Something Real

by Nellie Christine

But, big sis to the rescue.

  “We’re actually here because your son has something he wants to announce,” Josie said. She walked over to the blue sofa and quickly grabbed the remote before her father could reach for it. “Listen up.”

  “Are you all staying for dinner tonight?”

  Elijah rubbed his forehead. As much as he loved his mother’s paella, tonight wasn’t the night for this invite. “I have a thing at my new job,” he said.

  The clock on the wall said 11:57.

  “New job?” Edwin picked Lily up and she focused on his plaid shirt. “Why’d you leave that law office your uncle Larry got you a job at? That was a good job. And you know you can barely make rent without coming to me and your mother.”

  Josie sighed. “We know, dad. We’re sorry that you didn’t raise any doctors or astronauts, but Elijah has something incredible he wants to tell you.”

  “I do,” Elijah said quickly, hoping to get his piece in before his mother started up again. “I can’t stay tonight because I’m going to a Christmas party at my new label.”

  Juanita looked at him curiously as the woman poured water into Lily’s bottle. “What do you mean by label?”

  Josie smiled.

  “This week, I signed a short-term contract with a record label in the city. Millennium Record is the name. I have a song that’ll be playing on the radio in a couple minutes, and a show I’m going to be performing at tomorrow night. If everything goes well, I’ll sign an actual long-term recording deal.”

  Both of his parents were quiet. His father looked back at him with what seemed to be disbelief, and Elijah couldn’t exactly say he blamed him for making that face. As Josie walked past him, Elijah wondered what his father was thinking. He was afraid to ask, but it may’ve been something along the lines of “since when did you have any goals or aspirations? You couldn’t even do a two-week summer camp the whole way through.”

  “Are you serious, hijo?” his mother asked.

  Elijah nodded his head. “I’m very serious. I left the law office… it’s not like I had a big job there anyway. I was a mail clerk, dad.”

  Edwin shook his head.

  “And I have a boyfriend.”

  This made Juanita’s eyes almost pop out of her head. “As in one boyfriend? As in you settled down with one person?”

  Elijah licked his lips and looked over at Lily. She was disinterested in the conversation completely. “I wouldn’t say I’ve settled down. We’ve been together a few days now. But I like him and he likes me and so far, it’s great.”

  Edwin scoffed. “You couldn’t say all of this on the phone?”

  “Be happy for him!” Juanita said. “He’s got himself a young man. We said that’s what he needed.”

  “He needs stability,” Edwin shot back. “A job that he can work that’ll pay him, not some contract where he’ll be scammed and then right back to unemployment.”

  “Guys!” Josie was over at the old radio by the fridge that their mother sometimes used when she cooked. She had a smile on her face. “It’s 12:00, so I need you all to be quiet.”

  Elijah felt his stomach drop. His phone vibrated in his coat pocket and he reached for it.

  “You’re listening to Z100, and boy do we have a surprise for you. If you’re at work right now, if you’re on lunch, driving in the car, or in your dorm room between classes, I need you to turn this one up,” the deejay said. “This is a brand new song from a debut artist at Millennium Records. An exclusive for you all because we love you so much, and the man is from right here in New York. Listen to ‘Paradise’ by newcomer Elijah Dawson and tell me he isn’t the man. Call and request it if you like it, folks. Enjoy!”

  Peanut:

  Pretend I’m right there with you, honey.

  Elijah smiled.

  “Oh my god,” Josie sounded like she was about to start crying and there was nothing but the instrumental playing.

  Elijah smiled at her, sort of complacent in the space between the living and dining room of his parents’ home, not really sure what to do with himself. He was on the radio right this instant, his parents were still looking at him like he’d lost his marbles, and his sister was jumping around in the kitchen like a fool.

  Oh. And somewhere in a building in Manhattan, Grayson Paul was probably dancing along to the song on the radio, singing slightly off-pitch with a huge smile on his face.

  “That’s you?” Edwin asked.

  It was him. Hearing himself on the radio was almost like an outer body experience. He couldn’t help but smile as the voice flooded the space between them.

