now or never - charlie gillespie

chapter thirty

After my encounter with the boys and Kenny freaking Ortega I couldn't even think straight.

I was in a room trying to make up the bed for the third time when I just decided to take a quick five minute break to clear my head. I couldn't seem to concentrate.

"Lets go over this again," Ava said, walking out of the bathroom holding a bunch of dirty towels. She dropped them on the floor and started counting on her fingers. "First you'll thank your family, and then of course, Kenny Ortega, and then you'll make everyone cry when you start talking about how you couldn't have done any of this without your dearest friend, Ava," she said looking off into space, daydreaming.

I groaned at her. She wasn't making this any easier on me. "For the last time Ava. There will be no acceptance speech because there is no way I can possibly go!"

"Why not Lake? Can't you see that you're destined to win a Grammy and take me with you and introduce me to Harry Styles?" She whined. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Get real, Ava," I said.

Suddenly we heard a knock at the door. I looked at Ava and she shrugged her shoulders. I walked over and looked through the peephole.

What was he doing here?

"Owen?" I asked as I opened the door. He was leaning against the door frame. He looked up at me and gave me a weak smile.

"Hey. Can I come in? Or will you get in trouble?" He asked. I opened the door wider and ushered him in with my hand.

"Be my guest," I said opening the door wider and ushering him in with my hand. I courtside and he bowed.

"M'lady," he turned to Ava and gave her a bow as well. "Miss Ava, how are you on this fine day?" I couldn't help but giggle.

"You two are so weird," Ava rolled her eyes at us walking past us to throw the dirty towels in the laundry basket in our trolley.

"So why aren't you lounging by the pool?" I asked, imitating Kenny. Owen laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

"There are other things I'd rather be doing," he said looking up at me. "Do you need any help?"

"Um, yeah, sure. That would be nice," I said motioning to the other side of the bed. He walked around the bed and grabbed the sheet and we began making it. "You don't have to help me do this. I know it's boring," I said smoothing out the sheets.

"I don't mind it," he said fluffing a pillow. "So about earlier.." He said looking away from me.

"I'm actually glad you brought it up. I have a few questions," I said taking his pillow and fluffing it again. It was an instinct. I looked up and saw he had an eyebrow raised at me. "Sorry," I was so used to doing everything twice since Ava was never as precise as I 'd like to be.

He let out a breath of relief. "I'm so glad you're not mad at me."

I scrunch my nose in confusion. "Why would I ever be mad at you," I winked. His eyes widened. Did I just wink at him? I never did that.

He shook it off. "Shoot."

"Um.. when would I technically start working with you guys?"

"We finish filming in one week and the tour starts the week after. We're announcing it tonight!" Owen said excitedly.

"So that means...I'd need to be ready in two weeks?"

Two weeks? Two freaking weeks? That wasn't even enough time to convince my dad let alone pack or get my affairs in order. Holy shit. I was way over my head. There was no way this could work.

Owen shook his head. "Kenny wants you to come back with us when we leave."

"And you guys are leaving..?"

"In two days, Lake."

They had to be pulling a prank on me. They wanted me to be ready to leave in two days?

"About that song," Owen said, noticing I was panicking, desperately trying to change the subject.

"Yeah?" I croaked. My head was pounding. I couldn't help but wonder what he thought about my song.

"Charlie seems to think it's about him."

I hesitated, trying to think of the best thing to say.

"Well, what do you think?"

He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair and then his eyes locked with mine. "I think-" he started to say but was cut off.

Suddenly Ava came running through the door. "Mrs. Roberts is coming!" she yelled.

Owen just looked between us confused. My eyes widened. "Owen. I'm so sorry but you have to hide."

"What? Why?"

"Hide. NOW!" I said shoving him towards Ava. She opened the closet door and shoved him inside.

The door handle rattled and Mrs. Roberts came through.

"Ah, Lake, There you are. I have been looking for you everywhere. I thought you'd be finished with this room by now," she said tilting her glasses and looking at the messy room. It was nowhere near finished. I had been too preoccupied with my own thoughts to concentrate on my work. I gave her an apologetic look. "Never mind. I wanted to talk to you about something.."

"What's that, Mrs. Roberts," I said, throwing the cover over the bed, trying to make it look like I was working hard this entire time.

"I wanted to know if you were serious about your application."

"What application?" I was confused. What was she talking about?

"The application for the assistant manager position," she said.

"I don't.." I started to say when Ava caught my eye behind Mrs Roberts. She was trying to sneak out. Oh no you didn't, Ava!

"Ava stopped by my office earlier today and dropped it off."

"Oh yes of course, it must have slipped my mind," I said.

"If I'd have known you wanted to apply for this position I wouldn't have even bothered giving any other employee a chance," she said.

Wait. What?

"I wanted to know if you were serious about it. If you are, that would really solve everything. Ever since Robert had to leave everything's been a mess," she continued to explain. I just nodded my head, listening to everything she had to say. "You are the perfect candidate for the management position," was that a smile on Mrs. Robert's face?

"You want to give me the job? But I'm a maid?"

"Nonsense. You're perfect for the job. You are always on top of everything. You are never late. You are always one step ahead. Oh heavens I am not going to go on and on, child. I am willing to fill the position right now. Do you want it or not?"

"Can I have some time to think about it?"

"I'm not sure what you think about, but I don't see why not. I want to pick someone for the position to start at the beginning of next week. I'll give you until the end of tomorrow. No later." Mrs. Roberts said, giving me a nod before turning on her heels and walking out of the room.

Ava, who was juggling several boxes of tissues, suddenly threw them in the air and ran over to me. "Don't hate me, I didn't know about the other job offer," she said, grabbing my arm.

"I don't hate you. It doesn't matter anyways. I have to take this job, right?" I asked her.

The closet doors swung open and Owen stared at me. "What are you going to do?" he asked me.

Well, Owen, that was a really good question. A really good question that I wish I knew the answer to.

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ahh!! What do you guys think Lake should do??