“Are you alright Starr?” Sai looked up from her book in the living room and stared into the dark room.
Starr laughed and walked out in her baby blue slippers. She sat on the arm of a huge chair. “I’m fine.” She grinned widely and closed her eyes.
“This is the happiest I’ve seen you all week.” Sai popped a green ball into her mouth. Starr had no idea what it was. But she was used to seeing weird looking foods that Sai ate lying around.
“This guy I liked kissed me tonight. I can’t stop thinking about him!” She slid down onto the soft cushion and hung her legs and hands over the side.
“Is it that one guy that walked you home tonight? He was pretty cute.”
“Yeah. I know! He teaches my drama class.”
“Oh…” Sai had a very weary swerve in her voice.
“What?”
“That’s not a good idea…dating your teacher.” Sai got up, picked up her plate and walked to the kitchen.
“Why not?” Starr rubbed her shoulders as a breeze blew on them.
“You may think college guys and girls are more mature than high school, but they’re not. If they don’t approve of your guys’ relationship, they can and will do anything to make your lives a living hell.” Sai stroked the white plate and scratched her ear with her shoulder.
“Seriously? It wouldn’t be any of their buisness anyway. So why would they care?” She squinted as the girl she admired ruined her hopes.
“They don’t care! That’s the way people are. So rude and inconsiderate. That’s why India is heaven to me.” She stared at the wall behind the kitchen sink and slowly started sinking into the warm water.
“I don’t care. I’m not gonna let a bunch of stupid people stop me from seeing AJ.” Starr shook her head with angered eyes.
“Just be careful Starr.”
Starr opened her eyes to a soft knock on the door. She sat up and glanced out the window that was shaded with blue sheik curtains. She looked down at her cloud PJ pants and white tank top. She walked sluggishly towards the door, trying to fight off leg cramps. She didn’t remember anything that happened yesterday until she saw AJ standing in the doorway.
“Good morning.” AJ smiled. He lifted a bag in front of her face. She smiled when the big yellow ‘M’ blocked his face. “Brought breakfast.”
“Thank you.” She backed up and let him in.
”Sorry if I woke you up. I couldn’t wait to see you. Do you…even remember me?” He smiled as he saw the blank look on her face.
“Yeah! It just takes me awhile to realize I’m not sleeping anymore.”
AJ sat the bag on the coffee table and eased onto the coach. “Nice place. Most women are always so neat and clean.” Starr walked slowly to him and sat down. For some reason, she was trying to keep a distance from him. AJ noticed and began regreting kissing her last night. “So…about last night.” He looked away from Starrs’ eyes and sat back.
“Yeah. I-“
“I really want to make something of it, but-“
“Everyone else.” She finished, twisting her earring.
“Do you think we can keep it from them?” AJ laid his hand along the back of the coach with an unsure frown.
“Maybe. Even if they find out, I don’t care.” She smiled at him. They sat in silence, as if it were the last time they were ever going to see each other and they had nothing to say.
“Does this mean you’re my girl?” He lifted her head up and kissed the tip of her nose sweetly. She looked back down at the worn cushion and grinned. She didn’t realize how much she missed being held and touched by a guy. She nodded, gazing into his eyes. She leaned in close to his face and kissed his thin lips. Starr stopped suddenly, scrunching her eyebrows in suspicion.
“Huh?”
Starr put her fingers to his lips. She turned around and peered into Sai’s empty room. She saw that nobody was there and turned back to AJ.
“What was it?” AJ took her hand in his.
“I thought I felt someone watching us.” She just shrugged her shoulders and kissed him again. After awhile, Starr was already used to his kiss. She leaned back on the coach and stared at him.
“I dunno if I’m gonna be able to keep my hands off you.” AJ said through curved lips. “It’s gonna be hard.” He sighed. He combed through her hair as she laid her head in his lap.
“Eventually, we’ll be able to.” She ran her hand softly over his chest.
“I don’t know why I love you so much Starr.”
“I don’t know why I love you so much. There’s a lot I love about you. But there’s a difference between the two.”
“The second you walked in the door, I knew I had a crush.” He kissed her hand gently. Starr closed her eyes.
Jamie and Charadin chatted about a guy they thought was cute while Starr stared out the window. Jamie waved her hand in front of Starrs’ face and laughed to herself. “Are you ok sweetie?”
“Yeah, I’m fine!”
“Ok. We have a play coming up everyone. This one’s a big, college production. “Gone with the Wind” is just a practice for you. If you want to try out, they are next Wednesday. One of my buds from back in the day will be here helping out.” AJ tacked a flyer and ‘sign up’ sheet to the bulletin board next to his desk. “All of you have what it takes, so I expect to see everyone there. Bye.” He waved to the excited people as they rushed to the hallway.
