Love, Kennedy

Jason, Jason, JASON!

"Jason!" I scream as I notice him crossing towards his Father who lounged on his piano stool.

Jason whips his head around. When he catches sight of me he raises an eyebrow. He tells his Dad something before coming back to speak to me. He's wearing a black trench coat even though it's hot as hell outside.

"Are you a hipster or something?" I inquire, crossing my arms.

Jason lets out a small smile before shaking his head,"I have a sort of aesthetic that people expect when they meet me."

Jason points to my t-shirt,"What's this all about?"

I glance down at my Jason O'Malley t-shirt,"I got it to be ironic, but it seems a bit creepy now."

"If you want to be like some of my fans, I could sign your bra." He winks.

I can't tell if he is joking.

I let out an awkward giggle and glance down at my feet,"Do girls actually ask you to do that?"

He nods and smiles,"I don't. Usually..."

I bite my lip and look back at him. My cheeks a crimson red. I shove my hands in my pockets and throw the t-shirt off, revealing a light blue floral romper. I give Jason the t-shirt and he shoves it into one of his aesthetic trench coat pocket's.

"So... You didn't text me."
"You didn't give me your number."

"Oh... haha."

Jason whips out his phone and I input my number. I give myself the contact name "Kennedy <3". He doesn't say anything when he sees it.

"I did the heart because it's Love, Kennedy. Not because I wanted my name to have a heart or anything like that. Why would I-"

"Vera," Jason's voice is loud and demanding,"I want your contact name to be the real you. Not someone you pretend to be because you're scared."

"I'm not scared I just-"

"You're scared. You let something so insignificant stop you from doing something that you love. Come on, I have an idea."

Jason grabs my hand and I feel my heart skip a beat. He drags me down into a tiny room at the back of the hotel. It's a small stage with a few rows of seats. The stage is lit with fairy lights and a wooden stool and microphone sit in the center. A camera and it's tripod sits in front.

"This is where I record my videos. This- or my bedroom. Mostly this though. Let's make a video together."Before I can protest, he continues,"You can call yourself Vera. No one needs to know that you are Kennedy."

I nod and shake out my nerves.

Am I really going to do this?

This is insane, right?

Jason hops onstage and drags another stool out. He makes me sit on the stool while he focuses the camera.

"Do I look alright?" I ask shyly, messing with my frizzy hair.

"You look gorgeous." He replies with a toothy smile.

I can barely keep my excitement in as he begins to record. Taking a seat next to me, he raises his hands to clap but I already got it. I wink and he begins.

"Hello, everyone! As you know, I'm Jason O'Malley and this is Vera Parks. We met in our hotel for VidCon and she's friends with some of my most admired Youtubers. She's always been too scared to make a YouTube video like this so I suggest we make one together."

"This is really nerve wracking. Kind of like peanuts."

Jason laughs,"What?"

"I'm allergic to peanuts and when I was younger I ate one and nearly died. True story."

"See, you're a natural." He whispers into my ear.

I give him a small smile before glancing back at the camera,"So, Jason, what do you like most about VidCon."

"Certainly not meeting you."

I gasp and place a hand over my mouth. I know he's kidding but I guess I should act up for the camera.

"Oh, Vera, I was kidding."

"I know." I giggle, putting my hand down.

Jason wipes his forehead and lets out a chromatic whistle. I smile and do a peace sign to the camera.

"What you doin', girl?"

"I'm getting a good cover photo."

We pose a few times and I'm sure we got a few cute ones. Jason starts talking to me about school and where I'm going to college and shit like that. I'm going to NYU on a full ride which seems to make Jason happy. I think. Oh God, I hope.

"So you'll be seeing a lot more of me."

"Oh no." He jokes.

We wrap up the video and I offer to go grab some drinks while he answers a phone call. I feel giddy and light as I skip down to the vending machines. It's almost like I'm high. I feel like I'm flying and that the only thing that matters is Jason. When I return with a diet Coke and a Coca- Cola, I hear him yelling. I press my ear against the door because I'm nosy.

If he's not talking about me, I'll walk away for a bit.

"Look, I want to make different kinds of content. Collabs or singing videos-"

I can tell that he is cut off.

"I don't just want to sing though. I want to sing with other people and explore who I want to be! I met this girl and she's a natural."

That's me! Now I have to listen.

"Fine. I won't post the video. I hope you know I will be finding a different company after my contract ends. This is ridiculous."

I wait a minute before walking through the door. Jason gives me a smile but I know from his conversation that he is not happy. He's really good at hiding it though. Almost too good...

I throw him his drink and crack open mine. We sit in silence for a bit. Our legs sprawled onto the stage as we drink.

"Well, I looked at the video and it isn't very good. Just really choppy. Sorry, Vera. I know this means a lot to you."

"It's fine."

We stay in silence until I excuse myself to go find Marcy.

His eyes trail me as I leave and I feel them when we pass in Vidcon.

I don't say anything.