An Unexpected Roommate

Chapter 8: 400 Degrees

JADE:

Friday came too quickly.

"Hey Ryder," I yelled from my room, "I don't think I'm gonna go tonight. I just want to stay in."

"That's not an option!" Ryder yelled back. "I talked to Noah today and he said to force you to come with me!"

I groaned. "Since when are you friends with my friends?"

"Since I'm a charming guy," Ryder said, swinging around my doorframe. I clutched my robe tighter around myself. He was wearing dark jeans, a dark shirt, and a dazzling smile. "What's this?" he asked, pointing to my speakers.

"It's... music?" I said, though it sounded more like a question.

"It's not Beethoven," he said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't only listen to dead composers."

"Could've fooled me," he said. "Three Days Grace?"

I nodded. Lost in You was playing.

"So what's this about not going to the party?" he asked.

I looked at the floor. "I just don't think I'm going to go," I said, dragging my toes across the carpet.

"Huh," he said. "Well, considering you're standing in front of your closet in a robe with your hair up in a towel, I'd say that you just don't know what to wear." I throw him a look. "What?" he asked, laughing, "It's not my fault you're being a cliché right now."

"Clichés are clichés for a reason," I said, pointing to him. "Because they happen a lot."

He walked past me and into my closet.

"Hey-"

"I'll find you something to wear, Jade," he said, running his fingers along the clothes hanging in my closet.

"What about this?" he asked, grinning as he pulled a tutu from one of my past performances off the rack. "No?" He went back to rummaging. "Oh, what have we got here?" he held up a lacey bra to his chest. "I like this one."

"Stop it, those are drying!" I said. I had hung them up after doing laundry today.

"Why don't you just put it in the dryer?"

"You don't just put bras in the dryer," I said.

"Huh."

I shifted uncomfortably while he kept looking. He pulled ripped jeans and a black crop top. "Simple but hot," he said, handing them to me and pushing me toward the closet. "Change," he said. "Wear the converse. I'm going for a kind of rocker look for you." He held his hands up, thumbs and forefingers at right angles like he was framing me for a picture.

"Because that makes sense," I grumble.

"Hey, you're the one listening to rock music today," he said.

I closed the door to my closet and changed quickly.

"Perfect," he said. "Are you ready?"

"Do I look ready?" I asked. "I'm not going with my hair like this," I said, pointing to my hair, which was still frizzy, and my face, which still had no makeup. I wasn't crazy about going to the party, but if I was going, I didn't want to look like this.

"Then let's get you ready," he said, grabbing my shoulders and steering me towards the bathroom we shared.

"You don't-"

"No, no," he said. "I think it's fascinating. Girls' makeup is so much more interesting than mine."

"You wear makeup?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

"Not now, obviously," he said, pointing to himself. "But, I mean, I am a gorgeous movie star. They have to do touch up makeup for filming."

I hit him lightly on the stomach, feeling better. That was a friend thing to do, right? I could ignore my budding crush and be friends with him instead, right?

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"You want to help straighten my hair?" I asked. "Are you being serious?"

He laughed. "Why not? I'm ready to go, I'm just going to be waiting around anyway."

I picked up the straightener and gave him a very serious look. "If you touch my neck with this, I'm going to kill you." He nodded before reaching for the styling tool. "Careful! This is 400 degrees. You'll burn your fingers." He blinked before nodding and taking the straightener.

"I'll be careful."

Two minutes later, I heard him swear behind me.

"I said be careful!"

"Yeah, yeah."

+++

RYDER:

I'd never really appreciated the skills of hair and makeup stylists until I was burning my fingers on Jade's hair. I wasn't even touching the metal, and my fingers were still hot. But, her hair was so soft and smelled so good, I didn't mind all that much.

She was singing almost silently as she put on her makeup. I figured she wasn't aware she was singing, and even dancing a bit, which made it harder straighten her hair. I pressed my lips together, not wanting to laugh at her. She got skittish when I pointed out the cute things about her.

She didn't wear a lot of makeup; she still looked like her. It was something I found myself greatly appreciating. But, she did need one more thing.

"No, this one," I said, holding up a red lipstick right before she was about to put on some light pink. She raised an eyebrow. "Trust me," I said.

She tried to suppress a smile, but took the lipstick from me, expertly swiping it on in two quick movements.

"Beautiful," I said, and she smiled shyly at her reflection.

"Ready?" I asked, pulling the plug of the hair tool. She stiffened. "Don't worry, it'll be fun."

"Are you going to drive?" she asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

I nodded. "I'm not supposed to drink until after we film the shirtless scenes for the movie. They're very particular about my physique, I'll have you know. Alcohol has too much sugar."

"Oh," she said.

"That doesn't mean that you can't drink."

She pressed her lips together and I grinned. "Take Noah's advice," I said. "You'll have fun."

She slid her phone into her back pocket and nodded like she didn't really believe me. She was nervous. I picked up my keys and followed her out the door.

A/N

Hey babes! Let me know what you think in the comments, and click the star if you're enjoying the story! Also, make sure to listen to the song- it's on replay for me right now! (And if you have any good music suggestions, let me know, I'm looking for some new music to fuel my playlist!)

Love,

Katelyn