Just Like Me (21 page)

“That shirt’s pretty big. Should be fine.” He said, nodding toward the items. I wondered about the boxers. I had never worn something like that before. He took a sip of his beverage.

“Thanks.” I said finally, I went back into the bedroom and laid them out on the bed. Taylor watched me.

“There’s a towel on the rack with some wash cloths. You drink coffee in the morning, right?” I nodded. “Alright, I’ll brew you a cup. I’ll wake you up if you want, we need to be at the set early. What, wake you up an hour before we leave?”

“Yea, that’s fine. I guess I’ll go ahead and shower tonight.”

              He nodded, smiling for the first time in a while.

“Well, I guess I’ll let you rest. My room’s the one right across from yours, if you need anything.”

“Ok.”

“So…goodnight?”

“Goodnight.”

              He stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him. I ran a hand through my hair, looking toward the bathroom. I sighed with a mixture of relief and curiosity as I stepped into the bathroom. I shut the bathroom door behind me.

              I spent the shower deep in thought about Taylor. I wasn’t sure why he was acting so quiet. Maybe he was tired from the party. Maybe he was thinking about his movie set. Maybe that’s what happens when he drinks.

              I watched the water for a long time, watching soap suds go down the drain. Imagine being soap. You’re used for a matter of minutes and then washed down the drain. What seemingly seems like a small job…over and done with and never thought of again. Was that how it was going to be like when I got older? That blip on Taylor Jett’s screen, a big deal while it’s happening. But when it’s over? Maybe they’ll just wash me down the drain, never think about me again.

              I stepped out of the shower, drying my hair off then tying a towel around me. I ran the brush quickly through my hair before stepping out into the bedroom.

              I jumped when I opened the door and saw Taylor. He was leaning back on the bed, propped up on his arms. He glanced up when he saw me. I looked down at my sorry attire, a towel, and back to the clothes that I had laid out on the bed. I wanted to walk over and grab the stuff, but held back.

“Sorry, I scared you.” Taylor laughed, a ghost of a smile on his face.

“No, no it’s ok. I’m glad I had a towel though.” I added, uncomfortable. “Let me get dressed real quick.” Taylor nodded, tossing the clothes on the bed at me. I caught them, feeling my towel slip just slightly. I backed into the bathroom, thanking God it hadn’t fallen off. “Are you okay?” I asked, before shutting the bathroom door.

“Yea, I’m fine. Go ahead and get dressed.” I nodded and quickly closed the door. I got dressed and checked my reflection. I wasn’t sure what to do about the Robin Hood costume, so I’d folded it and laid it on the counter. Well, tried to fold it I guess would be the better term. I stepped back out and Taylor was right where I had left him.

              I went over and sat down beside him.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. He sighed, suddenly fascinated with the pattern in the bedspread. I waited.

“Tonight, during the party…” He started, and then stopped, searching his head for the right words. “I’m sorry I danced with Veronica. I shouldn’t have left you.”

“It’s fine. I mean, it seemed like she really wanted to dance with you.” I said, wondering if that’s really what had been bothering him. “People dance with other people all the time. It’s no big deal. I danced with three different guys at my junior prom, even though only one of them was my date.” He nodded, and then glanced up at me. For having brown eyes, I had to give him credit for his icy stare.

“So you were alright with Tony dancing with you?” I rolled my eyes.

“I think he might be a little full of himself. Why?”

“Just…the way he looked at you. It made me…hesitant.”

“Mad?”

“No.”

“I noticed you kept looking over at us.”

“I didn’t want to leave you.” He said honestly. “I didn’t want to dance with Veronica. And it just gets to me that the second I’m getting pulled out of your range, he steps up. It was just…unnerving. I didn’t like the way he sneered at you.”

“So you’re jealous?”

“No…no not…jealous.”

“You were.”

“Ok, fine, I was jealous.” He rolled his eyes. “I just, I’m scared you wouldn’t think twice about going to another guy. Someone nicer, someone easier to deal with.”

“I’m with you for a reason, Taylor. I mean, you think I would just hop on the next celebrity train that sped by? It was hard enough agreeing to go out with you.”

“But what if it had been someone else in the competition?”

“But it wasn’t.”

“But it could’ve been.” He licked his lips. “Look, Tony had signed up for the competition before I did. He was
set
to do that college thing. It was happening, but my agent signed me up for Zombie Grave publicity, Tony had something come up, and then he was rebooked for the next event.”

“Taylor…”

“It could have been him. Instead of me, you could be sitting in his house right now.”

“But I’m not.” I held a finger under his chin, making him look at me. “There’s a reason you signed on last minute. There’s a reason I found you. I’m here, I’m with you. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”

              He nodded. He finally turned around, light coming back to his eyes.

