Just Talk to Him! (IM5)

Chapter 11

July 5th, 2013 - 9 pm

The fifth of July. Technically not Independence Day anymore, but for marketers and IM5’s management, it’s still part of the holiday weekend and therefore another great day to have a concert with fireworks. So the concert goes along exactly as yesterday, deafening explosions and all.

When it finishes, still pumped from the performance and yesterday’s success, I grab Dana’s wrist and hop up and down excitedly. “Who do I talk to today?”

His happiness to see me visibly falls when I state my topic. He straightens up immediately and plasters on a smile. “You said Gabe, right?”

I nod slowly, pretending not to notice his clear drop of mood. Jealousy. As soon as I realize I just thought that, I shake the notion away. What does Dana have to be jealous about? “Right.”

I squint around the bright lights of the setting. The other four boys, like Dana, are dressing down from their stage getups. Dalton waves to me good-naturedly and I flash him a smile. I see Gabe carefully folding his costume and setting it into a neat stack. “Catch up with you later, Dana,” I say. “Unless you want to come.”

I start off toward Gabe. I can’t help but smile when I hear Dana’s sneakers padding on floor to catch up. “I think I’d like to talk to my buddy Gabe,” he replies, barrelling ahead to greet him.

I roll my eyes. “Hey, Gabe.”

He smiles lightly, pressing the stack of clothes into a bag. “Sup, Ky, Dana.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a real conversation with you,” I tell him cheerily.

“Obviously because she loves me more,” Dana butts in.

“Ooh, cheeky,” Gabe teases. “But, come on. Kylie, you and I both know that’s not true.”

I giggle. “Hmm.”

“Excuse me? Is there something I don’t know?” Dana accuses, folding his arms over his chest.

I decide to play along. I give Gabe a secretive look. “Should we tell him?”

And so the conversation goes. Playful banter and amusing verbal jabs at Dana. At the end, he seems more than happy to end the talk with Gabe. When he pulls me away, I look at him questioningly. “What, can’t stand for the only girl you know to start talking to other guys?”

“You’re not the only girl I know!” He pouts. “And have you seen the lounge room of this place?”

He changes the subject. Of course he doesn’t want to talk about his feelings. I sigh. Apparently, I’m not going to get any more out of him. I should probably find that suspicious.

 

July 5th, 2013 - 10:45 pm

When I finally get some alone time, I take the opportunity to call up Anna.

“Don’t say I told you so, but I’m starting to think that you may be right,” I say as soon as she picks up.

“I told you so.”

I almost hang up on her. “You are the world’s most useless best friend. I can’t even count on you to not say ‘I told you so’.”

“What’s that? Who was right? Who offered you advice, that, might I add, worked? Who won two giant teddy bears at the fair and gave one of them to you? Uh huh. Me. I am so not useless.”

“Fine,” I allow, “But you’re annoying as hell.”

“Obnoxious and proud,” she replies. “What is it this time?”

“Do you really think Dana likes me?”

“Girl, he is heels over head smitten.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Oh no, don’t you go rejecting my opinion right after you ask for it. And by the way, it’s not only my opinion, but it’s a fact.”

“I’m going to crush you.”

“But you have a crush on Dana.”

“Shut up.”

“Can’t. You called me.” She hesitates for a moment. “Okay, so what happened?”

“I went to talk to Gabe.”

“And?”

“Dana decided to join me. He like to talk about how I like him more than I like Gabe. Or anyone else, for that matter. And when I hinted at jealousy, he purposely missed my point and then completely changed the subject.”

“You’re just confirming everything I ever told you.”

“Ugh. Anna. What do I do?”

“Seduce him.”

“Seriously!” I gripe. “I’m annoyed.”

“Then I’m doing my job,” she chirps. “Ky, you have to make a move. It’s obvious he isn’t going to. And besides, what harm can it do? You’re only going to know him this summer. Then it’s over. Have some fun while it lasts.”

“Maybe.”

“Want me to check with Cole daily to see?”

“No!”

“Well, then.” I can hear her smile through the phone. “You better get your flirt on.”

 

July 7th, 2013 - 7 am

I stand in front of Dana and Dalton’s door, holding a DVD case behind my back. I take a deep breath and knock on the door. I cross my fingers and hope Dana answers the door.

As it turns out, luck is in my favor. “Sup,” Dana greets.

I make my way into the hotel room. “Seeing as it’s Ashton Irwin’s birthday today-”

“Who?”

I glare at him. “Excuse me! He is the drummer in 5SOS.”

“Five-”

“Seconds of Summer,” I explain. “Look it up. They’re a pop punk boyband.”

Dalton pops his head out of the bathroom. “Did I hear Kylie say punk?”

“Yes. Now let me finish. Seeing as it’s Ashton Irwin’s nineteenth birthday today, I got you a gift.” I pull out the object behind my back. “The complete first season of the best TV show on air- MTV’s Teen Wolf.”

Dana’s eyes widen. “Woah.”

“Not all hotel TVs have Bluetooth,” I explain sheepishly.

“Dana, don’t listen to her!” Dalton yells. “Doctor Who is the best show. BBC for the win.”

I stare at him. “I love Doctor Who! But that’s a topic for another occasion. Teen Wolf.”

Dana takes the DVD case from me and examines it. “You bought it?”

“No, I begged Cole to. He didn’t need much convincing. Now I owe him.” I shrug. “Totally worth it.” I grin.

“Is it for me, or-”

“For you, silly. It’s a gift.” Duh. Dalton snickers as he bounces on his bed. What does he think is so funny about me talking to Dana?

Dana wraps me in a hug. “Thanks, Ky.”

“You’re welcome,” I squeak into his shoulder, my voice muffled.

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He lets go almost immediately after, though. Did my attempt at flirting work or not?

“Let’s watch it,” he decides. “Dalton, leave.”

Dalton pouts but complies. As he closes the door, he hollers, “Have fun on your date!”