Chapter
seventy-two:
The girls were
sitting out on the balcony of the hotel, boredly awaiting the return of the
guys so they could enjoy a bit of freedom.
They had gone
out on the balcony to discuss the complete unfairness of being stuck inside
with a body guard on a beautiful day, and being forbidden to leave his sight
for more than five minutes.
The body guard
was pleasant enough, but strictly enforced the rules that Isaac, Taylor, and
Zac had set in place regarding the girls' protection. Although
he had allowed them out on the balcony on their own with little persuasion.
The rules had been put into writing for clarification and the girls had spent
all morning going over the rules, looking for loop-holes and chances to escape.
However, none were found.
Christy was filing her nails once again, for lack of anything better to do, and
Becky had decided to curl up on the floor in the corner of the balcony and paint
her toe nails.
Jenna was
perched on the cement rail, wedged in between the side of the building and the
safety barrier, looking down at the people below.
Christy sighed and put aside her nail file. If she filed her fingernails any
more she wouldn't have any left. "This blows! I'm twenty three years old
and I'm grounded to the hotel room."
For the first
day with the new body-guard, the girls had been restricted to the hotel, and
restricted further to Jenna and
"You keep
saying that." Becky pointed out. "It's not suddenly going to be
untrue, you know? We're all miserable."
Christy rolled
her eyes. "There's nothing to do! We're living like hermits! I mean,
doesn't this count as like... being held captive against our wills?"
"They're
doing this for our protection." Becky said, twisting the lid closed on her
bottle of bubble-gum pink nail polish. "I mean, they wouldn't go to this
extreme if they didn't feel it was necessary... And who knows? Maybe if we manage
to behave they'll cut us some slack and give us some freedom."
"Yeah,"
Jen added. "But they're forgetting that I've never behaved a day in my
life, and I don't intend to start."
"Look,
Jen. The point is, that there are clearly some people out to get us, and maybe it's best if we just do what we're told and stay
low-key."
"Yeah,
but who's to say that these people actually intend on doing what they threaten
to do? And who's to say that even if they come after us, that one single
body-guard is going to stop them?" Christy asked.
Becky paused
for a moment in thought.
"What
floor are we on again?" Jenna asked suddenly.
"The fourth." Becky responded.
Jenna leaned
over the railing and peered down. "You know, I bet I could climb down the
fire escape..."
"No way! You'll break your neck!" Becky protested. "I don't
think it's a good idea."
"I
agree." Christy nodded. "It's dangerous, and as much as I hate being
stuck here, if you get away, you're going to get us in a ton of shit."
Jenna
shrugged. "Come on, guys. I'll be back before they even know I'm gone.
I'll just sneak out, and pick up some magazines and I'll be back before the
Isaac,
"But we
don't know what time they're coming home at." Becky exchanged glances with
Christy. "Its a really bad idea."
“Well… what if
I hit the liquor store?”
“That’s
definitely not a good idea.” Becky rolled her eyes. “Remember the last time you
drank?”
“Look, just
cover me. Keep the bodyguard off the balcony and make him think I’m out here, and
I’ll be back before anyone knows, okay? You won’t get in trouble because no one
will find out.”
Becky sighed. “Fine. But if you get in shit, this is not going to be my
fault!”
“Whatever.”
Jen climbed over the railing and planted her feet on the fire escape. “I’m out
of here.”
Before Becky
and Christy could protest further, Jenna was gone.
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Isaac had picked
up Christy from Jenna and Taylor’s room. After chatting briefly with the body
guard and mentioning the plan for the next day, he followed Christy into the
hall.
She paused
outside their door, waiting for him to open it.
“Christy, can we
talk?” He began.
“Can you open
the door please?” She asked, attempting to seem bored and nonchalant.
“Not until you
agree to talk to me about this.” He bartered.
She tossed her
hair over her shoulder. “Fine, I’ll go back to Jen’s room.”
“No, wait.” He
sighed and pushed his key-card into the door. The alarm beeped and the door
popped open. He patiently held the door open for her to step inside.
She immediately
grabbed her pajamas and began bustling around the room.
“What are you
doing?”
“I’m going to
take a bath. Is that okay? Or do you need to watch me do that? I may drown
in-what- a foot of water?” She spat walking into the bathroom.
Isaac sat on the
edge of the bed, facing the open bathroom door. “Come on, Christy. I’m trying
to do the best I can here.” He raised his voice to be heard over the running
water. “I don’t have any options for your safety. I just want to make sure that
you and the girls are kept safe, you know?”
Christy appeared
in the doorway, with her long dark hair freshly pinned up.
“I know baby…”
She slid into his lap. “I know you’re doing what you think is best, but it
sucks. I’m twenty-three years old and I can’t go out and go shopping with my
two best friends. It’s pathetic. I hate being robbed of my freedom, like that.
I’m a very independent person and I like to have a little bit of freedom to go
out and do things.” She loosened his tie. “I know I’ve been a real bitch
lately, but I really hate the whole idea of being stuck with a bodyguard. When
you told me that we were coming out here, I assumed it would be a great way to
reconnect with my friends and spend some peaceful time with you… but clearly
that isn’t going to happen, so I’m a little upset.”
”You can do all of those things.” He said, looping his arms around her.
“No, I can’t.
You’re busy setting up for the tour, and we’re stuck with a body guard, who I
just cant seem to picture following us around the mall all day while we shop
for underwear and get our nails done.” She got up from his lap, and he
reluctantly let her go.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to soak in the tub for five hours.”