"We're going to be talking to a room full of reporters?" Laney asked with a glint of excitement in her eyes.
Una nodded with a small knowing smile.
"Now, Sunday we'll leave early in the morning traveling by tour bus, so make sure you have your luggage tagged and in the suite's living room for the crew to load. Xander will help you get familiar with the tagging system for what goes on the bus and what gets stored in the carriage." She took a deep breath "Any questions?"
We shook our heads and continued to discuss the tour, and other random things until it got late enough for Una to usher us up to our room.
Ring****Ring****Ring****Ring…
"What?!" Serena had never been much of a morning person. "Uhhgghhhhh….Okay." She groaned.
The sound of my door opening and heavy, fast footsteps told me to brace myself. The massive shift of my mattress tossed me around.
"Time to get up."
Peeking out from my blanket, the large grin of my older sister hovered.
"Go to hell," I groaned and rolled over.
Serena started bouncing and singing. "If I've gotta get up…Everybody gotta get up!"
I groaned and pulled her leg out from under her.
She screamed, landing with a heavy bounce on my mattress.
"Hey!" She laughed and slapped me on the butt before rolling off my bed. "You still have to get up." Her singsong voice made me want to throw things at her.
Serena may still not be a morning person, but after having Ryan, she's learned to take mornings in stride.
Getting up, I stumbled to the bathroom and the shower. Once I dressed, I went in search of caffeine. Laney fully clothed and eating fruit was perched on a barstool at the breakfast bar. She looked up from her plate and took in my appearance.
"Well good morning sunshine." Laney was definitely a morning person. "Kat and Serena are still getting ready."
I could only spare a nod. Coffee must have coffee.
Una arrived with Xander at her side, we left for the Dome, rehearsals, and stage checks were the game plan.
* * * * *
Still being on thin ice because of my behavior at the photo shoot, it was a good thing we hadn't come across Hushed Mentality. By the way, it looked; we wouldn't see them until the night of the show. That put a cramp in my plan.
Nicholas arrived to our house after Elliott finally made it out of bed. Only Jackson and I were dressed, but that was the result of my nighttime episodes. Jimmy was getting ready and Elliott was dragging himself to the couch.
"Okay, we need to get to the Dome in an hour. You have stage check around twelve, as long as the girls are finished up." Nicholas spoke without looking up from his blackberry.
"So Elliott if you want to eat you had better get your ass in gear, NOW," Elliott's head shot up and he quickly got moving. Elliott's 240 pound muscled body does not mess around when it comes to eating.
After eating what Nicholas had delivered, we left for the Dome. As soon as we entered, we could hear muffled stage checks. The closer we got, the louder it got and clearer.
"Stage check Left." Pause "Stage check right." I knew the voice. Rob our sound system engineer. "Okay, Mia can you take center stage? We are going to start with your first track. Are you ready?"
"Yeah, let's get the show on the go," She almost sang the response.
I kept walking back stage, until I noticed the guys had all detoured toward the girls. I wasn't going to follow until I heard the music begin. Were they really covering that song? Joining the rest of the band at the side of the stage, I took in the layout.
It was a familiar stage. We started our first tour here and played here many times since. Hell, I screwed a multitude of groupies in the backstage area. The only unfamiliar was this girl band. My plan needed to come together soon.
Each of them was in place with their instruments. Red was on drums, Tiny with her bass, Blondie with her guitar, and Mia center stage. Her guitar slung low in front of her she leaned into the microphone.
Performing a cover of 'Love is a Battlefield' by Benatar, and, well, it was shockingly good. They'd done a little change to the arrangement but it would be barely noticeable to the average fan. This wasn't a radio edit. It was live and she could sing.
Shit! I hadn't expected the talent.
Watching her play her guitar and lean into the mic—her eyes closed, my eyes followed the small sway of her body. Suddenly she stopped strumming and grabbed the mic with her right hand. Swinging her guitar around to her back, she belted out the chorus and pumped her fist in the air. This was not the pop-tart band I expected. Still, it changed nothing.
