13. The Unexpected Sleepover
THE UNEXPECTED SLEEPOVER
ALEXIA
“ W ho the fuck gave her my guitar?” Grayson asks angrily.
I didn’t expect that to be the first thing he said after hearing me sing.
“Seriously, Gray, that’s the first thing you say after the song!” Emerson says and hits him over the head.
“Charlie gave it to her,” Zara says.
“Tattletale,” Charlie says, sticking his tongue out at her. Zara moves back into Shawn, and he wraps his arms around her as if he’s protecting her.
“I’m gonna kick your ass,” Grayson says, pointing at Charlie before running toward him. Charlie starts running and throws his drumsticks at Grayson.
“This happens sometimes,” Raven whispers over to me. I take off Grayson’s guitar and put it back on its stand.
“I didn’t break it,” I announce, hoping he heard me.
I do admire the guitar; it's a red and black Ibanez PIA3761 Steve Vai Signature and I absolutely love it.
“You like it,” Scarlett says, appearing next to me.
“She can tell ‘cause you’re just staring at it,” Raven adds, coming up behind me.
“It's gorgeous,” I tell them.
“We’re about to leave,” Shawn calls out.
“I need a nap. Coming, Sunshine?” Noah says.
“Aww, Noah can’t go to sleep without his girlfriend ,” Charlie mocks in a baby voice while running.
“Shut up, dickhead, your girlfriend feeds you,” Noah calls out, heading for the stairs with Emerson. I move my eyes from the guitar and look around for Zara and go over to her.
“I wanted to say see you later.”
“Oh, see you later,” Zara says, a bit confused.
“I hope to see you soon,” I say to her and Zara smiles at me lightly as I walk away. Shawn and Zara both gather some things and then head for the door.
“I think we should open the PR packages,” Scarlett says.
“I’ll separate them,” Kenan says.
After the packages are all separated by the person they go to, we begin opening packages.
“So, Alexia, have you ever written us any fan mail?” Charlie asks.
“No, but my sister complains about me playing your songs all the time,” I answer.
“Who's your favorite in the band? Like before you met us,” Raven asks.
“I don’t know, honestly. I never thought I had a favorite, but if I had to pick, I’d say Charlie,” I answer while going through a package from White Fox addressed to Scarlett.
“Damn, Gray, tough luck,” Charlie says. Grayson just glares at him.
“Why, Charlie?” Scarlett asks.
“He gives the most content and we see more of his personality along with Scarlett. There are normally only pictures or quick things about the rest of you.”
“Well, I guess we see why our manager says we need more online content,” Kenan says.
“Speaking of content, we're doing a vlog,” Charlie says and pulls out his camera.
“Are you okay with being on camera and posted?” Charlie asks.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” I shrug.
“Alexia, are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“I get it. I’m being posted, and people will start asking questions, and am I prepared to handle it.”
“Are you?” Kenan asks. “A lot of people will start asking questions, you’ll get texts, calls, if not more. It’s a lot to get posted with people that are famous.”
“I’m sure.”
Charlie starts his vlog by introducing everyone in the room, including me. “So earlier today, Lexi here taught us how to do a cheer pyramid,” Charlie says.
“Did you guys fall?” Grayson asks before he sips his soda.
“No, I’m a good teacher,” I say proudly.
“If you say so,” Grayson says, which causes me to make eye contact with him. Is he just saying that or is he trying to take a jab at me?
We’re finally done opening the packages when I hear my phone start to ring. “Is everything okay?” Scarlett asks. I look down to see who's calling and see Faith’s name.
“Yeah, it’s just Faith, my best friend,” I tell her. I answer the FaceTime call as I walk over to the piano.
“You haven’t called me every day like you promised,” Faith says right as she answers. Faith is wearing the practice cheer uniform, so I know she’s probably on break at practice.
“I know I’m sorry, but I’ve texted you,” I say.
“Also, coach isn’t happy he’s missing his center flyer. Heather has been filling in, but we all know you belong up there,” Faith tells me.
“Well, he should be happy, I'm filming the routine and showing him I have it down. I even tumbled the other day.” I switch the phone to a different hand as I grab the vase on the piano to prop my phone against it.
“Oh my god, I wanna meet your friend!” Charlie exclaims running over to me, almost knocking me over as he does.
“Charlie, be careful, you almost knocked Alexia over!” Grayson shouts. Aw, he’s kind of worried about my safety.
“Charlie, this is Faith. Faith, this is Charlie,” I introduce them to each other.
“So, you’re the best friend,” Charlie says.
“Lex, you are like famous around here now,” Faith says. Last time I was time famous, everyone felt bad because I was a tragic case. A kidnapped child. That’s a really bad time I hate remembering.
“Aww, look at little Lexi Wexi coming into stardom,” Charlie mocks and rubs my head, to which I swat his hand away and try to fix my hair.
“That’s why I turned off my notifications so I wouldn’t have to hear the dings,” I tell her.
“Your most liked photo is the one you posted today with Raven and Scarlett. Also, you have to ask Scarlett where she got her shoes from, I love them,” Faith tells me.
“Scarlett, where did you get your shoes from?” I call over to her and she turns around from the floor.
“Naked Wolfe.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
“Naked Wolfe,” I tell Faith like she didn’t just hear me ask.
“I’m going to have to go soon. I’m at practice.”
