Celebrity

Evelyn Sparks

Thomas's POV
    The words of the lecturer, keep drowning and drowning away. I try my best to focus, but how can I, after the night I had.
    At first I only wanted to mend things with Ava, so that I could be close to see if she was the one that paid the dean off. Now I don't think she is the one.
    I had got to that launch party right on time. Just watching her perform live, was the best thing that ever happened.
     Don't get me started on what happened in the dressing room. We were so close each other -- maybe even too close, for just friends. And that's what we are -- friends.
     The lecturer calls for the class to end. Just before I leave, the lecturer calls me back. It catches me by surprise. What does he want me for?
    "Don't think just because you got away with the dean, that you will get away with me," he says. What can he do. Is he going to fail me on purpose. I've grinding really hard lately just to get failed, but I understand it.
     I nod my head, and he dismisses me. It seems he won't let it go. Neither can I.
    "Hey! Thomas." I hear my name being called out from down the hall. I turn to look, and it's Emilia.
     I stop and wait for her to catch up. I haven't seen her in a while, it's probably because I have been busy with other things. She catches up, and we walk at the same pace.
    "So, what's up?" I ask.
    "I was wondering if we could do what we did last time."
     "Like the club, and stuff?"
     "Yeah." That's a weird request, but I'll go through with it anyway. "Fine, what time is it happening?" She goes quiet for some time.
    "Maybe, 3 PM?"
    "Okay then 3 PM"
    "Great see you then." She walks off to a classroom. I wonder why she would ask this now? I guess maybe, because we haven't hanged out in a while.

***

     I wait outside the gates of Harvard, I'm waiting for Max. We are supposed to go to the library to study. After a minute, he comes out of campus listening to music. He takes them off, and says "Bro this new artist, that's on the come up could be better than Ava Wilder."  I highly doubt that, no one's better than Ava.
   "Who is she?" I ask.
    "Evelyn Sparks." I've heard of her before, never really met her. "She can't be better than Ava." Max laughs a little. "You only say that cause you like her."
    "I like her music."
    "Sure." We start walking to the library. Which isn't very far from here. It's just like a block away. "Anyway, any luck with who bribed the dean?" Max asks.
    "Nope, I tried asking Ava, but she said she didn't do it."
     "Wait didn't Ava have a launch party for her album last night."
     "Yeah, why?" I ask.
    "And did you go?"
    "Yeah." He punches me hard on the shoulder. "You didn't think to ask 'maybe Max wants to go'?" Wow I didn't think he would get this angry about this. "Next time." I assure him. "Let's just go, and study."
    I've realized that Max and Ava haven't met. I met hers, CeCe, I think her name was. They'll meet each other someday. Right now I've more important things to deal with.

***

    I test the waters of the shower to see if it's hot yet. Preparing for Emilia and I is time out. I think this is great to repair our relationship, I just hope it doesn't end up like it did last time.
    I step out of the shower, and grab my towel to dry myself. I can't shake the feeling like something is going to go wrong today. I don't know if it's this date, if you can call it that. Or it's something else.
    A text comes from Emilia. She tells me to meet her on campus. So, I call an Uber over, and I hop into it.
    When I arrive, I see Emilia standing outside the gate. I don't let the Uber. driver go, since we going again. She gets in, and gives directions to the Uber driver.
   We drop off by bowling alley. Emilia seems to have outdone herself, with her looks. It's almost as if it was a date. I feel the breeze passing through my whole body. Chills. It's surprising for this kind of weather.
    "Could we start here, by the bowling alley?" Emilia asks. I nod my head. I'm a bit confused about how she's planning the day. Starting by where we first went out together.
    Walking through the door. There's no one here. I can't say, I'm a good at bowling. Emilia is way better than me, that's for sure. But it's always fun to play.
     Emilia sets up everything, and we begin playing. Emilia makes a few shots, and gets seven and nine respectfully. While I get three and nothing. "I thought you'd better at this, since the last time we played," She teases. "I haven't gotten much practice since then." I reply.
    "Sure," she says sarcastically. We play for another hour, and I managed to beat her one game, but I think she just let me win. It didn't stop me from celebrating the win though.
     We finally take a break. I take a seat, while Emilia brings out two bottles of water from her bag. "I'm sure you're wondering,why I asked you here?" It's like she's reading my mind. "Yeah." She puts the bottle down. "I just want to make our relationship -- better." She goes quiet for few seconds, "I know you apologized, but like I want to be better and--" she suddenly stops.
    "And what?" I ask.
    "Nothing, it's nothing."
   "There's clearly something." I persist. "Can we just get back to playing?" I finally give in. She isn't going to tell me anything, but she's clearly hiding something.
     After a few more rounds of games, when we see it's getting dark we decide to call it for bowling  today. We head out to the bowling alley. "You want to get some drinks?" She asks. I shake my head. "Okay, fine only for me then?" We spot a nearby club, and walk into it.
    It's really darNk with only flashing party lights around. We walk up to the bartender. Emilia orders two shots for herself. After a few more rounds of tequila shots. She gets up, and grabs my hand, and drags me to the dance floor. I can tell she's really intoxicated.
     When we both get tired of dancing, I walk her back to where we were sitting. She can barely keep her balance. She mumbles in my ear, but I can't hear her. I finally decide to take her home. I carry her out of the club. I call her a taxi, and one stops right in front of me.
    I hop in with her just in case the driver wants to take advantage of her current state. We stop by her house, and I manage to her to the front porch, and through the door. I lay her down on the couch in the living room. When I stand up straight to leave, Emilia grabs my arm. I lean in to hear her.
    "I never told you everything," She whispers.
    "What do you mean?" I ask.
    "I never told you everything about, why I set this up." I knew she was hiding something. "I'm leaving." The words hit me.
    "What do you mean, like leaving town?" I ask completely confused.
    "Leaving town and Harvard."
    "Why?" She moves up, trying to sit up straight.
    "Well, because of you and her. I can't bear it," she says.
    "Who?" I ask
    "You and..." She drifts off to sleep before I can get my answer.

***

    I get home, and I never thought I would want to get home this much. But after the day I've had, I think it's understandable.
     I take a nice warm shower. Making sure I get all the alcohol smell off of me. Once I was done, I dry my hair, and I get onto the bed.
     When I get myself comfortable in the bed. I grab my phone, that was on the dresser next to the bed. When I
open Instagram, the first post I see is Ava's tour announcement, and dates. I look closely at the dates, and notice that the first show is literally next week. That soon is crazy.
    I'm losing both of them at the same time.