First Crush (Dark Falkon #1) (13 page)

“See, I knew you would laugh, this is the exact reason why I didn’t want to tell you,” Ivy was annoyed.

“Oh, Hun, Shut up! I’m not laughing at you. Is that the only thing that you're worried about?”

“What do you mean, the only thing? It’s a pretty big deal if you ask me. Dick’s going to take one look at my body and be completely turned off.”

“If he loves you, then no he won’t. Babe, looks aren’t everything.”

“Sure, that’s easy for you to say, you’ve been gorgeous your whole life. You’ve never had to worry about your image or getting a man. Dick is the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time and I don’t want to lose him.”

Sienna pulled her chair closer to Ivy and looked up at her; “Ivy, listen to me, Dick likes you, he
really
likes you. If he doesn’t like you for the beautiful woman that you are, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

Ivy smiled slightly, Sienna always did have a way with words and could always make her smile.

“Thanks, babe.”

“Look, I’ll get this. You and I need to go out and do some serious shopping,” Sienna said.

Sienna paid for their lunch and the two of them walked down the shopping strip.

####FRIENDSHIP####

It was several hours later when the girls had almost finished their shopping. Sienna had her arms covered with shopping bags, they were full of clothes, shoes and more designer handbags to add to her ever growing collection. Ivy wasn’t short of cash, she too made a generous wage at the bank, but unlike Sienna, she didn’t splurge herself. She was saving her money to buy her first home, she loved her parents and all, but there were times when she wanted her privacy, especially now that she was dating Richard.

She hadn’t introduced him to her parents just yet, she wasn’t even sure how serious their relationship was. She had been thinking about what Sienna had told her about her image, and she was right, if Dick didn’t like her for who she was, then he wasn’t worth it.

“Ok, we really need to buy you some new clothes,” Sienna said, suddenly popping out of the lingerie section of the department store.

“Sienna thanks, but I really can’t afford to buy anything at the moment.”

“How about this?” She said, grabbing a denim skirt off the rack and holding it in front of Ivy.

“Um…it’s a little short, and there’s a zipper going right up the…”

“Yeah…der.”

“Who would wear something like this in public?”

“Actually, I have it in black,” Sienna replied.

“Ok then that explains so much.”

Sienna kept choosing random items of clothing for Ivy, many of which she would never dare to wear in public. Even though they had their little “girl talk” Ivy was still uneasy about the whole image thing. No matter how much time she spent shopping with Sienna, she just couldn’t stop thinking about sleeping with Dick for the first time.

By the time they had finished shopping, Ivy’s hands were also covered in bags. They headed out of the last boutique store and sat down at the café located only a few shops away. As they sipped away at their coffees, Ivy looked at her bags and then at Sienna.

“I seriously can’t believe you bought me all this stuff, I mean, I won’t even wear most of it.” Ivy pulled out the leopard print bikini that Sienna had picked out for her and placed it over her chest.

“That’s okay, whatever you don’t wear, I will happily take it off your hands,” Sienna replied.

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a serious shopping problem?”

“Yep! Jesse tells me all the time, and then I just remind him that he loves me.”

“You always did have a way with words. So what are your plans for tomorrow?” Ivy asked.

“Not a lot actually, Dark Falkon are coming out next month, and I am trying to find some accommodation for us in Vegas.”

“I thought you would have been all over that by now,” Ivy said.

“I haven’t had a chance. I’ve been busy with work and Jesse and to be honest, I’ve just left it to the last minute, it’s completely slipped my mind.”

“Look, it doesn’t have to be anything too fancy, I’d be happy in a cheap hostel or something. If not, we could always just drive up there in a pink Cadillac, Thelma and Louise style and find a hot guy to share a room with.”

“You, me and Brad Pitt, huh?”

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t say no if he showed up on my doorstep, would you?”

“Not at all. Anyway, I’ll look into it and see what I can find and I’ll let you know.”

“Okay,” Ivy replied.

They hugged and grabbed their bags and kissed each other on the cheek.

“See ya, babe,” Sienna said.

“Bye, and thanks for the clothes.”

“You're welcome.”

With one final wave, they turned and headed home.
 

Sienna was frantically packing her suitcase, like everything else, she'd left it to the last minute. She and Ivy were leaving for Vegas in three days and she couldn't find a hotel close enough to the arena where Dark Falkon were performing. She had been waiting for this trip for months and she took some leave from work. The tickets were expensive, but there was no way Sienna was missing out on seeing her favorite band perform live. 

Ivy was still reluctant to tag along, after the conversation she'd had with Jake, she felt guilty about leaving him all alone for the weekend. This was the perfect opportunity for Jake and Sienna to be alone outside of home. She wanted to fake an illness, but she knew how disappointed Sienna would be given how much she had spent on the tickets. In the end she decided that although she was stuck in the middle of it all, she wanted to protect Jake's secret. 

Lightning Ridge weren't assigned to a record label and the group decided to self-produce and market their own album. After months of preparation, rehearsals, photo shoots, sleepless nights and stress, it was finally ready.

“Oh My God!” Sienna squealed from her bedroom. “Congratulations, Jake. I'm so proud of you,” she said as she ran out of the bedroom and kissed Jake on the cheek. She flung her arms around him and held out the CD he had left on her bed.

“Thank you!”

“Please tell me I got the first official copy?”

“Well, if you don't include the band, then yes.”

“I can live with that,” she smiled. She disappeared for a brief moment back to her bedroom and then returned.

