"Pop
Life"
Chapter 78
A few weeks later...
"Mama said you wanted to see me?" I ask daddy as I walk into his studio in the basement.
"Here, sit down," he says pushing a chair out for me to sit next to him.
I sit down and watch him fiddle with a few knobs.
"Okay, listen," he says as he pushes a button and a fast beat starts to play.
I start bobbing my head to the music as he watches me.
"What do you think?" he asks.
I shrug. "It's cool. It sounds like jingle bells in the background though...kind of Christmasy."
He smiles. "Exactly the point. I wrote a Christmas song and I'd love to hear you sing it," he says handing me a sheet of paper with the words on it.
"Now?"
"Why not?" he asks as he nods toward the studio.
"Um, okay."
I walk into the studio and sit at the mic. I grab the headphones that are hanging on the music stand. He plays the beat for me one more time and I start to sing a few words here and there, trying to get a feel for what he's looking for.
"That's it...right there sing, it's our day to shine...just like that."
I sing it just as daddy told me.
"Great," he says.
We continue to work on the song until I look up and see mama in the booth. She's standing behind daddy, with her arms wrapped around his shoulders smiling at me.
"Hey," I smile at her.
She waves.
"Come up here and we'll take a break," daddy says into the microphone.
I nod and look at the clock on the wall.
"I can't believe how much time has passed already," I say when I join them.
"I thought you guys might be hungry," mama says. "Besides I wanted to hear a little bit of the song."
"You knew about this?" I ask, taking a sip of water.
Mama nods.
I look at daddy. "What am I doing this for anyway?"
"Uhhh we're toying with some ideas but I think JC and I want to put a Christmas CD together. Popular artists today singing new Christmas and Holiday songs."
"That sounds great. And you want me to sing this song for it?"
He nods. "You sound awesome singing it."
"You really do, it fits your voice so well," mama adds.
"Thanks. Wow, this is exciting. A Christmas Album."
After we eat lunch daddy and I spend the rest of the day in the studio remixing the song a little.
"I like the way that sounds daddy. Don't change that."
"I like it too. Okay, I think that's a wrap."
I walk back into the booth with him and see Ashleigh sitting on his lap.
"I helped," she says.
"Did you? We'll have to make sure you put your name in the credits."
"Okay, now push that button and turn that knob," daddy says pointing to those two things.
She does this and smiles.
"There, done."
"Yayyy," she says clapping her hands.
"So, why didn't you mention this song to me sooner?" I ask daddy as I sit in the chair next to them.
"It's something we've been going back and forth on for a few weeks. I asked Tony to keep a couple of days in your schedule free for me in case we decided to go through with it. After hearing this song, I think I've made my decision. I know once your Uncle JC hears it he'll make the same decision as well."
"I hope so," I say looking down at my hands.
"It's too early for Christmas," Ashleigh says, leaning her head back against daddy's chest.
"Well we have to get this done now so it's ready for Christmas, Daffodil."
He kisses her cheek.
"Come on girls, let's take your mom out to dinner."
Darcy, Stacy and I are laying on my bed, looking at magazines.
"I like this one...what do you think?" Darcy asks me as she shows me a picture of a Homecoming dress she wants.
"That's pretty. See if they have it in a different color though," I say, handing her back the magazine.
"Why?"
"Because that red won't look good on you."
"I found it," Stacy yells.
She crawls over to us and sets the magazine down.
"That's okay," Darcy shrugs as she looks at the picture Stacy is showing us.
"I like it," I say.
"Thank you," she says to me but glares at Darcy.
"God, Adriana, I wish you were coming to the dance. It's going to be so much fun. Stacy and I will ditch our dates and the three of us can go together," Darcy says nodding.
"Awww, that's sweet and I don't believe you'd do that for a second," I laugh. "But the gesture is nice. Really guys, it's not that big of a deal to me. I'm having fun helping you pick out dresses."
"We still going shopping tomorrow?" Stacy asks.
"Of course."
"When do you start rehearsals for your tour?" Darcy asks me.
"In a week and a half. I can't believe it."
"But your show was great before, what are you going to change?"
"A lot, actually. I can't even begin to explain it but my daddy had a lot to do with it. He and Cody actually came up with some of the designs for the stage. I can't wait to see it."
"Wow, that sounds cool. You're coming to Orlando, right?" Stacy asks.
