by Jesse Jordan
“Don't know!” I yell, then realize that Larry doesn't have ear plugs in, and lower my voice. “Sorry. I don't know. Guess we'll find out because here they are.”
Ian and Joey come around, Joey looking so unlike his normal sweet self that Bella does a double take before laughing, making Joey laugh too. The stage director gives them the signal and they go on stage, Rocky emerging from the other wing to the chants and cheers of the crowd. They're scheduled to kick off with Limitless, their new single off the upcoming album, but instead of tearing into the fast track like I'd watched in practice, Rocky holds up a hand. “Thank you, Los Angeles! How're you all doing tonight?”
The roar is nearly physical, and Bella quickly pulls her headphones back on, making me half cringe, I'd forgotten. Rocky waves until the crowd quiets down, then continues. “Ladies and gentlemen, first off, I'd like to apologize to the lighting guys and the other concert folks, I'm calling an audible on tonight's show.”
“What the hell's he doing?” Larry asks, and I shrug, shaking my head.
“I have no idea,” I reply, looking over. “Do you know anything?”
Larry shakes his head, and we look back out on stage. Joey and Ian are both relaxed though, and I think I can see Ian grinning. Obviously, they're in on it, whatever 'it' happens to be.
“You know, it's been one hell of a year for the Fragments,” Rocky says after a moment, smiling. “And for me especially. Now, you guys give me, Joey, and Ian a lot of credit, but I'd like to bring out someone who really is the engine behind our success. She's the woman who's written some of the songs you guys love most, and she's also... well, she's a lot of things to me. Producer, manager, and love of my life. So, Cora Clearwater, will you join us on stage?”
My eyes go wide, and I stare, shocked as Joey unslings his guitar and comes over, grinning. “Come on Cora, we'll take care of you.”
“But, but... I'm in jeans and a t-shirt!” I protest, and Joey laughs.
“So's Rocky, Muse. You can do it, I'll be there with you,” he says, his kind voice totally different from the almost scary makeup he's got on. “You're gonna love this. Besides, with the lights the way they are, you can't see the crowd, so just imagine it's the four of us out there.”
I look down at Bella and pat my daughter on the head. “You stay with Larry.”
“Okay, Mommy,” she says, taking Larry's hand. He looks surprised for a moment, then smiles down affectionately. Taking a deep breath, I let Joey lead me onto the stage, the roar of the crowd buffeting me. As I walk out, a roadie appears, maneuvering another mic stand on stage, and Rocky grins, meeting me halfway across the stage to take my hand.
“What are you doing?” I ask, Rocky's smile never faltering until he has me in the middle of the stage, the two of us in the middle of the huge spotlight before he speaks again.
“Folks, this woman... she's become the heart and soul of the Fragments. And well, the song that really launched us, I know you guys have listened to it a ton of times, she wrote it. Now, it wasn't because she's such a great songwriter, she is, but because she's such an amazing woman. I used to not like the press, but for those of you who keep up with things, Cora and I have been together for a little while now, and well...”
The whole crowd roars, and I can't believe it as Rocky gets down on one knee, pulling a slim box from his back jeans pocket. I'm trying not to cry, but I lose it when Rocky opens the box and shows me the platinum and diamond ring inside, sparkling in the spotlight. “Cora Clearwater, you're my heart, the sun of my soul, the strength in my life. You've loved me for longer than I can believe still, and your patience, your kindness makes me the richest man in the world. Will you marry me?”
I nod, unable to talk, tears of happiness falling down my face as Rocky takes the ring and slips it on my finger before standing up and embracing me. The roar of the crowd doubles when Bella runs out and we make a family hug, both of us kissing her before I set her down, and start to lead her off stage. Rocky stops me though, not letting go of my wrist. I turn to look as Bella runs off stage with Joey's help again, wondering what the hell Rocky wants.
When Bella's out of the spotlight, Rocky brings his microphone back up. “Just a moment, Cora. I'd like to tell the people here a story, and I need your help.”
