Falling Stars (8 page)

"Eww
tant catch me!" the boy came running in yelling.

Mia
came stomping in after him. Her face was lit up with the biggest smile I'd ever
seen on her.

"Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum,
I smell a Ryan and Ryan is yum!" She laughed, tackled and tickled him.
Then he started tickling her back. He was laughing so hard he got hiccups.

It
made me remember my mother chasing me around our back yard. I shook the
unwelcome memory out of my head and went outside for some air. Sitting on the
front porch steps, I heard someone approaching.

"You
okay?" I turned to see the woman they had called Linda.

"Yeah,
long trip." I forced a small smile. "Just needed some air," I
turned back around.

"You're
going to freeze out here," she warned.

"I'll
be fine." I tried not to sound irritated, but I don't think I succeeded.

"Okay.
Well you just let me or the girls know if you need anything." Then she was
gone.

Yeah
well, I need your girls to be off my tour, can you make that happen, Linda? I
need to sleep without episodes, think you can manage that while you're at it.

I
was about to go back to the bus when I heard loud music inside. Walking back inside,
Mia, Elliott, and Ryan were playing the Rock Band video game. The three of them
were playing and singing 'Are you gonna be my girl?' by Jet. I had to smile.
The little boy knew every word.

"Amelia
Marie Ryder!" Red yelled from the stairs.

I
watched Mia cringe and try to hide behind a giggling Ryan.

"That
was supposed to be for his birthday tomorrow! I told you to wait!" She
stood in true mother form with her hands on her hips. "Ryan tell Aunt Mia
she is bad and to stop hiding from mommy."

I
watched Mia's lips move silently and then the boys spoke. "I don see An
Mia mommy, where she?" His smile turned into a giggle.

"Mia,
do not have him lie for you!" She was trying to hide a smile that was
working its way over her lips.

The
girls stayed at their house while we stayed at a local hotel. We'd been in this
rinky-dink town long enough for them to visit their family and for Ryan's
birthday. Elliott, Una, and Nicholas went crazy buying gifts for a kid they
just met.

Elliott's
behavior was the strangest of all. He wasn't this guy. He was a strip club
going, body shot drinking womanizer. However, it seemed that aliens had
replaced him with this father-like figure. He interacted with Serena and her
son like it was his goal to be a part of their family. This new Elliott
completely confused me.

Today
the girls were playing at their old high school. We were required to tag along
for 'good press.' Arriving to a very small school that looked nothing like the
high school I went to, there were no metal detectors or chain link fences anywhere.

As
the girls set up and rehearsed, I decided to set my plan into motion. We took
the principle up on his offer for a tour and when we reached the music room, I
instantly knew how to start my plan. Sitting down to the piano, I started
playing. Nicholas and Jackson walked over slowly. I knew sitting at a piano
again would strike at their curiosity.

"Christopher…um…what's
that you're playing? I don't think I've heard it before." Nicholas spoke
hesitantly, probably waiting for me to yell at him.

"You
wouldn't have heard it. It's something I'm working on." I shrugged "But
it's missing something and I haven't been able to figure it out until just now."

"What?"
Jackson inquired. From the corner of my eye, I saw his eyes shift to Nicholas
who was still staring at me like I was a bomb about to go off.

"Collaboration."

"Collaboration?"
Nicholas was feeding right from my hand.

"Yes,
I think it should be a duet, so it's hard for me to get the lyrics set properly
being one perspective." I shrugged and stood up. "I'll figure it out
eventually." I left the room smiling to myself.

Let
the games begin.

Once
the high school concert was out of the way, it was time to return to the hotel
and get ready to leave the next morning. Our next stop was Los Angeles.

We
left early Wednesday morning for L.A. and once we arrived, we went to our
respective rooms.

Thursday
brought with, it plans for the night including a trip to a club. Elliott
finally convinced me to try going out with them and if I hated it, I could
always leave whenever I wanted to. I reluctantly agreed.

Stepping
into the darkened club, the random multicolored lights began circling around
me. We were ushered to a private room by the club manager. The room already
seemed full for being a private room. Then I saw Red and Tiny dancing together.
I should've known they would be here. Is that how a mother should be dancing?
Christ.

I
walked over to the bar and got water. Jackson was quick to my side.

"It's
only water Jackson. Do you want to smell it before I drink it?" I held the
glass over to him and glared.

"Kill
me for caring," he said as he walked away.

I
sighed and took a big drink. Well, where are the other two? If Red and Tiny are
here then where are Blondie and Mia? I looked to my left and saw Blondie and
Mia sandwiching Jimmy as they danced. This is just disgusting.

The
song changed to some heavy hip-hop song about 'hips swinging' and that's when
Mia and a couple of girls I had seen around backstage, started dancing in
synchronization. I'll give them the credit. They were good at dancing like
strippers. I half smiled into my glass of water.

"She's
a trained dancer you know?" Looking down at my side, Tiny had appeared
next to me staring at where I'd been looking.

"Oh-Kay"
I rolled my eyes and took another drink of water.

"I
mean she is actually a trained classical dancer, like ballet. You should really
see her. She is really good. It's crazy though how much she likes this and is
good at –"

"Is
there a particular reason you're telling me this?" I glared down on her.

She
shrugged. "Just making conversation," she walked away smirking.

Crazy
little freak.

I
eventually made it to one of the tables in the room. Jimmy arrived from the
dance floor and sat with me. When I was about to say something to him two
familiar groupies appeared in front of me.

"Come
dance with us Chris," groupie one whined and pulled on my hand.

"Sorry,
not my thing," I motioned around the club with a look of disgust on my
face.

"Then
we'll just have to dance for you," Groupie number two smiled seductively
and pulled the other girl against her body.

They
slithered and ground against each other for the sole purpose of my
entertainment. I felt Jimmy nudge my arm when the two kissed each other. I
glanced at him. He mouthed the words 'nice'.

I
raised my bottle of water to him and smiled large.

*
* * * *

Being
home was so revitalizing after all the crap that had already started with
Christopher. Seeing Ryan was the definite highlight. He was my angel in the
beginning of what felt like would be my hell, especially if Christopher had
anything to do with it.

Playing
at our high school was nostalgic and it felt rewarding. My old chorus teacher
had puffed her chest and held her head high, boasting to Una how she had molded
my voice. 

Stepping
onto the large black canvas tarp the smell of the gymnasium was so familiar.
Taking one deep breath and exhaling, I glanced around to Kat, Serena, and Lane
– all looking the same as I felt. Ecstatic.

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.