Charlie's Journal
Chapter One
AN: Hey all!
Here is the sequel to Charlie's Story I hope you like it.
Please Review!!!!!!
I need five before I post chapter two
PrincessKay
Name: Charlotte (Charlie) Gray
Age: 15
DOB: May 24th 2010
Ok here goes nothing a new notebook and a new tale to tell. In just two days I turn sixteen which is really exciting I am having a big birthday slash going away party. Going away because in just nine days, the band I am in will be joining my father's band on their summer tour. Yep you read that right. My band with my almost brother Noah, my best guy friend Seth and my boyfriend Dylan will be spending the best part of three months touring America with my father and two uncles. Performing as one of Connect three's opening act's to stadiums with tens of thousands of people just about every night. Yeah I know it's insane our first album hasn't even come out yet! Of course I wasn't exactly happy about my dad using his status to help out the band, I had wanted us to make it because we were talented not because of who I was related to. I was however out numbered in that argument; according to my band mates, the opportunity was just too great to turn down.
So quick recap of my previous notebook.
After spending a summer at Camp Rock summer music camp I discovered my elder sister the famous Michelle (Mitchie) Torres is in fact my mother, my father? The one and only, Shane Gray. At Camp my friends and I formed a band and won final jam, giving us the chance to record a demo cd, which was picked up by famous guitarist Matt Eliot, who was starting a new label with in the record company he is signed to. Sounds like a fairytale right? So earlier this year the band, was the first to be signed, to a major contract with Matt's new label. There was heaps of stuff in the contract that I won't go into too much detail about; I mean it was like a hundred pages long. The important stuff, the label has promised to help the band produce a total of six albums over the next few years, which is amazing! We finished recording our first album less then a month ago it should be in stores by mid June, early July at the latest. Even more amazing was my parent's wedding in late march; it was beautiful and small. Only family were there in an attempt to keep it low key. An attempt which failed! You see ever since my parents got engaged, keeping out of the limelight has been close to impossible. The same time they announced their engagement they announced to the world that they had a teenage daughter, me. While it has boosted their publicity it has made life a little hectic. A few extra bodyguards have been added to the entourage of security that follows my family around, to even up the odds against the even larger number of camera's that follow us around. We did just one interview explaining our family to the world, an exclusive magazine interview. Mom and Dad didn't want to encourage the media attention, deciding that one explanation would be enough to satisfy their curiosity. That's pretty much everything, except for my name. I was given permission to change my last name to Gray after my father, when my mother changed hers. Well permission isn't exactly the right word dad was thrilled I wanted to change it.
As I was saying earlier the band is going on tour which requires rehearsals, as well as lots of other preparation. Today is our last day of rehearsals, which involves spending several hours in a warehouse where the specially built stage we will perform on has been set up. It's a really cool stage; it's big. With a catwalk type thing, so we can move right out into the audience. There are stairs at the back leading up to where the drums and back up band will be and a lift at the end of the catwalk. Our band won't be using the lift it's there for Connect three, but that doesn't mean that the tour director and choreographer Damon Simmons hasn't let us play with it a bit. He is a pretty cool guy when he isn't drilling us about messing up his choreography. He is in his late forties and is really funny. His light brown hair is starting to grey but he is as fit as any of us teenagers, actually he is probably fitter. The bands red bull addiction has only increased since we were signed, with recording then rehearsals. I groan as Damon called a five minute break. We were doing a full rehearsal today; all decked out in our stage clothes with hundreds of bright lights shining down on us. Being late May the weather was heating up. I let myself fall to the ground after I put my guitar down, then snatched up my water bottle and chugged down half of it. It was 12:30 in the afternoon and we had been here since ten that morning. I looked up to see Seth tugging off his shirt and attempt to fan himself with his stage notes. Noah had clearly tipped his bottle of water over his head rather than drink it, his dark hair was plastered to his skull and his bright green t-shirt was drenched. Dylan was downing his forth consecutive bottle of water, holding one hand against his throat.
"I hope you're not losing your voice Dylan, it will be a long tour if you are" Damon informed him. Damon was sitting on the end of the catwalk watching and commenting as we went through each song in our eight song set. Five minutes passed by too quickly if you ask me, before I could even begin to relax our slave driver was calling for us to get up and show him our tricks. To break up our eight songs we each took turns giving a solo. I went first after the second song, Seth had his drum solo after the fourth song and Noah had his after the sixth song, when we swapped guitars. Anyway back to the tricks, Damon had choreographed a series of acrobatic stunts for Noah, Dylan and I to perform during Seth's ever increasing drum solo. I swear he makes it a little bit longer everyday. When we first began learning the tricks Damon had taken us to a special gymnasium where they trained people to film stunts in movies using big crash mats and wires. It was so much fun! All four of us were safely strapped into tight fitting harnesses and wires. Springing lightly from the bouncy trampoline using only the balls of my feet, launching myself into the air and throwing my body forwards into a neat flip. before landing on the trampoline once again. It felt like I could fly. Admittedly the boys where better at it then me, they quickly picked up the movements and could flip easily without the trampolines. I on the other hand didn't have the strength to flip all the way around without the trampolines or someone's help. They boys positioned themselves at either end of the stage while I moved to the centre and lay down on my stomach. I sent Damon a terrified look then ducked my head, squeezing my eyes firmly closed. As Noah and Dylan got a run up and forward flipped above me.