The second song started and it was a little different from the cover, but was also better than expected. This was original material and it was, unfortunately, good as well. I'd hoped to work the not talented enough angle, but now I would have to make some adjustments.
"Alright, I think we're ready, but you discussed a change to the fifth track?" Rob announced.
"Yeah, hold on one second, they're setting up for it now." Mia held her hand over her squinted eyes trying to block out the blinding spotlight.
Behind her, the stage crew pushed the drums off stage and brought in a large piano. My interest immediately peaked and I unconsciously took a half step toward the stage. When I realized, I pulled back hoping no one noticed.
"Thanks guys." She smiled at the stage crew.
"No problem, Mia," "It's our pleasure," They responded with eagerness.
She just bats her little eyes and they were putty in her hands. I want to puke.
"Okay, I'm ready." Mia sat at the piano bench and ran her fingers across the keys to warm up.
"Alright, whenever you're ready to start, go for it." Rob's voice carried down from the control booth, as if God was speaking from the heavens.
With a flex of her fingers and a deep breath, she touched the keys. Blondie and Red came out and leaned against the piano. Red mouthed 'you can do this' to encourage her. She started to play a simple, sweet melody.
The moment her eyes closed, her discomfort and nervousness visibly melted from her face. Her voice was so powerful and the accompaniment of just the piano was superb. I would've never guessed her voice could hit those notes or that she could be so intimate on stage. Her words wrap around you as she sang. My feet twitched to step forward, but I planted firmly. Shaking it all off, I stalked backstage.
On my way from the stage, clapping rose from onlookers and the sound booth at the finish of her song.
"Mia that was fantastic." Rob's voice muffled from the thick concrete walls.
Reaching the dressing room, I threw myself into the couch. Damn girl was screwing my plans.
Lounging in the dressing room, my head back on the overstuffed arm with my eyes closed, the guys loudly burst into the room.
"She is so hot," Jackson plopped onto the end of the couch, almost sitting on my feet. Opening my eyes to glare at him he winked. Bastard.
"Damn straight brother!" Elliott fist pounded him.
I shook my head in irritation.
"What are you talking about? They're all hot." Jimmy's voice carried from the far side of the room near the dressing tables.
"True, true" Elliott responded.
Nicholas arrived shortly after the hormonal outbursts and began going over the details.
"Let's head out to the stage and start stage checks." He motioned for us to exit the room and held the door open. We pulled ourselves up and went back to the stage.
We passed the girl's dressing room. The door partly opened. I heard laughing and as we got closer, Elliott and Jackson stood at the door with their mouths covered.
"What the hell are…?" I started.
"Shh…shut up." Elliott hissed and motioned his head toward door with a wiggle of his brow.
There was some type of dance music floating out and when peeked inside I saw Blondie and Mia singing and dancing to the song, goofing off.
Typical ridiculous female behavior.
I shook my head.
"Move along gentlemen." Nicholas spoke sternly and ushered us to the stage. Stage checks went as smooth as usual and I made some changes to the lighting.
After we finished and back at the hotel, which was closer to the Dome than our house, the guys started making plans to go out for the night. They tried to get me to join, as they always do, but I don't like to pull all-nighters so early in the tour. Instead, I attempted to use the television to distract me into staying awake for a while, but eventually my sleepless nights caught up with me.
Waking up screaming and dripping with sweat wasn’t something new. However, when the tremors began in my hands, I knew sleeping wasn't an option for the rest of the night. I looked at the clock, two in the morning. Quietly I headed to the shower, hoping it would shock my body awake.
The hot water was comforting, but that kind of comfort only soothed my body into wanting more sleep. Unfortunately, I knew what usually came when I slept more than a couple of hours. If there was one solid constant in my life, it was that the darkness would always be waiting to taunt me.
