by West, TJ
The first thing I do when I enter my apartment is call June.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you,” June announces.
“I’m in.”
“Are you okay? You sound upset.”
“I am the opposite of upset. In fact I am better than I have ever been in my life.” This statement is a fucking fact. I am feeling on top of the world because for the first time in a long time I know exactly what I want. I want to perform, for the rest of my life.
“So…you’re in? In as in…..”
“Yup. I am coming back home, so we can talk about my career.”
I laugh when June starts screaming for joy. “I swear to you, you are not going to regret this!”
“I know I won’t.”
“This is unbelievable news, Melody!” I couldn’t agree more. “Hey, do you need help with moving? I have guys who can do it for you.”
“Thanks. That is actually a great idea.”
“I am so on it! When do you plan on leaving?”
“There is nothing left for me here, so…tomorrow?”
“No problem. I have guys established pretty much everywhere. They’ll get it done in no time.”
June is a total magic warrior. With a click of a button, things get accomplished. “Thank you, June. You have no idea how much your help means to me.”
“It’s my pleasure to help. I cannot wait to see you!”
We say our goodbye’s and immediately I start packing. I decide later on that I am going to surprise Harmony when I get back home. She’ll flip when she sees me. I miss her so much I am dying to leave tonight, but hold off because I need to sleep. Once I gather most of my things I hit the sheets and scroll through my phone for any updates on the band. They just ended their Orlando concert, heading toward Louisiana. I so badly want to text Wayne about my abrupt plans, but I am being a chicken shit and forget the whole thing. Unlike my sister, I don’t read before I go to bed. I hate reading, so instead I turn on my iPod and listen to some classic rock. Eventually I fall asleep.
My cell phone wakes me up some time in the middle of the night. It’s Harmony. This is an odd time for her to call me. It worries me.
I answer groggily, “Harm?”
“There’s been an accident, Mel,” she says, crying.
My senses are now on high alert. I sit up in bed and turn on the lamp. “What? What kind of accident? Why are you crying?”
“The tour bus…the guys got in an accident.”
My stomach suddenly drops. “Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean the guys got in an accident? Are they okay? Please tell me they’re okay!” I jump out of bed, pacing the room.
“I don’t know,” her voice cracks. “I can’t get a hold of Danny. Faith and June are over here. We’re about to leave for the airport.”
My God. I need to get there too! “Harm, where are they? What hospital?”
“Melody? This is June. I have arranged for someone to take you to the airport. I also paid for your flight.”
“Thank you,” I whisper out.
We end our call, without any mention of Wayne being okay. If anyone is okay. I am so worried I didn’t even realize I’ve been crying. Wayne. Oh, God Wayne! Please, please be okay. I’m coming for you, Rocker Boy.
A FEW MORE HOURS AND we’ll be in The Big Apple again. So before I go get some shut eye, I Facetime my sister, Amber. We talk for a little bit before she let’s Raquel take over. She’s so fucking adorable. Her big, blue eyes, and beautiful dimpled smile helps me smile back. Love my little Princess.
Raquel is holding a pink, glittery bear while we sit and chat. “I miss you Uncle Wayne.”
Those words hit me in the gut. Her tiny voice sounds so sad. “Miss you too, Baby, but I’ll be home soon okay?”
“When?” she pouts. “It’s been a long time.”
“I know it has. I’m in a pretty important business. Have a lot of people who have paid a lot of money to see me and the band play.”
“Yeah. I know. Mommy lez me listen to yor moosic.” The way she talks is so cute; she’s very animated.
“She does huh?”
“Yep! That way I can be close to you.”
This breaks my heart. Damn. “Quel, I promise you though, the minute I get home you and I will take a special trip to Disneyland. Would you like that?”
“Disneyland!” she squeals. She looks to the right and screams out, “Mommy, did you hear that!”
“I sure did,” Amber says. “That’s pretty awesome of Uncle Wayne.”
“I’m going to tell Daddy!” Raquel leaves the camera and goes yelling for her Dad. “Daddy, Daddy!” I chuckle from how excited I just made her.