"They wont land on you Charlie, try not to look so scared" Damon sighed shaking his head at me. There was a chuckle behind him that caught our attention. I raised my head to see Connect three. I grinned at my dad who was clearly the one who had been laughing.
"Again boys, no faces this time Charlie" Damon ordered ignoring them. Seth began his drum solo and the boys raced across the stage repeating the flip. Noah decided to tease me and made a purposeful stumble pretending to stand on my arm. I sent him a dark look as they helped me to my feet and the tricks continued.
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Needless to say we were all thankful to get back home. The boys had been living at my house for the passed three weeks while we got ready for tour. While recording in different states was no issue preparing for a tour requires the band to be together. So the boys and their mothers have been living with us. Mom has loved it. She has found it good to spend time with other mothers of teenagers, especially seeing as she hasn't had much practise. All four of us shuffled into the kitchen and greedily ate the lunch our mothers had laid out for us in silence.
"Have you ever heard a quieter group of teenagers?" Noah's mother teased ruffling her son's damp brown hair then pulling away sharply. We chuckled as she wiped her hand on her son's shirt only to pull away again when she discovered it was also damp.
"I don't think I have seen a tireder or smellier group either" Mom got in on the joke refilling my glass with water. I had a comeback prepared in my head but the energy to argue with her was not there. We had only been home for twenty minutes when Caitlyn entered the kitchen with a package in her hands.
"Charlie, Connie and Steve have sent you another box, it's in the living room" she announced placing the small box on the counter and opening it using a kitchen knife, to cut the tape. She removed what looked like four toothpaste tubes and some plastic containers.
"What's that?" Dylan asked taking his plate to the sink. I saw Caitlyn and mom share a glance.
"Perfect, my first victim" Caitlyn cackled in an excellent impression of a wicked witch. She held Dylan by the shoulders and pushed him back down on his chair. Caitlyn handed him a booklet and instructed him to pick a colour, while she opened one of the tubes and began to fill his ear with its contents. Mom spotted the look of confusion on my face.
"It's a mould, you all need in-ear monitors for the tour, and they have to fit tightly into your ear" Suddenly Dylan pushed the book towards me.
"Hey, that's the same colour as your shirt" Dylan said his voice almost shouting, causing all of us to laugh. Dylan couldn't hear us properly, due to his ears being filled with blue gloop. After we each took a turn sitting in the chair with the funny feeling substance in our ears for five minutes, Nate took Dylan, Noah and I upstairs to work on some vocal exercises. Seth being the only band member, who didn't sing, spent the hour getting a head start on his school work. Nate had me and Noah singing scales for ages. We didn't have the vocal training Dylan had and although we can sing, our vocals aren't as polished.
"You're, getting softer as you get higher Charlie" Nate sighed, I groaned loudly as he nodded for us to start again. This was a mistake I made a lot, and I mean a lot. Mom came in the room then to make sure that we finished our hours of school work for the day. Even though we are all homeschooled now we have to fit in four to five hours of school a day. Seth's mother was a teacher before she had Seth and willingly volunteered to become our teacher, she and Caitlyn will be joining us on tour.
"Stand up straighter, it's easier" mom advised placing her hand on my stomach to direct me.
"School?" Noah inquired looking like it would kill him if she said yes. Looking over at Dylan who was pretending to be asleep on the couch and thinking about how tired I was I sighed loudly, agreeing with Noah. My mind wandered over to Dylan and how cute he looked spread out on the couch, with his blonde his lying in front of his face.
"How many hours did you do this morning?" mom asked getting all motherly and authoritive on us. I held up two fingers, we had all woken up at seven and put in two hours before rehearsal that morning.
"Well if you go work hard now, you will have time to go swimming before dinner" Nate offered an incentive.
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Late in the evening I went to my parent's room in search of another delivery from Connie and Steve. They had been sending me boxes of my things as I hadn't been able to take all my belongings on the plane when I had moved to LA at Christmas. The last box had arrived this morning, only I hadn't been able to find it. As I entered their room I saw my father sitting on the bed watching the television. I was a little surprised to see that I was the image on the screen. It was a five year old version of me; I was standing in the lounge room at Connie and Steve's. One of Mitchie's old acoustic guitars strapped over my shoulder and a toy microphone on a stand in front of me. I was dressed up in some pink glittery Disney princess costume, complete with a tiara.
"Oh no" I groaned slumping down on the bed next to my dad and pulling a pillow over my face. Dad chuckled removing the pillow from my grasp.
