Stay With Me

How many notes could one man take?

“Do you need to see it again, Mr. Clark?” Their manager was almost purring.

Jimin lifted the bottom of his shirt and ran the fabric over his soaking wet face. They had gone through the choreography six times already and Mr. Fancy pants had to have filled up almost half of his notepad. Didn’t he know what video cameras were for?

“No, I think I’ve seen enough.”

Ya think?

“It’s not personal enough.” Everyone stopped in their tracks briefly as the man spoke. Jimin shot a look at their dance instructors defeated stance and back over to the man in the suit they had just met. They had all put their hearts into every single solitary step – if that wasn’t personal then what was?

“Don’t get me wrong, you guys are great. Your dancing skills far surpass other K Pop acts I’ve seen. You have quite a lot of potential, but it doesn’t fit the message of the song.”

Do you even understand what we’re saying, man? It’s not English.

Jimin turned his back toward the man pretending to go over the steps they had just run, a scowl creeping across his features. Yoongi threw a towel at him which he dodged with ease. His senior signaled toward the mirror with his eyes and Jimin looked up to realize Mr. Clark had noticed his face in its reflection. Quickly he threw on his typical smile, the one he was used to flashing at functions regardless of his thoughts. “Sorry, no English.” He let the smile drop as fast as he stuck it on. The no English excuse always worked well, even though the majority in the room knew it was a lie.

“Regardless of where they’re from – fans want a connection. They want to feel closer, more intimate with their idols. You’re putting more effort into the routine of the song than into it’s message. You want to woo them.”

Who uses ‘woo’ anymore? This guy was supposed to send them sky rocketing into fame in the US?

“You understand English, correct?” Mr. Clark started toward Namjoon as Jimin took a seat on the floor of the gym, joining the others. You couldn’t miss the implication behind understanding the English language. This new relationship was sure to be interesting.

“Yes, sir. I scored very high on my exams in English.”

Jimin hid a smirk while wiping his mouth again with his shirt.

“Very good. When you’re going to ask a girl to be yours, do you break out in a complicated dance or would you take her by the hand, look into her eyes and tell her softly how much you care? Which one do you think would make the better impact?”

Namjoon stood for a moment, looking to the manager almost for approval before nodding. “You’re right.”

Trader.

Mr. Clark clapped his hands together once before pulling out two chairs and dragging them into the middle of the floor. “I’d like you to sit.”

Sit? Through a music video? Jimin lifted his hat and attempted to massage away the pounding headache that was fast approaching. Their choreographer shifted uncomfortably in the corner.

How in the world was this going to work? This didn’t fit them at all. They were known for their dancing. Couldn’t he start off with the changes easy, like with their outfits?

-

So maybe I wasn’t the most flexible person in all the land.

I huffed as I pulled myself up on top of dumpster while triple checking down the alley way behind the building that held my irresponsible father. I couldn’t think about that though – I had to focus. There was bound to be cameras somewhere outside aimed at my Spiderman act. If I was to get in there and find my father before I ended up on the news for breaking and entering I couldn’t allow my frustration to hinder my already impossible task.

The window was open just enough. If I could just reach…

I stood on my tippy toes, stretching my 5’3” as far as I could go. I felt the floor fall out from underneath me before I could process what was happening. In a matter of seconds I was surrounded by a mass of trash, flies and the stench of something foul. The grossness paralyzed me for a moment as I felt my body sinking slowly into the quicksand of bags.

This day was just getting better and better.

I hoisted myself out of the dumpster and tried to survey the damage that was my clothing. I wanted nothing more than a shower and sleep. That’s all.

The sound of footsteps in the distance stopped me mid thought and I slid between the dumpster and the wall, holding my breath for good measure.

“I already started preparing the sauce, you just need to cook the rice cakes.”

I carefully peered out from my hiding place. From the looks of it, they were kitchen staff.

“Mm, tteokbokki. Can I take some home?”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” The lady threw the bag in the dumpster and tried not to flinch.

Please don’t notice me.

“Adaso” She laughed.

They continued their conversation as they turned and started to walk away. Taking the opportunity I shimmied my way out of my hiding spot. The scary part was I had no idea what they were saying. They could be talking about the weird chick hiding in the trash and I’d be completely unaware. I kept my distance as I trailed after them. This may be a perfect opportunity.

