Chorus (Five)

The ride back to school was...awkward to say the least.  Without Sebastian there to talk with in our easy banter, I resigned myself to being as quiet as a mouse, which was something that Jason was apparently not used to at all.

"So, how did you two meet?" he asked me finally as we were drawing nearer and nearer to the school.

I didn't mind that I had skipped the first few classes, especially considering that it was only around lunch time when I would be arriving back.

"Um, well I went to his concert the other night with my friend.  I was supposed to be in the VIP meet and greet with her but I forgot my pass.  I went out to her car to go get it and I guess I was so tired from the concert and the drinking that I just passed out in her car and before I knew it, Sebastian Jennings was in the driver's seat, hijacking my best friend's car.  It was an accident of course and he apologized, apparently their cars looked very similar and he was in a hurry, but we ended up getting a flat, getting caught in a rainstorm and he allowed me to stay in his guest room overnight.  That was the last I thought I'd ever see of him again until today."

Jason flicked his eyes curiously to my face from the front seat.  I wondered what he was thinking behind his dark brown eyes.

"You're not one of those psycho chicks who stalks famous people are you?"

I guessed I didn't have to wonder what was on his mind, he said what he was thinking out loud, no matter what it was.

I blanched at his words.

"Absolutely not.  He's the one who kidnapped me!  And today, I tried all I could to avoid him when I saw that he was in the parking lot.  I didn't really want to speak with him after our fight but extenuating circumstances sort of brought us together again, so to speak."

He raised his eyebrows in curiosity when he heard that we'd had a fight.

"And what was this fight about?"

"It was over the same question you just asked me, insinuating that I'm some sort of crazy fan just trying to get my fifteen minutes of fame.  You know, if that was really what I was after, don't you think my name would be plastered on every trashy magazine in the grocery store by now?"

"Hmm... I suppose you have a point.  I'm sorry we've both pretty much labeled you as something you're not, its just that Sebastian has had some really bad experience with girls in the past, girls who only used him for his fame and money and it didn't turn out too well.  Cut him some slack."

"Don't worry, I've already forgiven him.  He apologized and said as much so I'm not holding it against him.  I'm not famous and I don't think I ever want to be considering the way he's treated and how hard it is to live a normal life."

Jason sighed, rubbing his day old stubble on his cheeks before responding.

"Yeah, it's definitely not as cracked up as everyone makes it out to be.  His schedules are almost always planned out, which I'm sure is why he had to bail out today.  He didn't get to go to college  or even finish out his high school career as a regular kid."

"Wow.  That sounds pretty-"

"Crappy?  Yeah, I know.  Try having to be the one to tell your best friend that they can't go to their senior prom or it would cause a riot?" he chuckled at the end of his sentence but I could tell that there was a bit of bitterness and sadness laced into his tone where normally there would have been sarcasm and humor.

We spent the rest of the ride in comfortable silence and as he dropped me off and said his goodbyes, I couldn't help but wonder if it would be the last that I would ever hear from him-or Sebastian-ever again.

***

I strode into the cafeteria hoping to find Josie sitting at our normal table, and while I was glad that she was there, I was absolutely thrilled with who I saw trying to sit down next to her.

"Eddie!  Oh my god it's been so long!  How have you been?" I asked our on again, off again guy best friend.

He was fickle with how often he would hang out with us, our schedules always interfering but when he got a free lunch period away from his band, we jumped at the chance to sit next to him.

"Girl, I'm fine!  But I want to talk about you!  I can't believe you actually met Sebastian Jennings! I would have cried in his presence, I won't lie!" he exclaimed boisterously, grabbing me and pulling me into a bone crushing hug.

"Okay okay, I actually need my ribs and internal organs to survive thank you very much!"  I yelled out at him in laughter and he put me down, inspecting my outfit carefully.

"Seriously though Holls, what happened?  I'm busy for what, a week and you're over here going all Josie on me?" he asked, looking at me as if I'd betrayed him or something by changing the way I looked previously.

I stared at his expression, outlined on his clear caramel colored skin and noticed the faux betrayal in his light brown eyes.  His eyebrows were pulled up in confusion at my sudden miraculous transformation and I couldn't blame him-it was pretty drastic.

"I just decided that it was time to invest my time and energy into improving my appearance, I guess I was tired of the old me," I said to him and he nodded his head slowly.

"Okay, I can appreciate that.  Now, let's get to work bitches.  Tell me everything."

