The Unexpected Life of Carnegie Lane

by Virginia Higgins

  In an effort to distract herself, Carnegie went and began selecting music that she could get lost in to help her through the rest of the day. She started with Super tramp, ‘Even in the Quietest Moments’ then moved slowly on to Uriah Heap… Just for something totally different.

  Somewhere in between, she sent of an email to Kat, telling her to book her flight from Brisbane for the twelfth of August. She looked up the weather in London so she could pack some clothes, deciding to go shopping while she was there for most of it. She began to write down instructions for the twins, and a list of things for their father to do while he was here.

  It felt wrong that he was about to be the first man who got to sleep in her new unconsummated bed. Even though she wouldn’t be in it, it still felt wrong... on every level. If she didn’t have Nate right now, she might have attempted to pull off a one night stand with anyone, just so he wouldn’t have that satisfaction. What she didn’t realize, was that her ex and her emotions…were the least of her problems.

  On the other side of the world, Richard Toll was preparing his notes. He had all the photos of Nate Bowman and Carnegie Lane he needed, along with enough cruel evidence to start the scandal of the decade. He didn’t care about her fledgling career. He didn’t care if he destroyed her in the process, or made her a superstar. Either way, he would make a lot of money. That was all he cared about.

  He began to send out his photos with headlines to magazine editors and newspapers from all corners of the world. As the information hit desks, his email began to light up with requests for more information. He negotiated prices for more photos, and more inside stories, for information confirmations. Slowly but surely, he was weaving a web. One he had carefully spun. By the end of the day, Richard Toll had made over one hundred thousand pounds, as much as Carnegie Lane had made for writing her book. The papers were creating their own version of events, carefully. By tomorrow, he would have made double what he had now. By the time he was finished with her, he would have made a million.

  The next day, Carnegie Lane woke early, ready to get her kids up for school. Outside she thought she heard a noise. Walking out the front, a photographer from the local paper called her name and began asking questions. It was only six in the morning…She was hardly awake let alone able to focus on what he was saying.

  “Carnegie, can you give us a statement about your association with the dead guitarist in the “Stickerman” overdose.”

  “What?” she asked, she had to rack her brains to even remember the band. They weren’t exactly her favorite.

  “Steven Jacobs, the guitarist who died from the heroin overdose…can you give us a statement about your relationship to him.”

  “I didn’t have one. Who are you?”

  “Have you seen today’s paper?” He asked, as if happy to enlighten her. He handed her a copy and began photographing her again noting the reaction she had to reading it.

  It took a while before it sunk in. Something had gone terribly terribly wrong. She didn’t know this band, not really. She remembered the night this photo was taken, the one that was headlining the Brisbane paper now, yet, she was only out the back sharing a joint with them. She was actually there with another band altogether. ‘The Stickermen’ was their support act. It was the headline that horrified her the most.

  NATE BOWMAN’S NEW GIRLFRIEND AND HER DRUG FUELED ROCK AND ROLL PAST EXPOSED.

  The story went on to say how she had been arrested for drugs, was a known groupie, and was associated with a band who’s lead guitarist had died in suspicious circumstances from a drug overdose. Leaving speculation as to her involvement, since no one was ever found responsible. It went on to say that she was a professional groupie who had worked her way up the musical ranks, landing herself Nate Bowman in the process. It cleverly spoke as if she was part of the Sydney Underbelly in the 80’s using the sensationalism of the TV shows to add fuel to the fire.

  She was distracted from reading the rest by more camera flashes as a plethora of photographers turned up. At the same time, her phone was ringing, then her mobile. Carnegie Lane was all alone, and caught in the middle of a media circus. She didn’t know what to do, but she had the sense to go inside and shut the door. She went and picked up the phone.

  “Hello” She said, almost panicked.

  “Carnegie, its Leonie. Have you seen the papers yet?” She asked, her voice frantic.

  “One of them, what’s happening?”

  “Richard Toll, he found out all this stuff. We need to make a statement. Got any ideas?”

  “For what part? I have just read more bullshit about myself than I’ve ever seen in my life!” She was getting cranky now, not at Leonie, at the crap that was on paper in front of her.

  “We warned you about this. Carnegie, just focus…”

  “How can I focus when there are one hundred people standing at my front gate with cameras?”

  “Oh god.”

  “Well, he won’t help…I don’t think” That was almost funny in light of the situation.

  “Carnegie, listen to me carefully. You need to make a statement. Say something about this.”

  “What do I say.”

  “You say you deny all accusations and that any further questions are to go through your publicity manager.”

  “Oh my God… Katalie.”

  “Yeah…They have to call her. Her office is setting up a statement and phone lines to take all the calls. In the mean time…That is all you say… They will ask for the number of your publicity manager. Kat has sent you the number to give them through your email. OK?”

  There was silence. Carnegie was horrified and frightened and didn’t really know how to react at all.

  “Carnegie, talk to me.” Leonie was trying to pull her together.

  “Yeah, I’m here. Oh I can’t believe this is happening. Oh no, the kids... what do I do?”

