Foolish Games

Chapter ONE- Updates

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Irina: Obviously two of you were currently in a relationship. Nate, I'll start with you. How are you coping with out Alex? You two really seemed close.

Nate: Um, I don't think it's really the time to talk. It's a private matter at the moment.

Irina: To my knowledge your fans are concerned about you, isn't it time for you to come clean about this? It's been two weeks.

Jason: He'll speak when he's ready.

Irina: And Shane your relationship with Taylor has been a rollercoaster. We have several reports from inside sources that you and Taylor are repeatedly on and off. And also some pictures of you and Taylor at a crazy party surfaced on the internet. What are your comments on that?

Shane: I haven't heard anything about a party pictures, and me and Taylor are still together, Are you sure your sources are correct?

Irina: Uh- huh! So Jason while your brothers are currently in failed relationships how are you applying their mistakes to your life. I mean you've steered clear from relationship for about three years, I've been told.

Jason: Ha ha...umm can I get a lifeline?

--

Two angry Grey brothers stormed out from that radio interview. They all climbed into Jason's car and rode off to another scheduled interview. The scenery around soon turned into a blur as Nate banged his head against his hands.

"I don't want to go! I don't need another reminder that Alex dumped me. I don't a stupid women to prod me with questions I've denied to others already. How many Irina the Interviewer's can this world hold?!" He mumbled.

Shane lounged out in the back of Jason's black shiny SUV, "Well at least you don't have to be force to be with someone. It's hell."

"Oh it's hell, alright. Who's the one going to the great parties, drinking until walking is impossible to do and having Taylor drag you back home?" Nate spat back. Shane stayed quiet.

"Nate's right, I think you should lay off the parties for a while. We're getting bad press for it." Jason advised, he turned a corner driving until he hit a red light.

"It's the only time we actually get along." Shane confessed.

Jason knew Taylor and Shane hardly clicked. They were like a bad game of Jenga. You never know when they'll fall apart and start with their fights again. Despite their horrible connection Shane was under contract to date the girl their publicist chose, no matter how bad they meshed.

As for Nate, Jason felt for his other brother. Alex and Nate were the perfect couple. They exchanged the cute gestures like kissing foreheads, holding hands, and the constant flirting. Jason had no idea what went wrong there. Nate was miserable the day Alex phone him up and told him it was over. She gave no real explanation, just the simple reason that she shouldn't be with him. It tore Nate to pieces when Alex openly told the media that the were no longer together. It was a stab in all the open wounds Nate had.

"Hey guys we're here." Jason said as he drove in the back alley of a building. Thinking about their prior interview. He hasn't been with a significant other since his messy break up with a former ex.

Is it time?

Should Jason start looking?

He looked back at his miserable brothers and shook his head. It's definitely not the time to think about relationships.

--

--

"Hey where do you guys want to go?" Jason asked heading back to his car. Connect Three had just finished their last interview. Thankfully all they were interested in was their summer headlining tour, and an upcoming video project for their new album that they are close to finishing.

"Home, please." Nate begged.

Shane trailed behind, furiously texting. The probability that he was fighting with Taylor or excited about the next party to go to was big.

"How 'bout we go grab a coffee of something?" Jason suggested. He absolutely loved coffee, he even vowed to hire a brewer when he got his own house. But until then, any coffee house would do.

"You can go with Nate, Taylor should be here any minute."

Jason and Nate turned to Shane who held on to his cell phone, it was plain to see where he was planning to go.

"You know," Jason sighed, tired of this routine, "I'm going to talk to our manager about this. I'm tired of lying to press about your crap, Shane."

Shane ran his hand through his hair, it's been neglecting a hair cut lately.

"Oh boohoo, Jason, nobody asked you to lie. Quit thinking that there's a solution to this, 'cause there isn't. I'm going, whether you like it or not." Shane lightly poked Jason on his chest.

Jason rolled his eyes at his brother immature behavior. There was only one way to get Shane inside his car and Jason couldn't believe he had to resort to it.

"Things just haven't been the same since Hawaii, has it?"

Shane glared at Jason and poked him once again, "Don't bring that up!"

"Get in the car."

Shane shove past Jason and Nate.

"Why do you always have to mention her?" Nate asked, annoyed. "Now we have to sit through Shane yelling his lungs out."

Jason shrugged, "I don't get why he's so emo about it. The song's about her."

Nate patted Jason's back, "Promise me this is the last time."

"Promise"

Nate closed his eyes in relief, "Alright let's get out of here! I want some homemade food"

--

Connect Three was back in their tiny hometown. Well it used to be small. The Small Town, USA suddenly grew into a busy little city that reminded Jason nothing of his childhood memories. For instance, the wide open space that was beside the daycare center he used to go to was now converted into a mall. The streets are bigger as well and the construction of new ones is apparent. Jason almost got lost trying to find the hotel (newly built of course) they were staying at.

