One Love

Chapter 3 - Fun and Games

As we approach the bar where I left Justin, there is another crowd forming. 

"Oh for f sake. I really wanted to get to know Justin Bieber. Now he's surrounded by a bunch of tarts." 

Megan laughed, "Oh I do love your Britishness, darling. Tarts is definitely one of my top 10!" 

I roll my eyes exaggeratedly "Come on Megan, you must be as British as me now. You've visited the place as many times as I have over the last eight years" I cocked my head to the side and toyed with her  "You had dinner and stayed over with my family nearly every day after school, I'm surprised they didn't charge you rent." We nearly fall over laughing.

Megan was one of the popular girls who took me under her wing when I moved to Los Angeles, from London, when I was fourteen. I've always held the belief that I manifested my American life when I started binge watching high school teen movies from the age of ten. I dreamed of studying at a top US university - Harvard, Princeton, Stanford - the ones portrayed as the only options in the movies. Little did I realise they were the equivalent to Cambridge or Oxford so my chances of getting into a prestigious university were pretty slim to non existent.

As I used to dreamily talk about my future educational plans at the dinner table, my father openly objected to the idea of moving overseas to complete my studies. He was a parent with the usual, sometimes irrational worries such as gun crime, distracted by boys, making friends. Any argument would end in him saying I would be barely an adult, living on my own, far away from home. So it came as a shock when it happened. I'll always remember the last day of school, before summer, my father called to tell me to come home straight after school as he had some news. My life changed forever that day.

I look at Megan and smile appreciatively, linked my arm through hers then swagger past the crowd of swaying bodies and head towards the bar.

Leo was already there talking wildly amongst the small crowd. I saw Justin had left the seat free for me, a warm sweet feeling came over me. Justin saw me and Megan approach, stood up and joined the standing group so she could sit down too. Gratitude welled up inside me.

I mouthed "Thank you". 

He mouthed back "You're welcome" and clasped his hands on his heart . 

Leo cut short his conversation when he saw me and said his excuses to the group. He came over and kissed me on the lips, I could taste a mix of strong and sweet liquor "Where have you been my darling. Fancy heading off soon? I can't wait to hold you properly. " 

I put one hand on his chest, looked up and shook my head "Not yet. I'm just starting to have fun."

He shrugged his shoulders. If Leo was annoyed or disappointed he didn't show it. He ordered a round of drinks for the group and stood by my side whilst we laughed at his stories from his most recent film shoot. I realised the group were his co-workers when most of the stories were inside jokes. I laughed politely at the thought of Leo and Nick, the director, accidentally walking into one of the female co-stars trailers. They said they had a few too many drinks after a full day of filming, Leo asked Nick to go back to his trailer to talk more about his script, character, story twists. When they opened the trailer door, they were shocked to see a semi naked Gwen. They apologised and ran off like naughty school boys caught red handed. It would have been funnier if we had been there, apparently. If Leo was on his own, I am hundred percent certain he would not have ran off. Gwen is a beautiful red head, very alluring with an hour glass figure. Not Leo's usual type but she has a reputation of bewitching her male stars with her Marilyn Monroe body, good looks and husky 'come to bed' voice. I've heard some call her Jessica, after Jessica Rabbit.

As I sipped my refreshing Daiquiri, I glanced at the group to see who was paying any attention to the stories. Justin caught my eye across the crowd, rolled his eyes and smiled.