Disrespectful Diva (DJ #2)

by Helen J. Barnes

  “Yeah, no drama. Anyway, when are you on?”

  Lauren checks her phone before looking nervously at me. “Ten minutes.”

  I feel her nerves, she knows there are other promoters here tonight and it could lead to more gigs. “Are you sure you can do this alone? If not we’ll go back to back.”

  At this point she almost hyperventilates. “If you do that I might just die! It would be an honour to play with you DisDiva.”

  “Tara, please. Okay, I’ll be on with you in ten I just need a bathroom break then we’ll get on, okay?” I smile reassuringly and Lauren hugs me.

  “Thank you.” She is almost tearful and I smile.

  “No problem, now, get your mix on, missy.”

  Thirty minutes later Lauren and I are rocking the second arena. I pass her the headphones and she takes them, quickly sliding them into place to cue up her next track. I have to hand it to her, the girl is a fantastic DJ. Her mixing and timing is spot on and her track selection is fantastic. Again, I’m flattered when she plays some of my tracks, including the one I engineered for her and Jay.

  The dancefloor is soon filled to capacity once the word spreads upstairs that I made an impromptu appearance with Hot Ice, well, one part of them. Security have had to stop entry to the arena as upstairs started to empty down here.

  I see DJ D come in and make a beeline for the DJ box but Dom taps him on the shoulder and they exchange words. When Dave turns he doesn’t look impressed. Dom says something but the look on his face tells me he’s not being too friendly. I’m just about to make my way down the steps but Dom spots me and puts his hand up, halting me. Dave says one last thing before walking away and I watch him leave.

  The rest of our set is smooth and a lot of fun. We pose for plenty of photos and Lauren is great at gearing up the crowd, interacting and really getting into the energy of the set. She truly is a girl after my own heart. I find I’m enjoying myself so much the hour flies by and all too soon the next DJ comes to take over. We hand over the controls and are met by a roaring crowd full of cheers and whistles. We smile and I take Lauren’s hand, raising it before we take a bow, which only makes the crowd whistle louder. Dom meets us at the entrance to the dance floor and pulls me in for a hug.

  “My turn!” Lauren demands before pulling me into a death grip and squeezing me half to death. “I can never thank you enough Dis.., Tara. It’s been the best night of my life. I can’t believe I just went back to back with my idol! I’m totally fan girling right now! I’m sorry, I’m just stupidly giddy right now.”

  I laugh and assure her it was my pleasure before telling her to join us in the VIP lounge. Once we get there and order our round of drinks I manage to ignore the blazing glare I’m getting off of Shazza and I’m pleasantly surprised when Lauren doesn’t go fan girling over Lucy.

  Ha, one up to me, Lucy!

  When Lauren uses the ladies I take the time to ask what the exchange with DJ D was all about.

  “Oh, it would seem you’ve upset the DJ you have been pioneering on my radio show. Apparently, Dayton thinks your back to back set may have been a deliberate ploy to drag clubbers away from his set and downstairs to yours. Dave thinks you did it to teach him a lesson about the whole A versus B bullshit.” Dom sneers and I tip my head back with a laugh.

  “Oh, they really think I’m that hung up on the event? Please, give me some credit. Tricks like that are below me. That’s something Serious Soundz would do.” I raise my voice at the end, hoping Lucy will catch it.

  “Either way I think you should speak to Dayton and Dave. Just, no flirting with D, please?” His voice isn’t pleading though, more demanding and I smirk.

  “I’ll be good.” I wink before going off to find the lads.

  I track them down to the bar and I’m met with suspicious glances. “Boys, I hear you wanted a word?” I ask, feeling but not seeing Baz follow some distance behind me.

  “Why the back to back set, Tara? Coincidence it was during Epic’s biggest set?” Dave addresses me first and I laugh, taking his drink from his hand (which I note is the custom drink named after himself). I have a sip, cringe then hand it back.

  “Pure coincidence, boys. Lauren is one part of Hot Ice, check the flyer. Her boyfriend got booted for snorting. I stepped in. All last minute of course.”

  “Okay, Tara. Thanks for clearing that up. I just didn’t want any bad blood between us because of these double event rumours flying about. You know that’s all down to Jimmy Rayner, I have no say in the matter, as I told you on the phone.” Dayton seems calmer than Dave and I flick his comment away.

