A Changed Life Page 2

I believe I may have blushed with his flattery. He was quite the flirt, it seemed.

  “Well, thank goodness for that. I wouldn’t want to look like everyone else, now would I?”

  “I don’t think you can, Nicolette, you’re already a stand out in the crowd.” He gave me a sexy wink and here comes the blushing again. Simon and I were enjoying each other’s company when Michael showed up.

  “I’ve been looking for you, Nicolette. I asked you to wait for me.” Michael seemed annoyed with me, though I had no idea why. I glanced over to Simon, who was glaring at Michael.

  “I wanted to walk on the beach.” Michael looked at me like I had slapped him across the face.

  “Oh, well my father’s parties tend to be on the boring side.” He tried to play it off. “Anyway, I see you met Simon here.” Michael gestures to me with his hand. “I don’t remember seeing your name on the guest list.”

  “Hmm. I’m sure you forgot to add me,” Simon said, earning a soft chuckle from me.

  “How did you get in here?” asked Michael.

  “Here’s the funny thing, Michael. I used my two feet. Relax, I was just leaving anyway.”

  Leaning over to Nicolette, I kissed her on her cheek, promising to see her again. I jogged down the beach with thoughts of Nicolette, she was so beautiful. I think my heart was beating faster just being around her. I saw Sam waiting for me by the wall.

  “Hey, how did it go?”

  “Have you been waiting here the whole time?”

  “Uh, yeah man! I came down here to get a better look at what sent you racing off. Who’s the girl, Simon?”

  “Her name is Nicolette Vanelle, and she may just be the future Mrs. Simon Paulson, my friend.”

  “I’m happy for you buddy, now find me a girlfriend, and maybe my senior year won’t suck.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, Sam. Let’s grab the boards, and get some surfing in before we totally lose the day.”

  Oh yes, I will definitely be seeing Nicolette again, I thought to myself.

  Just as Michael tried to talk to me, my cell phone rang. Whew! Looking at my buzzing phone. Saved by mom!

  “Where are you going?” asked Michael.

  “My mom wants me to meet her and my father inside.”

  “Nicolette, I thought maybe we could take some time and get to know one another better.”

  “Sorry, Michael, but my parents are waiting for me.” I grabbed my sandals and sprinted away from him. I stopped before getting to the tent to put my sandals back on. Knowing my father would be waiting for me at the tent entrance.

  “Hey, Sweetheart, having fun?”

  “I am, Daddy, turns out today wasn’t so bad after all.” I smiled.

  “Come over here, I want you to say hello to our host. Clayton, do you remember my beautiful daughter, Nicolette?”

  “Of course I do, Mason. How are you, dear?”

  “I’m okay, sir. Thank you for asking.”

  “Have you had a chance to meet my son, Michael? I’m sure he’s around here, somewhere?”

  Oh you mean god’s gift to the world son? My father is now giving me the “eye” to be nice.

  “I have, sir. We met earlier.” I stood quietly listening to my parents talk with Mr. St. Clair about the new songs they planned on writing. Working on the west coast was a new adventure, and they were excited to be here. They were based in Chicago, but traveled on occasion to New York and Los Angeles. While I mingled throughout the tent, I met some girls trying to get John Mayer’s attention.

  “Hi, I’m Alexis Hamilton,” and “I’m Bailey Hamilton.” They were twin sisters.

  “Nicolette Vanelle, pleasure to meet you.”

  They replied together, “Likewise.”

  The girls were smiling and looking at me with curiosity. Taking a chance on what I thought the two were trying to do before I walked over.

  “So, do you know John?” They both looked at me with surprise, knowing I had just busted them.

  Alexis spit out, “No, but would like to.”

  “Well, let’s see what we can do about that.” Giving a sly smile and wink of the eye.

  “Uh…what are you doing?” Alexis asked. They were holding onto each other, surprised at my bold statement. Standing up on my tippy toes, waving my hands above my head, I call out to John, trying to get his attention. He turned around and smiled at me. I smiled and waved back, giggling to myself. I guess I should have told the girls on how I had met John Mayer on several occasions while in New York with my parents. This was going to be fun.

  John came over and my new friends melted like sugar in the rain. “John, these are my new friends, Alexis and Bailey.” I then turn my attention to the trembling girls beside me. “Girls, this is John….John Mayer.”

  “Nice to meet you…You better watch out for Nicolette though,” he said, as he bumped my arm with his elbow.

  Swatting back at him, “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m a nice person.” Sticking my bottom lip out like a pouty two-year-old.

  “I always did know how to rile you up, didn’t I?” Pulling me into a bear hug. John was really a nice guy, despite what all the gossip magazines said about him. He was down to earth and liked to have fun. I hadn’t seen him in several months. He still looked the same, wearing his jeans and signature t-shirt. Obviously dress codes for famous people were optional. I knew the twins would die if they didn’t get an autograph or better yet, a picture.

  “Hey, John...can we get a picture with you?” saying in my most annoying giddy fan voice I could.

  “They can, you, I’m not so sure about.” Laughing again and pulling me back into his arms. John signaled a waiter who was walking toward us. He asked him if he would mind taking a few photos for us. I was standing in front of John, as the twins were on either side. John leaned in and whispered, “Are you enjoying yourself, Nickel?”

