Falling Down

Chapter Twenty-Three
Lucy
With everything that Whitney whore started, the media blew up calling me all kinds of vile names. All I could do at first was clench my fists. Then Cage came over and we all--both bands--had a meeting. Spenser, Carmen, Simone and even Mrs. Martinez sat in on the meeting. Everyone less than pleased with the latest turn of events.
My mother called and rescheduled the party for the following weekend, pending our recording schedule. Thank goodness. One less thing to worry about--well, two actually. First, I wouldn't have to listen to my mother go on and on about what a mistake I was making and how I should just stick with acting where there's less drama. Honestly sometimes I could shake her and tell her to wake up and smell the coffee. The life of an actress is where this all stems from. I haven't even broached into the career of a rocker yet. Gah. Second, she wouldn't see my tattoos--yet. I know it's petty and juvenile of me to hide this from her, but right now I can't be bothered to deal with any more bullshit. This is where Cage comes in.
Our savior. Our white knight. Our knight in shining armor. The man who has the answer to every situation. Cage came up with the perfect solution and as it's seven-thirty Monday morning, I'm ready to get this underway.
"You look relaxed," Jesse tells me.
I shrug. "Not really. I just want to get this done and resolve this bullshit."
He nods. "I can understand that. Your tats doing okay?"
"Yeah, they barely hurt anymore."
"You're such a hard ass," he says with a grin.
"Dimples," I say, standing on tippy toe getting nowhere near his face. He takes pity on me and leans down. I kiss one dimple, then the other. "You have no idea how sexy those dimples are."
"Luce, all I care about is you thinking they're sexy."
"It's seven-f*cking-thirty. Get a room," Xander growls as he enters the kitchen.
I pour him a cup of coffee and hand it to him. He grunts. Same goes for Ethan, Kennedy, Jace, and Trace. Meggie bounces in and I'm hesitant on giving her coffee. What's she going to be like with caffeine in her system?
"Pour it, f*cker," she scolds.
"Fine but no bouncing off the walls while we're recording."
She rolls her eyes, takes the cup of coffee, and leans against the counter.
Sera straggles in last looking gorgeous as always and I want to slap her. It's really not fair that she can practically roll out of bed and look like the super model she is.
I pour her coffee. "Bitch," I say. She flips me off.
"I'm totally feeling the love here," Trace says. Apparently sarcasm is everyone's friend.
"We should go," Frank says stepping into the doorway.
Everyone files out and I note Gio and Mike are here as well as Max.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"We're taking two vehicles," Frank answers. "We could have gotten a stretch limo or hummer but we figured it was best not to draw extra attention to ourselves."
"Good idea," Jesse says.
"Who's riding with me?"
Jesse just looks at me.
"Besides you, of course," I smile brightly then take a long drink of my coffee, burning my tongue and roof of my mouth. F*ck. Not a good start to the day. I'm anxious and I hate feeling anxious.
"Sera and Meggie," Frank says.
"Dude," Xander says. "We're going to be in an all-dick vehicle. That f*cking sucks."
"Get over it," Ethan scolds and climbs into their car.
"You think two black Town Cars following one another is going to be less conspicuous than a stretch limo?" I ask.
Frank raises his brows. "Wrong side of the bed this morning?"
I sigh. "I'm sorry. No. I'm just feeling anxious. I don't like feeling anxious, especially on such an important day, you know? I should be overjoyed and celebrating the fact we're finally starting to record, but instead I'm wigging out over this… this… shit."
He nods. "It'll be over soon."
"Until the next dramatic episode the media comes up with," Sera says.
