Chapter 30

LAYLA

As we take the van back to the hotel and we get out, I look at the crowd from another point of view. I realized that I am not even close to what he wants. I know now that he is probably a player and I want a relationship. He wants to choose the most beautiful girl and the easy ones, while I do not want that.

As I make my way back to my room I hear the words of Rita again. But my mind can not put the two together. I really do not know what Jake she is talking about. I do not know exactly what room he is staying in but I wonder what he is doing right now.

I do not know why I spend so much time thinking about him while he is clearly not going to fall for me. I am only a stylist and that is what I will stay. If something happens between us it would only be a fling for him. I am no one of importance and if he does look for a relationship he might want someone that also a star.

I wish I had an off switch in my mind so that I can just put the Jake switch off. I need to find other things to occupy my mind but I will have to do with sleep right now. I fell on my bed completely exhausted. I am the first one of our roommates to arrive. I love to have the room to myself even if it is just for a few hours. Then I feel myself drifting off to dreamland and I wonder what tomorrow will hold for me.

I wake up without somebody waking me up but at my own choice. I really never thought that I would wake up without having to do something almost immediately. As I look around the room I see most of my roommates have already started dressing and getting ready for the day. I am just about to ask someone what we are doing today when the door opens.

Stacy works straight up to me and says.

"Good morning, sunshine"

I can not help but laugh at her comment because I do not feel like sunshine at all.

"Good morning"

"I heard you did so well last night and I saw the outfits you made for him. I think you are off to a good start"

"Thank you so much, it means a lot coming from you"

"Then I am sure you would enjoy what I have to say to you next. We are only leaving Paris tomorrow as there are still a few things that need to be done today but you and some of the crewmates get the day off. So, enjoy Paris"

I almost can not believe what she is telling me. I still want to say thank you but she is already out the door. Then those famous words of Jason come back to me. "Whenever you get a chance to sightsee, you better take it"

I do not even think twice and quickly jump into the shower. I want to go and explore Paris today because I do not know when I would get a chance to come here again. I realized that I am the only one of our roommates that seems to be off today and I guess everyone gets a different day.

After I shower quickly take out my phone and try to figure out what I can see and where we are located. I am happy to find out that we are close to most of the landmarks and I really want to check them out. I put on my best dressed outfit for Paris and I have a smile on my face as I leave the hotel.

JAKE

It is good not to wake up with Mark banging down my door. I realize that it is almost two in the afternoon as I finally woke up after a very tiring night. It is strange how I still feel tired as if I have not slept at all but I know that a show like that takes everything out of me.

I decide to get myself a nice stiff breakfast and just as room service arrived I also get a side of Mark. I almost thought I would have a peaceful day today but Mark is grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh no, what did you do?"

"I take offense that you think I would do something that would make you say oh no"

I lift up my one eyebrow because I know Mark very well. When he sees an opportunity he will always seize it. Then he says.

"Okay, okay but it is not that bad. I just scored as an interview or two with the local press"

An interview is probably the last thing that I want to do because they always have these questions that interfere with my personal life and right now my personal life is a mess. Of course, I am not talking about relationships but the wolf thing.

"You know, I do not like interviews"

"I know, I know but you are a Superstar. The people want to know what is going on with the Jake Anderson?"

It is interesting that he would say exactly the thing that I have been thinking about for these past couple of months. What is going on with Jake Anderson? When I say my own name it almost sounds foreign to me because I do not know who I am anymore.

"So when you say one or two interviews, what does that really mean?"

"Well..."

"Oh no, I am not going to get away after at least four hours, right?"

I can see Mark walking to the door as if he does not want to hear what I have to say and then he turns to me.

"The people need Jake Anderson...give the people what they want..."

Then he disappears but before the door closes he says.

"Be ready at three..."

Then he is gone. He knows he better run because he knows that I hate interviews. I stand up unwillingly and walk to my shower. I can only but hope and pray that they do not provoke me and that then the wolf might appear.

I guess as long as the questions are harmless I can just answer them. Then after showering and putting on an outfit that I think is fitting, I make my way to the conference room. Mark does not have to say much to me because by now, I know how his mind works.

Just before I open the door I take a breather. Suddenly and without warning my thoughts goes to Layla. I really thought that I would be able to focus on what I am doing now and just kind of forget about her but it does not seem like she is going to leave my thoughts anytime soon.

I take a deep breath and try and forget about the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. I need to focus on the questions and give all the right answers. Then I open the door and my first interviewer waits for me.

I smile and shake their hands and he seems to be like a nice guy. I take my seat and then they start to record my interview. Mark is not too far away and listening carefully to everything I have to say.

"It is such a pleasure to have you with us, Mr. Anderson"

I can not help but laugh and then I say to him.

"Please, my dad was Mr. Anderson. You can just call me Jake"

"Thank you, then let us just get right into it. Your fans have a few questions and we decided to ask some of them if you do not mind?"

"No, of course, not I love my fans and would like to hear what they have to ask"

"Okay, Leslie from California would like to know, if you could not sing at all what would you like to have become?"

It is nice to hear a different question than what I usually get and I sit back to think for a little while but soon I know exactly what I want to say.

"Well, Leslie from California, I would have loved to be like my dad. He had his own hardware store and I just loved being with him in the store every day. I always thought that I would also own my own hardware store one day"

"Thank you for that answer..."

Suddenly the sadness of my dad passing away comes back to me and I struggle to regain normality because I realized that I probably need my dad now more than ever.

"Let us move on to the next question. Sharon from New Jersey would like to know if you are seeing anyone right now?"

And then it happens, the same old questions over and over again. I know that my fans would like to fantasize that I think about them and only them and that I do not have anyone in my life except them. I remember how at the beginning of my career, I was not supposed to share my relationships with the press because my audience was girls and they liked that I was single.

"I am single at the moment"

In an instant, my thoughts are back to Layla. I was just wondering how it would feel to say that I am in a relationship and to know that this relationship will last. I wish I can get to know her even better and maybe make something of it.

But I know this is only wishful thinking and I quickly put on my fake smile for the interviewer.