The pair continued to banter back and forth while I prayed to every available higher source that no one else would see me following them. This didn’t look good at all. The taller of the two ladies flashed a security card over some kind of data box and the sound of the door unlocking seemed louder than gunfire.

Immediately I pressed myself against a wall, waiting for the back of the last girl to disappear in the entrance before diving like a baseball player sliding into home base – shoving my fingers between the door and its frame to keep it from shutting completely. I couldn’t help but let my forehead fall to the pavement as I caught my breath, trying to steady my pounding heart as it thumped against my chest. The skin on my stomach felt raw and burned. This all was way too much.

Please be okay dad. Please

-

“Let’s take a break”

Jimin hadn’t decided whether or not to admit defeat at this point. The newly revised choreography involving the chairs was for the most part improvised, but it was still good. He wasn’t sure how the fans would react or if it would come across as lazy, but it didn’t suck. At least, he didn’t think so. Mr. Clark, however, he couldn’t figure out the man’s opinion.

Jimin and the members were the ones doing all the dancing, yet a small sheen of sweat coated the top of the man’s brow as he sat a bit uncomfortably in his seat – dabbing his forehead with his handkerchief.

“We have a nice selection of Korean cuisine in our cafeteria Mr. Clark, if you’d like to join me.” The manager stood and smiled like a Cheshire cat. If he tried any harder he may need to implant himself into the suit guys ass.

Mr. Clark patted his pockets for a moment. “I seemed to have forgotten something at home and I need to check on my daughter.”

Taehyung shot a quick smirk over at Jin, which quickly disappeared into a deadpan expression when Namjoon raised his eyebrows in obvious disapproval. As soon as their leaders attention was elsewhere, the smirk returned and he mouthed ‘American daughter’ to Jin, who just laughed a bit as he shook his head.

“Oh of course, you should rest as well. You must have had a long flight.”

“I’ll be back in an hour or so to go over some specifics, the boys can go back to the dorms for the night. They will need as much rest as they can get to gear up for the coming months.”

Jimin wanted to sigh, but he wasn’t supposed to understand English.

-

Thankfully the smell of the kitchen was so strong that any odor I was trailing along with me from my tussle in the trash would be missed – at least I hoped it would.

If I get out of this it’ll be a miracle.

I snuck my way past some ladies cutting vegetables and did a quick spin to hide behind a large kitchen rack of pots and pans as others passed by. I kept my hand on my heart begging for it to quiet down, I could feel it erratic beating through-out my body and pounding in my ear drums.
The door. I slid a cookie sheet out of the way to gage the distance from me and possible freedom. I just needed some sort of distraction.

“Mayyyyyyy keeee deeee wahhhhhhh…” A woman sang, off key if I had to guess, while she peeled a carrot.

“Aigooo…” The woman beside her waved a plastic gloved hand toward the singing cook as she turned up the radio beside them.

It was as good of an opportunity that I would probably get. I crept behind them and toward the door.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Door. I slipped out as quickly as I could while the ladies finished their duet, immediately surveying my surroundings. Where the hell was Jams?

“Jams..” I whispered with as much purpose as I could muster, fear causing a light tingling sensation to spread over the back of my neck down into my shoulder blades. Weren’t dogs supposed to have ridiculously good hearing? If those asshats touched one hair on his head I swear.

Footsteps. Shit.

I darted down the hallway in the other direction, turning the corner a little too fast and skidding to a stop when I saw a mass of shadows approaching directly ahead. I had no time to think, there was no time. I backed into the first door I could find and turned around to take in my temporary refuge.

A locker room.

-

“I want foooood.” Jungkook groaned as followed the rest of the guys into the room to change.

Jimin ran his hand over his stomach, feeling the growl coming on before the sound of it. He could eat. When could he not?

“Where are we going? I can’t take the food in the cafeteria anymore today. Let’s go somewhere.” Yoongi opened his locker, pulling out his clothes.

Jimin sat on the bench in front of his locker, leaning against it. “I need to shower first.”

“But you take forever, we’d like to eat sometime before tomorrow.” Jin chortled as he changed his pants.

