Chapter 8 Part 2
Over the next few weeks, Khrystine thought about Dylan often. Her heart began to soften and she wished the date with Dylan went smoothly. He took her by surprise by asking her back to his place to play videogames. When she looked back on the kindness that Dylan had shown, he’d probably been sincere when he asked her back to his home.

Several times she thought about calling him, but he’d scared her away by making it clear that he didn’t want any indecisiveness on her part. She was afraid that he would read any signs that he was moving to fast as indecisiveness. Frankly, though she found him physically appealing, gorgeous, tan, muscular, with those percing hazel eyes and gorgeous curly hair, and enjoyed his easy going personality, she wasn’t sure how compatible they were. Their personalities, interests, goals, even their singing styles were polar opposites.

Though they hadn’t made contact, she missed their conversations, his gruff laughter, and even that slightly unsure way he had around her sometimes. When he talked to her, when he’d comforted her on the hill, he’d seemed so sincere that when she played back his actions in her mind, they left less room for doubt. Even though they didn’t know each other well his concern and care seemed genuine. And when she thought about it, the invitation to play the game was probably out of his concern that she was uptight and career oriented all the time.

He’d even asked her if she was afraid she’d “enjoy herself”. Maybe that was what was wrong. She enjoyed herself around Dylan too much and it frightened her.

***

Khrystine sat beside Monique on her plush leather couch. Monique had a big bowl of popcorn on her lap, but Khrystine was munching on rice cakes. They were engaging in their usual channel surfing, and personal grooming, Khrystine was letting her toenails air-dry.

“I find it amazing that you have so many channels Khrys, and there’s never anything on any of them,” chuckled Monique.

“I know. But why don’t you turn on the Entertainment Channel. It’s always nice when nothing else is on. Maybe we’ll get to see some movie previews,” added Khrystine.

“We might even see you Khrystine. I never thought that we would be watching the TV, and the possibility of seeing you would be there. You’re on all the time now,” added Monique.

“Yeah. It’s still really weird. I haven’t been doing this all that long. I don’t think I’ll be on there today though, I haven’t done anything people would be interested in,” added Khrystine.

“Not this week. We’ll tune in next week for you, this week will tune in for other people,” chuckled Monique.

“How many hairstyles is she gonna go through before she learns that blond just isn’t her color,” chuckled Khrystine.

She was referring to a popular actress who had recently changed her beautiful brown hair to several different incarnations of platinum blonde.

“I bet she gets more roles though. You know Hollywood loves a blonde,” added Monica.

That story was just finishing, and the screen of the actress faded back to the entertainment commentators.

“In related news, Dylan Taylor, Andrew Carson, and Larry Andrews, you know them as the incurable bad-boys of popular hard rock band G-note flat, find themselves in trouble with the Hotel Management of the Prestigious Libertarian Hotel chain,” said the announcer.

“Hey Khrystine, aren’t they the band you went to see…isn’t that the guy you think is so hot,” added Monique.

“Yes, shush,” added Khyrstine gripping Monique’s knee.

She thought things had been quiet with G-note flat lately. Before she was famous, she remembered them getting tons of press about their notoriously wild parties.

“We have with us a young woman that was in the Libertarian when G-note flat apparently demolished the building,” added the newscaster.

“My name is Megan and I was there. I was with Dylan Taylor. We were back in our own private suite when a lot of the damage occurred, so we still aren’t all that sure what happened. But Dylan is a really, really nice guy, and G-note is a great band, and I don’t think they meant to cause a lot of damage. I think it was a party that got out of control, and it was more the fault of the enterouge that was with the band, than G-note,” added Megan.

“So you say it was the fault of the hangers on,” confirmed the newscaster.

“Oh totally. The guys were more into us than what was going on that night,” added Megan.

“So you and Dylan Taylor have something going on,” confirmed the newscaster.

“Umm, yeah,” said Megan smiling into the camera.

“Did he let you leave your toothbrush,” chuckled the newscaster, repeating the famous G-note epithet.

“No,” said Megan.

“Well, that’s a clear indicator of how serious this thing is then huh?” said the Newscaster

The footage cut to a clip of Dylan in the earlier g-note days, when his hair was a bit shorter and he wasn’t quite as muscular. He did his characteristic hair flip and muttered.

“Nah, I’m not serious about anyone. I never let any chick leave her toothbrush. They gotta leave with whatever they brought when they came,” he said curtly.

“Well Dylan Taylor may not be serious about Megan, but the Libertarian is apparently serious about suing G-note for one hundred thousand dollars worth of damages. Lets hope Mr. Taylor leaves with whatever he brought to the Hotel Chain, before the lawsuit,” said the Newscaster.

“I can’t believe it. That conniving, sneaky bastard. He lied to me,” said Khrystine incredulously.

“Lied to you? What are you talking about,” said Monique.

“What am I talking about he just,”

“Wrecked a hotel establishment,” said Monique.

“Yeah but I thought he was different than that,” spat Khrystine, crossing her arms.

“What gave you that impression. You met the man, went backstage with him, and you said he was a huge flirt, and that they were wild,” added Monique.

“Yeah but he. Listen I gotta tell you something Nique’. I held out on you,” added Khyrstine.

