Ch 114 Bad influence

          Much to Wes’ relief, he finally arrived at Luke’s house. He had only just finished several appointments with customers he admittedly had been neglecting of late. He supposed some might call Janet a bad influence, at least for his work, since it was mostly due to her—or rather Wes insisting on being with her for as much time as possible--that he hadn't been keeping up with work stuff, but he’d kill anyone who actually said it!

He was gone far longer than he hoped; almost all afternoon. No matter what Janet said, he still didn’t like leaving her in the clutches of babe-magnet, teen heart-throb Luke Tramaine any longer than he had too, even if they were chaperoned by his very capable manager/lackey/girlfriend Alana.

          He couldn’t wait to get inside and listen to them sing. It was like getting a free concert every time. There was no denying they really were great together…another bone of contention for Wes. Who wants their girlfriend singing romantic love songs with another guy? Not him, that’s for sure!

He couldn’t help thinking if you get along great together and sing well together and work well together, what would prevent them from doing other things together, namely falling in love? Well, they couldn’t do that with him around, now could they? His heart constricted painfully at the thought. He sure hoped not!

          As he walked around the house toward the back where the studio was--instead of the usual cabana beside a large pool and patio as was common in this fancy neighborhood-- he thought it rather odd to find Alana sitting outside on the steps as if waiting for someone. Why wasn’t she inside supervising as she ought to be doing? Pushing down his panic, he ran the rest of the way.

          “Alana, you okay? Janet and Luke are inside, aren’t they?” he said, slightly breathless, although not from the fifty yard sprint.

          She attempted a smile, but instead she blushed scarlet. “I was hoping we could talk.”

          “Can’t we do it inside?”

          “That’s just it,” she said, nervously looking up at him. “I don’t want Janet to hear.”

          Wes frowned at her. “And Luke?”

          “He’s aware of the situation and was hoping…uh, I could discuss it with you in private.”

          The situation? That boded ill! Wes stood looking at the door to the studio for a moment, seriously thinking of just busting it down and getting Janet out of there. Why he thought she might be in danger was anybody’s guess.

          Alana patted the spot next to her on the stone steps. “Please? This is important.”

          “If you tell me they’re falling in love with each other, I’m gonna go ballistic,” he said.

          She giggled and shook her head. “Just the opposite,” she said.

          Wes made a face. “They’re fighting? But they get along so well.”

          She shook her head again, and patted the stone steps for a second time. “Can we talk, please?”

          Reluctantly, he did as bid and sat down beside her, his heart pounding too hard and loud for comfort.

          Alana tried to smile again, but it looked like she was in physical pain.

          “Oh, God, what is it? Just tell me!” he said. “Luke doesn’t want her singing with him. Is that it?”

          Alana shook her head. “No, not at all. Listen, Wes,” she said, gently. “Janet is great. We just love her. She’s so good to work with. Never complains or anything even when Luke is like…well, you know, how intense he can get.”

          “Okay,” he said, frowning slightly.

          “So…um…I noticed this a few weeks ago, but I never mentioned it because…I didn’t think much of it, but today, it was so obvious that I told Luke and he had noticed it as well, but he didn’t know what to do about it.”

          “What? What is it?” he said anxiously.

          “Janet never sang better than she has today…while you were away,” she said, biting her bottom lip.

          “Okay,” he said, looking thoroughly confused. “Isn’t that good?”

          “It’s fantastic! If she sings like that at the gala…it’s like…a star is born!” Alana said, her cheeks rosy in excitement.

          “I don’t see the problem.”

          “Well,” she said, licking her lips nervously. “I think she’s been holding back.”

          “Holding back?”

          “Like with her emotions,” she said, hoping he got it without her actually spelling it out for him. The bewildered expression he wore told her that wasn’t likely. “You see, Wes, a good singer can sing anything and sound good whether or not they feel the song. Luke never has a problem, if he feels a connection to a song, I mean. If he doesn’t, he just won’t sing it. He says singing a song you don’t feel is like putting syrup on a mud pie. It’s just not gonna be any better no matter what.”

          Wes stared at her baffled. “Okay?”