  Just then in the background, she could hear Nate, he was yelling and screaming at someone. She had no idea who, all she knew was she never heard him this angry.

  “Leonie…Nate who is he talking to?”

  “The journalist that started this mess.”

  “Oh, this is so wrong.”

  “Doesn’t matter, I’m about to get security set up for you at your home. Don’t let the kids go to school, the last thing you want is them being taunted over this.”

  “But the girls have exams.”

  “Carnegie…you can’t send them to school. The media don’t care how much they traumatize them, trust me on this!”

  Carnegie was in the lounge room on the phone when she looked up and saw a photographer looking in her window, taking photos of her. She got up and pulled the blind down, then went into the kids rooms and did the same.”

  “They are like flies.”

  “Just sit tight. I’ll call you soon, I have to get this organized…Hang in there Carnegie.”

  The phone went dead, and she was alone. Alone with her name being called from outside the house, vans and TV cameras were arriving. The neighbors were all out on the street. Some of them were being interviewed by the journalists…Carnegie huffed, wondering what they were going to say. She didn’t even know their names.

  One by one she tried to explain to the kids what had happened. The older ones were reading the news report, and they just looked at their mother, wondering if it could be true. Journalists have a way to make things sound convincing.

  Nate was thinking he was about to have an easy day. Now, he too was in the middle of more cameras than he had seen in a very long time. Leonie was flat out making statements, and also trying to cross reference any fact there might be in the articles that were being circulated. One thing was clear, Carnegie Lane was definitely in that photograph. Not that it showed much, it was circumstantial at best.

  All Nate wanted to do was to get Carnegie and the kids out of Bundaberg. She was very much alone up there, and he knew it. He felt responsible for all of this. Guilty that his association with her had caused such grief
. He called Katalie, who was in her own right beside herself.

  “I hate him Nate….Richard Toll is so cruel.” She was raving at him. Underneath it all she wanted to scream… I TOLD YOU SO! But she didn’t.

  “It’s not true, so what if she hung around bands. Doesn’t mean she was a junkie.”

  “Well, how do you know?”

  “Trust me, I know!”

  “Nate…As long as you two are together, and for as long as you don’t deny you’re together, this is going to continue. My launch is ruined.”

  “Katalie, we can’t change what’s happened. You can’t ditch her now.”

  “I don’t want to ditch her Nate…I have no intention of ditching her, but do you have any idea what this is going to do to my reputation?”

  “Kat stop thinking about your job, just for one minute, and think about her.!”

  “Yeah, OK. Let’s do that…shall we?”

  “Don’t you dare blame her for this! I will do everything I can to protect her. Do you understand that? I don’t care if you’re my sister or who you are…I’m not going to leave her alone because of this.”

  Katalie could hear the panic in his voice. Nate was scared for her. He had already become protective of Carnegie, possibly overly so. There was only one reason, why he would do that.

  “Nate I know you want to protect her at all cost, and I know why. I think your confusing her with someone she’s not. No matter what you think she isn’t….” She stopped talking then, realizing what she was saying, might not be so well received.

  “She isn’t what?” Asked Nate impatiently, curious as to where she was leading with this.

  “She isn’t Taylor….Nate.” There, she had said it, although it wasn’t that well received.

  He could feel the blood begin to drain from his face, and he became numb. Nate’s heart began to beat a little faster. He was back there, back at the scene of that accident.

  “I won’t leave you Taylor, I promise… I won’t let you go…”

  But he had to, he had no choice, they took her away. Katalies voice was bringing him back to now. The phone still up against his ear.

  “NATE…TALK TO ME!” She was screaming at him.

  “I have nothing to say to you Kat. Not now, not ever.” He hung up the phone and tried to call Carnegie. Her phone was engaged. Leonie burst into his room, and began talking at a million miles an hour.

  “I’ve got security heading over to her place now. I’ve spoken to her and told her what to say, and what to do. Kids are staying home. I’m getting confirmation now on the background stories.”

  “Leonie…” He said, although it was as if he wasn’t really there.

  “Yes?” She asked…cautiously.

  “Can you just do what you have to do? I’m not in the head space to deal with this right now.”

  “Sure…Nate…You OK?”

  “Nope…I’m not.” He turned and walked into his room, shutting the door behind him. It was the first time Leonie had seen him crack under pressure. She had no idea why.

  The circus of horrors continued for the next week and a half, all day every day and long into the night. There was no doubt in her mind, she was in trouble. Carnegie didn’t know where to turn. She had no friends in Bundaberg to even help her. There was three days till she left for London, which was the last place in the world she wanted to be. She was sitting in the corner of her room, when her mobile rang. It was Nate. She hadn’t spoken to him since before this mess started.

  “Oh Nate, what have I done.” She almost started crying.

  “Nothing…this is not your fault.”

  “I never ever did what they say I did, you know that don’t you?”

  “Yep…I know.”

  “What do I do to fix it.”

  “You can’t, it just needs time to be forgotten.”

