West Coast

Chapter 7: Maressa

I check my phone and look up and down the beach wondering where Cannon is. I have sand in my shoes, my shoulders have been getting burned all afternoon, and I'm just ready to go home. But I can't leave Cannon and Isis alone. Its not that I don't trust them, its just that I know how dedicated Cannon is. He'd do anything for his career.

"Ess, you haven't moved from that spot in the last hour!" Clarissa kicks a wave of sand up into my face and I cry out, shutting my eyes and shielding my face from the attack.

"Don't distract me. I'm trying to watch." I say without looking in her direction. "Don't mind me. Just keep practicing like I'm not even here."

"Do you really think its healthy to watch your boyfriend run around town with another woman?" Clarissa ignores my suggestion and plants herself in the sand next to me. I can't but notice she's ditched her jersey and is now sitting in just her spandex and a sports bra. Her hair is haphazardly pulled back into a ponytail that is now slicked with sweat from her workout.

"Do you really think its healthy to push yourself so hard just to win your parents respect?" I counter cunningly. She'll never stop trying so hard. Her parents are always so proud of her older brother Derek, and Clarissa needs her parents to be proud of her as well. She's been going the same path for years. One year it was running, the next was baking, and now its volleyball.

"That's completely different. You don't-" I cut her off by standing up in my spot with a slight gasp.

"Shh! He's coming!" I yell, holding up my pair of binoculars to get a better view. I need to stay on the lookout so I can make it to the front of the mob when the cameras show up. As they make their way hand in hand down the shoreline, they both glance at me- Cannon a look of remorse and Isis one of vile loathing.

I involuntarily tangle my hands into my hair, making sure that every last strand of red is perfectly in place. Its become a nervous habit of mine to fix my appearance whenever in the presence of Isis. Its sort of a plea for Cannon to know he can still be happy because he has me. I always find myself trying to one up Isis, like we're in an ongoing war for Cannon's affection, though there is no challenge. Cannon is mine and I am his. Forever and always.

"Take your shirt off." I hear her hiss toward him, shimmying out of her short silver cocktail dress. He pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it aside followed by his sandals.

"Do you think he would ever cheat on me, Clair?" I ask with a sudden change in demeanor. I mean, you can't ignore the fact that she's supermodel gorgeous. Any guy who got the chance would probably throw themselves at her in a heartbeat.

"Nah." She says, placing a hand on my knee in reassurance. "If he realizes how good he has it, he won't let you get away. Its obvious that he loves you." I smile kindly toward her, giving her the false pretense that her praise has cleared my mind. But I still can't help but feel insecure.

I still remember the first time they were together in front of the press. The stinging, burning feeling in my chest that made me want to lunge across the square and rip her extensions right out of her flawless scalp. People always ask me how I tolerate it. Why I would choose to watch. They tell me it would be easier on my conscience if I didn't have to look. But honestly, imaging it would be far worse. At least if I'm there, I know exactly how far it went, and whether Cannon looked like he enjoyed himself too much or not.

And it also makes the sex better. A lot of couples purposefully hit on other people to enhance their sex life, and I get where they're coming from.

"Oh my god!" I hear a screech from the other side of the volleyball courts and a girl points Cannon and Isis out to her posse. "Is that?"

I rise from my chair and clench my fists, ready to make a move.I feel myself being propelled forward and notice that my feet have started carrying me down the beach at top speed. About ten people have already made it to the scene, and I forcefully elbow my way through the rapidly growing mob.

I get a good look at the two of them and Cannon smiles out at his fans, even nodding at a few. He sneaks in a small peck before they put their hands to their faces, hoping to shield themselves from the flashes, when really they were anticipating the moment all evening. 

A woman behind shouts out "Cannon, I love you!" And others just scream randomly. A lot of the bystanders reach out to him as him and Isis run off back to the main building. I hope that one day, Cannon will be famous enough on his own that he won't need to pose with Isis just to get publicity. Hell, I think he would get more popular by dumping a pop star cold on her ass then he would staying together with her. 

I know as his girlfriend, I should be encouraging him to do whatever's best for his  own success and career, but I can't help but let my bias show when I get infuriated. 

As soon as the masses disperse and the  commotion is over, I take that as it being safe to go find him. I grab my heels out of sand and pull my shawl on over my bikini and start trekking up to the cabana. 

To avoid getting caught, Cannon rented a hotel room on the fourth floor for us to spend the night. The system is the same every time. He gives me the key at school and I go up into the room and wait for him to come. 

I drop my shoes by the bathroom after sliding the key card in the door and closing it softly behind me. I flop back onto the king-sized bed and let my hair sprawl across the plush pillows, closing my eyes and spreading out my limbs. 

I've almost completely dozed off when I suddenly snap awake to the feel of someone grabbing my waist. "I missed you." Cannon starts planting kisses up and down my jawline and I push him away aggressively. "What?" He looks confused, as if he's done nothing wrong.

"Just. You scared me." I say in a loss for words. "I almost had a heart attack."

"Oh." Is all he says. "Sorry." He climbs onto the bed and sits up against the headboard,me curling up next him and melting into his arms. I look up at him eagerly.

"I didn't say I didn't want to have sex. I just said you scared me." I get that mischievous look in my eyes and I grin upwards at him. 

He laughs a little and tackles me over, running his hands along the sides of my body. 

I giggle and push his shirt back off his shoulders furiously as he does the same with mine. 

"I love you." He whispers and I smile.