A Little Less than Famous (43 page)

             
I didn't need to ask. The beefy security guard turned to us and held his hands up. "Sorry, guys, this is the cutoff. The actors need to leave now. We're sorry you waited so long but time is up. Time to start clearing out."

             
"She did not!" Amanda said, aghast.

             
"She did," I confirmed, horrified. "I can't believe she did this. I am so close."

             
"What a bitch."

             
"That's it. Amanda, that's it. What am I supposed to do?"

             
"Go," Amanda said. I looked at her, curiously. "Go! Go now! Run, push people, I don't know, McKinley! Just go!" She shoved me away from her, toward the table where the actors were starting to get up.

             
I looked around, trying to figure out to get past everyone. I saw a women's bathroom, which I knew had two entrances, one of them on the other side of the table. I wondered how no body had noticed it. I made my way towards it, and ran through it to the other side. I looked around, hoping they hadn't walked away yet. I saw Adrienne walking away, almost hidden by a crowd of people. Jake had to be over there. I started heading over there, determined, my eye on the prize. I didn't pay attention to anything else, just stared at Adrienne as I made my way over to her.

             
I was so focused that I didn't notice him until I went pummeling into him. I nearly fell over, until I felt a large hand grab my arm to keep me steady. I steadied myself and looked up, and up, into the eyes of Jake Kennedy, himself.

             
"McKinley?" He looked confused. "What are you doing here?"

             
I stared at him, amazed at how different it felt to be around now that I knew I was in love with him. I tried to open my mouth but no words came out, just a weird squeaking noise. I blushed, maybe one of the first times I had ever blushed. "Um, I'm here with Amanda," I said. Words! I could speak! "We were shopping, you know." How was it possible that I sounded so
breezy?
Tell him, McKinley, tell him.

             
"Shopping? All the way in Santa Monica?" he asked. The security guard that was standing next to him was trying to lead him away but he waved him off.

             
I paused, and I could feel the breeziness fade away. This was it. This is when I told him. My entire body wanted to launch itself at him, glue itself to him, so that we would never be apart but I knew I had to say it first, I had to tell him. "Jake, I..."

             
"Hey baby, what's going on?" Andrea had come up, looking up at Jake curiously. Her hand had gone for his and suddenly, I realized what she had called him. Baby. I stared at
them;
feeling like my worst fear had come true. They were standing so close together, their hands linked, and I knew. I just knew. It was too late.

             
"Just talking to McKinley," he said, not taking his eyes off of me.

             
Andrea looked over at me and I immediately saw the triumphant look in her eyes. "Oh, hi, McKinley. What are you doing?"

             
"Shopping," I said, breezily. "Amanda's favorite store is down here so we decided to come down for some shopping, maybe grab some lunch. It's so crazy that you guys are here too!"

             
"Yeah, what a weird coincidence," Andrea said, looking as if she had just been told that it was her birthday and Christmas in one day.

             
"I know!" I said, laughing. Just keep laughing, McKinley, just keep laughing.

             
"So what have you been up to, girl?" Andrea said. I had to get out of here. Andrea was keeping me here; she was trying to shove her victory in my face. "I saw your
Lush
pictures and you looked adorable."

             
"Thank you," I said, strained.

             
"McKinley..." Jake started to say.

             
"I should get going," I said, trying to smile and trying so desperately not to look at their linked hands. "It was awesome seeing you guys."

             
"McKinley, wait."

             
"Bye guys!" I said, cheerfully. I turned around and started to walk away, as casually as I could, toward Amanda. I grabbed her arm and started pulling her towards the car. I could feel the tears coming and I wasn't going to let them happen, not while they could still see me. "Let's go. Now. Please. I just want to go home. Now."

*
             
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Two weeks had passed since I had gone down to Santa Monica, two weeks since I had attempted to tell Jake how I felt, two weeks since I had seen Jake holding hands with Andrea Tremaine. Time had passed and I had accepted what I had seen. I had shown up way too late. I had figured things out too late. Jake was with Andrea. Things were as they should be. But that didn't stop everyone from harassing me all the time. They even staged an intervention.

             
I came home from class and let myself into the diner. I flicked on the lights and was surprised to see that there were people sitting in the diner: Luke, Amanda, Diane and Robert, Iris, Dave, Oliver and Cassandra, Frank, Chris, Mitch and Crystal. 

             
"Um, what's going on? My birthday already passed..."I said, raising my eyebrow at them.

             
"McKinley, we just wanted to talk to you. About Jake. About everything," Luke said.

             
"You've been absolutely miserable," Iris cut in. "You don't talk to anyone, you don't go anywhere but class. You sit up in your room all day."