It was late at night and Jason was yet to be found asleep. Which was odd for him, since Jason would never pass up a second of sleep.

Jason paced around his room, restless. He scratched his curly head wondering why he felt so awake at this hour. Perhaps he was nervous the final recording was tomorrow and in several weeks will begin that filming the video.

It can't be that.

Just when Jason was about to give up, he sighed.

Might as well just go get coffee if this sleep isn't coming anytime soon.

He didn't bother looking at the time; he bolted out the door, zoom pass the front counters and flew into his seat.

When the engine revved up Jason breathed in. Coffee was definitely the answer to everything. It's the only substance Jason prefers over girls, hands down.

It didn't take him long to find the closest coffee shop, the only problem is, by the lack of cars in the parking lot, Jason feared it might be closed already.

The moment the car's engine was killed, Jason jumped out and briskly walked to the locked door. He messed with the door handle before he banged on the glass door.

"Hey! C'mon I know someone's closing!" Jason yelled, still banging on the door with his fist. Inside he saw a startled girl pop up from behind the register. She shook her head, waving him off. It was past the operating hours of the shop.

"Please!" Jason yelled.

The girl looked annoyed and shook her head again.

"C'mon!" Jason pleaded, "It's just one customer!"

The girl stiftly walked to the door and unlocked it.

"Ok, I see that you are in a caffeine withdrawal, but we closed at 10. It's past 12 right now. So if you excuse me, I'm going back to stocking. Oh and please stop banging on the door. You almost gave me a heart attack."

She was about to close the door when Jason block it with his shoe.

"What's a cup gonna do?"

"No"

"It will only take five minutes."

"No!"

"And then you can go back to stock, or call your boyfriend, whatever you girls do."
"No and I don't have one!"

"Great, so do you guys have those fraps, you know the ones without the chocolate?"

"You won't give up, will you?"

"I don't intend to."

She moaned and opened the door so Jason could pass by her. Jason triumphantly grinned as he got a better look at the 'menu' of the blends they offered.

"I don't got all night." She snapped, watching Jason scan the menu.

"Woah! Whatever happened to customer satisfaction?" Jason asked, mentally picking his choice of drink.

"It stopped 2 hours ago." She bluntly said.

Jason stared at her name tag that brightly displayed her name.

"Ok Alice. I would like a Frap-"

"We don't have ice."

Jason curiously looked at her expressionless face.

"Ok… the espresso-"

"The machine is cold."

"Then a latte with a biscotti."

"We're out of biscotti's."

Jason threw his hands in the air, frustrated, "Then what do you have?"

Alice grinned like a child who just told a bad joke, "The latte."

She went right to work making the cup of latte that Jason had to resort to. He watched Alice as she skillfully pouring the steamed milk into the cup, forming a Rosetta. She had that tired look on her face that Jason didn't see before. He instantly felt guilty for making the night worse for Alice.

"I'm sorry I just barged in here." Jason apologized.

Alice handed him the cup and shrugged, "As long as you're not a rapist, it's fine."

Jason walked back to a tiny table and sat down, preparing to drink his latte. Alice watch him, curiously. He looked up and smiled, "What?"

"I just expected you to leave. No offense."

"None taken. I wanted to fully enjoy this marvelous drink that Alice the Latte girl made for me." He sipped the latte carefully. The small amount ingested made a hot trail down his throat and into his stomach, warming his insides.

"Hey, wait a minute. I know you!"

Jason froze, mid-drink. For a second he forgot that he's a highly recognizable person. Who could miss the trademark hair, seriously?

"You and your brothers are in this band, right?" Alice blurted out as if it finally hit her.

Jason nodded slowly.

"Oh my god, what's the name!" Alice closed her eyes tightly trying to remember, "It's a game right?"

Jason took the time to look at her, I mean, really look at her, while she was busy making a guessing game out of her lack of knowledge. Alice was wearing a brown polo shirt with the logo of the coffee shop stitched into it, her hair was hidden inside a matching brown cap. The hair that was sticking out was a honey colored brown. She was much shorter than Jason but had the look of maturity. Jason guessed she was 19.

"Connect the dots, no, wait! Connect four…connect-some random number."

"Three." Jason laughed.

"THREE! That's right! Oh may gosh, how cool! My roommates are absolutely in love with you guys! Maybe I should call them up-"

"I don't want to sound like a snob but I would perfer you didn't."

"What?" Alice said noticing his forced expression, "Not up for three screaming girls?"