“Well, if that’s true. I want to ask you something.”

“Ok.”

“I have a premier coming up. The Zombie Grave premier. You know, they roll out a red carpet and take pictures, sign autographs and answer a few questions. I want you to come with me.”

“Phew,” I said, letting out a breath. “You know, you reaaaaally are going to owe me after that. I mean…I quit my job, I went to a party in a very uncomfortable outfit, and now I have to get all dressed up and get my picture taken and get judged in front of millions of people? It’s gonna cost ya.”

              He moved in closer, framing his body around mine on the edge of the bed.

“Well, how am I going to repay all this debt?”

              I swallowed, watching as he moved closer.

“I’m thinking eternal servitude.”

“Uh huh?”

“Yea. I like pancakes for breakfast. In bed, actually.”

              He grinned and moved the last bit of distance, kissing me. I kissed him back, feeling the awkwardness as we both resisted laughing.

“Maybe I need to learn how to make pancakes.” He murmured, putting a hand up to the side of my face. I pulled away and looked into his eyes, searching for any sign that he was still upset. He raised an eyebrow, letting me know that his cocky self was back in business. I sighed with relief and relaxed into him. He laid down on the bed, his arms folded behind his head.

“Actually, you could meet my Mom.” I finally suggested. “And Abe, Nori. That’d be a start.”

“Nope.” He popped his p, readjusting a pillow behind him.

“Oh come on, that’s not even hard.”

“If I meet your parents, you have to meet mine.”

“Fine.” I answered.

“Fine.” He agreed. We were both silent, I sighed, finally leaning back into the pillows beside him. “Next weekend?” He suggested.

“Ok.”

“We can meet my Dad Saturday, he’s off that day.”

“Then we can go see my Mom and Abe Friday night.”

“And my Mom on Sunday.”

“Ok.” I agreed. “It’s settled.”

“Geez, what have I just agreed to.” He teased. He reached for a remote on the nightstand by the bed and pressed a button.

              As the T.V. came to life, a picture of me and Taylor was displayed on the screen. Someone had gotten a picture of us up on that roof of the restaurant and it was just now getting released.

“A burger and fries, really Kale? I mean, what are you, a size 8? If Kale expects to make it in Hollywood with her new b-f, she had better take some health and exercise lessons. I’m sure when we revisit Kale in twenty years; she’ll be one of those obese exes that has made nothing of herself.”

              Joe laughed at the prospect and I felt my eyes begin to sting. I blinked until they disappeared. How could they say something like that? How could they just put that out there for the whole world to judge me?

              I looked down at my torso, suddenly self-conscious of the way I looked. I pulled at the t-shirt casually, trying to make it stretch where it wouldn’t show anything underneath.

“Kale,” Taylor pulled my hands away from the shirt. “Kale they have nothing else to put out there, so as a last resort, they put up that bullshit. It just means you haven’t done anything bad enough in the past few hours for them to rag on, so they had to make something up.”

“I’m sorry.” I whispered, trying to make him understand. I thought of Veronica on that dance floor, a size 0, dancing with Taylor. She wouldn’t have eaten a burger and fries. She would have had a salad. Half a salad. With no dressing, just tomatoes and cucumbers. I propped my knees up, folding my arms across them and burying my head into my arms. ‘’I can’t get this right, Taylor.” My voice was muffled by my arms. “I can’t do this. I’m not good enough. I’m not good enough for this.”

“You are.” He said gently, taking me and folding me against him. “You’re perfect.” But I wasn’t, I wasn’t anywhere near perfect. How could anyone expect that? I couldn’t be perfect for him, there was just no way.

I could feel his strength as I leaned into his chest. I clutched his shirt as I fell asleep, curled up in his arms. I woke up a lot during the night, and every time I did, he was still there. And it made me cringe inwardly to know he was ok with just holding me.

              I woke up at around six a.m. When I reached for Taylor he wasn’t there. I was reaching into empty mattress space. I sat up, too quickly, and got a head rush. I blinked and looked around the room, but there was no sign of him.

              I slipped out of bed and tried to figure out what time we were supposed to leave. Was I supposed to be up already?

              I tiptoed down the hall and peeked into the kitchen. I smiled softly when I realized he had an open box of pancake mix out on the counter. I looked around and found the living room. He wasn’t in there either. When I knocked on his bedroom, I didn’t get an answer. I opened it up a bit and glanced inside.

              His room was black and white. A simple black cover on the bed, white walls. Black bed frame, black T.V. and black T.V. stand, a black desk and chair with white handles. The carpet was also white. I shut it back gently.

