Chapter 2: TWO
You know your relationship is in 2.0 level of deep shit when you gatecrash your boyfriend's soccer event, only to see him walk the red carpet with a woman that isn't you.
I should have expected this. I really should have been a little smarter to realize that he wouldn't dare come to this event alone. To think that I had been congratulating myself for finally being able to peg him down from being a womanizer.
But here I am listening to my boyfriend introduce the woman behind his success to the world, in a skimpy dress I rented from Gorgeous Cannister for him. The deposit alone has left me financially rattled.
Camera lights flash and flick at the two of them as photographers cry out their names for their pictures to be taken in all angles. Jaxon's hand rests nicely at the small of her back with Lori's hands wound around his neck, with a charming smile. She engages with the media confidently knowing which questions to answer which ones not to. Not only is she beautiful, but intelligent too. She knows how to own the red carpet and I'm losing my mind over this. She's exactly Jaxon's fantasy and a literal opposite of me.
I have been the problem all along, I conclude.
I don't realize that I've been standing on the pathway that leads to the carpet until an usherette asks me to step aside as another player has arrived. So what? Everyone doesn't recognize me now?
"Ma'am please step aside. You are too close to the limelight and you'll ruin the pictures," she worries.
Too close to the limelight? Damn it, I should be in the limelight not close. Be.
I take a step aside not wanting to bring attention to myself. I am in turmoil as it is.
The usherette rolls her eyes and scoffs. "You moved?"
Timidly, I respond. "Yeah. I'm actually going next."
Another scoff. "I see. Because you are who to the team? Budweiser's representative? Hublot sent you to sell watches here or do you just want content for your fanpage?" she asks indifferently.
A fangirl?
"I am...er-" I take a look at Jaxon. Who am I after what I just discovered?
"You are hogging this place and I'm not going to lose my job for you, okay? Fan girls and rest of the general public are on the other side of the barricade. You see those people over there? The ones shouting and waving? That's where you belong," she turns to one of the bulky men and I immediately know where this was leading to. I want answers from Jaxon. Why is Lori, his 'manager's daughter', in his arms tonight?
I feel the impatience and irritation towards me as the usherette boldly ordered for security to kick my ass out.
"Whoever lets these kinds of people here," she complains and I struggle to bite back an insult midst the rage in my head.
"What's going on here?" The all familiar voice asks trying to squeeze himself through and my skin goespale. Color drains from his face too when he sees me obviously shocked by my unexpected presence.
"Captain, thi—"
"Ryza?" He breathes my name in a whisper.
I blink. Rapidly.
Anxiety kicks in with all cameras pointed towards me. This is the life I have been avoiding since I started dating Jaxon, that is if at all we ever did, but tonight I tried and not made it about myself. I went ahead bought a dress that showed much skin, something he said he desired in women, had my face spruced and brought myself here. Just like he wanted. I had decided that I'd do anything for Jax but now, I just want someone to run me over and over again until I become mush. I want a clean job with that.
"You came?" He asks confusion still lingering within him, "I thought I told you not to come tonight."
He didn't. He never said a word to me after that night.
Jaxon please don't do this here. Not in front of these many people.
"This is Ryza Arnold? The girl in the shadows?"
"Ms. Ryza are you willing to take a quick interview to explain your presence here?"
"Who's the main deal here? You or Lori Paltrow?"
"Ms. Ryza clearly you are not invited. Who let you in?"
"Can you explain your connection with Mr. Rivers?"
They continuously bombard me with questions with microphones and cameras hauled to my face. I can already imagine the headlines of the tabloids tomorrow. Ex-girlfriend gatecrashes the red carpet for humiliation. There's a high possibility that I might be trending on Twitter and I swear I'm gonna burst with mortification.
"Jax please," I whisper hoping he can somehow see through my desperation and need. If there is anyone who can help me right now, it would be him.
"You have to leave Ryza," he spits callously grabbing me by the arm, "we'll talk later."