Facetiming with my niece brightens up my mood. She’s the best medicine I could ask for. I really needed to see and hear her voice.
“Disneyland, huh?” Amber smirks. “You sure you can do that now, considering how popular you are?”
“Hey, I’ll make it happen. Nothing I won’t do for my little Princess.” And I mean every word of it. I never break my promises.
“Well, we will discuss it when you get back home. You look exhausted. Get some sleep.”
“Yeah, okay. Talk later.”
“Bye Uncle Wayne!”
“Bye, Princess, love you.”
“Love you too!”
God, I miss that kid. I shutdown my iPad, exhale a big yawn and go to sleep.
Next thing I know, we’ve made it to New York. I feel like I hadn’t slept at all. Need some fucking coffee. Low and behold there is a coffee stand right outside the bus. Lyric has some chick get us all a coffee. The guys are looking as dead as I am. Performing in the heat everyday is wearing us out. As much as I am having the best time of my life, it will be nice to get home. A couple weeks and that will happen.
“Welcome to New York!”
I turn around, startled to see Scarlett. “Scarlett. Hey, thanks.” I give her a one arm hug. I didn’t expect to see her this soon. I eye Lyric giving us an odd look as she and the band make their way inside the venue. Wonder what that was for?
“How was the trip?”
“Long.”
“I can imagine.” We continue to walk toward the venue. “Look about that tabloid.”
“It’s fine, Scarlett. Wasn’t your fault.”
“Hope your girlfriend wasn’t too upset.”
Wait, what? I stop walking. “Never said I had one,” I scowl.
“You didn’t need to.”
Where is this sudden shrewd attitude of hers coming from? This is not the Scarlett I remember from high school. “Like I told you a few nights ago, I’m not going to give in and tell you anything. So can we please drop it?” I am more than a little irritated.
“You’re right. Sorry.”
“Look, Scarlett I know we just reconnected and once had a good relationship, but a lot has changed. You’ve changed, I’ve changed. We can’t exactly go back to what we used to be. You’re a fucking reporter now, for Christ sake.”
“A journalist. A respected journalist,” she points out. “You can trust me, Wayne.” She places her hand on my shoulder.
I don’t budge. “Sorry, but no can do, Babe.”
“Okay,” she lightly chuckles. Nothing I say seems to affect her. “Well…how about I hang around after the show as a non-journalist, okay?”
“That’s cool, but still won’t change anything. I’ll talk about anything else, but my love life, understand?”
“Of course, no problem. I hear ya. Well, I gotta run. See you later after the show?”
“Sure,” I shrug.
Without any notice, Scarlett plants a kiss on my cheek. “Bye, now. Bye Slim.” She walks off with her hips swaying back and forth, looking fucking hot, but damn something isn’t right about her.
I didn’t know Slim was behind us until Scarlett said something. He heard everything we talked about. “How’d she find about about Melody?” Slim asks.
“Have no fuckin’ idea. There are ways though.”
“Yeah, she has,” shaking my head. “Don’t get too close to her. I have a weird feeling about her, and it’s not good.”
“What the hell did Europe do to her?”
My thoughts exactly.
It’s fucking hot and humid as hell out here today, but the show must go on and we’re ready to kill it! I look out into the crowd and I see chicks in their tiny bikini’s, drinking beer and a few beach balls bouncing around. This place knows how to party! “What’s up New York City!” Lucky announces.The chicks, as always, give us a good scream. The bouncers are like robots, making sure no one gets up on stage. “We love The Big Apple, and we love you!” I hit a few notes on my bass. The chicks dig it. “You ready for more music!?” Lucky holds out his mic out into the audience to get more of a reaction. Works every time. “We’re ready too, so give us some thunder Jason!” Jason starts up, then the rest of us chime in and take our show to another level. Panties, bras, condoms, you name it, fly onto the stage. It’s crazy as hell.