“Held out on me how?” asked Monique.

“Well Dylan and I, remember the day I went on the photo shoot and afterward I was kinda bummed? Well Dylan and I saw eachother at a function, and he asked me out the next afternoon. So I said yes,” added Khrystine.

“You did what?” added Monique.

“Well at the function, he was so nice to me, and he seemed genuine, and level headed, and he was just honest, and open, so I talked to him. I liked talking to him. So I gave him my number. We talked again that night and he asked me out,” added Khrystine.

“And you went out with him,”

“Yeah I did. We had a really great time,” said Khrystine softly.

“Dylan Taylor. G-note Dylan and you had a good time. Well pigs must really fly. So why then is he a sneaky and conniving bastard, because that little barfly was with him when they tore the liberty down to its foundation. Are you really surprised,” asked Monique softly to her friend.

“Yeah Monique, I’m suprised. I don’t know he seemed different from the Dylan I saw on TV before. I didn’t tell you about us going out because I knew you wouldn’t understand,” said Khrystine.

“Understand, we have been friends since grade school. Of course I understand you. You’ve had a big crush on Dylan Taylor for a long time, and you are in a position most people dream of, being able to meet one of their favorite celebrities. Of course I understand you being flattered by him asking you out and wanting to see what he was like,” added Monique.

“Yeah, I did want to see what he was like, but it was more than that. If you’d met him at the function…he seemed funny, and down to earth, and charming, even a little shy. And I liked him a lot. Even that night, on the phone, he was cute, I mean, he even stammered a little when he asked me out. So I said yes, and we had a wonderful time,” said Khrystine.

“I’m sure that you did. And he might have seemed shy. Guys like Dylan are experts at being all things that women want them to become. That’s why there are playboys, and Casanovas in the world, they are good at sensing what women like. There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to Dylan, but you just gotta know that whatever he does around you, and however nicely he acts, he’s more in tune to that guy we just saw on the screen than anything else,” said Monique.

“He didn’t seem like that before we saw that interview. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He took me out for pizza, showed me how he restored his car, and showed me a breathtaking view of L.A, he was mad that I didn’t wanna go back to his house and play a videogame that I like,” added Khrystine.

“Khrystine, you really don’t believe that do you? I mean, I thought you were gullible because you believed in the tooth fairy till we were in middle school but this takes the cake. You’ve grown up into a smart woman. You really think Dylan Taylor, Mr. She never leaves a toothbrush wants to play videogames with you?” chuckled Monique.

“Well after seeing this show, I don’t believe it, but I sure did believe he really meant it when we went out. Why would he lie to me? Why would he try to appear as though he took a sincere interest in me as a human being and not a groupie? Did he really think that I would give into him so easy? And to think I was gonna apologize for being so blunt with him and not wanting to visit his home,” said Khrystine softly.

“Apologize? But you hardly know him. And you know the only reason he wanted you alone was so he could,”

“I’m starting to believe that. I could kill him. He really put it on thick. I let him see too much of me too. I don’t know how I could have been so stupid,” snorted Khrystine.

“You weren’t being stupid Khrys. You’re just lonely, that’s all, and you acted out on that feeling. That’s a normal feeling. It’s been five years Khrystine, since you’ve felt all the feelings young women feel. You’ve been going nonstop after this career, and you’re starting to get what you want. I thought you’d be turning into a playgirl by now, with all these Hollywood guys after you, but its good you are keeping a level head. So you need a nice levelheaded guy. Crushes, dating childhood fantasies for fun is great, but don’t let all that cloud your judgment. I love you, and I’d kill him if he hurt you,” chuckled Monique.

Khrystine laughed too.

“I know you would. Monique. You are always there when I need you. You are right, I was feeling lonely, and acting out of character. I mean I like him, and I think some of what he showed me might have been real, but it is so obvious that he’s still a playboy. Did you see that floozy? She had enough hairspray and fake breast implants to put the girls on the Beach Patrol to shame. And what about that gum snapping? She was soo tacky and gross, she looked loose,” chuckled Khrystine.

“Yeah but she looks like a rocker dude type. The busty implants…the tall blonde hair, and she has a flexible tongue,” laughed Monique.

“Yeah, and she’s a real airhead, I’m sure they like her just fine,” added Khrystine.

She felt insanely jealous inside, and didn’t know why. She had rebuffed Dylan Taylor’s request for more of her attention. They technically weren’t going out, so it wasn’t as though he couldn’t see another woman. Yet she found herself wondering what was so special about this woman. He’d talked to Khrystine as though he believed she were the most sophisticated, classy woman on the face of the earth. If he really believed that, how could he be attracted to such a barfly bimbo? The cynical part of Khrystine wondered if Dylan had been after her so much because she was black. Maybe he wanted a little variety. Couldn’t get more different than a black r&b diva if you are a hard rock superstar. That girl on the show was his type.

His only long standing interest in her was to provide an additional notch on a longstanding belt of conquests. He would probably like to be known as the first Hollywood man to conquer her. Then her image would be tarnished for good, Khrystine Morgan, r&b pop singer, and a member of Dylan Taylor’s slutty harem.

If she never saw that phony Dylan Taylor again, it would be too soon.

- posted by Mahogany @ 8:25 PM