."
"But it's only 8:30," she says confused.
"Yeah I know, goodnight." I say walking into the guest house.
I kick off my shoes and lay in my bed. I stare at the empty wall. Why do people have to victimize themselves? Cee is the worst. If he was in my place I wouldn't be more happy for him. He's selfish. Tears begin to fill my eyes and I feel them fall to the side of my face. I just want to sleep.
The rest of the time my friends are in town, Cee and I don't say a single word to each other. Nettie and Paris caught on quickly. I told them what had happened. Everything except for my outburst. They told me they would talk to Cee but I told them not to worry about it. Now we are on our way to the airport and I am sad to see my friends leave.
We all walk to security, I tear up as we say goodbye. I hug everyone down the line. Cee is last.
"Thank you so much again for flying us out here," Paris says to Vic.
"Yeah, you guys are the best," Nettie chimes in.
I look at Cee and half-smile.
"So can I at least get a hug goodbye? I don't want you to leave on bad terms," I hold my arms out. He hugs me back surprisingly. As he lets me go I very faintly hear him say, "sorry."
He walks over to the band and does the universal hand shake, Smurph does the same. I watch them walk away and I can't help but cry. I love my friends, they're my family. Mike ruffles my hair and smiles at me.
"Do you want to get some ice cream?"
"Yeah," Tony says excitedly.
"Tony I wasn't asking you."
"Linds, say 'yes'."
I laugh as I wipe my tears, "Yeah I could go for some ice cream."
Vic comes behind me and puts his arm around my neck.
Mikes POV
Lindsay's friends brought me back to reality. It reminded me of the friends I had in high school. I wish I could have the chance to go back and be normal. Then again making music and meeting fans is what I live for. I just hate to see Linds stray away from her friends. College should be the best years of someone's life. I feel as if we may have taken that from her.
I walk behind everyone as we enter Dairy Queen. Jaime and Tony talk about which ice cream they're getting. Vic and Linds talk about the tour coming up next week. Wait a minute, and idea has sparked my mind.