Cat POV
Flag…flag…flag…flag…empty!
It's the American version of Duck Duck Goose. Spot the places without the American flag on 4th of July weekend. Today's the second, and people are already having amazing barbecues. Alex had one last night, and I'm surprised I'm ever eating again. I haven't eaten since.
Tonight we drove back to LA and are going to a gigantic party, with like 500 people! Including everyone from Hollywood Arts!
I'm still mad at Alex for making me miss Robbie's birthday a week ago. He hasn't texted me back since!
"You still mad?" He asked, cracking his charming half smile.
"Yeah." I reply grumpily.
I'm not getting charmed today.
I asked Jade what I should do with his present, and she said drop by his house and give it to him. Well, I did that, but he was taking a shower so I left it on the kitchen table and left. I had to get back to my apartment and do some laundry before going back to Santa Barbara.
"Why? He's just a friend sweetheart. He'll have other birthdays."
"How do you know? And I told you, he's done a lot for me this year, and I couldn't even go say happy fucking birthday to him thanks to you."
"It's not that important."
"Alex, you don't get it. It's not me, it's my friends. You have one shot to impress them after you made me no show his party. You mess up here and all you'll ever get is a cold shoulder."
"Cat, if it's really that bad, maybe they aren't your true friends?"
"Shut up Alex. You've never even met them before. You are going to be all nice and polite tonight and apologize about missing the party. AND you are going to be friends with Robbie. Understood?" I ordered.
"Fine, fine…I'll be the perfect boyfriend."
"Good, we're here."
I'm thrilled to see my friends. I haven't seen anyone since we wrapped up the shopping for Robbie's surprise party. Which apparently was a big success according to Jade and Beck.
They said they wanted to talk to me though, which has got me worried. It's not me they should be mad at! It's Alex!
"Where are they?" I screeched, darting around.
I cannot be late to his party. He could wake up early and they'll have to start without me.
I feverishly start going thru my stuff looking thru my keys, tossing bras, shirts, shorts, jeans, everything aside in a frantic search.
They'll never let me live it down.
"What are you looking for in such a hurry?" Alex's deep, soothing voice asked behind me.
"I can't find my car keys."
He quickly looked upset. "You really think you're going to that party now don't you?"
"Yeah! I am, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
I'm serious, he could have bells on, but I have to do this. I owe him.
"I've already done it. So no need for past tense."
"What? What are you talking about?" I yelped, turning to face him.
"Nothing, c'mon, let's get back in bed…"
He grabbed me by the hand and started pulling me to his chest.
"NO!" I push him away hard, send him stumbling back. "Where are my keys?"
"Cat, this guy you told me about isn't everything. You can hang here and be with me all day, like you love."
"But he's bailed me out of so many bad situations! You wouldn't have met me if it wasn't for him! He was the guy with me at the pizza place!"
Alex's facial expression changed. "He looked like a douche."
How can he say that?
"So? He made sure everything was taken care of when I was in a mental hospital for two weeks! I could have lost everything! But he didn't let that happen!"
"Sweetheart, anybody who cares about you would have stepped in; the fact that it was him doesn't make you owe him."
"Where are my keys?"
"Not telling you."
"AAAARRRRGH!" I yelled, marching past him and started tearing his room apart.
Until I saw the clock. Jade told me to be there by 7 or they were going without me. She voted that I stay at my apartment last night and avoid the hour and 45 minute drive back.
It's 6.
I'm not going to make it.
My heart sinks thru the floor.
My boyfriend made me miss Robbie's birthday.
I pull out my phone and text Jade.
"Alex won't let me leave, so I can't come back. Plz tell him I'm very very very sorry and give him a hug for me."
"You done ripping my room apart?" Alex asked, rubbing my shoulders. I whip around and push him.
"I missed it!You made me miss his freaking party you jerk! Why do you have to be so inconsiderate! I'm not sleeping with you for a week!"
"Cat, it's not that big a deal. He's not going to be mad."
"You don't know him. You don't know any of my friends."
