Rising Star (23 page)

Chapter 40

Adam is the first thing I see as I exit the stage, and I rush gratefully into his arms.

“That was beautiful,” he assures me. “Truly. You’ve a gift Summer. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

I pull back to see Lisa standing behind. I’m suddenly a little nervous what she might think. I did ditch her advice, after all.

But she steps forward and hugs me too.

“You did great,” she says. “You were right to sing about how you really felt. I’m proud of you. Come on,” she adds, “we all need to get to our places. The votes will be in soon.”

There’s a showbiz rush as we’re all shepherded into our various places. The judges take their seats. And I’m jostled in amongst the other acts, to take our place in the spotlight.

The audience are cheering to see us all back on stage. But it all feels like white noise. I’m wondering if my song did what I wanted it to. If it convinced Tammy and George to forgive me.

As the votes start to come in I feel the familiar drumbeat of anxiety in my stomach. The cheers of the crowd wave over me like white noise. And I hardly feel like I’m present. The hot stage lights are melting me.

I’m only half aware, when the votes start coming in, and the results flash up on the screen in front of us. Adam sits before me in the judging panel, and I use him as an anchor, keeping my gaze steadily fixed on him.

Halfway through the votes, a chorus of boos and jeers rise up, and I blink back to semi-reality. Dev.as.station have been voted out, I realise with dismay.

I’m shocked, but no
-one else looks surprised. The boys and Cher nod as though they were expecting the news, and voice their thanks to the show with humility.

I feel a surge of affection for them, and wonder if they’ll keep in touch.

Perhaps Tammy will join their group now. She always did get along well with Cher.

Then comes the next vote. Seventh Heaven. I don’t even remember hearing how they performed. But if past performances are anything to go by, it doesn’t matter. They’ll get through no matter what.

The vote rigging means this week is a double vote-off. So someone else has to go. But my prediction is, it won’t be Seventh Heaven.

My eyes drift to the other acts. Dev.as.station are l
eaving the stage in a long dejected convoy. Scandelous are only a few feet away. The girls look sick and frightened. I guess they think they’re next.

Only Deven looks confid
ent.

He is such a slimebag.

I find myself wishing he’ll be the one voted off. It would be fair, after all.

The crowd erupt suddenly, and my eyes flash to the scoreboard, expecting to see Seventh Heaven with some mammoth vote. But to my amazement, there’s a completely unexpected three letter word by their name.

The scoreboard reads:
Seventh Heaven. Out
.

Wow. I didn’t expect that.

Even Deven looks surprised.

Scandelous are screaming and hugging each other, bouncing up and down on the spot. And it slowly dawns on me what this means.

I’m through.

The realisation comes with less emotion than I thought it might. But I smile, and wait for my turn with the judge’s feedback.

“Summer, I think you’re made for solo,” Lisa says, as the spotlight swings to me. “I always said it, and you proved it to us tonight.”

The audience clap and cheer.

“I agree with Lisa,” says Adam. “You were incredible Summer. Mesmerising. Even more so now we’re hearing you alone.”

I force a smile at the clapping audience, and when it’s finally time to leave the voting announcement, I almost sprint off the stage.

I can hear Scandelous behind me, screaming in glee. All I want to do is talk to Tammy and George. And they’re not here.

I’ve gained the world and lost my best friends
, I think, wryly.

I shuffle dejectedly to the dressing room at the back, and am relieved when none of the other acts follow.

But then there’s a knock at the door.

It opens and I smile to see Adam. He’s the only person I want to see right now.

“Well,” he says, “as expected, you’re through.”

“Thanks,” I say dejectedly.

“Then why so sad?”

“You know why,” I sigh. “It all means nothing, if Tammy and George hate me. They’re my girls. We’re meant to be in this together. It doesn’t mean anything alone.”

Adam nods thoughtfully, and then removes something from his pocket.

“Perhaps you’d better check your phone,” he says.

I stare at him in surprise.

“I thought you might want it after all,” he adds, handing it to me.

I check the display out of habit, and my heart leaps. Both Tammy and George have called. And left messages.

I click them open, and tears well in my eyes.

The messages are of support, telling me how beautiful the song was. How pleased they are that I’m through.

They’ve forgiven me.

They understood the song.

I glance up at Adam, thrilled. He smiles widely.

“So I guess it’s all sorted?”

I nod happily. “I hope so.”

Quickly I call Tammy. I’m so relieved when she picks up I start crying all over again.