I am one step away from breaking down and a huge possibility of a panic attack. The mere thought that my boss and my college supervisor could be watching me live on ESPN shatters me. What of my family. I'm sure they are dying with shame.
Everyone knows Jaxon is my boyfriend and I figure that I've got to be stupid to realize that now. Everyone knows he's my boyfriend but interestingly, no one seems to know I'm his girlfriend. Everyone in my context means family and close friends which are a handful but in Jaxon's context, it's the whole damn world. I've been fooled.
I struggle amidst shoves and frustration trying to free myself from his grip.
"No comment...no pictures please...no comments..." Jax keeps saying as he tries to get me through the wild reports who are literally tearing at each other just to get a scoop.
Sickening pain pools in the pit of my stomach as I realize I never knew him and gush of tears threatens to make a grand debut on the red carpet.
Maybe I should try to explain. Maybe he'll listen to me one more time. Maybe he'll treat me better.
"Jax listen to me. I'm here for—"
"I know Ryza. I know. But you've got—"
"What are you doing Rivers?"
The voice snatches attention away from the scuffle as lights flick and flash in his direction. For a moment I consider making an escape while this break lasts but I'm met with Micah Cullen's calm dark eyes gazing down at Jaxon.
Everyone knows there's beef between these two. There's been several occasions where a few blows were exchanged in public or private events or even at the pitch. The end result has always been bloodied noses, busted lips, split knuckles and brows and more hate.
A thick vein ticks on Jaxon's forehead as he grinds his teeth obviously trying to restrain himself. With Andreas facing the disciplinary committee anytime this week, things may go south for the team if at all he decides to give Micah what he wants.
"Stay out of this Cullen! This doesn't concern you," Jaxon warns now more determined to throw me out.
"Look Rivers, I'm determined to end this night without having to swing a fist to your face tonight. You know the spa downtown offers the best Shiatsu massages. You should try it, maybe it'll improve your mood."
"You aren't making any sense so get your ass out of here."
Micah smirks which goes so far to infuriate Jaxon as his grip on my hand tightens. I'm confident of a bloodbath right now.
"If you say so. Maybe I'll take Ryza there sometime," he says casually offering me one of those toe-curling smiles of his.
To say that I'm overwhelmed is a serious understatement. Everything seems to be revolving around me tonight. I'm definitely trending on Twitter.
Jaxon eyes me from head to toe and I watch as he takes in the dress I'm in. I can't believe he's actually noticing me now.
"Why would you need to take her there?"
"No way! She didn't tell you?" He reaches for my arm, "Ryza is actually here for me. She's my date tonight."
"What?" Jaxon gasps.
I'm too stunned to react and before I know it, I'm hurled into Micah's side with his left arm wrapped protectively around my shoulders. "You and everybody here has to apologize for the public humiliation you've put her through tonight."
My eyes flare as I try to process the situation. Jax mirrors the expression on my face. Lori's face is priceless and I'm almost certain she'll be a meme.
Micah tips my head to look at him as his stare drops to my lips. With how close we are, it's impossible to ignore how delicious he smells or how nice he feels pressed against me. He looks into my eyes one more time as if confirming my awareness of what we are doing and goes ahead to plant his lips on mine. His hands skim my back before resting on the small of my back waiting for a reaction for me. His fingers press into my skin a little hard and I'm reminded that I'm on live TV.
It takes everything in me to lift my hands to his neck in front of Jax who's probably too shocked to speak. I feel Micah smile onto my lips before he actually goes ahead to kiss me on the red carpet and on live TV.
°×°×°×°×°×°
A/N
There we go.
Second chapter into the book and I'm already in love with Micah for saving our girl Ryza from embarrassment and instead putting his rival in the spot.
Let me know your most embarrassing moment and while you are at it you might want to check out this book.
Enjoy, comment, vote and follow.
See you in the next chapter.
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