  I’d cross the ocean just to hold you for a moment

  “It’s me,” he answered. He walked over to Lily and picked her up, smiling as he kissed her on the cheek.

  “Who’s that? You hear that guy?”

  Together we’ll defeat the biggest of opponents

  She smiled widely and a bunch of baby babble followed. Elijah hoped it was because she recognized it was him.

  “You sound so good, hijo. You always do,” his mother said emphatically. “Turn it up, Josephina.”

  They sing songs to the melody of your heartbeat in paradise

  “It’s not bad, huh baby girl?”

  Lily smiled at her uncle as she tried to bop in his arms, dancing to the music. He laughed along with his sister, doing a dance too.

  It was a weird feeling being this proud of himself. Feeling like he was worth something. Seeing his father smile, no matter how hard he was trying to fight it. His mother got up and started to dance along to the song, trying to sing the words despite only hearing it this one time, and Elijah looked at his sister with a satisfied smile.

  It was definitely weird.

  He owed a lot of this to Grayson, for sure. And to Harvey. Hearing himself on the radio did something to him. It made him want to share himself even more with the world – for people to hear his music and to want him to continue doing this. He wanted to write, and to sing, and to get out there and be the person Grayson kept telling him he could be. He didn’t want to be the problematic kid who was only in it for himself. He wanted to make a difference.

  Elijah knew he could make a difference.

  Mark:

  DUDE WTF YOUR SONG IS PLAYING ON Z100 I ALMOST CRASHED MY FUCKING CAR!! MY GOD

  Mark:

  I AM SO UNBELIEVABLY PROUD OF YOU, MAN. YOU SOUND INCREDIBLE! I’M GOING TO BUY THIS SONG 50 TIMES ON ITUNES, JUST YOU WAIT.

  Elijah smiled, replying with a ‘c u tonite.’ He went back to spending more time with the folks before his life changed forever.

  ∞

  It went on all day long. Elijah’s Facebook had blown up, both from messages and from friend requests. He deactivated it as soon as he got home because if people were to go on there, they’d find out he was slutty Elijah from the block. He wanted to leave that behind him.

  Besides, Grayson had told him that he’d be getting new social media accounts the next day. Facebook for a fan page, a verified Twitter account, Instagram, Tumblr – all of which Grayson promised he’d change the passwords to if Elijah got into the habit of using it to fight with Internet trolls.

  Elijah said he’d behave.

  He decided to use some of the cash he’d saved up to buy a nice outfit for the party that night. Something that would say ‘young, up-and-coming musician signed to a record deal.’ He knew he’d be doing a lot of networking tonight, and that Big Brother would be watching – Big Brother was definitely Harvey Paul in this scenario – but top priority was to impress his boyfriend.

  No, they wouldn’t be able to be a couple at this party, but that didn’t mean Elijah wasn’t going to show up looking good and flirting his ass off with Grayson. He had plans on doing just that.

  Fallon:

  I just got out of the longest class of my life. Mark sent me a link to your song that was accompanied by at least 20 texts about how good it was. I listened to it and I’m in tears.

  Fallon:

  I�
��m literally sobbing, lol. You’re so good and I’m not sure the world is ready.

  Fallon:

  Is it okay if I see you before your party tonight?

  Elijah took a deep breath. He reckoned he’d let her rot for long enough. Besides, he really didn’t want to experience this moment without the girl who he called his best friend. Fallon had seen him through a lot, and vice versa. She needed to be there with him.

  Still, he was going to tell her how he felt.

  ∞

  He walked into Bloomingdales and didn’t get very far before a fresh-faced Fallon was approaching him. She walked over and cautiously extended her arms for a hug. He hesitated for a moment, but decided to give it to her.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey… can I just say before anything else that I absolutely adore your song? It’s beautiful.”

  He nodded. Grayson actually wrote a good 65% of it while Elijah asked him why they couldn’t make out if they were alone. He did contribute, though.

  “This doesn’t have to be so awkward,” she answered. “In fact, I’m just going to get this over with. Maybe I’m not 100% Team Grayson like Mark is, but I do respect your relationship.”

