"Pop
Life"
Chapter 74
"Hey Adriana."
I stop walking down the hall of my high school when I hear Darcy's voice.
"Hey Darc...what's up?"
She pulls me to the side and holds my arm.
"Are you okay?"
I nod. "Um, yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because of the story that's going around...what people are saying."
I glance around at the people walking around us and scrunch my eyebrows. "What story? I'm totally lost."
Darcy covers her mouth with her hand. "You haven't heard yet? Did you just get here?"
"No, I've had two classes already. Darcy, just tell me."
"Well in some tabloid there's a report of you and Brad like, getting it on at one of the Summer Jam concerts."
I laugh. "Getting it on?"
"Having sex."
I turn serious. "What?!? You've got to be kidding. Well, it's just a tabloid."
"But there's quotes from people on the crew saying they saw you guys. You were up against your bus and it was obvious what you were doing."
I place my hand on my stomach and suddenly don't feel so well.
"I repeat...it's a tabloid."
"It's all over school, that's why I'm surprised you haven't heard it yet."
My mind is reeling. I've had things said about me in tabloids before but they were usually about dating Marcus, not having sex with him. This is about Brad and seems way too private.
"Well, I know I didn't have sex with Brad out in public and that's all that matters," I say as I start to walk down the hall again.
Darcy jogs a little to catch up with me. "Have you at all?"
I look over at her as we keep walking.
"Darcy."
"What, I'm just asking. I'd tell you if I was."
I stop so she stops. "And you're not in the public eye. It's different and it's my business."
Her face visibly falls. "I'm sorry Darcy. I know you're my best friend but I just can't talk about stuff like this."
"Like you think I'd go to some reporter and tell them everything I knew."
"It happened to my mama on accident so yes, it could happen. I don't think you'd intentionally do it, but I can't take a chance."
She stares at me for a second. "Well, I sort of see where you're coming from, but I'd never do that to you," she says before she walks away.
I groan and start walking to my next class. Now I notice more people staring at me as I walk through the halls and into my classroom.
What, like none of them have had sex. Wait, what am I talking about? I didn't have sex.
I sit down at my desk and put my head in my hand's.
"Adriana, can I see you for a second?" my teacher asks me.
I stand up and walk over to his desk.
"Yes, Mr. McGeorge?"
"I just wanted to give you the extra assignments you'll need to complete by next week."
He hands me a folder. "Oh thanks."
"If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't, thank you."
When I turn back around the two guys on the right snicker and quit talking as they stare at me. I roll my eyes and walk back to my desk.
I can't even concentrate on the class because I'm so preoccupied with everyone around me and what Darcy told me.
When this class is over I start walking down the hall and I see a couple of policemen standing in the foyer to the school. I walk past the principal's office as I'm staring down the hallway, trying to figure out what's going on.
"Oh Adriana, good."
I turn when I hear the voice.
"Hi Mrs. Beasley."
"Can you come in my office dear," she says holding her arm out towards the office.
"Um, sure."
We walk back to her office and she moves to sit behind her desk
"Have a seat."
I take a seat across from her.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, I just wanted to keep you informed of what is going on. There are reporters and photographers outside the school right now."
"Why?" I ask, alarmed.
"They're here for you."
"Me? Um, why? I mean I've been going here for a couple of weeks now, it's not like this is breaking news."
As soon as I said that, I realized why they were here.
"It's because of that tabloid isn't it?"
She nods slowly. "I'm afraid so. So you've heard about it?"
"Yeah one of my friends stopped me in the hallway and told me."
She gives me a sympathetic look.
"We have the area under control. There are police officers keeping the media off of school property but I'm afraid you won't be able to leave here without assistance."
"I'll call my manager and see what he thinks," I say.
"You're welcome to use my phone. I'll be right outside in the hallway."
I nod. "Thank you."
I take my cell phone out of my purse. I have numbers stored in memory on this phone. The first person I call is daddy.
"Timberlake."
"Hey Timberlake, this is Timberlake Jr."
He laughs. "Hey sweetie, what's going on? You okay?"
"Yeah...sort of. Daddy, the media is outside my school right now...they're here because of me."
"How many of them are there?"
"Well, it sounds like a lot. The principal called the police to keep them back."
"Oh, I see. Have you talked to Andre yet?"
"No, that's why I was calling you. I didn't know if I should call Andre or Tony or Uncle Lance..."
"Call Andre first. He'll either get someone there or he'll get in touch with the police. You're coming home right now, right?"
"You think I should? I don't want to show them that they're running my life like this."