  I smiled and said, “That’s a private joke between me and my uncle. You swore to keep it a secret.”

  The girls just stared and smiled while John and I continued with our lively conversation.

  John laughed and said, “Sorry, but it kind of stuck with me after your uncle called you that.”

  “It’s ok. You’re forgiven.”

  “How do you like being a resident of California?”

  “I’m planning my escape after my birthday.”

  Laughing he said, “Nicolette, give California a chance. You never know…you may love it.” John suggested that maybe I was being stubborn and too hard on my parents by fighting with them about moving here.

  A guy came over for John, saying something about how he needed to meet so and so. John didn’t look too interested, but said, “Nicolette, give California a chance. Again, you never know…you might just change your mind.”

  “Doubtful,” I said while giving one of my famous eye rolls.

  “There’s that eye roll that I love.”

  “I did it just for you.”

  “Okay. I have to get going. Have fun, Nicolette. You’re only young once.”

  In my most dramatic attempt, I grabbed his arm, “Please, don’t leave me here. No…I’ll die.”

  Laughing and shaking his head, “Don’t give up your day job, doll.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek before say goodbye to Alexis and Bailey. As he walked away, I continued with my theatrics, until he looked back over his shoulder with his beautiful smile, shaking his head. He disappeared through the crowd of people. I stopped and refocused my attention to the twins. They were both staring at me with their mouths wide open.

  “What?” I said as innocently as possible.

  “You’re kidding us, right?” They said in unison which was creeping me out a little. It was as if they couldn’t speak without the other.

  “We are definitely going to be best friends.” Bailey said.

  Alexis nodded, “That’s for sure.”

  I giggled at them. I guess I found it funny they were so goo-goo over John Mayer, but I forget that I have parents who write s
ongs and attend events and parties like this frequently. Meeting a celebrity is no big deal to me anymore, but to Alexis and Bailey it probably was just about the coolest thing that had ever happened to them. I smiled at the thought.

  My stomach was rumbling something fierce since I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I walked over to the buffet table set up near the bar. I leaned over to examine my choices, and Michael pulled me into his hard chest.

  “There you are.” He whispered into my ear. He released my arm and began to stroke his fingers up along the side of my face.

  I stepped backward, feeling alarmed and uncomfortable by his touch.

  “How about that drink now? The fireworks will be beginning soon. We could walk down to the beach to get a better view.”

  “Sorry, I can’t, Michael. I need to find my parents.”

  Michael smirked at me.

  “Nicolette, your parents are with my father. Why don’t you join me? We can enjoy the firework display together.”

  Michael was quite determined to change my mind. He stepped closer, folded my hands into his and whispered in to my ear before I had a chance to answer him. “I don’t usually hear the word ‘no’ quite often.”

  I pulled my hands out from his grasp, clearly angry. I stared at him and said, “I don’t appreciate you putting your hands on me!”

  “I’m sorry. I was just messing around.”

  “Where I come from, your version of messing around will get your preppy ass kicked. Please do not put your hands on me again!”

  After meeting someone fabulous like Simon today, I was just annoyed at this point. It was definitely time to go.

  “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. Will you please accept my apologies?” Michael asked me, and once again his charming frat boy ways return.

  “I have to go, Michael. Take care.”

  I watched Nicolette, as she walked back into the main tent to be swept up by her father. My friend Seth, joined me after she walked away.

  “What’s up, Michael? You can’t close the deal?”

  “No, not yet, but I will. You know how I hate to be told no.”

  Making my way through the crowd of partygoers, I finally reached my parents.

  “Ready to go, sweetheart?” Mom asked.

  “Yes…so ready to go.”

  “Did you have a good time today?”

  “Yes, I did. The party was fun.” I was thinking of Simon, when I answered her question with a smile. “I even met some girls, who announced they will be my best friends. I laughed. I also spent some time catching up with John.”

  “That’s great, honey; I was hoping you would get the chance to talk to each other. He asked about you when he was talking with your father.” My mother suspiciously looked over to my father.

  “What are you hiding from me now, Mother?”

  “Oh, well, we do have some good news to report.”

  Jumping up, “Sweet! We’re moving back to Chicago?”

  “Nicolette…Really?”

  “Come on, Mom, can’t you take a joke?”

  “Do you care to know or not?”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, a certain someone...John, wants us to produce two new songs for him.”

  “That’s great, Mom.”

  “And…They will be included on the soundtrack we are writing for Sony.”

  “That’s exciting news, Mom!” I was truly happy for my parents, and the perfect day they obviously had. I was thinking that it was time to ease up on them and accept my new life here. I was feeling exhausted and needed a hot bath to fall into. My angel of a housekeeper, Gracie, must have read my mind, because I walked into my bathroom to find her filling my tub with my favorite bath oils.

  “Relax and enjoy your bath, Nicolette. Afterwards, I have a surprise for you.”

  “Gracie, what surprise?”

  “You have my homemade gelato waiting for you in the freezer.”

