Falling Down

Chapter Two
Lucy
We're waiting in robes for hair and makeup to arrive. Sera's in the room next door looking through the clothes on the rack, clothes they're likely going to have us squeezing into and hanging out of. I took a quick peek at them. Skimpy.
"We're going to look seriously hot," Sera says.
"Like seriously hot hookers."
"Oh come on, Luce. When have we ever looked like hookers in any of Cage's videos?"
"True. It's just there's barely any material to those outfits. I'm afraid my hoohah is going to be showing."
Sera laughs. "That's what panties are for."
I'm ready to tell her that I don't want the world to see my panties when the hair and makeup team walk in.
"Ready for primping, ladies?" Spenser asks, perky as ever.
"Spenser! It's been too long!"
"Don't I know it. I've missed your gorgeous faces." He air kisses both cheeks then does the same to Sera.
Spenser Clarity is the best makeup artist I've ever encountered. Spenser is the best because he's worked long and hard to get there and he has natural talent. No one takes care of my skin and hair like Spenser. No one.
I note he has two new people working with him and wonder how he likes that. Spenser hates incompetence and is a perfectionist.
"New girls?" I ask with a raised brow.
"Yes and they're amazing. I got so lucky with these two. They were interning. Interning! If you can believe that. I saw what they could do and immediately snatched them up. Come here, girls."
The two gorgeous redheads walk up smiling.
"You've got to meet Lucy and Sera. We've got it made today. These two don't require much work at all, they're so naturally beautiful."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Simone and this is Carmen."
I smile, "A pleasure."
Sera mumbles incoherently around her pastry.
"So, what's on the agenda today? Looks like skimpy and slutty?"
"Oh, no. No. Definitely skimpy but never slutty. Not for you two. We always keep it classy."
"Thank God."
"Do you know who we're working with?" Sera asks.
Spenser grins then closes his lips and pretends to turn a lock and throw away the key.
"Secrets. I promised."
"You know me, Spense. I'm going to go crazy not knowing."
"We'll just have to distract you. Let's get started."
***~~~***
An hour later we're made up and my hair is primped and curled and slightly sprayed. That's what I love most about Spenser, he doesn't spray an entire can of lacquer hairspray onto whatever style he gives us, and what he does spray is unscented for which I'm very grateful. The scented stuff makes me sneeze.
"Ah, here's Gina. Wardrobe time!" Spenser claps. "I can't wait to see what they've chosen."
"Let's go, ladies," Gina says with a smile. She leads us over to the wardrobe area and immediately heads for the racks of clothes.
Turns out we aren't going to be rockstar hookers after all. They dress me in a red corset top that ends with red ruffles just above my belly button. The straps are a bit wider than spaghetti straps. Laces thread through on the side and behind the laces is a lacy, see-through fabric. What I love about it the most is the bustline. It's white with red polka dots which contrasts nicely with the red straps and bottom as well as the red ruffles that line the top bustline. All in all it's pretty conservative. My boobs are, of course, pushed up to within an inch of their life giving me some pretty rocking cleavage for someone who only wears a C-cup. The ruffles seem to enhance the boobage which I think is pretty awesome. They pair the top with a pair of super tight white crop pants that stop just below the knee. With the pants being white, it brings forth one of my worst enemies.
I hold the pants up to Spenser and he raises a brow.
"You know what this means, don't you?"
"Luce, if the worst of your wardrobe is the white thong that you'll be wearing underneath your other clothing, don't bitch about it. They could have you out there in a bikini that is the equivalent to three triangles and a few pieces of thread."
"Valid." What can I say to that? He's right. I suck it up and head behind the dressing screen with Gina.
"Can I keep these shoes?" I ask Gina. They're a pair of three-inch criss-cross, strappy, ankle-wrap sandals that are amazingly comfortable and easy to walk in.
"You can keep anything you want. You know Cage's policy."
Yay! Shoes!
She finishes accessorizing me and Spenser runs up and spritzes me with my favorite perfume.
"Why the perfume?"
"Trust me. You'll be glad I spritzed you when you see who's here," he sing-songs.
"We're here for a video not a date, Spense."
He just tsks. Who the hell could it be? There are a handful of bands that would elicit that sort of reaction and I just can't imagine any of them wanting me and Sera for their video. We're conservative compared to a lot of the models and actresses who do videos which puts us on many of the bands short list.
Sera steps out from behind her screen wearing a spandex-type black dress with short cap sleeves, black stockings with a seam running up the back of her legs, and a pair of black lace overlay peep toe pumps. Her brown hair is swept up into a fancy up-do with curling tendrils framing her face.
"Bitch."
She laughs. "What's your problem?"
"First, I've got a thong up my ass crack and you know how I love that."
She laughs again, louder.
"Second, I hate you. I hate that your ass is smaller than mine."
