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“Well?” Simon asks.
I scrunch my brows. “Well, what?”
“You’re going to find him, right?”
I narrow my eyes. “Why would I? He’s going to be a celebrity again. He’s moved on.”
Simon raises a brow. “I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean?” I say.
Simon sighs. “Did you not read the same article I read?”
“It’s the one you sent me.”
“Don’t you get it?” Simon says. “He did that for you.”
My whole face turns to a cringe. “What on earth are you talking about?”
Gracie and Alyssa come up the steps and stand at my side.
“Think,” Gracie says. “He didn’t want anyone hurting his mom. There’s only one reason he would come out in the open now.”
“You guys are reading into this too much,” I say, glaring at all of them. My time with Jax was too good to be real to begin with. There’s no way he’s thought anything about me since then.
Alyssa shoots he arms out over the staircase so I can’t go anywhere. “You have to go after him.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “I don’t even know where he is.”
“I do,” Simon says.
All three of us look at him.
“I told you,” he continues. “I put the call out on social media. It’s gone viral and people are sending me stuff. Someone spotted him near Music to My Ears.”
It doesn’t totally compute, but the fact Jax was near the old music store is the tipping point. I break through Alyssa’s barrier and run down the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Gracie calls.
“To get Jax!” I say, flipping my keys off the hook. It’s one shot in a million, but a seed of hope has implanted itself in my heart and now I have to see if it’ll sprout.
“We’re coming with!” my friends call.
I pause to wait for them, but I tap my toe the whole time. Simon is following behind.
“What are you doing?” I say to him.
He grumbles. “You need someone to protect you, okay? I’ll just sit in the back.”
I can’t believe Simon is coming, but I’m also secretly happy. Not that I’d ever tell him that.
Gracie keeps coaching me to take big breaths, and Alyssa reminds me to slow down every once in a while. But what if I’m too late? What if I get there, and he’s gone, or what if he is there, and I’m thinking wishfully?
I feel like if I can make it to the store, I can figure out what to do next. It takes less than fifteen minutes, but it feels so much longer.
When we get there, the windows are dark. I get out of the van anyway.
They ask what I’m doing, but I ignore them and pound on the door. “Jax! Are you in there?”
My friends and brother look at me like I’m crazy, but they must realize insanity isn’t going to stop me from my desperation, so they start knocking on the windows with me. There’s no doubt we’re making a fantastic noise, and the shop isn’t that big.
Eventually my friends stop, and even though my fists are cri mson and aching, I still keep up a slow pound like I’m playing the drums.
Gracie and Alyssa each take one of my shoulders.
“It’s okay,” Gracie says. “He’s not here today, but we’ll find him somehow.”
I want to think as positively as they do, but ever since that fateful day he left, my experiences with Jax haven’t gone well.
“Oh crap,” Simon says, loudly.
I turn to him, and he hides his phone behind his back.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he answers, putting on the fakest smile.
I set my hands on my hips. “Simon. Tell me.”
Simon keeps his lips stiff. “Gracie’s right, we’ll find him some other time.”
“I don’t believe you,” I say.
Alyssa copies my stance. “You better fess up. You know how much worse it’ll be if she finds out on her own?”
“Yeah,” Gracie adds, pointing a finger at him. “And you have to live with her.”
Simon’s eyes dart back and forth between the three ladies throwing sharp stares his way.
“Okay,” he says, holding up his phone. “Man, you guys are scary. Give me a minute, and I’ll text it to you.”
All three of our phones ding at once. I open mine up and dig into the article.
New statement from YPJ entertainment and Jax’s dating scandal.
I let out a breath, willing myself to charge ahead.
Yesterday we announced Jax of Take5 fame had been found. Today more details have been released about his future activities. YPJ released the statement below early this morning.
YPJ thanks the fans for their patience during Jax’s absence. After a lengthy negotiation Jax has agreed to rejoin Take5 on the condition that he’s also allowed to date publicly. We ask that the fans respect his wishes and take care of him in the future.
Who do you think Jax’s mystery girl is? Leave us a comment below.
“Okay,” I say aloud, nodding my head. That’s it then. He has a girlfriend. That seed of hope can just rot.
“Okay?” Alyssa says. “Are you sure?”
I force the corner of my mouth up. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
“She’s going to blow, isn’t she?” Simon asks.
“No,” I say forcefully. “I’m really going to be fine.”
“I’m sorry,” Gracie adds, “but I don’t believe you.”
“It’s better this way.” I force a grin, trying to block their emotions towards me. “At least now I have closure. I had a few beautiful months with him, and I’m thankful for that. But if he’s moved on, there’s nothing I can do. It’s better than hanging on, hoping we’ll get back together someday.”
“You’re being really mature about this,” Simon says, in an insulting tone.
I shrug as if that action alone will help me forget Jax. “We’re already here. How about we get a burger?”
“Only if you’re paying,” Simon answers, climbing into the van.
Gracie and Alyssa each take one of my arms and huddle in close as we walk to the curb.
The truth is, I’m not okay. I’m far, far from okay. I can’t believe he was able to move on that quickly, but it also doesn’t surprise me since he’s the most amazing guy in existence. But I also hated hearing Simon and my friends talk about how worried they were earlier. So I’ll keep moving forward and pretend I’m all right. When I have a chance to be alone, I’ll be sad then. But for now, I must appear to be strong to everyone around me.
It’s almost like my breakdown at the music shop never happened as the four of us eat our burgers, laughing at each other and talking about the good times.
The sun begins to set as we make it back to my house. We say our goodbyes and part ways, and I think I’ve acted well enough for everyone to believe I really am okay.
Simon heads to his room right away, and I do the same. My sister is already asleep in the top bunk, which I’m grateful for because that gives me a chance to hide under the covers as the pain pricks my barely beating heart.
The Hunt