Love Struck (2 page)

2

Lola

When I wake up, Star is already gone. She has classes early this morning and mine don’t start until later. I stretch for a minute, working out all the kinks in my muscles. My neck cracks as I roll it. The bed in my dorm room is not nearly as comfortable as the plushy queen I have at home. At least I brought a few of my pillows, but it doesn’t seem to make up for the hard, unforgiving mattress. Flinging off my soft covers, I step onto the rough carpet. It catches on my toenail as I make my way across the room toward my dresser.

I groan as I take in Star’s disheveled bed. That girl is such a slob, I swear. Stalking over to her side of the room, I swiftly make her bed. Sometimes I feel like her freaking maid, and I know it should make me mad. But the thing is that Star has been my best friend for years, and I’ve never been able to be mad at her for very long. She’s the one person in my life who accepts all of my flaws.
I feel like I owe it to her to do the same. Not to mention the fact that she was there for me during the most difficult period in my life.

However, that doesn’t stop me fro
m teasing her endlessly about her unorganized tendencies. Grinning, I take two large strides toward my nightstand and pick up my cell phone.  Holding it in my palm, I type with my thumbs swiftly.

Maid report
: Bed made.

I can practically picture her rushing to class right now.
I’m sure she’s running late. She always is. Her text back comes almost immediately.
Sorry. I thought I did better. At least I picked up my clothes from the floor.

Glancing down at the floor, I chuckle.

True,
I shoot back.
And I know her well enough to know that she really did think she’d done better. Star is one of those crazy creative types without an organized bone in her body.

After dropping the cell back down, I grab my toiletries and head down the hallway to the
communal bathroom. When my feet hit the linoleum floors I think about how horrified my mom was when she first saw this place. There’s no way she or my sister would survive here. Neither of them would ever leave our posh house in El Dorado Hills, California, to live in Seattle, Washington, in dorms that don’t even have their own bathrooms. In fact, I think it’s safe to say they’re all shocked I haven’t gone running back home with my tail between my legs. But I’ve always been different than the rest of my family, and I’ve been waiting my whole life to be able to prove it.

“That was super good.” I link arms with Star as we exit the pub we just had dinner in. I cinch my belted jacket tighter to ward off the chilly fall air, and it pinches at my swollen belly. My body isn’t used to all the junk food I’ve been stuffing it with since Star and I got here last week. I know I should slow down. My clothes keep fitting tighter and tighter. It’s just that everything feels different here in Seattle. I feel different – more free or something.

“I know. Fried food is my nemesis,” Star says, her brown hair swirling around her face as a breeze kicks up.

My black boots click on the pavement as we walk along the sidewalk. I rub my lips together, the chalky red lipstick I always wear coating them. My long chandelier earrings tinkle in my ear with each step. We pass by a little club, music spilling outside from the door that is slightly ajar. A couple stands against the window, both of them puffing on a cigarette. Star bats away the plumes of smoke that circle us as we pass. The screech of a guitar and a loud drumbeat fill my ear. Then a rich male voice starts singing. Star stops and drops my arm.

“What?” I halt
and turn to her.

“I think that’s Beckett.”

“So?” I flash her a dumbfounded look, remembering our conversation last night after she’d returned from her audition for his band. Apparently he’d been a complete ass to her. Not that I’m surprised. I could tell the first time I laid eyes on him that he was an arrogant jerk. Unlike his friend Ryker who seemed super nice, not to mention seriously hot. My cheeks heat up just thinking about him. Star moves away from me and starts walking inside the club.   

I grab her by the
arm, attempting to save her from herself. Star isn’t known for making great decisions when it comes to guys. She’s lucky she has me around to help her. “I thought you never wanted to see him again.”

She bites her lip
, and I can tell I haven’t deterred her at all. “Just one song?”

I sigh
. “Fine.”