I do my new signature move, after we’ve played a few songs. I get close to the edge of the stage, and yell into the mic, “I’m gettin’ pretty hot out here ladies! Time to take this shit off! Who wants it!” Holy fuck me, but damn these chicks are crazy for me. I love every minute of it. I take my bass off, then my tank and throw it out into the crowd. Like every other show, these women are like raging bulls. It’s such a turn on seeing them react this way. I remember getting a hard- on every time they started yelling my name. It’s still a thrill when I hear them screech for me, but the hard-on is intended for one person now - the one person who I desperately need here with me. I miss her so fucking much. I want her to be on the sidelines, cheering me on, watching me entertain the world. I hope, once we get back home, I’ll get her back in my life.
Our part of the show is now over. I am so ready for a few shots of anything, but first I guzzle down my hundredth bottle of water. All of us are sweating bullets and smell like shit. Hell, it was a great show though, and worth every bullet of sweat. After the guys and I settle ourselves backstage, we are hounded by groupies. As much as I want to attend to each and every one of them, I am so drained. I do the best I can by signing shit, selfies, groups shots and yes - turning down a good lay. Never fails, I always get a few begging me to take them somewhere secluded. I don’t blame them. That’s what I used to love doing; I was all for it, but things have changed.
I’m feeling a good buzz after having a few shots of tequila. I don’t want to have too many, so I limit myself to only having five. I take a seat on one of the couches, feeling exhausted, but good. I’m about to check my phone for any messages, when Scarlett makes herself known. Maybe it’s the alcohol, but she looks so sexy. She’s wearing tiny booty shorts, fuck me heels, and a tube top. Her tits…shit. Her hair is up in a ponytail, exposing a nice, long neck. If I wasn’t hooked on Melody, I’d start making out with Scarlett, without even thinking. It’s impossible for my junk not to jump. Can’t help it. I have a feeling she knows what she’s doing to me. She loves this attention she’s getting from me. I can’t keep my eyes off her.
She sits really close to me, our bodies are touching, and I can feel the heat coming off from her. She slides a hand over my thigh. “I can’t get over how hot you are out there,” she says, leaning close to my ear. She smells really good. “Especially when you took off your shirt. Smokin’ hot, Wayne.”
I have to get my act back together. I don’t touch her or imply I want her back. “All entertainment.”
“Really?” she chuckles. “Secretly, I think you love it.”
Damn, she’s good. I do love it. “You got me. I like to get a rise out of them.”
“You’re good at it. They can’t get enough of you.” She whispers in my ear, “I can’t get enough of you.”
That whisper sends chills and a signal to my cock. Fuck. “Scarlett.”
“Come on, Wayne. Don’t you think we have something here? You can’t deny we have a spark.” She’s right. We have a definite spark. What the hell is she doing to me? “Ever since high school, you never left my heart. I’ve always had this deep sense we were meant to reconnect and start over.” Our faces are an inch apart. Why do I have the feeling she’s about ready to kill me with her lips? “Let’s start over.” She kills me. Her fucking lips hit mine before I get the chance to stop her.
I am about to push her away when a flash gets my attention. “Fuck!” I yell. “What the hell is this?” I shove Scarlett away from me and fly off the couch. “Get that fucking camera out of here!” The guys immediately send that fucker away from our room. I turn to Scarlett. She’s got a wide ass grin on her face. Holy hell, she got me. She totally fucked me up. “Did you set me up?”
“Guess you were right You can’t trust me,” she so bluntly admits. “The journalist in me doesn’t go away, no matter what.”
This has got to be some kind of sick twisted psycho I’m dealing with here. “Who the fuck are you, huh? Was this your plan the entire time? We have a reunion and you try to reel yourself back into my life and betray me? Can’t fucking believe you.” I have never felt this much anger before, it scares the shit out of me.
Lyric comes to the rescue, before I strangle Scarlett to death. “Hi, I’m Lyric. You need to leave. Now,” she says stoned face, yet with a look of rage in her eyes. She is a total badass. “You’re not welcome back here anymore. I’ve got security on standby.”
“It really was nice seeing you again, Wayne.” She brushes her body against mine - on purpose, no doubt - and sways those hips away and out of my life for good.
