by Emma Rose
Around 7:00 p.m., I sat down with a heavy sigh. I wanted to find a place to sleep, but I also really wanted to make a few more dollars that day. "I'll just take a little break," I thought to myself.
I was sitting criss-cross applesauce on the sidewalk relacing my dumpster converse and singing quietly to myself when suddenly I heard a familiar voice speaking to me.
"That might just have been the best rendition of Hallelujah I have ever heard."
I looked up surprised that someone had given me a genuine compliment and even more surprised by who had said it.
William Connors. Oliver's big brother.
Time had been good to Will, he wasn't the skinny, red-headed, sixteen-year-old kid I remembered him as. There he stood in front of me, six feet tall with broad shoulders and strong arms, wearing a tailored suit and tie. His soft baby cheeks were gone, he now had a chiselled jawline and gorgeously high cheekbones. He still had red hair, but it was nice and soft, like Prince Harry, instead of like a fire truck. I couldn't help but notice his expensive watch.
I didn't know what to say. I just kind of paused awkwardly.
"It's me, Jemma... Oliver's big brother, Will," he smiled reaching his hand down for me to grab.
"Will," I said blushing as he helped me stand up, "It's nice to see you again."
I felt so ashamed to be singing on the street with a messy ponytail and a stained sweatshirt while he had obviously been making a name for himself the past six years.
"Yeah, you too, buddy. We missed you. Especially Oliver," he grinned, shaking my hand.
"It's definitely been a while," I nodded crossing my arms.
"So, what have you been up to?" he asked, his green eyes staring into mine.
"Oh, not much..." I sighed, turning to look the other way. Eye contact made me feel vulnerable. "What about you?"
"Well, ya know, I graduated high school and then college last month. Now I'm working as a talent agent. You know how much I loved music. This gives me a chance to be around it all day."
I actually didn't know. Will didn't talk much about himself before.
"That's great," I forced a smile, still feeling a little nervous.
"So, how's your mum?"
My heart sank at the mention of her name. The pain came flooding back.
"She died," I whispered looking down at my feet.
"Oh, Jemma, I'm so sorry..." he said gently, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"People die, it happens," I responded moving away from his gentle touch. I wasn't used to people touching me even affectionately. It made me uncomfortable. Additionally, I had a general distrust of pretty much everybody.
My response caught Will off guard. He quickly changed the subject, "Hey, if you're not too busy would you like to have dinner at my place? I was just going to order in, but it would be nice to catch up."
Even though I felt embarrassed and a little uncomfortable around Will, I was really hungry, so I decided I would take him up on his offer.
"That would be- that would be very nice, Will. Thank you," I stuttered.
"Alright, then!" Will grinned, reaching down to grab my belongings off the sidewalk. "Come on, my place is just a few blocks ahead."
"Oh, God. I can't believe he's carrying my hobo supplies," I thought. I was mortified.
CHAPTER SEVEN: JEMMA
I followed Will through the city making small talk until we reached his apartment building.
"Well, here we are," he said as we approached Walker Tower.
"Wow, Will! You live here now?" I exclaimed in honest wonder.
Will chuckled in good humor. "Yup. I know it's a lot different from the place I grew up in downtown."
I smiled shyly remembering the good times I had with the Connors growing up.
My nerves increased as we passed through the doors. Everything seemed so new, so expensive, and so clean compared to what I was used to. I could feel people's eyes on me as we took the elevator up to the eighteenth floor. I don't blame them for their curiosity, or judgment, whatever it was. I'm sure I looked as much like an imposter as I felt.
Clearly, Will sensed my nerves. He tried to reassure me by saying, "Hey, you're my guest, alright. Relax."
I nodded weakly. Part of me wanted to turn around, dash out the door, and run back towards the streets. Back to the subway, back to the park, back to a shelter. Back to where I belonged. Back to where I was comfortable.
The other part of me was incredibly interested in Will's new life and incredibly interested in consuming a decent meal for once, so I decided to stay.
I watched as Will turned the key in the lock, twisted the doorknob, and revealed the most beautiful home I had ever seen.
Floor to ceiling windows with a spectacular view of the city. A long immaculate white couch. Sculptures and paintings like I had never seen before. From the living room ceiling hung a stunning, modern chandelier.
The kitchen boasted marvellous marble countertops, a stainless-steel fridge, and a double oven. In the adjoining room, there was a long dark, wooden table with eight sleek armless chairs around it. I could only imagine what the rest of the place looked like.
"So, what do you think?" Will smirked as I stood there, mouth open, taking it all in. He turned around and spread his arms out as if showing me the whole place was his.
"It's amazing, Will," I nodded simply.
"I'm glad you like it," he said while placing my belongings on the kitchen island. "Before we eat, there's someone I'd like you to meet," he grinned, "Just have a seat and wait a second."
"Okay," I agreed. I wondered who it could be. It couldn't be Oliver, could it?
