Chapter 1: It Doesn't Get Better Than This
My new CD was released yesterday, and my parents were super excited. Me not so much. I guess I was too nervous to be exited. I was afraid the sells wouldn't do any better than last CD. I had to at least get double the number of sales. Or else the album would technically be a failure. My last CD was great, it was my breakout album. Almost all the songs were listed on the top 20 Billboard list at least once. I received so many offers from different labels and different managers. It's not going to be easy topping an album like that. In all honesty, I'm just happy I'm making music. I don't really need to break records or start legacies, I just want to be able to do what I love. My parents are the ones who care about the numbers. They're always super concerned about my career and always make sure I have at least two hits playing on the radio. Ever since I dropped out of high school to pursue my music career my parents have been nothing but supportive. When I first told them about my plan, they were completely against it and they said I was stupid, but when I got my first hit on the radio, they agreed to pull me out of school. Of Course I'm still getting an education, just from online. So technically I didn't drop out of high school, I just transferred. But dropping out sounds cooler. I am currently in my dressing room getting ready for my show. It's a sold out show so I'm pretty excited. I ruffle my hair, slip on my jacket and step out of the dressing room.
"Austin! You ready?" Gordon, the mic guy, asks me as he attaches the mic to me and inserts my ear piece.
"Ready as I'll ever be!" I smile.
"Alright head over to where the dancers are." He instructs me.
My parents are in the VIP room and usually greet me after the show. I realize I forgot something, and go back into the dressing room. Almost on cue, I hear a quiet knock on the door. I smile to myself, and yell "Come in!"
"OMG! I'm in Austin Moon's dressing room." She screamed.
I rolled my eyes before hugging her.
"You did amazing Ally."
She smiled and thanked me before pulling away. I began looking frantically for my black belt. I could have sworn I left it in here before hair and make-up.
"Are you looking for this?" Ally smirked holding up my guitar pick necklace.
"Oh, no I wasn't but I did notice It was gone. Where did you find it?"
"I took it from your dressing room, I wanted to wear it for my performance. I guess I should have asked you first."
I laughed lightly at her as I continued to search around the room for my belt.
"No, it's fine you don't have to ask. I'm cool with it. I'm just trying to find my belt. I thought I left it here." I bent down lifting up the couch to look under it. I was practically tearing up this dressing room looking for that belt.
"The.. black belt?" She asked taking a seat in my chair across from the couch.
"Yeah, that's the one."
She smiled lightly at me.
"What?" I smiled.
"You left it in my dressing room. From yesterday."
I got up from the couch walked over to her.
"Whoa, what was I doing in there?" I teased intertwining our hands.
She giggled lightly before standing as well,
"You were changing. Because you locked yourself out of your own dressing room. Remember?"
"Oh yeah." I laughed dumbfounded. "That was a long day."
"Yes it was."
I laughed before grabbing the necklace from her and putting it on. We both made a trip to her dressing room to retrieve my belt. Before we left, I took something from her clothing rack. I decided I'd wear it for the performance. She wore my necklace, so I wore her scarf thing. I think she calls it that. Though it just looks like a bandanna to me. A bandanna tied around the neck.
"Alright, I'll see you after the show. Bye! Good luck!" She gave me a quick peck on the cheek and left for the VIP room to join my parents. I met up with my dancers and got into position.
"So when is your anniversary again?" Danny, one of the dancers, asked.
I just laughed it off and kept my head down ready for my cue.
Ladies & Gentlemen AUSTIN MOON!
We start the show off with Better Than This. And the energy is better than ever. Everyone is singing along as they jump crazily. I am super pumped. We did about 14 more songs, then we closed with my most famous song, Chasin' the Beat of My Heart. I met all the fans after the concert and got back on the bus around midnight. I was so tired.
"Austin you did good, umm what time is your interview tomorrow?" My mother asked me and she and my dad came onto the bus. I was laid out on the couch with my guitar on the other side of the couch.
"I think it's 10:00 am." I said between yawning.
"Alright, so there won't be time to do a photo shoot."
"Definitely not. I still need to eat breakfast."
"I doubt you'll have time for that either. The interview's in Houston."
I threw my head back in stress. I hated when I had late shows, and early interviews in the morning. It was the worst. And it was always so hard to sleep on the plane rides.
"This is the life you chose, so this is the type of stuff you have to do to keep up this lifestyle." My mother nagged.
"I know, mom I'm not complaining. You don't have to say that every time I get a little stressed out."
"If you don't want her to say anything, don't act like you're stressed. You should never be stressed you have the best life anyone could ask for. Kids would be lucky to be in your position. Adults, would be lucky to be in your position. You really need to be grateful."
Oh. My. Gosh. I can't do anything without them lecturing me about it. I literally didn't say anything. But they act like I just poured out all my complaints.
"You're right." I said simply. If I said anything more, they would have talked for even longer.
"You should get some sleep, we'll see you in the morning. The bus should arrive at the airport around 4:00."
I nodded before taking off my shoes and lying down on the couch. I was too tired to find my bed. I'm going to cherish every bit of these three hours I have to sleep. As I slept, I dreamed about Ally. I dreamed about how she chose to stay in school and still pursue her music career. I knew that's not what I wanted, because I don't like school, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like. To be famous and go to high school. Ally says it gets old. Kids see you every day, so you're not Ally Dawson any more. You're just Ally. I kinda like that. The thought of just being Austin sound really cool. No back to back interviews, content photo shoots, and all night recordings. Just doing a few shows on the weekends. That's what Ally does. And I love that.