“We thought it might have been that, that Janet wasn’t feeling the songs, and that’s why it took Luke so long to pick out the right songs. You see, he wanted Janet to have an equal part in the singing. He didn’t want her just as a backup singer. You know what I mean?”

Wes nodded. “That’s really nice of him. Not very many people would want to share the limelight.”

She smiled. “He’s not got the ego for that. It’s not about all that super star stuff for him. It’s all about the music and doing it as well as he can. That’s why he likes Janet so much. She’s not like that either and she’s so willing to learn from him and yet she’s not afraid to suggest stuff and what she suggests is great sometimes. I mean, she’s like…so perfect. We could not possibly have found a better partner for Luke and his vision.”

Somehow, this wasn’t reassuring to Wes. It sure seemed to him that they were in danger of falling in love. He could almost feel Janet being ripped out of his arms. “I don’t understand what you’re telling me and why wouldn’t you say all this to Janet? She’d love to hear it, no?”

“Well, um…there’s a bit more to it,” she said, hooking her bright auburn hair around her ear. “She sings better when…Wes, please don’t take this wrong, cuz we really like you. That’s why it’s so hard to say this, but…”

“But what?” he almost shouted.

“She sings better when you’re not around and I don’t mean just a little. It’s like the difference between a Japanese Businessman doing karaoke or a pathetic reject from American Idol and Adele, Whitney Houston and Amy Lee all rolled up into one.” Alana sat on pins and needles watching as this information penetrated Wes’ consciousness. Let’s just say she didn’t like what she saw.

Wes felt as if someone just punched him in the guts. “You mean…I’m a bad influence? Wh…why?” he gasped. 

“No, not a bad influence, it’s just…she can open up with Luke and really belt them out. But with you there…like I said, she holds back.”

“But why? Is it because… she doesn’t like me anymore and she’s falling for Luke? She only feels the songs for him?”

Much to his surprise and relief, Alana smiled and shook her head. “Just the opposite, actually.”

“What opposite? If she doesn’t feel a love song for me and she does for Luke, then it must be that she’s falling for him!” he said miserably.

Again, she shook her head. “No, that’s not it. Listen, I have a theory,” Alana said. “I’ve seen you two together and I know you’re just like me and Luke, really close and really good together….like totally in love.”

“Well, I know I am and I think she is—she just barely stopped herself from telling me she loves me about a dozen times already. It’s like pulling teeth to get her to admit that she even likes me a little,” he grumbled.

“See, I thought it was something like that!” Alana said, excitedly. “That’s why she can’t sing as well with you around. She’s holding back and shy or maybe afraid of how much she feels for you and she doesn’t want to show it. She feels nothing like that for Luke so, of course, she can sing with all the emotion she can muster without worry that anyone will think she’s really in love with Luke, cuz she isn’t! She’s in love with you.”

Wes stared at her with a skeptical expression on his face. “That makes no sense.”

“It does for her, if what you say is true, that she won’t admit she’s in love. It makes perfect sense, Wes, don’t you see?”

It did, but that didn’t make him feel any better. “So, what you’re saying is she loves me, but she can’t sing with me around? So what am I supposed to do about this? She expects me to go to the Gala and support her, but if I do… I’ll ruin everything. This totally sucks, Alana!”

She bit her lip. “I know, and I’m sorry, but we thought you should know. I feel so bad, Wes, but Luke wants this to be perfect and he didn’t think he should tell Janet, cuz it might upset her to the point that she wouldn’t sing at all. He so doesn’t want to lose her! You should hear the difference when she sings without you around.”

“Well, how the hell can I?” he shouted.

She pulled out a smart phone and held it out for him to see. Alana had taken video of them as proof. There was Janet singing with Luke and Wes never heard her sing better. She even looked happier; another punch to the gut.

“My God,” he whispered. “Is that really her?”

“That’s your Janet. Isn’t she amazing?” Alana said, smiling brightly.

Wes nodded, tears stinging the back of his eyes. He abruptly stood up. “I…I gotta go. I…tell Janet I’ll pick her up later. Tell her to call me whenever she’s done. Tell her I’m busy with work and can’t hang around here, okay?”

