"Pop
Life"
Chapter 96
"Adriana?"
I'm too shocked to say anything.
"Adriana? You there?"
"Yeah...yeah, I'm here," I say leaning back against my pillow.
"Isn't that great?" Brad asks.
"That you're touring? Yeah that's great..." I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes.
"But..."
"You're opening for Sasha? Why her?" I ask, rubbing my temple.
"Well, it's not like we really had any choice...I mean we did but we can't pass up a big tour like this."
"No, I know you can't. I just don't get a good feeling about her."
"I know," he says softly. "I was there too, remember?"
"Yeah...I remember. Hey, maybe when I come visit you, we'll give her an opportunity to leak more to the tabloids," I laugh.
"Hmm, as long as it's racier than the last, I'm all for it."
"You're terrible." My laughing dies down.
"You know it. So, one more show and you're done with this leg of the tour, huh?"
"Yeah. Today was my last tutoring session with Jenine. I won't have to start up until next year."
"So, how many interviews does Tony have you scheduled for before you leave New York though?"
I laugh. "You know him too well."
"Well, he doesn't pass up any opportunities."
"Yeah...true. Well, I'm promoting the Christmas song I did for daddy's album. I have a few talk shows to do."
"I got the copy of the CD, did I tell you that?"
"No, I was wondering."
"It's good. JC and your dad did a good job."
I smile. "Yeah, they're proud of it."
"Well, I have to go. I just wanted to tell you first about our tour plans next year."
"It will be a good opportunity for you," I say.
"I think so. Talk to you later?"
I nod, even though he can't see me. "Of course. Bye."
"Bye."
I hang up the phone and look at it. "I love you," I say.
"Awww, I love you too," Tony says, standing in the doorway.
I stick my tongue out at him. "Very funny."
He shrugs. "I thought so. I just wanted to let you know we're almost at the venue."
"Okay, thanks."
Even though I know I'm going to do the second leg of this tour next year...I don't know when or where yet so tonight's show is bittersweet. I'm going to miss these people I've become close to the last couple of months. We say our prayer and have our group hug before I get strapped into my harness for the opening. I glance over at Roy, who is strapping me in and I smile. He gives me a reassuring smile back and gently slaps my leg before he leaves.
I take a deep breath to hold back the tears as I hear the band starting the intro to Mind Games. The harness starts to move and I hear the crowd scream and soon I forget everything and put on the best show that I can.
"Honey are you sure you're up to coming to the play tonight?" mama asks as she stands at my door.
"Yes, I want to see Cody."
"But you just landed a couple of hours ago. He'd understand..."
"Mama, I'm fine. This is the second to last night of it and I already have plans with the girls tomorrow."
After my last show Tony and I stayed in New York a few more days so that I could promote the Christmas CD. So I got to perform "Shine for Christmas" a few times...but I didn't mind, I love Christmas time. Now I'm back in Orlando to spend the Holidays with my family.
I pull my shoes on and stand up. "See, I'm all ready to go."
I stifle and yawn and mama laughs.
"I'll nudge you if you start to doze off."
I put my hands on my hips. "I'm not going to doze off." I grab my purse and we're on our way.
~*~
I stand next to mama and Ashleigh in the lobby during intermission.
"Remember what happened last time we were here?" I ask as I shudder.
"Don't remind me...that was kind of scary," mama adds.
"Britney?"
We turn when we hear a familiar voice.
"Patrice...how are you," mama says leaning over and giving her a hug.
"I'm good. Looks like you're doing well too. I had no idea you were pregnant," she says touching mama's stomach.
Mama smoothes her blouse over her protruding stomach and smiles. "I'm about five and a half months along. Patrice, you remember my daughters, Adriana and Ashleigh?"
Patrice looks us over, smiles and nods. "It's been a couple of years. They've both grown so much...into beautiful young ladies."
"Girls, you remember Eddie's mom, don't you?"
I nod. "It's good to see you again. Eddie's doing a great job tonight," I tell her.
