The Stage (Phoenix Rising #1) (21 page)

Smart, Joyce. Smart.

“Don’t change your hair or make-up,” she says. “You look like you just-had-sex hot!”

“I do?” I ask, trying to calm my hair in the back.

“Ummm—yeah. Come up to my room, though. I have this dress I want to loan you. Swipe those boots. They’re fucking hot.”

“Okay.” I’m smiling as she stands.

“Room 214,” she says, before running off to invite more people. I look around for Riley and Deloris. They’re sitting in the higher seats and Riley looks a little bored. After the next battle, I go to her.

“I’m leaving, chickie, if you guys wanna ride, come with me.” She yawns and nods.

“You don’t have anything else to do?” Deloris asks, “I drove over in my car.”

“Okay. No problem. You guys can go now and I’ll just tie up a few things here and meet you back home.”

“Sounds good,” she says. I hug Riley and watch them leave. From here, I can see Kolton, but he can’t see me. He’s looking around, trying to find me, I think. I feel a little bad about how I left him in the trailer. Not a
little
bad, a
lot
bad. Then I get an idea.

But how can I do it without anyone seeing? If I wait until his next break, I can follow him and do it then. I watch two more battles, and the winners are really good. Some of these people, I haven’t ever heard sing before.

“Cut. We need five. Then we’ll be done for the day,” one of the producers on the floor says.

Kolton gets up and starts walking toward stage left. I follow, but not close behind him. He turns a corner, and then another. When I get there, he’s nowhere to be seen. I shake my head in disbelief when suddenly, a door opens, he grabs me by the arm and ushers me inside a small room with him. It’s dark and we’re alone.

“I have something for you,” I try.

“You can’t run away from me like that. You’re always running.”

“Here,” I say, taking the panties out of my front pocket. He reaches for them, turns them over in his hand and opens them. He bites his lip and smiles, the one meant just for me. He puts them to his nose and takes a deep, appreciative breath. “It’s a white flag,” I say, shocked he just did that. “I’m calling a truce.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I needed a minute to process what we’d just done.”

“I’ve never known anyone like you,” he says. “Most girls are—”

“Uh, I’d rather not hear about—”

“You’re right.” He puts his hands up. “I was trying to show you how much I’m changing. Then I piss you off doing it.”

“I’m not pissed. I—”

“I’m not going to touch you again like that, Mia.” His eyes sparkle at me in the dim light. “You running away from me proves you need more time.”

“I think I was embarrassed.”

“I know. Let’s talk about it more tonight.”

“I can’t. I’m going out with some of the others from the show tonight.”

“No, you’re not,” he says, pushing me toward the wall and pinning me with his arms on either side of my face.

“Yes. I. Am.” I stick my chin up in defiance. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Like hell I can’t. It’s not safe.”

“Why not? You’re paranoid. No one knows about us. We’re renting a limo.”

“You’re all over the promos for the show. You’re going to be recognized. All of you.”

“It’s going to be fun.” I pout, genuinely. I mean, come on.

“You’re not even twenty-one,” he says.

“A lot of us aren’t,” I say in my own defense.

“Fuck!” He moves away from me and starts to pace like a caged animal. “I—just don’t want you to go.”

“Well, I’m going. That’s it.” My arms are crossed now. I feel the line between my eyebrows deepening and my bottom lip pressing into the upper one.

“Manny needs to come with you.”

“I’m not bringing him with me to the club. No, that’s not happening. You don’t even make sense.”

“What club?”

“I don’t know.”

“Mia, tell me the truth.”

“Is this how you’re going to be now? I mean, I’m not even your girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend? No, you’re not my
girlfriend.
You’re my
everything,
Mia.” Holy shit. It’s like the air got sucked out of the room.

“That’s not fair,” I say, before putting my hand on the doorknob.

“I’ve never—” he says, grabbing me by my upper arm, removing my grasp on the doorknob.

“What, Kolton?”

“Felt this way before, possessive and out of control. It’s like I’m ten steps ahead of you, waiting for you to catch up.”

“Kolton, I—”

“Are you ever going to catch up?” The look on his face is heartbreaking. It’s the same way he looked in front of the elevator and, again, when he was leaving the bathroom after I’d fixed his cut. It hurts my heart.

“I’m right beside you, okay?” I say and put my arms around his narrow waist. “I’m sorry.” I feel some of the tension in his body release as I hold him.

“I don’t think I’m handling this right. I don’t know what to do,” he admits, smoothing my hair out of my face. “Will you be patient with me?” I nod and get on my tip toes to kiss his chin. “Bring the phone I gave you. Don’t argue with me on that; it’ll make me feel better.”

“Okay.” I can do that.

“Okay?” He confirms. I nod again and he lifts the panties up.

“This is seriously fucking hot.” That smile of his; it does me in.

“I know. I can tell,” I say. “You’re lucky your jeans are kinda tight or people would start wondering.” He chuckles and adjusts himself.

“I’m starting to get used to it. It’s like a dull ache; how your heart feels when you can’t be with someone you love.”

Love?

“How do you know that feeling?”

“All my life, you know?” I realize, he means his parents. I nuzzle his chin with my lips and pull back. He tensed up in my arms.

“You’d better go or they’re going to start looking for you.” He nods and leans down, kisses me lightly, and goes out the door.

I’m kinda proud. I handled that pretty well. He left a little bit happier than he came in. Didn’t he?

