THE RULES OF FAME

Chapter 13 - Tomorrow

Peyton Bell

That night I couldn't sleep, my entire body was aware that soon we'll be seeing Vanessa. I tried to close my eyes, but the image of the last picture I saw of her on that dinner date with that man -Tate Porter- invaded my mind, and my heart squeezed a bit every time I thought about losing her to that i***t.

I have seen him a couple of times. He has dated several people in the entertainment industry, always low-key, always keeping them hidden from the media. This time, he chose to be public. Could it be that he really cares for my Nessa? Could it be that she has finally moved on? Has she forgotten about me? I hope not, because I haven´t forgotten about her either.

I tossed and turned, knowing that tomorrow at noon, I would be taking a place that would take me straight to her. I have already packed a bag, not too much stuff, because I can always buy whatever I need there, and I just need a couple of changes to get by while I settle down. Eddie has suggested we open an office in London. I was hoping she would come back with me to New York, or if her work needs it, we can both move to LA… We already have an office there, so the transition would not be a big deal for me.

My body felt tired, the adrenaline of packing and the possibility of seeing her again, draining from it, but my head, my head kept conjuring one scenario after another. I am not the same guy who let her go. I am not the boy who had no means to keep her with me. I am now a successful music producer, and I have a hefty bank account, several properties in my name. I have worked hard, made a name for my own, only to be able to have something to offer her.

Only her.

Many people may think I am a lost cause, that it was a high school love, that just the way I have changed, she has changed… and they might be right, but the way things ended, so abruptly, with so many unresolved feelings, so many unsaid words… that love deserved a better end, or better, it deserved a passionate continuation.

Turned again and closed my eyes, but sleep faded. What if she doesn't want to come back? My mind reeled, and then I answered that question myself. Then I guessed the London office would happen, just to give me a pretext to stay longer.

I have conjured every scenario possible. Some optimistic, most of them realistic, and others completely negative, worst-case scenarios. In any of them, my brain or my heart had an option of giving up.

I finally managed to close my eyes, and it felt like an instant, because soon after, the alarm on my phone started ringing. I stretched and sighed. This was it, time to get ready and head to the airport. I will see her soon.

I arrived at JFK Airport and checked my bag in. I headed towards my gate, placed my headphones over my ears, played the last recorded track of the B-Boys, and started bouncing my head to the tune. Music was my passion, but Vanessa was my life.

Out of my carry-on, I pulled out my laptop and a sketch pad. I closed my eyes and started making notes on the sketchpad concerning the tune. More bass at the chorus, sync the harmonies, less battery at the beginning… the usual stuff, the fine-tunes that will make a song a hit. All of this felt natural, like second nature, yet nothing was worth it without Nessa beside me.

People started moving around; it was time to board my plane. I placed my laptop inside my carry-on, my phone in my pocket, and the headphones around my neck. I showed my first-class boarding pass and climbed into the plane that would take me to London.

Forty minutes later, the plane was taking off, and when the captain allowed us to stand and move, I pulled out the tray before me and placed my laptop on it. I took the sketch pad out again and started making notes on the second track. Two hours later, I had reviewed three tracks and sent an email to the post-production team so they could work on the adjustments I had been pointing out.

I checked a couple of emails, one from the BBoys management team, and two others for new clients. I forwarded the BBoys email to Eddie, so he could follow up with them, and then I sent the other two to our acquisition manager. A year ago, when it became unbearable to be at the studio and handle the backhouse of the business, we hired some staff. An accountant, a receptionist, a PR representative, and an Acquisition Manager. Basically, she was in charge of filtering the projects for us.

I got tired of working, closed my equipment, and started scrolling around social media and entertainment news. It was always important for us to be on top of the trends and the gossip mill.

I opened a tab and read the PR statement release that my office published concerning Shanty. Then, an interview popped up, and I took a deep breath. It was a video of Shanty, she was crying, and painting me as the villain in that made-up torrid love story.

“The f**k!” I mumbled and copied the link to an email,

“Fix this,” I typed to my PR manager, and then texted Eddie with the link and a short message.

“She is bananas…” I said and added the banana emoji.

Eddie typed back, “I will handle it, you go and get that girl back,” he said, and I chuckled. That was the general idea.

The insomnia, plus the time I had worked, made me dizzy, so I curled up in my seat, made it into a bed, and closed my eyes, finally getting some sleep

Some time later, I was awakened by a flight attendant, “Sir, would you like your food now?” she said, and I sighed, trying to shake the sleep out of my brain.

“We have chicken pasta, in pink sauce, or salmon with sauteed vegetables,” she said, and I took a deep breath.

“I requested a burger,” I said, and she nodded.

“Alright, let me bring the special request list and retrieve your dinner,” she smiled.

“Would you like some wine? Champagne?” she asked, and I took a deep breath. I have been months sober, and I have no intention of going back, not after bouncing back, and not when I am about to see her.

“Coke, please,” I said, and she nodded.

“I´ll be right back,” she said, and I nodded. I straightened my seat and looked around, noticing that they had served everyone around me, and waited a bit longer to wake me up. I hate flying, and this time was not different, but knowing that when I land, I will be able to see her, made me feel excited, instead of anxious.

I finished my meal and decided to get back to sleep. With no sleep last night, I sure as hell looked tired. I played some white noise on my phone and placed the earphones back on so I could fall asleep again.

The light attendant woke me up again, “Sir, we are preparing to land,” she said, and I nodded. I straightened my seat, buckled my seatbelt, and got ready. We landed safely, retrieved my luggage, and found a cab.

“Where to, Sir?” he asked, and I took a deep breath.

“Take me to the Savoy, please,” I said, and he nodded. I booked a suite for a couple of nights. Once I get to see Vanessa, I will know what my next step will be.

I walked into the hotel and checked in. My butler took me to the suite, and I crashed into the cozy bed. It was around 9 pm, so I decided to order something to eat. Tomorrow I will go to the studio, and I will wait until she agrees to see me. I will not give up, not now, not when I am here, not when I know deep in my bones that she belongs with me.