"You'd think after six years of crap you'd be used to it by now," Meggie says.
"How often did you see my name in the media in a derogatory manner over those six years?"
She pauses. "Point taken."
I nod. "They even managed to hide some things I expected to be plastered on the front page yet Whitney whore is front and f*cking center."
"I wonder how much they paid her," Sera says.
"A hundred grand," Jesse says.
My head whips to the side, my gaze meeting his. "What? How do you know that?"
He shrugs. "Was on one of the gossip sites."
"You were looking at the gossip sites? What are they saying?"
"I was and you're better off not knowing."
I groan and lean into his side when he puts an arm around me and pulls me close.
"It won't matter in another hour or two. She better hope that check cleared."
Sera snickers. "That'd be great if they held the check and canceled it."
Meggie snorts. "I always hated that bitch. You know she tried to steal Tommy Cavanaugh from right under my nose. She skanked through all the guys at your school so she had to come to mine for fresh ones who didn't know what a STD-ridden slut she was."
"Wow," Frank says with a chuckle.
"It's no joke," Meggie tells him. "She thought if she spread around the clap, they'd call it applause. She's got more crabs than Red Lobster. And last but certainly not least, she's got so much yeast she could open a bakery."
"Ack," I say laughing and groaning and grossing out at the same time. "You were good until you mentioned yeast."
"Imagine how the guys feel when they get down there."
"Megs, you're so f*cking sick," Sera tells her.
She shrugs. "I just hope the guys sniffed it before they licked it."
Jesse groans out a laugh. "Holy f*ck that's disgusting."
"She did get around. It wouldn't surprise me if the whole thing was true," Sera confirms then takes a drink of her coffee.
"Again, one of the weirdest conversations you've ever had this early in the morning," Frank says shaking his head. "You've been having a lot of those lately."
I grunt and nod.
"Be glad Xander isn't here for this conversation," Jesse tells Frank.
"Can you imagine?" I ask.
"No. Do not even go there," Sera chides.
The car pulls up in front of Nichols Records and I'm surprised. Time flew by and the drive was fast. I look at the clock in the car. Eight-thirty-four. Huh.
"We better get moving, we're on a tight schedule," Jesse tells me.
I nod. "Celeste is going to be meeting us here. Jesse, can you keep your horny band mates away from her?"
"I'll do my best, Cupcake, but I can't make any promises. You know how they are."
"I do, so thank you for whatever you can do."
"You bet."
He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my lips. "You're going to be great, Luce. Trust me, okay. Believe in your talent. Own that shit. Sing your f*cking heart out, just like you did on the fake stage."
I nod. "I love you."
One side of his mouth kicks up in a half smile. "I love you too."
Meggie sighs then bats her eyelashes at me. "He is so very dreamy."
I laugh. "Oh f*ck off you bitch."
"Nice mouth, Lucy. What if the press had been standing there?" Cage admonishes.
Now that I feel three inches tall…
"Sorry."
"You have to be careful. They're just looking for a reason now. You're a target with all the shit going on."
I nod. "I said sorry and I meant it."
He nods. "We've got to keep this under control and that means I'm going to be tough on you. I don't want to, but I have to. I don't like what's happening to you and since you're one of mine, I'm going to do what it takes to make sure it stops today."
"Thank you, Cage."
He nods. "Let's go. We're all set up." He gives me a sidelong glance. "Celeste, Spenser, Carmen, and Simone are already back there."
I cringe. "You know, I'd say I was sorry about stealing her, but that'd be a lie and I don't like to lie to people I care about."
He nods and smirks--just barely. All business today. I look at Sera who raises her eyebrows. I just shrug.
