Smiley

Chapter Six

“Va

Va

Beth was on her knees in the center of the room between the coffee table and the television. Her friend was pale as she pointed a remote control at the television. Va

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s coming up. I just saw the promo for it.”

“For what? Beth? What the hell?”

Her mouth opened, closed and opened again. “It’s on my morning gossip show.”

“What is?” Va

“It’s you and that New Species.”

“What?”

“They showed a video clip of you two from last night.”

Va

“Nobody else has that ugly-ass skirt you came home in last night and believe me, it was you. They showed a clip of an upcoming story and it’s about the NSO. It showed a few seconds of you wrapped around a big dude and you were making out.”

“That’s not fu

“I’m not kidding. I’m being heart-attack serious. It’s coming up after the commercials.”

“You’re wrong. What did they say?”

“I heard NSO on the TV while I was making my oatmeal and looked up. They showed you with your legs wrapped around a big jock type, making out hot and heavy. There’s no mistaking that skirt.”

The commercial ended and the cable show began. Beth turned up the volume as the host couple faced the cameras. The man took the lead.

“I know you’ve heard a lot of stories about the NSO lately but here’s a new one for you. An anonymously submitted video arrived at our station and many others this morning.”

“Usually the stories we bring you regarding the NSO involve them being targeted for hate crimes. Not today.” The woman’s grin spread. “It seems some people are really friendly to New Species.”

Va

They stood next to each other with Smiley’s hand on her shoulder, the other holding her hip while she straightened. His words couldn’t be heard but Smiley said something. She nodded. His lips moved again. Her hand darted out and clutched a handful of his shirt. It tore open to reveal the bare skin of his upper chest and almost to his navel. She went for his hair too, grabbing a handful behind his neck and used her hold to jerk his face down.

“Oh shit,” Beth gasped.

Va

“No,” Va

“No, no, no,” she chanted.

Smiley jerked away from her and tried to avoid her mouth. It didn’t stop her. She buried her face in his neck and his eyes closed. He just stood there allowing her to maul him, except his lips moved slightly, as if he were telling her to stop. She couldn’t remember that part but seeing was believing.

Something happened on the other side of him that the camera couldn’t see but he bowed his back and then spun, pi

“We have someone on the roof!” an NSO guard yelled—the one positioned at the front of the SUV. He drew his weapon and pointed it at the camera. The person operating it jerked away and the clip ended.

The show returned to the hosts. The woman fa

The man chuckled. “None of my fans ever do that to me. I only get asked for autographs.” He winked. “I’m single.”

“You don’t exactly look like him and she obviously wanted more than his signature. I think you’d better start lifting weights if you want that kind of response from your fans. Did you see the muscles on that New Species?” The woman wiggled her eyebrows at the camera.

“Turn it off,” Va

Beth looked as stu

The phone rang. Both women jumped. Va

Beth didn’t move. The phone rang four times before their answering machine picked up. It sank in to Va

“Va

“Damn it!” her father yelled in the background. “Did you get hold of her? She’s not answering her cell phone. On the news they said it happened at the same hotel where she was staying this weekend.”

“I got the machine,” her mother told him.

“Call Beth. Make sure Va

“I’ll call Beth now.” The phone went dead.

Seconds later Beth’s cell phone blared rap music. Va

“I can’t talk to them.”

Beth reached into her purse. “Shut up.” She answered. “Hi. Va

Va

“She’s here. I went to get her last night. She’s sleeping. She’s fine. Let me have her call you later. The other phone is ringing. I swear she’s safe.” Beth hung up.

The answering machine picked up. “Va

She groaned. “Carl.”

“Goddamn it, Va

The house phone rang immediately. Va

“Va

She wiped at her tears. “This is a nightmare, right? I’m still in bed?”

Beth sat down on the floor and hugged her. “It’s going to be all right. In a few days this will blow over. Someone else will do something to get their attention.”