Chapter Seven
Socially awkward didn't suit a singer.
If Lucy were here, she'd be the life of the party, and Ariel would be her sidekick. Everything was always better with her best friend. So standing beside Lila and her friends, along with a few other singers from this year's show, Ariel realized how out of place she was. Hell, even on stage, she hadn't learned how to open herself up yet. As her fellow contestant acquaintances mingled, Ariel tried to look like she belonged.
Fake it till you make it.
Yeah, that only lasted a little while. She mingled with Lila and stood back as people got more comfortable and the conversations turned to music, sex, and dating. Ariel ambled over to the far side, just to get a breather. No one else was around. The second pool was peaceful, ripples of water keeping her attention.
She was alone for a while, until the sound of footsteps alerted her of someone appraoching. Jake Ellis, one of the guys in the bottom three a few weeks ago, now stood at her side. “Hey, Ariel. You look a little unsure standing over here by yourself.”
“Just a little,” she admitted, gripping her plastic cup a little tighter. “I'm not the best social person.”
“Yeah, neither am I. Funny how we're trying to climb to the top of this show to sing, but off stage, it's completely awkward.”
“Right?” Aha! Someone understood!
Jake scooted closer to her. His breath reeked of cigarette smoke and something else. Something stronger. “Know what helps with that?” he whispered in her ear, his fingers moving up to her face.
Whoa. “Umm.” Ariel coughed. This was escalating too far, too fast, into uncomfortable territory. Warning signals went off in her head. “Jake, I-”
“It's okay. We can fool around a little,” he murmured against her lips.
She pushed him away. “No!” Her voice came out loud and sharp.
Jake pulled back, but his grip on her arm tightened. “Geez! You act like I'm doing something wrong. It was just a kiss!”
“A kiss? I never asked for a kiss. And besides-” Ariel tried to pull out of his grasp. “You're on something. I smell-”
“You don't know what you're talking about,” he said roughly. “Now be quiet. It's nothing. Just a little trick to calm the nerves.”
“Jake, no. This isn't cool.” Ariel tried to get past him, panic settling in. When he tried to make a grab at her again, she shoved him hard. Jake stumbled back toward the pool, and considering he still had a grip on her, dragged her, drink and all, in with him.
She sputtered as they landed in the deep end. “I can't swim!”
Laughter carried over their way. Music played from speakers. No one knew they were in this pool, and Ariel wasn't the only one freaking out.
“Jake, let go!”
“I can't swim, either!” he yelled, clutching her.
“You're going to pull me under! Just calm down!”
*****
Zeke heard a splash and someone yell, but there was also loud music and laughter. At first, he thought nothing was wrong, until he rounded the corner and saw a couple in the second pool. They were alone and arguing or something. When he spotted the red hair and heard her voice more clearly- full of fear, he sprung to action.
Ariel.
The gate to the pool had been left open. On the right side was where the music came from, and some of the other contestants were hanging out, laughing and swimming.
Jake Ellis clung to Ariel, but it was obvious they weren't playing. Was he trying to pull her under? Rough housing? What the hell?
He didn't waste any time trying to ask questions. Zeke dove into the pool, fully clothed and all, and pulled them apart. “What the hell is going on?”
“He tried- he-” Ariel stuttered, her teeth chattering.
“She pushed me in the pool! I can't swim!” Jake babbled.
And then Zeke smelled it.
Damn. Please no. Not Ariel.
He sniffed toward Jake, who now clung to him. No wonder! The moron was high! “Ariel, hold on to me,” Zeke instructed. She did as Zeke continued to battle with Jake. Probably didn't want to be ratted out. “Grab the ladder and climb out.” She did and stood far away from the edge, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Jake, you get out, and don't you go anywhere. I can outrun you any day, especially because you're high.” Zeke's voice changed, and he silently dared the man to defy him.
“You can't say anything! I need this win! It was just a little-” Jake climbed out. Ariel immediately moved further away.
A few of the other singers moved their way, curious. “What's going on?”
“Somebody get Ariel a towel, and keep her calm until I get back. Jake, you're coming with me.” Zeke wrapped his large hand around the kid's bony wrist. “Anybody else partaking in what Jake's been smoking? It's illegal, for one, and for two, any bad press, even behind the scenes on the show, can and will get you disqualified.”
Everyone else gave him a look as if he were crazy. Whatever. He'd deal with this later. Right now, Jake demanded his attention. The guy just didn't know it yet.
“Ariel, I'll be back,” Zeke said to her. Lila had given her a towel, and she'd found a lounge chair to sit in. “I want to hear your side of the story.”
She nodded, avoiding his gaze.
Jake hunched his shoulders. “I screwed up, didn't I?”
“I would say so. Drugs, accosting Ariel... Not a good night for you, buddy. Let's go.” Zeke attempted to keep the anger out of his tone. Heart still racing from the whole scene, especially seeing Ariel so afraid in that water, tormented his mind.
“I don't know what I was thinking,” Jake whined. “I didn't mean to.”