Jason shook his head, embarrassed, "It's not that. I snuck out just to grab some coffee. If the word got out I was here my manager would go crazy."

"Don't worry I won't say a peep. Lucky for you I'm not a fan." Alice confessed, Jason faked a stab in the heart. She sat down across from him, almost admiring him.

"Wow, Connect Three, huh. What's it like having brothers?"

"Umm, it's great. Do you only have like sister's or something?" He responded slowly.

Alice took her cap off, shaking her head, "I wish! I'm an only child!"

"Ah the spoiled brat." Jason joked.

Alice's mouth dropped, shock, "Look who's talking! And no, do you think spoiled girls have to work on the night before an exam?"

"Really?"

Alice nodded, intertwining her hands together.

Jason sipped his latte some more. He thought about his life if he didn't have the sign deals and contracts he had. Would he be like Alice, stressing over work and exams? Or would he be a music teacher? An actor probably?

"So what are you doing here?" Alice asked.

"Oh we were doing some press stuff, and then we'll be recording the remainder of our next album, after that, hopefully we can get to film the next music video." Jason explained.

"Oh I know that!" Alice rolled her green eyes, mad for not being specific, "My roommates called me when they saw the news. I mean, why here?"

"You need to catch up on some Connect Three Trivia Facts," Jason shook his head, disappointed that Alice didn't know much about them.

"Sorry for not being a psychotic fan!" Alice smiled, and Jason took noticed how her eyes glowed when she did.

"I'm sorry too."

--

Two bodies left the warm premises of the coffee shop for the chilly late night air. The night was still and the city dead. Every single soul was resting their head except for the pair who were found still up at this hour. Alice smiled at the boy who barged into her shift and into her life. This was definitely something she was never expecting. They walked to a an aged looking black car, obviously belonging to Alice. Once they reached it, Jason and Alice embarrassedly looked away from each other.

"Well, it was nice meeting you…"

"Jason." He smiled

She smiled back, "Jason."

"Well I hope to see you around and good luck on that exam."

Alice frowned, "And because of you I'll be lucky I get any sleep, I still need to study."

"I think you should go to sleep and then review a bit before. It better than losing a night's worth of sleep."

Alice processed his advice, "I hope you're right."

"Well take care." Jason opened the door for Alice. She looked at him in awe. A rock star gentleman; it's almost an oxymoron. She thanked him before she took off, flustered.

Jason lazily walked to his own car, partly because he didn't want to go and partly because he was sleepy.

This was going to be a long ride home.

--

THE NEXT MORNING

The distinct smell of the recording studio fill the noses of the three boys who entered the scene. Prior to their schedule recording, they rehearsed the song Shane wrote until their vocal cords were warmed up. It has been a long time since Shane actually written a song. The moment he added some cords and beats to the lyrics their manager decided to add in the song to their record deal. That was a huge surprise since they usually sing what they're told to sing, most of the time.

They were greeted by the recording staff the instant they walked in. They quickly shoved Shane into the recording area as Jason and Nate watched from another room.

"Did Taylor ever find out about Erica?" Nate wondered out loud. He crossed his arms studying Shane as he mentally prepared himself for the song.

Jason shrugged, "I'm not sure. Do you still have the album she gave him?"

Nate nodded slowly. Jason and Nate decided it would be the best idea to push Shane out of a former love spell. They took it upon themselves to erase her number off Shane's phone and keep the little departure gift away from him. They even went as far as to 'accidentally' burn the napkin that had the song he wrote about her. That made no difference, Shane knew the song by heart, with or without the napkin.

The music swelled into the studio. The song actually had an upbeat rhythm to it, contrasting the words to it.

Do you know what its like
When you walk through those doors
To have your heart ripped right out
And have it thrown on the floor…

"Alex called me yesterday."

Jason tore his concentration away from Shane to Nate who was looking at his cell phone.

"She called you?" Jason restated what Nate had just said.

Nate tossed the phone to Jason, it flashed two things.

Nate had a missed call from his former and a voice message.

Jason held the phone to his ear waiting to hear the message, he rather him hear it than his brother. Nate wasn't in the best conditions to hear from her.

"New Message: Nate, it's Alex. I've been hearing the news lately, and I'm really sorry for all the things I'm putting you through. I want to know how you're doing, text me or something………………I really miss you."

Jason deleted that message, there's no need to give Nate that kind of false hope. He knows what it's like to put up with a girl who clearly broke it off and still finds the need to call you, concerned. Jason shook off his long-ago ex-girlfriend.

"I think it was an accident." Jason handed Nate's phone back, "All you could hear was her talking to some friends."

"Oh." Nate said disappointed, he went back to watch Shane

...One isn't us, we were meant to be two

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