A whiff of something smelly seemed to creap into the air. Jimin lifted his arm to give his armpit a sniff. Nope, wasn’t him.

“Do you guys even wash your clothes? What is that….” He made a face, looking around.

“Look, text one of us when you’re ready and we’ll tell you where we are.” Namjoon finished as he closed his locker. The man was prompt. Jimin nodded and watched as they left.

Standing he turned, opening his locker and taking out the bag with the last donut he stashed before practice. The grunt of appreciation couldn’t be helped as jelly oozed from the delicious pastry into his mouth. He’d eat the rest on the way to dinner. If he didn’t shower now they’d all be done by the time he was out the door. Setting the doughnut in its wrapper down on the bench, he got what he need from his locker.

The place was pretty empty so he stripped right where he was then secured his towel around his waist. He was just about to turn the corner into the showers when something caught his attention from behind.

Click, click, click.

“Hello?”

Click, click, click, click.

“Some….one.. here?”

Retracing his steps he saw a puff of white run past him. “The fuhh??….” He jumped onto the bench closest to him, immediately afraid of the unknown.

Whatever it was had its face planted inside the bag that held his doughnut, a tail whipping back and forth.

The dog with the crazy chick earlier. Oh shit. “Nicccce doggie…. You know English.. right?”

The dog spared him no glance as he continued to devour Jimins snack.

“That’s not very nice, eating someone else’s food.”

Jimin got down off the bench and walked over toward the mini thief. Grabbing the dog from behind the neck like a cat he picked him up, inspecting his jelly stained face. “How did you get in here?”

The dog yelped in reply.

“Hey! Let go of him!”

Jimin jumped and the dog dropped to the floor. The sudden jolt of movement caused the towel to come undone as he tumbled backward to the ground in complete and utter shock. A figure in dark clothing basically pounced from inside the locker next to his toward him and he swore his heart might stop.

Crazy white girl!

She looked at him.

He looked at her, the color in his face draining fast - leaving him paler than a ghost.

What did one do in situations like this? You screamed for help of course.

“YAH!”

-

Naked! Naked guy!

“Oh… Jesus…” I covered my eyes quickly and spun as the stranger scrambled to get his towel while he screamed bloody murder.

If someone hadn’t heard him already, they were going to. I couldn’t let that happen. Turning back around to face him I put my hands up as a sign of surrender with my eyes clamped shut. That was internationally understood, right? “Dude! Look, I’m not here to hurt you.”

“What are you doing here?!? Turn around!” He stood up, tying his towel back around his waist.

“Hey, you speak English?” I opened my eyes and dropped my hands. “Look, I’m trying to find my da...”

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!?”

Enough was enough. I lunged at him, clamping my hand over his mouth causing us both to fall back to the ground. His body cushioned the blow and I felt my stomach scream in pain as it collided with him. I flinched but bit down hard on my lip to hold back a cry while struggling to quiet the boy underneath me.

“Please!” I begged. “Please.. I just need to find my dad. Richard Clark. He works here now. He forgot his medication and I need to get it to him, he could have a stroke if he doesn't take them in time,”

My one hundred and eight pounds were no match for the apparent superman underneath me as he all but bench pressed me upward. I gripped the back of his neck and did all I could to hang on.

“Jimin? Is that you?”

The boy dropped me and I landed hard back ontop of his chest with a light thud.

Putting my finger up to my lips while covering his with my other hand I tried hard to plead through my eyes. If I had to be caught, it couldn’t be here. Not like this. If my father wasn’t a corpse by now – I would be. Please. I mouthed.

I didn’t anticipate any kind of cooperation, but he finally relaxed under me and I followed suit, my body settling against him. It took everything I had to keep my face from falling onto the strangers shoulder. I had absolutely no strength left in me.

“Hello?”

Don’t come out Jams. Stay where you are.

My eyes met the boys stare underneath me as we listened to the sound of footsteps. I felt his heart beating against my chest and mine seemed to keep time with his as the steps came closer. We both turned our heads.

Silence.

Boom boom, boom boom.

I looked back to him. Was that his heart or mine?

Boom boom, boom boom.

The door closed.

We both waited for what seemed like forever before I slid off of him to lay by his side, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. He, however, wasn’t so tired.

