The moment introductions were over, Serena tapped her sticks three times and we all played. Adrenalin coursed through my veins. A rush of elation tingled inside my chest. When I opened my mouth and began to sing, the crowd sung with us. They knew us, the song. Taking my hands away from my guitar, I waved for the crowd to sing louder.
Once we finished, we stayed around talking and taking photos with students. The next morning we left on the buses for L.A.
We wanted to do something to kick off the real beginning of the tour, so Thursday night we had agreed to go out to a club and dance the night away. Upon arrival, we were lead to a private room. The drinks started pouring, but I decided on water. I was here to dance.
Even though making music was my life, I loved hip-hop and dance music. Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls, Savage, Brokencycle, and I could keep on going. I always felt so much better after a night of dancing. I don't know if it was because it felt like a workout, or what, but it was a huge stress release for me.
Jimmy joined Kat and me on the dance floor and they started to play a familiar song. Once it came on, Sara and Ren grabbed me and pulled me to dance with them. We started swinging our hips and then dropped to the floor and brought it back up. We were laughing and just having a really good time.
After the night was over we hurried passed the photographers and climbed into an awaiting car. Climbing into the car was the first time I noticed Christopher had joined them tonight. I did my best to ignore him, as usual, and I thought he would do the same. Upon our return to the hotel, I found out I was wrong. I could feel him closer than normal and his eyes on me. It was unnerving.
"I'll be up in a minute, I want to go over to the little store they have real quickly" I leaned over and whispered into Kat's ear. She nodded.
The truth was there wasn't one dang thing that I wanted from this little all-night lobby store. I just wanted to get away from him and his weird behavior.
I let everyone pass me, watching to make sure he went by. Once he passed me, I felt relieved and walked toward the little store. Just walking around long enough for everyone to get to their rooms, I figured I'd killed enough time and finally headed to my room.
The elevator was quiet and only stopped at one other floor, though no one was waiting. I stepped off the elevator and turned in the direction my room. I halted in my tracks. Damn it!
I sighed and continued walking, but Christopher pushed from the wall and walked in front of me.
"Excuse me," I growled and tried to walk around him. He moved and stayed in front of me. "Oh God, what? What Christopher?" I spat out and stood with my arms across my chest.
He started walking closer toward me. With each step he made forward I backed up. I felt my back hit a wall and he pressed closer. I felt mixed emotions. For a moment he scared me, but then a weird ease came over me when he was close enough I could feel the heat of his body. I wanted to slap him and then I wanted to slap myself for reacting this way.
"I think that I want –" Before he could finish I tried to slip out from the side; however, he stopped me by putting his arms up on either side of me. He smirked.
I wanted to slap the smirk off his face and then came the desire to swipe my tongue over his smirk. I grew more annoyed with him and my reaction.
"Move Christopher!" I yelled.
He shook his head still wearing that smirk.
"As I was saying…I think I want you…"
My mouth dropped open.
"...your voice." He finished with a laugh at my reaction.
"Excuse me?" I said, shoving him in his chest and forcing him backward.
"You heard me" He turned and walked away toward his room.
I could not take it anymore. I had had enough of his arrogance and pissy attitude.
"I can't stand you." I shouted at his retreating figure. "I don't know what your damn problem is but –"
He spun back around on me and pointed his finger at me.
"You don't know anything about me," he yelled and then went into his room.
I quickly walked passed his door, kicking it hard along the way to my room, and slamming my door behind me.
Chapter Six
The Los Angeles shows were over before we knew it, but it had been a fantastic three nights. The crowd was massive. The audience, even those who came for The Forgotten, welcomed us. I drew some satisfaction from the fact that Chris had to hate it.
Our tour stops would keep us on tour for months. Upon leaving Los Angeles, we would drive straight to Phoenix. Next were Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, and then El Paso. The drive was at least four hours between each and we would be going from bus to concert, concert to bus and so on.
We were finishing tagging our luggage when there was a knock at the door. Kat showed Una and Nicholas in to the room. We stood silently except for Xander who continued to tag our luggage.
They both turned to me. Nervousness plagued Una's creased forehead and Nicholas looked very concerned. I began fidgeting under their unsure looks.
"Um...Mia can we please talk with you for a moment?" Una's voice wavered for a moment.
"Is there something I should be worried about? You both look like you have bad news" Forcing a laugh, I tried to ease my own growing nervousness.
"Could you please join us for a moment?" Una motioned for me to follow them into a bedroom.
"Uh…sure," I turned and the others shrugged. "So what's up?" Furrowing my brow, I entered the room.
"Well we're bringing in a third tour bus for the next week or two, if necessary."
I was unsure what the third bus had to do with me, but Una continued for Nicholas.
"Mia we are bringing in the other bus for The Forgotten, except for Christopher."
Oh, of course he would have to have his own bus. Probably couldn't get everyone on the bus with his asshole behavior.
"Okay, what does this have to do with me? I mean –"
"Christopher has a song he's started working on and wants to collaborate with you on it."
First, my eyes grew about three times their size, and then I started shaking my head. I knew where this conversation was heading and I didn't like it one bit.
