Chapter 16: Here it Is

Tamia

"He did what?" Morrissa exclaimed.

It was a month later, and I was on fall/Thanksgiving break, and so were Morrissa and Vie. Even though I had gotten closer to my sorority sisters and even my first roommates, no one could replace Morrissa and Vie. And get this, they also pledged Mu Sigma Epsilon at their colleges too!

But enough about, that. We were sitting in my room back in L.A. and I was filling them in on how my sophomore year was going so far— well, more about the summer before.

"So let me see if I'm understanding correctly," Vie said. "Jason wanted to invite you to New York over the summer while they were filming their movie."

"Yes," I replied.

"And since you were already going to New York, you were able to hang out on the set," Morrissa chimed in.

"Right," I confirmed.

"But when you got there," Vie continued, "you found out that Jason's love interest was an actress he... 'casually dated' in the past."

"And he didn't tell you that she was going to be in the movie," Morrissa cut in.

"Well, it's not like he had to," I said, even though Jason does tell me everything... or at least he used to.

"But she's not the girl with the blog," Vie continued.

"No," I said.

"The girl with the blog is some superfan who's been obsessed with Draper Brothers for years," Morrissa said, "and meets them in person for the first time in New York... and claims that she slept with Jason?"



Jason

"Uh oh," I hear Raymond say.

We were taking a break from rehearsing for our upcoming tour.

"What's wrong?" asked Caiden.

Raymond was hesitant.

"It's about me, isn't it?" I asked.

By now, I was hoping to be used to having my name in headlines, but it still never get easier--- especially when it's not about our music.

"No, it mentions all of us," Raymond said, but I could tell he wasn't being completely truthful.

Caiden grabbed Raymond's phone out of his hands. After a little while he looked up at me and said,

"You hooked up with that girl in New York?"

"What? No!" I exclaimed.

"Well, that's what she wrote on her blog," Raymond said. "...and you did bring her by the apartment."

"But we didn't sleep together!" I protested. "Why would she write that?"

"She's a blogger, you're a celebrity, this post has thousands of reads— you do the math," Raymond said.

"Are you sure you didn't sleep with her?" Caiden asked.

"Yes!" I said, nearly screaming. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could Gonzala write something that was a boldface lie? I had trusted her, and she does this. And by the amount ads on her blog, I could tell that she was getting paid.

Then it hit me. It'd been a month since I talked to Tamia. I'd always call or text and she wouldn't reply, but I thought it was because she was busy with school. Now I realized that I was always the one to reach out, not her. She must've seen the blog post— I mean, by now it was all over social media. Great. This is another mess that I was going to have to clean up, but Tamia was my first priority.

"At least now I know why Tamia hasn't talked to me in like a month," I said.

"Ugh," growled Caiden, "not this again."

I knew my brothers were tired of this, but I couldn't help it. It seemed like there was always something getting in the way of our friendship. Honestly, I was tired of it too.

"I have to go," I said, and I got up and left.




Tamia

A few hours later, Morrissa and Vie left. I had also filled them in on sorority life at Cal Southern, and all of the cute guys in the fraternity— including Alex. Unfortunately, Alex had a girlfriend and was only interested in being my friend because he liked my vibe. I guess I can't be too upset about that, even though he only let me know after I suggested another date.

"Just as friends, right?" he asked when I suggested. "Because I'm in a relationship with someone."

I was so embarrassed, and Harley and Faye were mad at Alex, but also sorry they had given me hope. They swear that he was checking me out— and he might have been. I guess it was for the best because Alex was a senior and graduating in the spring, but still.

"Ugh, why are guys so disappointing?" I said out loud.

Suddenly, I heard my room door close. I turned around and there was Jason Draper standing in my room. I didn't hear my door open or even a knock.

"Why are you here?" I asked without a second thought.

"Tamia, I'm so sorry I've disappointed you," he said. "I know why you're mad at me."

"Who said I was mad at you?" I asked, without a shred of reassurance or compassion in my tone. Sure, I was referring to Alex, but it seems like no one has disappointed me more than Jason Draper.

"You haven't returned my calls," Jason said, "and you left all my messages on read."

"I didn't think you cared because you have your new blogger friend," I replied coldly.

"So you did see that blog post," Jason said.

"Yes," I admitted. "I also met Gonzala at the movie set, and she told me about her blog. She also told me how she started an old-fashioned fan club to write letters to you and you wrote her back. Even Morrissa and Vie didn't know about this fan club!"

I could feel tears start to form in my eyes. I can't believe that Jason still has me feeling like this. I guess I can't deny my feelings for him, no matter how bad I wanted them to go away.

"I know," Jason said, "I should have told you about it, but I thought... never mind."

"What?" I asked.

"I thought that you were the one sending me the letters," Jason said, "not her."

"Why would you think that?" I asked.

"Because of the things she said," Jason replied. "She said that she's admired me for a long time and that she was in love with me and wanted to get the courage to tell me. She even signed the letters 'Miss T.', and I invited her to the movie set."

I stood silently and looked at Jason for a moment. But I guess I could see how he thought that. I mean, when you really want something to be true, your mind can make you think that it is.

"I just want to know the truth," I said.

Jason took a deep breath. "Okay," he said, "here it is."