The boy sprung to his feet like an acrobat and looked around the corner.

“Are you crazy?” He whispered harshly at my direction before doing a double take at the door. “Why hide here, of all places? How do I know you’re not some crazy sasaeng?”

“A what? Did you just curse at me?”

“Hah… assih.” He re-secured his towel before running both hands through his hair, tugging slightly at the ends.

I stood up and was quickly scolded by the pain of my midsection. Lifting up the bottom of my shirt I tried to inspect the damage on my stomach. The angry red flesh stung but I touched it anyway - feeling the blood on my fingertips before I saw it.

“What are you doing!?” He started to turn away and shield his eyes until he saw my bloody fingertips. The look on his face turned for a brief moment to one of concern until the situation we were in brought back the furrow in between his eyebrows.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” I quickly dropped the fabric. “Jams?”

I turned, looking for my companion.

I heard the tapping of his paws against the tile before I saw him and quickly he was in my arms, licking my face – tail going wild.

“Did the mean naked man scare you?” I cooed into his fur. Jams gave a soft grunt through his nose as he continued the assault of kisses on my face.

“Just.. wait right there, okay? Don’t move.” The boy motioned for me to sit and I complied, not wanting to push my luck.

Silently I watched as he picked up his clothing from a locker nearby and made his way around the corner. I had imagined the first time I saw a guy, like.. well… naked.. in person, before. Why did it have to be in a dirty boys locker room with a guy I didn’t know? Warmth crept over my face and I pressed the backside of my hand against my cheek, closing my eyes to attempt to erase the memory in my mind.

But it was there. Front and center, burned into the back of my eyelids.

He smelled like soap and a mix of cinnamon with sweat. The curve of my body seemed to fit perfectly in the dip of his chest.

Boom boom, boom boom

Why did I still feel the light brush of his breath over my fingers when he exhaled on my hand while it covered his mouth? His.. mouth.

Boom boom, boom boom

What the hell was wrong with me? I put my palm over my chest. In the mess that was the tangle of our bodies on the floor I could feel his heartbeat. It was in time with mine. Is that possible?

Boom boom

Stop it. Just stop it.

“What are you doing?”

I stood up straight like I'd actually been caught in the midst a crime and dropped my hand from my face, looking at the thankfully completely dressed stranger in front of me “Wh..what?”

“Now you can’t understand English?”

I pulled Jams to my chest. I felt completely exposed and I didn’t like it. “I have to find my Father.” I started toward the door.

“Nuh uh.." He held his arm out to stop me, my reflexes were a bit off and I walked right into it.

"Do you want to get escorted out like you did earlier? You won’t get far. What’s your father’s name?”

“Richard..”

“I can tell you that there’s no Richards that work here.”

“Richard Clark. We just moved here from LA.”

Something like realization and a look of smugness seemed to break over his face.

“Mr. Clark?”

“Yes.”

One quick pause.

“Never heard of him.” He turned and started toward the door.

“Wait! Please.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him back around to face me. “Please help me.”

I wish I had ESP pants, or some way to hear what he was thinking. Wheels were obviously turning in his head and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where this was all heading.

“I’ll get you out of here.. that’s all I can do.”

“But I.” A buzzing sound cut me off from my back pocket and we both looked toward the sound.
I retrieved the phone quickly and tried to steady my shaking hand, swallowing my nervousness. “Dad?”

“Where are you? You left the gate unlocked.”

“You forgot your medication! I’m at the company and they wouldn’t let me in and..”

“I have a spare bottle here, calm down.”

Jams licked my cheek, whimpering in my arms. Oh… tears..

“Are you alright? Jenna?”

I swallowed hard. All the stress from the month of moving with too many goodbyes, to the jet lag and the time change. Fighting against people who couldn’t understand me to get to Dad. The fear of losing my dad to his forgetful habits and even the run in with the bewildered man in front of me seemed like a weight that grew heavier with each passing second.

My knees started to shake.

“Jenna?”

“Hey… crazy… you don’t look so good.”

Had I remembered to eat?

“What exactly do I mean to you?”

Eric..

Boom boom, boom boom.

Inhale Jenna. I gasped silently for air but I couldn’t find it.

“Jenna!?”

And then there was nothing but black.

Notes