As Will disappeared down the hallway, I lifted myself up uneasily onto one of the barstools by the island. I hadn't sat in a kitchen, or an apartment for that matter, this nice in my entire life. I felt like a dirty grease stain in that kitchen, like an eyesore you just can't get rid of.
I traced the patterns of the stone countertop with my fingers. The marble was not only beautiful to look at, but it was also smooth and cool to the touch. In the back of my mind, I wished that one day I would have a kitchen of my own with an island and that the countertop would be just as pretty as this one.
My thoughts were interrupted by Will's re-entrance.
"Jemma, I'd like you to meet my wonderful fiancé, Skylar."
"Hi," I waved nervously. Skylar was gorgeous. I mean between me and her- there was no competition. She looked to be a few years older than Will maybe twenty-five or twenty-six. She had long brown hair and deep brown eyes that would make any guy just melt. She was wearing a pencil skirt, a red blouse, and a form-fitting blazer that showed off her slim body and feminine curves. Like her guy, Will, she was tall, a solid 5'10" and that was without high heels.
"Hey, girlie," she smiled, flashing her perfectly straight white teeth.
"You're Jemma. Will told me all about you. You were Oliver's little friend, right?"
"Well, I haven't seen him for a while," I blushed, "but we used to be good friends."
"Oh, I see," Skylar winked and I really didn't understand why.
"So, how does Chinese sound?" Will asked, wrapping his arm around the tiny waist of his fiancé.
"Great," Skylar answered before kissing Will softly on the cheek.
"You good with that, Jemma?" Skylar asked.
"Of course. I'm good with anything," I replied politely.
"I'll leave you two ladies to chat while I order," Will said, pulling out his phone and walking into the living room.
I sat up straight on the stool, folded my hands demurely on my lap, and crossed my legs. I wasn't sure how to act in a situation like this. Nobody ever taught me etiquette. In my eyes, Skylar seemed to be the epitome of elegance, class, and wealth. She was practically my polar opposite. I felt intimidated by her, to say the least. I wondered what she was thinking about me and about my stringy dirty blonde hair, beanie cap, ripped jeans, muddy shoes, and sweatshirt.
"It really is nice to meet you,"
Skylar reassured me, pulling out some glasses from the cupboard.
"You too. I haven't seen Will in such a long time- since we were kids. I'm glad to see he's happy," I smiled.
"Most of the time," she said, winking again. Skylar grabbed a bottle of wine and poured it into the three glasses. "He's not always the easiest to please- a bit of a perfectionist-, but let's just keep that between you and me."
She sat down next to me and slid me a glass of wine.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm only eighteen. I don't drink," I stuttered feeling rude for rejecting what she had given me.
"Shh," she said, putting a finger up to her lips, "It'll be our little secret. I'm sure you can handle it."
Not wanting to make a bad impression, I lifted the glass to my lips and took a sip. It wasn't bad, to my surprise.
"Ya know, I was just like you," she said after I put my glass down.
I didn't know what she meant, so I just smiled.
"I'm from Philly and not like the historic part like the hood part," she laughed. "I was in and out of foster care for my whole childhood. I had no one to truly depend on, except myself. When I turned eighteen, I asked a friend to give me a ride up here. Ended up in the Bronx with a boy from high school, but soon enough I got my first modeling gig. It wasn't long before I signed a deal with a modeling agency, broke up with that boy, and the rest is history."
"Good for you," I grinned, feeling more uncomfortable than ever.
"So, this place is yours?"
Skylar nodded proudly. "Will's only months out of college. Did you think he could afford this place?" She laughed, making me feel foolish.
I felt relieved when Will walked back into the kitchen.
"Food will be here in twenty minutes," he reported sighing as he sat down on the other side of me and grabbed the third glass of wine.
"So, umm, how's Oliver?" I asked. Not because I really wanted to talk about Oliver, but because I really didn't want to talk about Skylar's successes anymore. Plus, it seemed like the obvious thing to do. After all, I was always closer to Oliver than Will growing up. Deep down, I knew that Will had probably brought me here because of Oliver.
"Ahh, Oliver... where do I begin?" Will chuckled. "Well, he's a bit more arrogant than you probably remember him as."
"and a bit taller," Skylar added.
"Yeah, a bit taller too. He does what he wants, but you know, on the inside he's a good guy and he'll turn out. Oliver still thinks about our mother a lot and it drives him practically crazy. He misses her every day. I think that's why he lives life on the wild side so much."
I nodded. I don't know what I expected to hear, but this disappointed me. I also wasn't sure what 'living on the wild side' all entailed.
"But let's not talk about Oliver. Let's talk about you and that beautiful voice of yours."
I blushed. This was not going the way I expected it to go.
"I'm just trying to make a little money to save up for my own place," I admitted, completely humiliated.
Will nodded. "What if I told you, you could be making a lot more money with that voice?"
