Double Deception

Chapter 3: Singers

It was just thirty minutes after eleven at night across town in the city of New York. A young lady with blonde hair and hazel eyes sang on stage proudly for all to hear at a bar.

“She is so good,” Paul said backstage as he watched the singer in awe.

“A voice like no other,” Renee agreed with him.

Paul turns to look at Renee. “What was her name again?”

Renee looks down at a clipboard in her hands.

“Her name is Devina Monroe.”

They looked back at the stage as Devina continued to sing the song “Thank You Next” by Ariana Grande.

“One taught me love, one taught me patience, thank you next.” Devina sang beautifully. Her name was Devina Monroe, age twenty-six. She sang in a small bar, and the people in the crowd shouting her name and throwing flowers were her fans. She had a voice that would calm and soothe any crowd. She could sing since she could remember and had a true gift. An uprising star is what she calls herself, not famous, not yet anyway.

She played roles in many plays and gigs, but Broadway was her dream.

Singing was her dream.

After her song ended, Devina exited the stage to nearly run into Paul, who waited for her excitedly.

“You were great as usual, Devina!” Paul exclaimed proudly.

“Thank you, Paul,” Devina grinned.

“What's next for you with your music?” He asked as they walked more backstage. Devina straightened out the skirt of her pink dress.

“I think you know,” She said with a smile.

Paul rolled his eyes as they entered her small dressing room. “The Broadway dream again?”

Like everyone else, he said it in disgust and doubt.

“It’s more than just a dream,” Devina replied coolly. She turned her back to Paul to grab her coat and heard him mumble under his breath, “Whatever you say.” His response made Devina scowl, and she turned to leave, but he spoke again.

“You have a good voice, I’ll give you that, but you’ll be lucky if you score an audition,” Paul pointed out harshly. He winked. “I’ll be waiting for you to come back when that dream fails, and you’re desperate to pay your bills.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Devina shot back and walked past him as she put on her coat.

“Whatever you say, sweetheart,” she heard him say.

Devina gritted her teeth and kept walking till she got out of the back of the bar. She sighed and ran a hand through her golden blonde hair. A shower was calling her name. She walked near the edge of the street and raised her hand.

“Taxi!” she called out. She called three more times till a taxi pulled up. She let out a breath of relief and walked over to the taxi, but just as she was about to reach for the door handle, another man appeared out of nowhere and stole her taxi!

“Are you kidding me?!” She roared in anger as the taxi drove the man away. She cursed angrily under her breath and groaned in annoyance.

She realized she’ll probably have to walk home. As luck would have it, the clouds opened up, and it began to rain heavily in New York.

Devina gripped her coat closer and held her bag tighter as she walked through the rainy streets.

She made it to her apartment an hour and a half later.

“Dang girl, what happened to you?” It was Devina’s roommate who spoke, her name was Freya. Freya was an older redhead, heavier set woman. She stood in the apartment and watched a soaking wet Devina take off her slippery heels and coat. She was dripping everywhere and probably resembled a drowned rat.

“Some jerk stole my taxi. I tried so hard to get it, and I then walked home and got rained on.” Devina sighed and ran her fingers through her wet hair.

“Today is not your luck, huh?” Freya shook her head and lit a cigarette. She took a long drag and exhaled smoke.” Well, get out of those wet clothes before you keep dripping on the floor.”

Devina just nodded and held her tongue against her roommate's rude tone. She went to her room and heard Freya call after her, “And don’t forget your side of the rent is due!”

“I’ll get it to you,” Devina promised and closed the bedroom door to her room.

“You have till the end of the week or else you’re out on the street,” Freya yelled through the door. Devina heard Freya open the fridge door, no doubt to grab a beer.

Freya was a bossy person and was in desperate need of a roommate when she took Devina in. Devina had just graduated from high school, and Freya chose her but felt she regretted choosing her every day. For the most part, Devina was usually on time with rent, but lately she has been using her money for her singing and acting supplies.

Like everyone else, Freya didn’t believe in Devina.

Devina took in her small apartment room and went to take a shower, she desperately needed. The hot water was nice on her muscles and helped her relax. She closed her eyes as she felt the steam. Some would wonder why she would stay with a roommate who despises her. It was because Freya was all she had.

That's right, Devina had no family; she was an orphan. A foster child, life was tough, but she got by on her own. She didn’t let other people tear her down, that's for sure. Even though at times it hurt and there were times she nearly considered listening to people who doubted she would make it, she never stopped trying. She had a dream, and she was determined to make it come true.

A dream to be a Broadway singer and actress. Her love for singing started when she was young; she didn’t want much else in life; she was stuck on her dream, and singing was her life.

After her shower, Devina decided to scope the net, and she found out that auditions for the Broadway musical were that week, a new play coming to Broadway. It was a long shot, but she believed she had talent.

Sitting on her bed, Devina set her laptop aside, hugged her legs to her chest, and stared at the audition notice on her laptop screen. Her apartment was dumpy and dirty, and she was desperate for a change, a better life.

After debating and going back and forth in her mind, Devina lay down in bed and made a decision. She will meet with her agent tomorrow, and she’ll see how she can get an audition.

“I’ll do well,” she told herself in her head. She turned on her left side and closed her eyes.

In the end, Nadia got lots of unpacking done, and she settled in for bed for the night. She was on the phone with her father.

“Yes, I made it just fine, Dad. Tell Mom and Nora I love them,” Nadia said as she gripped her blanket. She could barely keep her eyes open anymore. Once her father muttered a goodnight, she hung up. She rolled on her right side and closed her eyes.

And the two girls drifted off to sleep.