Every Pearl Has Its Oyster (23 page)

Gemma got back to Los Angeles fully ready to talk about anything Tyler wanted to talk about. She could talk about her past for once, answer any questions he wanted to know. She could even talk about her future, her career, maybe meet with that music producer with that new record label. Gemma didn’t know the answers to many of those questions, but for once, she was fine with the idea of talking it all out, laying it all out there. She could and would talk about anything Tyler wanted to talk about, but much to her surprise, Tyler didn’t want to talk about anything at all. He was silent when she first stepped in, not even lifting his head to see that it was her walking in. He didn’t ask how she was, what had happened, why she had left in the first place.

She couldn’t quite blame him. Gemma knew what she did was somewhat out of line and that Tyler was probably worried despite her request for him not to be. But she had felt backed up against a wall, repeating herself over and over with no desire for understanding on his end. He had become single-minded in his love for her, seeing only what he felt were his duties to her and not what Gemma truly needed. But her frustration had also been a source of guilt. If nothing else, Gemma understood that Tyler did everything he did out of love for her.

“Hey,” Gemma said, not knowing what else to say. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and a pair of leggings that Kerri had given her after the jump. The Thierry Marc gown was balled up in the kangaroo pocket of her sweatshirt along with her clutch and now totally dead phone.

“Had fun?” Tyler asked, finally glancing up at her. His face softened to a quick smile before dropping again.

“Um, you know,” Gemma shook her head. She felt as if those two simple words were some kind of test. “I broke my phone. I’m going to need a new one.”

“I’ll drive you,” Tyler said, standing up and grabbing the keys that had already been sitting beside him.

“Where’s Mike?” Gemma said as she opened the front door. “And Andro?”

“Mike got the day off. Andro’s been let go.”

“Oh,” Gemma replied, simply as she followed Tyler into his car. She almost felt kind of bad about Andro but she wasn’t sure why. Gemma wasn’t sure what she was expecting but she knew that this wasn’t quite how she had envisioned her return home. Tyler didn’t seem angry at her, a scenario she was prepared for, nor did was he completely ignoring her. Not knowing what more to say, Gemma leaned back in the passenger seat, gazing out the window as they pulled onto the main streets.

“So how’d you break your phone?” Tyler asked. Gemma took the phone out of her pocket, looking at the black screen.

“I dropped it in the water,” Gemma said. Tyler nodded as he made a turn.

“In the men’s restroom at The Vicente Oak? Or cliff-diving in Croatia?” Gemma looked over at Tyler who seemed emotionless behind his shades. She was wondering just how much Andro and Mike had put together and what information they had passed on.

“Tyler, I just needed some air. I needed some space from those two.”

“Those two?” Tyler scoffed. “Or me?” Gemma stayed silent for a moment, wondering what her answer was. It proved to be a mistake. Tyler bit his lip, his face reddening in anger.

“Tyler, please,” Gemma begged. “I was so happy to see you just now and I’m really sad that I made you sad, that’s not what I meant to do. I just needed a moment to think and I couldn’t seem to get that so I just left and I know that was wrong. Please, Tyler. Please try to understand.”

“Are you going to see Damian tonight?” Tyler asked. Gemma furrowed her brows, staring at him with confusion.

“What?” Gemma shook her head. “Why would I do that? Why are you asking this?”

“He’s still in town,” Tyler shrugged. “Playing The Clippers. So are you going to see him?”

“Why would I go see him, Tyler?” Gemma yelled. “Why are you trying to start something when all I want is to talk? Like you’ve always wanted.”

“Mike told me what he did,” Tyler continued, his voice eerily calm. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited at a red light. “Using his date to distract them while he helped you out through a window in the men’s bathroom. They said he came out of the bathroom by himself, without a shirt on.” Tyler laughed, bitterly.

“Fine, yes,” Gemma said. “He helped me get out. But it wasn’t planned! I just ran into him in the vanity room.”

“Oh, right,” Tyler sneered. “Every time you see him is totally unplanned. Right, that’s believable. And what the hell was he doing without a fucking shirt? What was he trying?”

