The Trouble with Rock Stars: Jackson's Story (Access All Areas 3)

“DID YOU SEE JACKSON’S face when we left the bar together?” Drew said. “I think he wants to kill me.”

I’d pretty much been walking beside Drew without knowing where we were going since we left the bar. I assumed he had plans for this date but I had no idea what they were.

“I don’t care what Jackson thinks.” He’d seemed unsettled, though. I’m glad Drew had noticed it too and it wasn’t just my imagination.

“You care, Gina.”

“Well, I’m on the date with you tonight so let’s not talk about Jackson. What’s the plan?”

“The movies. There’s that new one, with the car chases and explosions. Oh, maybe you want to see a chick flick...”

“Hell no, explosions are good for me. Especially with excessive amounts of junk food.”

Drew actually high-fived me for that. “This is going to be the best date I’ve ever been on.”

I wondered if it was the only date he’d ever been on but didn’t like to ask. I’m pretty sure that Drew never dated. If it were an easy thing for Drew, then Jackson would’ve never have set him this challenge. It seemed like Drew’s entire life revolved around the club. Mine too. It was nice to get out of there and do normal people things for once.

I’d never admit it, but I’d never been on a real date before either. Not the whole “going to a movie or out to dinner” type of date.

We got our tickets and headed to the snack counter.

“I’m getting one of those deals with the insanely huge popcorns,” Drew said. “Maybe the one with the collector’s cup. And the bonus M&Ms.”

I nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

“But I’m paying, Gina.”

“You paid for the movie tickets. It’s only fair I pay for the snacks.” I didn’t think Drew earned that much money and I didn’t want him wasting it on me.

“It’s my date and it’s a cheap price to pay for guitar lessons. I insist.” He glared at me, with a look that was supposed to be all determination. I had to hold back my giggles because I didn’t want to hurt him. I’d see if Carlie could slip a bit extra in his pay this week to make up for it. Tell him it’d been a tip or something. That would be the best way to let him keep his pride.

With arms filled with drinks and popcorn and all the foods in the snack bar, we took our seats. Three hours of action-packed excitement later, we walked out of there with aching bellies.

“That was awesome,” Drew said.

“Yeah, it was.”

“Should we get dinner?” Drew asked.

“Hell no. I can’t eat any more.”

“Me neither.” Drew hugged his belly. “We can’t go back to the bar, though, let’s go to the game center.

I followed Drew into a den of insanity, with more noise than I thought the human ears could tolerate. I’d never been into one of those places before. They looked scary as hell.

He led me around, making me play stupid basketball games and that one where you bash the moles on the head with the hammer.

“Get into the fighting spirit,” Drew yelled.

“I can’t. They are cute little moles. I can’t bash them.” I banged down the hammer but way too late to actually hit anything.

“They’re plastic moles.”

I struck again but I missed completely. Those little moles were as fast as anything. Trying to whack them made my arm ache.

It was the same with the other games. I was happy to see Drew do well but I seemed to lack that part of me that other people had. My desire to win wasn’t that strong. Since I’d most likely lose anyway, why make the effort?

Drew had a mountain of tickets in his hand.