Hidden Gem (25 page)

“Fine,” Gemma smiled.
 
She popped a cookie dough cupcake into her mouth then turned to kiss Damian.
 
She wasn’t sure which tasted sweeter.

TYLER CHASE TALKS QUEEN BEE WITH SPIN!

Celebomatic

5/1 1:23AM

In this month’s issue of SPIN, Tyler Chase talks music, ex-girlfriends, “Tyler Chasers,” and Queen Bee.

On writing his own music:
“I co-write most of my songs because I want my fans to recognize my heart and my message when I’m singing.
 
‘Maybe Someday’ is the first one I wrote as fast as I did – I’ll be recording it this month.”

On the rumor that his loyal “Tyler Chasers” were behind his break-up with actress Desiree Silver:
“I can’t say that Desiree didn’t notice them, because she did.
 
[Laughs] They’re a force to be reckoned with! But they weren’t the reason we ended things.
 
It was a mutual decision and out of respect for Desiree, I won’t say more on it.

On whether or not he knows Queen Bee’s identity:
“I know more about her than most people do, but that’s not saying much.
 
What I do know about her though, I love.”

“What are you guys wearing to Lucas’s birthday party?” Leah asked as she sat on the massage chair, searching the fanned out magazines for one she hadn’t already read.
 
While Madison and Kate attended a senior event, the rest of the girls decided to pamper
themselves
.
 
Gemma sat between Leah and Kate at the salon spa while pedicurists hunched over their dainty feet.

“No idea.
 
Do we have to buy him something?” Kate asked, reaching over Gemma to take Leah’s magazine.
 
Leah swatted her hand away.

“Madison’s probably
gonna
buy him a car or something, so we might as well not embarrass ourselves,” Leah said.
 
“Let’s save the money and buy ourselves the
Bordelle
Angela dress – I need Gavin to fall in love with me before prom.”

“Ew,” Gemma frowned, knowing very well that the
Bordelle
Angela was the steamiest of lingerie.
 
“I don’t know what I was expecting with setting you two up.”

“Your brother took me a to the movies and didn’t try anything,” Leah griped.
 
“I don’t know if there’s ever been a girl in Gavin’s dating history who didn’t get the moves put on her.
 
I’m definitely the first.
 
Finally land a date and he doesn’t touch me.”

“Maybe that means he really likes you!” Kate chirped brightly.

“Doubt it.
 
He needs to sample the goods first,” Leah raised her eyebrows suggestively.
 
Gemma pretended to retch.

“That’s so slutty, Leah,” Kate said as plucked up a new magazine.
 
Leah narrowed her eyes at her.
 
“Oh no, that sounded mean,” Kate covered her mouth.
 
“What I meant was, who’s going to buy the cow when you’re giving out the milk for free? That’s an expression, right? I know I didn’t make it up.”

“Oh, so you’re calling me a cow now?” Leah gasped, feigning anger.

“Of course not!” Kate shook her head so adamantly that her curls bounced off her cheeks.
 
“I meant...ugh.
 
I don’t know.”

“Be nice, Leah,” Gemma scolded with a laugh.
 
“You’re giving the girl a panic attack.”

“Fine.
 
Here’s a gift.” Leah tossed her magazine to a pouting Kate.
 
“Tyler’s in this one too.
 
It said he’s going to record that song Queen Bee inspired him to write.
 
Your time’s running out, girl.”

“Way to be nice, Leah.”

“I try.”

Kate sighed.
 
“Well I only said that I wanted Tyler to be
my
first.
 
I’m not dumb, I know I wouldn’t be
his
.”

“You sure you don’t want to just lose it and get it over with?” Leah asked.
 
“Joey Carr is pretty good, I can vouch for him.”

“Ew,” Kate wrinkled her nose.
 
“That would be weird…that he’s been with you already…”

“What, you wouldn’t want to have sex with me?” Leah asked loudly.
 
The manicurists looked up along with a few older women.
 
Gemma shrunk into her chair and covered her face with her magazine.
 
Leah didn’t seem to notice or care.
 
“Gemma, don’t you think I’m hot? I think you’re totally hot, I’m not afraid to say it.
 
I mean, I’d totally have a threesome with you – unless I end up with Gavin.”

“Oh God,” Gemma dropped her magazine and buried her face in her hands.
 
“Please stop.”

“
What?
” Leah threw her hands in the air.
 
“Why can’t I ever talk about sex with you two?
 
It’s like I’m sitting in a room full of virgins because Kate’s virginity is so powerful that she re-
virginizes
everyone.”
 

Gemma blushed.
 
She had never outwardly lied about it, but she allowed the girls to believe that she was more experienced than she really was.
 

In fact, she was almost as inexperienced as Kate – everything she did with Damian was always above the belt.
 
He knew she was a virgin, and Gemma knew that he had lost his virginity to a girl in South Carolina where his grandparents owned a summer home.
 