I swipe a hand through my hair. “Can’t believe I let her in here.” My jaw is aching from the tension.
“You didn’t know,” Lyric says, soothingly.
“Hell I didn’t. I had a bad feeling about her, earlier.” The room has been cleared out and the guys surround me. They’re just as pissed off as I am.
If things couldn’t get more fucked up, Slim hands me his phone. “Shit, bro. Look.”
Fuck. Scarlett tweeted the picture of us kissing. She also makes it sounds like it was a consensual decision. “Just fucking great,” I say, through clenched teeth.
“You said she was a friend from high school?” Lyric asks.
“Yeah, but she wasn’t like this back then. Don’t know how she could have changed into the bitch she is today.”
“I did not see it coming. I am real sorry, man.”
“My own fault, Slim. If I wasn’t drinking -”
“I saw her grab your face, dude! She’s the one who kissed you first.”
“Still, bro,” I shrug. “Should’ve trusted my instinct.”
“I could tweet back and deny it?”
“Too late,” I admit. “Bet Melody has already seen it. I’m fucked.” Totally, and utterly fucked. I am definitely defeated.
Lyric cuts in, “I made it so we won’t have any more press in your room, for the rest of the tour.”
“Whatev. Damage has been done. Gonna go to the bus.” I need to get out of this stuffy ass room. Even though it’s still hot outside, feeling the fresh air calms me down.
“Bro,” Jason calls after me. He slaps a hand on my shoulder and walks with me toward the bus. “Things will settle down soon. Just have to give it time.”
I stop and turn to him. “You don’t fucking get it, Jason. I told Melody I loved her and that there was no one else in this world I’d rather be with. I thought the first picture was bad, but this one?” I scoff, “Looks like I lied and moved on without giving her time to think things through. It’s over, dude. Fucking over.”
Getting a headache, I dig inside my duffel bag and grab a couple pain meds to drink down with another bottle of water. The air conditioning and the silence inside the bus is just what I need. I lay down on the couch and close my eyes for a little while. If I had a choice, I’d stay in here for the rest of the day, but I know we have a small photoshoot in an hour. I’ll take this t
ime to regroup. A knock on the door has me clenching my jaw again. I just wanted to be left alone. Wonder who it is, though? Without being a total dickhead, I tell whoever it is to come in. It’s Jet Master, from the band Kings Fate. Our bands have become great friends. On our first tour ever, we opened up their shows and now doing this summer's tour together. It’s been hell of a trip doing round two with them.
“Just checking up on ya. Lucky told me you were chillin’ back here.”
I sit up, giving Jet a fist bump. He is one cool dude. He’s got tons of experience in this business. Just knowing he came out to the bus means a lot to me. “
“Yeah. Needed some alone time, think about stuff. Heard about your wife. Hope she’s feeling better.” This past week, Jet’s wife had an accident involving a trip to the Emergency Room. He almost had to leave the tour to go back home.
Jet sits across from me on the ottoman. “Yeah, she is, thanks. It was a pretty nasty fall. Thank fuck my mother was there to help take her to the hospital.”
“For sure.”
“I heard about that reporter, Donahue - trying to get some goods off ya.”
I exhale, brushing a hand through my matted hair. “Pretty fucked up.”
“It’s really sick what she did. Unfortunately that’s the world we live in as artists. The more famous we get, the worse the tabloids and scandals. Just need more security around you. Make sure that’s taken care of,” Jet advises. “I’ve had my fair share of shit, so I know what you’re going through.”
“Our manager and publicity agent are on top of things.”
“Good.”
“A year ago this sort of shit wouldn’t have bothered me. I was all about a good time with any chick that walked up to me. It’s all changed since I met the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.” This is the first time I have admitted to anyone, outside the band, about Melody. I trust Jet, so it’s not a big deal.
“I totally hear ya. Met my wife ten years ago when I was having the time of my life; sex, partying, but the second she entered my world, I was completely whipped. I never looked at another woman, ever again. My life changed for the better. She enriched it.”