Quest For A Popstar Read online

  “I did really well. I got into the next round.”

  Again, a pause. “You can’t be serious. Are you serious? Please tell me you’re not serious.”

  “Tom, I’m coming home. Can we talk about this when I get back?”

  “Yeah, Hailey. We’re going to talk about this. This is…oh, get home.”

  He hangs up.

  “All right, bye.” I pretend to hang up and slide my phone back into my bag.

  “Who was that?” Lydia asks. “He sounded mad.”

  Lucas elbows her.

  “That was my boyfriend,” I say, smiling at her. “He’s just upset because I didn’t tell him I came down here.”

  Isaiah leans back, letting out a long breath.

  Clarissa pats my arm. “I’m sorry. Do you need a ride somewhere?”

  I shake my head and pull out my bus ticket. “I’m good.”

  “You’re not riding a bus at this time of day,” Kessa says. “A pretty little thing like you is asking for trouble if you do that. You’re coming with us.”

  I shake my head. “I couldn’t. I live by the university now, not out—”

  “That’s fine, so does Lucas.”

  I snap my mouth shut and glance at him. He stares at his food.

  “Hey, you guys could have seen each other on campus and not known it!” Clarissa says, bouncing in her chair.

  “Mmm.” Lucas shifts his food around on his plate. “Considering she’s doing a science degree, I doubt we would have ever crossed paths.”

  Isaiah stands. “I’m ready to go.”

  They lead me to their van—or possibly it’s a small bus—and we all climb in. Kessa asks me to sit in the front to direct her. Considering the volume of the noise the others make throughout the trip that’s for the best.

  We pull into the apartments’ parking lot, and I spot Tom sitting in his car playing with his phone. I have a feeling we’re going to have a huge argument.

  “Thank you,” I say to Kessa. “I really appreciate everything.”

  She pats my knee. “Not a problem, doll. It’ll be nice to have you coming with us.”

  Clarissa pokes her head between us. “Hey, you have my number. Call me so I can save yours in my phone.”

  “Ah, sure.” I pull out my phone and call her.

  She grins as her phone lights up. “Sweet.”

  I look toward Tom in his car. “I should go.”

  “I’ll walk you in.” Isaiah unbuckles.

  “Don’t.” Lucas grabs his shoulder. “Clarissa can do it.”

  “She’s a girl.” Isaiah pushes him off. “That defeats the purpose.”

  “Levi?”

  “You go,” Levi grumbles.

  Lucas grunts and climbs out.

  “Don’t worry about him,” Clarissa says. “He’s actually really nice. He just gets irritated when he spends so much time with Isaiah.”

  I glance at Kessa, wondering what she thinks of the obvious tension between her sons. She just stares out the window.

  My door flies open and Lucas stands waiting. As I slip out of the van, I glance toward Tom. He hasn’t noticed yet, and I hope he doesn’t freak out if he sees some random guy walking me to my door.

  Lucas walks beside me, hands in his pockets, as I dig for my keys. He makes me uneasy. I feel like he’s judging me, and I don’t know why. I find my keys just as we reach the door.

  I slide the key in the lock. “Thanks for walking me over, and tell your mom and sister thanks too.”

  He nods. “No problem.”

  “I guess I’ll see you Tuesday?”

  He shrugs. “Yeah. Gotta get booked. Hey, don’t forget to see someone about your class schedule. You don’t wanna fall behind or anything.”

  “Oh, yeah. Of course. Thanks.”

  As I turn toward the door, a hand wraps around my elbow. I glance up as Tom steps between me and Lucas. He glares at Lucas, pulling me closer roughly. “Hailey, who’s this?”

  “This is Lucas. I met him and his family today.” I push open the door. “Let’s go inside.”

  “At the auditions?”

  “Yes.” I pull, but he stands firm, his stare locked on Lucas.

  Lucas clears his throat. “Are you safe, Hailey?”

  I nod.

  “Okay. Well, you have Clarissa’s number. Call her if you need anything.”