“Wes,” Alana said, placing a hand on his arm. “Thank you.”

He nodded and walked back to his car. What the hell was he going to do about this? He had no clue.

*****

Cindy and Stevie had looked in the living room and the family room and her father and Tristan weren’t in either place.

“Where could they be?” she said.

“Maybe he took Tristan up to bed?” Stevie said. “He usually falls asleep way before this. Come on, I’ll bet that’s where they are.”

They climbed the stairs and down the hall. Just as Stevie reached for the doorknob, he abruptly stopped and looked at her.

“What is it?” Cindy asked.

He quickly kissed her. “Just wanted to do that first, before…you know,” he said, squeezing her hand and letting go.

She smiled and blushed bright pink. “I really liked your friends, especially their girlfriends. They were really nice, like they almost liked me.”

“Of course they liked you. Now you can hang out with us instead of the skank crowd.”

“Really?” she said, more than a little bit hopeful. Her answer was another kiss.

“Yeah, okay?” he said.

She nodded and he slowly opened the guest room door.

“Omigosh,” Cindy whispered. 

Donny and Tristan lay cuddled together in the big bed with the book Green Eggs and Ham opened on Donny’s chest.

“Aww, he used to read to me and Wes, too, just like this,” Cindy whispered. “Hate to wake him.”

“Then let’s not,” Stevie said, tugging her out of the room and closing the door quietly. “Come on.” He tugged her further down the hall to his room, but she stopped at the doorway. “What?”

“My dad will get mad if he finds me in there, but we can go back downstairs, and watch TV. Nobody there,” Cindy said, shyly smiling while holding his hand with both of hers.

“Okay,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

*****

“Where the heck is everybody?” Troy said.

“Kitchen maybe,” Jasmine answered, and made her way there. “Hi, Mom, we’re home. Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, Jasmine,” Jeff said, grinding his back teeth. He didn’t even bother to smile.

“Wow, cake!” Troy said.

“Sit down and I’ll slice you a piece,” Wendy said, slightly breathless and infinitely glad her back was to them.

“Thanks, Ms. Meadows,” Troy said, taking his huge piece of cake to the table.

“You okay, Dad?” Jasmine said.

“Perfect,” he snapped.

“You have frosting on your shirt. Did you know?” she said.

“Yes, thank you,” Jeff replied. Just then Wendy held a plate out to him with a generous slice of cake. “No, thanks.”

“Take it. I baked it for you, after all,” Wendy quietly said.

He stared at her for a long moment and eventually took the cake from her. “Thank you.”

“Jasmine, would you like a slice?” Wendy asked.

“Of course not,” she huffed. “So, where’s everybody?”

“Janet and Wes aren’t back yet and…”

“And she doesn’t get in trouble for missing curfew I suppose?” Jasmine snapped.

“She called and told me what time to expect her, which is more than you do,” Wendy retorted. “Cindy and Stevie are around somewhere. Would you mind asked them if they’d like some cake?”

“I’ll go. I’m done. Awesome cake, Mom,” Troy said, grinning. He then placed his empty plate on the counter and kissed Wendy’s cheek. “Best cook ever!”

“Thank you, Sweetie,” Wendy replied, casting a furtive glance at Jeff who stood exactly where he had been all along, staring at her. “Why don’t you sit down, Jeffery?”

“No, thanks,” he said, taking another slow, careful bite of the cake.

“You guys fighting?” Jasmine asked.

“No, of course not,” Wendy answered. “Could you go see if Tristan’s in bed, Honey. It’s very much past his bedtime.”

“You are fighting and you want me outta here. Okay, I get it,” she replied with a sigh, leaving then alone again. She went into the foyer and had been about to go to the living room when Troy came out.

“Is Tristan in there?” she asked.

He shook his head with a devilish grin on his face. “But guess who is?”

“Mr. Sebastian,” she said.

He shook his head again. “Stevie and Cindy and they were making out.”

Eyebrows raised, Jasmine nodded. “Interesting. We might be able to use that. So, where is Mr. Sebastian and Tristan?”

“Stevie said they were up in the guest room reading.”