I turn back, and while I can hear the crowd, I don't see anything but Rocky, and his green eyes see nothing but me as we wait until there's almost silence in the Coliseum. “You see, Cora and I, we've known each other since we were both thirteen years old. And we quickly became best friends. For Cora though, it became more. I was too blind to realize it, though. All I could think about was the promise we'd made to each other, that we'd make hit records together. And our senior year, I still didn't realize it consciously at the time that Cora loved me. So, one night, Cora wrote a poem, a song lyric. We went our separate ways after that for a while, until God, fate, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, whatever you want to call it, brought us back together to work on an album for the Fragments.”
I'm crying, smiling as Rocky goes and gets the spare mic that the roadie had brought on stage, still talking. “One night, towards the end of the recording, we were stuck, looking for that one last song to finish out the album. Cora and I were discussing it, and in a move that took more guts, heart, and love than I think I'll ever see again, she shows me this notebook. In it was the song lyrics she wrote for me. And it was those lyrics that became... well, it became Four Letters.”
The crowd roars as Rocky holds out the mic to me. “Now, I'm going to give you a choice, Cora. If you like, I'll sing the normal version for you, the one that all these people know. But... but there's another version, isn't there?”
I swallow, and nod, raising the microphone to my lips, barely able to whisper. “Yes.”
The roar of support from the fans is overwhelming, and it's Rocky's turn to grin. “Cora... my love, my Muse, my soul... would you do a duet with me?”
I nod. We've sung it so many times together, and I've sung my part around our house, or in the studio with Rocky just for fun. But that's what this is, not a concert, just fun with the man I love. I smile, and look at Rocky's face, raising the microphone to my lips again and clear my throat, singing a capella.
The light is so bright
But still, you can't see
The glare has blinded you
It's kept you from the truth...
Joey and Ian come in with their parts as the song shifts to Rocky, who does his answering verse, and the two of us sing the chorus together. It's powerful, and all I see is him as we soar, flying on the notes high above the stadium. I can see our future, I can see the love. I can see the family we're going to have, and the baby that I haven't told him about that's growing in my belly yet. I just found out today and was going to tell him after the concert. I think that plan's going to have to change.
The song shifts, triumph replacing the sadness, and Rocky and I sing the final verse together. The one that nobody except for Ian and Joey has ever heard before, the verse we wrote when we didn't know... except we always knew.
And now we stand together,
The pain is gone forever,
Lying here in your arms,
Each mistake celebrated together
How could they break our hearts?
Those four little letters
The four letters that used to hurt us so?
When we opened our eyes to the truth,
And saw the four letters of love,
In the six letters of friend.
The last notes, harmonized together, fade away into the suddenly quiet Los Angeles night, and I step forward, putting my arms around Rocky's neck and kissing him tenderly. The crowd roars, and he doesn't hear me at first when I whisper in his ear. When I step back, he's smiling, but confused. “What?”
I raise my microphone up one last time and smile. “I said... I love you. And... Rocky, you're going to be a father. I'm pregnant.”
The roar this time is full-throated from all si
xty plus thousand people, and Rocky drops his mic, hugging me tightly. He's sobbing for joy, and it takes him five minutes to control himself before he can pick up his microphone again. “Oh, my God. Okay... uh, well... wow.”
I think I surprise Rocky, Joey, Ian, and everyone when I speak again. “Now, if you want to give me an engagement gift, I've got an idea.”
“What?” Rocky rasps into his mic, still wiping at his eyes.
“Give these people the best concert of their lives. You're a rock star. So, go rock.”
Rocky nods, and turns his face back to the crowd as I step back, the spotlight following me until I step off stage and back into the wings. I'll never forget it, my moment in the limelight, but at the same time, I'm glad to be back in the shadows, watching as Rocky gives the darkened wings a glance again, then turns to Joey and Ian, giving Ian the signal, starting with the driving beat of their new song, Limitless. Because that's what our future is.
Limitless.
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Also by Jesse Jordan
