The Billionaires´Redemption: Starcrossed Lovers

Chapter 2 - Farewell

Jewel POV

Our farewell party was amazing. All of our friends and family were there. Aunt Mackenzie and Uncle George were in town and showed up at our party. Aunt Gianna and aunt Mackenzie were my mom's best friends. Aunt Gi, was Mike and Viv´s mom, while Aunt Mac was Uncle Tony's sister and was married to my mom's cousin, Uncle George. All the ladies were there helping out as if we were her own children. While uncle Tony, uncle George, and my dad were in a corner near the bar, drinking and hiding from the crowd of teenagers.

Mike and Vivian were there as well, and some of my friends were gawking at him. He is extremely good-looking and older, so you do the math. He quickly walked toward the bar and sought sanctuary with his dad, uncle George, and my dad. So long the chance to talk to him, but hey, I will never lose hope.

We were talking and dancing. Joy and I were quite popular at school, and we had a lot of friends. Also, having Josh as a younger brother was a plus, almost the entire school population knew us, and, since we were super laid back and friendly, we instantly made friends with everyone. Our mom taught us not to judge a book by its cover, so we got along with everyone.

Our home was full of people, a DJ playing loud music in a corner, near an empty space that served as a dance floor. I was talking to Viv, when Scott walked toward us.

“Hey Jewel… You look pretty.” He quickly said and I smiled at him. Scott is one of my oldest friends from school. We met in our first year of kindergarten and we have been together ever since. I love him to pieces, he is my best friend, he knows me, and accepts me even with all my quirky edges.

“Hey, Scotty-Doo….” I jumped into his arms, and he laughed at my antics. Ever since we were kids we have both loved Scooby-Doo cartoons, and ever since we grew up out of that phase, I called him Scotty-Doo.

“Want to dance?” He asked, grinning at me and making funny faces. I nodded and he took me to the dance floor. It was such a common and comfortable situation for both of us, that asking was almost not required.

I jumped and walked with him towards the dance floor. Suddenly, a slow song played and I wrapped my arms around his neck and we started swaying away. “Promise me that you won't forget about me.” He said sadly near my ear.

My heart clenched because, somehow, I see him as a brother, while sometimes I sense that he feels differently about me. I am just too afraid of losing him from my life, and since he hasn't even made a move on me, I just placed him selfishly in the friend zone.

“I promise, you will always be my Scotty-Doo…” I smiled at him and his eyes held so many emotions that I could not hold my gaze longer, so I rested my head over his shoulder, while the song kept playing.

I was so immersed at the moment, that when the song stopped and I raised my eyes, I saw Mike staring at us. I lowered my gaze and asked Scott to go with me to the rest of our friends. We enjoyed the rest of our evening talking, dancing, and laughing. It was a bittersweet moment because we were saying goodbye to all of them.

The last ones leaving were Viv, Mike, and Scotty-Doo. My dad was so comfortable with Scott being around me that he was like an adoptive son to our family.

Uncle George, uncle Tony, Mike, and dad came out of their hiding when everyone was almost gone.

“Hey Scott… are you ready to go to Cali?” My dad asked Scotty. Scott's eyes beamed with pride. We were by far the richest in our school, but that didn't mean that our friends were poor. Scott´s family had a local pharmacy chain, so their finances were far from being tight. Scott would be leaving New York to go to California. Ever since we studied animation as an elective class, he got hooked on it, so he decided to go and study with the best animators there.

“Yes, Mr. JC. I am ready…” He beamed with pride, he was following his dreams, and despite us not wanting to be apart from each other, we decided to pursue our dreams. I encouraged him to go to California while he debated whether to go or not. In the end, he made the right choice for him, and we promised each other to stay in touch.

My dad patted his shoulder. “You take care there. Just now, Tony and I were remembering our college times, and oh boy!...” My dad chuckled and paused, uncle Tony showed a faint knowing smile. My dad cleared his throat and then said: “Anyway, if you get in trouble and don't want your parents to find out, call me…”

Joy and I yelled “Dad!” annoyed that my dad was corrupting my sweet Scotty-Doo. Mike rolled his eyes at our parents, while Scott nodded. “Sure, Mr. JC!, Thanks a lot.”

Aunt Gi, aunt Mac, and mom came out of the kitchen. “Good heavens, they are gone now…” My mom whispered, Joy and I wrapped my arms around her. “Thanks, mom…” we chorused to her, while she smiled at us.

“Jewel, if you need anything while away, call Mike,” Aunt Giana said, and I nodded. Mike crossed his arms in front of his chest in protest. “Now, don't give me that look, give her your phone number, Michael Astor.” Aunt Gianna looked at his son, and he immediately squared and extended his hand to me.

“Give me your cell, so I can save it for you,” Mike said, a bit annoyed, while I took my phone and handed it to him. He typed the numbers and called himself so everyone knew that he had given me his correct number, and he handed my phone back.

“So, can I go now?...” Mike asked his parents and Uncle Tony nodded. My dad yelled after him, “Mike, be ready at 10 am, we will leave for the airport.” Mike nodded and waved bye to no one in particular.

“ OK, let's call it a night. We have a long traveling day ahead.” My mom beamed and we all nodded. Scotty waved farewell to everyone and I walked out to say goodbye to him. Leaving my home, my family and my sister behind was not easy, but leaving Scott was harder than I thought.

We slowed down in the driveway, trying to stretch the minutes before we parted. “So, you promised..” Scott said and I nodded.

“I am going to miss you so much,” I said, not holding back my tears. He quickly pulled me toward him and gave me a hug.

“I know me too. But that is why we will call each other every day, no questions asked. Send me a message when you think about me, that I will send one to you when I think about you.” He said and kissed my temple.

I realized that we were getting quite over the friendship line with our farewell, and I suddenly jumped out of his arms. “Sorry, Scotty… I have to go.” I said, running inside my home.

After a couple of minutes, I heard Scotty's car leave our driveway and my heart squeezed a bit more, missing my best friend.

MIke POV

I am almost 21 and almost done with my Architecture degree. I have no idea why my parents wanted me to attend a farewell party with a bunch of 19 years old. I wanted to go out or better stay at our home and sleep since yesterday I went bar hopping with some friends and I barely slept.

It was uncomfortable seeing all those kids talking and yelling, trying to be cool. The girls and their squeaky voices were so annoying, and I was glad I was not alone in that sentiment. I saw my dad, Uncle Jase, and uncle George hiding in a corner near a bar. Smart men, they tried to be invisible but were cautious about having enough booze to survive.

As soon as we arrived, I spotted them and sought sanctuary, which they happily provided. I tried to follow their conversation, but my phone kept receiving messages. Camila, I missed her so much, this holiday vacation has been hell. She stayed behind in Boston with her family, while I had to come to New York to start enrolling myself in my dad's company. This torture will be over tomorrow. Tomorrow I will take that damn plane and go back to my love.

I was perched in a corner when I saw Joy, Jewel, and Viv talking and laughing. My sister is leaving to study abroad, with Joy. While Jewel will be studying at Harvard. We grew up together. Joy, Jewel, and Joshua are like little siblings to me. Well, they have always been, up until yesterday.

Yesterday, mom asked me to take Vivian shopping and we ran into Joy and Jewel. And oh my! To my surprise, they have grown up so much. Joy is cute, her soft personality makes her similar to Viv, but Jewel looked hot. Her poise and her careless demeanor got me in an instant. She was attractive and she knew it, she grew curves in all the right places, and she was tiny, just like my mom and Aunt Rachel. Her long blonde curls, kissable lips, and deep blue eyes took me to places in my mind. It annoyed me so much that I wanted to skip this f*****g party.

It was then that I noticed this guy walking over to them. Jewel jumped in his arms, and I couldn´t help but square myself, wondering who the f**k he was?, then I heard my dad saying “He is still attached to her… I can't believe she hadn't noticed that Scotty´s heart beats for her.”

So the fucker´s name is Scott, and they kindly give him a f*****g moronic pet name. I saw him walking with her to the dance floor, and wrapping his arms around her while swaying to a slow song. I hated it, and at that moment, Camila called. I clenched my jaws and pressed the red button on my phone, not answering Camila, while my eyes kept staring at the pair on the dance floor.

As soon as they finished dancing, I texted Camila. “Sorry, babe. I am at a family gathering and I can't pick up.” My mood was foul and I didn't want Camila to notice it. Soon the torment ended, and my mother made me type my phone on Jewel´s phone, so she could have a backup plan while in Boston. I reluctantly did it, because I was not sure if I wanted her close to me, she might get in the way of my plans with Camila.

We left the party and walked toward our place. Yes, we were neighbors and our huge backyards connected the properties. The whole way, I kept replaying the events of the last two days. I was confident that I wanted to marry Camila, but then why was I afraid to get close to Jewel? If my feelings for Camila were strong enough, if I was absolutely certain that she was the one for me, why was I afraid of having Jewel close? Those questions kept ringing in my head, and at that moment I made my decision. Jewel is only a distraction and, as such, I have to keep away from her.