EXCLUSIVE! SAYGE’S GOLDEN GIRL NOT SO GOLDEN!–Music City Enquirer
~ Article written by A. Reeves
The hottest news around the last few months is local band Sayge’s rise to stardom. Rumor has it that landing on the American Top 40 last week secured them a spot on a nationwide tour this summer with some of the hottest bands in the country. There’s no doubt this group is HOT, and their sound is in demand, but what do we really know about them?
Earlier this year, SCENE magazine did a spread on Sayge spotlighting their humble beginnings and pathway to success. In that same interview we learned lead singer, Declan Collins was off the market and engaged to be married to Ravenel ‘Raven’ Hayes. You may remember Raven as the beautiful object of desire in their hit single, “Surviving.” Brenda Brown did a great job painting this relationship as a fairytale fantasy. Almost too good to be true. Here at MCE, we wanted to know more about this muse. Once we started digging around and talking to sources close to Raven, we learned this Golden Girl is not so Golden!
On the surface, she may look like the quintessential good girl, but she’s anything but. Sources tell us when she first met Declan Collins, he was in a relationship. She was relentless in her pursuit, even moving in with his sisters to keep tabs on him. Once they started dating, she took over all control of their shows around town and even banned fans from coming backstage during performances at local bars. Loyal fans of the band from the beginning were turned away from social events unless Raven approved them.
Months later when Sayge became a local favorite and started branching out to local and regional stages, Raven took over their web presence insisting that she handle all fan interaction. She even told the guys what to Tweet! Friends of the band say Declan fell hard and deep and had severe jealousy issues. Raven would parade guys in front of him all of the time threatening to leave him unless he married her. Once she had a ring on her finger, things got worse.
We spoke to Declan’s ex-girlfriend. For privacy reasons, we have chosen to keep her name anonymous, but our hearts go out to her. Shortly after hearing about the engagement, she became so distraught, her parents have placed her in a facility in order to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself. Her doctors say her depression is a day-to-day battle, and medication and therapy are needed.
Sources claim that things became too much for the members of Sayge, and they refused to have Raven join them last summer on tour. As retaliation, she left the country and spent the summer in Europe in the arms of another man. Declan’s heart was broken, and he almost drank himself to death until his friend, Ryan Knight, stepped up to save him.
There are endless stories surrounding how friends and family members worried about the success of Sayge while their lead singer dealt with a cheating fiancée. There are reports of several other men in her life, but what is the most surprising is how she came back in the picture. It’s been told that Declan decided to give her a second chance, against the wishes of everyone close to him.
Raine Mitchell, a national model, was originally chosen for the “Surviving” video. She told us that Raven was in the creative meeting and had a fit when she learned Declan would have to be intimate with her. Raine felt she had great chemistry with everyone in the group, especially Declan. She was released from her contract within twenty-four hours. Her agent told her Raven did not approve.
MJ Labels, who signed Sayge to a multi-record deal, is owned by a family friend of Raven’s. She threatened to pull in a favor and have the deal eliminated unless he married her. Raven is from a very influential family with ties that run deep in Nashville. While Mrs. Brown painted her in a very positive light, we have learned differently.
Friends, family, and fans are screaming their support for Sayge to succeed. Maybe now that the truth is out, they can cut ties and free themselves of any unwanted burdens.
How could someone write such trash and lies about Raven? Can’t she catch a break?
I pick up my phone and call Robbie immediately.
“What?” he barks into the phone and I cringe.
“It’s Ember,” I say sheepishly.
“Shit, sorry, I didn’t even look at the ID before answering.”
“I take it you’ve seen the article?”
“Yeah, fucking liars are going to pay for printing that trash.”
“What’s going on?”
“My parents are on their way to Raven’s right now. Dad is doing all he can to get the article pulled down. Finn’s already on campus and on his way to Raven. Declan is going crazy. He’s furious, like homicidal rage. The band is on the way to the house, too. The plan is to surround RJ with support and find out how the hell this article was even released. There are some details that only a few people are privy to. Someone has gotten access to her personal files.”
“I can’t even imagine how she’s going to handle this.”
“This is a lot different than a few fan girls following her to my place and posting pictures online. This is a deliberate attack on her character.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Not right now. I need to get to her place and get a feel for the situation. Don’t y’all have some sort of shower this weekend?”
“Yes.”
“That’ll be good for her.”
“Let me know if you need anything from me.”
“I hate to say it, but obviously, dinner tonight is out. “
“Don’t even worry about that.”
“Can I come over after I deal with this?”
“Of course, just let me know when you’re on the way. I’ll be home after work.”
“See you in a few hours.” He hangs up.
Aunt Chloe walks out of the back room with an assortment of jewelry for me to look at.
“Was that Robbie?”
“Yeah, something terrible happened today.” I shove the article in her hands and watch her face scrunch as she reads it.
“These types of things happen all the time. What are they going to do?”