We get to the back room where Cage has us set up for the day and Spenser and the girls rush forward.
"Good. Nice choice in outfit."
I look down at my skinny jeans, black boots, and black Avenged Sevenfold tank layered with a pink one..
"Just a touch up on the hair and a smidge of liner on the eyes."
"Wow, I did pretty good today."
"Nicely done, Lucy. Sera--" he pauses. "Get in there with Simone now. You need serious work."
"And to think you called me a bitch."
"Huh," is all I can think to say.
Carmen comes at me with eyeliner and eye shadow, then runs a flat iron over my hair before a quick spritz of Spenser's magic spray.
Spenser works on Jace's hair a bit while Carmen heads over to Meggie. Sera walks out fifteen minutes later looking like a million bucks and Simone moves to Trace. She looks him up and down. His black hair is cut short, a lot like Jesse's is now. He's wearing an Volbeat t-shirt, worn jeans, and boots. He is the definition of a true rocker.
"Wow," she whispers.
"Pretty, isn't he?" I ask.
"Yeah. Those green eyes and those thick lashes. Whew," she mutters as she walks off and Trace grins.
"I'd kill for your eyelashes," I tell him.
"Kill for your boyfriend's," Spenser grumbles.
"Yeah, his too. Why is it men have such awesome eyelashes and we have to mascara the hell out of ours to try to even come close?" Meggie asks.
"No clue," Sera replies.
Celeste and I go over times and schedules and PR stuff. I have no idea what she's talking about so I hand her my phone with my calendar, itinerary, and email. She walks off to the conference room and takes a seat, getting right to work. I already love her.
Jesse catches my gaze and smirks.
"Lips!" Spenser announces.
"Kiss first," Jesse interrupts and gives me a gentle lingering kiss. "You've got this."
I nod. "We totally do."
"That's my girl."
Spenser whips out some pale pink lip gloss that smells like bubble gum.
"Hey Spense, you got any of that strawberry flavored lip gloss Lucy wore that one night…" I hear Jesse ask and I laugh.
"All right people, let's go," Cage directs and the members of Blush head into the sound room.
I grab the headset resting on the stool in front of my mic and wrap it around my neck.
"Here's what's happening. Right there," he points, "is the camera. There's another back by Trace and another over behind Meggie. All three will be on and all three will be live. We're going to keep it live for the first hour to give the public a taste of what you're made of."
"Those f*ckers will be eating their words," Trace says with a nod at me. I smile and give him wink. He points his drumstick. "We got this shit."
I look to Jace who grins. "Whitney whore is going down." I breathe a sigh of relief at his words. I was so worried he was angry with me.
Meggie adjusts her guitar strap and bounces on her toes. A pink and purple guitar with her name written in cursive beneath the strings. Classic Megs.
Sera tilts her neck one way, then the other, cracking and stretching. Hot pink guitar slung over her shoulder, she lifts her arms and stretches out her back and sides. It's her routine. Next she leans forward, careful of her guitar as she touches her toes.
"Two minutes," I hear Cage say through the sound system. I hadn't even realized he left the room. I see Damian out there and he gives me a wink. I smile and wink back. He's such a sweet guy. It'll be fun touring with him when the time comes.
"One minute. Act natural. Either I or Nate here will tell you what's going on. Thirty seconds."
I adjust the headset, leaving one ear uncovered so I can hear what's going on around me.
Cage holds up three fingers, then two, then one. He mouths live.
"Let's start with Breathe," Nate tells us. "We'll play it straight through then see if we need adjustments. This isn't the way normal recording sessions go but it's what we've got for the first hour.
I nod and adjust the headset over my ears. "Trace count us off?"
He hits his sticks and we're off.