"C'mon…" Alex grabbed my hand again.
"NO! I'm going to watch TV." I marched off, tears streaming down my face.
Robbie POV
"Sorry we missed your birthday Robbie, we didn't know until after the fact." Lola smiled at me, and Maddie appeared from nowhere to hug my leg.
"Happy birthday!"
"Aww thanks Maddie." I smiled at her.
Everyone laughed.
"How's it going fuzzy head?" Zoey asked, walking past me from behind and rubbing my hair.
"Fuzzy head?" I asked.
"That's my name, don't you go stealing it." Chase said, looking at me threateningly, but then cracking into a smile.
"Ok, I won't steal fuzzy head."
"Curly Sue?" Jade threw out.
"Oh yeah, that works." Logan said, causing Quinn to whack his arm.
"Don't be so mean."
"It's not mean, he has curly hair!"
"He's not a girl." She snapped back at him.
"You ever considered a new style Robbie?" Lola asked, looking me up and down.
"Huh?" I replied.
"The look you've got now is fine; don't get me wrong, I was just asking if you've considered a new haircut, new clothes…"
"Sounds expensive." I copped out. I don't want a new haircut. Or a new style. I like this. I like Robbie.
"Says the famous author." Tori rolled her eyes.
"You want me to get a makeover?" I asked.
"No, but money isn't a problem you have."
"C'mon Robbie…" Zoey smiled at me. "I know a couple of great hair stylists, and I can help you pick out some new clothes too."
"Maybe, let me think about it." I appeased her. Maybe some like jeans and shoes. Not my hair.
"Ok, you don't have to go radical or over the top or anything, whatever you are comfortable with." She smiled again at me.
"What's wrong with Robbie's look now?" Michael asked, coming back from the grill with two burgers, handing one to Chase.
"I don't know." Chase admitted.
"Then why change what's not broken?" Beck asked.
"Why are we going around in circles?" Quinn asked. Michael and Logan shrugged.
"I dunno." Chase replied, mouth full.
"Just an idea." Zoey said.
"Hi!" A familiar voice said happily.
In front of me, Zoey and Chase's eyebrows went up, and Tori and Jade's eyes both steeled over.
Who else can cause such a reaction?
"Hey Cat." Beck smiled.
I turned just in time for Cat to pipe up. "Hey Beck, this is my boyfriend, Alex."
"Hi." He smiled.
Yep, same dude from the pizza parlor.
Cat systematically introduced Alex to everyone, including the PCA bunch.
"Alex, this is Robbie."
"Nice to meet you Alex." I gave a half smile, extending my hand. He took it, but not convincingly.
"Where's Andre?" Cat asked, looking around for him.
"He got called up to the turntables." Chase replied.
"Ooh! I'm going to go say hi. I'll be right back." She smiled and dashed off, leaving Alex alone.
For a half second I felt bad for him. Cat just completely ditched him in a bad situation. I already know Tori, Jade and Beck are sympathetic to me, and Zoey got most of the story from Jade and didn't look pleased. I don't know if the others know.
"So Alex…you going to college?" Lola asked.
"Yeah, UC Santa Barbara." He replied.
"Major?" Beck questioned.
"Oceanographic Studies."
Not a gigantic field. Try barista at Skybucks.
"That sounds cool, why Oceanographic studies?" Zoey asked.
"I've always liked the ocean and fish ever since I was a kid, so I thought it'd be cool to do that."
"You worried about the increasing effect of man-made pollutants on the habitat on the mid ocean ridges are you?" Quinn piped up. Behind her, Logan and Michael closed their eyes in embarrassment.
"We haven't covered it yet so I really don't know." He confessed.
"Have you taken many classes for it yet?" Tori asked.
"Just basics."
"Are you thinking commercial or ecological studies?" Quinn piped up again.
Damn, talking about putting the clampers on him.
"Quinn…" Logan hissed at her, looking uncomfortable.
"Commercial. Don't really care about the environmental effects right now."
Straddling the line.
Just like Cat.
