Face the Music (43 page)

“What the hell?  Give me that!” I
forgot
about my novel and
reached
for the computer.  “I can’t believe it.  I never even saw a camera.”

Emily laughed.  “Those reporters are ruthless.  That’s what makes it so fun.”

I was not as amused.  “
It’s
such an invasion of privacy.  Why would anyone care about this?”  I scrolled down to look at the rest.  There was a picture of him pulling the car seat out of the box, one of me in the car tugging at the straps, and another of us leaning against the rail of a cart return stall.

If the pictures were upsetting, the comments people had posted were downright insulting.  Jen212 from Tallahassee wrote,
Chris could do so much better, why would he waste his time with her?
  Someone calling herself S
tarluvr replied,
It’s probably not even his.

“They
don’t
even know me!”  I was outraged
.

“When you’re dating the latest heartthrob, pe
ople get curious,” Emily said.  “And judgmental.”

“
How do you leave a comment?”  I scrolled down the page, but Emily grabbed the computer.

“I wouldn’t
do that,” she warned.
 
“It would just make it worse
.”

I decided she was probably right.  “I wonder if Chris has seen it.”
  I pulled out my phone and called him.

He hadn’t.  “Nope, I had no idea we were being followed,” he said.  “But it is kind of funny, don’t you think?”  I
had
only told him about the picture
s.  I
hadn’t
share
d
the comments.

“I don’t see anything funny about it.  They’re insinuating that I’m carrying your child.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Let me make it up to you.  I’ll take you out tonight, somewhere special.”

My mood brightened at t
he thought.  “Where?”

“You’ll see.  Just wear something nice, I’ll pick you up at eight.”

***

The cab pulled up to the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.  “Seriously?”  I squealed, gazing out at the flashy m
arquee.  I was excited.  T
he only kind of theater
I’d ever been to was the movies.  “What are we gonna see?”

“
Billy Elliot
.”

“Didn’t that just come out?  I read the review this morning, it sounds fantastic.”

“Sure did,” he said with a grin.

A crowd of reporters greeted us just outside the doors, and I was blinded by bright flashes and bombarded with questions.  “What is the nature of your relationship with Chris Knots?” reporters shouted.  “How would you best describe your association with the Superstars?” 

I couldn’t believe they hadn’t asked if I was pregnant.

Chris handled it like a pro, smiling coolly and shaking his head.  When they continued to press, Chris took my hand and pulled me into the theater.

“Wow!” he said with wide eyes.  “Who knew my love life would be so interesting?”

“Yeah, who knew,” I mumbled, turning to look at the still flashing cameras. 

Chris handed the usher our tickets, and we were escorted all the way down to row C of the orchestra section.  “These are amazing,” I whispered once we got settled into our center row seats.  “How did you get these tickets?”

He patted my arm.  “Life in celebrity row isn’t all bad.”

The orchestra began, and the thick curtains opened.  I was totally entranced for t
he duration of the nearly three-
hour production.  I laughed, nearly cried, and was on my feet when it was over.

“Thanks for that,” I said as Chris and I walked, arm-in-arm
, out of the theater
.  “I really enjoyed it.”

“You are most definitely welcome,” he said.
 
“
Now
,
let me
get you home.
”

Chapter 22

I’d been
more than a little upset when Emily
had
showed me the pictures from the
Target
parking lot.  I dealt with it
,
though, consoling myself that
the pictures
were
,
at least
,
contained to a small, specific audie
nce.  Only those who logged on
to that website would see them.  But
,
when I saw my face on the front of several newspapers the next day, I was
absolutely
furious. 

The pictures were of Chris and me at the theatre, and the headlines read,
Is this the future for Knots
?  And,
Allison Banks?  What’s the Catch?
 

That evening’s
Superstardom
didn’t do much to boost my mood.  Tears pooled in my eyes when the judges announced that Melody had to go.  Now I
didn’t have any students.  O
r a job.

My phone rang as I was getting ready for bed.  It was Paul. 
Seriously
? 
Could the day get any worse?

I didn’t bother with a greeting.  “Why are you calling me?”

“Well
,
hello to you, too.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to know what you’re doing.  What are you thinking?”

“What are you talking about?”

He snickered.  “Imagine my surprise when I got to work this morning and saw your face plast
ered all over the front of the e
ntertainment section. 
Y
ou, Allison Banks, the camera-shy, never-b
een-kissed girl from Chicago,
dating Mr. Superstardom himself.”

I pulled off my socks and crawled into bed.  “And?”

“It’s
not like
you.  I had to hear it for myself.  You and Knots, is this for real?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but
,
yes, we’re seeing each other.”

“And it’s going well?”

“It is.”
 
Where
is
this conversation going?

“Let me ask you one
more
thing,” he said.  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but w
hat do you think w
ill happen when the show’s over
?  Do you honestly think he’ll stick around?
”

“I don’t see how-”

Paul interrupted me.  “
Is it possible
he’s just using you?  You know,
as
a
personal plaything
,
while he’s in town?”
  H
e
paused before continuing
,
“I’m just
trying to keep it real
.  I care about you.  Don’t
let yourself
get hurt.”

I buried my face in my pillow to keep from screaming.  What kind of an arrogant, self-serving prick was this guy?  What had I ever seen in him? 

“Chris would never do that,” I fina
lly said.  “He’s not like you.  H
e doesn’t just run away from things.”

Paul’s voice dropped
by
several decibels. 
“I’ve apologized for that.  I
tried to explain.  Please, Allison, just be careful
.”

“You lost the right to give
me
advice the day you left.  Goodnight, Paul.  Don’t call me again.”
  I hung up before he could say anything else.

***

I went to the studio the next morning to clean out my
class
room.  It was amazing how much stuff had accumulated in the few short months I’d been there.
  I was reaching up into a high cabinet when someone said my name.

“Allison?” 

I jumped
and turned around to see who it was
.  “Yes?  Oh, hi, Mr. Doveland.  I didn’t hear you come in
.”

He smiled warmly.
 
“I wanted to stop by and thank you for your time
here
.  The kids greatly benefited from all your hard work.” 

“T
h
ank you.  It was a lot of fun.  I
really enjoyed
being here
.” 

He looked around and sat down at one of the desks.  “There’s somethin
g I need to discuss with you.”

“Okay.
”

“
I
t’s
come to my attention that you
and Chris have recently become,” h
e cleared
his throat, “
close.”

“Yes, we have,” I said cautiously, wondering where this conversation was leading.

“Right.”  He frowned and looked at his
folded
hands.  “Well
,
I think there are some things that need to be considered before your…” he hesitated again, “
…
relationship goes any further.”

I shook my head, not seeing his point.  “I’m sorry, what are you trying to say?”

“
Y
ou’re a
smart
girl, Allison.  And if you really care for Chris, which I think you do, you’ll understand what I’m telling you.”  His eyes narrowed
,
and he looked at me seriously.  “The most important thing for him right now is to stay focused on the competition.  There are only three
performers
left, and he can’t afford to be distracted.  Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Well, yes, but…”