  Tom and I watch Lucas as he walks calmly back to the van. Then, Tom shoves me inside.

  “Ouch!”

  He shuts the door and glares at me. “Lauren, you here?”

  My roommate doesn’t answer.

  “Good. We can talk.” His face has turned red and he keeps clenching and releasing his fists.

  “Tom,” I say, sighing. “What’s wrong with auditioning?”

  “Who was that?”

  “I told you. I met him today with his family.”

  “Really? Is that what you’re going with?”

  “I’m not going with anything. That’s what happened.”

  “Yeah, I bet. You probably saw him at one of the musical productions and hunted him down.”

  “Huh?” Well, part of that made sense—Lucas was in musical productions on campus. Me hunting him down…I don’t hunt, and I’d never gone to a musical the university put on.

  “Geez, Hailey. I can’t believe you’d cheat on me!”

  “Whoa, back up.” I raise my hands. “I’m not cheating.”

  “Uh-huh. And you really went down for auditions today.”

  “I did.” I pull out my letter of congratulations.

  He snatches it up and scans it. “Fake.”

  “What? No. I’m leaving next weekend.”

  “No, you’re not.” He scrunches the paper.

  “Hey!” I snatch it from him.

  “I don’t get it,” he says, advancing on me. “This is a very elaborate cover-up for cheating. Why would you do this? I thought you were happy. We’ve been talking about getting married.”

  “I’m not cheating.” I press my hands against my hips. “I really went down for auditions and I really got into the next round. I met Lucas’s sister there, we hit it off, and the family took me out for dinner.”

  I lift my box of leftovers, as if for more proof.

  “Why did he walk you to the door then?”

  “He was being a gentleman, I guess.”

  Tom sneers. “Uh-huh.”

  I groan and head for the fridge. “I didn’t cheat. You know I’m not like that.”

  I set the leftovers on my shelf. He comes up behind me and shuts the door. I swing around and he pins me against the fridge. “Swear to me you’re not cheating.”

  I look up into his pale blue eyes. “I swear it.”

  He wraps his arms around my waist. “I’m crazy about you, Hailey.”

  I smile, running my hand through his dark brown hair. “I’m all yours.”

  He kisses me, and guides me to my bedroom.

  Afterward, I lie with my head on his chest while he strokes my back. He sighs contentedly and tilts my face up toward him. “So, what’s the deal with these auditions?”

  “I just thought I’d give it a try.”

  He rubs his face. “It’s a huge waste of time. None of the contestants in these shows ever get anywhere. Maybe one album if they make it into the top five or something. You’re going to get your hopes up, let your classes slip, and when they knock you out, you’ll struggle to catch up with everything.”

  “I’m going to work all that out,” I say, stroking his face. “I honestly didn’t expect to get through, but now that I did, I’m curious to see where I can go with it. I’m going to work out my classes tomorrow. It’s still early in the semester, so I should be able to transfer to online classes.”

  “Online classes?” He pushes up onto his elbows. “Hailey, your degree is pretty hands on.”

  “I know that, but—”

  “And what about your job? You’ll need to pay rent, and for your food, and all your bills.”
r />   “I know. I’ll work it out.”

  He groans and flops back. “Don’t expect me to bail you out if you do this. I think this is crazy. You’re levelheaded and smart, not impulsive, and you’re kind of naive. I mean, you were a virgin when we got together. I feel like they’d take advantage of a sweet girl like you on a show like that.”

  I rest my head on his chest. “I’ll be careful.”

  He runs his fingers through my hair. “I really don’t want you to do it.”

  “I want to take this chance. Don’t you say, ‘When an opportunity presents itself, seize it because it may never come again?’”

  He groans a laugh. “I mean that with things that could actually benefit you in the long term.”

  “Maybe it could. You never know.”

  He rolls me onto my back, brushing my cheek with his knuckles. “Do you really think you could be a pop star? You’re not skanky, or super hot, or extreme. I’ve never even heard you sing, so you mustn’t be that into it.”

  “I’m going to do this,” I say, gazing into his eyes. “I’d really like your support.”