"Well baby, I love your attitude but I'll be worried about you if you don't."
I groan. "Daddy, I already have so much work to make up, I can't miss anymore."
"Adriana, I'm not requesting this. We'll figure that out later."
"Yes sir," I say softly. "I'll call Andre and see what he says."
"Okay. I love you. Be careful."
"I will. I love you too."
I hang up the phone and dial Andre's number.
"Hello?"
"Andre? It's Ana."
I tell him what I know.
"What should I do?"
"Let me get in touch with the police department. If they can give you a ride home, that would be best but then we'll have to deal with press at your house. "
"But we live in a gated community..."
"I know. Just sit tight and I'll make a few phone calls."
"Okay."
After a few minutes the bell rings and Mrs. Beasley walks back in the room.
"Any news?" she asks.
"I'm sitting tight," I try to joke. "Can I go get water or something?"
"Sure, it's the next room on the right."
I stand up and stop at the doorway to turn around and look at her. "Just for the record, what those tabloids are saying isn't true."
She gives me a warm smile. "You didn't have to tell me that."
I smile back.
While I'm in the lounge my cell phone rings again.
"Hello?"
"Okay, one of the police officers will give you a ride home. I've already contacted the guard at the gate of your subdivision and there will be another police officer there to help keep them out. There might be reporters in helicopters though."
"For me? Geez, I'm not that important."
"Is there something going on you're not telling me about?" he asks.
"There's a story in a tabloid about me and Brad...that's the only thing I can think of."
"That's all?"
"As far as I know. I've been here a little over two weeks and they're just now bugging me and this story came out today. It's the only thing I can think of."
"Okay. Be careful and when you're home safe, call me."
"I will. Thanks Andre."
"You're welcome. I'll call your house and tell them what to expect."
"Okay. Bye."
I walk back to Mrs. Beasley's office.
"Ma'am. One of the police officer's is going to drive me home now. Thanks for putting up with this."
She smiles. "I just hope everything's okay. Be safe."
I nod and smile.
"Thanks, I'll try."
I walk toward the hallway and one of the policemen meets me there.
"Adriana Timberlake?"
"Yes. Do you know who will be taking me home, sir?"
"I will. I'm Officer Malloy," he says holding out his hand.
"Nice to meet you," I say shaking it.
We walk toward the front doors and for the first time I see the mob outside.
"Oh my God. How are we going to get anywhere?" I ask as I start to walk slower.
"There's a squad car over to the right, up on the walkway. We'll be okay," he says putting his hand on my back and urging me along.
We open the front doors and the flashbulbs go off and the people start screaming my name and a bunch of questions I can't distinguish. We run into the car and close the doors.
"I really can't believe this," I say as we start to drive.
We have to drive pretty close to where the reporters are so I duck my head so they can't take my picture. Suddenly I hear banging on the windows.
"What's happening?" I yell. I still don't look up because Officer Malloy's hand is on my back, keeping me down.
"They're just a little too close," he says.
After a couple of minutes, I hear the sirens and he lets go of my back.
"Okay, you can sit up now. We'll get you home in a hurry."
I sit up and take a deep breath. This is so overwhelming to me. I can't believe that this is really happening.
"You okay?" he asks.
"I guess. I don't know what to think right now," I mumble.
We reach my subdivision and Andre was right, there were reporters already camped out. I duck again as the guard let us through and the police keep the photographers back.
"You'll have to tell me which one," he says as he slowly drives through the subdivision.
"Okay, make a right at the top of this hill."
He does.
"Now, we're the house on the left there...yeah, this one," I say as he pulls into our driveway.
He pulls up as far as he can and mama opens the front door. She stands at the top of the steps, with her arms hugging herself. She smiles and waves at me when I look up.
"Would you like something to drink or something?" I ask Officer Malloy.
"No thank you, but I will walk with you and talk to your parents."
I nod and open the door. We both walk up the steps and when I reach mama I literally fall into her embrace. She holds me, stroking my hair.
"You're fine now," she whispers.
"It was scary," I say, pulling away from her.
She touches my cheek. "I know. Go on in."
"Mama, this is Officer Malloy...Officer, this is my mom, Britney."
They shake hands.
"Thank you for bringing her home safely."
"It was no problem ma'am. If it's all right I'd like to talk to you and your husband if he's home."
"He is...he's on the phone. Would you come in for a minute?"
He takes off his hat as we walk inside. I walk into the family room and overhear daddy on the phone.