  “You probably don’t,” Elijah said. He shoved his hands in the pocket of his bubble coat and looked at her. “But you will respect it when you’re around me.”

  She was quiet.

  “Remember how I told you that your ex was terrible for you, but you told me that you loved him?” he asked.

  Fallon looked away, but did nod.

  “Remember how I was respectful of your relationship? I expect people who don’t know me to say the things you said, but it was my own best friend, Fallon.”

  “I know you very well and that’s why I said those things –”

  “Well you don’t know Grayson,” he quipped. “If you did, I honestly think you’d understand why I feel the things I feel, and more importantly, why I’m with him.”

  Fallon looked up at him and nodded her head. The striped scarf she was wearing was falling a bit, and she adjusted it. “You’re right.”

  “I am right. Part of the reason I think you were saying the things you said is because you don’t think I’m good enough for anyone.”

  “That’s not at all true,” Fallon said. “I just want you to be happy. I don’t want anyone to hurt you.”

  “Well, I’m a big boy. I’ll be able to handle my relationship if it needs to be handled. Are we clear?” His tone was demanding as he looked at her.

  Fallon still had every intention of letting Stephen reunite with Grayson before this got too deep. Sure, Elijah was claiming to be serious about this now, but if further down the line Grayson realized that Stephen was a guy he actually could see himself with in the long run, then who got hurt? Her best friend. She wasn’t letting that happen.

  “I am sorry,” she told him.

  Elijah looked around the store. “Yeah. Want to help me get ready for this shindig tonight? I’m meeting tons of important people and getting drunk. Also, I can’t openly be with Grayson because his dad is a maniac so we’re hidden. I need you to know that so you don’t open your mouth.”

  Fallon wanted to roll her eyes. Is that what Grayson had told him? “So he said that you two had to stay private because his dad wanted you to?”

  Elijah nodded, walking towards the men’s section. “I’m getting the feeling you’re about to say something that’s going to piss me off…”

  Fallon held her tongue. “I wasn’t. I was just asking. What color would you like to wear?”

  Elijah took a deep breath and tried to focus on the new conversation topic. “I want a green tie. His eyes are green. And I’m wearing a vest instead of a blazer, that’s for sure.”

  She smiled, shaking her head. “How romantic.”

  ∞

  This night was H-U-G-E for Grayson. Like. The hugest. He had just signed an artist to Millennium – even if it was for one record – and tonight, he had to introduce that artist to the people who helped run the label.

  He looked around for Elijah for the twentieth time in what had to have been three minutes. Eleanor was laughing at him. Grayson didn’t have time for her. He looked around the party at their artists, execs, and employees, all mingling with their guests. The media was snapping away, and Grayson’s nerves were on high alert.

  “Are you okay?” Oscar asked.

  Oscar had on an ugly Christmas sweater with cats on it. He would wear an ugly Christmas sweater to this freaking party. At least his usually wild curls were tamed and he looked handsome, if you avoided looking at the sweater completely.

  Eleanor was a babe as always. Her blond hair was back in one single braid going down her back. She wore a knee-length red dress that had a slit. Said slit was like a magnet for Oscar’s eyes, and her gold heels were killing it.

  Grayson was wearing a navy Georgio Armani tux with a black bowtie, but, you know. No need to compete.

  “I’m fine,” he answered shortly. “Slightly nervous. My artist should be here any minute and he’s supposed to walk the red carpet.”

  “And?” Eleanor asked. “He’s photogenic as fuck. You of all people should know that. You stalked his Facebook.”

  Grayson deadpanned at her.

  “Relax. This is a party,” Oscar said. “I’ll get you a drink and then I’m going to dance with my lady.”

  The Pretty Committee walked through the entrance looking as beautiful as ever. Grayson smiled at them. He couldn’t wait for their big music video reveal tonight at this party. They were bound to do amazing.

  As their manager walked them over to the Millennium Record red carpet and backdrop to have their photos taken by the media, Grayson paid close attention to the chatter around him. A lot of the guests were talking about the new song that they heard on the radio today – some people three times already. Grayson smiled, trying not to eavesdrop, but he was very much over the moon when an older woman that worked in accounting praised the ‘new guy’s’ voice.