“I’m not sure, but I’d be very afraid if I was this journalist. Raven has some very protective men in her life. This guy may not be walking by the end of the day.”
She laughs lightly and shakes her head. “I’m not one to condone violence, but this guy has it coming. But on another note, I need to tell to you something.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I talked to your dad today and let it slip about Robbie.”
My face heats. “What does that mean?”
“I may have told him you were dating an ex-Marine, current security specialist, who looks at you like you hung the moon. That he has a good family in the area, and his sister is marrying a rock and roll celebrity. I may have also mentioned you were taking a trip with him to Florida.”
“That’s a lot to let ‘slip’. Sounds like to me you gave a biography.”
“I may have also mentioned that you are crazy about him, and I think you’ve found the man you’re going to marry.”
“You didn’t!” I screech. “Why would you do that?”
“Because it’s the truth, and I knew you wouldn’t tell him yourself. He wants you to be happy, and this was my way to tell him you were getting there.”
“Oh my God! What did he say?”
“He’s calling you today.” Right as she finishes, the phone starts ringing and ‘out of area’ pops across the caller ID.
I roll my eyes and shoot her a dirty look before grabbing the phone and walking to the back to face the inquisition. I wait for the standard collect call message and push to accept.
“Hi, Daddy!” I answer, my voice much higher than normal.
“Baby girl! Sounds like you have a lot to tell me. Lucky for you, I’ve got some time.” The deep, rich, tone travels through the phone line, spreading warmth through my body. Just hearing him makes me smile.
“Apparently, you already know it all. So let’s talk about something else.” I try to avoid the subject.
“Ember Lyn,
I’ve waited twenty-three years for this. Don’t deprive your old man.”
I exhale loudly and debate on how much to tell him. “Okay, Daddy, let’s start with telling you I’ve met an amazing man. You’d love him.”
It’s almost eight when Robbie finally comes over. As soon as the door opens, I’m tugged into his arms securely. He inhales deeply as his lips connect with the skin at my neck.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I am now. Finally got away from that bullshit and have you in my arms. It’s been a long day, and for the last hour, all I could think about was getting here.”
I squeeze his waist, step back, and kiss him gently. “I’m glad you’re here. Come on in.”
He follows me to the kitchen, where I hand him a beer. “Want to tell me what happened?”
“Yeah, but first, where’s Cruz?”
“He’s at Alex’s tonight after he gets through with class.” I lead him to the couch.
He doesn’t give me time to sit, before tugging me into his lap and covering my mouth with his own. The kiss is deep and rushed. His strong hands slide down my back, landing on my ass and squeezing tight. He grows hard, and I feel every inch of him through our jeans. My hands link together behind his head, pulling him closer, as I inhale everything he’s giving me. I grind against him and moan with the slight friction. My head grows foggy from lack of oxygen, but I don’t dare pull away. An ache builds in the pit of my stomach, and I rub my chest against his.
“Fucking incredible,” he whispers against my lips, breaking away. “I needed that.”
“I’m sorry your day was so shitty.”
“It just took a turn for the better. As much as I’d like to carry your ass to your room and spend the night forgetting about all the bullshit, I’d like to tell you what’s going on.”
“Okay.”
“How much you know about Raven and Declan.”
“Very little about the actual relationship. I know he looks at her like she’s the most important thing in his world. You can tell they’re very much in love.”
“It’s a lot deeper than that. Last spring, before Sayge went on tour, the band was given some bad advice, really bad advice, and Declan decided to hide their relationship. It killed Rave and she hauled ass to Paris, left everyone behind. Didn’t even tell Declan she was going. When he learned the advice was bullshit, he went ballistic trying to find her. She was already on a plane and had left her engagement ring behind.
“The thing is, she wasn’t alone. Finn went with her. They’ve always been close, but in the last year, they grew closer. She’s as much his best friend as I am.”
“Oh my God, he loves her,” I breathe out.
“He thought he did. We don’t talk about it very much, because it’s personal between them, but when Declan found out, he lost his shit. He turned to the bottle, and even his band couldn’t get him to snap out of his depression. Blake, Cooper, and Nate all say they were sure the band was going to crumble. Nothing and no one could get through to him. I don’t know the details, but something happened one night and Ryan Knight from Knight’s Dream was the one to get through. After that, he sobered up, started working out and writing more. Surviving is actually about when Raven left him.”
“That’s beautiful and tragic. So it’s really a true story? The video is real?”
“Yeah, but not many people know the whole story, especially the part about Finn. That’s why the article is so damaging. There are details in there that are personal to our inner circle, and as soon as it came out, Finn did a search and found pictures of them in Paris floating around the Internet. Someone has been close enough to Raven to get into her computer files. And all that stuff written about the guys wanting to protect Sayge and get Raven out are lies. Those guys realized the errors of their ways immediately. There was a lot of regret and apologies. They adore her. So whoever did this was blatantly trying to hurt my sister.”
“What happens now?”
