Junior Year Box Set

My motorcade pulled up, and I waited until my security created a corridor for everyone to get through. Paul got everyone in and then came back for me. I felt someone take my arm: it was Haru.

“Consider this payback for me keeping my mouth shut,” she said with a smile.

We walked out to pandemonium. I would find out later that Haru Doi was the next big deal. She had a TV show that was currently airing that everyone watched. The combination of her and Stryker made the paparazzi’s heads explode. I knew a good opportunity when I saw one and stopped us to allow them to scream questions at us and take our picture.

“Yes, yes, we are dating,” I announced in Japanese.

Poor Haru wasn’t sure what to say, so she went along with it.

“Her people reached out to get us together,” I said to explain how we met, which was true.

I led Haru to the car, put her next to Cassidy, and sat down next to her.

“Oh no, she has that look on her face,” Cassidy said, shaking her head.

She turned to Haru.

“This one is like a cute puppy,” she said in Japanese.

I followed her well enough to know where it was going.

“He bounces around and wiggles as he gives you those big brown eyes. You fall in love with him when he wags his tail and licks your face. Then reality hits when he pees on the rug and chews up your best pair of shoes. That’s when you figure out you made a horrible mistake.”

Haru turned to look at me, and I leaned over and pretended I was about to lick her face.

“Gross,” she complained, in English no less.

I waggled my eyebrows at her, which made her smile.

“Where do we need to drop you off?” the driver asked.

I was about to suggest my room when Cassidy gave me a look, so I shut up. It was probably not a good idea to try to pick up another girl when I’d just been with Cassidy’s best friend. Haru gave the driver her address.

◊◊◊

Once we returned to the hotel, I went to my room, and Brook joined me. We both needed to return calls. I talked to Halle, Zoe, Tami, and Phil. Phil and I’d worked to get to know each other better. He asked if he got my Jeep when he turned 16, and I told him to talk to his dad. I’d gotten the apartment, and Greg had gotten a car. I wondered what Dad had planned for Phil. Actually, after our talk in Canada, I was surprised Phil had it in him to ask. He must have been kidding, right?

Once we were done calling home, we turned off our phones. Our friends didn’t seem to grasp the 14-hour time difference.

“Halle called me a bad name,” Brook pouted.

“She’s just jealous. Remember what you said about her when I was in LA filming the movie?”

“That was different,” she tried.

“What are you going to do about it?”

I liked her plan. Even though I’d almost forgotten my own birthday, I’d had a great one. Brook decided to make it even better.

◊◊◊ Tuesday July 5

Today was Yohji Yamamoto clothing. They had a rack of clothes waiting in the back area. I sorted through them and cringed. There was actually a jacquard suit, with an olive green, brown, and pink print, which even my grandmother would never make drapes out of. Then there were balloon pants that were cut off at mid-calf. I found another suit that was ivory colored with cartoon graphics under one arm and down the other leg. I didn’t understand Japanese fashion.

Saul rushed in and kissed me.

“Dude, not cool,” I complained.

“You’re a genius! They want you to shoot an episode of My Butterfly, the number one j-drama show currently airing,” Saul explained.

“How can I be on a show that’s currently airing?” I asked.

“J-drama or Japanese dramas are broadcast in three-month seasons, with a new one airing each season. The summer season just started. They shoot the episodes two to three weeks before they’re aired. Since you announced your undying love for Haru, they’re wild about the idea of you doing a cameo,” Saul explained.

“We’re only here for a short time, and I have commitments.”

“Trust me, we can work around them. I can make this work,” Saul said.

I could tell they must have offered a boatload of money, but Saul had learned that wasn’t my first motivation. What he didn’t know was I now had to pay for a new car.

“Go work it out with Kent,” I said, pointing at him.

“So, you’ll do it?”

“If you can work it out with Kent, yes.”

Saul chased down Kent to sweet-talk him as Haru and her entourage swept in. I thought I was bad with my posse of Paul, Saul, Kent, and Hana. But I was a piker, apparently: I counted twelve people following Haru onto the set. I hoped I never got that bad. But who knew, maybe she needed all of them.