Quinn frowned and opened her mouth to retort, but—
"I'm back, sorry I was so long!" Cat squeaked out, barreling into Alex and sending him one step to Lola, who flinched.
"It's ok." Zoey said diplomatically.
"Hey Cat, can we talk to you for a sec?" Jade asked.
Cat suddenly looked a bit nervous, but shrugged it off. "Sure."
"We'll let you talk, you guys gonna be ok?" Zoey asked Alex and I.
Great, they boxed him in. With me.
I don't want to speak to him.
"Yeah, we'll be fine." I replied, and Alex nodded.
Then it was just us.
"So…" I said, trying to think of a way to get out of it.
"Food I guess." He said.
"Yeah."
I followed him and grabbed a burger and some smoked sausage. Everything looks delicious, but someone's kind of an appetite suppressor.
"Any idea why that girl was so hostile?" He spoke up.
Quinn.
"She's a member of Greenpeace." I lied. I think she is, but not entirely sure. She is big on the environment though.
"Damn, wish I'd known that. I would have been more gentle."
I shrugged. I would have done the same, but then again, I wouldn't come out so strong on something that volatile in the first place.
"Why are you guys here?"
"Andre, the guy in the dreads is DJ'ing and he invited us."
"This is kind of high class."
Again, he left me with no options for a reply. He's not great for conversation.
Simply a bounce buddy.
Why Cat goes for that I don't know, but it doesn't seem to fit her. At least that's what I see from my point of view.
"You think they're talking to her about what happened the other day?"
He asked me that right after I had taken a bite. Terrible timing. I took the time to chew. Which apparently was too long for him.
"When she missed your party?"
"Don't know, they could be asking her about her car."
He gave me a 'Really dude?' look and rolled his eyes.
"Did you put them up to it? Cause you could have asked her yourself and not been a coward."
"Whoa. Watch it buddy. I wasn't going to bring it up. And they're doing this of their volition. I had nothing to do with it." I said defensively.
"But you knew of it."
"So?"
"You could have asked her yourself." He said darkly.
"I don't have an issue with her. They set everything up with her, and she didn't get to come."
"You're speaking carefully."
"I don't know all the details." I lied. I know what the hell happened.
"What did you hear?"
"You didn't let her come."
"Then you have all the facts." He said bluntly.
Looks like my smokescreen failed. I'm trying not to start something.
I diplomatically took a bite.
"Why's she so attached to you anyway?"
Full of questions for sure. I'm on his nerves. Or nerve. He's so dumb he might not have one.
"Not sure." I answer diplomatically again.
I have no idea what he knows, or whether he knows how far back we go, so I'm going to have him do the legwork for me.
If he wants to do it.
"She said something about a brief stay in a mental hospital, and you covered her bills or something like that."
It was more than brief at last check. And he doesn't know anything else I think. He seems to lack the ability to hold back information to use it against me.
"Yeah, but that isn't much."
"She's my girl you know." He said bluntly.
"Dude. I KNOW. Ok? I don't want Cat." I lied thru my teeth. Again. "She's all yours."
"Let me handle her wellbeing ok? You're officially off Samaritan duty for her."
"Ok…nice talking to you." I smiled, getting to my feet. He's on the verge of coming at me. Which isn't good for me. I just lied and played diplomat the entire time.
At least I know he has a problem with me now.
I meander aimlessly thru the crowd, throwing my empty plate away at some point before—
"Look who the cat dragged in."
That voice is familiar.
I turned on my heel to see Stephanie smirking at me and leaning on the railing of the porch.
"Steph?"
"Hey you." She smiled, taking a step forward.
"Hi." I replied, as she hugged me. "How are you?"
"I'm good. Don't know why I got invited here, but here I am." She smiled.
Is today the day of leaving me with no reply? Seriously people, give me some options.
"I saw you with that guy. He didn't look happy."
"Yeah…" I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Who IS he anyway?"
"Cat's boyfriend."
She quickly looked embarrassed before saying "Really now…"
"Uh huh."
