[Own Nothing. All songs belong to Bryan Greenberg]
Chapter One: Lonely World
And I keep waking in these dying dreams
His life is one stage after another with his guitar in his hands, his every demand being followed, as he sings meaningless songs after another. To the fans, he's living THE life. But to him, there's something missing and he can't put his finger on what it is.
Jake stood in his dressing room, getting ready for his show, as he stares contently at himself in the mirror. He barely recognizes himself anymore. The bags under his eyes were becoming heavier and heavier with each passing night. His fingertips are itchy and stiff from his guitar strings. His hair is beginning to fall out from all the stress that's put on him.
And he's only twenty years old.
He loves his music - he does. It's always been his first love. It's gotten him through the toughest of times. And he hopes it would take him somewhere great in life. To him, it doesn't matter if he's famous or rich; all that mattered was that he was doing something he loves. Because you never had to work a day in your life if you're doing something you love.
But lately, things have been getting out of hand. His audience was getting bigger and bigger. His face was starting to show on magazines and women were throwing themselves at him. People wanted his autograph. He couldn't complain about it, but sometimes he missed being just a normal twenty year old guy. Just hanging out with his friends and eating junk food.
Problem was he didn't know who his real friends were anymore, so he mostly kept to himself. Strangely enough he wanted to go to college after high school. He wanted to live in a dorm and have a decent relationship with a girl. He still wants that.
Never once has he complained about the life he leads though. He got lucky finding it big right after high school. Sometimes he wonders where he would be if he didn't show up on that street corner with his guitar on that particular day. He wonders what job he would work or if he ever would have made amends with his father. Sometimes he wonders – but he'd never give it up.
Sure he could quit now at his peak. Give up everything for that 'normal' life. But he loves playing music. And he loves people loving him. But he misses people loving him for his music instead of his good looks.
It's never stopped him from using those wonderful genetics from getting the girls. People would call him an all around playboy, but those magazines exaggerate sometimes…most times. He did get the girls and then he felt like one afterwards for rushing it.
But did you blame him?
He wanted a girl that loves him for the words he sings instead of the way he combs his hair.
"Jake, five minutes." A random man says opening the door and quickly shutting it. Jake blinks real hard trying to get out of his imaginary world and walks over to the table full of food. Doritos, candy, Pepsi, everything to fit his needs. He grabs for a bottle of water and walks to the door, practically slamming it on the way out.
He walks throughout the backstage trying to maneuver around people and stops when he gets to the side of the stage. Some band that he's never heard of is opening for him and he has to admit, they're pretty good. Maybe in another year or two they can be exactly where he's at having some other random unknown band opening for them.
They finish their set and thank the crowd as they cheer happily as they wait for the arrival of Jake himself.
Another few minutes pass and Jake starts to get anxious for it's almost his turn to perform.
He wants to go ahead and just run out there but they have to keep the crowd waiting for some reason. He's never understood why they made him wait so long for him to perform. But finally it's his time and he begins to run out onto the stage as they begin to cheer and shout and have the time of their lives.
If there was any reason why he loves his job this would be it.
Jake runs over and grabs his guitar as he slings it around his shoulder and walks up to the microphone. "How you guys doing tonight?" He speaks into it causing the crowd to cheer once again.
Once they quiet down again Jake spoke. "Cool, cool. I'm Jake Jagielski, in case you didn't know..." The crowd erupts again, putting a smile on Jake's face seeing them so happy to just hear his name. "Well it's great to be here in Chicago, so tonight I want to start off with one of my favorite songs and I hope you enjoy."
He looks down to his guitar and strums a few strings before really playing. "This one's called Lonely World."
