Journey, Jay T. [ebook reader macos TXT] 📗

had done. You know, if they had just told me they liked each other, I would have backed off, but if they did that, you would be sleeping in your friend’s apartment.” I say and glance at him.
“Yeah, well, I should call them up sometime.”
“Oh, but you should meet Steven! If I was still with him, he would have loved me even more than you do.”
“Who is this kid?” Darren pulled me away and looked me in the eyes seriously.
“Darren, I’m kidding.” I say. He relaxes and laughs a bit.
“Seriously, who is he?”
“He was my first kiss, and my first boyfriend. He lives in Atlanta.” I smile and remember the old memories once again. Two knocks on the door snapped me out of my thoughts and I look at Darren.
“I’m going to have to meet this kid, but that’ll have to wait until after you meet my parents.” We get up and he opens the door.
They looked like my parents. The way they carried themselves, the way they greeted Darren. Man, they would get along well. After they greeted Darren, they saw me standing behind him. His mother, Tracey, looks me up and down while his father, Vincent, shakes my hand and I introduce myself to them. I, then, shake Tracey’s hand and I hear voices coming into the room.
“You brought Nick and Annie?” Darren asked, shocked.
“Well, we wanted them to meet this girl you’ve been seeing, for three months I must add, for themselves.” Vincent strikes.
‘This girl?’ I must not make a very good impression. I worry and look at Darren. He takes my hand in reassurance. His parents look at me and look at Darren. There’s an unreadable expression on both their faces. Right then, Nick and Annie walk in. Tracey and Vincent walk inside and look around the room. I introduce myself to Nick and Annie, and Nick looks at Darren in approval, while Annie is much like her parents, unreadable.
They follow Tracey and Vincent into our room. I sigh and Darren tugs me along. The feeling of acceptance is high in my list of emotions. Wishing that they would accept me, I decide to do my very best. Darren shoots me an encouraging look and that, alone, gives me the confidence to make it through this night.
“How did you guys meet?” Annie asks. Her voice sounds sweet and light.
“We actually met here.” Darren answers. “I was coming to stay here for a night after mom and dad kicked me out, and I was planning on moving in with Rick. I accidently go this key and walked in on Mae sleeping. She’s a light sleeper, and woke up right when I opened the door.”
They all stare at him in shock.
“Well, that was our first time meeting, and I was very open to meeting new people. It may seem weird, but I even introduce myself, even with the chance that Darren was a rapist.” I bluffed, and the story went on with both of us adding on to what each other said. They took it all in and they believed it. It was just too detailed to be made up.
They all wanted to eat at a restaurant that they apparently went to quite a bit when everyone still lived at home. Darren agrees for the both of us when I get a call from David. I step into the hallway to answer it. David was telling me the details of my new photo shoot. It was supposed to be a surprise for Sandra; a princess concept was the idea, in order to give Sandra the childhood she never had. I was ecstatic. Sandra treated me like her second daughter. After my lessons, I would often go to Sandra’s office to follow her around, watching her work and keeping her company. My happiness was like no other; I knew Darren has always imagined me as royal, after I told him about my parents. I get off the phone and start towards the door. I hear Darren’s family talking to him about me. Feeling wronged, I stand outside and listen.
“Don’t you think she’s a bit young?” Annie asks. Tracey agrees, while Vincent stays silent.
“Nah, she should be a bit younger so that she and Darren are on the same maturity levels.” Nick says. I smile and I hear Darren laugh.
“I think she’s too flawless. Did she get plastic surgery?” Tracey asks.
“No, mom, she looks the same way she did since she was little. I saw some pictures.” Darren says.
“Oh, well, can you explain why she isn’t in school or living with her parents?” Tracey asks.
“Mae is a model. She works for Sandra Cass, and she gets an education through something like homeschooling. Mae ran away after her life got really complicated in Virginia, and Mae and her parents had a falling out. A week ago, Mae was supposed to go to Europe, but she ended up in Virginia, and her and her parents are back on good terms. They found out about her career and they let her stay in New York.”
“Well, that is good. What do her parents do?” Vincent asks.
“Her father is the mayor of Sharpston, and her mom is the head judge there.” Darren says.
“Wait, so she’s rich too?” Nick asks. I hear someone whack him through his sharp gust of air that left his body.
“Nick, that’s rude!” Annie says. I finally decide to walk back in.
“Alright, I’m hungry!” I announce cheerfully.