I laughed at him and did as he told us, starting from the beginning of when we went to his concert, though the accidental kidnapping, the flat tire, the rain, staying in his guest room, our fight, and lastly how we met that morning, however I conveniently left out the part where Dylan tried to attack me...I didn't really feel like talking about that all too much.

"Oh my god girl, you so have it bad!  I didn't even know you were a fan of his, why did you even go to one of his concerts in the first place?" he asked me and I just giggled, giving a pointed look to Josie for his answer.

"Guilty," she said, lowering her head in mock shame.

I was about to laugh along with them when I felt a prickling sensation along my scalp and shivered as it trailed down my body.

It felt as if someone was watching me.  I turned around and as if on cue, I felt an icy, dripping sensation being poured over my head, dripping down my entire body.

I froze, shock coursing through every orifice in my body and I almost felt as if it wasn't real, like it wasn't really happening to me.

But of course I was wrong.  I turned to face the perpetrator and wasn't surprised to see that it was Dylan standing idly by with a smirk on his evil face.

"You don't get away that easily," he said, a growl in his voice that sent shivers down my spine.

There was a girl behind him with short black hair, and I had to wrack my brain to remember that it was Gwen.  I had thought that she was just as evil as he was, but she was standing behind him looking sheepish and terrified at what he'd done, a remorseful and pained expression on her face.

I didn't bother to listen to the cafeteria's raucous laughter as I ran out of the lunchroom, my heart in my throat and tears mixing with the liquid that was poured on me.

I didn't bother staying at school any longer, walking home would have been better than sitting through classes soaking wet and humiliated.

I was almost home as my cell phone pinged and I was about to ignore it, thinking it was just once of the million worried phone calls and texts my friends had sent me, but this was a different ringtone than I was used to.

It was programmed somehow to one of Sebastian's hit songs called 'My Woman' and suddenly I realized what must have happened.

Sorry for running out on you today, raincheck? -Sebastian

I couldn't believe my eyes.  He had actually taken my phone and programmed his name and number into it, all the while giving himself his own personal ringtone.  I rolled my eyes at his actions and quickly replied.

In your dreams, superstar. -Holly

I find that my dreams are much less satisfying, though. -Sebastian

I rolled my eyes at his insinuation.  I quickly replied to him, not caring if I seemed to desperate to talk to him.

And I find that reality is much more disappointing. -Holly

Touchè.  But kisses are so much sweeter in reality. -Sebastian

Who said anything about kisses?  You'd be lucky to get so much as a handshake, lover boy. -Holly

I still hadn't gotten over the fact that he ditched me without so much as an explanation at the diner after he'd agreed to spend the day with me.  I was still shaken up about the whole Dylan ordeal and he'd left me with his friend, a complete stranger.

Then again, wasn't Sebastian a complete stranger to me as well?  And there he was, blatantly flirting with me over text.  Unless he wasn't even flirting with me at all.  Maybe he was just using me and was going to humiliate me and hurt me just like Dylan had.

You say that now, Red.  Just wait until I take you out properly. -Sebastian

Not going to happen.  How did you even get your number in my phone anyway?  What are you, some kind of psycho? -Holly

Ha ha very funny.  I just put it in your phone while we were in the car.  Do you have any idea how unobservant you are? -Sebastian

No I don't and it doesn't matter.  We aren't going out on a date.  End of story. -Holly

Not a lot of girls refuse me, Holly Vickers.  I must say, it is a huge turn on. -Sebastian

Wow, that was way too much information. Goodnight, I'm going to bed now. -Holly

I'll see you tonight then -Sebastian

What?  Where? -Holly

In your dreams. -Sebastian

That was way too corny.  Do you even know how to talk to a girl? -Holly

I don't normally do any talking when I'm with them... -Sebastian

Gross. -Holly

That's not what they say... -Sebastian

Okay that's it.  I'm going to sleep.  Goodnight Sebastian. -Holly

Sweet dreams Holly.  I know mine will be ;) -Sebastian

God, he was so ridiculous!  One minute, he was planning on hanging out with me for an entire day, then the next he up and abandons me at the last minute?  And now he's trying to flirt with me like there was no tomorrow?  What was wrong with him?

But more importantly I should ask myself what was wrong with me, considering the fact that every single time I opened a text message from him, butterflies erupted in my stomach and a smile plastered on my face.

I was in trouble.

And his name was Sebastian Jennings.