�It Should've Been Easy� Chapter 3: Closed Eyes

The next day�

Rachel, the guys, and Robin sat in a booth in a restaurant for breakfast. Rachel let them order before she told them about the day�s news.

�Guys,� Rachel said.

All eyes turned to her. She liked the attention, but couldn�t help but notice the unusually friendly gaze coming from Dan�s direction. He had been acting weird lately. Last night had her confused but she couldn�t dwell on it too much. She shook the thoughts of Dan from her head and concentrated on the guys� schedule.

�You�re scheduled to present an award at the Teen Choice Awards,� Rachel told them.

�So do we get to bring a friend?� Erik asked.

�Yes,� Rachel told them. �I reserved enough room for you five and your five guests.�

�Awesome! Who should I call first?� Trevor rubbed his hands together.

�How about your mom?� Ashley laughed.

�Ha ha,� Trevor said sarcastically. �Who are you taking?�

�I don�t know yet,� Ashley told him.

�Well guys, I need confirmation of a guest as soon as possible so I can confirm our reservation,� Rachel said.

The guys� breakfast came and they ate. The conversation was light and cheery except from Dan. Robin tried her best to keep him focused on her but Rachel noticed the preoccupied look on his face. She didn�t think too much about it until they were getting back on the bus and Dan stopped her.

�Rach, I wanted to talk to you about the TCAs,� Dan said.

Rachel�s hopes rose artificially. �Yes?�

�I just wanted to confirm Robbie as my guest,� Dan said, his eyes playing games with hers.

�Oh, okay,� Rachel said with a blank look on her face.

�Are you going to write it down or something?� Dan asked.

�Oh yeah,� Rachel nodded her head.

She got on the bus before anything else could happen. She was mad at herself for thinking that he could ever consider her in that way. She was mad at him for not looking at her in that light. Rachel was upset and confused. She desperately wanted Dan�s attention but knew that would never happen.

At the awards show�

�Okay boys, please file into your seats,� Rachel directed.

Ashley and Shelli were the first ones into their seats. Jacob and Janie followed closely behind. Erik, his newest girlfriend Jill, and Trevor sat next to the others. Dan let Robin sit on the inside while he took a seat on the end of the group. There was an empty seat next to the aisle.

�So Trev, did your date cancel on you or something?� Jacob asked.

�Mom couldn�t make it,� Trevor said with a straight face.

The guys burst out laughing. �We were just kidding about bringing your mom. You could�ve called a chick or something,� Erik told him.

Trevor smacked his forehead. �Why didn�t I think of that?� he said sarcastically. �All the girls I asked turned me down.�

Rachel could see the guys coming up with hundreds of comebacks so she decided to help Trevor out and change the subject.

�You�ll be presenting �best actress in a comedy� after Nelly�s performance,� she informed them.

She made sure they understood and started to walk away.

�Rach? Where are you going?� Dan asked her.

�I�m sitting in the regular audience,� Rachel replied.

�Well we have an extra seat thanks to Trevor,� Dan hinted. Rachel noticed Robin�s hand on his thigh. �Why don�t you sit with us?�

Rachel debated silently for a few seconds. �Okay,� she said as she sat next to Dan.

They sat and watched the show. The guys left halfway through to present. Rachel was watching Nelly perform when she heard someone sneeze behind her.

�Bless you,� she said turning around.

�Thank you,� Josh Hartnett replied.

Rachel was suddenly star struck. �You�re� you�re� Josh!�

Josh laughed. �Yeah, I guess that would be me.�

Rachel had no idea what to say next. Her jaw was on the floor.

�And you would be?� Josh asked a smile forming on his lips.

�Oh! Rachel Anderson. I�m O-Town�s manager,� Rachel shook his hand.

�Nice to meet you,� Josh smiled at her. �Do you and the guys want to come to an after party with me?�

�Sure! That sounds like fun,� Rachel replied.

�Okay,� Josh said. �It�s a plan.�

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