  Oscar returned with a glass of wine and handed it over. “My bad. The servers had disappeared. I had to go to the bar.”

  “It’s cool,” Grayson looked over his shoulder at the doorway and sighed when the commotion was over Zach Evans and his flavor of the week – some model he met on his trip to LA.

  “You remember what I told you, right?” Grayson asked.

  Oscar nodded. “I remember. You and Elijah are NOT a couple. You two are just work partners who only work together, and I totally didn’t walk in on you guys have morning sex in the shower yesterday.”

  Grayson’s eyes went wide as he glared at him and Oscar smirked.

  “See? I remembered, muchacho. So, where’s this kid at, anyway?”

  Just as Grayson was about to answer, someone entering the room pulled his attention to the doorway.

  His heart skipped a beat.

  “He’s here.”

  Oscar turned around as Elijah walked through the door. A tall and equally hot black guy with a faded afro walked in behind him. Beside that guy was a petite brunette who didn’t know where to look first. All three of them seemed overwhelmed.

  “There he is,” Eleanor said, sneaking up behind Grayson. He wasn’t looking at her, but he could hear the smile on her face. “The boy cleans up nice, doesn’t he?”

  “Tell me about it,” Grayson said. He licked his lips and took a step forward. “Come on.”

  Oscar took Eleanor’s hand and followed them across the large hotel hall. They could hear Harvey Paul’s loud laugh from somewhere across the room and Oscar, always having found it contagious, joined in. Eleanor smirked as she looked at him.

  It didn’t take Elijah long to find Grayson as he scanned the large room. There had to be 500 people in here at least, but his eyes would always find Grayson.

  His heart was doing something crazy in his chest at the sight of this man. No suit should ever fit someone that perfectly. What the fuck.

  “Wow,” Elijah whisper
ed.

  Mark took Allison’s hand and smiled at her. She smiled back.

  “Your friend has it bad.”

  “You’re telling me,” he joked.

  Grayson smiled widely as he stood in front of the group. Oscar and Eleanor lined up at his right side and looked at him, waiting for something to happen.

  Elijah smiled back at Grayson.

  Mark cleared his throat. “Can one of you say something?”

  Eleanor laughed.

  “Hey,” Grayson said.

  He kept smiling, and the way his eyes moved up and down Elijah’s body, taking in the outfit he wore was the furthest thing from subtle. He couldn’t be blamed, though. Anytime Elijah rolled his sleeves up and showed off that tattoo, there was going to be heart palpitations. And his vest. God, it hugged his pecs in the right way. There was nothing wrong about anything this man was doing right now.

  “Hi. You look,” Elijah trailed off, biting his lip. “Fucking gorgeous.”

  Oscar shook his head. “I need a fucking drink.”

  Mark and his date laughed. “I guess we may as well introduce ourselves?”

  “No, no,” Grayson interrupted, finally looking away from Elijah. “I’m sorry. My name is Grayson Paul. I’m …sort of A&R here at Millennium, and I’m Elijah’s manager.”

  Mark smiled at him. “I know who you are. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Grayson. I’ve heard a lot of good things. A lot –”

  “This is my friend Mark Anderson,” Elijah said, quickly shutting him up.

  Grayson smiled. “Pleasure.”

  “My date, Allison Garcia,” Mark chimed in, smiling at her as he did so.

  “Welcome to the party,” Grayson told her. “Before you go, this is my best friend Oscar Sanchez and his lovely girlfriend Eleanor Taylor.”

  They all said their greetings, and Elijah shook hands with Oscar and gave Eleanor a half-hug before Grayson was pulling him off. Their friends remained together, and Grayson thought that was a good thing. Maybe they’d all be friends as things got more serious.

  “You’ve got to do photos,” Grayson told him. Elijah stared at all the photographers aiming their cameras at Zach and The Pretty Committee and rolled his eyes.

  “I’m going to be honest, they probably have no idea who I am.”