"No, no, no….wait –"
"Mia, I, we, cannot make you do anything." Una took a deep breath and continued. "However, as a manager, the song would be great exposure for Hushed Mentality and could do great things to launch your appeal with The Forgotten fans."
This woman was out of her damned mind. She knew he was a jerk and she wanted me to agree to stay with him, alone, on a bus, just him and me. Uh-uh, no way in hell. The look I gave was exactly what she deserved for suggesting such an insane thing.
"I, of all people, know what my son is capable of and I'm pretty sure he's already shown you how he can be, and for that I apologize. However, I'm also sure you know, as well as I do, what he'll be like if this does not come to play as he requests."
"So I have to suck this up because he'll throw a damn tantrum and no one can or will deal with him? No, no way," I threw my hands in the air. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, Mia that's not what I'm saying. If you decline then we'll deal with him, I'm just being completely honest." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Honestly if I were you…I wouldn't do it."
Una's head shot to look at Nicholas in shock. "Nicholas…" she hissed.
"What? I am being honest with the girl. She deserves it." He looked back at me. "It's true Hushed Mentality would get amazing coverage from the song, as well as being able to possibly debut the song on stage. It would be a career boost." He took another long breath. "Consider it and let us know before we finish loading the buses, please?" He looked directly into my eyes, pleading.
My immediate reaction was to scream 'ah-nah, hell-nah', but an odd calmness came over me. I could only agree to think about it. Una and Nicholas walked out of the room and the girls rushed in. They immediately bombarded me with curious looks and questions.
"What are you going to do?" Laney qu
estioned. "You aren't really going to do this, are you?" Her eyes were beseeching me to say I wasn't.
I looked up and they were looking at me inquisitively. Obviously, they'd eavesdropped on the whole conversation. Who could blame them? I would've done it too.
"Do you guys want me to do it?" Looking toward the floor, my stomach twisted nervously awaiting their responses.
"Oh girl, we could never ask you to do this or make this decision for you." Serena put her arm around me.
"I need you guys though." After a deep intake of breath, I exhaled "Time for a vote."
"We can't just vote on –" Kat started.
"This could affect us all, the entire band, which makes it a vote worthy subject."
I looked around and they nodded. We stuck our fists out in front of us and began our vote. I closed my eyes.
"One, Two, Three…Vote!" Opening my eyes, I look at the thumbs around me. Laney and my thumbs were down, Kat and Serena's were up.
"Shit, tie breaker." Laney groaned.
Everyone was wearing their nerves on their face.
"Pick your champions." Kat rubbed her hands together.
"Serena, let’s do this."
"Where?" Laney scrunched her nose. This wasn’t one of her favorite moments.
"Hallway?" I suggested.
"No way." Kat shook her head. "The lobby." An evil grin spread across her red lips.
In the lobby, Laney pinched her nose. Kat sat smiling in a lobby chair. Serena and I stood in front each other, determination on both our faces.
"Penis," I announced in one octave higher than my normal voice.
"Vagina!" Serena announced a bit higher.
Both of us glanced around the fancy lobby, distinguished men in suits and well-dressed women strolled around us. No one was looking at us, yet, but it wouldn’t take long. The purpose of the game was to get louder and louder until one person was too embarrassed to shout it louder in public.
In the end, a woman entered the lobby with about five children. Serena said "vagina" so loud the mother pulled her children closer and covered the youngest ears. The moment she looked back to the clerk behind the desk, I knew we were about to be asked to leave. With one last look to the wide eyed children, the "puh" sitting on my lips, I grabbed Serena’s hand and pulled her to the elevators.
"Really?" Kat griped as she followed.
Laney caught up quickly, looking relieved it was over.
Instead of complaining about my loss, I dialed Una on the way back to the room.
"Okay Una, let's do this" Looking up as I spoke, their faces now filled with guilt. I forced a smile.
* * * * *
I knew Nicholas would give me a hard time about my suggestion of moving Mia onto a bus with me. However, after a few hours of convincing him it was purely collaboration and was only for the good of both bands, he finally agreed to talk with Una. Counting on Una to fall into manger mode and realize the exposure her band would get, I was sure she would at least propose it to them. All I cared about was I would have Mia on a tour bus, alone, with the ability to make her so miserable she would walk away from the tour, unable to handle it any longer.
When the road crew started to load up the bus with her luggage, I sat back on the couch lounging in victory. This was going to be way too easy.
Mia was hesitant to step onto the bus, but she finally did. Rolling her eyes when she saw me, I gave her a victorious grin. She walked past me and threw her things on one of the bunks. Then sat herself down and put her earbuds in before lying down, facing away from me.
That wasn't going to work for me, so I got up and went back to her bunk, standing there until she rolled over and looked at me. A face full of irritation was my greeting.
"What do you want Mason?" She was really pissed.
I sneered. What made her think she could talk to me like that?
"I'm here, when you want to work on this song, you let me know." She rolled back over.
Pulling her earbuds so they popped out of her ears, she sat up quickly. Climbing onto her feet, she stood in front of me, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. The little kitty wanted to play.