Despite the unspoken knowledge that they were both curious to do more than kiss and cuddle, Damian had never even come close to pressuring her.
 
She knew he was too much of a gentleman to bring up the topic, but a part of her was hoping he would so they could actually
do
something about it.
 
She didn’t quite have the courage to bring it up herself.
 
It was hard to imagine that just a little over a month
ago,
she had marched up to Tyler Chase and kissed him in only her underwear – even if it was in the dark.
 
Gemma sighed as she watched the manicurist finish applying the last coat of baby pink polish on her toes.
 

~

Despite the fact that there were half as many people at Lucas’s party than there was at Madison’s, it felt all the more crowded in the smaller space of her backyard.
 
Madison had hired personal chefs to man a large grill by the pool with two bartenders cracking coconuts and pouring beer next to them.
 
The weather was just warm enough that the boys came in wearing their team t-shirts and the girls in their sleeveless tops and jeans – with the exception of Leah, who wore a sheer white mini dress over a black bikini.
 
With all the boys’ eyes on her, Gavin was suddenly more inclined to mark his territory by keeping an arm around her waist all night.

“What can I say?” Kate shook her head.
 
“The girl knows what she’s doing.”
 
She sat with Gemma and Damian by the pool, drinking from their fresh coconuts with their legs dipped in the water.
 
Gemma wore a navy striped, boat neck top over a pair of white shorts.
 
Kate’s outfit reflected her mood, a grey tank top over faded blue shorts.
 
She sadly chewed on her teriyaki chicken and pineapple skewer.

“Don’t worry,” Damian comforted.
 
“You’re going to find someone and you won’t need to dress like that to get their attention.”

Kate only rolled her eyes.
 
Damian turned to Gemma and shrugged with a face that said,
I tried.
 
Gemma smiled.
 
She was more aware than ever of what a catch Damian was.
 
Plus, the less she talked with Lucas, the easier it was for her to forget him.
 
Training herself to forget about him was beginning to become routine, and by now, she was becoming a pro at it.
 
Even watching him at his own birthday party, looking handsome in a simple sky blue t-shirt and shorts, Gemma felt numb.
 
She wasn’t sure if she was indifferent because she had a boyfriend now, or if she had really trained herself to be that way for fear of Madison.
 
Even wondering about it made her feel guilty as she sat with Damian, their fingers intertwined.

“I seriously should’ve stuck to dance lessons,” Kate said wistfully, looking off into the distance.
 
Gemma turned in the same direction to see Madison eating a giant burger.
 
It was a rare sight to see Madison indulge in anything that wasn’t fish and vegetables.
 
Seeing her in a printed Roberto
Cavalli
dress and managing to look both elegant and sexy as she downed a cheeseburger was a little more than the girls could bear.
 
Kate sighed loudly, tossing her barbecue skewer aside.
 
“At least she’ll be at NYU soon and I won’t have to look at her and hate myself everyday.”

“Kate! Stop being dramatic.” Gemma said.
 
“You’re gorgeous.”

“This is
gonna
sound corny, but guys like confidence,” Damian said.
 
Kate groaned.
 
“I’m serious! We like girls who don’t need to ask if they look good, they just know.
 
And when they know, we know.”

“Please.
 
Not every guy in the world thinks like you.
 
Actually, most don’t.”
 

“You
are
an exception, Damian,” Gemma smiled up at him, though she wondered how he managed to miss her own signs of insecurity.
 
She turned back to Kate.
 
“And so are you, Kate!”

“Let me say one more thing before I let Gemma take over giving the girl advice,” Damian said as the girls laughed.
 
“Either you’re not into him or you haven’t noticed, but Paul has been eyeing you since you came here.
 
And this isn’t the only party I’ve seen him doing it.”

“Paul Brendan?
Really?
” Kate’s eyes widened, suddenly brighter.
 
“But he’s so cute!”
 
She looked towards the bar where Paul was standing.
 
Gemma watched Paul’s eyes immediately dart away upon being caught.

“Alright, I’m in need of another coconut,” Damian said as he swung his muscular legs out of the water and stood.
 
“If you come with me, I can introduce you two so you can stop playing… eye footsies, or whatever it is you’re doing right now.”
 
Damian extended his hand to help Gemma to her feet.

“Oh, you guys go.
 
It’ll look obvious if I come too,” she said.

“Good thinking!” Kate said quickly. “You stay here!”

Damian laughed.
 
“Want me to get you another coconut?”

“No,” Gemma smiled.
 
“Just bring an extra straw so we can share.”

“You know, you made me soft.
 
I never shared my food before you came along,” Damian grinned as he leaned in to give her a peck.

“Oh, you guys are too sweet. I think I have a cavity,” Kate drawled.
 
She began pulling on Damian’s arm.
 
“Come on, Damian, time’s running out!”

“Alright, alright!”