"Why's he mad?"
"He thinks I'm after Cat." I monotoned.
I should feel worse about telling her this. After all, that's why we broke up. Well, one of a couple of reasons.
"And by your tone I assume you're not."
"Nope."
"What'd he say?"
"Stay away from her in a way that intimated that he'd come after me if I tried to do anything for her."
She frowned pointedly. "You didn't do anything though."
"Eh, people seem to have a beef with me today. Don't know what it is." I shrugged. "Doesn't bug me."
"Sorry though." She looked sad.
"Thanks."
"Anyway, it's awesome talking to you. Want to do lunch sometime?" She asked, coming in for another hug.
"Sure, I'll call you."
"Sounds good. Talk to you then Robbie." She smiled, turning and walking away towards the grill.
I turned the other way to see Tori, Jade, Andre and Beck all standing, not looking pleased, Beck having his arms crossed with Cat gesturing.
That doesn't look like it's going well.
(A/N: Hope you guys like this little twist. My little gift to you guys. When I was putting this chapter together, this literally popped into my head around when Alex started talking to Robbie. Not originally planned, but I like it. Gives me future rope to yank him around with lol.)
Stephanie POV
I slowly make my way towards Robbie's friend. He obviously is smoke screening me and him too. If I had to guess, he likes Cat again.
I think it's about time I help him out.
I peek behind me to make sure Cat isn't looking this way. I don't want her to see the start of this. Me deliberately walking to him.
She'd immediately know Robbie put me up to it. Which isn't what's going on.
"Hey there." I say flirtatiously, moving my hair behind my ear.
He looked over to me and immediately saw my shorts, which are appropriate, but sexy at the same time.
"Hi, I'm Alex."
"Stephanie." I extended my hand, and he took it weakly.
Clearly he's not used to shaking hands. His makes him look weak.
Which means he's a douche. Advantage: Robbie.
"Looks good, what are you having?" I asked, sitting very close to him.
"Nothing much, ribs and brisket."
"Can I have a bite?" I pushed, reaching over him for a fork, and showing a little skin for his benefit.
His parents should have nicknamed him fiddle. Very playable. And easy to control. Here's some cleavage, now give me food.
"Sure…"
"So," I asked, popping a piece into my mouth. "Whatcha doing here?"
"I got invited."
"By who?"
"Her." He gestured to a blonde with a little girl Robbie is talking to.
"You guys together?"
"Nope…"
"Ok. Well it was nice to meet you, I think I'm going to grab some of that brisket, that was delicious. Thank you."
"Nice meeting you too."
"Ooh! Before I forget…" I dig in my purse and write my number on some paper, fold it and hand it to him.
"For you." I smile, adding a sexy wink onto it and walk towards the grill.
Those ribs were good. My diet can go to hell for one night.
Robbie POV
Man, Zoey is awesome. Chase is one lucky dude. Easily one of the top five people I've met other than the guys from Hollywood Arts. Number one is Jade, who I say I met before HA, despite our hiatus. The entire PCA crowd is cool and had said multiple times that they're there if I need them.
"Hey, you look out of it." Jade startled me. I thought they were still chatting with Cat.
"To be blunt, I'd like to leave." I state, as everyone except Cat show themselves.
"What are you thinking?"
"I was going to go chill with my parents."
"Anyone with a good excuse Cat can't question?" Tori asked, looking to Beck and Andre.
"More back trouble? I dunno." Andre shrugged.
"Don't look at me, I stink at lying." Beck said defensively.
"They actually want you for dinner this time." Jade snapped, looking happy.
"We have a winner."
"Thanks for covering for me." I said, knocking fists with Beck and Andre.
"Anytime. We'll talk about Alex later." Jade said, as Tori hugged me.
"Ok, see ya."
I sneak off the premises quickly and head to my parents. This is not how I saw my night transpiring.
I hop out of my car and open the front door, to see my parents in the middle of Chinese.
"Great, bad timing. Story of my night." I smirked, as my mom hopped up and came to hug me.