“I’m so sorry Tams,” I blurt. “I know what that letter looked like. It was stupid and…”

“It’s ok,” says Tammy. “I get it. I…” she sighs. “When you sung that song Summer, I knew how much we meant to you. You always had that gift,” she adds sadly. “To make people understand feelings through music.”

“So you’ll come back,” I babble. “We’ll perform next week?”

“I can’t do that Summer,” says Tammy.

My heart sinks.

“You can’t forgive me?” I manage.

“It’s not that at all,” Tammy says softly. “George and I have talked. A lot. We can’t come back, because we love you too much.”

“What do you mean?” I demand, clutching the phone.

Why won’t they come back?

“You were always meant for solo,” says Tammy gently. “After tonight’s performance. It was just obvious. We’d be holding you back Summer.”

“You wouldn’t!” I cry, “I need you both.”

“Your voice needs to shine,” says Tammy. “It’s for the best.”

I’m choked up with emotion.

Still holding the phone, I glance at Adam. Something in his face tells me to stop fighting this. Maybe Tammy is right.

“But what about you?” I manage.

“I’ve spoken to Cher,” says Tammy. “I’ll be auditioning for Dev.as.station tomorrow. I reckon I’ve got a good chance. And George. Well, you know George. This was only ever a stopgap for her. She’s going to travel the world. Spend her big trust fund.”

I sigh out, thinking this over.

It does make a kind of sense, I guess.

“We love you Summer,” says Tammy softly. “We’ll always be your biggest fans. Just make sure we get backstage passes when you’re world famous. Ok?”

“Ok,” I can barely get the word out, but I’m smiling a little now. “I love you too.”

Chapter 41

“So you don’t want to go to the after show party?”

Adam is looking at me quizzically.

I shake my head.

“No way,” I say. “After everything that’s happened I just want to crash.”

“There’ll be a lot of people waiting to see you, you know.”

I wrinkle my nose.

“Really? Like Scandelous? And Deven?”

“And Lisa,” he says. “I think she’d like to talk about where you go from here. You’re going to be solo from now on, after all.”

Solo from now on.

It feels strange to hear it. I turn the words over carefully in my head.

I always set out to perform solo of course. When I hooked up with Tammy and George, we had such a great vibe together. I assumed I’d always be in a group with them.

But the truth is, it did feel wonderfully liberating, to take the stage on my own and let my voice flow. Without bending it to suit the other voices.

I sigh a little.

“You think Lisa will mind?” I ask. “If I don’t come?”

“As long as you’re not coming for the right reasons.”

“Which are?”

“Well,” says Adam, studying my face. “I guess the
wrong
reason would be because you’re too sad. After your band broke up.”

“I am sad,” I say cautiously. “But I’m excited too.”

“Good,” says Adam approvingly.

“So what would be the right reason to miss the party?” I press.

He moves closer, pulling me tight against him.

“Ah now,” he says dangerously, “the
right
reason, would be because you had certain other commitments.”

“And what might they be?” I breathe, intoxicated by his sudden change of mood.

“Well,” he says, letting his hand trace the shape of my hips. “I do remember promising you
consequences
if you wore this skimpy stage outfit.”

Ah yes. Consequences.

I feel a shudder of lust ripple through me.

“What consequences could you mean?” I murmur, teasing him.

His eyes darken.

“Come with me,” he says. “You’re about to find out.”

“Oh no,” I laugh. “I’m a solo performer now. I have rights.”

“Is that so?” asks Adam. His face becomes serious suddenly.

“You know going solo will mean a lot of work Summer. This next show. It’s serious competition now. I’ll be here for you. But I warn you. It’s going to get intense.”

I nod at him.

“I know,” I say. “I’m ready for it.”

“And you know I’ll be helping you all the way?” he adds. “We can compose together if you like.”

“I… I’d love that,” I admit.

Adam smiles. “You really are something Summer. I’m going to help you bring your talent to another level.”

“Haven’t you already done that?” I tease.

He raises his eyebrows. “I guess so.”

Adam takes my hand.

“The next week is going to be tough,” he says. “You’re going to be very busy. So. I guess I’d better take advantage of your last available free time.”

“I guess you had.”

Suddenly we’re staring at each other, lost in one another’s eyes.

“Well then, Summer Evans,” says Adam slowly, keeping his gaze on mine. “It’s time for you to face the music.”

Wait!
It ends there? I have to know what happens next!

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ABOUT JS TAYLOR

Jennifer Sarah Taylor won her first story-writing competition aged eight and has never looked back. In adult life she discovered it was much easier to make men do what she wanted in fiction than in the real world.

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