“Reading?” Jasmine said, surprised.

“A bedtime story,” Troy said.

“Oh, well…wanna go up to my room?”

“Are you nuts? With both your parent here?”

“They’re too busy fighting to care what we’re doing.” She went up the stairs then turned back. “Coming?”

“Hell yeah!” he said.

*****

“Are you okay?” Janet asked, after getting into the car. 

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Wes said, forcing a smile, which didn't quite make it.

“Sure could fool me.” She placed her hand on his cheek, before he started the car. “Rough day at work? Or are you mad at me?”

He stared into her pretty eyes for a long moment. “I love you, you know,” he said.

She smiled. “Yeah, you’re not so bad either. You’re very cute and you’re an awesome kisser.” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him toward her. “Kiss me before I forget how awesome you are.”

For several minutes he kissed her with the gearstick rammed into his ribs, but he didn’t care. When they finally came up for air he pressed his forehead to hers and sighed. “I love you so much,” he whispered, closing his eyes tight.

She pulled back and stared at him. “Wes, what’s wrong?”

He cleared his throat and started the car. “Nothing.”

“Did I do something?” she asked.

“No, you’re perfect.”

“I thought maybe I got you mad…cuz you didn’t come back to the studio,” she said.

“No, I had work. Loads of work to do,” he said, which wasn’t entirely false.

“It’s too boring for you, huh? Hearing us talking about just music stuff all the time.”

He started to shake his head and changed his mind. “A little. Hearing you sing is great, but I don’t know half of what you’re talking about most times.”

“I’m sorry, Wes.” 

She touched his arm and he felt like crap. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he knew he had to. “I got a few extra clients today,” he said.

“Really?” she said, her eyes full of excitement. “That’s great!”

“Yeah,” he said, unenthusiastically.

“You don’t sound too psyched.”

“It’s just…there’s a lot of work involved and…it’ll take a lot of my time, so…”

“Soccer will be done soon, won’t it? It’ll clear up loads of time for you when you won’t have to go to practice,” she said.

“Yeah,” he replied, almost annoyed that she was so sensible and smart. It’s hard lying to smart, sensible people, as politicians find out on a regular basis. “Problem is I’ve been neglecting my work a bit and I’m backed up and this new client is a rush job. They want this really complex website and they want it like…yesterday and they’re gonna pay me tons to do it on time.”

“Tons?” she repeated.

“Like enough to pay off my car and put a down payment on another one,” he said, grateful that this part wasn’t a lie….except for the rush part.

“Wow!” Janet gasped. “That’s amazing. So…you won’t have time to hang out with us anymore.”

“No,” he said drawing in a deep breath as he stopped at the red light and turned to look at her. “Janet, I’m really sorry, but I think I’ll have to skip the gala.”

The look of dismayed disappointment was like a knife in the chest. “I’m sorry, baby. Really I am! If it wasn’t that they desperately need this done as soon as possible…”

They sat in silence until the light changed to green and he set off again.

“It’s okay, Wes,” she said, trying to smile. “It’s just a… you’ve heard all the songs already at Luke’s. You won’t miss much.”

“I want to be there. I want to be there for you,” he said, and that was dead on true.

“The songs won’t sound any better just cuz it’s in some fancy ballroom, Wes. It’s no big deal,” she said, forcing another smile.

“I feel so bad, Janet. I promised I’d be there for you,” he said.

“I know, but my family will be there so… no biggie,” she said. “I’m sure my dad will record it so you won’t miss anything.”

He pulled in front of her house. He parked and jumped out, opening the door for her. He held his hand to her and loved it when she took it without hesitation. “Are you mad at me, Janet?” he asked, anxiously.

She gave him a genuine smile this time, went up on tip toes and kissed him. “Not even a little bit,” she said.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “You’re the best girlfriend ever,” he whispered in her ear.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let it go to my head,” she replied giggling before she kissed him again. “Come on, your dad is still here and so is my dad. It’s like a party!”

Wes nodded and allowed her to tug him up to her house. He should have felt great. She wasn’t mad at him and she’d do great at the gala, the making of a star. 

So why didn’t he feel good about it?