Starr jotted down a few sentences in her notebook and walked casually to his desk. “We survived the first day.” She smiled as he looked up from his papers.
He wrapped her in a hug and rested his chin on her forehead. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Something with you, hopefully.” She laid her head on his shoulder and jerked up when she saw a tall figure in the doorway.
AJ glanced in that direction and chuckled. “It’s just Allen.”
“Just Allen?!” He put his hands on his hips and looked shocked. Starr smiled nervously and scooted closer to AJ. “What’s up you two?” He sat stuff on a front row desk.
“Nothing. Allen this is Starr.” AJ turned to her, putting his arm around her. “My girl.”
Allen nodded and shook her hand. “Pretty name.”
“Thanks.”
“So, did you need something?” AJ asked.
“Yeah, I need a girl. But I don’t think you can do anything about that.” He joked then cleared his throat. “I was just wondering if you wanted to go out tonight.” He turned to Starr with a sympathetic look. “Sorry Starr, I would invite you, but it’s kind of a guy thing.” He smiled and hit AJ’s shoulder roughly.
“Well actually, before you came, I was making plans-“
“It’s ok AJ, go out with him tonight.” Starr squeezed his arm.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! But I’ve got to be going. I’m supposed to meet Jamie and Charadin at Starbucks soon.” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss AJ. “Bye. Love you. It was nice meeting you Allen.” She walked away, waving to them.
Allen shook his head. “Damn, was she fine or what.”
“I know. She’s real sweet too.”
“Is she in this class?”
“Yeah, the only thing that sucks is that we’re going to keep it a secret for awhile.”
“Secret? Why?”
“Because of the frigen people. Stupid college kids. So where are we going tonight?”
“Get this. John, the football coach, got us passes to the Playboy Bunny Mansion Party tonight!” Allens’ grin was so big, AJ could almost see down his throat.
AJ was both excited and mad. He really wanted to go, but what about Starr? Should he even ask her or not go…
“So what do you say? Want to go?”
This was a once in a lifetime chance. Well actually…when he was a celebrity, they got invites to party’s like this all the time. But since they were role models, being seen at a party like that would make them seem influential. “Sure.”
Starr flipped through the TV passing the same TV show for the sixth time. Frustrated from boredom, she turned off the TV and threw down the remote. She wished AJ were with her. Why didn’t she insist he come over instead of suggesting he go with that Allen dude???? She stared at herself in the blank screen. She called Jamie’s room, but her answering machine picked up. Then she got up and walked to her room. She searched through a pile of papers on her desk for Jason’s number. After she found it. Starr picked up the phone, hesitating to dial his number.
“Hello?” A solum excited voice answered.
“Hey, is this Jason?” Starr felt a knot in her stomach that she had no idea why it was there.
“This is him…Starr?”
“Yeah. Hi, what’s up?”
“Oh uh hi, nothing much. I’m surprised you called.” She could feel him smiling.
“Well I finally have some extra time. What are you doing tonight?”
“One of the teachers gave me and some friends extra passes he had to a Playboy Party.”
“Wow…” she laughed. “Bet you all will have fun. I was just wondering…what teacher gave you the tickets?”
“Mr. Allen. Well his name is Mr. Wilit, we call him Allen.”
“Really.” She began getting mad at the thought of AJ going to a Playboy Mansion Party. “Hey Jason, can I call you back?”
“I’m on my way out, so I’ll just talk to you later.”
“OK, have fun.”
“Bye.”
Starr quickly dialed AJ’s number and listened to the repeating ring.
AJ starred at himself in the bathroom mirror. He couldn’t believe he was gonna do this. He combed his hair but stopped when the floating angle appeared in the mirror. Every time he looked at that, he saw Starr’s oval face with closed eyes laying in the still water. He started having doubts, but they drifted away on a guiltless cloud when the doorbell rang from the living room. He glanced at himself one more time, then jogged down the hall. As Allen and him walked towards the car parked along the sidewalk, AJ could barely hear the phone inside. But he decided to ignore it. They drove off with excited laughs and huge grins. They had nothing on their mind but bikini tops and high-heeled shoes.
“Pick up AJ…pick up!” Starr taped her finger then slammed the phone down as she heard AJ’s voice telling her to leave a message. How could AJ go to the Playboy mansion with half naked skeletons shoving their jugs in his face? And worst of all, he didn’t even ask her. She jumped up to go chase down Jason and go with him so she can surprise AJ. But she stopped when she realized no one knew about them. The more she waited in the little apartment, the more angry she got. She ran in her room, got her keys and rushed to her car. She noticed that practically 3/4 of the guys that were usually having chugging contests or playing tackle football were gone. All there was on the UCLA campus was a couple sitting on a bench making out. As she drove around LA, she realized how many places there were to go hang out. She stopped at a couple of stores and picked up some new clothes. No matter how hard she tried to not think about AJ, all she could see was busty blondes rubbing AJ’s chest and slipping their hands down his pants.
