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Chapter 14: Under the Lights
And the plot thickens! I sat at a bar somewhere in the city. I was downing a few Coronas, wishingANTONIO the headache I had would go away. You chose this life, I thought to myself. You could've had a cushy company job, but you quit it for this life. I wasn't that deeply regretful though. Usually being the manager for PARTYGURLS was fun. It was a challenge to my skill, to make a successful pop band in the U.S. without revealing their identities. The girls were usually willing to do anything I wished them to, in the good of forwarding their careers. I think my headache started right after they met FIVE. Why am I in this story anyway? I'm not going ga-ga over that British boy-band! Hell no! I'm not like that…really! Neither do I have the hots for any of the girls. C'mon, they're all quite pretty (especially Grace for some reason), but I think of them as no more than sisters! Nope, I was just the manager of PARTYGURLS, and all of a sudden these foreigners are ruining all of my well thought out plans! I'm not dense. I knew something was going on, especially since that radio interview. So today I gave them the day off to work it out. Like my old boss Otto said, "If you come in to work with some shit going on that 's going to distract you, then I don't want you here." He let us take days off if we had a "bad hair day"-if something was bothering us at home. So I did the same for PARTYGURLS. I mean they're not going to be productive if they have these guys to worry about! I didn't cancel all of their obligations when I told them to take the day off. I figured I'd work something out. But PEOPLE Magazine, with their high-ass egos couldn't reschedule, so I inadvertedly lied to the girls. I felt bad-soo bad. Let's see…that's 5 Coronas…yeah, I feel pretty bad. I couldn't bring myself to tell them to take care of this. I try not to make waves with people. Yeah…I'm too nice, I know. But when you've put your blood, sweat, and tears into something, you don't want it to fall apart. Somehow I brought myself to press the fast-dial button for Grace's cell. It rang for a while before it picked up. "Hello?" "Hey…wait…you're not Grace," I said a little too slowly. "Antonio? It's Jen! Did you get wasted or something?" Damn, the cat's out of the bag, "No…just
some…Coronas. Hey…I have to tell
"Okay." "You have to people for interview's magazine…No…wait…I
mean you have an
"What? I thought we had a day off! What's up wit dat?" "Sorry…ego…high-and-mighty…kiss my ass…wanted
to say. Can't reschedule.
"Ok Tarzan, it's alright. It's later tonight right?" "Seven, at some…place. Meet you at…the bar with a cow. Sorry." "Ok, we can make it, and I know the place.
Don't worry about it. It's
"Ok, ok…thanks…>smooch<…love you guys!" "Uh…we love you too Antonio. Later!"
CLICK.
GRACE
"Not again!" Laura whined. All of a sudden Sean and Ritchie melted out
of the crowd, and started
"Why did you do that?", he said, "Why do you mess with guys like that?" "I'm sorry!!" I screamed. Everyone was scared. The crowd dispersed and ran. "Grace!!!" everyone yelled. "Grace!….Grace!!…Graceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!…WAKE
UP!"
"Shut up, or I'll wipe this shit on you!" I threatened. "Ok (ha ha ha),
ok (ha ha ha), but yo, your phone went
off. I answered it
"Damn! And I was enjoying our day off!" Laura said. Hey dude? Is it just me or is this
van a bit…I don't know, QUIET? "Hey,
"I don't know, foo, but I think she said
she'd call us or something,"
I grabbed my phone from Jen's hand and called
Jules up. She answered it,
"JULES! Where in the HELL are you?", I demanded of her. "GRACE! Where have you been?", she
was talking about my little outing with
"Where have I BEEN? WHAT ABOUT YOU!", I deftly turned the accusations on her. "Oh STOP! Don't blame me for your own inadequacies", she said, stealing MY patented phrase, once again! Whatever man! I got to the point, "Oh stop copying my words! Where are you?" "The Fairmont," she replied, casually.
What tha? The Fairmont?! Wasn't
"The Fairmont," I mouthed at the questioning
glances the others were giving
"Long story...." Jules replied. "Well get your butt out in front of the hotel.
