Chapter Eight

"I'm not trying to make you go back,"
"Yes you are!"
"I'm not. I'm just trying to advise you to do the right thing."
"Well what if the right thing is staying here?"
"But what if it's the wrong thing? Drake, you need to think about things like this. You can't just stay here forever." *Hayley takes a step closer to Drake* "You don't belong here."
"That's a lie! I've never felt more at home being here."
"Denial."
*Drake shakes his head* "No, Hayley. I know I belong here."
"You're not thinking straight!"
"Hayley, just leave."
"No, not until you come back home."
"Hayley, go... NOW!"
*Hayley's face goes a storm and she walks away from Drake*

"That's a rap!" Chelsea, the director smiled. "That was awesome! Great job you two! Robyn, you've only been here for what, 2 weeks tops, and you're really doing an amazing job!"
"Thanks." I smiled.
"I don't think you have any more scenes to shoot, so you can go." Chelsea said.
I smiled, and went back to my dressing room to change.
I looked at the clock; 1.45pm... I got out my phone, and scrolled through the contacts. I found him and hit the call button...
"Hey." James said cheerfully.
"Hey." I smiled. "I was wondering, are you free right now?"
"Yeah," James said.
"How's about we hang out?"
"Totally!" James said excitedly.
"Awesome," I smiled. "I'll meet you by the pool, in about a half hour?"
"Totally!"
I smiled and hung up the phone.

James was sitting on one of the sun loungers, waiting for me. His face lit up, as soon as he saw me.
"Hey." He beamed.
"Hey." I grinned.
"So, do what do wanna do?" He asked.
"I was thinking, the beach?"
"No can do." James said. He was now by my side, his arm around my shoulders.
"Why not?"
"Last time I went to the beach, I, uh... kind of fell in love with a mermaid!"
I blinked at him. "James, seriously?"
"A mermaid." He nodded.
Oh God... he was serious. He's so cute when he acts dumb.
"OK then..." I said thoughtfully. "Well then why don't we just hang out, go to the park or something?"
"Yeah, OK." James smiled.

The park was quiet, as not many people were there, which was nice. James took my hand, and pulled me into the grass, so we were sat side by side. I put my knees up and put my arms around them, locking my fingers together. James, as always, had his around me. The amount of times his arm is around me, it might as well be glued there!
He looked at me, and I looked at him. We smiled simultaneously. I let my eyes drift into his... it was like he was out to hypnotise me. Something in the back of my mind was telling me to keep away from him; but I couldn't. And I didn't know why. It's not like I even had strong feelings for the guy... I least I think I didn't...

I got totally lost in my thoughts and James' eyes, until;
"Hey, what are you two up to?" Carlos bounced over, grinning.
"Not much." I smiled, snapping my head to look at him.
"Just sitting." James said.
"OK..." Carlos said. He saw James' arm around me, and frowned a little bit. Luckily, I was saved by my cell phone.
"Who is it?" James' asked, curious.
"Private number." I shrugged. "Hello?" I said answering it.
"Hey, it's Jo, Kendall gave me your number."
"Oh, hey." I smiled. "What's up?"
"I was wondering, do you want to hang out in my apartment tonight, with Camille and Stephanie?"
"Yeah, that'd be awesome."
"Great, room 4P at 7.30."
"I'll be there."
"Who was it?" Carlos asked. He was now sitting on the grass with James and I.
"Jo, we're hanging out with Camille and Stephanie tonight."
"Ooh, Stephanie." James raised his eyebrows at Carlos.
"Shut it!" Carlos' face screwed up sourly.
I smiled. "You like Stephanie?"
"No!"
"Yes, he does!"
"I do not!"
"You so do."
Carlos pounced on to James, trying to pin him down, James kicking Carlos away. I rolled my eyes.
"OK, well, I'll see you guys later." I stood up to leave.
"No wait!" They chorused. I knew that'd get them to stop.
James stood up and hugged me, catching me off guard and making me step back a little to avoid losing my balance. After James had hugged me, it was Carlos' turn. He took a deep breath.
"You changed your shampoo?" He said.
"It's Mango and Strawberry now." I smiled.
"It smells nice." Carlos said softly.
I giggled a little bit before breaking our hug.
"I'll see you guys later." I smiled, waved and walked away.

I knocked on Jo's door at about 7.45. I was late, but I had a reputation for that.
"Hey," She smiled as she opened the door. "Come on in."
I entered her apartment.
"My parents are out tonight, so I thought it'd be nice for us all to hang out." Jo stood next to me.
"Hey, Robyn." Camille smiled.
"Robyn, hey!" Stephanie beamed.
"Hey!"
I went and sat with Camille and Stephanie, as Jo went into the kitchen to get some snacks. She came back and sat with us.
"So..." Camille said, trying to break the awkward silence. "What should we do...?"
Stephanie, Jo and I shrugged...

The awkward silence didn't last for long!
"Just wondering... are you still dating Logan?" I asked, Camille.
"I don't know," She said. "I mean there was that whole thing about me kissing James, and then he liked Peggy, and now... I don't know."
"Wait, who's Peggy?" I asked.
"She used to live here at The Palm Woods, but she had to go back to Illinois because her grandma had to go to the hospital." Stephanie explained.
"Oh," I said. "But do you still have feelings for Logan?"
"I'm not sure... I think so..." Camille shrugged. "Anyway, what about Stephanie and Carlos?"
Stephanie blushed. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh come on!" I said. "It's obvious you like Carlos!"
Stephanie frowned a little bit. "Is it really that obvious?"
Camille, Jo and I nodded. Stephanie sighed and put her head in her hands.
"So, how are things with you and James?" Camille raised her eyebrows at me.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Oh come on, it's obvious you're so into each other!" Stephanie said, lifting up her head.
"We are so not into each other!" I said. "Well, he might be into me, but I certainly don't like him anymore than a friend."
"Right..." Jo said sounding unconvinced.
"I do not like James anymore than a friend!" I said. "If I did, then it would cost him his life! Kendall would kill him!"
"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't kill him!" Jo said.
"Well, he'd seriously hurt him." I nodded. "And I don't really want his face to get messed up?"
"And why's that?" Camille smirked, raising her eyebrows.
"Because, his face is... nice." I shrugged.
"Ha! You confessed!" Stephanie pointed at me.
"Just because I think he has a nice face, doesn't mean I like him!"
Stephanie, Jo and Camille all raised their eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes. I grabbed the pillow that was next to me, and threw it at Camille. She gasped, and threw one back at me. Soon enough, all four of us were having a pillow fight. Anyone would have thought we were 6, not 16.

We calmed down after about 10 minutes, and collapsed in a heap on the floor, all laughing.
My friends here were way better than my friends back home, in Minnesota. Although, LA was starting to feel a lot like my home...