"Oh God," I thought, "He's not going to ask me to perform in a strip club is he?"
Ding, Dong.
"Ooo! That's dinner. I'll go grab it," Skylar said.
"I'm sorry. I'm not sure I know what you mean... I think I should go. I thought we were just going to be talking about old times. Whatever you're looking for I'm definitely not it," I stuttered.
Just then, Skylar walked in with two big bags full of food. My mouth watered as the warm smell filled my nose and I remembered why I had followed Will, a man I hadn't seen in six years all the way here. I was starving.
"No, wait. Please stay, Jemma. Trust me. I'm not trying to scam you or anything," he laughed as his fiancé passed out paper plates and napkins.
"Jemma, darling, is something wrong?" Skylar asked considerately. "Will, babe, why don't you just tell her you're a talent agent, instead of making this all weird?"
Will rolled his eyes. "Well that's no fun is it, Skylar?" Will teased handing me a box of food and some chopsticks.
"Thank you," I said before digging in. I truly was grateful for the meal. I don't know what I would have eaten that night had it not been for Will's invitation.
"Of course, Jemma. Just like my Dad used to say, you are always welcome at our table."
My heart soared as Will said those words. Mr. Connors was the closest thing I ever had to a father figure and unlike his sons, he never pissed me off. He was always gracious and always kind.
"Speaking of, how is your dad doing?" I asked.
"Busy with work and keeping Oliver in line, but other than that he's the same old man he's always been," Will answered cheerfully.
"Good, I miss seeing him," I said honestly. I was surprised at myself for admitting that to Will because expressing emotion so openly made me feel vulnerable and I did not like to feel that way.
"I'm sure he and Oliver would love to see you. We'll have to arrange something."
"That would be great," I agreed. Although in the back of my head I was already starting to feel nervous about seeing Oliver after all these years.
"Plus, wouldn't your father be so happy to see you got your first client?" Skylar asked slightly condescendingly.
"She's my friend, Skylar. And Oliver's friend, first. If she wants me to help her launch a singing career that would be great. If she doesn't, she's still my friend. We, Connors, are always loyal," he pledged.
"Well, not always..." I thought about the time Oliver rejected me for the seventh-grade spring semi-formal.
"Listen, Jemma," he said, taking a bite of an egg roll. "I don't want to pressure you into anything, but I know that you have what it takes to make it in the music industry. I've just gotten my music business degree from NYU, so trust me I know who is going to make it and who is not."
Skylar rolled her eyes at this. I assumed she was probably tired of hearing about his alma mater.
"I work for a music management company. I'm responsible for finding fresh new talent and then, well making them into stars. I've only been at it a couple of months, so I don't have a big resume yet, but I'd love for you to help me get started."
I was suspicious and unbelieving. Did Will really think he was going to turn me into a pop star?
"I'm flattered, but I don't think I'm the kind of person that could become a pop star."
"Can you sing?" Skylar asked.
"Well, umm, yes, I think so..."
"Let me hear you," Skylar demanded.
My face turned red. Singing on the streets is one thing but singing for a gorgeous model is another.
"Go on," Will encouraged me. "She just wants to hear you. She's not going to bite."
It didn't seem like I had a choice. I surely wasn't going to refuse my hosts who had just fed me.
"I guess. If you really want me to," I agreed. "What would you like to hear?"
"Sing Hallelujah," Will suggested, "It sounded beautiful before and it suits you."
"Alright," I nodded.
I took a deep breath in, pushed all my self-conscious thoughts out, and began to sing. I felt insecure as always, but I didn't let myself think about it. Suddenly, I started to hear the melody spilling out of my mouth. I was singing and they were smiling. Soon enough, they were nodding at each other as if I was some sort of inside joke they just remembered.
Finally, I finished the song. Skylar stood up from her chair and started clapping. Will applauded as well but wasn't as over the top.
Skylar wrapped her thin yet strong arms around me in a big hug.
"Girlfriend, you got a voice!" she exclaimed, placing her hands on the side of my face. I looked into her pretty eyes, even they seemed to be smiling. "Listen, you let Will do what he does best and I promise you that you will become one of the most idolized girls in the world."
One of the most idolized girls in the world. That did sound pretty good to me.
Suddenly, I heard Momm
a's voice speaking in my mind. She was repeating what she had always told me, "someday you'll go and do amazing things in this world."
"Maybe, this is the opportunity I've been waiting for all my life. The opportunity to make Momma proud, to prove her right. Perhaps, I should take Will up on this. I mean, I'm homeless anyway. I have nothing to lose, except maybe my dignity, but I don’t even have much of that left," I thought to myself.
Will reached over and grabbed my hand gently.
"Jemma," he said looking me straight in the eye, "do you trust me?"
Did I trust him? No. Did I want off of the streets? Yes. Did I believe I was going to become a pop star? Definitely not.