She drags me inside the crowded room and starts pulling me toward the only empty table.
Of course it is right under the stage, so all eyes turn to us as we weave toward it. It seems that everyone in town is stuffed inside this cramped room, their eyes glued to the stage. I don’t know a lot about rock music, but I guess they sound pretty good. When I slide into a chair, Star plops down beside me. I glance up at the stage to find Beckett’s eyes locking on Star, and I feel like I’m witnessing a train wreck. I can already predict where this is headed. My gaze flickers past Beckett and lands on Ryker. His gaze catches mine and his lips curl upward in a grin as his fingers fly over his electric guitar. I find myself wondering what they would feel like on my skin. Ryker is exactly the type of guy my parents have warned me to stay away from. Struggling musicians are not exactly the kind of guys my dad, the esteemed Dr. Vega, expects me to end up with. But I can’t help the attraction I feel toward him, and I know if he asks me out I won’t turn him down no matter how impractical. 

“For this next song I’d like to bring up a very special guest,” Beckett speaks into the
mic. Even though every girl in the room is drooling over Beckett and his edgy rocker look, I can’t keep my eyes off of his very sexy electric guitarist. Ryker allows his arms to drop to his sides, his guitar swinging from the strap on his neck. His brown hair falls in a wave over his forehead in that messy look that I know probably took him awhile to perfect. His tight t-shirt clings to his defined muscles, and his brown eyes sparkle under the dim lights. “We sang this song together earlier in the week, and I’d like to do it again. Star?”

My head snaps up at the mention of my best friend’s name.
Star looks over at me frantically, her eyes betraying how shocked she is. What is Beckett up to? First he tells her she can’t join their band, and now he’s inviting her on stage to perform with him? I wonder what game this guy is playing. Watching Star walk up on stage looking like she might puke, I narrow my eyes at Beckett, making a mental note to keep my eye on him. Star has been hurt enough by guys, and I don’t plan on sitting idly by while it happens again.

The band starts playing
, and despite my best efforts my gaze once again lands on Ryker. It’s like he’s got some type of pull on me, I swear. When Beckett starts singing, Ryker throws me a wink. Heat creeps up my neck and spills across my cheeks. Star does a great job even though she’s been put on the spot, and the chemistry between she and Beckett almost lights everyone in the room on fire. I’m actually surprised when I look around and find us all unscathed, no burning flesh anywhere.

While the guys in the band put away their instruments, I expect Star to hightail it off stage. Only she doesn’t. She
hangs back and starts talking with Beckett. I watch them from where I sit at the round table. All around me, people are standing and saying their goodbyes. It seems that the place is now winding down.

“Hey.” A voice startles me.

I peer up, my stomach tumbling to the floor at the sight of Ryker standing in front of me, his fingers shoved deep in the pocket of his tight jeans. “Hey. Um…you guys were great.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you came.”

I’m about to tell him that it was all Star’s idea, but then think better of it. “Yeah, me too.” I wave my hand, indicating the empty chair that Star was sitting in moments ago. “Wanna sit? I mean, you must be tired from playing and everything. You looked pretty intense up there.”
Seriously, why am I babbling like an idiot? Pull yourself together, Lola.

Ryker
smiles, a little dimple forming on his right cheek. It’s so cute I almost sigh aloud. “Sounds good.” He pulls the chair out and it scrapes along the ground like nails on a chalkboard. Then he slides into it, his unfamiliar scent washing over me and causing my pulse to spike. It’s a mixture of mint, leather, sweat, and cheap musky cologne. I’m used to dating guys who smell like the cologne counter of an expensive department store, and it’s such a turn off. Nothing about Ryker is a turn off right now.

“So what was that all about?” I bob my head toward Star and Beckett who appear to be
engaged in an intense conversation on the stage. “He doesn’t want her in his band but he wants her to sing with him? I don’t get it.”

“Beckett’s a little complicated,”
he says nonchalantly.

“What about you?” I lean over, resting my elbows on the slick table. “Are you complicated?”

“Nah, I’m pretty much an open book. What you see is what you get.”