             
"We're worried, McKinley," Amanda said. "I know things with Jake didn't go exactly go as planned. But it had to have been a fluke. There's no way that Jake was actually with Andrea. He has pretended to date her before and…and he loves you."

             
"You need to call him, go to his house, stake out places he goes to," Cassandra insisted. "You didn't tell him and he needs to know."

             
I took a deep breath, trying to control my anger. "I'm fine, I really am. I've moved on. Jake is with Andrea now and I'm fine with that. I just want him to be happy."

             
Crystal shook her head. "Come on, don't be stupid. You know he is only with Andrea because he thinks you don't love him. You know it was all for show."

             
"Please, McKinley, don't give up," Amanda begged. "I'll do whatever I can to help. I'll go to jail for stalking Jake Kennedy for you, if that's what it takes. I just want you to be happy."

             
"Guys, I know," I said. I reached into my purse and brought out the latest issue of
StarStruck
magazine. The cover was a picture of Jake and Andrea, exiting a restaurant in Palos Verdes, holding hands and smiling. The headline screamed
Jake Kennedy and Andrea Tremaine: Back Together?
The smaller headlines below read:
How the two young hot stars were caught in public
and
what happened to McKinley Evans?

             
"You found it," Amanda said, wincing.

             
"Yeah, I found it," I answered, feeling tired. "I know you thought hiding it with the fry pan liners was a good idea but I found it. And I know. And I told you, I'm fine." I felt a buzz in my pocket and I wondered who it could possible be. The only people in my life at the moment were the ones sitting in front of me.

             
"I just don't think you should give up, honey," Iris said, sadly.

             
I felt another buzz in my pocket and felt annoyed. I yanked my phone out and stared at it. The email icon was blinking and I felt frustrated.

             
"Can you maybe not answer your phone while we're trying to have a serious conversation with you?" Luke asked, his voice even.

             
"Yeah, fine, whatever. Let me just clear this email," I said, squinting at the screen. I felt a swoop in my chest as I saw who the sender was. "Oh my god. Oh my god." I sank into the nearest chair to me, my legs giving out beneath me.

             
"McKinley, what's wrong?" Amanda said, standing up and coming over to me.

             
"Just shut up, okay? Shut up, shut up, shut up," I shrieked, staring at my phone. I opened the email and took a deep breath and began to read.

McKinley:

This is probably the hardest email that I've ever had to write and I'm sure it's not going to be an easy one to read. I've wanted to talk to you for a while but I never knew what I was going to say or how you were going to react. I figured you hated me; I assumed that you did. I never imagined that the situation was much more complicated than I had ever imagined. I want to be angry
with
your mother for telling you that lie but I just can't be. I am, however, sad that we haven't ever gotten the chance to know each other. I'd like to change that.

I know that this isn't going to be easy; I would never expect it to be. I know that it was difficult for you to even get to know your grandmother. But I would like to. I'll take it as slow as you would like...years, if that's what it takes. I just want to get to know my daughter. I'd like you to get to know your sisters.

I've waited some time to talk to you, even though your grandmother came home three weeks ago, and told me that it was time. I wanted to hear all about you and I wanted to know everything about you. And so she told me everything. I was so happy to hear how wonderfully you've grown up, into a mature, beautiful and amazing young woman, according to Olivia. I am so grateful to Luke, who has taken care of you all of these years. And I am grateful to him for raising this amazing person. I've heard so many wonderful things about you and honestly, I can't wait to hear more.

I hope I eventually hear from you. I am encouraged that you wanted me to email you and I eagerly wait your reply.

Before I end this though, I have to say something. I know that I've never met you. I've seen you in pictures, and only very recently. But I felt your heartbeat while you were in your mother's stomach. I wanted you and I loved you from that moment on. I have always been looking for you and to find you, so smart and beautiful and amazing, makes me happier than I could ever imagine. I know that you have been raised well and I know no matter what life throws at you, you are going to make it through and I am so proud that you are of me and that you have a great dad in Luke.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Your father,

Brendon Cambridge.

             
I stared at it for a long moment, breathing heavily. I read it a second time, and then a third time before I was able to calm myself, before I managed to control my breathing and stop the tears before they came. I looked up at my family, my random and amazing family, none of them blood and I felt calm for the first time in weeks.

             
"Who was it?" Amanda asked, hushed.

             
"It was...it was my father. Brendon Cambridge," I answered.

             
There was a combination of reactions: gasps, some mouths that fell open, some widening of the eyes. I ignored them all.

             
"I know what I'm going to do," I said, clearly.