  “I’m not going to support it.”

  “Then I’ll do it without.”

  He purses his lips. “I hate it when you get all stubborn like this.”

  I wrap my arms around him and kiss his chin. “I won’t let it affect us.”

  He sighs, shaking his head. “When do you leave?”

  Chapter Two

  Awkwardly, I stand at the front door. Taking a deep breath, I glance back to my car. I should just leave. I barely know these people. Yup, I’m going home.

  I head back to my car when another car pulls up behind it. I pause, my hand on the door handle.

  Lucas climbs out and nods. “Forget something?”

  “Ah…” I pull at the handle. I’d look stupid if I ask him to move his car so I can run away. “Just locking up.”

  “It’s a safe neighborhood, so I wouldn’t worry.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Hey, a word of advice—don’t let Isaiah flirt with you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He shrugs. “He’s a womanizer so…don’t feel special.”

  Heat creeps up my neck. “I have a boyfriend.”

  He shrugs again. “If you wanna keep it that way, then take my advice.”

  I turn away from him. My cheek must be turning a nice shade of red. “I’m not that kind of person. I won’t cheat on my boyfriend.”

  “Good to know.” He clears his throat. “Well, are you coming inside?”

  “Yes.” I hurry toward the door with him right behind me.

  I knock, but he opens the door. “Go in.”

  “Ahh…”

  “Seriously, you’ve met them. You know they’re over-the-top friendly. Just go in.”

  I step inside and slip off my shoes.

  “So…” he says, standing beside me as he takes off his shoes. “What made you audition? You don’t really seem like the limelight sort.”

  “I don’t know.” Tom had asked me the same question several times over the past few days. To be completely honest, I’m sick of it. “Just trying it out.”

  “You’ve never joined in with any of the music clubs on campus. Were they not good enough?”

  I glance up at him and find him staring steadily at me. It makes me uncomfortable. “It’s not that. I dunno, really. I haven’t sung since high school, so I wanted to jump onstage just one more time without anyone I know judging me.”

  “Since you got through, they probably will now.”

  I look away. “I don’t think—”

  “Hailey!” Clarissa’s arms wrap around me, knocking me backward against the wall. She laughs and pushes off me. “Sorry.”

  Lucas walks away.

  “So,” she says, flicking her long dark hair back. “I was thinking we should document our journey. You know, take a ton of cheesy pics and make a scrapbook. Then we can have something to show how we met and became friends, as well as document this amazing opportunity.”

  “Sounds good,” I say with a smile. I must admit, I really enjoy her enthusiasm.

  She squeaks and raises her phone. “Smile.”

  She takes the picture and promptly shares it on all her social networks. “That reminds me, I need to add you.”

  As I give her my details and she tries to convince me to join more social networks that I’m not part of, Isaiah walks down the stairs. I glance up and almost swoon. He doesn’t have a shirt on, and wears low-riding jeans. His body is lean and slender, his muscles well-defined under his tanned skin.

  “Hailey.” He grins and winks. “I thought I heard voices.”

  “Mmm.” My cheeks feel hot again. Geez, put a shirt on before my body heat lights the house on fire!

  He stands right in front of me as Clarissa wraps her arm through mine. He smiles, and my legs quiver. “You look really pretty today. That color suits you.”

  I glance down at my red cardigan. “Ah…thanks.”

  Clarissa shoves his chest. “Go put a shirt on before you poke someone’s eye out.”

  He grins. “All right, all right. How long are you staying, Hailey?”

  “A little while.”

  “Isaiah.”

  We look over as Lucas reenters the entry area with three mugs in his hands. “Go put a shirt on.”

  Isaiah shoves his hands in his pockets, lowering his pants to an almost pornographic level. I force myself to look away and stare at the ground.

  “You’re making her uncomfortable,” Lucas says, sticking a mug into my line of vision.

  “Nah.” Isaiah snatches the mug.

  “Yeah, you are. She doesn’t know where to put her eyes and she’s bright red. Now go put a shirt on.” Lucas snatches the mug back and offers it to me again.