"I was simply going to say that you can have the large bed in the back of the bus, that's all." I smiled down at her. She saw right through me.
Something over my shoulder caught her eye before she looked back at me with her dark eyes and answered me.
"No, thank you. I'll stay right here." Her jaw tensed and her smile forced.
"Is everything okay?" Turning at Nicholas' question, I nodded with a shrug.
"Why wouldn't it be? I was simply offering Mia the large bed in the back of the bus, that's all." I walked back to the couch and sat down.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow in partial suspicion and surprise. He looked to Mia for confirmation.
"It's fine." She sighed. "Thank you, Nicholas."
I rolled my eyes. The damsel in distress act was so damn lame. He finally left and the bus started up. I turned back as Mia was stalking toward me.
"Look here, Mason, I don't care how everyone else walks on egg shells for you. Plain and simple, you stay out of my way and I will stay out of yours. When this 'song' you have is finished then I'm out of here." She turned on her heels and went back to the bunk.
I let her lie back there for about an hour before my game began. I turned on the TV, increasing the volume. She shifted around and I knew it was getting to her. I looked at the clock, 10:00 p.m., perfect.
"Can you please turn that down?" She groaned. I ignored her. "Mason! Turn it down for god's sake." She pressed her pillow over her head and I stifled my laughter.
Turning off the TV, I watched her body relax. Plugging in my iPod I turned it on, again at top volume. I sat back and waited for the yelling.
"What the hell Christopher, don't you sleep?" She was lying face up with her hands over her eyes.
"Not as much as you seem to." I chided.
She sat up in a huff. "Is this some sick way of saying you wanted to work on the damn song?"
I half grinned. She got up and walked toward the couch. Grabbing my ankles, she threw my legs off the couch and sat down.
"Okay. Let's start then." She sat back against the couch.
I threw my notebook at her. She picked it up from her lap and looked over it.
"Do you have music to this, I mean, what do you want me to do?"
I shook my head. I thought she would be better than this.
"Don't shake your head at me," she threatened. "I know you're up to something. I just haven't figured out what it is yet." Her eyes were challenging me to deny it.
I grabbed my guitar and played the song a couple of times.
"Sing." I began playing again. She sang the whole song and then took the pen from the table in front of us and started making notes. The song was going to have to be finished, it was necessary for Nicholas and Una to see progress. After an hour of working on the song and another hour arguing, the bus stopped at a hotel in Phoenix.
"Thank God!" Mia threw the notebook at me and went to grab her things. She walked passed me and off the bus without saying another word.
Her ability to disregard me really ate away at me. I shook it off though and grabbed my own things before stepping off the bus. I was getting to her and that was what I hoped to accomplish.
When I got to the lobby there were the usual awaiting fans and some paparazzi. I was checking into when I noticed Stacia heading my direction. Stacia was a backup singer.
"Hey Christopher," she was using her seductive voice and slipped her hand up my chest, leaning her body against me. She kissed my cheek.
"Stacia," I nodded and headed to the elevator.
The door opened and I stepped in, feeling her follow me. I smiled to myself. We've played this game many times.
"So, what floor?" she asked with her fingers hovering over the buttons.
"Eight." I answered.
"Eight it is," She smiled and winked.
Af
ter closing my bedroom door, she went straight to business. Stripping off all her clothes, she stood in heels only. She sashayed to the bed and lay across it. Curling one finger, she motioned for me to join her.
Walking to the edge of the bed, I stood at the edge looking down on her. Moving onto her knees, she removed my shirt and moved lower to unbuckle my pants. I looked down onto her bleach blonde head. She slid my pants and boxers down until they fell to the floor, becoming a cotton and denim puddle at my feet. She kissed my neck and slid her tongue down my chest until she reached her destination.
She took all of me into her mouth and slowly moved. The physical contact aroused me, but it was difficult to stay turned on. This was a first and it was frustrating the hell out of me. I had way too much on my mind.
Grabbing her by the head, I set a faster pace. Her gag reflex protested for a second, but I didn't slow. My muscles tightened up and I knew I was close. She tried to pull away, but I kept her in place until I was finished. Releasing her, I went to take a shower, leaving her alone on the bed.
As I leaned into the hot water, I heard the bathroom door open and Stacia's silhouette formed on the other side of the shower curtain. I rolled my eyes when she reached for the shower curtain. Why do they always think it's more than it is? She should know by now.
"Did you need something?" Irritation dripping from my words, she stopped immediately. Her hand lingering in the air, but she didn't answer me. "You can go now." I said flatly.
"Asshole," she huffed and then slammed the bathroom door as she left.
When I heard the room door shut, I got out of the shower and went to lie down. The last thing I remember was the radio clock stating it was two in the morning.
Sitting on my bed, I curled my knees to my chest. Listening to him berate her over and over. When I heard the thud and the scream, I ran from my room and rushed to her side. His hand found me first, and lugged me back until he could throw me in the familiar dark closet. Slamming the door shut and locking me in, I heard the screech of heavy furniture moving. He blocked me inside. Curling into a ball on the floor, I covered my ears to escape the sobbing, the screaming.
Falling Stars Page 6