  “No bad blood, Dayton. At the end of the day we are DJ’s and producers, we are not label owners. I know Pops has spoken to Jimmy and I think we should let the managers handle that side of things. Truth be told, I don’t think Pops is that interested in the whole thing, he’s been focused on tonight only.”

  “So, you and Shaz seems to have parted ways, she’s been shadowed by Lucy all night, what’s that all about?” Dave digs and I roll my eyes.

  “My bitch is just seeing if the grass is greener on the other side, she’ll be fine.” I toss a comment back like it’s irrelevant to me. Really, it hurts she’s up Lucy’s arse and it hurts more that I know it’s hurting Pops.

  “I’ve heard a preview of their track on the Serious Soundz website. Hot stuff.” Dayton seems to lament with me before knocking back his shot. Alannah joins him from the dancefloor with a blonde in tow. We quickly exchange greetings before I turn back to Dayton.

  “Anything Shazza records is always grade A work, Dayton, you know this.” I smile like I’m proud of her, which in a way I am. I just wish she wasn’t getting less than half of her worth.

  “Hear that, Tara.” Dave agrees.

  “Well, I hope you guys hang around for my set? I’ll see you later?”

  “Sure thing, Tara. Have a good one.” Dayton smiles and Dave nods his agreement. I assure them I will before making my way across the dance floor towards the ladies’ but I’m stopped when I hear Shazza on the mic. She is hyping up the crowd for Grotzy’s first track and I see Lucy is on stage with her. I grit my teeth, wanting to bite but knowing I’ll be playing right into her hands if I do. I feel someone stand close behind me and I close my eyes, sensing the warmth from their chest on my back. I’m approached hundreds of times a night but I just know this is Dominic. I have a built in radar for him nowadays.

  “Baz is going to have her brought down from the stage, sweetheart. No wristband means no stage access, no matter who they are.” Dominic says quietly into my ear and I smile before turning and running my hands up his chest.

  “Thanks, baby. They’re really getting on my last nerve. I just want to get through my set so we can go home and you can make good on your promise.” I bite my lip as I flutter my eyelashes in a tease.

  “Oh, I’ll make good on it. You’ll see, or should I say, you’ll feel that I don’t go back on promises, DisDiva.” He grinds his pelvis against me and I bite my lip with a teasing smile.

  We kill another hour on the dancefloor with Lauren, Adam and a few of the regulars. I sign a few flyers and we make the most of the time to enjoy yourselves, hoping there are no more issues. I’m just enjoying one of my favourite tracks when Baz gives me my ten minute warning and I excuse myself from the group to freshen up and cool down in the ladies’.

  I’m washing my hands and psyching myself up when Shaz walks in. After she uses the facilities she comes to stand beside me at the basins.

  “So, are we going to carry on these childish games or are you going to acknowledge me?” I ask, bored of the silent treatment.

  “I’m being childish? You should see yourself, Tara. You and Dominic look like a pair of love sick teenagers, falling all over each other. It’s pathetic.”

  “Let’s cut the shit, Shaz. Is this really just over Dom? Because you signed that contract before I got with him. Why don’t you tell me what is really getting your goat because I don’t believe my love life
is the real issue here.” I raise my eyebrows and I see Shaz look to the floor.

  “I knew you were gonna get with him, Tara. Probably before you knew you were going to. It was written all over both your faces from the first time you clapped eyes on him. You deserve better, you can do better. I just want the best for you, babe.”

  “Why can’t I decide that, though? He makes me happy.”

  “You don’t know him!” Her voice goes up a few octaves and she looks so torn.

  I shake my head. “What don’t I know, Shaz?” I know she is holding out on me.

  “Maybe you should be asking him that, Tara. Just don’t invest all of your heart in him. You’ll end up a laughing stock.” And with that she walks out.

  I’m left feeling confused and bereft of any clue what Shazza is trying to get at. What isn’t he telling me? What does Shaz know that she can’t tell me? Why can’t she tell me? One thing I am sure about, whatever is being kept from me must be pretty bad for Shazza to think she is better off being at Serious Soundz than at home with her family.