I nod. "Yes, of course. I have no idea when, but I am," I laugh.
"We're proud of you...have we ever told you that?" Darcy asks.
"Thanks guys, that means a lot to me."
"I mean some of the kids in school are just jealous of you and didn't think you'd get this far, but look at you. You're amazing."
"How do you deal with it all?" Stacy asks.
"It's hard sometimes. Like when the press was all over me a couple of weeks ago. That was hard. But I love what I do," I shrug.
"Did you ever find out who reported that you were getting freaky with Brad against your bus?"
I shake my head. "No. They just said some crew member. It could be the tabloid lying or someone on the crew lying. Who knows."
"But why would someone make that up? I mean just an odd member of the crew?" Darcy asks.
I lean on my right elbow and study my nails.
"I don't know. It doesn't matter, really."
"Did you piss anyone off there?" Darcy laughs.
I start to laugh and then stop to think. "I don't think so. I thought we all got along really well."
"Well, like you said...the tabloid could have just made it up."
I roll back onto my stomach. "The strange thing is is that Brad and I did kinda end up kissing outside of my bus one night. It just sort of happened."
"So did someone see you?"
I try to think back to that day.
"Yeah, I think a couple of people did."
I gasp.
"What?" Darcy and Stacy ask at the same time.
I shake my head. "Nooooo. Sasha saw us and made a comment. I think she said something like, get a room. But why would she care?"
"She's jealous?" Darcy asks.
"About what?"
"Marcus," Stacy adds.
I slowly turn my head to look at her. "Marcus?" I say slowly. "I don't know...I mean she had Michael, why should she care anymore?"
"I just read that Michael said Sasha used him."
I scrunch up my eyebrows and look at Darcy.
"Where did you read that?"
"I think it was in People, or something like that. He said he and Sasha "dated" while on tour but that she used him to get over Marcus."
"Oh God...she's weird."
"She's obsessed," Darcy added.
I shake my head quickly. "Well, it doesn't matter. She can lead her pathetic life."
"Can we quote you on that?" Stacy kids, acting like she's holding a microphone to my mouth.
"Yes," I laugh, pushing her hand away.
"Are you sure this doesn't bother you guys?" I ask as the three of us walk through the mall the next day. I nod my head toward Andre who's following behind us.
"Doesn't bother me. He's a nice guy," Darcy shrugs.
"In here," Stacy says grabbing our arms and pulling us into a boutique.
The girls try on different dresses as I wait for them outside the dressing rooms.
Darcy appears in another off the shoulder dress.
"I like that one the most," I say as she twirls around.
"It kind of reminds me of the dress you wore on the VMA's."
I nod. "Yeah, a little bit."
Darcy goes back into her stall.
"Adriana?" Stacy says from her dressing room.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember Preston Powell?"
"Umm, yeah, why?"
"Stacyyyy," Darcy warns from the dressing room next to hers.
Stacy opens the door and stands in the doorway. "Well, his girlfriend sort of broke up with him a couple of days ago and it's a shame he can't go to Homecoming."
My eyes narrow. "Why can't he go? He's a popular guy, he should be able to find a date."
Darcy opens her dressing room door and glares at Stacy.
"But any of the ones he wants to go out with already have dates...except for one," she smiles at me.
Slowly, Darcy looks my way.
"Me?" I ask, touching my chest.
Stacy nods.
I cover my laugh with my hand. "I have a boyfriend, or have you forgotten that?"
"A boyfriend who isn't here and is too old to go to Homecoming with you anyway. This wouldn't be anything more than friends going to a dance together."
"I mean, does Preston even want to go with me?"
"Who wouldn't?" Darcy asks.
I shrug. "I'm sure there are plenty of guys..."
"Well Preston asked me Friday if I thought you'd go with him. Strictly as friends," Stacy adds.
I rub my forehead. "I don't know..."
"Oh come on," Stacy pleads.
"I thought we talked about this yesterday and I said I didn't care if I went or not."
"Well, this wouldn't really be about you. It's more about Preston having a date. You'd be doing him a favor."
"I'll think about it."
Stacy jumps up and down and comes over and hugs me. "Oh thank you."
"I didn't say yes, Stacy. I mean I want to talk this over with Brad..."
"Oh...um, yeah of course."
Darcy chuckles. "This should be interesting."