Ariana Grande: My Secret Life

Chapter 2

The party was already in full swing when Sarah and I arrived.

"Ahh, this is life!" she sighs delicately, slipping a pastry into her hand.

I smiled and glanced around.

"Looking for someone?" a voice said mischievously

"Jake!" I squealed, turning.

"Hey," he said.  "How's it going?" He frowned suddenly. "I haven't seen you in a while..."

"I know," I apologized. "It's been really hard...what with the tour and all..." My voice falters.

"Oh," his frown is still in place.

"Yeah..." I tried to change the topic. "So, the food's great huh?"

"It always has been," Jake said lightly, a smile on his face. It's obvious that it's forced, though.

"Jake..."

"He listen," he says abruptly. "Ari. I gotta go catch up with a friend of mine," he gestures over to a young, pretty looking girl our age. "Got some lyrics I want to test out."

"Oh, sure," I replied calmly, trying to hide my disappointment and jealousy. "Um, see you around, Jake!"

"Yeah," he nodded and quickly went to catch up with "friend."

"Ooh, awkward," Sarah appeared, wincing noticeably.  "Hot Guy pissed. Not a good sign."

"Was it that obvious?" I asked, trying to force back a blush.

"Eh..." she half smiled.

Which meant absolutely positively yes.

"It's not like he couldn't have talked to me about lyrics," I said, almost angrily.

"Whoa, calm down Pop Girl. They're just friends. Trust me."

"You sure?"

"Have I ever lied?" She smiled.

I glanced over at Jake. The girl said something and Jake laughed, tilting his head back, his freshly cut brown hair glistening in the dance light.

"Sure seems like it,"{ I grumbled to myself. Sarah didn't seem to hear, and if she did, she didn't show it.

"Ohh, got something to do!" she exclaimed, clapping a hand to her mouth. "Be back in a split sec," she dashed off, leaving me with no one to talk to.

I decided to sneak up on Jake and his new Partner-In-The-Crime-Of-Being-Too-Hot-And-Beautiful. Miss Hot Date was smiling and Jake was still laughing.

It wasn't fair.

I thought back to my first encounter with Jake. We'd been at a party, much like this one. Sarah had introduced us and we hit off pretty well from there. It was no secret that he was the hottest guy in town. With his then shaggy hair and green eyes, he was gorgeous to another level. And he was all deliciously mine.

Of course, we never dated. He wasn't technically "mine." But he made it clear that I was his favorite, best of the bunch. And he knew he was mine. Best friends, forever. Always there to listen and to be a spare date in case of an emergency dance.

Kind of like the twins, I thought. I felt a twinge of longing for my studio, singing into the new speaker/mic sound system while Scott and Brian made up hilarious dances, all of us laughing the whole time, and Scooter standing in the doorway shaking his head at us as if we were idiots. 

But no. That wasn't real. This was my actual life. Not all the fame, and glamor, and glory. The fans, the supporters. No, that wasn't me.

Suddenly, the room darkened and a stage was lit up.