The Club

“M
ia! That dress is seriously hot!” Brianna says. It’s a low-cut, heavy metallic dress that comes to about mid-thigh on me. I’m turning from side to side in the mirror, trying to talk myself into actually wearing it. The boots
do
look good with it, but it’s borderline slutty.

“Where are we going, anyway?” I ask idly, but curious.

“This cool eighteen and up club called Florentine Gardens. Your legs are so fucking long, girl.”

“They are not!” I brush her off. I mean, they are, but I got teased a lot when I was a kid, so I hate it when they’re pointed out. The term ‘Daddy Long Legs’ starts ringing in my ears, and I want to pop someone in the nose. “Who else is coming?”

“In the limo? Jessie, Tarise, Sam, Kendra, Alexia, Kimber—”

“She’s going to be in the limo with us? Her and Tarise?” I say turning around in defiance.

“Yeah, I mean. They’re pretty cool.”

“To you, they are.” I sit down on the bed, pressing my knees together and sticking my ankles out. “They
hate
me.”

“They’re jealous, Mia. It’s so obvious what’s going on with you and Kolton.”

I don’t say anything; I’m not going to lie to her. She’s the nicest person I know here. But I’m not going to admit anything, either. “I’m not cheating.” It comes out as a whisper, a plea to be believed by my only friend on the island of
The Stage
.

“They think he’s in love with you.” Is it that obvious? “Even though they put in that decoy, we all know you were in his car, Mia.”

“What decoy?”

“They ushered you in the elevator under the blanket. Another brunette came down the elevator a few hours later and left in his car.” I didn’t know about that, pretty smart, actually.

“I got lost. He came to pick me up.” Fuck! Why did I just admit to that? It’s like all the lies and secrets are a huge knot in my gut. One was bound to escape.

“I think—well, I think it’s kinda beautiful.” When I look up, her features are soft and kind. “He’s a bad, bad boy, though. Just be careful.” Yeah. That’s the understatement of the year. Then the door opens and everyone comes rushing in. I’m surprised to see one extra person.

“Kenny? I thought you went back home.”

“N—n—nope!” he says. “I’m working w—w—with a producer here.” He’s beaming and he’s a nice looking kid, especially when he smiles.

“Already?”

“M—m—mom’s pretty p—p—persistent.” I smile, really big, for the first time in a while. I’m glad to see him. He’s a nice guy—I just hope Kolton doesn’t get word of it. I purposely ignore Kimber and Tarise’s duck face lips and cocked eyebrows cast in my direction. Fuck them. I stand up on my too tall legs and watch them turn into little green monster duck-faced bitches. Kenny can’t hide his eyes, either. He’s looking at the girls in action up top, but I don’t care. I’m going out. I never get to just go out. I always have to sing. Tonight I’m going to have some fun.

*     *     *

Brianna convinced me not to bring my huge bag so I’ve tucked Kolton’s phone in my boot and my ID and debit card in my bra. “We’re on the guest list,” she says to the broad-chested bouncer in the bright yellow shirt. His eyebrow comes up when I take my ID out of my bra and hand it to him.

“Mia Phoenix? Wait? You’re that one girl from that new singing show?” he asks.

“Yep,” I say. This is weird. Really weird.

“You’re an amazing singer! I’m really looking forward to the show!” I nod as he waves me in. Brianna waited for me and I want to ditch everyone else, so I grab her arm and enter the red dragon colored room. The music is like a pulse and the crowd is young. They’ve got glow bracelets and necklaces and are hopping around under a disco ball. Yes! A
real
disco ball.

The last time I’ve been in a place with one of those was a roller rink when they turned off the lights. The feeling of flying around soft corners of the slick track, so fast, with lights touching my skin and my friend Kaya close behind. It reminds me of that and of how much I miss Kaya. I don’t care who sees. I run into the crowd and pull Brianna with me. My arms are in the air and I’m hopping, too.

My eyes are closed as I feel the pulse of a song I’ve never heard before. Then, the DJ changes songs. I hear Kolton’s voice as it’s mixed and scratched. Can’t I get away from him for ten freaking minutes? It’s Riley’s favorite song, the one about the tiger. I always forget the name. But the words. The words. Today it’s like I’m hearing them for the first time.

When the hunter becomes the prey

They all want it, I have to say

It’s all I know and all I show

I don’t even have to ask

They do this dirty dance

When the hunter becomes the prey

’Cause I’m the tiger

And I’m not gonna fight her off

‘Cause I’m a tiger

I’m ’ma rip them off

’Cause I’m a tiger

For the first time, I really listened to the song. And it’s sad, I think; sexy, but sad. I wonder, does he rip their clothes off, or does he steal from them? Use them? Like, rip them off for their affection? Na, I’m thinking about it too much. I look around and Brianna’s gone.

’Cause I’m the tiger

And I’m not gonna fight her off

’Cause I’m a tiger

I’m ’ma rip them off

’Cause I’m a tiger

I want to sit down; I don’t feel like dancing anymore. I’m a moody little bitch these days and it’s all his fault, isn’t it? No. That’s not fair. He brings out feelings in me I’d rather not deal with. And I know that what I’m most afraid of is loving him and then losing him. It’s happened so much in the last year; I don’t think I could take it one more time.

I walk toward the bar inside the bright red nook and sit at the stool. I order a water and have to use my card since I left my cash in Brianna’s room.

“Marilyn Monroe was discovered here,” a voice says, up to my ear. I pull away and turn around. A tall, twenty-something in a T-shirt and jeans is standing behind me. “I’m Todd,” he yells above Kolton’s voice as it reaches into my soul and makes my insides cry like the day is long.