Falling Stars (9 page)

"Um...Mia
can we please talk with you for a moment?" Una's voice wavered for a
moment.

"Is
there something I should be worried about? You both look like you have bad news"
Forcing a laugh, I tried to ease my own growing nervousness.

"Could
you please join us for a moment?" Una motioned for me to follow them into
a bedroom.

"Uh…sure,"
I turned and the others shrugged. "So what's up?" Furrowing my brow,
I entered the room.

"Well
we're bringing in a third tour bus for the next week or two, if necessary."

I
was unsure what the third bus had to do with me, but Una continued for
Nicholas.

"Mia
we are bringing in the other bus for
The Forgotten
, except for
Christopher."

Oh,
of course he would have to have his own bus. Probably couldn't get everyone on
the bus with his asshole behavior.

"Okay,
what does this have to do with me? I mean –"

"Christopher
has a song he's started working on and wants to collaborate with you on it."

First,
my eyes grew about three times their size, and then I started shaking my head.
I knew where this conversation was heading and I didn't like it one bit.

"No,
no, no….wait –"

"Mia,
I, we, cannot make you do anything." Una took a deep breath and continued.
"However, as a manager, the song would be great exposure for
Hushed
Mentality
and could do great things to launch your appeal with
The
Forgotten
fans."

This
woman was out of her damned mind. She knew he was a jerk and she wanted me to
agree to stay with him, alone, on a bus, just him and me. Uh-uh, no way in
hell. The look I gave was exactly what she deserved for suggesting such an
insane thing.

"I,
of all people, know what my son is capable of and I'm pretty sure he's already
shown you how he can be, and for that I apologize. However, I'm also sure you
know, as well as I do, what he'll be like if this does not come to play as he
requests."

"So
I have to suck this up because he'll throw a damn tantrum and no one can or
will deal with him? No, no way," I threw my hands in the air. "Are
you kidding me?"

"No,
Mia that's not what I'm saying. If you decline then we'll deal with him, I'm
just being completely honest." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his
nose. "Honestly if I were you…I wouldn't do it."

Una's
head shot to look at Nicholas in shock. "Nicholas…" she hissed.

"What?
I am being honest with the girl. She deserves it." He looked back at me. "It's
true
Hushed Mentality
would get amazing coverage from the song, as well
as being able to possibly debut the song on stage. It would be a career boost."
He took another long breath. "Consider it and let us know before we finish
loading the buses, please?" He looked directly into my eyes, pleading.

My
immediate reaction was to scream 'ah-nah, hell-nah', but an odd calmness came
over me. I could only agree to think about it. Una and Nicholas walked out of
the room and the girls rushed in. They immediately bombarded me with curious
looks and questions.

"What
are you going to do?" Laney questioned. "You aren't really going to
do this, are you?" Her eyes were beseeching me to say I wasn't.

I
looked up and they were looking at me inquisitively. Obviously, they'd
eavesdropped on the whole conversation. Who could blame them? I would've done
it too.

"Do
you guys want me to do it?" Looking toward the floor, my stomach twisted
nervously awaiting their responses.

"Oh
girl, we could never ask you to do this or make this decision for you."
Serena put her arm around me.

"I
need you guys though." After a deep intake of breath, I exhaled "Time
for a vote."

"We
can't just vote on –" Kat started.

"This
could affect us all, the entire band, which makes it a vote worthy subject."

I
looked around and they nodded. We stuck our fists out in front of us and began
our vote. I closed my eyes.

"One,
Two, Three…Vote!" Opening my eyes, I look at the thumbs around me. Laney
and my thumbs were down, Kat and Serena's were up.

"Shit,
tie breaker." Laney groaned.

Everyone
was wearing their nerves on their face.

"Pick
your champions." Kat rubbed her hands together.

"Serena,
let’s do this."  

"Where?"
Laney scrunched her nose.  This wasn’t one of her favorite moments.

"Hallway?"
I suggested.

"No
way." Kat shook her head. "The lobby." An evil grin spread
across her red lips.

In
the lobby, Laney pinched her nose.  Kat sat smiling in a lobby chair.  Serena
and I stood in front each other, determination on both our faces.

"Penis,"
I announced in one octave higher than my normal voice.

"Vagina!"
Serena announced a bit higher. 

Both
of us glanced around the fancy lobby, distinguished men in suits and
well-dressed women strolled around us.  No one was looking at us, yet, but it
wouldn’t take long.  The purpose of the game was to get louder and louder until
one person was too embarrassed to shout it louder in public.

In
the end, a woman entered the lobby with about five children.  Serena said "vagina"
so loud the mother pulled her children closer and covered the youngest ears. 
The moment she looked back to the clerk behind the desk, I knew we were about
to be asked to leave.  With one last look to the wide eyed children, the "puh"
sitting on my lips, I grabbed Serena’s hand and pulled her to the elevators.

"Really?"
Kat griped as she followed.

Laney
caught up quickly, looking relieved it was over.

Instead
of complaining about my loss, I dialed Una on the way back to the room.

"Okay
Una, let's do this" Looking up as I spoke, their faces now filled with
guilt. I forced a smile.

*
* * * *

I
knew Nicholas would give me a hard time about my suggestion of moving Mia onto
a bus with me. However, after a few hours of convincing him it was purely
collaboration and was only for the good of both bands, he finally agreed to
talk with Una. Counting on Una to fall into manger mode and realize the
exposure her band would get, I was sure she would at least propose it to them.
All I cared about was I would have Mia on a tour bus, alone, with the ability
to make her so miserable she would walk away from the tour, unable to handle it
any longer.