Even though I don’t know
Ryker at all, I trust what he’s saying. He gives off the whole good boy vibe. I get the feeling that if he weren’t a musician he’d be this non-assuming country boy. “I’m glad. I don’t do complicated.”

A smile breaks out on his
face that is so bright it’s like the sun rose right here in this room. “I knew there was something else I liked about you other than the obvious.”

“The obvious?”
I raise a brow. Glasses clink together from somewhere over my shoulder, chatting and light laughter settle around us.

“Yeah.”
Ryker winks. “Surely you don’t need me to tell you that you’re pretty much the most gorgeous girl in the world.”

I fear
that my entire face has turned bright crimson. My mouth drops, and I have no idea what to say. I’ve been told I’m pretty before. Dozens of times, in fact, but never like that.

“If you keep looking so shocked I’m going
to assume you are an actress. There’s no way that someone as beautiful as you can be surprised by my statement.” His gaze sweeps the room. “I think every guy in here has been eyeing you since you walked in. In fact, I bet they’re all wondering what the hell you’re doing talking to me.” He leans forward, an expectant look on his face. “I’m kinda wondering the same thing.”

“Why wouldn’t I be talking to you? Don’t you know that
rockstars are total babe magnets?”

“Yes, but generally the girls that c
ome out to our shows are into Beckett. See for yourself.”

I look up to see a gaggle of girls primping near the stage, all staring up wide eyed at Beckett. It turns my stomach. “Well, I’m not like those girls. And frankly, I don’t care what every other guy in this place thinks about me talking to you, because I’m not interested in any of those guys, or Beckett for that matter.”

Ryker licks his lips, and my eyes linger a little too long on them. “That’s good, because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since we met the other night.”

My breath hitches in my throat at his boldness. This whole conversation has been like that. The volley back and forth has been so natural, so flirtatious, almost like we’ve known each other for awhile.

“Go out with me, Lola?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” I bat my lashes and speak in my best southern drawl.

“So you are an actress then?”

I shake my head. “
No. Trust me. Nothing about tonight has been an act.”
 

4

Ryker

“What a weird night,” Pierce says after taking a swig from his can of soda. He stretches his legs out, propping his bare feet up on the armrest of the couch.
His jeans are torn, his t-shirt wrinkled.

“Yeah, weird,” I agree, grabbing a soda out of the fridge and then slamming it shut. Soda is pretty
much the only item we have in our fridge right now. Pierce and I share a two-bedroom apartment just a few miles from the college campus, and on our meager incomes we don’t live in the lap of luxury. All of our furniture came from our parents and we have not decorated at all. Well, unless you count the few rock n’ roll posters taped to the wall. Yes, I said taped, but I used clear so you can hardly notice it.  At least Pierce has a real job. He works at a local coffee shop a few mornings a week. I’m a full time college student, so my financial aid and college loans are footing the bill right now. Of course, this is my last year and then I’ll have to figure out what to do. I’m hoping by then I’ll be making enough money with my music to do it full time.

“I mean, first Beckett invites that chick up on stage aft
er treating her like shit at rehearsal last week.” Pierce shakes his head, his brown hair flopping from side to side. “And then you get a date with that super hot chick. What happened? Did we enter the Twilight Zone or something?”

I slap his legs, shoving them off the couch so
I can sit. In my fist I hold the cold soda, and it sweats in my palm. Pierce’s legs slide off the couch and he sits up. I plop down on the couch and give him a teasing look. “Is it really that surprising that Lola agreed to go out with me?”

“
The truth? Yeah, it is.”

“Oh, you’re one to talk. When was the last time you had a date?”

“Low blow, man.” He holds up his hands exposing his palms.

I chuckle, running a hand over my head. “It is odd
, though, about Star.” My stomach twists remembering the awed look Star held when Beckett asked her to sing with him. It’s clear that she likes him. It’s written all over her face. “Beckett offered her the backup singer spot in the band tonight too. Did you know that?”

“No shit?” Pierce spews soda out of his mouth and it sprays in my face.