Ashleigh grabs my hand. "Do you remember Patrice, Ashleigh?"
She shyly shakes her head.
"Well you were young. You look so much like your father," she tells her.
Ashleigh smiles and says, "Thank you, ma'am."
Mama and I glance at each other and laugh.
"You've grown into such a beautiful young star, Adriana. I try to keep up with your career as much as I can. Britney, I'm sure you're proud."
"We're very proud of her."
"Thank you."
"Here you go," daddy says handing mama her sweater. "Oh, hi Patrice," he says leaning over and giving her a peck on the cheek.
"Justin, you look well as always. Congratulations on your new addition."
He smiles. "Well, thank you. Eddie's doing a fine job tonight."
She nods. "He's doing pretty good. He's a better singer than he is an actor but he's holding his own. Cody is amazing, as always. I don't know why you don't have your son on TV or doing movies or something," she says shaking her head.
"We're waiting until the time is right," mama says.
"If he were my son I'd be out in LA in a heartbeat."
Daddy politely smiles at her. "We want him to have time to be young and enjoy it and when we feel he's at a good age to try it, we'll see what happens. Just like we did with Adriana," he says putting his arm around my shoulder.
"Well, it seems to have worked for her, doesn't it?" she chuckles.
The lights start blinking, indicating that intermission is almost over.
"Well, we better take our seats. It was so good to see all of you. Congratulations and good luck on the rest of your pregnancy, Britney...and Justin."
"Thanks Patrice."
"She was a little pushy, wasn't she?" I mumble to daddy after she walks away and we start walking to our seats.
"She's just jealous because her son isn't as good as Cody," daddy mumbles back.
I laugh as he smiles and winks at me.
~*~
Mama rubs my leg and I look over at her.
"I'm awake," I whisper.
She smiles and turns back to watch the stage.
A million things are going through my mind right now. I keep thinking about what Patrice said about Cody. He would make it big in Hollywood...or on Broadway. He's got the talent and the charm for it, believe it or not. Mama and daddy decided a long time ago to try to raise us in as much of a stable environment as they could but the problem is, is that we've got the drive in our blood. The drive to entertain...just like they did. There's nothing they can do to stop it so they work with it, as best they can.
I think about Ashleigh. She's got a great voice but her passion is in her artwork. She loves to draw and paint. She doesn't even think about it, just give her a brush and some paint and you'll have a beautiful painting to hang. I should know, I have three of them on my bus so that I'm reminded of her every day when I'm on the road.
I wonder what my baby brother will be like. What kind of passion will he have in his life? He'll probably end up being a lawyer or something so different than the rest of us. That thought makes me smile.
Everyone laughs around me, pulling my attention back to the stage. The people applaud as the curtain comes down. The actors come back out to take their bows and everyone stands up. Cody gets the loudest cheers...he was the lead role, after all. Right now I feel like a proud big sister.
~*~
"Adriana."
I feel someone nudging my shoulder.
"Huh?" I ask, rubbing my eye.
"We're home," mama says.
"Oh," I say looking around. "Right."
"Justin, help her in...she's so tired," mama says as she takes Ashleigh's hand and walks to the house.
Daddy holds his hand out for me to take. He helps me out of the car and I lean against him as we walk into the house.
"I can walk on my own, really," I yawn.
"Uh huh," he says as he holds me tighter so I don't trip over the steps leading up to the door.
He helps me up the stairs to my room.
"You're on your own now," he says before he kisses my temple. "Good night, love."
"Night daddy," I say as I shuffle toward my bed.
He must watch me as I walk because he laughs when I fall face first onto my bed and just lay there.
"Britney...you might need to come and help her do the rest," daddy yells down the stairs. He chuckles as he walks away. That's the last thing I remember until I wake up in my bed the next morning with the sunlight blaring into my room.
I roll over and hide my eyes with my arm from the sun.
"I love you Orlando but you're too damn sunny for this time of the morning...and year," I groan.