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Chapter Seven

"Do you get to keep all of the clothes you wear at photoshoots?"

"Do you sing live or just mouth over a track?"

It was my first day back at school and my hope for 'normal' was fading fast. Instead of the usual topics of music, movies, and boys, I had become the topic of conversation.

"I don't get to keep everything. And yes, I sing live."

"Hey Brooke."

"Hey!"

Garrett was leaning up against his locker. He straightened up as I walked closer. He fell into step beside me and we stopped when I came to my locker.

"How's that new car?"

I smiled. "It's awesome."

"Did you drive it to school?"

The school secretary had left all my books in my locker. I took out my Algebra textbook and closed the locker door.

"As a matter of fact, I did."

Garrett stretched out his long arm and braced it above my head.

"Maybe I can check it out with you after school. We could go to Starbucks or something. It's just down the road."

I thought if I smiled even more that I might pull a facial muscle. I could just imagine Noah teasing me as I drooled out of the left side of my mouth.

"I'd like that," I said.

The first bell rang. I glanced at my watch.

"I better go. Don't want to be late on my first day back."

Garrett laughed. "Alright, see ya later."

I waved and took off down the hall.

I just wanted to get back to being a normal teenage girl. A date after school at Starbucks sounded like just the way to get back into life as a typical high school Junior.

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"I just wanted to let you know I'm not coming straight home. Garrett and I are going to Starbucks."

"Garrett? As in birthday party, slow dance Garrett?"

I smiled at dad's description.

"Yeah."

There was a pause.

"Is it the Starbucks right by school?"

"Yup!"

"Alright. But call me if you need anything."

I smiled. "I will. Love you daddy."

"Love you too BooBoo."

I hung up and headed out into the parking lot. It was a beautiful Spring day. Garrett was circling my car looking like a hawk who had found prey.

"Leather seats?" he asked as I walked up.

"Heated leather seats."

He grinned. "Because Florida is so cold."

I laughed. "Maybe I'll drive to Alaska for the fun of it."

I pointed the remote at the car and deactivated the security and released the door lock. Garrett got in the passenger side. I slid behind the wheel.

"Did Gerber give you guys a pop quiz today too?" Garrett asked. He studied my dash. Did had spared no expense. I had a top of the line built-in GPS and an ear-shattering sound system.

"Yeah, it wasn't bad though. I'm a little bit ahead of the curriculum thanks to the tutor I had on the road."

"So you still had school when you were on tour?"

I smiled. "Yup. That was one of dad's rules."

Garrett leaned back. The leather made a pleasant 'woosh' as he did.

"So are you really dating Trevor Tylers?"

Trevor Tylers was one/fifth of the boyband Grenadine, the 'blonde' one, or as dad called him - 'a cheap attempt at finding a Nick Carter clone for a new set of crazy teen girls.' I had been thrown into a photo shoot with him a month ago because we were voted 'Hottest Newcomers in Music' and the magazines had built it up into a relationship. The National Enquirer had gone so far to announce that we had secretly eloped in the Bermuda Triangle.

As if.

"What? Ugh, no. I don't think we said more than three words to each other the whole day. He's stuck up."

"Good."

I glanced at Garrett as I pulled into the last empty space at Starbucks. Good? What did that mean? Was he glad I wasn't dating? Was that what was 'good'? Was he thinking about dating me?

I stuck my nail in the corner of my mouth, but pulled it out before I took a bite. We both got out of the car and I set the alarm.

A guy was coming out at the same time we were going in and Garrett held open the door. I walked in and the strong smell of coffee and other spices filled my nostrils.

I wasn't a coffee drinker. For a long time I hadn't been able to find anything at Starbucks I really liked. But, I had found the perfect drink during my tour stop in Chicago.

"What do you want?" Garrett asked. He pulled out his wallet.

Oh, he was paying for me. As mom would say, that scored 'brownie points.'

"A Venti Strawberries and Creme," I said.

My personal trainer had informed me that I was basically inhaling three cans of whipped cream and ten scoops of sugar every time I drank one, but since my personal trainer wasn't around, I figured I deserved it.

After all, it was my first day back to school.

Garrett ordered our drinks. The place was crowded with classmates who had the same idea. A couple girls waved at me; I waved back.

"Here you go."

I took my cold pink and white treat and we sat at a little two-person table in the corner of the store. The only other person nearby was a businessman typing loudly on his laptop.

"So, I've been wanting to know something," Garrett said. He had ordered a carmel coffee something-or-other. I could see the warm curls of steam coming through the vents in the lid.

"What did you want to know?" I asked. I took a big sip from my cup. I pretty much got an instant sugar high the moment the milkshake-consistancy drink hit my tongue.

"I wanted to know if a girl like you might be interested in a guy like me."

I was glad my drink had been blended to perfect consistancy. I swallowed hard. The coldness numbed my throat. I took a moment to make sure I wasn't headed for a brain freeze before answering.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you're kind of...famous."

A familiar worry started in the pit of my stomach.

"Did you want to go out with me before I was 'famous'?"

"Yeah, but you kind of just left before I could muster up the courage."

He looked sincere. And I had known him before all this happened. He had always been nice when Carly (his sister) and I hung out. Maybe he had just been working towards it...

I smiled.

"I would definitely be interested."

Garrett grinned.

As we finished our drinks we talked about stupid stuff mostly; the kind of stuff that wasn't earth-shattering, but that was important to a teen. When we were done we walked slowly back out to the car.

"BROOKE!"

A flash went off and I shielded my face with my arm. Garrett was standing behind me looking surprised.

"What was that?"

"My fan club," I said wryly. I unarmed the door and we got back in. As my vision returned, I saw the photographer crouching down for a shot through the windshield. I tried to ignore it as I backed up.

"Do they follow you everywhere?"

"They have lately," I said. "I'm sorry."

Garrett smiled. "Naw, it's cool. I'm just glad I brushed my hair today."

I laughed. He was cute and funny.

I dropped him off at his house.

"When's Carly coming back from Italy?"

"A couple weeks. She keeps telling mom and dad that being a foreign-exchange student is the best thing that ever happened to her."

I laughed. Carly was a Senior this year. Garrett was just a lowly Junior like me.

"Well, tell her I said hi next time you talk to her."

"I will."

Garrett got out, paused, and then leaned back into the car.

"Hey, want to go see a movie Saturday?"

I licked my lips. A date. I'd have to clear it by mom and dad but...

"Sure. I'd like that."

"Awesome. See you tomorrow."

He closed the door and I waved. I waited until he reached his front door before pulling away. I cranked up the radio, turned towards home, and squealed.

A date!