"Okay, we'll send someone to get her just in case. Yes, someone's picking up her brother. That's right. Just let her teachers know and we'll get her homework done for the next couple of days. Okay, thank you."
Daddy hangs up the phone and sees me.
"Hey snowball, how are you doing?" he asks, touching my cheek.
"I'm okay."
"Justin, this is Officer Malloy," mama says.
Daddy walks over to him with an outstretched hand. "Officer, thank you for bringing Adriana home safely."
As they start talking I take my book bag into my bedroom and sit on my bed. My mind starts reeling from everything that has happened. Starting with what the tabloids said up to ducking my head in a police car in order to leave school.
I pick up my phone and dial Brad.
"Hey, you've got Brad's voicemail. Leave me a message, will ya?"
I chuckle at his message.
"Hey, it's me. I was wondering if you heard what's going on. Call me, I really need to talk to you."
I hang up and stare at the phone. There's a soft knock on my door.
"Officer Malloy is leaving, come say goodbye." I hear mama's voice on the other side of the door say.
"Okay," I sigh as I stand back up and walk back to the family room.
When Officer Malloy leaves I look at my parents.
"You sure you're okay?" daddy asks.
I nod. "Yeah. It was just really weird. I don't know how to explain it."
"You probably don't have too sweetie. I think we've both been through it. We know it's scary," mama says putting her arm around me.
"You know why it started?" I ask.
Mama and daddy exchange glances.
"We heard there was something printed in a tabloid but we didn't hear what," mama says.
"Someone said Brad and I were uh...having sex against my bus one night."
I don't look up at them.
"I haven't read it, that's what Darcy told me it said. Everyone at school knows about it."
Mama's hold on my shoulder gets tighter. She leans her head over and kisses my temple.
I look up quickly. "It's not true."
Daddy squints. "You don't have to tell us that. We know you."
Mama leads me to sit on the couch. She sits next to me and daddy sits across from us.
"Did I hear you on the phone with Ashleigh's school?" I ask.
Daddy nods. "We wanted to make sure no one is bothering your brother or sister."
"Because of me," I add.
"It's no one's fault. So far there's no press there but we're going to pull them out a couple of days until this dies down."
"Okay," I say sadly.
"So, what do I do about this? I mean do I need to say something?"
Mama rubs my back. "We'll talk to Tony and figure this out. Most likely you'll let it die. I hate to say this but there's going to be many different types of things said about you and seventy percent of them will be false. You'll just have to get thick skin and ignore them. Don't let them affect you, that's what they want."
"But it's not true. I don't want people thinking I'm some easy girl..."
Daddy puts his hand on my knee. "The people that count know that. Your true fans will know that. It's the ones you don't care about that will believe this crap that they read."
I nod as I look at my hands. "I guess, it's just not easy to hear those things said about you."
"No, it's not," mama says softly.
Both Cody and Ashleigh are picked up and brought home early from school.
The phone rings and mama answers it.
"It's for you," she says to me, holding the phone out. "I think it's Brad," she whispers.
"Thanks," I say taking the phone from her. I stand up and start walking to my room. "Hello?"
"Hey...what's wrong?" Brad asks.
"You haven't heard anything?" I ask as I sit on my bed.
"No, I've been in a studio all day. No TV, no radio. What's going on, you're scaring me."
Just hearing his voice is helping to calm me.
"There was something printed in a tabloid about us..."
"Okkaaayyy."
"That we were having sex against my bus."
He starts to laugh but then stops when I don't respond.
"Sweetie, it's a tabloid. You can't let it get to you."
"Well, there's more that happened today."
I tell him about the media at school.
"Oh God."
"Yeah. It was awful. I've never been around anything like that before. I mean my parents never had that happen to them when I was around them. Maybe when they were younger but..."
"But you're protected now, right?"
"I guess. Daddy talked to Andre and he's flying in. Tony's flying in...Uncle Lance might be flying in...it's going to be a madhouse."
"It will all be okay in the end. We know we never did that. Though it sounds like fun."
I start to laugh. "Brad...you're terrible."
"No, I wasn't...that's why no sex against the bus."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
I can hear the smile in his voice.
"For making me laugh. I haven't done that all day."
"It will be okay...I know it doesn't seem like that now."
"I know. Mama and daddy keep telling me that too."
"They're pretty smart people, listen to them."
I giggle. "I will."
"Be careful, okay? I've got to get back in the studio."
"Okay. Call me when you can, I want to hear how that's going."
"I will. I miss you."
"I miss you too."
I hang up the phone and sigh. I knew I'd feel better after talking to him.