“Dad’s getting it pulled down and threatening to sue for slander. Declan is about to have an aneurysm from pure rage. Raven’s hurt, mad, and worried about her wedding being leaked. The band is ready to throw down for her. Finn’s working on finding the hacker. I’m working on finding the fucking journalist.”
My heart swells with love and respect for this man. “She’s lucky to have you.”
His face goes soft with understanding that my statement means so much more. “Babe—”
“No, listen. I strived for acceptance from my sibling for most of my life. It was exhausting. But listening to you talk about protecting Raven doesn’t make me sad. It makes me care for you even more. You’re an amazing brother.”
His eyes flash with anger at the mention of Natalie, but then turn soft as he leans his head against mine. “It’s her loss, Ember, because I think you’re pretty amazing, too.”
“Thanks,” I whisper. “Is there anything I can do to help with the Raven situation?”
“Yes, you can sit here and make me forget about today. She’s going to be fine.” He squeezes me tight. “Please tell me your day was better than mine.”
His words from the other night about trusting him float through my mind. “My day was great. I talked to my dad.”
“You did?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am. How often do you talk?”
“As often as possible. He calls Chloe, Cruz, and me weekly. He tries to talk to Natalie, but she’s resistant.”
“How’d your talk go?”
“Let’s see. My crazy, intrusive aunt told him about you, so he called to hear it from me. He grilled me a bit, but in the end, he was pleased.” I look up and see Robbie smiling.
“You told your dad about us?”
“Of course.”
“What exactly did you tell him?”
“Don’t worry. Chloe put you on a pedestal.”
“Pedestal, huh?” He wiggles his eyebrows, still grinning.
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“I’d like to meet him.”
My mouth falls open. “Really?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I can’t form the words I want to say so I stay quiet.
“You think, because he’s in jail, I’d want to stay away?”
“It’s not really that, but what will your family think of you visiting the penitentiary?”
“Nothing. It’s not their business.”
“Oh.” I try to move away.
“Stop. Don’t think the worst. I haven’t told them because it’s your story to tell. Your privacy is important to me. Today is a prime reason why I keep my shit to myself. I’m not ashamed, if that’s what you’re thinking. If anything, I admire your dad for the depth of his love and protection of you. The way I figure it, we’ll tell my parents when you feel comfortable. No one’s going to pass judgment, Ember.”
“I love my dad fiercely, Robbie, and he’s getting out soon. I’ve talked him into coming to Nashville, so he’s going to be a big part of my life.”
“Then I suspect he’ll be a big part of mine, too.”
His words fill me with warmth. “Next time I go visit, would you like to go with me?”
“Absolutely.”
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to still keep this between us until after the wedding.”
“That’s fine. I’m always going to look out for your well-being. We’ll talk to my parents after the shit dies down. But I want you to know, I told Finn. Not everything, just that your dad was in jail.”
“He’s your best friend.”
“Yes, but he’s also interested in my happiness. And you make me happy.”
“I feel the same.”
“You okay if I ask you another question?”
“Sure.”
“What happened to your parents’ marriage after he went to jail?”
“The details are fuzzy. My dad knew he was taking a deal, so he got busy. Mom and Natalie turned on him completel
y. He worked with his lawyer and filed divorce papers before he was sent away. He also took measures to take care of me monetarily. I told you he knew about my mom’s infidelity, so when my grandparents died and left him half of Clyde’s and a decent inheritance, he signed it all over to Chloe. My mom questioned him about any money, but he lied and said all he had was his portion of their home when it sold. So in the divorce, she got some of that money. He worked quickly and put Chloe as the executor of his will, in case something happened to him in prison. She promised to always take care of me.”
“Your dad’s smart.”
“Yes, he is. The money from the divorce was gone within a year, and Mom blamed me. I worked through high school just to have clothes. Thank God, Chloe taught me how to use a sewing machine.”
“Jesus Christ, Ember, why’d you stay?”
“You know why.”
“No, I know what Alex told me. I want to hear it from you.”
“I wanted them to like me, Robbie, but then one day, I realized it was useless to keep trying.” I look away and twist my hands. Admitting my reason for staying sounds pathetic.
“Come here.” He maneuvers me onto his lap, and I lay my head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent. “Your resilience is amazing.”
“I don’t quite see it that way.”
“You will. I’ll tell you every day until you believe it.”
“I’m not fishing for compliments.”
“I know.”
“I feel like I can tell you anything.”
“You can, always.”
He holds me against him for a few minutes, rubbing his knuckles lightly down my arm. We sit silently, soaking in the weight of the conversation.
“It’s been a really long day. Are you ready to go to bed?” he finally asks.
It hits me; this is us. We’re a true couple. We just had a conversation I’ve been scared to have with anyone, and he pushed me through without a bit of discomfort.
“Yes, but only on one condition. We watch ESPN. I’m beginning to have a thing for those guys.”
“I’m not sure it makes me comfortable.”
“Some of them are really hot,” I tease.
“Not helping, Ember,” Robbie growls.
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