A Story to Remember

Chapter 13 Out on the Town

Gavin-

My once very ordinary and modern flat is now a garden. We have about 200 flower arrangement, 25 hanging baskets and 50 pots scattered around the house, most of the pots and baskets are out on my balcony and porch. I’m sure my neighbors must think I’ve moved out and a girl moved in. Vases cover the tables, and any flat surface that they can in any room not including Austin or my bedroom. A guys' got to have his limits.

“Well, at least the house smells nice.” I say as we all collapse on the leather furniture in my flat Chels and Austin on the couch and I in the armchair adjacent to the couch. After working for two plus hours to house these flowers, I think we deserve a break.

“I didn’t know how many supporters I had.” Chelsea says looking around. She still seems amazed that so many people have faith in her.

“I told you yesterday. People love you. They’ll have your back.” I remind her, “These people believe in you. With Jackson and Kat gone, we don’t have to worry about their walk on roles anymore.”

“It just seems so surreal. I feel like I’m going to wake up and it all is just a dream.” She says Austin elbows her, “Ow.”

“Just making sure you’re awake.” He says with a smirk.

“Ha ha ha.” She says, “Very funny. We have the whole night off, what do you boys want to do?” she asks jumping topics.

“They’ve got a pretty good ice skating rink, bowling alley, roller rink, and sports center/arcade right down the street, we could walk.” I suggest.

“Sounds cool,” Austin says, “Chels you up for a challenge?”

“Only if it’s actually a challenge.” She retorts with a smile and a nudge, “Your challenges are for babies. They aren’t even worth of the name challenge.”

“Ouch,” Austin says, “Well why don’t you set the challenge?” He tells her, “Besides, I only do that because I know your terrible at sports.”

‘Ouch’ I think, “So I’m gathering that it’s a yes, we are going to the sports center.” I ask.

“Absolutely,” they both answer without hesitation. After fighting off the paparazzi to get to the arena we all grab a ski ball machine and battle it out to beat the high score. Chelsea win she hits the 100 every time setting the new high score. Austin wins the pickup game of basketball. As for me, I’ve yet to win anything yet, but we’re up for a bowling match after dinner, so who knows?

“Let’s eat, I am famished.” Chelsea says, “We can cash in our tickets before. And get something.”

Austin gets a baseball for his five hundred tickets; yeah with that pickup game, you win tickets. Chelsea cashes in her tickets for a double package of horse posters. Me, well I bought a couple dozen rubber bouncy balls. Five tickets a piece I had 200 tickets from the bowling match I won. All that aside we order a large pizza with everything. And a couple rounds of french-fries. Just as we’re about to buy another round of bowling, Chelsea’s ready to call it a night. See sees someone walk in the door, “Zach?” she asks herself quietly before springing into action, “Come on let’s get out of here.” She says quickly heading to the door. she wasn’t fast enough.

“Stonefield!” Zach Cameron, her former costar calls out before intercepting her. He draws the attention of everyone, including the surrounding paparazzi “Where have you been hiding yourself?” he asks her flipping his fluffy light brown hair out of his piercing grey eyes.

“Zach,” Chelsea says feigning friendliness. “I could ask you the same thing.” She says coolly, “You haven’t been on a headline since what? 2009, four years ago.”

“At least I didn’t walk away from Hollywood.” He retorts.

“Maybe you should. I hear it makes a great headline.” She fries back, “Everyone knows you need one.”

“With the stunt you pulled it’s a wonder they even wanted you back here.” He says venomously.

“Unlike some people, I actually tried to make things right” she hisses back, her eyes alight with a fire that no one ever saw, Austin even looks surprised.

“Quit lying to yourself,” Zach tells her, “I don’t have to listen to this.”

“You came up to me remember?” she says, “Or don’t you, is your brain still on vacation like it was two years ago?” she feigns disappointment she turns on her heels, “Come on you two, let’s go.” She walks out the press following behind.

“Miss Stonefield. What went down between you and Mr. Cameron back there?” The reporters ask her.

“No comment.” She says, “But I’m sure if you ask him, he’ll feign complete innocence.” Chelsea slides through the reporters and heads toward my flat. She doesn’t say another word to anyone. Austin and I follow quickly behind her bumping into her when she stops at a magazine stand. She looks at a magazine with a quiz on it. Which man in Chelsea Stonefield’s life are you? She buys the magazine and continues her rapid steady pace to the flat.

“Chels, what went on between you and Zach?” Austin asks as she turns on the news.

“Past friends and former costars Chelsea Stonefield and Zach Cameron battle it out, but over what? Let’s go to the man with the story Zach Cameron himself.” A news reporter says, “Zach, what were you and Chelsea arguing over just moments ago?”

“I don’t know, one minute it was a friendly conversation then she turned it into a show down.” Zach says, “I was just trying to catch up with an old friend.”

“What a bunch of lies” Chelsea mutters opening the quiz as they replay her argument over national TV. “That Jerk knows exactly what that argument was about.” She turns it off and walks into her room slamming the door behind her.

“What was that about?” I ask Austin who gives a shrug before we both go knock on her door. “Chels, can we talk to you?” she opens the door and we both walk in the flower laden room.

“Before either of you ask about Zach, let me ask you something.” She says holding up a pen and the magazine. is she really taking that quiz? “Have either of you ever had a friend, a best friend turn on you when you least expected it and most needed them?”

“Is that what this is about?” Austin asks her.

“Zach, Sarah, and I were a trio, best friends. It was thanks to Sarah that Zach and I even met.” Chelsea says curling up against the back board of the bed. “Zach and I played boyfriend girlfriend on set. But the feelings were there. Zach and I never told Sarah; it was like a forbidden romance gone wrong. As soon as Sarah went missing, Zach and I couldn’t face each other off set. Zach tried, but it was too much of a reminder that Sarah was gone. I still stayed close enough to keep Kat and Jackson away, but I couldn’t be around him. Once I found out about the final season coming up I decided to leave. I had no intention of coming back.”

“So Zach lied, he knew all along about your intention to leave. And he knew the reason?” Austin asks.

“He knew I was leaving, I never told him the real reason. I just told him it was too hard to be doing what Sarah loved with her gone.” Chelsea says, “He never tried to find Sarah, I tried countless times. It seemed to me as if he didn’t care to find out what happened to her.”

“Why didn’t you just confront him about it?” Austin asks her.

“Because he’d get the press involved like he always does. He’d deny everything that’s true. Then when I needed him most he wasn’t there. When I needed space he was too close.”