3 . TRUTH IS THAT YOUR EYES DON’T LIE
That night I arrived in my hotel room, finding my bed completely covered in rose petals and a vase filled with – give or take, a dozen roses, long stemmed.
Curiously I wandered closer my bed, finding a note saying:
Just a little congratulations gift.
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
Yours,
Caleb.
I actually pinched myself a couple of times before I believed it was actually real. Caleb had to be one of the most romantic guys out there, because I never imagined anything like this happening outside some cheesy chick flick or fairytale.
But no – this wasn’t a fairytale, nor was it a dream. Completely real and legit.
And I couldn’t help but think: Nick never did anything like this for me, and that my friends are right – Caleb is a big improvement of my previous boyfriend.
Let’s just keep it at that.
I picked up the phone and called up Caleb, to thank him of course.
“Lucy!” His voice rang from the other end, filled with uttermost enthusiasm and affection. It instantly brought a smile upon my face.
“Hey,” I chuckled. “, thank you for the roses, Caleb. They’re absolutely gorgeous.” I gushed quietly, sitting down on the edge of my rose petal filled bed.
“It was my pleasure – but listen, I’m flying in at noon tomorrow, want me to drop by your hotel so we can get some lunch?”
“I thought you’d never ask!” I dramatically replied in a heartbeat, laughing it off afterwards.
“And maybe in the evening we can go catch a movie – I heard that new thing with Johnny Depp was really good.” He mused on, murmuring unintelligibly to himself a bit. I kind of loved that about him.
“About the evening,” I hesitantly began. “, one of my friends is throwing this little party. I was thinking of going – if you don’t mind of course?”
Okay – so yes, don’t freak out please. I told Nick I would drop by his house for that little ‘get together’ of his. And I wouldn’t say he was a friend, but what else was I supposed to call him? ‘Oh yeah, my ex boyfriend is throwing a little party. Feel like coming, Caleb?’ Yeah, that didn’t sound right at all. Caleb didn’t know much about my relationship with Nick. Well, he didn’t even know the alleged ex I mentioned once or twice was Nick. Otherwise I wouldn’t have even thought twice about inviting Caleb to come along to his party.
Caleb would rip Nick’s head off.
“Sure. Sounds good.” Caleb replied in a pleasant voice. “Anything, as long as it’s with you.”
“Okay!” I hope I didn’t sound too relieved. “We won’t stay too long. It’s just, dropping by out of politeness and lacking a good excuse.”
“I understand darling. Don’t worry, I don’t mind.” And he truthfully didn’t. He was the type of guy that would probably take a bullet for me. He was so selfless, gosh – sometimes I felt like he was much too perfect. What on Earth did he see in me?
“You’re the best.”
The remainder of the night I spent talking on the phone with Caleb and getting a good – and if I may add, well deserved sleep. Caleb swung by my hotel room with his luggage in the afternoon, and we caught a cab, and went to this cute, little ‘hole in the wall’ restaurant, downtown.
We weren’t lucky enough to avoid the paparazzi when we went for a stroll along the sidewalk, but we were growing used to all the attention by now. He was after all, a growing top model in Canada and I was doing pretty well myself in the acting business.
Caleb and I weren’t the type to run from paparazzi, like you see a lot of ‘celebrities’ do when they’re followed. I guess we’re both mature enough to deal with all the attention, and hey – it comes with the package, right?
After our walk, Caleb suggested we’d go to an art exhibition one of his friends was holding throughout this week. It was all really cool stuff – even though the whole ‘abstract modern art’ deal wasn’t my thing.
I felt so mature while we took in all the different pieces. I was actually at an art exhibition with my boyfriend, we’d just had lunch and he flew in all the way from Canada to spend time with me. Man.
When the sun started to set, we figured it was time to head on towards Nick’s little ‘get together’. Instead of grabbing a cab, like I had intended – Caleb rented a motorcycle. No, I’m not kidding. A Harley Davidson.
That piece of metal looked really fierce and on top of that, really dangerous.
As he handed me a helmet with an enthused grin etched on his face, I hesitantly pulled it over my head – screw helmet hair.
“Are you sure you know how to ride this thing?” I asked bashfully, not wanting to hurt his feelings with him thinking that I thought he wasn’t capable of handling a motorcycle.
“Of course. I’ve been riding one of these since I was thirteen.” Caleb assured me soothingly. He was twenty by now, which meant he had seven years of experience. That would’ve given him enough time to nail this way of transportation, right?
“I’m trusting you here.” I chuckled, as I hopped onto the back of the motorcycle, and he started off the engine.
