Chapter 24: Two Different Worlds

***Tamia***

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, how's your summer going?" Jason asked.

I smiled to myself. My first year of college was officially over, and once again, I was back home for summer break. So much has happened in the last few months school-wise, but not much has happened between Jason and me.

"School just got out a week ago," I laughed.

"So it's boring, huh?" Jason laughed back.

"I'm not gonna lie, it could be better," I said, "and I don't have much planned this summer... except for a music camp thing I applied for."

"Wait, did you say music?" Jason asked. "I thought your major was psychology."

"It is," I replied, "but I was looking into expressive arts therapy."

"Expressive arts therapy?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "It combines psychotherapy and the arts. You know, music, painting— things like that. The program I applied to teaches music lessons and applies principles of psychotherapy. But it's in New York."

"That's good to hear," Jason said.

"And why is that?" I asked. "That means we won't be able to hang out as much this summer."

"Well, I wanted to ask you to come to New York with me and my brothers," he replied.

"Wait, I thought your U.S. tour ended last month," I said, confused.

"It did," Jason replied, "but now we're going on location... for a movie."

"Really?" I asked excitedly. "That's great! And you wanted to ask me to come?"

"We all do," Jason said.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The Draper Brothers were getting ready to film a movie, and they wanted me to come with them... and I could!





***Jason***

Two weeks after Tamia told me that she was spending six weeks of her summer in New York, my brothers and I were in the same city for our new movie: *Neon Nights*. Like our TV show (which ends this summer), it’s loosely based on our lives, about three brothers trying to make it into a music festival in New York. Filming takes place in Manhattan and that's where our temporary apartment was, but since Tamia was staying in Brooklyn, I talked the producer into finding us a place there. She had already been there a week before we started filming, so I was excited when it was time for us to finally fly out there.

"Brooklyn?" Caiden asked during our car ride to the apartment. "I thought we were staying in Manhattan."

"Tamia's in Brooklyn," Raymond replied, "so we're in Brooklyn."

"Wait, Tamia's here?" asked Caiden.

"Caiden, man, you never listen!" I said. "I told you we were staying in Brooklyn to look out for Tamia while she was here."

"Yeah," Raymond said sarcastically, "we're 'looking out for her'. This isn't about you wanting to be close to her."

"Ray," I said.

"No, it's okay," Raymond said. "I get it. We know you still like her... but have you told her about Christine?"

"Well… no," I said truthfully. Back in December, I did decide to call Christine and we hung out before and after the holidays. Now we were casually dating… and I haven’t told Tamia yet.

"Yeah, why say anything?" Caiden chimed in. "She'll find out about her when she runs into her. I mean, she *does* live here."

"You two are just friends, so it's okay," Raymond said.

“I know,” I replied, but I was still nervous.





***Tamia***

* *Knock-knock* *

"Coming!" I called as I got up from the piano that was in my New York studio apartment. I expected it to be one of the directors from the music program since we were all on the same floor, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.

"Jason!" I exclaimed. "I didn't know you were here already."

"I wanted to surprise you," he replied.

"Where are Caiden and Raymond?" I asked.

"They're back at our apartment," Jason said.

"I can't believe your apartment is in Brooklyn too," I said. "Of course, it's probably in a better neighborhood and a lot bigger than this." It's true, my temporary home was very small— my dorm-style apartment back at school was bigger than this.

"My place isn't that big," Jason said modestly. "And this is a really good neighborhood."

I couldn't help but smile. Jason and I were finally spending time together again, and he could be himself— no disguises and no interruptions. Even though he and his brothers would be filming all day, almost every day, he told me that I could visit the set whenever I was free.

"Was that you playing the piano I heard when I walked up to the door?" Jason asked.

"Um, yeah," I replied, "but it wasn't that great."

"You sounded really good!" Jason exclaimed. "Have you played before?"

"No," I admitted. "I mean, I've played around on a keyboard before, but I've never actually taken lessons."

"I could give you private lessons," Jason offered.

The way he said that made me blush. Private lessons from Jason? Not Jason Draper the superstar, but Jason Draper my best friend... *and the guy I've been crushing on for far too long now*.

"I'd like that," I said finally, "but I've been practicing all morning, and I'm hungry."

"We can have lunch and then head over to the set," Jason said.

"The movie set, really?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied, "we're meeting with some of the team and our costars."

"That sounds like fun!" I exclaimed.





***Jason***

"Hey, Tamia!" Raymond exclaimed as Tamia and I walked onto the set.

"Hey, Ray!" Tamia said back as they hugged. "Where's Caiden?"

"Right here," he replied, as he walked up behind us.

Just as I was about to speak, I heard a familiar voice call my name.

"Jason!"

My heart dropped. It was Christine. Even though she lived in the city, I hadn’t told her where we were filming yet. Since Tamia was in the city too, I wanted to tell her about Christine before I invited her to the set. *Was it wrong of me to invite Tamia before Christine?*

“Hey Christine,” I said nervously.

“Your mother told me you guys were filming here,” she continued as she kissed me on the cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me you were filming already?”

I noticed that Raymond and Caiden purposefully walked away, but not too far away that they couldn’t hear what was going on.

“Well, we really just started,” I said.

“That’s okay,” Christine replied. She stopped for a moment and looked at Tamia. “Who’s she?”





***Tamia***

When I arrived at the movie set, I was excited. I was happy to spend the afternoon with Jason and his brothers, but all of that was shattered when I saw Christine Joseph stroll onto the set. *Was she also playing Jason’s love interest in the movie?* I was happy to hear that she wasn’t and Jason hadn’t even told her that they were already filming, but that happiness didn’t last long.

“Who’s she?” Christine asked, looking at me. “Is she one of your co-stars?”

“No, Christine, this is my friend Tamia,” Jason replied.

I was waiting for Christine to say, ‘Oh the girl you’re always talking about’, but she didn’t. Instead, she said,

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Christine, Jason’s girlfriend.”

*Girlfriend???*

“Jay,” Christine continued, “we should go to dinner tonight when you’re done. Let me know where you’re staying, and I’ll come pick you up." She kissed him *on the lips* and left.

I was mortified. I wasn’t sure if it was because Jason had a new girlfriend, or if it was because he didn’t tell me. Honestly, it was probably both.

"Look, Tamia," Jason started, but I cut him off.

"Jason, it's okay," I said. "You're a successful musician and soon-to-be successful actor. You're going to have girls all over you. And you're allowed to date whoever you want."

Saying this out loud made me once again realize how different we are. Even if we were dating, I'd have to be okay with him possibly kissing other girls when he’s acting and even in his music videos. At this point, I wasn't even okay with that just being his friend, let alone his girlfriend. I guess this was the confirmation that I needed yet again that we could only be friends because we live in **two different worlds**.