“Well, under an influence or not, you did it. You were practically drowning her, too!”
“I had this weird paranoia, like I was gonna drown. Was trying to keep myself up,” Jake explained, his tone quieter.
Zeke pressed his lips together. Not another word, otherwise he was just gonna pummel the kid. He didn't even understand in full detail the consequences of his action. He was what, nineteen? Younger than Ariel, Zeke knew that.
His cell was all the way up in his room, and Zeke didn't feel like dragging Jake all the way up there, so he called from the resort's pay phone, not wanting to alert more people than he needed to. “I need you to come down here, now.”
“What for?” Jared's sleepy voice drifted over the line.
“One of our contestants is using and accosted Ariel. I pulled them both out of the pool just now.”
That was enough. Jared cursed. “Give me ten.”
*****
“Tell me you're okay! Your mother would never forgive me if I let something happen to you on my watch.” Jared hovered over Ariel an hour later. She'd finally calmed down and had headed up to her room, but not before Jared caught up to her in the hallway.
“I'm a little shaken, disgusted by his behavior, but in the end run, I'm still here and fine. I don't need to be under anyone's watch, Jared. I'm here to sing. That's it. I needed a little breathing space from the crowd of people and took a quiet walk toward the other pool. I didn't expect Jake.” She raked a hand through her hair. “What happened to him? Is he kicked off the show?”
Jared nodded. “Drugs is bad enough, but what he did to you sealed the deal. He's not coming back.”
Despite what Jake did, Ariel felt for the guy. He'd obviously been nervous. Outside of tonight's actions, he'd always been a decent and polite guy.
“I understand if you don't want to stay quiet about this, but I'm hoping we can keep the situation under wraps. The show is already having trouble this season, and this could really kill our ratings. I'm torn here, as both the show's producer and your friend. I don't want you to think I only care about the show.”
“Consider it done. I won't say anything. A good night's sleep will take care of this.” Ariel waved it off. The last thing she needed was more attention on her anyway, and if her family got any sort of word about this ... she'd never hear the end of it.
Relief flashed across Jared's face. “Really?”
She nodded. “Really.”
He pulled her in for a hug. “Thanks, Ariel, but you tell me right away if anyone bothers you. Anyone at all. I'm going to need you to sign a waiver, just as an official thing.”
“Sure, sure.” Stifling a yawn, she cringed when she realized the time.
“Hey, I'm really glad you're okay. When Zeke called and told me what happened, my mind went to places I didn't like.”
She bristled. “Why does everyone think that-”
Jared rested a hand on her shoulder. “You're in a fragile state of mind. We all worry about you, especially jumping into this show out of your comfort zone.”
“I wish Luce was here with me. The way it's supposed to be.” Don't fall, tears. Don't. Fall.
“I know.” Jared's voice was quiet and hoarse. “And I think she's out of the worst. It's just a matter of time before she comes back to us. Get some rest, okay? I'll have those forms drawn up, and I'm going to have a talk with everyone else who was downstairs.”
Finally left alone when Jared headed out, Ariel took a shower, changed, and climbed into bed, ready to sleep. Wasn't long before another knock at her door interrupted the peace and quiet.
*****
Ariel was way too good looking at one in the morning. With her slightly rumpled, low cut red shirt and long pants, her damp locks pulled behind her in a messy ponytail, and wide eyes, he had to fight a silent war to not lean over and kiss her. He didn't mind stealing kisses from pretty ladies, but this one wasn't to be touched, especially after tonight.
“Jared already checked on me. I'm fine. Thank you, Zeke, for acting fast. I can't swim, and Jake ... I don't even know.”
“He panicked because of what he was taking.” Zeke shook his head. “Kinda went into hallucinations.”
“I'm never going to understand why people would purposely do that to their bodies. Call me young and naïve, whatever, but it's crazy.”
“Don't change, Ariel.” Zeke gently brushed his hand against her cheek, charging straight into dangerous territory.
She flinched and reeled back.
He dropped his hand immediately, still feeling the tingles of electricity from their connection. “Sorry.”
“So, what was it you needed?” Her voice came out raspy, sleepiness lacing her tone.
“I told you earlier I'd come back, but I didn't expect it to take this long.”
“Well, I'm okay. You've seen this. I don't mean to be short with you, but it's been a long night, and I'm ready to sleep.”
She sure as hell looked it, and for a second, his mind flashed to an image of him spooning her. Hell! What had gotten into him? He hadn't had it this bad in ages. Zeke had a feeling one romp in between the sheets wouldn't be enough. Not that he was looking for forever, but something about Ariel got to him in ways he couldn't explain. Or control, for that matter.
“Right. I just...” Can't seem to stay away from you. “Good night, Ariel. I'll see you in the morning for practice. If you want to change the time so you can get a little more rest, I can move a few things around.”
“Name the time. I'll be there.”
He looked forward to it.
And maybe in a couple months, once this show was over, he could find a way to get her out of his system.