We'll be there in 5
"OKAY", I heard her sigh. "And JULES....you are going to tell me what
happened", I added, curious at
"DUDE she's going to tell us all what happened!", Jen said. "I Will...When you tell me what happened to you," Jules demanded. "Five minutes!", I said, before pushing "END".
I really didn't want to get
IT
Julie “So how have your lives changed since you’ve released your single?” I was there at the interview, but like the radio show my thoughts were elsewhere. I think everyone’s thoughts were somewhere else. We had yet to discuss the events of the afternoon. I had no idea what had happened since I’d left McDonalds...and they had no idea about what happened with Scott. We just hadn’t had time to talk about it yet. As soon as they got me from the Fairmont we were off to our interview....the interview that we had arrived LATE to. I watched Grace answer Chuck...well I think that’s what his name was. I hadn’t really paid attention to the detail... (Was my obliviousness returning? NOPE. I just had to much on my mind.) wondering what had gone on with her and Ritchie.... “So are you seeing someone? Dating? Any boyfriends? Romantic attachments? Julie why don’t we start at your end.” “Me?”, I said meekly. The other PARTYGURLS looked at me expectantly. I eyed them attempting to communicate with my “psychic powers”. Hey I had psychic dreams you know! So maybe I could communicate telepathically as well. Here goes: ~Are we supposed to answer this truthfully....should we talk about how we find the guys from Five attractive and that we’ve spent a lot of time with them...~ Ummm....Well.....maybe not. I don’t think blank stares equal any sort of recognition. OKAY looks like I’m on my own....here goes.... “Umm what exactly do you mean by seeing someone?”, I finally said after what felt like FOREVER. Chuck....If that’s what his name was...I swear his name is Chuck...looked at me quizically and then smiled. “We can add interested in someone in that
mix if you like. You can take the question however you like...is
there anyone in particular you’re thinking of?”, he asked a little too
enthusiastic. Of course he knew I had someone in
“Well....I’m sort of...you could say seeing somebody....that is I’m with someone....but we haven’t really cemented the relationship...at least not say it exclusivly in words.....Yeah”, I babbled not looking at “Chuck” as I answered. I fiddled with my hands instead. “WHAT?” “SINCE WHEN?” “WITH WHO?’ “EXCUSE ME?” The PARTYGURLS all suddenly said. OH NOW they say something! They all looked at me interested as hell. “Do you care to be more specific Julie? “, “Chuck” asked. Boy was he ever NOSEY. I aPartygurlsed
the intent gazes of the PARTYGURLS and gave Chuck one of my fake smiles
and replied
“Is it someone you met recently? Someone famous? In the same business? Or is it someone you knew before PARTYGURLS?”, he asked not getting my GIST that I wasn’t going to say anything else about it. Chuck you are one annoying guy. I HATE the name Chuck. If that’s really your name....CHUCK. “No comment”, I replied still giving him my classic fake smile as I hissed silently in between my teeth....GUYS NAMED CHUCK......AGH. “Jennifer how about you?”, Chuck continued his inquires. FINALLY. We’ve moved on from MOI. THANK goodness. I looked at Jen- what would she say. She gave me a look that said to me that she wanted me to tell her later about my “someone”...then she said “I’m not seeing anyone at the moment” “Neither am I”, Michelle said before CHUCK could react. Well....it WAS true. They weren’t WITH someone....*NOT FOR LONG AHHHHHAHHHAHHHAHHHAHHHA* What tha??? That wasn’t MY inner voice talking!!!! *IT WAS MINE!!! AHHAHHHAHHAH!!