CHAPTER 7: THE BOYFRIEND

When Loren and I get to where everyone is, the director still isn't there, but Ian is. Ian doesn't see me coming, because he's too busy exchanging looks with Melissa. Loren and I walk towards them, but they don't even notice. I look at Loren and give her a smile, which she returns. I clear my throat to get Ian's attention and they both jump up by that sound. First, Ian looks annoyed, but when he sees it's me, a smile appears on his face and we give each other a hug. The hug causes me to let Loren's hand go, which I don't really want to. "Ian, I'm so happy you are here," I say with a huge smile.

Ian is about to say something, when a blond tall boy enters the club. I'm wondering what this guy is doing here, when Loren walks over to him and gives him a hug. So, she knows this guy. She takes him by the hand, leads him to where we are standing and introduces him. "Cam, this is Eddie Duran. Eddie… this is Cam," she says while looking at her hands.

I'm waiting for her to explain who he is, but she doesn't. "I'm her boyfriend," Cam explains for her. She has a boyfriend? I can feel my jaw dropping and the blood disappearing from my face. I try to lock eyes with Loren, but she refuses to meet my gaze. I can't believe this. I need some air to breath. Without any explanation I walk away and I go outside.

I'm trying to take deep breaths, when I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Ian. "So mate, what was that all about," Ian asks with a confused expression. Of course he doesn't understand.

I let out a sigh and put up my head to look at Ian. I can feel my eyes getting watery. "Nothing. That was nothing," I lie, knowing that Ian knows me too well to know when I'm lying. I look away and I can feel he's debating himself whether to let it go or to push me into talking.

"I can see you are lying," Ian says. He could never let something like this go. Ian always needs to say what is on his mind. "So, this girl. She is beautiful." I don't know if he is talking about Loren or Melissa.

I move my gaze from my hands to Ian and chuckle. "Wait," I begin. "Are you talking about the girl where you couldn't get your eyes of off," I tease Ian. Ian has always been the player of us two. I have always been the one who is serious and jumps in right away. Ian has always been the one jumping from one girl to another.

"Actually no, I was talking about the girl you couldn't pull your eyes of but…" Ian said and he lets out a chuckle. There is a silence between us, until we hear someone clearing her throat. I turn around and see Loren standing there. I can't come over the fact how beautiful she is. I have to stop thinking about her that way. She has a boyfriend. "Her," Ian says referring to Loren. "I'm going to let you two talk. I'll be in. Bye." With that being said, Ian walks in and Loren walks over to where Ian was standing.

We stand there in an awkward silence. I can't even look at her. I shake my head, preparing myself to say something. I bring my self to look at her. She looks away as I begin to speak. "Why didn't you tell me," I ask Loren, trying to stay calm. She doesn't answer right away.

Loren finally looks at me. "When should I have told you," she asks me with her eyebrows risen. I get angry, but not with her. I get angry with myself, because I know she is right. There was no way she could have told me. We hadn't seen each other for two months and we didn't really have any time to talk.

Me, being stupid and hardheaded, I don't want her to be right. "I don't know," I begin, speaking louder that I mean to. "When you were in my dressing room with me. When I grabbed your hand. When we made up." I'm summing up every option I can come up with.

Loren looks at me with regret in her eyes. "It didn't seem right," she says. I can see tears starting to come into her eyes.

I begin to laugh. "It didn't seem right," I ask with disbelieve. I think about what she said. She is right. It wasn't the right time for her to tell, unless she knew he was coming. "Did you know he was coming," I ask, looking at Loren. If she did know than it would only be fair of her to tell, to inform me.

Loren starts to look at her hands as if she is embarrassed. She doesn't even have to say anything right now, because I already know the answer. She knows that and that's why she doesn't start to talk. She is just looking at her hands, unable to look at me. I chuckle. "Of course you did," I state. If she doesn't want to talk, I will. I can't be angry with this girl. It's my own fault anyways. "You know what? It's okay," I say, making Loren to turn to me. She looks at me surprised. "It's my own fault," I continue.

Now I'm the one looking the other side. I can't look into those beautiful eyes full off regret for hurting me, when I explain why it's my fault. She shouldn't feel this way. She isn't guilty, I am. "If I never would have kissed you and if I never would have been a coward and never would have walked away, maybe we could have had something right now. But it happened the way it did. I guess this is another sorry," I finish explaining. After this I turn to Loren and see a sad smile.

Loren is about to say something, but I cut her off by saying: "As long as you are happy." I really hope she is happy with this Cam guy. "Are you happy," I ask while looking into those beautiful brown eyes.

Before answering my question, she looks away again. "I am happy," she replies. I don't believe her, but I keep my mouth shut. This causes Loren to continue. "Cam is a really great guy. He is awesome and he makes me laugh. I like him and you will like him too," she tries to explain. It sounds more like she is trying to convince herself though.

I don't want to argue with her and am I to judge how Loren is feeling. If she says she is happy, I have to believe her. "That's good," I say while putting my hand on her shoulder. I want her to know that. I still want to be her friend. "I'm really glad that you are happy, I am. Whenever you want to talk. I like to consider me your friend. You can talk to me." It's the truth. I want her to be happy. If she is with Cam, so be it. I want her in my life and it's okay to have her only as a friend… for now. I'm not the person to ruin a relationship. I would never do that.

I see Loren's lips form a smile, that beautiful smile of hers. "You are my friend," she says with a genuine kindness. We give each other a hug and linger in each other's arms a little longer that needed. We jump out of the hug, when we hear a door open. It's Cam. He looks kind of angry, but keeps his cool.

"The director is here. You two have to come in," he says calmly. He walks to Loren and he puts his arm around her tiny waist, pulling her close to him. Showing me that Loren is his. He pulls Loren in for a kiss and that's my cue. I walk inside and I hear the two of them following me.

I can't believe this is happening right now. Cam is being all clingy and I don't like it. Normally he isn't like this and I don't understand why he is like this right now. I had an intimate moment with Eddie a few moments ago. I forgave him for everything and I'm happy to call him my friend.

Too bad we just met again yesterday. If we made up a month ago, we could have turned out into a thing. I started dating Cam two weeks ago. I was tutoring him and suddenly he kissed me. I was surprised but I kissed him back. After that we hung out more often and Cam and I became a thing. I really like him, but there is no love involved, yet. That will come, some day.

I know Cam loves me though. He told me the day before yesterday and I didn't know what to say. I changed the subject, pretending like I didn't hear him say that.

Cam is all over me right now. He is still holding me close to him with his arm around my waist. We are following Eddie back inside. When we get there, we see Mel and Ian, Eddie's friend, flirting. I'm glad Adam didn't come with us. I know he likes Mel, but she is just oblivious to it or she doesn't like him.

The director comes walking towards us, when he sees us coming in. 'There you are," he begins. "My name is Ryan." He puts out his hand for me to shake.

I shake his hand. "I'm Loren," I say with a shy smile. He begins to explain the script of the video. I'm going to play a big part in it. Eddie will walk into the club. A lot of girls will come towards him, but he will pass them. He will keep walking until he gets to me. We will dance together until the song is done. I like the idea, but it makes me kind of nervous. Eddie and I will have to 'pretend' to be into each other and Cam, my boyfriend, will be watching our every move. That's the part that gives me the most nerves.