A Different Light

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Ava's POV

My blood was pumping as I drove to the Giants stadium. It was my first big news report since I came to Channel 4. Everyone is so nice on my first day. My co-anchor Colin Bradshaw was a sexsit pig who hit on me several times. I wasn't in the business to date, but to make my way to ESPN. The MetLife stadium came into view, my pulse rushed. I'll probably end up seeing Jackson here, I don't know how to face him after our date last night and how Rude Keeley was. I looked out my window at a flashing sign. The headline read:

JACKSON BATES GOES ON SECRET DATE!

There was a picture of us kissing in the tabloids, my face flushed my eyes widened. I felt like I was going to be sick. After I parked I sat in the car taking deep breaths. I need to go into this like a professional, be cool and calm and act like hes any other player. A knock startled me out of my almost panic attack. I looked up and saw my roommate from college, Lola Ramirez. She had beautiful tan skin and thick brown hair.

"I heard you got a job at Channel 4, thats huge!" She said as I stepped out of the car.

"I heard you got a job at Channel 6 too!" I said giving her a big hug.

"Listen we gotta get going. Unless you want to sit in the car and bang your head some more" She teased. I Laughed along with her as we headed towards the building. WIth notepad and pen in hand, a bunch of us were escorted into the stadium. We walked down several hallways till we reached the locker rooms. I walked in and was amazed at how high quality they were. I had been in them when I was young but that was before the remodel. I had also been in the Cowboys ones sadly with my brother. He and I are really close. When he was drafted he asked me to go along and check it out with him. Everyone was so nice and cool. Some of his teammates smiled at me, one even gave me his number. But thats old news, this was big. I was in the big time locker rooms but this time as a reporter. The boys were spread out at their cubbies checking their hair and applying cologne. We all spread out, Lola and I walked over to the center lineman and started talking to him about the big game. He talked about how they were really prepared for it and how it would be a good game. I thanked him and found another player. A group of reporters thanked Evan Pratt and walked away.

"Ooo, hes hot lets talk to him." lola said pulling me in his direction, I tried to resist but she scolded me for being a chicken, if only that were the case. Lola introduced me and herself and started asking questions. Evan eyed me as he answered his questions. after a couple of minutes his eyes snapped in realization when I glanced at Jackson.

"I know you!" He said, cutting Lola off.

"No you don't, thanks for your time." I said quickly pulling Lola away.

"What is wrong with you. Ugh, if you don't want to talk one on one with people lets join that group over there around Jackson." Panic flashed over my face.

"Ok come on, I know you met him in a bar but that was like a week ago. He didn't call you, end of story. Lets go he won't even recognize you." She pulled me towards him. He was surrounded by a bunch of reporters mostly female with his shirt off. He answered questions from other people looking around the group. Lola asked a question and he looked at her smiling. God was it hot. He then scanned the group till his eyes landed on me. In the middle of his answer he stopped talking and just stared. I blushed and look down. He caught me staring at his abs of steel. He continued on with his answer just as if nothing had happened. One reporter in the front asked him a question. She was wearing a very low cut top with a tight short skirt. Slut. She held up a piece of paper and Jackson flushed. She turned it around for the rest of us to see. It was the same one I had seen on the billboard. I paled and shot daggers into the floor. Jacksons answer was swift and cool.

"I'm not saying for today, but if things progress you'll be the first to know." He said with a wink. Some of the girls giggled at his wink like it was directed at them, but I saw him look at me. This was not good. He ended the interview and the crowd dispersed. I wanted to go up and ask my questions but I didn't have the courage to. After a little while Lola and I left the stadium. We walked for a little bit till she stopped.

"Did you see his abs, they were perfect. I just want to lick them." Lola said mimicking weak knees. I just giggled in response. My phone buzzed in my pocket as she droned on about the other guys.

J: Do you live in a cornfield, because I'm stalking you ;)

I looked around for him but didn't see him. Lola waved a hand over my face.

"Hello? Are you even listening to me. Whatever, I'll see you later." She said before walk away. After a few minutes, I gave up looking and started heading to my car.

"Hey Channel 4" A voice said from behind me. It scared me half to death. I turned around expecting it to be the dillwad from channel 2 but it was Jackson. With a shirt on.

"Hey Quarterback." I said giving a wink. Why can't I be flirtatious, he did call me. He took a few long strides and pulled me into a kiss. Sparks went off as he kissed me. After we pulled away he said.

"So did you like the show?"

"It was... interesting."

"Oh you loved it. I saw you staring. If you wanted me so bad all you had to do was ask." I shook my head at him and opened up my car door but he stopped me.

"Hey wait. So theres a team dinner and everyone's supposed to bring their girlfriends with them and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?"

"I thought we were just friends. But if anything progresses you'll be the first to know." I used the same snarky comment that he had. Without another word I got into my car and drove off. My nerves were on end. I was almost home when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked

"Ava, its Keeley, I need you to pick up some cooking oil for me please. I'm making brownies and I need some." I sighed and turned around heading towards the store. After she gave me a short list of the other things she needed I hung up and headed to the store. On the way I saw my favorite flower shop bring out hundreds of roses to a truck. What ever girl gets those is super lucky. 45 minutes later I checked out of the store and loaded my groceries into my car. It took extra long to get home with the traffic but I didn't mind. I got to the front of my building and Phil took my bags to the elevator. I stepped in and went to my floor. Everything was taking extra long today. I pulled all of my bags over to my door and took out my key. I placed it in but the door was already unlocked. Strange. I pushed the door open and all of the lights were off. That was weird. I thought Keeley was baking. I opened the door wider and flicked the lights on. Standing there in a suit with a bouquet of roses and hundreds of roses around him. He stood there smiling at me. I stepped into the room and look around. Everywhere there were roses. I looked at him in surprise.

"Ava, Would you do me the pleasure of being my girlfriend?" I dropped everything in my hands and ran to him. He picked me up and spun me around.

"I'll take that as a yes then" He laughed. I reached up on my toes and kissed him. I heard some laughing behind me and saw Keeley standing there by us.

"Did you get what I asked?"

"Yes its in the doorway." I released Jackson and went to smell some of the flowers.

"So that dinner tonight..."

"Is that the only reason you asked me?" I could feel the anger building up inside of me.

"NO, I swear. It just gave me a reason to do it quicker." He said. He came behind me and wrapped me up in a hug. I could smell his cologne from his chest.

"Yes I'll go to that stupid dinner." I said. He flipped me around to face him. Cupping my cheeks he kissed me really lightly. We stayed like that till he sent me off to go change. I had no idea what to wear to a football dinner. oh gosh. HELP!

Hey guys!

Holy crap over 100 reads! This is crazy. Sorry for any typos or errors I updated right before lunch and didnt have time to check.

Please Vote and comment! I would love to hear your thoughts on the story so far and if I should keep going!

The picture is of Lola, tell me what you guys think.

Love Ya,

Jules