  Clarissa’s arm tightens around mine.

  “Am I making you uncomfortable, Hailey?” Isaiah asks.

  I take the mug, trying to keep my focus on the brown liquid inside. “Yeah, actually.”

  Isaiah chuckles. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  He bounds up the stairs again.

  Clarissa tugs on my arm. “We need to make those bookings.”

  She leads me through to a kitchen where, to my right, lays a living room. Levi and Arnie sit in front of the TV playing video games. Lydia glances up from a book that looks to be a tween vampire novel. She grins. “Hailey!”

  “Hey, Lydia.”

  She snaps the book shut and dashes over. “I told my friends at school about you.”

  Lucas groans.

  “Did I hear someone say Hailey’s here?” Kessa appears from an office. “Hello, doll.”

  “Hello again, Kessa.”

  She plants a kiss on my cheek. “Come in here so we can book these tickets. I’ve already made arrangements with the show to have you share a room with Clarissa. I hope you don’t mind.”

  I glance at Clarissa and find her beaming. “That’s fine.”

  Kessa leads me into the office with Clarissa, and the three of us work out our flights. Although Clarissa seems intense, I find her pleasant once I move beyond it. She laughs easily and listens to what I say. I’m glad I met her before embarking on the next phase of the process. Her friendship helps set my mind at ease.

  ***

  Tom sits beside me with his arm draped around my shoulder. His roommate, Anthony, sits on the ground making out with his girlfriend. They’d stopped watching the movie almost the instant it started.

  “Hailey,” Tom whispers, his nose brushing against my ear. “Let’s go to my room.”

  I shake my head. “This is my last night before I leave. I want to spend time with you.”

  He grabs my hand and places it over his crotch. “I want to spend time with you too, just more intimately.”

  “Tom…” But as Anthony’s hand slides up Karen’s shirt, I shoot to my feet. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  “Hailey…”

  I hurry out the door, and stand in the en
tryway to the apartment. Tom soon follows and wraps a jacket around my shoulders. “Hailey, it’s cold out. Let’s just go back in and warm each other up.”

  “I don’t want to.” I cling to the jacket and start walking.

  He matches my pace. “You know it’s not really the safest neighborhood to be walking around after dark.”

  I shrug.

  He sighs. “What’s eating at you?”

  “Nothing,” I say too quickly.

  “Yeah, there is.” He grabs my arm and turns me to face him. “Are you nervous?”

  I let out a puff of air. “Yeah. Really nervous.”

  “Then don’t go.” He pulls me into his arms. “I want you to stay here with me. I’ll be graduating soon, so we will need to look for a place.”

  “I didn’t think you wanted to get married until after I graduated.”

  He rubs my arms. “Yeah, but we can live together. It’s the twenty-first century, Hailey.”

  I sigh. “But I want to do this. I wish you supported me.”

  He scowls, but caresses my face. “I’m trying, I am. I’m just afraid you’ll throw your education and the chance of a stable career away for this whim. And who’s going to look out for you out there? You’ll be by yourself.”

  “I’m staying with Clarissa Murphy.”

  “Who?”

  “That family who dropped me off.”

  His eyes narrow. “That guy and his family?”

  “Clarissa is a girl.”

  He groans. “That guy is her brother, which means him.”

  “Don’t be jealous.” I squeeze him. “I’m devoted to you. Plus, he’s kind of mean.”

  Tom searches my face, slowly, carefully. “You’re something else.” He strokes my hair. “Okay, I’ll try to not be jealous. It’s just that you mean so much to me.”

  I smile. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

  “I will, every day.” He pulls me close, kissing my forehead. “I’ll call you every day too.”

  My heart flutters as I press my cheek against his chest.

  We return to his apartment and find Anthony and Karen had made their way to his bedroom. Tom leads me into his room so we don’t disturb them.

  He shuts the door and immediately takes off his shirt.

  “You’re anxious,” I say, standing by his desk.

  “You’re going away for a few days at least. What do you expect?” He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck.