Do You Ship Us?

Chapter 2-2

“His problem is with the manager for not informing us of the plans to add another member. It’s not at you,” Simon assures him. “Isn’t that right, Jasper? You’ve got no issue with Ryan. You like him?” Simon sounds like a parent, trying to put words in the child’s mouth.

“Yes, Mom. I promise I don’t have a problem with him. It’s just going to take time to adjust to the stepbrother.”

“His problem is that he’s relentlessly annoying to deal with. Don’t worry about him.” Simon nudges Ryan, then stands up. “Come on, lunchtime.”

“What should I do at the press thing?”

“Dancers have nice bodies, right? Flash them your abs and tell them you’re single. You’ll have fans in no time.” Jasper winks.

“Speaking from what experience? Where are your abs?” Blake pulls up Jasper’s shirt as Jasper is reaching for a roll of garlic bread.

“I’m the pretty one. Having abs isn’t in my contract. I have to leave some desirable aspects to you three, four. You four.” Jasper turns to Ryan. “Are you scared?” Ryan’s face must’ve answered for him. Absolute dread written across it. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Just smile at the camera, tell them who you are and act like you are confident of your position with us. They’ll like you. What’s not to like, right?”

“Thanks.” Dimples pit in Ryan’s cheeks when he gives a smile that Jasper instinctively reflects.

“Yeah, okay. I’m not the one you have to impress, so save that smile for the cameras,” Jasper says, looking away. Jasper and Blake grab a slice of pizza each, then pose for a photo together.

“Put that one on Instagram.” Blake points at the photo. Once again, they are paying very little attention to the others. Between their distracted conversations among one another on topics he can’t comment on, Ryan’s once again left out. He really doesn’t know if he can convince an audience he’s comfortable and confident being in The Obsolete.

* * * *

“It’s my pleasure to introduce our new member, Ryan Kurtis.”

Ryan gives the room full of people a wave as he strides in. The nervous person he’d been around the members has been replaced by this confident act.

Jasper corrects his expression, realizing he’s frowning at his new bandmate’s entrance. He has his doubts, but he knows better than to let it appear that way. Right now, Ryan’s impressing him with how well he can pull it together and put on a front for an audience. For the first time today, Jasper relaxes.

Maybe this new guy won’t destroy the band from the inside out.

Ryan’s seat is beside Jasper at the desk before the row of entertainment and gossip reporters. After pushing Chris, a little more than he probably should have already today, Jasper figures some good publicity wouldn’t be a bad idea. He leans over, smiling as cameras flash, glad that there will at least be a few photos of them getting along.

“Weird having so many people here for you?” he whispers. Ryan nods, taking the water bottle from the desk in front of him and sipping at it. Only from this close can Jasper see Ryan’s hand shaking. “When I do these things, it helps me to remember that I am putting on a show. I leave myself at the door, and perform for the media. It takes time, but you’ll get used to it.”

“So, Simon. Why did the band decide to expand?” The first question is straight to the point.

Jasper can feel Chris’s gaze bore into him distrustfully as Simon answers. It forces a satisfied smile across Jasper’s lips to know he’s that much of a wildcard that he makes his boss so on edge. Fun as it’d be to publicly call him out, Jasper isn’t about to risk the band for it.

“Well, it’s not only the band expanding. Ryan brings some fresh skills to our group. We’re all very excited to see how that goes.” This is why Simon is the leader. He has very little actual control, but he sounds authoritative and he gives the most professional and promotional answers.

Off to the side, Chris gives an approving nod at the response, briefly staring at Jasper, who risks his signature smirk in return.

“Plus, he’s an extra bit of eye candy.” Jasper winks to stir up the attention. For further fun, he leans his head on Blake’s shoulder and Blake puts his arm around Jasper.

Their bromance is a draw card with the fangirls. They sell the BlaSper ship so well they have fans drawn to them through fanfiction or fan art alone, only supporting their music because they are in love with the idea of the two being in a relationship. Jasper is the mastermind that orchestrates moments that will appear natural and romantic with Blake. He also understands that the better you play the game, the more fans will love you. The two spend hours entertaining themselves with the ways BlaSper fans interpret every loving expression they give each other. Frankly, Jasper thrives on how invested people are in his life and has no problem playing it up for more attention.

“Ryan, what is it you bring to this group?”

“I-uh, I dance.” Ryan fakes confidence almost convincingly.

“A dancer!?” Collective surprise and excitement washes over their audience. “Show us your moves!”

Chris nods at Ryan to get up. Ryan stands, knocking the desk with his legs. He moves around to the front, finding some space.

Ryan turns to Jasper like he’s in charge. “Should I just dance without music?”

Jasper sets the rhythm by clapping. Ryan nods, getting a feel for the tempo as Jasper sings the chorus of their most popular song, the one he’d heard in Ryan’s headphones earlier. The other members join in and soon enough they have their manager and anyone without a camera clapping in time.

Ryan seems to be heeding Jasper’s advice to leave himself out of it and perform for the media. Despite the camera flashes and constant chatter around him, he focuses on improvising dance moves until a wave of cheers distracts him and Jasper calls out to take a bow.

Ryan gives a bright, proud smile as he bows and walks back around the table. Jasper moves the water bottle on the table before him closer as Ryan’s chest rises and falls in short breaths.

Ryan mutters an appreciative, “Thank you,” and takes it, twisting the lid off and taking small sips of it.

Jasper watches him, impressed and relieved to have seen a glimpse of Ryan’s skills. So, he can dance and he can play up some fake confidence around a crowd. That’s all he’d need to do to keep fans content with his position. They can work with this. All they need now is to figure out who Ryan is going to be in their group.

Everyone has their personas worked out. Jasper, the pretty boy that loves himself, maybe a little too much and lives to stir people up. Blake, the bad boy that challenges how far Jasper’s willing to take things in order to cause trouble. The two have fans wrapped around their fingers, especially when they bounce banter off each other until one of them breaks or runs out of comebacks. Luke’s persona has always been the dreamy one, ever the gentleman. A complete contrast to Blake, whose reputation really should be a turnoff. Simon has the leadership thing going for him, only because no one else wants to be responsible for all the boring parts of the interviews.

The first impression of Ryan leaves Jasper curious. He’d not get by only being a hot dancer. Their fans may be shallow sometimes, but Ryan will have to have a personality if he wants more than thirst comments acknowledging his existence in the group.

Questions about Ryan dominate the next five minutes of the conference. Finally, Chris steps in again and thanks everyone for coming, saying, “My boys need to get to work on preparing their next album.”

Simon stands up, following Chris out, Luke behind him, followed by Blake, Jasper and Ryan. As they walk out, Ryan gets stopped for another question.

“Ryan, are you single? The Obsoletists will want to know.”

Ryan freezes.

“No more questions,” Chris calls down the hallway.

The woman holding a recording device in Ryan’s face doesn’t back down.

Noticing their inconvenient new coworker is frozen with uncertainty, Jasper goes back to his rescue. “Sorry, boss’s orders.” He pulls Ryan by the collar of his jacket out of the way, then closes the door to give them some privacy. “Well done. You survived your first public stunt.” Jasper turns, heading back down the hall at a quick pace to catch up with the others. He hears a thud behind him and looks over his shoulder to see Ryan bracing himself with one hand on the wall, trying to walk but seeming too dizzy to stay upright.

“Are you alright?” Jasper rushes back and catches Ryan as he falls, eyes glassy and face pale. Unable to support the sudden weight, Jasper buckles at the knees and falls to the ground, trying at least to land as comfortably as he can. He calls out for help from the other members, unintentionally alerting the dozens of people on the other side of the door that are still holding cameras and are now trying to get in.

“Dude, what happened?” Blake is first to help lift Ryan and shift him off Jasper.

“He just passed out,” Jasper answers, his heart racing as he tries to rouse Ryan, gently shaking his shoulders and repeating his name over and over.

Simon and Luke move past the three on the floor to talk to the keen eyed media, asking for some privacy. Chris joins them, trying to stop the photographers from catching the incident. He places his hands on Simon and Luke’s backs, walking them forwards like human shields to force the unwanted attention backwards with them.

Blake crouches next to Jasper. “I’m calling an ambulance. Are you good? Nothing broken?”

“I’m fine. Ryan? Ry, are you okay?” Jasper pushes Ryan’s jacket off his shoulders, trying to cool him down. A small Ziploc bag containing small white pills falls from Ryan’s pocket. Without a second thought, Jasper grabs the bag and hides it in his pocket, not wanting to get any negative attention towards their band.

Only a moment passes before Ryan mumbles softly and tries to stand, but his whole body is shivering.

“Ryan, are you okay?” Jasper asks again, his tone still frantic.

“I’m sorry. I’m okay.”

“No, you fainted. Take a moment, okay? Just get your bearings. There’s an ambulance coming.”

Ryan rubs his eyes, trying to focus. “I don’t need an ambulance. I’m fine.”

“Clearly, you’re not fine. So, just chill,” Jasper orders.

Ryan pats around at his pockets, no doubt searching for the pills Jasper has stashed away. Ryan passing out would cause a big enough drama, without mysterious white pills ending up in headlines, so Jasper says nothing, despite how increasingly stressed Ryan seems when he fails to find them. Eventually, he closes his eyes and Jasper supports his head as Ryan falls unconscious again.

As soon as their new member is safe in the back of the ambulance and being driven away, the band makes their way to their practice room. Except for Jasper, who heads straight to Chris’s office.

As the only one obnoxious enough to barge in without knocking, Chris doesn’t bother looking up before asking, “What do you want, Jasper?”

“I’m concerned Ryan isn’t going to be good for the band.”

“Jasper, I’m really not in the mood—”

“He’s on drugs,” Jasper snaps.