"Truthfully, Luce, I should be calling you a bitch and hating on your because I envy your curves."
"You can have them."
"Trade."
If only.
We head back to where Spenser is to chat him up a bit but he and the girls are busy.
"Hmm. We've got thirty minutes to kill. What do you want to do?"
"After I put your lipstick on," Spenser says, throwing a cape over my shoulders and chest before dabbing my lips an amazing shade of red.
"Yeah, after that."
"Let's go check out the set. Maybe we can figure it out," Sera says adjusting her dress as Simone steps up to whip a cape over her and uses a slightly darker shade of red on Sera's lips."
"You two are gorgeous and those boys are going to swallow their f*cking tongues when they see you, aren't they girls?"
They all murmur their agreement.
"Do we have wardrobe change?"
Spenser rolls his eyes. "Since when don't you have wardrobe change in a video?"
"A girl can hope. Let's go peek, Sera."
We head out into the studio, over to where there's a faux stage set up. Any and all graphics that would lead to our discovery of who our mystery band is are covered with black fabric.
"Ugh, Cage," Sera says with a laugh.
"Agreed. There's really no point to going any further."
Sera walks over and reaches for a guitar.
"Sera! What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"It looks like you're touching what is likely a temperamental musician's guitar! Put it back."
"F*ck that. We have thirty minutes. Let's jam."
I nearly bite my bottom lip then remember the lipstick. Glancing over to the guitars, I can't resist. I pick up the other acoustic guitar knowing full well someone's going to be pissed we're playing their instruments.
"What should we play?"
"P!nk?"
"Just Give Me A Reason. Let me get to the piano," I tell Sera. Piano. I love playing the piano and it's been entirely too long.
I take a seat and flex my fingers. "It's been a long time."
"That it has. Ready?"
I nod. "Count it out."
She does and we start playing and singing as if we haven't missed a day. When that song ends I go back for the guitar as Sera heads to the drums. I grin.
"We're going to be in so much trouble."
She grins and shrugs.
"Who Knew." Sera counts us off and we give it all we've got. We play a couple more P!nk songs, then I call for some Red.
"Last one. Never Be The Same."
"Nice," Sera says.
We lose ourselves in the music, the lyrics, the feel of the beat pulsing through our bodies. If we'd been paying attention, we'd have noticed them walk up, but we didn't and they don't stop us.
Out of nowhere an electric guitar starts up and a very recognizable male voice joins with mine. I nearly piss my pants. I'd know that voice anywhere but my eyes fly to my left to make sure my ears aren't playing tricks on me. When I'm met with a very sexy and smiling pair of whiskey-colored eyes I return their twinkle with my own.
When the song ends, my eyes are still wide and staring and I'm shaking slightly. Holy! Shit! Mother of God... I'm going to kick Cage's ass.
I hear Sera's gasp. She must notice Xander standing next to her, his arms crossed, grin on his face.
I can't speak, just stare.
"Well, say something. We know you can sing so we know your voice works."
Oh boy. Jesse Kingston. He doesn't sound all that amused even though he has a smirk on his face.
"Um…"
He tilts his head to the side then looks at Sera as she walks up.
"Yep, it's us."
He bursts out laughing. "I'd know that 'um' anywhere."
I thrust his guitar out toward him. "Here. Sorry." I stand up from the stool and smooth down my pants, flipping my loose curls over my shoulder.
He takes the guitar with one hand then throws his other arm around me, pulling me in for a hug. Holy Mother of God.
"Lucy."
Huh? He remembers me? I breathe him in. God, he smells the same. Ocean and sandalwood and yum. His muscles are larger and he has a lot more sexy tattoos. I stand there stiffly and he steps back.
He quirks up a brow. "Really?"
"Huh?" is all I could come up with.
"Again?"
Sera sighs. "She only gets like that around you."
He gives her a disbelieving look and she shrugs.
"Seriously."
"What's going on?" This comes from the sexy magnificence that is Ben Kingston.
"Holy Mother of God." I say under my breath.
All five of them, six including Sera, start laughing.
"Um, sorry we touched your precious," I say pointing to his guitar.
He chuckles. "Normally I'd want to break your fingers but since you knew what you were doing and used her for good instead of evil, I'll say it's no problem."
"What constitutes evil?"
"Taylor Swift."
I laugh.
He nods. "Why are you two not in a band? You're f*cking terrific."
I shrug. "Long story."
"They always are."
"Well, I see you've already met."
"Sort of," Sera says.
Cage smiles. "I heard you both. I'm going to talk you out of that shitty acting and modeling and into music if it's the last thing I do."
"We were just goofing around. It's been forever since we've done any serious playing," Sera tells him handing me a bottle of water.
"Thanks." My throat's tender. It's been too long since I'd used my voice regularly.
"It didn't sound like it. It sounded like you've been doing this forever," Xander says.
