Chapter 4

The trip downtown seemed to drag on for Brittany as she listened to the chatter projecting from her sisters and Tony. Her stomach churned with nervousness, her cheeks blushed a wild pink, and she sat slumped in her seat, quiet the entire trip to the studio, the wind from the open car window lashing about, flipping her thick hair across her face. She was thankful none of the three questioned her awkward silence. Brittany was a terrible liar, so trying to convince the three that she was fine would give away her true thoughts and feelings.

She did notice, that for some parts of the trip, Tony would glance at her with a cocked eyebrow, for he was becoming annoyed that Brittany had yet to tell her big secret.

The longer she waited, the worse the 'coming out' would be for her.

After some forty-five minutes, Record Tech Studio could be seen off in the distance, the building towering over some towers just reaching its height, casting a large shadow that made Brittany grimace.

She was ready to leave the company.

For good.

Tony pulled into his designated parking spot where his name flashed upon a sign that indicated that that was indeed his spot. He liked it for the most part; it beat having to drive a block and a half until he could find some dinky, run down parking lot where it cost a dollar an hour for it to stay parked there.

The group exited the car, and Eleanor stretched with arms raised high. "Brittany, I'm so excited to hear what you have. You've been working day in and day out for the past month! Is your CD almost done?"

Brittany nodded as she adjusted her tank top's strap to her shoulder. "Two more songs, and I'll be set. Record Tech will promote it next month… hopefully…"

"Will you make any music videos?" Jeanette asked as she closed the door to the car. The group began to walk to the flashy entrance and entered effortlessly through revolving doors.

Brittany nodded. "Every single song on the album."

Eleanor giggled. "You're really going the extra mile, aren't you Britt?"

She nodded slowly. "I've already filmed five of the twelve."

Jeanette and Eleanor made moping glances one another; they'd be lying if they said they weren't hurt by her words. They assumed Brittany told them everything under the sun. What was up? What was going on in Record Tech?

Something didn't sit well, and that something was big. How big, the sisters couldn't even begin to fathom.

Once inside, Tony stopped at the front desk to face a familiar woman who was in charge of handing keys to employees who made an appointment prior to coming. They shared laughs and conversed for a bit before Tony was able to get the key and usher the girls to their studio. Once to the top floor, he unlocked the door and pushed it open for all to behold; such a beautifully kept studio in all of its glory; maroon carpeting, white-tiled walls, and then there was the studio with the microphone hanging from above. Brittany's heart raced at the mere glance at the beauty, and that's when she knew that her decision would be the best for her… right?

Brittany let out the heaviest sigh before glancing at the others over her shoulder. "Well… let's get started…"

###

Her voice was hauntingly beautiful, her passion showed them that. Her words were articulated, her lips saturated, her life… emancipated. This was home to her, this was her heaven… this was her.

She finished her song, her heart racing, ice-blue eyes open and waiting for critic from the three just outside the bulletproof, soundproof glass that separated them. They had looks of awe as she exited the room, her hands folded within themselves.

"Brittany…" Eleanor began as she wiped a discarded tear. "That was… perfect. Do us a favor and don't do anymore runs on this song… that was it…"

Brittany pulled at her hair as she sat back to her original seat. "This is all I ever wanted… I just wish-" she paused, fumbling with her manicured thumbs. "I wish you guys were with me…"

Jeanette and Eleanor exchanged cheerful glances as they settled their hands onto Brittany bare thighs. "Honestly, Brittany," Jeanette began with the widest of smiles, "you're doing so much better without us…"

"Your wings have finally spread, and we couldn't be any more proud…" Eleanor congratulated with blushing cheeks.

Brittany had a look of disbelief skewed upon her face. "But guys-"

"Brittany!" Eleanor spat with a giggle. "This is your life… and you finally get to live it…"

"And we have something for you…" From Jeanette's purse, she produced a hefty box that was wrapped in pink paper, a yellow bow at the top. "Eleanor and I thought you would need this!"

Brittany carefully took the present and tore the wrapping to reveal a white box. She peeled off the top and gasped at the sight of it.

A pink and yellow studded microphone… 100% real diamonds that covered the mic from head to toe.

"We used the money from our very last concert because… you always wanted it."

Brittany hated to admit it… but this microphone had been on her mind since she was thirteen-years-old. It was her dream, and it finally came true. She hugged her sisters as if she would lose them, tears stroking their faces.

She gazed up into Tony's hard stare, and he handed her sly wink.

In all her time she spent with her sisters as the Chipettes, she never would have guessed that they would split. The one aspect that made the breakup remotely bearable for Brittany was that they were now doing what they truly loved. And that's all she wanted for her baby sisters.

It was then there was a heavy knock upon the hard, thick, wooden door. Three knocks back to back. The group exchanged glances before Tony decided to answer it for himself. He slowly propped the door open, and a familiar voice said, "Can I come in?"

Brittany's world had suddenly shattered like thin glass into trillions of pieces. Her happiness was now anger, and her cheeks blushed a deep, angry red.

Alvin suddenly appeared in the doorway, hands shoved in the pockets of his torn jeans, eyes wandering about before landing on Brittany. A quivered 'hey' escaped him.

Brittany placed her present upon the desk in front of her and spat. "Who in the hell invited you?!"

Alvin spoke no words… but glanced at Tony that answered her question. Her hard and stern gaze was enough of an answer for him as well.

"Tony, why?!"

With irritation taking over him, Tony slammed the door in a huff; "Brittany, you know why! You can't… you can't keep hiding this!"

Her sisters and Alvin directed their attention to an embarrassed Brittany who knew she had no choice now.

"Tony, can't this wait?" she spoke softly.

"No!" he spat. "As your manager, it can't! You've been hiding this for months, and they deserve to know!"

With hurt in her eyes, Jeanette stood to her feet and made her way to Brittany's side. "Britt… what's going on?"

"Why have you been so secretive Brittany? We're your sisters; I thought we told one another everything!" Eleanor added as tears continued to stroke her face, her brown eyes glossy.

Alvin pulled his hands from his pockets and gestured for Brittany. "Well, the jig's up," he announced, shrugging his shoulders. "What's up?"

Fire from the pits of Hell seemed to fill her gaze at a question coming from the one person who could give a damn. "You, Alvin, can shut the hell up!" she screamed as she probed him in the shoulder, his expression shocked and offended. "You'd be the last person I'd tell that I'm leaving!"

She clamped her mouth shut with her tiny hands, her gaze wandering to each person, the secret slowly showing itself.

"Where are you going?" Jeanette asked as she took Brittany's hand into hers, holding it tightly.

Brittany scoffed with a roll of her eyes that was an attempt to keep her tears inside… along with the secret. "Tony and I… we're leaving for Paris, France… next week… and it'll be for a long time…"