“Let’s go, then.” Darren grabs my hand, and we walk to the lobby. Tracey and Vincent brought a car, and they wanted us to ride with them. I accept when Darren was about to refuse. I shoot him a glance and smile. Nick and Annie would meet us there. Darren and I sit in the back seat while Vincent drove. The car ride was quiet with the occasional questions that came from Tracey and Vincent. They asked me what I liked to do in high school, what I was like when I was a child. They drove us to the place where David took me to eat after my first real photo shoot with Sandra for the magazine.
“Oh, I’ve eaten here with David before!” I squeal to Darren excitedly. He smiles at me and squeezes my hand.
“You’ve eaten here with whom?” Tracey asks.
“David is the new vice president and an important director of Mae’s agency.” Darren says.
“I see. Mae, dear, I heard you were a model.” Tracey says.
“Yes, I am. I was walking in the park and David found me and offered me a job.”
“How did you know he wasn’t scamming you?” Tracey questions.
“Well, I don’t know if Darren told you, but I ran away and when I got to New York, I decided to take chances, no matter how bad that may seem. I guess I’m just good at reading people.” I give Darren a shy smile and turn to look out at the cars in the long line.
We get to the valet parking and we all get out. The valet parker gave me a longing stare, and I just smile at him. Tracey laughs at his expression when we get away from the busy people. Her laugh is full of joy and she tells me that she used to get that all the time when she was my age. I laugh and Tracey guides us to the table.
“Annie was never much of a social person, although she was the prettiest girl in her school. She was the smartest, earning the number one spot in her class. Tons of people fell to her shy charms, and she got the cutest boys in her school.” Tracey tells me. I smile, thinking back to when I got all the cute guys, when I was the smartest, when I was cheerleading.
“She seems so nice.” I tell Tracey. She smiles in acknowledgement. I could feel her starting to accept me. Vincent smiled at us whenever we started to talk as well. I craved their acceptance, and when I could feel the acceptance, I relaxed more. Nick and Annie showed up, and they made their way to the table.
The night went by fast and I successfully got all of them to accept me. Nick took us home, and I was grateful to have my comfy bed back. I changed and cleaned up myself when Darren was taking a shower. I smile to myself, thanking the voices for everything I’ve ever wanted. I hear them laugh, and they welcome me. I look into the mirror and I notice that my nose was slightly different from the day before. It was cuter. Perfect. It wasn’t something you would notice if you even looked close enough, but I notice it because it is my own body. I poke it and once I get bored, I plop into bed, and I fall asleep instantly. I feel a kiss on my forehead and some say goodnight to me.

It’s been a week since I just got back to New York; today was the press conference day. I grimace at the thought of having to answer so many questions. It felt as if I was being put on trial. I smile and think that this was part of my transformation. If I was meant to be something important, something that the voices had to train for three days, then this would just transform me into a person with great composure. I met the male who was the new face of Sandra’s line, Trevor Halls. Trevor had messy black hair and gorgeous blue eyes; his body was six feet tall with perfect muscles. He was flirtatious with me, and I just gave him my best smiles.
“Come on, Mae. This won’t be as bad as you think.” David takes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile. “I have to find myself some time to find you a publicist and manager.” I laugh along with his good-hearted laugh.
“Don’t worry about it. I can manage today.” I smile and look at the platform with the long table and three chairs. Sandra appeared at my side and hugged me.
“Sweetie, don’t be nervous. You’ll do fabulously.” Sandra smiled at me and they announced that the three of us could now be seated. My name card was place on the right side of Sandra while Trevor’s was on the left. When we walked on the platform, there were tons of lights from the press taking out pictures. I tried not to let it blind me. We were seated and the announcer said that the reporter could start asking questions.
Sandra led the entire process, because all the questions were directed towards her. I was relieved, but then when the questions started to land on me and Trevor, I panicked. Sandra held my hand under the table, giving me encouraging squeezed, and that gave me the courage.
“Mae, are you and Trevor a couple?” The reporters were really blunt. I wanted to laugh, but I suppressed it.
“I just met Trevor a little while ago. I think that an acquaintance is the right way to start off this friendship.” I glance at Trevor and see him nod in agreement.
“What do you feel toward Mae right now, Trevor?”
“Mae seems like a very sweet and likable person. Of course, I would never do anything to cost us this job, so I would like to become friends outside of work, but nothing more.” Trevor answers. After a few more questions, the press conference was over.
“It was nice meeting you, Trevor.” I say we get off the platform.
“It was my pleasure. You are quite a beauty.” Trevor takes my hand in his and kisses