  I decide to put the whole thing out of my mind for the rest of the night. I’m determined to enjoy Xtreem’s birthday bash and I head out to the stage with my head held high. I greet Shaz, who is waiting on stage, with just a simple nod. There’s apology in her eyes, which span from me to settle on Lucy who is front and centre, with Dominic.

  Chapter 11

  And there it is. There is that little seed of doubt that sows itself deep into your brain and refuses to be ignored. I see Lucy chatting excitedly with Dominic and I see Dom looking anywhere rather than at her. I drag my gaze away, concentrating on what I’m here to do. Work. I load my first track up and get it cued up and when I look back up I’m scowling. I hate the jealousy that is burning in my diaphragm and when Shazza picks up the mic we trade a glance, mine full of irritation and Shazza’s full of.., what is that? Sympathy?

  Another quick glance to Dom and Lucy and I see her kiss him on the cheek before Dom gives her an unsure smile and he walks away, joining Grotzy on the left side of the crowd. He is obviously uncomfortable in her presence and I want to know why. Lucy smiles and my smile is more of a grimace in response before I pull on my headphones and force myself to clear my mind of everything except for music.

  Shazza introduces me as tonight’s main act and I clap and bow but my actions are ingrained stage manners. I’m not enjoying this set like I thought I would, I’m out of my comfort zone on stage in front of hundreds of clubbers. It’s the first time I’ve felt like walking off stage. I don’t like it, not one fucking little bit. A quick glimpse over at Dom and he seems to be back to his sexy, cheeky self and is clapping and whistling to me. I offer him a weak smile and feel my heart contract. I think Shazza’s advice of not investing my heart in him is too little, too late. Already my heart yearns for him and now I’m scared I’m going to uncover something I don’t want to know.

  Fuck! Get your shit together, Tara. There is nothing more important than this set, right here, right now. The whole night has boiled down to this hour and all eyes are on you so give your head a shake and smash the granny out of this set. You know what’s expected. Don’t let Xtreem down now.

  I get my head straight and refuse to look out to the crowd again. This works for the most part, for at least half of my set anyway. When Shazza sings and my tracks drop the crowd go wild and I know my mix is going down like a storm. I just can’t seem to savour the adrenaline. I’m too preoccupied and I’m sure it’s practiced talent that’s making my mixes so perfect.

  Shaz can see I’m not my normal self and when I mix in a track she doesn’t sing on she approaches the decks and indicates I remove my headphones. I slip them down onto the back of my neck and lean in for her to shout into my ear.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nod and make to lift my headphone again but her hand on my wrist stops me and I pull away. “Just spit it out, Shaz. What do I need to know?” I glance towards Dominic at this point and he’s laughing at something Lauren has just said to him and Grotzy.

  “I think you know,” Shaz replies and I shake my head. Moving away from her and her drama. I can’t do that shit now, I’m working and I need my head in the game so I walk to the other side of the decks to slip a CD back into my wallet before getting my next one out. I see Shaz sigh and walk back to the front of the stage. Cheering and diverting everyone’s attention to the huge six layer birthday cake being lifted onto stage by Baz and another member of security. The huge sparklers light the whole thing up like a sugar coated explosion waiting to happen. Shaz claps and when our eyes meet she is smiling, she looks genuinely happy for the Xtreem team and this huge milestone we have hit. I can’t help it, I smile back.

  Once I play my last track Shaz sings the vocals, it’s the last track we recorded and released together. I think back to her recording the vocals and me laughing snotty Dr Pepper all over Dom’s jacket. We were so happy back then, so close. Little did we know a tornado was going to sweep into our lives and less than two months later there would be this distance between us. Not to mention the bond between Dom and I. I can’t deny it. I miss Shazza.

  I let the track play out and join her on the front of the stage. I smile at Dom and Shazza comes to stand beside me, putting her arm around my shoulders and pulling me in to her side. I take the mic from her.

  “21 years today!” I yell and the crowd go wild, I beam back at them. “Happy birthday, Xtreem team.”