After my shower, I walked around the suite, noticing the guys still weren't back. That worked for me. I wouldn't have to deal with their looks later today, pretending they didn't hear me scream myself into consciousness. Jackson always tried to 'help', but it ended up just being a day of avoidance and uncomfortable conversations. Grabbing my guitar and my notepad, I stepped out onto the balcony. The cold night would help keep me awake.
About twenty minutes later the distinct sound of stumbling and laughing of drunken idiots made it clear they were back and trashed. I ignored them and continued working on a song that had been stuck in my head for a week now. I heard the door to the balcony slide open and felt a presence, but didn't look up from my guitar.
"You missed a kick ass time brother." Jimmy's cigarette bounced on his lips.
He swayed toward the railing. I prayed he didn't try to lean over it in his state of inebriation, breathing in relief when he turned and put his back against it.
"I'm sure I did. I'm surprised you guys didn't bring back some entertainment." I chuckled knowing the routine. We recruited some 'fans' and brought them back for more intimate entertaining.
"Nah, not tonight," he shrugged. "We actually hung with the girls."
My head popped up from my notebook. "The girls?"
Had they really skipped a night of recruitment to hang out with those girls? I mean, had they completely lost their minds?
"Yeah man, you know, Serena, Kat, Lane, and Mia." Jimmy took a long drag and blew it out. The smoke mixed into the cold air. "Oh and their backup singers, I think they were backup singers." He got a huge smile and looked weirdly at me. "Christ, how long have you been out here? It's fucking freezing." He shivered.
I shrugged. The better to keep me awake.
"It was hilarious dude!" I hadn't heard Elliott step out on the balcony. "Mia was cracking me the fuck up. She's hilarious."
Jimmy chuckled with a nod before stubbing out his cigarette and heading inside.
"Screw this man," Elliott rubbed his hands together. "It's too cold out here." He followed Jimmy inside.
Too distracted by a multitude of emotions I didn't want to deal with. Scrapping my writing for the night, I headed back to my room and switched on the T.V. There was nothing on, so I reached for the bottle of pills by my bed. With a sigh, I popped the white lid from the brown bottle. They tasted just as bitter as always. Lying back on my pillow and waiting for unconsciousness to take me, I prayed it would be a dreamless state.
It was a stupid prayer. God never answered it.
Chapter Four
Drowning in freezing cold water, I couldn't see anything but darkness. My name being called as I fought to escape, but the darkness wouldn't release its unyielding grip.
Suddenly I woke up, jolted by another feeling of icy water. Shooting out of bed and onto my feet, I tried to gain my bearings.
"What the hell?" I shouted, scanning my drenched body.
"Christ, Christopher, we've been trying to wake you for twenty minutes. I thought we were gonna to have to call an ambulance." Jackson stood holding the room's ice bucket in his hand.
"And you thought this was the best way to wake me up? Fuck Jackson!" I walked toward the bathroom for a towel and heard the rattle of the pill bottle.
"Chris, where in the hell did you get these? If Nicholas finds these again he's going to freak out and probably cancel the damn tour." He appeared in the bathroom doorway. "Is that what you want, to ruin this for all of us, or are you just hoping you succeed and kill yourself this time?"
"Fuck you. It's none of your business." The door creaked when I slammed it in his face.
"It is my business. You are my brother. Not just a band brother, but my brother. I hate what you do to yourself. You barely eat, socialize, and you don't sleep unless you drug yourself with these damn pills you get from god knows who and –"
I threw open the door hard enough to put a hole in the wall and to make the hinges protested. Barreling toward him, I stripped the bottle from his hand.
"It's none of your fucking business!"
Our stare down seemed to go on for hours. It wasn't easy to go eye to eye with Jackson. At nearly seven foot tall, he had four inches on me.
Eventually, he dropped his eyes and shook his head. As he walked out of the room defeated, he hesitated.
"What do you think it would do to Gwen, Christopher?" and then he left.