AJ sat by Lewis, the nursing teacher, in a lawn chair by the light up pool. He was amazed that 5 girls had already asked hin into their room. He peered around at familiar and fresh new faces. His eyes widened in shock as he spotted someone standing with Jenna, a playboy bunny, by a window.
“Nick?” AJ inched towards the blonde figure. The guy turned around and smiled in shock.
“Omigosh, AJ!” Nick hugged him. They laughed and shook hands.
“This is my old singing buddy.” Nick informed Jenna. She smiled with bright white teeth and fluttered her honey-colored eyes at AJ.
“Wow…you look great Nick. What have you been up to?”
“Not much.” AJ noticed his Victorian robe and practically gasped. “Yup, I’m the new father.” Nick read AJ’s mind and grinned widely.
“I can’t believe it.”
“Well, believe it man. So what about you? Job? Girlfriend? Wife?” Nick gestured for the butler and grabbed a cocktail.
“Yes, yes and no. I’m a drama 101 teacher at UCLA.” He nodded, still in shock.
“I always new you’d take that path again.” Nick smiled and wrapped his arm around a girl dressed in a bikini that walked up.
“Yeah. I’m dating a freshman, She’s a student of mine this semester.” AJ folded his arms and tried not to stare at the watermelons lying in front of his face.
Nick snarled his nose. “That’s great. What’s her name?”
“Starr. She’s real sweet. You have to meet her sometime.”
“I will.” Nick sent the girls off and led AJ into the mansion. “Does she care that you’re here?” Nick sat down at a table and sipped his cocktail.
“Actually, she doesn’t know. But the more girls I see, the more I’m beginning to miss her.” He watched a girl pass by.
“Wow, are you gonna be in trouble if she finds out.” He chuckled and ate the green olive. “What about the guys? I only talk to Brian sometimes. But that was a month ago. I hear he’s in a new movie, 'False Hopes'.”
“Yeah. I’ve heard about that movie. Howie’s supposed to be coming out next week. He's gonna help me with a play I’m doing. Kevin moved into a cabin with Kristine way out in the country about 2 years ago.”
“Really? He’s always been a country boy at heart. I hope they’re doing fine. You and Howie will have to come visit me when he’s out. We’ll go out to lunch or something.”
“Sure.”
Starr was getting tired and decided to go home. She stopped by AJ’s house, but he wasn’t there. When she got home, she tried calling Jamie, but again, there was no answer. She began to wonder of she was making a big deal. She laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling till she finally fell asleep.
Starr woke up. She was startled as she heard knocking coming from the front door. She just threw a pillow over her head and fell back asleep.
AJ waited out side the door patently. He didn’t know if she was ignoring him or if she wasn’t home. He listened quietly for a noise but heard nothing. He just sighed and went back to his house. We’ve been dating two days and she already hates me.
“Where were you last night?” Starr asked Jamie as she sat down next to her.
“Jeff had a bowling league-“
“Jeff bowls!?” Starr giggled at the thought of a huge handsome guy like him bowling.
“Yes! And he asked me to come, so, of coarse I’m not gonna refuse.” She grinned devilishly.
“I thought you didn’t think he was very cute?”
“I don’t. But he’s a really nice person and we’ve become good friends.”
“Ok.” She smiled and got out her pencil and notes. Waiting for AJ, she stared at the white board so hard she could almost see through it. Her stomach sank as he walked in the door with a depressed expression. She whined as she saw it. She couldn’t stand seeing him so sad…AJ sat on the stage edge and glared up at the mass of students.
“We’re rehearsing ‘Gone with the Wind’ today.” He jumped on the stage and pre-paired chairs.
“What’s the matter with AJ?” Jamie whispered in Starr’s ear with her eyes squinted.
“I don’t know.” She lied. Jamie just sat back up and got ready to take her spot on the stage.
“Starr and Jamie, take your spot. Scene 37 DB.” AJ told them as he sat down at his desk. Starr and Jamie hopped onstage and cleared their throats. Starr’s mind was not ready for this. Her thoughts were too caught on AJ. It was then that she realized why she hadn’t had a boyfriend in awhile. She couldn’t handle a love life and priorities at the same time. But it was too late. She had already fallen in love with him. She could hear Jamie’s lines. They floated around her and settled in her mind. She red the sentence from her script, letting it drift out of her mouth.