“Can you please sign it for me?” She asked, holding out a marker. 

“What? Are you serious?”

“Of course I'm serious. Jake, this is a really big deal. You've been working on this album for years, and now I want the first signed copy. I'm so proud of you.”

Jake grabbed the marker, “To Sienna,” she said, as Jake looked at her and smiled. He scribbled his signature on the album cover and slid it back into the case. 

“Thank you,” she said, kissing him on the forehead. 

“You're welcome,” Jake replied as she ran off to her room. 

Jake could hear the front door open, turning around, he saw Ivy as she walked through the door. 

“Ok, where-”

But before she could finish her sentence, Jake held up his hand, holding a CD.

“Oh my god! It's an actual CD, like a real CD. So, do I have the first official copy?”

“Actually, I already own that title,” Sienna suddenly popped out of her room and walked up to Ivy, giving her a hug and kiss.

“Hey!”

“Hi!”

“It's pretty exciting, isn't it?” Ivy asked.”

“Yeah, but let's not give Jake a bigger head than he already has,” Sienna winked at Jake and poured them all a drink.

“God, you're such a bitch.”

“You noticed?”

Sienna placed the CD into the player and pressed play, she joined the others on the sofa.

They sat there listening as the tunes from Lightning Ridge blared through the living room.

“Jake, this is amazing, you guys are awesome,” Ivy said.

“Brilliant,” Sienna replied. 

“Thanks guys.”

“Jake, you really need to submit this to a record producer or at least an agent. This is amazing stuff,” Ivy said.

“I totally agree with Ivy on this one Jake, you need to send this in to someone.”

Jake sat there and looked at the two of them. He never thought his work was good enough to even consider sending it to a record label or an agent. 

“Thanks, guys but honestly, I don't think I'm good enough yet for an agent.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Jake, this is amazing, your vocals really show the talent that you have. Even Tori is amazing,” Sienna said.

“The whole band is great. Jake you really need to consider sending this album to an agent. I mean, what's the worst they can say, no?”

“They can turn around and say, go away, you're not good enough, come back when you have something better. Or, get out of here, you have no future as a rock star. I just don't think I could handle that kind of rejection.”

The girls looked at one another. Ivy knew only too well how Jake handled rejection. If his current situation with Sienna was anything to go by, being rejected by a record label would ruin him.

“Stop being negative. Yeah sure, they can say all of those things. But as the song goes,
I get knocked down, but I get up again
...just remember that, Jake,” Sienna said.

“I appreciate your support and confidence in me Sienna, but seriously, I just don't know if we're good enough. Besides, it's not a decision I can make without consulting with the rest of the band first.”

“Well, that all goes without saying, but surely the band would consider something like this? I mean, Jake this is big, HUGE. You’d all be crazy to let an opportunity like this slip,” Ivy added.

The girls could tell that Jake really didn’t want to discuss the matter any further, so they both agreed to drop the subject, while they listened to the rest of the CD.

“So, what are you girls up to today?”

“Well, Sienna and I need to finish packing for one thing.”

“Oh, yes of course the Dark Falkon concert is this weekend, isn’t it?”

“Yep! Sure is,” Sienna replied.

“You know Jake, it’s not too late for you to join us you know, I’m sure there are still tickets available.”

“Actually…they sold out,” Sienna said.

“Really?”

“You're surprised?” Sienna asked.

“A little.”

“Ivy, it’s their first ever concert in Vegas. The sponsors and marketing team have been promoting the crap out of this concert since it was announced six months ago.”

“Well that’s okay, I’m sure they’ll release another show.”

“I highly doubt that. You heard them on the Ellen interview, after Vegas, its Europe, then Asia and then Australia. The only way to get a ticket now, is to fly halfway around the world.

“Oh, well isn’t that just a damn awful shame,” Jake replied, sarcastically.

“Totally. I can see the disappointment in your eyes,” Ivy said.

“Oh seriously, will you two stop it. Look, Jake, I know you don’t think very much of the band, but please, keep your opinions to yourself.”

“What? Sienna, it’s a free country, I’m allowed to voice my opinion. And besides, I’m not saying anything bad about them, I just don’t care for their music. I know there are people out there who will say the same thing about my music.”

“He has a point, Sienna.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“I’m not on anyone’s side, Sienna. I’m just saying that he makes a point. Not everyone is going to like their music. It’s a fact of life.”

“Yeah, yeah! Ok, I get your point. Now can we please just drop the subject?”

“Fine by me,” Jake replied.

“And me.”

There was quiet. Pure silence all around. Neither Jake nor Ivy dared say another word in fear that Sienna would bite their heads off.

“Have you started packing yet, Ivy?”

“Started? I finished packing two days ago. Don’t tell me you haven’t started yet?” Ivy asked.

“I’ve made a start, I may not be finished, but that’s beside the point.”

Sienna grabbed them all some more drinks and sat down on the sofa next to Jake. She was wearing the same white shirt and boxers that she always wore around the house whenever she was having a “lazy” day. She had shaved her legs and as she sat down, the shirt had ridden up, showing the top of her black lace panties. Jake didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed that she was semi-clothed although, he could see through her shirt and noticed that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her breasts were sagging and his first reaction was an erect cock.

He stood up abruptly, heading into the kitchen to get himself a drink. He stared at the two of them, Ivy knew instantly why he had reacted the way he did, but he tried to hide his reaction from Sienna.