  Again they go wild and I circle behind the huge cake that is level with my hips and comes up to eye level. It’s bright orange with the Xtreem logo on the base and hundreds of small 21’s piped all over the other five tiers in black icing. “Who wants some?” I ask the crowd and they all yell in response again. In my peripheral vision I see Shaz smirk. She knows what I’m thinking and it would seem so does Baz and Dom because they both seem to step away from the stage. I bite my lip and catch Shazza’s eye. She tips her head in a nod and we both start to remove the burnt out sparklers before we look over the cake at each other and grab a huge fist full of the sugar coated sponge cake and turn to the crowd. I take a huge bite out of the sponge cake in my hand before grinning.

  My first fistful slams straight into Lucy’s face and I drop the mic to grab another two fists full and launch them out into the crowd. I hear Shazza squeal with excitement as she grabs the whole top tier of cake and launches it into the darkness of the clubbers further back from the stage. There’s screams and cheers from the crowd as we catapult clumps and clumps of the cake outward from the stage into the audience. I can barely throw for laughter.

  Before we know it the cake is practically demolished and when the house lights go up and the music goes quiet the crowd are all scrabbling to find what bits of cake they can lay their hands on to throw at friends. There are whoops and laughter echoing around the whole club and I spot Lauren and Grotzy tossing clumps of cake at each other, trying to run and dodge each other while skidding on the sugar coated floor.

  I observe the scene before me and burst into hysterics, wrapping my cake coated hands around my midriff as tears of mirth fill my eyes. “You are one bat shit crazy lady, Tara Powers,” Shaz laughs and wraps her arm around my shoulder as we watch the chaos continue, nibbling the cake from our fingers. We both hold each other up as we collapse into an uncontrollable fit of giggles.

  Dear Lord, what have we done this time?

  “I think this is the best idea we have ever had,” I choke out, trying to wipe away tears of laughter but I simply spread icing over my cheek which makes Shaz laugh even more.

  “I think you could be right, bitch. Let’s do this again at the thirtieth bash, too.” Shaz plans and I nod.

  “I’ll make a note of it.” I grin, wiping my cakey fingers down her face. Her mouth turns into an ‘O’ and I bite my lip before sticking two fingers in her open mouth. “Is it good?” I break down laughing and I double up in hysterics, not seeing the huge fistful of cake come down on top of my head. I freeze and lo
ok up at Shaz’s smirk. “Oh, you didn’t!”

  “Bring it on, bitch.” Shazza curls her finger at me and we both jump for the remains of the cake on the silver base, tossing handfuls as accurately as we can whilst trying to dodge flying Victoria sponge. I slip on the sugary floor and just as I see myself face planting the floor I’m rescued by strong arms that pull me to my feet and steady me. I look up and find Dom’s smiling eyes.

  “Steady, sweetheart. We don’t want the star of the show to end the night in hospital.” Dom grins and I smile back, holding onto his bulging biceps for support. “I’ve always said you look good enough to eat, now you really do.” He teases before wiping a splatter of icing from the corner of my mouth with the pad of his thumb. He pops it into his mouth and sucks, doing naughty things to my libido and he must see it in my eyes because he wipes more from my cheek and pops his thumb into my mouth.

  I hold his hand and suck deeply, my eyes never leaving his. “Very nice,” I murmur and he gives me a one sided grin.

  “Not half has tasty as you. Let’s get you home, sweet girl, so I can lick you clean,” he says quietly into my ear before guiding me towards the stage steps.

  I turn before I start down the steps and see Shaz looking at me. She looks painfully sad and I feel my mood deflate again as look up at Dom beside me. I’ll find out all I need to soon. If Shaz won’t tell me what I need to know then I’ll go straight to the source. My eyes meet Shazza’s again and I blow her a kiss before making my way down the stage steps and towards the private exit, leaving the party goers to finish up the food fight without me. No doubt tomorrow I’ll hear all about it, it will be on every media outlet you can imagine. Then I’ll get it again from Pops, when he rips me a new arsehole about the cleaning bill.

  Upon arriving at Dominic’s place I’m torn between so many emotions that I find keeping my mouth shut is probably the safest option for now and I’ve listened to Dominic rattle on about everything and nothing all the way here. When he unlocks the door and I follow him through to the kitchen I grab a glass from the cupboard and pour myself a long ice cold drink of water and down half a pint without coming up for air.