When
the road crew started to load up the bus with her luggage, I sat back on the
couch lounging in victory. This was going to be way too easy.

Mia
was hesitant to step onto the bus, but she finally did. Rolling her eyes when
she saw me, I gave her a victorious grin. She walked past me and threw her
things on one of the bunks. Then sat herself down and put her earbuds in before
lying down, facing away from me.

That
wasn't going to work for me, so I got up and went back to her bunk, standing
there until she rolled over and looked at me. A face full of irritation was my
greeting.

"What
do you want Mason?" She was really pissed.

I
sneered. What made her think she could talk to me like that?

"I'm
here, when you want to work on this song, you let me know." She rolled
back over.

Pulling
her earbuds so they popped out of her ears, she sat up quickly. Climbing onto
her feet, she stood in front of me, crossing her arms over her chest
defensively. The little kitty wanted to play.

"I
was simply going to say that you can have the large bed in the back of the bus,
that's all." I smiled down at her. She saw right through me.

Something
over my shoulder caught her eye before she looked back at me with her dark eyes
and answered me.

"No,
thank you. I'll stay right here." Her jaw tensed and her smile forced.

"Is
everything okay?" Turning at Nicholas' question, I nodded with a shrug.

"Why
wouldn't it be? I was simply offering Mia the large bed in the back of the bus,
that's all." I walked back to the couch and sat down.

Nicholas
raised an eyebrow in partial suspicion and surprise. He looked to Mia for
confirmation.

"It's
fine." She sighed. "Thank you, Nicholas."

I
rolled my eyes. The damsel in distress act was so damn lame. He finally left
and the bus started up. I turned back as Mia was stalking toward me.

"Look
here, Mason, I don't care how everyone else walks on egg shells for you. Plain
and simple, you stay out of my way and I will stay out of yours. When this 'song'
you have is finished then I'm out of here." She turned on her heels and
went back to the bunk.

I
let her lie back there for about an hour before my game began. I turned on the
TV, increasing the volume. She shifted around and I knew it was getting to her.
I looked at the clock, 10:00 p.m., perfect.

"Can
you please turn that down?" She groaned. I ignored her. "Mason! Turn
it down for god's sake." She pressed her pillow over her head and I
stifled my laughter.

Turning
off the TV, I watched her body relax. Plugging in my iPod I turned it on, again
at top volume. I sat back and waited for the yelling.

"What
the hell Christopher, don't you sleep?" She was lying face up with her
hands over her eyes.

"Not
as much as you seem to." I chided.

She
sat up in a huff. "Is this some sick way of saying you wanted to work on
the damn song?"

I
half grinned. She got up and walked toward the couch. Grabbing my ankles, she
threw my legs off the couch and sat down.

"Okay.
Let's start then." She sat back against the couch.

I
threw my notebook at her. She picked it up from her lap and looked over it.

"Do
you have music to this, I mean, what do you want me to do?"

I
shook my head. I thought she would be better than this.

"Don't
shake your head at me," she threatened. "I know you're up to
something. I just haven't figured out what it is yet." Her eyes were
challenging me to deny it.

I
grabbed my guitar and played the song a couple of times.

"Sing."
I began playing again. She sang the whole song and then took the pen from the
table in front of us and started making notes. The song was going to have to be
finished, it was necessary for Nicholas and Una to see progress. After an hour
of working on the song and another hour arguing, the bus stopped at a hotel in
Phoenix.

"Thank
God!" Mia threw the notebook at me and went to grab her things. She walked
passed me and off the bus without saying another word.

Her
ability to disregard me really ate away at me. I shook it off though and
grabbed my own things before stepping off the bus. I was getting to her and
that was what I hoped to accomplish.

When
I got to the lobby there were the usual awaiting fans and some paparazzi. I was
checking into when I noticed Stacia heading my direction. Stacia was a backup
singer.

"Hey
Christopher," she was using her seductive voice and slipped her hand up my
chest, leaning her body against me. She kissed my cheek.

"Stacia,"
I nodded and headed to the elevator.

The
door opened and I stepped in, feeling her follow me. I smiled to myself. We've
played this game many times.

"So,
what floor?" she asked with her fingers hovering over the buttons.

"Eight."
I answered.

"Eight
it is," She smiled and winked.

After
closing my bedroom door, she went straight to business. Stripping off all her
clothes, she stood in heels only. She sashayed to the bed and lay across it.
Curling one finger, she motioned for me to join her.

Walking
to the edge of the bed, I stood at the edge looking down on her. Moving onto
her knees, she removed my shirt and moved lower to unbuckle my pants. I looked
down onto her bleach blonde head. She slid my pants and boxers down until they
fell to the floor, becoming a cotton and denim puddle at my feet. She kissed my
neck and slid her tongue down my chest until she reached her destination.

She
took all of me into her mouth and slowly moved. The physical contact aroused
me, but it was difficult to stay turned on. This was a first and it was
frustrating the hell out of me. I had way too much on my mind.

Grabbing
her by the head, I set a faster pace. Her gag reflex protested for a second,
but I didn't slow. My muscles tightened up and I knew I was close. She tried to
pull away, but I kept her in place until I was finished. Releasing her, I went
to take a shower, leaving her alone on the bed.

As
I leaned into the hot water, I heard the bathroom door open and Stacia's
silhouette formed on the other side of the shower curtain. I rolled my eyes
when she reached for the shower curtain. Why do they always think it's more
than it is? She should know by now.