Danielle sat down in the office chair across from Mr. Richard's desk, and watched him work frantically out of the corner of her eye. He appeared in his own world, and as much as Danielle hated to do so, she had to interrupt. "So," she began nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear, "Doesn't the guys flight land some time soon?"
"Oh, ya," Mr. Richards glanced at his watch. "In fact, they should be here anytime. Oh! That reminds me, I forgot to ask, did you guys have a good time at the club the other night?"
"Ya, it was great! Well...until that whole power outage thing."
"We tried to find you guys. Where'd you sneak off to?"
"Josh just insisted on getting me home or something?" Danielle mocked Josh. Mr. Richards smiled at her suspiciously. He folded his arms across his chest, and sat down on the edge of the desk in front of her. "So, I take it, you guys got home safe and sound?" he asked curiously. Danielle jerked her head up from the papers on her lap. She felt her face redden.
"Of course, yes...I mean, ya, why wouldn't we?" she closed her eyes and shook her head at herself. Mr. Richards couldn't help but laugh. "Just wondering. You know, I tried calling Josh Saturday morning, so he wouldn't miss his flight, but the weird thing was, he wasn't there."
"Oh no?He must have already left to come meet you guys here."
"I called him at 9," he smiled at her mischievously. Danielle was definite she was blushing now. She twiddled her thumbs, trying to find an explanation for him. "Danielle, before I figure something out that I simply don't want to know, how bout you run downstairs for me. There's this box of promotional stuff Sony sent us the other day that I left in the studio," he lifted the folders from her lap, "Care to go get it?"
"Missy Star, Sony's Hottest New Pop Sensation. Look for her debut album, featuring the smash hits 'My Baby' and 'Can I Be Your Angel?' in stores December 13th," Danielle rolled her eyes in disgust as she read the front of the pink CD she held in her hand. "Can we say cheesy?" she asked the empty studio. She dropped the CD back into the box she found it, and headed back out of the studio. The sounds of voices conversing stopped her at the foot of the stairs.
It was Josh. She could tell. She smiled, as she turned her body around, and headed towards the back entrance in which his voice was coming from. Josh slowly entered the hallway, and slumped his exhausted body against the wall. Danielle stood in the shadows of the dark lobby, watching him for a moment. Her feet stepped forward with excitement but were quickly halted by the sound of another voice. Danielle stretched her neck to try to determine the stranger. She felt her stomach turn, as she watched Bobbie walk seductively to Josh. "What's the matter?" Bobbie asked Josh. She watched Josh massage his temples with his fingertips. "You've been acting strange all morning." She grabbed Josh's hand and squeezed it tightly with her own. She stroked his cheeks with her fingers and stared at him adoringly. Josh's eyes wandered nervously around the room. Bobbie slid her hands up Josh's chest and leaned in closer to him. She smiled at him wickedly as she placed her lips against his.
Danielle sighed in shock. Tears began to flood the back of her eyes, as her lip began to quiver. Danielle forced her eyes from their sight. She shut her eyes tightly, and allowed one tear to silently flow from her eye. She attempted to exit the scene silently. She slid her hand out from underneath the box to prevent another tear from leaking out. She lost her hold on the box, and in horror, watched it tumble to the ground. The crash shifted Josh and Bobbie's attention to the darkened lobby in which Danielle was hiding. Danielle's eyes turned from the spilled box on the floor to the two. Her mouth quivered as she fought back the tears.
"Danielle." Josh whispered, surprised at who was standing before him. Josh, immediately pulled Bobbie's arms from his chest, and started towards Danielle. Through red, puffy eyes Danielle watched him run towards her. She slowly began backing away from the box, and towards the lobby doors. Full of panic, she ran out the lobby doors and into the deserted parking lot, Josh following close behind, repeatedly calling her name. Danielle refused to listen to his pleas to stop. She dug for the keys in her pocket, as she ran to her car. "Danielle! Wait, please, you gotta listen to me." Josh sat his hand on her shoulder, and Danielle brushed it off. "Danielle, it's not what you think it is." Danielle nearly laughed at his plea.
"Not what I think it is? What else can it be?" she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. Her eyes refused to look him in the face. "Wait, Josh," she said a little calmer. She laughed nervously. "Why do you even have to explain this to me? I mean, what's it matter? You don't owe me anything." Josh looked at her sympathetically. "I mean, it's...its not like I'm your girlfriend," she said, shaking her head. She left him speechless. "I have to go," she insisted. With one last look, Danielle got into her car, and drove out of the parking lot. After watching her car drive out of sight, Josh dragged his body back inside. Bobbie watched in disgust as he came back into the building. "You mind telling me what that was all about?" she asked bitterly. Josh took a deep breath."Ya, I think...�
Seventeen