* Okay...that was a little creepy,,,, “Grace? Laura?”, Chuck asked realizing he wasn’t getting anything out of Jen and Michelle. “ I’m not sure”, Grace said. “What? How can you not be sure?”, I blurted out unexpectedly as Laura, Jen, and Michelle gave me “Jules shut up looks”. What in the hell wasn’t she sure about??? And why was everyone giving me those looks? “I don’t know....that’s all I’m going to say”, she continued ignoring my outburst. Something had happened. I knew it!!! I was no longer oblivious so I knew IT!!! It couldn’t be...NO WAY...it couldn’t be possible....before I could think any further that CHUCK fellow inturrupted by speaking once more. “Laura?....Laura?...Laura?”, Chuck repeated over and over. Laura wasn’t saying much. Wonder why? She had nothing to hide...why she wasn’t saying anything. She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip. “Umm...I need more coffee. I’m out”, she answered. WHAT the? “We can remedy that. Miguel? Can you refill Ms. Dandona’s cofee”, Chuck asked a guy that I swear looked familiar nearby. He came over and brought Purdurva some coffee and they exchanged knowing smiles. WHAT tha? *HAHAHHAHAH I DID THAT!* What tha? That creepy voice again... “So then Laura?”, Chuck asked not moving from his questioning. BOY was this guy ever the suave reporter,,,,, “I have a boyfriend”, Laura said softly. “Could you repeat that?”, Chuck said. “Yeah. Could you repeat that!”, Jen wanting obviously like WE all did to know if she’d heard right. Laura took a sip of her coffee and without missing a heartbeat said “I’m seeing someone. We haven’t been dating long”, she said nonchalantly. “WHAT” “WHAT” “WHAT” “WHAT” We all busted out...getting a very interesting look from Chuck. He probably was thinking.....these girls don’t talk to each other do they? *Actually he IS thinking that! Because I’m making him think that! * That creepy voice AGAIN. This was getting weird.... “Who are you seeing?”, I asked before Chuck could utter a word. We all sat there staring and WAITING. Laura of course was not in a hurry to say anything and just took another sip of her coffee. “WELL?’, Grace asked expectantly. Laura coughed *cough JC cough*. “Excuse me? Michelle said surprised, “JC. From N’SYNC. I’m seeing JC from N’SYNC”, Laura repeated as I gasped loudly. WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? Chuck smiled. He knew that it was NEWS
worthy. CREEP. That CHUCK.
Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring “Someone’s mobile”, I said. “Mobile? Jules. Mobile?’, Grace said shaking her head, Oops...looks like those British guys are influencing the language. Chuck smiled at me as if he was thinking something evil about me. I heard him mumble mobile huh. *He knows you’ve been speaking to British people....HEHEHEHAHAHAHHA* SHUT UP evil voice! “Who’s CELL is that?”, I said as the ringing contiued making sure I didn’t say mobile again. Laura looked glad for the inturruption. Of course she would...phone ringing means she didn’t have to go into detail.... “OH! It’s mine!”, Grace said sheepishly pulling it from her purse. “Yeah...Oh....HI...Yeah me too....Hold on a minute okay...”, Grace said into the phone as she got up and suspiciously moved into the corner whispering....WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND HERE. Before I could say a thing... “So who have you met so far since PARTYGURLS? Toured with anyone? Bumped into any other famous pop stars?”, Chuck said. BOY was he trying to get to the bottom of our non-sharing ways. “Well...”, Michelle began before being inturrupted by Antonio who had just gotten into the room. “Sorry to cut this short but the girls need to get to the recording studio”, he said rather slowly....he seemed a bit tipsy if you ask me.....but I’m not one to judge.... And so we left Chuck...expectant Chuck still wanting answers...and headed out the door. I grabbed Grace on the way out...and just in time to figure somethings out... “Okay...See you soon Ritchie...Me too...”, she said into her phone before turning to find me mouthing RITCHIE HUH? She blushed. UH-OH. well we had the entire van ride to the studio to talk about this one... “So Jules tell me who exactly are you seeing?”, Grace asked as we walked out and caught up with the rest of the PARTYGURLS and Antonio.... “Yeah Jules? WHO’s the lucky guy...or should I say LAD?”, Jen said smiling at me. “I’ll tell you in the van....I’ll tell you ALL in the van”, I replied as I eyed Laura... “And Laura can tell us about Mr. Chasez...” “Yeah. I can’t wait to her that one”, Michelle said shaking her head. “But first- Can someone fill me in on what happened at McDonalds with Grace?”, I said as we hopped into the van. And the good times
don't end! CLICK HERE for
Chapter
15
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