“Nothing.” Gemma glared at Tyler, her heart pounding in anger. Tyler continued to drive, not bothering to look over at Gemma. She sighed, looking forward again to see they were passing Staples Center. It was only then that she realized they were downtown. “What’re we doing?” she asked as Tyler pulled in front of a hotel entryway. Gemma knew it was where the away team stayed when playing a Los Angeles team. “Tyler, what are you doing?” Gemma panicked, wanting to text Damian a warning despite being unable to. The valet came around and opened Gemma’s door. She looked over at Tyler who was already getting out and handing over his keys.

She followed suit, not wanting to make a scene. Tyler strode into the lobby and past the front desk. Gemma continued to follow, looking anxiously around her for paparazzi. They stepped into the elevator. Tyler pressed a button without hesitation.

“How do you know where he’s staying?” Gemma asked.

“He knows I’m coming,” Tyler shrugged.

“Why?” Gemma studied Tyler’s nonchalance with confusion. “You were already planning on meeting him? Before you knew when I was coming home?” When the elevator door opened, Tyler sprinted out to the end of the hall, pounding on the door he was looking for. Damian opened the door just in time to see Gemma coming up behind Tyler.

“You’re back.” He narrowed his eyes at her, giving her a quick smile before turning back to Tyler. “I thought it was just going to be you and me?” he asked. Tyler shoved Damian into the room, pushing the door closed behind him. Gemma gasped, putting her hands up to stop the door from closing completely. She pushed it open, running in after them.

“Tyler, stop!” Gemma yelled. Tyler shoved Damian again, backing him into the room.

“C’mon,” Damian said, trying to hold his ground. “You said you wanted to talk, so let’s talk.”

“No, I said I wanted to settle this.” Tyler gritted his teeth before pulling his arm back and throwing it into Damian’s jaw. Gemma screamed as Damian fell to the ground. Instinctively, she ran to see if he was okay. Tyler stepped in front of her, blocking her path. She could see the corner of his lip bleeding. Damian pushed himself back up to a sitting position, glaring up at Tyler.

“Let’s not do this,” Damian said as he rubbed his jaw. Gemma watched, wide-eyed and in shock. Damian wasn’t the violent type but she knew what he was capable of. She had seen what he did to Matt in high school, when Matt had called Gemma a whore. She didn’t want to see what he could do to Tyler.

“Tyler,” Gemma said, hugging him from behind. She ran a soothing hand down his chest. “Tyler, please. Let’s just go home.” Damian stayed on the ground. He looked as if he was using all his energy to suppress his anger and keep himself there. Gemma waited for any sign of Tyler to relent. She closed her eyes, pressing her lips into his shoulders. She was using everything she knew to calm him. “C’mon, babe. Take me home?” Her eyes fluttered open to see Tyler turned to her. She tilted her head, nuzzling her face into body. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Damian looking away.

Tyler turned around, putting his hands on her waist and leading her out. Gemma sighed, relieved as she went to open the door. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, Tyler let go of her. She turned to see Damian back on his feet and Tyler running towards him again. This time, Damian was ready. He held up his forearms, blocking a blow to the stomach. Tyler drew his fists back, swinging again at Damian’s face. Damian dodged it, sending Tyler plummeting to the floor.

“What are you trying to do?” Damian seethed, standing above Tyler.

“You deserve to get the crap beaten out of you,” Tyler laughed, getting back on his feet. “For messing with my girl. I should have never trusted you.”

“If you want an apology, I’ll give it to you,” Damian said, putting both hands up in front of him to show he didn’t want to fight. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have deceived Andro and Mike like that.”

“And?” Tyler challenged. “Do you want to keep going?” Damian looked quickly at Gemma before returning his focus to Tyler.

“No,” he replied. “I’m done.”

Tyler balled his hands up, but instead of throwing a punch, he threw his entire body into Damian’s, pinning him to the ground. With Damian immobilized, Tyler smiled before letting his fist fly into Damian’s face.

“No!” Gemma screamed, running to put her body on Tyler’s. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, using all her strength to pull him from Damian. She could hear knocks at the door and voices on the other side.

“Damian!” someone yelled. “What’s goin’ on in there?” Gemma gasped. It had briefly slipped her mind. Damian had a game tonight. He had a team that was depending on him and if the fight went on for any longer, he might not be able to play.

“Tyler, get off of him,” she demanded, holding her grip around his shoulders. Gemma looked down to see Damian turning his head away, blinking away his daze from taking not one, but two punches. Tyler breathed heavily, not moving. “Tyler. Get off of him.” He stood up, taking a step back from Damian but keeping his eyes on him. Damian pushed himself to his feet, brushing himself off as he stared right back at Tyler.

