Guilty Pleasure

Page 61

Julie went somewhere quieter to take care of business back home and Emma wants to go over some last minute details with Jared so he goes off with her to a nearby table S:"You wanna talk about it?" Me:"Huh?" S:"Nice job putting up a good front for Jared but you're not fooling me babe" Me:"Oh Sorry. I'm just praying to God that damned viper doesn't rear her ugly head!" S:"Wait what are you saying...... she's here????" Me:" I saw her Shannon, Oh God I'm so scared!" S:"When???" Me:"Last night at the pool she was there, she just kept looking at us. Why is she here, what does she want?" S:"Theres only two things she could possible want Jared or me! Nina I promise you she's going home empty handed" Me:"I won't lose Jared or you!" S:"Shhh it's okay babe! You're not loosing either one of us" he pulls me close "I promise" Jared:"What's going on?" For a split second I think Jared's is thinking Shannon's up to his old tricks but I'm wrong S:"She's here!" Jared:"Tell me your joking?" I pull away from Shannon and turn to face him Me:"I saw her baby, I can't loose you I won't" I walk into his embrace Jared:"Baby you're not loosing me, Shannon this isn't happening! What the fuck is she doing here?" S:"Hell if I know!!! But to be honest with you I have a pretty good idea" he holds me tight Jared:"She can just go back to hell where she belongs, she isn't getting shit from us" It felts so good to hear him say that, loosing him would be the death of me.

Julie gets back and puts her arms around Shannon's neck and takes his lips. "Hey baby, miss me?......" He can fake a smile and hide his concern but he can't stop the cold shiver that just ran through his body. ".......Baby what's wrong?" Shannon looks at her lovingly and caresses her cheek S:"I love you" Julie:"I love you too but what's wrong?" S:"It's nothing baby don't worry about it" Something's wrong she can feel it but he's not fessing up. She looks at Jared and the look on his face is unmistakeable, add that to the way I looked, something is definitely wrong, Julie:"Love Bug? What's wrong? Jared? Can somebody please tell me what's going on?" I start to explain but Shannon stops me "Nina wait! Let me do it......please" I nod in agreement and he tells Julie about Lea ".....we thought we'd never see her again but I guess we were wrong" Julie:"What do you mean you were wrong?" Me:"She's here baby doll........ I saw her last night" she was in shock and trying desperately to keep her composure. Julie:"What does she want?" Jared holds me closer Jared:"Don't know for sure but we think it's either Shannon or me" Julie looks at Shannon "So what happens now?" He pulls her close S:"Baby, please don't worry, whatever she wants we're not interested" Julie:"Nina, you saw her?" Me:"Yeah, last night Jared and I, we were at the pool ......." Julie:"Did she say anything?" Me:"No she just looked at us, I'm not letting him go she can't have him!" I hold on to Jared for dear life Julie makes her way to me "Love bug, look at me........ You're my sister and I won't let anyone hurt you. If she wants either one of them she'll have to go through me first" S:"Are you kidding me I don't want her anywhere near you or Nina!" Jared:"Shannon's right, I want her as far away from you and Nina as possible just let us handle her ok" Julie:"Jared she's my sister I can't just......" Jared:"Please! You don't know her like we do" yeah and you dont know Julie, for all intended purposes we are sisters and we've always been protective of each other, her more so of me. She gives in reluctantly.

Emma joins us to check in on the guys Tomo and Vicki joins us there after. E:"Ok guys I need you in the dressing rooms in 15, you'll have 45 minutes before you're called on deck" Jared:"Thanks Emma" E:"Relax Jared you'll be fine" Me:"She's right baby you'll be fine they're gonna love you" Jared:"I love you" he kisses my lips "How you feeling" Me:"Much better love" Jared:"You scared me baby" Me:"I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to" E:"Ok guys time to go" T:"Let's do this!!!" Tomo is literally jumping out of his skin, S:"You ready to do this Jared?" As ready as I'll ever be!" S:"Relax Jay we're gonna kill it!!!! I loved seeing them like this, their enthusiasm was contagious. E:"Come on guys, clock's ticking." A tight hug and a kiss goodbye and off they go.

Emma gets back 20 minutes later E:"Okay ladies you'll be watching the show with me, roughly mid point between Shannon and Tomo. If you need a drink or a bathroom break I suggest you get it now" Me:"Thank you Emma" E:"You're welcome Hun. So how are you feeling?" Me:"Good! I have a Doctors appointment on Tuesday." E:"That's good he's been so worried about you!" Me:"I know, I don't mean to worry him, he has so much on his plate right now" E:"But you come first honey, you should know that!" Me:"I do but I shouldn't, his career is important too!" Julie:"She's right baby girl, I saw him last night, he was a total wreck there's nothing in this world more important to him than you" God I felt so terrible here I was trying to protect him and instead I was hurting him more by keeping him out of the loop. Me:"But Shannon and Tomo are depending on him, on this band for their livelihood, their future. I can't....." V:"Nina, sweetheart, look at me....." She gently places her hand under my chin and turns my face to hers "..... You're right they are but he's useless to them if he's too busy worrying about you to take care of business, honey" I smile at her weakly Me:"Thank you Vicki I guess you're right, I never thought of it that way, I'm sorry" V:"You have nothing to be sorry about sweetheart!" We hug Me:"My voice of reason, thank you sweetie" V:"You're welcome honey" Julie:"Thank you for looking out for my love bug" V:"You're welcome honey, you guys are family now" I look at Julie and we both tear up we hug Vicki and kiss her cheeks, even Emma tears up. Julie:"How about some drinks" E:"Should she be drinking sweetie?" Julie:"Oh, it's ok they're non alcoholic, it's my on special recipe we used to use it at the Gas Lamp when we we're trying to cut someone off. It still taste like the real thing and since they were so hammered they couldn't tell the difference" Me:"I remember those, go for it love" Julie comes back with the drinks a few minutes later and we toast "To life, love, and 30 Seconds to Mars" we take our places and wait for the show to begin.