Such a lonely boy
Couldn't find the joy within
Such a lonely girl
Such a lonely world we're living in
I watch it all go by
Can't find a tear to cry, a tear to cry, a tear to cry
It's so obvious how they need each other
Wanting, bleeding, hurting, but they keep it covered
Till it's one big lie
Can't say hello cause they fear goodbyes
Well they fear goodbyes, they fear goodbyes
He don't say much when there ain't much to say
She waits for his response she waits all day
The world keeps spinning in a silent scream
And I keep waking in these dying dreams
The crowd's quiet, really listening to the lyrics.
He doesn't know why he always starts his shows with this song. Some people call it depressing while some call it inspirational. It's just a song about himself really. He doesn't tell people that and never really plans too. But it's special.
To him anyway.
I asked her for the time she said my timing was off
But I got this pain inside she said it's all you got
I got this feeling that life is passing me by
I'm a couple years late but I'm here tonight, I'm here tonight, well I'm here tonight
He don't say much when there ain't much to say
She waits for his response she waits all day
The world keeps spinning in a silent scream
And I keep waking in these dying dreams
Such a lonely boy
Such a lonely girl
It's such a lonely world
The crowd erupts in cheers as the song ends and again Jake smiles and looks over to his band mates as they smile along with him.
Being on this stage Jake feels like he's on top of the world and it's the best feeling ever.
God, he loves his job.
A few songs later and the concert is over. Everyone in the crowd groans when Jake says his final goodbye's and walks off stage. He goes back into his dressing room and collapse onto the couch. Feeling exhausted, Jake's almost asleep when his manager barges into the room talking on two cell phones at once.
Jake doesn't pay any attention to him and tries to block out his annoying voice as he tries to slip back into an unknown world.
"Jake, baby!" His manager, Dave, says to him widening his arms for a hug. Jake stands to embrace the man but taken back when Dave slams him into his chest, causing Jake to lose his breath for a few seconds. They brake apart and Jake sinks back into the couch as he listens to his manager go on and on over something that didn't seem so important.
"Dave!" Jake interrupts. "Honestly dude, I love you, but I don't care. Can I just get on the bus and get out of here."
"Lead the way, man." He says walking over to the door and opening it for him.
"Thank you."
They make their ways around backstage, weaving in and out of people until they're out in the parking lot. Suddenly a tidal wave of fans hit them and Jake graciously stops and sign autographs and take a few pictures with them.
Any rock star will tell you that it's the fans that make this job worth wild. And it's true. Jake wouldn't be where he is today if it wasn't for his fans.
Today and any other day, Jake is always happy to stop and give his John Hancock on something.
It's those crazy, wild, obsessed fans that push his buttons sometimes.
They reach the tour bus, after Jake signs a few autographs for his lovely fans, and Jake goes straight for the fridge for something to eat. He was always starving after a show and usually celebrated every one of them with a few corndogs, homemade brownies, macaroni and cheese, and a Gatorade to top it all off. It was his tradition and tonight wasn't any different.
The other band mates get on the bus and crash onto the couch and various other few places you can go to on a tour bus. The engine starts and the bus begins its way to its next destination as everyone kicks back and relaxes before the next show. Jake sat somewhere up front, flipping through an old magazine, as he tried to think of what the next performance would be like.
It pops into his head that he has no idea where they're going.
Removing himself from the seat, he walks to the back of the bus and starts shaking his sleeping manager. "Dave, Dave, Davey...." He sings using his nickname for him, which Dave hates.
He mumbles something that Jake doesn't catch and begins to shake him harder. After a few seconds, Dave shoots up in his bed and hits head on the low ceiling. His hand becomes attached to his head as he gives Jake a sour look. "What?" He spats at him.
"Hey man, I was just wondering what town we're going to be in next." Jake asks like nothing's the matter.
"You woke me up for that?" He groans falling back onto his pillow.
"Yeah. Now do you mind telling me?"
He lets out a huge sigh and closes his eyes tightly trying to go back to sleep. "Some little hick town in North Carolina called Tree Hill."
He doesn't know why, but when he hears that name his heart flutters and his stomach drops.
Things are about to get interesting.