Starbird

Chapter 22

For the rest of the week I was confined to my house. Leaving for school was out of the question, considering how many people were outside my door. The celebrities, especially, were banned from coming over until things calmed. Leaving my house with tons of people outside was something I’d never want to experience again. Paparazzi were everywhere, maybe not to the extent of James stepping off a plane, but it was enough to make me feel incredibly exposed. Questions were fired at me about my and Liam’s “relationship” and when a photo of Liam helping Ava out of a car one day was released, rumors began circulating saying Liam was cheating on her with me. Now of course I knew the truth. Ava was dating James and Liam and I had nothing. But I kept my mouth shut regardless, because it takes a lot more effort to disprove rumors than instead to just say nothing at all.

By the next Monday I could leave my house in peace. I looked up and down the street for a trace of the paparazzi, but there were none to be found and it was like I could finally breathe again. James told me we just had to starve them of the gossip - give them nothing to go off of. It was nice walking into class not worrying about anything. I mean, first class of the day was art! How much easier could life be right then? I walked into my class and settled into my seat, Jace the only one there.

“Morning Cam,” he said and I robotically responded, “Good morning Jace.” It had become our routine. He got there extremely early, I got there kind of early, and Rowan walked in five seconds before class started. We never talked very much, just basic conversation which I grew accustomed to and now liked. It felt like I always needed to talk when I was around other people, but Jace was almost as much of a silence-lover as I was.

“Any more paparazzi?” Jace asked, not even bothering to look up at me.

“Nah, I got too boring for them.”

“And you and Liam Hawthorne? Do you actually fancy each other?” There was no hint of jealousy in his voice, only basic curiosity

“No, we don’t,” I told him, which was technically true. We didn’t fancy each other, I fancied him.

“Sure you do. Anybody could tell,” I heard him say and I whipped my head up from my sketchbook and gaped at him.

“Jace!”

“I’m a silent observer, I definitely can tell these things.” I glared at him as I saw the corner of his lips tug into a small smirk.

“You’re terrible.”

“What? No I’m not.” He finally looked up at me, looking as innocent as ever.

“I’m not talking to you right now, Jace.” He smiled wider as I had practically admitted defeat when Rowan walked in and slumped into her spot, looking ticked.

“Morning Rowan,” I said and her scowl deepened as she looked towards me.

“Well. If it isn’t Miss Celebrity! Gracing us all with her presence and oh so magnificent  stories.” I was taken aback by her attitude. What had I ever done to her?

“What’s your problem?” Jace asked instead for me.

“Nothing. I’m just peachy. Can’t you tell?”

“Ro, are you ok?”

“Tell me, Cam, how was your week in the spotlight? You enjoyed it? You must have loved it, because you know that without James you would be an absolute, little nobody -”

“Whoa!” 

“- And I thought we were friends, but you don’t ever bring me over for fun stuff. The only time something fun happened was because I was studying with you.”