Opening Act (A Niall Horan/Cody Simpson Fanfic)

Chapter 3

Once this realization hit me, all I could think of was that there was no way I would let those feelings resurface. I wasn't about to let a stupid crush ruin my friendship with him. Granted, it seemed like our friendship was purely based on sarcasm and teasing, but Cody was the kind of guy any girl would want. Not because he was famous or charming (which he is), but because Cody was genuinely nice, kind sweet... I've known him since I was eight. He hasn't changed much except for his... um... colorful imagination which he now has. But then again, what teenager doesn't?

I floated in the pool on the inflatable raft a housefriend gave me a few minutes ago. I don't like calling them maids, cause I see them more as a friend. Anyway, i put my sunglasses on and felt the sun's rays bear down on me. I couldn't help but wonder, did my feelings for Cody actually resurface, or is it that somehow, the fee-- "Arghh!!" I was forcefully brought back to reality as I felt my skin come into contact with water as my raft flipped over. I rose to the surface, spluttering. "WHAT THE FU-"

"Language!" Cody was in a fit of laughter.

"-CK! Damn it Cody, you are the last person I want to see!" I glared. What the heck, where did all this anger come from? Just a couple of moments ago, I was thinking about how I could be crushing on him. Now, I just want to toss the guy into the Atlantic Ocean. "Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?" I blurted out. Me and my big mouth.

"I didn't think it was important," Cody shrugged.

What?!

"Not important? When I 'dated' Jake Waters last year, you held a grudge because I didn't tell you!"

"Well, you weren't really dating," he laughed, but stopped abruptly when he saw my facial expression. "Ok look, I'm sorry. I know you're my best friend, but you've been so busy with the tour and I know how that is a big deal for you. I didn't want to bother you with my problems."

Problems?

A flicker of shock and worry must have appeared on my face, because Cody quickly said, "Situation. Not problems."

After trying to convince me that everything was alaright, which I knew was a 100% lie, I headed to the bathroom, took a quick shower and headed to the cook's room to tell him to take the rest of the week off. Then, I made my way to the sleepover room, which was empty, except for the huge pile of suitcases in the corner. I guess Alli was freshening up in the second guest bathroom since it was likely that Cody was showering in the first gues bathroom. With no one to talk to, I decided to go to Jessica's nursery, which used to be mine.

You must be wondering whether I came from a rich family, and to bluntly put it, yes. My dad managed all those famous celebrities, in fact, he co-manages Cody with Scooter Braun. But, I really didn't want anything to do with his money. My father could have made me instantly famous by pulling strings, but where's the fun in that? I want to become a famouse singer because of my talents. I want to experience everything, from the ups to the downs. I want to feel that sense of accomplishment that I know I won't feel if I took that shortcut.

At the far end of the hall was a whitish-pink door where there were exquisite carvings of little butterflies and swirls of tiny flowers. I turn the knob, and felt a thousand memories resurface in my mind. It was here in this very room that I told my mom I wanted to be a singer, and she smiled at me lovingly. It felt as though that was a world ago, and I was talking to a completely different person.

I don't know why I avoided this lovely room during the few times I visited my dad in this house. But as something on the wall catches my eye, I remember. Letters forming the name "Jessica" in gold was drilled on the wall. This place, my little kingdom when I was a mere three year old, has been tainted with Jessica's presence.

Suddenly, the sweet little room transformed from a peaceful kingdom I grew up in, into a fiery pit where a demon spawn (a.k.a Jess) was raised.

I ran out of the room, desperate tp get the imaginary flames out of my head. I dashed into the sleepover room where I was greeted with the sight of Alli and Cody arguing. "Where have you been?!" Alli demanded.

On an unusually cold summer day nine years ago, the same words had been uttered at me. "Where have you been, Jay?" The horrible, painful memory of that summer day flashed infront of me, and I bit my lower lip, trying to banish the memory from my mind temporarily. "I was... at the nursery. Working on a song," I made up quickly.

"In the nursery? Writing a song?" Cody asked skeptically.

"Yeah. About growing up, you know?"

Well, I sound convincing enough. I faked a yawn to disguise the few drops of tears which escaped from my eyes and were flowing down my cheeks. I can't let them know. No one else, other than my family knew, both biological and non-biological families. Alli and Cody only knew that I had been involved in an incident which was simply too painful for me to discuss, end of story.

Except it wasn't the end.

It will be a chapter of my life that I will forget about for a long time, but something triggers the memory and it took a long time to forget it again. That memory was accompanied by a strong feeling. A burning desire for revenge. Maybe after I got revenge, I'll sleep a litle more soundly on the rare nights where my dreams are plagued with the events that took place on that freezing, summer day.

Only if I did try to get revenge, my biological parents would kill me for attempting anything on sweet little--

"Hello, Earth to Jay?"

Back to reality again, Jadelyn. Forget about that day. Forget... forget... forget...

"Um, yes?"

"Cody was asking whether you wanted to watch The Hunger Games." Alli giggled. "But you were too busy staring into space while biting your lower lip like this," she did a ridiculous imitation of what I probably looked like a few seconds ago. I rolled my eyes.

"The Hunger Games? Sure. Afterwards, let's watch The Avengers." I negotiated. I went to the kitchen and got some popcorn, resisting the temptation to add cheese powder because Cody didn't like cheese. I wasn't sure if he was ok with cheese popcorn, but I didn't want to make two trips down to the kitchen, so I just added extra salt and headed back upstairs. "Hey, we started the mov- Ooh popcorn!" Alli smiled.

Katniss was so amazing with her bow and arrow. She's determined to survive, for her sister's sake. She had promised her sister that she would try. And then there was Peeta. Kind Peeta, who was truly in love with Katniss, but he didn't know it was all an act for Katniss in the beginning. I wonder, was Cody like that? I couldn't help but wonder if Sasha was like Katniss, putting on an act to survive. Only in Sasha's case, it could be because Cody was world-famous.

As I sat on the flat couch with Alli and Cody, I began to think, how it would be like if we were in the arena. "Hey Cody, if Alli was called during the reaping, would you volunteer to be the male tribute so you could protect her?"

"Truthfully, I'm not sure, now hear me out before you decide to kill me, Alli," he reasoned. "Even if I could protect her, it would only be temporarily. There can only be one victor, after all."

"What about you, Jay? Would you volunteer yourself as tribute if Jessica was called?' Cody asked.

They both looked at me as they waited for my answer. I didn't have to think about it, and I'm sure they knew the answer.

"No, I most definitely would not." I replied.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'm really proud of this chapter, and you get to know Jadelyn a bit more :3 Anyways, just to clear up any confusion, when I say MOM it refers to Jadelyn's biological mother. But when I say MUM, it refer's to Anne, Jadelyn's stepmom, and also to let you all know, Gemma Styles, Harry Styles' real-life sister, is involved in this story. :)