"Introducing Charlie Torres" Steve called from behind the camera. Five year old I frowned at him.
"No!" I shrieked angrily stomping my foot and placing my hands on my hips.
Dad started laughing now as we watched the video play out. I cringed embarrassed knowing how it finished.
"What's wrong?" Connie asked as the camera turned on her.
"I'm not Charlie!" I cried forcefully dropping the guitar and falling to the floor in a childish fit.
Dad laughed even harder and mom came to the doorway hearing Shane's almost hysterical laughter from the bathroom.
"Who are you then?" Connie asked patiently, she successfully avoided a tantrum. I stood up grinning proudly and folded my arms across my chest.
"I'm Mitchie!" I announced proudly.
"Ok then well perform for us, Mitchie" Steve instructed, humouring me. I picked up the guitar and began strumming it randomly. I then started singing one of Mitchie's very first songs, word for word.
"How to chose who to be, well let's see, there's so many choices now, play guitar, be a movie star, in my head a voice says, why not, try every thing, why stop, reach for any dream, I can rock…"
While I had no idea at that age of how to actually play a guitar, I did have the basic hand movements down from watching Mitchie. That was during my 'Mitchie' phase it was not long after she moved out, I listened to all her cd's on repeat until I could sing each one word for word.
"Wow, I have never seen this before" Mom said coming over to the bed. I swallowed hard; I could understand why Connie and Steve didn't show this part of my life, to mom.
"Maybe it got lost, and turned up when your parents packed up Charlie's room" dad offered as an explanation. I stood up stopped the video and pulled it out of the player. Dad let out a grumble complaining that he was watching it. I tossed it into the box.
"Why did you turn it off, it was cute" mom smiled brushing her fingers through my hair as I sat back down.
"I was five, I didn't understand why my big sister wasn't around anymore" I shrugged. At that moment the phone rang. Dad reached over to answer it. I heard mom sigh, she is always going to feel bad about leaving me.
"Are there more videos?" mom asked continuing to play with my hair. I nodded and she kissed my forehead.
"Could we watch them? I promise to make your dad behave" she grinned poking me gently in the side. I made a face, watching home movies sounds scary and humiliating not fun.
"Your dad has chocolate ice cream in the freezer" she bargained making me giggle. I jumped up and ran to the kitchen hunting around for spoons and this rumoured chocolate ice cream. I pulled open the lid of the big freezer and moved some frozen peas that rested on top of a cardboard box, labelled Shane. Pulling the box open I discovered several tubs of ice cream, my father had stashed away. When I returned mom was on the phone chatting away about something.
"What's going on?" I asked dad and mom's tone became angry. He rubbed mom's leg trying to calm her and let out a sigh.
"Some talk show wants to film your birthday, we told them no but they wont give up" he groaned. I wrinkled my nose a little annoyed that I hadn't heard about this before. I placed the ice cream and spoons on the bed side table.
"And now your mothers PR rep is trying to talk us into it" his tone was bitter now as my mom raised her voice at the person on the phone. I bit my lip and crouched down in front of my mother. I rested my hand next to dads on her leg to get her attention. 'Do it' I mouthed, the corners of her mouth turned down into a scowl. She told the person on the phone she would call back then hung up, never taking her eyes off me. She shook her head at me.
"No, they want a camera crew to follow you around for a day, all day!" her voice took on that authoritive tone. I gave her a 'so what' look to which she shook her head again.
"Dad?" I asked hoping that the whole two against one thing would work for me, it had before. He slid closer to mom, clearly indicating his allegiance with her. I gave a disappointed shake of my head. I had just lost my right hand man. I seemed to be fighting a losing battle. Then I got an idea.
"Caitlyn!" I called towards the door. Within seconds the lively brunette poked her head into the room. I smirked and rose to my feet.
"You're my manager; do you think it would be a bad idea, to have a camera crew at my birthday?" I asked. My parents both said my name, mom's came out like a shriek of shock and dad's came out in a warning sigh. Caitlyn stepped cautiously into the room, assessing the situation.
"As your manager, it's good press…" I beamed happily at her reply and watched victoriously as my parents both glared at Caitlyn. She wasn't looking at them though she was watching me.
"As your aunt, listen to your parents" she scolded, her attitude telling me not to mess with her. I whined anyway slumping to the floor and pouting. Dad placed a hand over his mouth to muffle a chuckle.
"Shane, you're meant to stick with me, don't give in!" mom scoffed, he started shaking, failing in his attempt to hold back the laughter. It slipped out and soon he was almost crying. We had to wait for him to calm down so he could explain.
"She hasn't changed a bit, it's just like the video" he chuckled laughing all over again. Mom smiled slightly. I groaned in annoyance, realising I was being childish and began sulking. Yeah I know sulking is just as childish but I'm still fifteen! I can be childish if I want to! … For a few more days at least.
Charlie.