“Dude, really? Try to swallow before speaking next time.” I wipe my cheek.

“Sorry,” Pierce mumbles. “I just don’t get it. He made it pretty clear that he didn’t want her in the band the other night.”

“I don’t get it either.” There’s something bizarre going on for sure. Beckett doesn’t usually change his mind, especially when it comes to girls. I hope he doesn’t want to sleep with Star. I know exactly how that will end if he does. The whole thing makes me nervous. I mean, Star is Lola’s best friend, and if Beckett messes with her I’m afraid that Lola won’t want to see me again. She knows that Beckett and I are good friends. At least we used to be. Things have been a little strained between us lately.

We became friends when we were little kids. I was enamored with him for many reasons. One was because his dad is Barry Nash,
and he was the lead singer of a well known band named Killjoy. Also Beckett’s a great musician. He was the first person to really see my musical potential. Back then we used to talk about growing up and becoming famous rockstars. But as the years went on, Beckett turned cold and distant. I know why, but that doesn’t make it any easier to take.

All I know is that I don’t want him to hurt Star. Not just because of how badly I want to go out with Lola, but also because I know Beckett will beat himself up for the rest of his life if he does. She’s innocent and sweet, not the typ
e of girl Beckett usually hooks up with. She’s the kind of girl Beckett feels protective of. That’s why I was surprised that he was so mean to her the first night they met. A thought strikes me. Maybe Beckett truly likes this girl. Perhaps that’s why he’s acting so strange. If that’s the case, I really hope they end up together. If they do, it’s possible she’ll soften him – turn him into the guy he used to be.

“So, when are you and
hotstuff going out?” Pierce interrupts my thoughts.

“Please don’t call her that. That make
s her sound cheap, and that doesn’t describe Lola. She’s classy, man.”

“Wow.” Pierce raises a bushy brow. “You’re really into this one, huh?”

“Have you seen her?”

“
Yeah, okay, I get it,” he says with a nod.

“
I think I’ll probably call her tomorrow and set something up.” I feel a pressing on my chest. “I’m just kinda nervous, because she seems like the kind of girl who’s used to the finer things in life. I can’t really offer her that.”

“It’s not like you’re
gonna marry the chick. You’re just taking her out on a date,” Pierce points out.

“Yeah, but I can’t afford to take her anywhere nice on our date, Pierce.”

He shrugs. “If she’s that uppity you don’t want to date her anyway.”

I bite my lip, mulling over his words. The sad thing is that even if she is that uppity I’ll still want to date her. I don’t think there’s anything that girl could do to make
me not want to go out with her - desperately. I shake my head.
Man, I’ve really got it bad.

With clumsy, trembling fingers I dial Lola’s number. My heart is thumping so loudly I can feel it pulsing through my ears. Wiping my free hand on my jeans, I marvel at how nervous I am. It’s not like I never date. I go out sometimes - never anything serious, but a dinner or movie here and there. Music is precedent in my life, so relationships take a backseat. At least that’s what I tell people. The truth is, my only serious relationship ended really badly. After what happened with Fiona, I haven’t wanted to take the plunge again. Lola makes me want to dive in, no matter the consequence.

“Hello,” her crisp
, clear voice comes on the line.

I swallow thickly.
“Hey…um…Lola? It’s Ryker. Do you remember me? We met the other night at open mic night?”

Giggling fills my ears. “Of course I remember you,
Ryker.”

“Well, great. I was just…you know…wondering if you wanted to go out this week. I mean, I know you’re probably busy, but-”

"I’d love to go out this week.”

“Oh.” Sweat is literally drenching my shirt, and I fan out my armpits. A shower is definitely happening when I hang up. “Okay. Tomorrow night?”

“Looking forward to it.”

After working out the details, I hang up my phone and sink down onto the couch. The apartment is quiet since Pierce is at work.  A smile breaks out on my lips. I have a date wi
th the hottest girl I’ve ever seen tomorrow night. It seems too good to be true.