I felt your stare and I wanted to run"
I felt your glare and under the mid-day sun
When I walked on by I saw your eyes close
When you breathed me in, I froze

My heart stops whenever you're near
My senses are crazed out of fear
Fear for my vulnerable very breakable heart
Falling for you wouldn't be smart

I breathe you in as I stand next to you
I breathe you in as you tell me what you feel is true
I breathe you in when you tell me it's love
I breathe you in but it's never enough

It's never enough.
I'll always want more than you can give
You'll always hurt me more than I can forgive
I want a love that's true

I'm sorry to say that isn't you
No matter how much
I breathe you in as I stand next to you
I breathe you in as you tell me what you feel is true

I breathe you in when you tell me it's love
I breathe you in but it's never enough.
It's never enough.
You can't give me love.
It'll never be enough

"Great job," Cage tells us as the last chord fades.
"Nice guys," I say looking back.
"Hell f*cking yeah," Trace says and I let out a laugh, Meggie, Sera, and Jace joining in. There's no censoring this feed.
I look at Jesse through the glass who's standing with his arms crossed over his chest, one side of his mouth tipped up in a smile.
Dimples I mouth to him and he winks.
"Let's run it through again then we'll just sing through a couple songs. After that we'll record normally," Cage tells us.
"Sounds good." I take a drink of water. I nod to Trace letting him know I'm ready whenever they are and I, again, adjust the headset and wait for the count.
***~~~***
When Cage looks through the window and runs a hand across his neck we know they're cutting the feed. I breathe a sigh of relief. I hated every second of it. I don't know what the hell I'm doing in here or how recording is supposed to go and we had to do some fake shit just to prove ourselves.
I turn around, pulling off the headset.
"I'm sorry guys, I really am. This shouldn’t be happening. None of it. We're here to play music not to have to deal with petty bullshit from some jealous girl who didn't get her way when she tried to steal my and Meggie's boyfriends in high school. I swear I feel like I'm twelve." I shake my head. "You don't deserve this. Not one second of it. I hope what we did today showed everyone what we've got and what we're made of. It was us. No gimmicks, no voice fixing crap. Just raw and uncut Blush. It's who we are and it's what we're going to bring to each and every concert. We have nothing to prove to anyone but ourselves. I'm done trying to fix what isn't broken. If another dramatic episode flares, so be it. We ignore it and do what we're here to do. We make music."
They all murmur their agreement and Trace hits his sticks together and yells, "F*ck yeah. Lucy f*cking Russo can sing the hell out of any song put on her plate. If you couldn't, I wouldn't be here."
I nod. Trace goes on to praise the other band members and Meggie bounces with pride. I sit on the stool and take another drink of water. When I turn toward the glass, Jesse's got a big-ass grin on his face as do the rest of the guys, Spenser and the girls, Damian, Celeste, even Cage and Nate.
"Um, what did I miss?" I ask.
Cage points to the camera and I see the red light is still on. I smirk and shrug.
"Well America, you just saw Blush at its finest. This is us." I sweep an arm around to the others. "Take us as we are. We're just five normal people who want to make music and hopefully entertain you while we're doing it." I shrug.
"Three seconds, they say." I wink. "Have a good one people."
"We're out," Nate says with a chuckle. "I couldn't have planned that any better if I'd tried."
"Trace swore a lot."
"It's the internet. F*ck it," Cage says. "Let them fine me. That was brilliant." I shrug. "Take ten and then we really get to work."
I walk out of the sound room and Jesse hands me a peppermint Life Saver. "That was f*cking awesome."
"It was okay. On Bring Me Closer I need to make the chorus edgier, you know?"
Jesse grins, his pride showing. "You guys are f*cking kick ass. You all know your shit and not one of you gives less than two hundred percent."
"It's the only way I know."
He nods. "And that's why you're going to be a chart topper."
"They're going to give us a run for our money," Xander says.
"F*ck, we're screwed," Ethan says.
I laugh. "Shut up. There's no topping you guys."
Kennedy shrugs. "You just did."
"No, no. That was last night when I was on top…"
"Oh yeah," Jesse says, pulling me to him. "You know you could see part of your tats on camera."
"Oh boy. Mama Regina is going to have words for you later," Xander chortles.
"I'll tell her you got me drunk and talked me into it."
His laugh stops, his smile turns to a frown. "That's not even funny. Your mom's scary."
I nod. "She's going to have words for you, Xander."
"Lucy," he whines, trailing behind me as I head to the restroom.
What started out as a shit day has turned itself around within a matter of a couple hours, and Whitney whore was going to get what's coming to her. And to think I didn't have to even mention her. All I had to do was be me and bring it. Too bad what I brought was genuine and what she brought was bullshit.
I smirk and Xander gives me a look.
"What's going on in there, Luce?"
"Just thinking that while we just showed the world we're genuine and have nothing to hide, Whitney whore is going to be in a world of hurt. The media is going to crucify her."
"Yep. Especially after that jam session. There's no doubting Blush after that."
Nope. There's no doubting Blush. As Jesse would say, we've got this.