Faded (Rock Star Trilogy)

outside…” he suggests. “You know, if it makes you less nervous.”
    The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open. “It’s okay. I kind of need you there for moral support. Just, maybe ignore the lyrics.”
    We all walk off the elevator, and security opens the door to the huge conference room for us. I have been in this room far too many times with my dad. I usually keep quiet and look out the window while my dad does the talking. The view here is magnificent. But today, I am going to be talking for myself. It’s about freaking time .
    “Scarlett…” Barry greets us, and then turns to everybody already sitting at the table. “This is Scarlett’s twin, Bridgett,” he tells him. “And Alec is the one who produced this song, right?”
    Alec nods. “Alec Torch,” he introduces himself, and everybody laughs. Everybody knows who he is. But he also is the son of their competitor, so it’s a little awkward.
    “And this is Stephan,” I tell Barry. “He’s here for moral support.”
    “So, do you guys have the demo ready?” Barry asks.
    Alec nods and gives the song to Barry’s assistant. I’m still wondering why we couldn’t just email it to them.
    When the song starts playing, I decide right then and there that it is going to be a long day.
     
    8:58 PM
    Fantasy
     
    I was right. Today was possibly the longest day of my life. And we haven’t even left LA yet.
    The meeting was… different than I expected.
    First, it was awkward. They played the song I wrote for Stephan. You know, the one that he hadn’t heard before today. So I tried my hardest not to look at him. I was scared to see what his reaction would be.
    And then we all got down to business, and I put Stephan to the back of my mind. Eventually we would have to talk about the song, but not until after the meeting. I just didn’t realize how long the meeting would be.
    Everybody loved the song. (Which, by the way, did wonders for my ego. As if I wasn’t already full of myself). So they decided, YES , they would give me a chance. Which gave Mr. Matthews time to negotiate my contract. Now, if my song fails, I’m only stuck being Barry’s bitch for one year instead of four… Yep, my lawyer rocks. Or maybe my song rocked that much, I don’t know. I think I’m going to go with my song rocked that much, because that makes me happier to admit.
    So, we negotiated for three hours, ate lunch while a new contract was drawn up, and then we signed. At this point, I’ve almost forgotten about the whole “embarrassing song I wrote for Stephan being played” ( ALMOST being the key word here).
    So finally, about four in the afternoon ( seven Florida time ), we are going to leave to go back home. Well, technically, I’m only going home for a couple of days and then coming back. I have to film a music videofor my new song and prepare for the release of my new single… And by prepare I mean do a ton of radio and TV interviews.
    So, security tries to walk us to our limo, but we can’t even get out the front door. Paparazzi are all lined up, waiting to get pictures of Bridgett and me… “Scarlett’s evil twin sister is released from the mental hospital” I believe is one of the rumors. That one was kind of awesome. Also “Scarlett is ashamed of her twin sister”. That one made me mad. But my personal favorite had to be, “Scarlett was cloned by aliens!”
    So while we are waiting for the LAPD to arrive and clear the streets, Barry thinks it’s the perfect opportunity to invite PRESS inside! (He says it’s “for publicity’s sake”). I know, I know! He’s crazy! Why invite that madness inside? So, he lets only the biggest networks inside and lets them ask us questions. Seriously, he sets out chairs and a podium like I’m the freaking president or something. (Okay, that might have fed my ego just a little… or a lot, whatever).
    So I’m too busy answering questions to even think about what I am going to say to Stephan. At this point, maybe my mind is avoiding the topic. Besides, I’ve already come to the conclusion that I am a really good avoider.
    So finally, the cops clear the streets, the reporters leave, and we are in the limo on the way to the airport. Right now, Stephan and I are sitting with Bridgett and Alec. Everybody is really tired, except me. My mind isrunning 100 MPH. I’m realizing that I only have a few more minutes of avoidance before I have to talk to Stephan… A few more minutes before I have to talk about the