Jesse hands me a peppermint Life Saver.
"Helps," he says motioning to my throat.
I nod. "Thanks."
"Cage, dude, Jesse's met these hotties before," Xander says with a grin.
"Is that right?"
I nod. "A lifetime ago."
Jesse frowns. "It hasn't been that long."
"It has. I was untainted by the wicked ways of Hollywood."
"Not true, Luce. You'd acted before," Sera interrupts.
"Those were shit parts and that doesn't count."
"It all counts in Hollywood, darling," Ben says.
"So you're all tainted now, huh?" Jesse asks with another lift of his brow.
I shrug as Spenser comes flitting up. "Damn you Luciana Antonia Russo."
"Oh, now you've done it. He three-named you." This comes from Ethan, the bassist.
I send him a scared look and he chuckles.
"It's not that bad, Spense."
"Woman, you don't have a mirror and I have my eyes right on you. You've chewed off your Stalker Red lipstick."
Jesse laughs and I gape. "Is it seriously called Stalker Red?"
Spenser rolls his eyes. "No, but that would have fit with her girlie crush on you, right?"
I gasp.
Spenser waves his hand. "It's really called Make Out Red."
I just blink as Jesse opens his mouth. I point. "Not a word."
He laughs as does the rest of the band.
"I'm not sure which is worse."
"Stalker, definitely stalker," Spenser says with a shudder. "Yours isn't so bad. Sera's is called Smitten Lovey Dovey."
I smirk and Sera rolls her eyes.
"I don't care what it's called, let's just fix it so we can get started," Cage says with a laugh.
"Spense, I love you."
I was going to hug him but he pushes his index finger into the middle of my forehead. "No."
"I just wanted to hug you."
"No. You'll mess up what we," he says pointing to him and the girls, "just fixed after you and Serafina Rosalie Manzini decided to play rockstar."
"Hey," I say with a huff. "We could be for real if we wanted."
"Not if your mother has anything to say about it," he retorts as he clips closed his makeup case and sashays away.
I turn back to the band with a bland look. They are all smirking so I narrow my eyes. They just smirk even more. Ugh, rockstars.
"Don't render me speechless by staring at me with all your rockstar hotness."
"It'll happen," Sera says with a shrug. "Jesse's here."
I nod and they all grin and look at Jesse who's smiling. "It's a curse."
He frowns. "Hey!"
I laugh. Goodness, the butterflies have set up a pretty wicked cadence in my stomach. Jesse f*cking Kingston. Are you kidding me! Holy shit! My crush, the rocker I lust after, and the one man who can, indeed, render me speechless. Keep it cool, Luce. You got this.
"Let me introduce you to everyone though likely you know who we all are, if I remember correctly."
Sera whispers, "Stalker fangirl."
I elbow her side and blush.
"My brother, Ben Kingston on lead guitar, Ethan Ashcroft on bass, Kennedy Caldwell on rhythm guitar and boards, and Xander Mackenzie on drums. Guys this is Lucy Russo and Sera Manzini. We met a few years back in the Chicago airport of all places."
"That we did," Sera says with a grin. "I still have a magnificent picture of your ass on my cell."
Jesse throws back his head and laughed. "That doesn't surprise me. Not at all."
Sera shrugs. "Since Lucy was a bit wrapped up," she gives us a pointed look, "someone had to take the pictures. Memories and all that."
"Uh-huh," Ben says with a grin. "Sounds like spank bank pics to me."
"God," Sera says with a laugh. "Women don't have 'spank banks'."
"Then what is it you have, because we all know women rub them out just as much as guys do."
I laugh and mouth "rub them out" to Sera who laughs.
She nods. "We do. There's no denying it, but unlike most, Lucy and I have photographic memories."
"Enough said," Ben says with appreciation.
"And with the right vibrator, you don't even need an image--though I'm sure Lucy still conjures up Jesse after all this time."
"This is the oddest moment of my life," I say aloud to no one in particular.
"If you're done?" Cage asks smiling.
Xander wiggles his eyebrows. "Damn, Cage. You got us our very own movie star and model."
"Dude," Ethan says and they fist bump.
I turn to face Cage and feel Jesse's hand rest on my lower back. Oh God. A shiver runs through me and I thank Gina in this moment for using those boob cup thingies so my hard nipples aren't poking through my top. Jesse begins circling his thumb and I'm ready to puddle at his feet. What is he doing?
Unh. I'm almost there to the unh stage.
I turn to look at him and he's looking at Cage, a falsely innocent look on his face.
"So, what's the plan Cage?"
Cage outlines the overall storyboard for the shoot, then runs through the sequence it will be captured to minimize wardrobe and makeup changes.
"It should take a couple days, maybe more to get it just the way we want it."
"Cool," Xander says and taps his drumsticks together. "Let's get to it."