“You’ll be fine. Don’t worry, darling.”
I quivered, as we sped off onto the road, heading for the Jonas household.
This must be some kind of miracle – because I was actually alive! Caleb didn’t kill the both of us on the danger magnet! I’m kidding. I knew Caleb would never make me do anything that put my safety into jeopardy. He was way too responsible to do anything like that.
I rang the doorbell, giggling as I took off my helmet, ruffling my hand through my hair. Carelessly trying to save the lost cause of my messed up hair while Caleb took care of the Harley.
“Hey Lucy, you made it!” Nick smiled brightly as the door swung open. His arms opened as he moved closer but suddenly hesitated.
Lucy was here! I almost thought she was just messing with my head when she said she’d come. I wanted to hug her, and hold her there for a moment. But as I moved closer to her, I suddenly noticed a dark figure moving not too far behind, and a tall, dark haired guy appeared at Lucy’s flank, protectively placing a hand on her side.
I immediately cringed back.
I felt a hand rest on my waist, as Caleb appeared at my side.
“Yeah, err we’re just dropping by.” I forced a little smile, feeling the awkward tension radiating from Nick.
Who was he? Well okay .. I did tell her it was okay if she brought a couple of friends. I’m sure he’s just a friend. A really, really close friend.
I did my best to mask my jealousy, honest.
“Oh Nick, this is my boyfriend Caleb. Caleb, this is Nick.”
Caleb politely extended his head with a friendly smile instantly forming on his face.
“Pleasure to meet you.” He said with his hoarse voice.
I glanced at the hand extended out towards me, and shook it quickly. In that typically, nonchalant guy way.
She had a boyfriend. I could have expected that. I mean – she’s smart, sweet and looking more beautiful than ever. Of course she has a boyfriend. Any guy would be an absolute fool to pass her by.
Yes, I was an absolute fool.
“Yeah, you too.” I croaked, pulling my hand back and stuffing them in the pockets of my jeans.
Nick looked incredibly uncomfortable. Did the fact that I had a boyfriend now, and he didn’t have a girlfriend (at least, as far as I know..) bother him? It would probably bother me if I was in his position.
“Lucy! You’re here!”
I looked past Nick to see Joe emerging through a door, and entering the hallway.
“Thank God! Some actual competition for Halo.” Joe continued with a golden smile when he popped up beside Nick.
I laughed. Those were the days indeed. Now I thought about it – I think I had most of my fun times while Nick and I double dated with Camilla and Joe. Guess both those relationships were never meant to last in the end.
Nick awkwardly glanced away.
“Oh and hey, congrats on the Oscar. We’re all so proud of you.” He quickly added.
I blushed.
“Awh, really? Thanks!”
“Now come on play some Halo. Like, Kevin and Nick seriously fail. Winning streaks become boring after ten in a row you know.”
Of course I knew he was exaggerating, but what the heck.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” I wailed dramatically, laughing as I followed Joe into the living room, finding Kevin, Frankie, Chelsea Staub, Brenda Song and Nicole Anderson hanging around on the couch around the TV.
“Come on Caleb – I’ll get you a drink.” Nick grumbled in a low tone.
“That’d be great,” I heard Caleb say politely. “, you want anything Luce?” He called out.
“Water would be great, thanks!” I called back with a smile, then greeting everyone in the living room.
Joe already had his hands glued to the XBOX controller, as he was setting up the game.
“Luce, sit your pretty butt down and grab a controller or else I’ll beat you without you even having touched the controller.”
I snickered.
“For one – that is something impossible for you to achieve and two, if it was possible for you – it would always be called cheating.”
“I never cheat.” Joe said, with a wicked grin appearing on his face.
“Do too!” The rest of the room roared in unison.
While near the end of the match – me, surprisingly being on the winning end, Nick and Caleb came in the room, Caleb placing a glass of water which I presumed was for me, on the table.
I finished it off a but abruptly, so I could introduce Caleb to everyone, which I did and thankfully, everybody liked him. How could they not, honestly?
Okay, so maybe not everybody liked him. Nick sure didn’t seem to. Maybe he just felt intimidated, not being the only ‘hotshot’ in the room. Who knew. I kind of got a kick out of seeing him act so miserable and humble. No – okay not a kick. That makes me sound sadistic and evil, but I didn’t mean it that way.
Or maybe I did, just a little. No – I’m not like that. I’m not the angry ex girlfriend. I’m the .. hurt ex girlfriend? Who finds relief in the fact she’s not the only one who had to deal with negative emotions because of the relationship?
Yeah, that’s what I meant.
Sort of.