“I figured. Are you enjoying break?”
“Yeah, tomorrow we’re going to Myrtle Beach and staying till Friday.”
“I bet you’ll enjoy. Three days with no practice.”
“And will but I love you, Lexi. Text you after practice. Wish me luck. We're doing more full outs.” Faith sighs, standing up and fixing her uniform before putting down her phone and water.
“I love you too, Fae, and good luck you got this best flyer ever,” I reply. Faith air kisses and hangs up.
“I like Faith,” Charlie states.
“You like everyone,” Kenan interjects.
“Not bullies,” Charlie says.
“You’re so childish sometimes,” Raven says.
“I try to be,” Charlie says and runs then jumps over the sofa to be beside Scarlett.
Charlie leans in and gives Scarlett a kiss.
“Ew,” Grayson says.
“Grayson doesn’t like love,” Kenan says as I come over.
“I don’t either but why doesn’t he?” I ask, sitting beside Charlie.
“I don’t mind it per se, but I don’t believe it’s possible for me,” Grayson corrects.
“Well, that’s not true.”
“Why is that?”
“Because there is someone who will fall in love with you.”
Grayson looks at me in the most indescribable, invocable way, a way that suddenly I feel as if no words can leave my mouth. A way where I feel dizzy, as if the world is blurred out of focus by something surrounding us. I know now that if he tried, someone could easily fall in love with him, I could easily fall in love with him.
“You really believe that… Why?” he says, looking at me in my eyes. I struggle but I manage to get out a sentence. For the first time, I realize…
“I don’t think you’d be a hard person to fall in love with.”
“Thank you,” Grayson replies, causing me to smile slightly. Once we near the end Raven and Scarlett let me pick out some things I like to take with me since it is nearing about seven p.m., and I should go. Tomorrow, I do have to record the song and film more scenes on set. I pack up my bag and meet Scarlett at the front door since she and Charlie are taking me home.
“Wait,” Scarlett stops me.
“What is it?” I ask, joining her by the window, looking outside. I look out seeing a StarStruck reporter van up the road a bit. I know a couple other famous people live around here.
“They could be looking for anyone. Models, actors and some other singers that live around here but if we go out now, we are exposed,” Scarlett says, just as two paparazzi people get outside the van. We try to look closer as we see one of her neighbors coming outside. Model Amara Whitlock. She's extremely wealthy and a Victoria’s Secret Angel. She’s also an heiress to her father’s plane company and airline, along with her three brothers. I can’t believe I'm on the same road as her.
There’s no way I’m leaving now.
“Can you ask your mom to stay?” Scarlett asks me.
“Yeah, I’ll let her know,” I say and walk to the side. I mean, I’m twenty, so there’s not much my mom could do, but I want her to know, so I give her a call.
“Hey, Mom,” I say as I hear her answer.
“Lexi, are you okay? Are you on the way back?” she asks.
“I’m fine, Mom, but I’ll be back in the morning because some news vans are outside, and I don’t want to expose their privacy.”
“That is a very mature thing to do for you. We will miss you from movie and game night though but have fun. I will text you about everything.”
“I will try. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you more and don’t do any drugs or get pregnant.”
“Oh my god. Bye, Mom,” I say and hang up. I can’t believe she just said that, how in the hell would I even accomplish that? Getting pregnant at least.
“My mom is cool with me staying,” I tell Scarlett.
“Amazing! I’ll get you some toiletries.” Scarlett hugs me before running upstairs.
“Such an unexpected sleepover,” I hear Grayson say.
“I guess so.” I shrug.
“Where can I sleep? I can take the sofa down here.”
“Not a chance, you can take my room. Come,” Grayson says, and I begin to follow him. He leads me up the floating stairs, which slightly terrifies me because I feel like I am about to fall. Upstairs is a balcony, and along the walls are some photos of them along with framed stage outfits of theirs. As we go farther down the hall, just some art is on the wall here and there.
I count about six doors as we go down and reach a seventh door. Each door is a light wood color with a dark lock on it. Grayson places his thumb on the lock pad, and it turns green, and he opens the door.
Fingerprint locks, smart.
Opening his door, he holds it open for me, and I walk in. This is room is just as large as the one at his dad’s but it’s definitely more lived in. Walking to the right is a large music section with a desk, and behind it is a living room space with a large TV. On both sides of the TV, there is a door. On the left side, there is a wall of hanging guitars and a large sofa that has many pillows, and beside it is a basketball goal. At the back there is a large window that expands to the sky, and it has his bed on this platform.
“I can take the sofa in here and you can have the bed if you want,” he says.
“I appreciate it,” I tell him. This is actually very sweet but something about it also makes me flutter inside.
“Knock, knock,” Scarlett says behind us. “I’m just bringing you this essential bag. We pack tour bags like this just in case, so everything is new and unused. I just added some pajamas for you.”
“Thank you so much.” I walk over to her.
“No problem, I’ll leave you two alone now.” Scarlett leaves, closing the door.
It’s only like seven, so I’m not sure why she’s leaving, but here we are, standing in his room, staring at each other. “I’ll leave you to get ready for bed,” he says and leaves the room before I have a chance to respond. It takes me even longer to move and find the bathroom.
This feels so surreal being in Grayson’s room, about to take a shower. How am I going to make it through the night here?