“Get out,” he said.

“What?” Tyler mocked. “You’re done?”

“That’s right,” Damian said. “Get out.”

“If only they knew,” Tyler said, laughing. “That this is what it would be like. That Damian Evans, the ‘real’ man in Gemma’s life, can’t put up a decent fight against a harmless ‘teen idol’ like me.”

“Don’t kid yourself,” Damian wiped the blood from his lips and smiled. He gestured towards the door. “I may need to play a game tonight, but I believe teen idols need their face to earn a buck. So really, I suggest you get out. Now.” Gemma swallowed hard. She closed her eyes, worried for what would come next. There was no doubt that Tyler had seen Damian’s last statement as a challenge. She could still hear his teammates knocking at the door. Tyler stood with his feet planted, unmoving. Her heartbeat began to feel like a hum.

“Let’s go,” Gemma urged. When Tyler did move, he was pulling his arm back yet again. Shocked, Gemma grabbed his elbow to keep him from throwing another punch. The force of his arm threw her forward and onto the ground. She turned on her side, stunned. Damian knelt beside her.

“Are you okay?” he asked urgently, pushing her hair back to look at her face.

“I’m fine,” Gemma replied. She turned to see Tyler grab the collar of Damian’s shirt, pulling him back up.

“Don’t touch her!” Tyler said, still holding onto his shirt. Damian stared at him for a beat before pulling himself from his grasp. And then, within a second, Damian had sent his fist flying into Tyler’s face. Tyler was on the floor, on his back. He brought his hands to cover his face, coughing as he struggled to sit up.

Gemma looked up to see Damian at the door. Josh and the rest of his concerned teammates huddled outside. He pushed past them, disappearing down the hall. They glanced into the room, looking shocked at what they saw.

“What the hell happened, man?” Josh called out. “Did you do that?”

“Yo, that’s not exactly a fair fight,” someone else whispered. Gemma heard them laughing as the door closed. She looked down at Tyler, hoping he hadn’t heard them too.

BREAKING: THAT FIGHT WE ALL KNEW WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER HAS FINALLY HAPPENED, PEOPLE!

The Durt

November 13th

You heard it here first! A direct source tells us that Tyler Chase and Damian Evans has finally stopped pretending they like each other – by shoving their fists into each others’ faces! We at The Durt are totally sorry for not being in that hotel room, videotaping it for all you Durty girls out there who no doubt, would pay a pretty penny to see these two in the boxing ring. But then again, who are we to take away the oh-so-sweet way your Durty minds are probably imagining it? I’m not sure I want to see it happen any other way than how it’s been playing in my head (both in Gladiator costumes in all their oiled-up, muscle-y goodness).

No word on who won the fight but the topic sure is stirring up some debate in our cubicles. So let’s hear it, who do you think came out on top?

TYLER CHASE AND DAMIAN EVANS’ FIGHT!

Pop Dinner

November 14th

It was inevitable. Tyler Chase and Damian Evans were involved in a fistfight yesterday according to sources – as well as both parties’ completely bruised and bloodied faces! No official word on who won the fight, but let’s be honest here – who do you think did? The popstar or the 6’2, 220 lb. athlete?

Though motivations are unconfirmed, guesses are that Chase and Evans were fighting for – wait for it, you guessed it – Queen Bee. Who got her? Looks like she stuck with her guy, Tyler. Hey, at least the kid won something!

Gemma lay in the empty bed in her t-shirt and boy shorts, staring at the ceiling and letting the alarm go on her phone. The marimba ringtone was annoying enough to wake her up but not annoying enough for her to shut it off and get out of bed. That meant trudging downstairs to watch Tyler’s big live interview for Carbine on some stupidly popular morning show. Unlike the rest of America, she’d be forcing herself to watch it.

It was his first interview in months and no one expected it to go by without mention of his fight with Damian. Their brawl had been the media’s early Christmas gift – they’d salivated when the story first broke and their speculation on it had yet to end. Who threw the first punch? Was Bee cheating with Damian? Who cheated first? Who won the fight? Their months and months of “Tyler vs. Damian” stories had finally manifested into reality, and now that the rivalry was real, they were desperate to know its details. With Damian in the midst of an NBA season and refusing non-basketball questions, Gemma had no doubt that the media would seek answers from Tyler.