  I hugged Gracie tightly. I relaxed and enjoyed the sweet smell of lavender, as I soaked and listened to Norah Jones sing, “Don’t know why.”

  I was in heaven.

  Feeling relaxed after my heavenly bath, I can’t get Simon out of my mind. I kick myself for not getting his phone number. He did say he would see me again, but how? I quickly write e-mails to some friends back home when my phone starts to alert me that I have a text message. As I opened my phone, I saw five messages, all from Michael.

  How did he get my number? I didn’t even give it to him! I was going to reply to him when I received yet another message.

  Michael: Nicolette, I am going to call you now! Please pick up your phone.

  I shook my head, thinking about his forwardness. He was extremely arrogant.

  My phone did ring right away, but I decided to take my time answering it. I picked it up on the fourth ring. I answered in my most nonchalant voice, and Michael wasn’t amused by it.

  “I texted you five times, didn’t you get them?” He was almost shouting at me.

  “Hi, Michael. How are you? And how did you get my number, by the way?”

  “I have my ways, Nicolette.” Michael laughed. “At this point, I feel as though I’m being a bit led on, and I don’t like it.”

  “You can’t be serious, Michael? Explain to me how I’m leading you on? I only met you this afternoon, you don’t even know me.”

  “I want to get to know you, Nicolette, let me take you out.”

  “I don’t think so, Michael.”

  “Why not? How about we start with dinner and a movie perhaps?”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why me? I’m in high school and you’re in college, Stanford by the way. How can you be interested in me? It doesn’t make sense.”

  “This doesn’t have to be a big deal, Nicolette, don’t over think it?”

  “I’m not over thinking it, I’m just not interested. Answer me this, how did you get my number?”

  “I have my sources, Nicolette.”

  “Now I’m freaked out.”

  “Listen…don’t be freaked out; I just have friends in high places. You have no reason to be… what are you waiting for? It will be fun.”

  “As friends?” I asked, hoping he understood what I was saying.

  “Yes, as friends. Besides, I spoke to your parents—”

  “You what? Did you say you—” I was now up off my bed, pacing around. I was fuming at his boldness.

  “Yes, I asked their permission to take you out. They thought it was a great idea.”

  The thought of his arrogant, sneaky ways pissed me off! I wasn’t sure who to be mad at more, my parents or Michael, so I chose both.

  “Thank you, Michael, for seeking out my parents’ approval. You should have asked me, not them. I’m a big girl and can make my own decisions as to who I want to go out with. Besides, we are just friends. Have a good night, Michael. Don’t call me again.” I immediately pushed end without giving him a chance to respond.

  I was beyond annoyed… the audacity of Michael to suck up to my parents. He just assumes because he is rich I would go out with him. My phone is beeping with more text messages from Michael. I shut my phone off without responding to him and decide to confront my parents.

  I march my pissed-off ass down the stairs, ready to let them know I was sick of them making decisions for me, as if I’m still a child.

  “How can you give Michael St. Clair permission to date me?” I screamed at my parents, realizing my tone was louder than it should have been. I bit my bottom lip out of frustration. Darn it! There’s the look from my father again. Sighing, I was already regrettably sorry for yelling.

  “Excuse us, Nicolette? There is no need to scream at us.”

  “Sorry.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Michael just called me. He said he asked you permission to take me out.”

  “Yes, we spoke to Michael when we were introduced to him at the party.”

  “So you did? How could you?”

&
nbsp; “Slow down, Nicolette. We did not give him, nor anyone else, permission to date you,” my father said.

  “I know but—”

  “But what? You really think we would just hand off our only daughter to someone we just met?”

  “No... But, you know his father …he said he asked you.” I replied, starting to feel a little foolish at my rash accusations toward my parents. I completely distrusted them, while believing someone I just met.

  “Yes, we do know his father. Clayton is a business associate of ours. We are collaborating on a project with him for his studio’s new movie. As far as being personal friends with the guy, that’s a bit premature at this juncture. Regardless of whom I know, neither your mother nor I would ever force you to see anyone. That is your choice.”

  “Why would Michael lie to me?”

  “Because he’s a rich, spoiled, young man that probably gets everything he wants, including girls.”

  “Daddy! I can’t believe you said that!”

  “Do you have a different opinion of him, Nicolette?”

  “No, Daddy. I met him because you two were the ones that told me to ‘mingle’ and ‘get to know the other kids’ at the party. Right?”

  “Yes, we did. However, he is in college and you are still in high school. You can be friends, of course. You are young and impressionable and no college guy has any business with my high school daughter.”

  “Only by two years, Daddy, and I happen to agree with you.”

  My mother jumped in the conversation, “Well, it may not be too old for you, but for us, as your parents, it’s too old. You’re still in high school and should enjoy your last year with kids more your own age. Speaking of which, did you meet anyone else at the party, not so old and more appealing?” She looked at me suspiciously.

  I felt my face getting increasingly hot. My mother knew me better than I gave her credit for.

  “Well, now that you ask, while I was walking on the beach down from the St. Clair’s home, I met someone.”

  My father raised his eyebrows as he listened to me tell them more.

  “His name is Simon Paulson, and I enjoyed his company.”