Sitting myself on the edge of my bed, I buried my head in my hands. Feelings of shame and anger contorted into rage. I threw the pill bottle across the room. When it slammed against the wall, the white pills scattered all over the floor. I stood and went to get ready for the day still reeling with emotions I just wanted to lock away.
We arrived to the Dome back entrance as normal. There were cameras flashing and fans screaming. Standing for a few photos and signing a few autographs, another car pulled up and 'the girl band' had arrived. They climbed out of the car and started walking in our direction.
I locked onto Mia almost the instant she was out of the car. I felt all the turmoil that had been swimming inside of me surface. The allure of her, the anger at her for being here, and mostly the irritation I felt toward her, it was all there swirling inside of me like a tornado of sentiment.
Hearing a few fans shout for them, they stopped to sign autographs and take pictures. Red and Mia pulled a young girl under the ropes and around security to hug her and position her to get a picture with the entire band. Blondie and Tiny kissed the cheeks of a guy waving to them. As I was about to turn my head I caught a glimpse of a guy in a The Forgotten shirt.
He grabbed onto her arm and wasn't letting go. She was smiling toward him, but her eyes definitely showed her annoyance. An unusual urge to protect her from this grabby jerk surfaced above all other emotions. I froze in place, unable to look away but also not allowing myself to go over.
When I thought she was going to freak out on the guy, she did the opposite. She turned and kissed his cheek. Then he let go of her and she walked away.
Is she fucking stupid! He could've been a crazy freak!
The girls were about to pass us by when I heard Elliott and Jackson yell out to them. I turned and locked eyes with Mia. I glared at her.
* * * * *
I want to rip his head off. First, I have to deal with a touchy feely freak fan and then I have to deal with him giving me a look as if he wanted me dead. I can't stand him.
"What the hell is Christopher's problem?" Serena asked me once seated in the dressing room.
"Hell if I know" I sighed. "It's like he hates me, but I have no idea why."
"Well, what are we going to do about it?" Kat smirked.
"I've got Nair. We can always sneak into his room." Laney smiled mischievously and wiggled her eyebrows.
"We could slip laxatives into his food," Serena co-conspired.
"No, no, no, I say we get him where it matters
most. Let's put itching powder in all his underwear." Kat gave an evil chuckle.
"We are not going to do anything. I'll just continue to ignore him and he can continue to leave me alone." I threw my head back on the couch. "He can give me all the looks he wants."
"You're no fun," Kat pouted.
"I know, but I refuse to let him know he affects me. Besides I could care less about him."
Therefore, it wasn't the total truth. Fact is he could get under my skin, easily. It's as if he was a professional at being an asshole and being able to affect me.
Our first night went great and we seemed to please the crowd, which was relieving. When The Forgotten took the stage, we grabbed a spot on the side stage to watch the show.
The crowd went ballistic when the lights went up and Christopher was in full view. Girls screamed his name and guys hollered out. It was so loud, but the moment the music began the noise drowned. Every person in that crowd started to sing along with Chris.
They opened their show with one of their more popular songs So Alone and then went on through their set. When they reached the song Overrated Christopher felt the need to look directly at me when he sang the line 'it's overrated'. I knew what he was saying and he was once again being an asshole. I flipped him off and watched him smirk in satisfaction. Once his attention was back toward the crowd I left and went back stage to our dressing room.
I tried so hard not to cry, but I couldn't fight the frustration any longer. I needed a release from all this tension. Thankfully, I had calmed myself before Kat, Serena, and Laney joined me in the dressing room.
The following morning we were woke early and tossed into hair and makeup before being ushered to a large conference room of the hotel. There were small elevated stages with tables, chairs set up, and a crowd of reporters congregated as close as possible. We all took a deep breath before walking out to take our seats for the press meeting. The press didn't wait to start throwing out their questions.
"Mia, is it true you write all of Hushed Mentality’s songs?" "Kat, how many body piercings do you have?" "Is it true about the animosity between The Forgotten and 'Hush'?" "Serena, what is it like to leave your son at home while you'll be traveling?"
Falling Stars Page 4
