Chapter 231: Talking with Scarlett

I was sprawled on the couch, Scarlett resting her head on my chest, one of her arms wrapped around me.

"Jake, can I ask you a question?"

"Yep, shoot it," I replied, still watching the movie.

"Don’t you feel jealous or anything?" she asked.

"What? Where did that come from?" I exclaimed, confused.

"I talked with some guys yesterday, and you didn’t come close to me even once..."

"Well, let’s see where I should start..." I pondered. "I’m pretty hypocritical sometimes, but I try not to show it too much. So it would be ridiculous for me to ‘mark territory’ or get jealous over you talking with men when I basically have my inner circle formed mostly by girls, and I don’t like when a girl tries to do that to me (marking territory)." 

Then I added, "But, just to set the record straight, Freddie counts as three (male friend), and I do have several football and school male friends in general. I didn’t invite them because I knew there was a high chance of trouble."

We’ve already identified the most problematic ones and will ban them one by one (then later I can invite more people outside the celebs). Incredible enough, Lohan is not one of them (probably her mother told her to behave better. Seems she understands the importance of someone who could call Shakira and Britney to a party). 

And to avoid creating something awkward in Regina’s movie set, I decided not to ban her either.

One who is already banned is Shia LaBeouf, the boy is too arrogant for my taste. And another who never even entered and never will: Aaron Carter (Cher said he and Hilary keep going back and forth all the time).

I continued, "Second, we’re not in a serious relationship. And I think we’re mature enough that if we liked someone else, we would end what we have before moving into another relationship."

"Third, I’m someone who likes physical contact. I like to hug my friends, and they—except Sam and Freddie (they’re more introverted and less into physical contact)—feel more than comfortable with it (many times they’re the ones who initiate). 

But I avoid it when one of them is in a relationship or when I am. And I noticed you basically do the same."

Scarlett agreed. "Yeah, I think it’s a little wrong to be clingy with a friend when you’re in a relationship with someone else. And I’m not really into that, to begin with. You’re the one who seems to have Latin blood."

I laughed, and continued 

"I won’t deny I’m a bit of a playboy and that I’ve kissed some girls..."

"Bit? Some? Huh..." Scarlett teased lightly.

"But I’m not someone who cheats on my partner. And I expect the same from her. 

I’m also not the type of man who hovers, monitors, or needs to know where you are. Even in not-so-serious relationships, I think we should have at least a minimum of trust in each other." I tightened my hug and kissed her head.

She turned her head to me. "I found myself wondering what I’m doing getting involved with someone three years younger (again and again). 

But then I realize that I’ve never really felt you were the younger one in this relationship. On the contrary, I feel like I’m with someone older than me..."

She kissed me.

"But sometimes you have mischievous attitudes, like a twelve-year-old boy," she joked.

"Heyy, why the insult out of suddenly?" I said, pretending to be offended.

"It’s true. But I don’t think it’s bad. If you were mature all the time, maybe I’d find it exhausting. I like how you can be funny or big-headed once in a while." She smiled, went back to resting her head on my chest, and we returned to watching the movie.

After a while, she said, "Jake."

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever been cheated on?"

"Not that I know of. But I’ll say this—I’m not a nice or forgiving guy. I don’t take betrayals lightly, of any kind. And my friends are also very protective about this. 

So, you don’t mess with billionaire heiresses and two of the biggest artists on the planet. And then there’s Sam, who would probably get physical (Freddie and Carly would help with revenge plans)," I said with a more sober tone.

"Good thing I’m not a naughty girl," Scarlett said, smiling at me.

"Besides, you make it really hard to take interest in other guys. God, yesterday was horrible—it felt like I was talking to a bunch of doors," she groaned.

"Why did you talk to them then?" I asked.

"I’ve never had much interaction with popular teens, I was always more into the indie side. So I went to talk to them to see what they were like," she explained.

"What about these guys?" I pointed at the screen—we were watching Ocean’s Eleven.

"Never worked with any of them..." And she changed the subject, "they’re basically three of the biggest sex symbols of today: Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt," Scarlett commented.

"I think Julia has an incredible smile and she’s beautiful, but I don’t really get all the hype about her always being ranked among the most beautiful," I pondered.

"Really? And who would you vote as the most beautiful?"

"Besides you?" I said cheesy.

Scarlett rolled her eyes but gave me a light smile.

"Okay, I would say Angelina Jolie."

"Typical."

"And you?" I returned the question.

"Clooney," she smirked at me.

"Heyy, what about me?"

"You think you’re more handsome than them?" she asked, still smirking.

I looked back at the movie. "No... but it wouldn’t hurt if you lied to me." I made a duck face.

She laughed and laid back down on me, but soon turned toward me again.

"And you should’ve said Britney."

"Britney? No, she’s like a little sister to me," I denied.

"Really, Jake? little sister?" 

"You’ve talked to her. I’m clearly the older one. But honestly—she really became a great friend that I care a lot about, so I’ll keep kicking the asses of the big bad wolves who try to get near her. Just like I said I would do for Paige"

She just laughed again and went back to watching the movie.

I thought, Don’t worry, Lettie. Maybe it will take a few good years, but Hollywood will be a safe place for teens and girls like her. We’ll bury every vermin that crawled out from where they should’ve stayed hidden.

And speaking of dirty groups, I received a message on my phone from Pepper:

'Someone leaked the names of all the Grammy judges'

---

A/N: there will be no cheating. If I ever consider one (just to show the backlash she would face), it would be with someone already known for being horrible, like Amber Heard (Jake wouldn’t know what had happened in the past life).