              I walked down the hallway, hearing a distinct sound of metal clanking. I found a door that was propped open and I knew that Taylor must be inside.

“Taylor?” I called, reaching to push open the door. “What time did we-“

              I froze as I opened the door. Taylor had his back to me, hands gripping onto a lever that went up and down attached to some very heavy looking weights. He released it when he heard me and turned around. But that’s not what made me freeze. He didn’t have a shirt on.

              I took a tentative step forward and found myself regretting my decision to call after him. I had seen the muscles in his back move as he had lifted the bar up and down. Now he was facing me, and when I’d been close to him in the past my premonitions hadn’t lied. He had a six pack. And he was wearing a low riding pair of gym shorts. What do you call that little piece of muscle that sits right there at the hip bone? Because I’m starting to think that it’s called
yum
.

              The room he was in appeared to be an exercise facility. He reached over to a towel rack that was nearby, running a clean white towel over his sweaty face. He neglected the sweat that slowly trickled down his body.

“Kale. I thought you’d still be sleeping.” He said, tossing the towel into a bin. He was breathing hard and sweating. He started walking toward me and put his hands on his hips, panting. I had to avoid his gaze. My, what lovely hardwood floors. Is that maple wood I detect?

“Kale?” I saw his black sneakers appear in my maple wood floor fascination. “You ok?”

“Fine.” I squeaked, looking up from the floor and to the nearest wall. White walls like in his bedroom. Oh my. What nice taste.

              He was silent for a moment, I saw out of the corner of my eye that he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

“I was just wondering what time we were leaving.” I said, switching my gaze to the opposite wall. White again. What a coincidence.

“Gotta be there at eight. So whenever you want.” I could see his eyes were crinkling, he was blinking sweat out of his vision.

              I felt him shift his weight. He took a step forward and I automatically took a step backward. I hit the wall beside the door though. I felt around for the doorframe, finally finding it to my right.

“I just umm…I better start getting ready.”

              I felt him step in between me and my exit, he slid a hand casually against the doorframe. I tried looking up at his face but felt mortified at his all-knowing grin.

“I’m making you nervous.” I heard the pure ecstasy in his voice.

“N-no.” Damn. “I was worried I wouldn’t have time to get ready. But I do. Soo…you can move.”

“Kale. Admit it. Me not having a shirt on is making you nervous.”

              I opened my mouth trying to find a retort, and then closed it. Determined, I met his eyes. He had an eyebrow raised.

“See? It’s fine.” I managed to make it through the entire phrase without stuttering. “Can I get by?”

“Well, if it doesn’t bother you…” He reached out and took one of my hands. I tensed as he placed it on his chest. I could feel sweat underneath my fingertips. And muscle. Good God.

He took my hand and traced it down his abdomen. I kept my eyes on his, and he did the same, he kept a steady gaze. He finally reached out for my other hand, and placed both of them onto his shoulders. He put his hands on my hips and drew me closer. When he kissed me, I wasn’t expecting it to be so fast. I was up against the wall, my hands having a mind of their own. My fingertips traced down his chest and I hit the hard muscle of his abdomen. His hands tightened on my hips, pressing me up against him. His lips left mine, tracing down my neck. I shivered as he whispered my name into my ear. Suddenly, he grabbed my thighs, lifting my legs up to rest on his hips. His hands never left my thighs and he kept me up against that wall. I felt the pressure of his mouth and my lips parted; I felt the tip of his tongue reach mine.

“Wait.” I finally managed to get out. We both sat there panting for a moment before he set me down. We both stood there for a second, unsure of what to say. I leaned back against the wall and tried to catch my breath. I tried to focus, to bring the world back in order. He had a hand up, resting it on the wall beside me, leaning toward me.

“Sorry,” He breathed. “I just…”

              He didn’t have words. And I didn’t either. I had never felt like that before.

“I better finish my work out.” He finally said. I nodded.

“I don’t have anything to wear today on set.” I answered, still trying to work through my daze. Taylor rubbed a hand over his mouth, considering. Both of us were out of breath.

“Alright, I’ll call someone to pick you up a couple of things. A few outfits or something, that way when you stay here, you’ll have something to wear.”

              I agreed and stumbled out of the doorway as he reached for his phone that was sitting on a counter. The counter was also supporting an expensive looking stereo.

“Don’t touch that pancake mix.” He yelled after me, before starting a conversation with whoever was on the phone with him. I lingered around the corner long enough to hear him end the call and couldn’t resist a glance as he went back to lifting the bar up and down. I stuck around and watched the muscles in his back move for a minute, before finally sneaking down the hallway.