  “And…what about us?” Carnegie didn’t move a muscle when she asked that question. She held her breath, waiting for the answer.

  “Go to London Carnegie, nothing’s changed.” Yet she felt like it had, she could feel the shift.

  “Something’s changed.” She said, ready to face the inevitable ‘you’re totally dumped’ moment.

  “Hey, look babe. I’m still here. I’m just trying to get through this on my end. It makes for double the day when you fight the cameras like I have been. Just give it time to cool off, the story will end. I know it. I’ve seen this a million times.”

  “Fine…” She said bluntly. “I have to go.”

  “I’ll talk to you soon, Carnegie. I promise.”

  “Yep…talk soon.” She hung up, feeling nothing but numb.

  It didn’t matter where she tried to go, someone recognized her. Carnegie went to the supermarket, inconspicuously of course, with two burley body guards on either side of her, and one standing next to her car. When she was in there, two girls asked her if she was Nate Bowman’s girlfriend. She didn’t know how to answer since her last phone call hadn’t been that encouraging. At the checkout, someone asked her if she was really a Rock Star killer.

  That one threw her a little more than the last. When she went to the chemist for some head lice foam for Sienna, the old man behind the counter smiled at her, just as he always did.

  “Still not gone hey?”He commented lightheartedly.

  “What gone?” She asked, wondering what aspect of her life he was referring to.

  “Nits…” he said, as he handed her the package.

  “Oh, no, I don’t think they ever will be.”

  “Don’t look now, but there are three photographers out the front of the store. Do you want to go through the back?” He asked, still no hint of judgment in his voice, just sympathy.

  “Oh! Thank you. That would be great.”

  She walked to the back of the store and then into a back room, the two security guards went back to her car to drive it around to meet her.

  “I don’t know you very well, Carnegie Lane, but I know one thing, you’re no junkie, you’re no murderer and you’re a good mum. Just be careful what you say, when those reporters catch up with you. If you speak when you’re angry, you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret. Keep your head high, and walk past them as if you know nothing.”

  “How do you know all this?” She questioned, looking into the sincere eyes of an old man.

  “I was a journalist once. They don’t care about you, you’re just meat. I learnt that the hard way when one of the people my story was about committed suicide. I quit, that very day. It’s not worth it, well it wasn’t for me.”

  “I understand why they did that…”

  “It’s hard, but do you know why they are interested in anything you do? Because you matter, and hey, good for you! You’re dating a Rock Star… So what? You are Carnegie Lane, you’re an Author, and you’re going to be just fine…Trust me.”

  Carnegie hugged him, and thanked him for his kind words and the secure exit. She opened the back door with her package in hand and jumped into her car. Out the front of her home was the media exposé she was almost used to now. She ignored them as she walked inside, and made arrangements for the twins to be at school the following day for exams. Her alibi was the headmaster, who had learned a valuable lesson about lies and innuendo from the incident with the twins. His school had raised a fortune because of this family, he wasn’t about to condemn them now.

  Her ex-husband turned up, just as he was supposed to, the day before she left, although she had no concept of time. Luckily, Leonie had a team of minders around her, organizing her every move. He didn’t say much about what was going on. He better than anyone knew the truth, that it was all false. He lived those moments with her, yet he was defenseless to help, having been advised by his own lawyers to stay out of it. He was also not impressed that his ex wife had been implicated in a series of media sitcoms. All of them had thrown a questionable light on his own past in some way. Out of the two of them, his had been the most questionable to begin with.

  Nate
had continued to play his concerts, which were unscathed from the media hype surrounding him. He brought the full house down every show. He made his way through the interviews, avoiding the conversation as to his involvement with Carnegie as best as possible, a twang of guilt hitting him every time he avoided the ongoing drama and didn’t defend her. Kat had told him, that her lawyers had suggested he back off for a while, just till the heat had shifted, and they could answer the media with their own version of the story. Since he started the mess in the first place, he agreed to do just that. He missed her badly. He also felt like he had abandoned her when she needed him the most. It was unfair, how this game had played out for both of them.

  That night, he lay in bed alone, thinking about his life till now. Strange how life can only be understood backwards, yet it needed to be lived forward. The cruelest recognition of your reality is hindsight. There were a million things he remembered that were deep in his past… it was his mothers words that came to him, giving him comfort and some clarity of mind.

  “My beautiful boy, I know it hurts, but don’t you see? To get to the end of your rainbow, you first have to walk through the rain.”

  Nate’s mind went back to the night they ran through the park as the rain began to fall, leaving them gloriously soaking… and then, she sang to him. It was those memories he held onto; it was that very second he fell in love with Carnegie Lane. When he closed his eyes to sleep, he would see her. She would always age backwards and turn into Taylor in his dreams. She was the only other thing on this planet he was not prepared to let go of, even though it was exactly what Taylor needed him to do.

  I woke up today in London

  As the plane was touchin’ down

  All I could think about was Monday

  Maybe I’d be back around

  “Landing in London”

  Written by: B. Arnold, M. Roberts, T. Harrell, C. Henderson