Caught between a rock and hard place, Pilar slowly made her way up to the center of the room. Her body felt numb ignoring all the party guests as she got in front of the mike. Jagger gave her a playful wink while Desiree stared daggers into her. Even the other members of The Rioters rolled their eyes in her presence. It became clear that Pilar was out of place there.
Scanning the room around her, Pilar soaked in the atmosphere. Her Aunt Kimber and Uncle Sean cheered her on while Raya and Rapture applauded the loudest. Aja and Craig gestured toward her with a wave as Stormer smiled in support. However, it was her best friend Dee that hooted and hollered in with admiration of her talents. Clutching the microphone, she sighed before saying something.
"I guess I'll sing something simple," she announced to her audience. "This song is Starlight sung by grandmother, the late Jacqui Benton."
Jagger grinned and nodded. Strumming a few chords on his guitar, he played the introduction as Pilar opened her mouth.
However, something strange happened. As the melody played in the background, no words came out of her lips. Pilar stared out toward her audience who looked at her confused. She listened to her heart beating fast as she attempted to sing but no sound escaped her tongue. Tears filled her eyes as she stepped away from the microphone and ran into the kitchen. Dee raced after her.
Confused murmurs filled the room as Jagger got on the mike. Desiree and her bandmates grinned with wicked glee observing the poor girl sprinting away. Pushing her boyfriend from the microphone, the blonde teen spoke to the crowd.
"I suppose the poor girl isn't ready for the limelight," Desiree snorted. "Too bad. I am. This song is from my mother's former band, The Misfits. It's called I Am a Giant!"
The Rioters began playing the song with Desiree on lead vocals. The party guests grew mesmerized by the group as Jagger begrudgingly played his guitar while him mind drifted to Pilar. He hoped his group's set would finish soon.
In the kitchen, Pilar wept over the sink. Dee grabbed a kitchen towel and wiped her tears away. Hugging his best friend close, he stroked her dark hair to comfort her.
"There, there, sweetie," the gay teen reassured her. "It's was wrong for Jagger to put you on the spot!"
Wiping her tears away, Pilar sniffed. "You see, Dee? I wasn't made to perform for crowds of people. A high school classroom? Yes, because it's only my peers and there's no pressure. But we're talking Pop Factor, here. I can't be a singer who is expected to go on stage and perform! I'll choke every time!"
"It's okay, Pilar," Dee nodded. "You don't have to go through that again. Listen, the band and I will find a lead singer in time for the auditions. Maybe you can help us as a manager and handle the business aspects in the meantime?"
Pilar finished removing the last tear from her face. "You know I would do anything to help you guys out. If it's being your manager, then so be it. Just don't ask me to sing."
Dee smiled. "We won't."
The kitchen door swung open as Kimber, Raya, Aja, Craig, Sean, Stormer, and Rapture all proceeded into the small room. Seeing all their family members gathered in one place made the gay teenager shake his head.
"What is this?" Dee rolled his eyes. "A family reunion?"
Stormer approached the upset teen and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Pilar. That was a terrible thing that my son did to put you in an awful position. There's no excuse for it. I'll make sure to talk to him."
Pilar shook her head. "It's okay. It's not Jagger's fault. He was trying to be helpful. I'm the one that choked on stage."
Kimber lifted her niece's chin. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Even my sister Jerrica got stage fright."
"Mom had stage fright?" Pilar's eyebrows raised her eyebrows. "I never pictured her to be a performer."
Her red headed aunt started to back pedal from her mistake. "Oh…uh…well you see…your mom had a lovely voice…not as good as Jem's..that's why we chose someone else…"
Aja saved the day by stepping in. "What your Aunt Kimber trying to say is that you were blessed with a golden voice like your mother. Jerrica was not a performer. That's why The Holograms got another lead singer to front our group. Instead, Jerrica was an amazing business woman and promoted our band to superstardom. Whether being a singing is your calling, you'll know in time."
Rapture rolled her eyes. "It is her calling. I've seen it in my visions. The Fates have decreed it. Pilar just needs to the confidence to believe in herself."
"Si," agreed Raya. "Even I had to go through some soul searching when I auditioned to be The Holograms' newest drummer, verdad? Pilar will find the same, claro que."
"Thanks everyone for the pep talk," sighed the blue eyed girl. "I need some time to recover from my humiliation out there."
"Why don't we leave Pilar alone to recoup?" Her Uncle Sean suggested. "This evening has been stressful for her!"
"Sean's right," said Craig. He turned to his sister. "Mary still has a dinner party to host and we're in the kitchen ignoring her guests. Let's get out there and mingle with the party people."
Dee gripped Pilar's hand. "Aunt Mary has a balcony that upstairs that overlooks the beach. We can hide out there!"
Lifting her eyes, the teen smiled. "I'd like that."
The pair raced upstairs as everyone joined in the festivities downstairs.
The view from the upstairs balcony was breathtaking. Sitting in the lounge chairs, Dee and Pilar discussed everything from fashion, movies, and to their favorite celebrities which provided a welcoming distraction from the fiasco of young woman's performance tonight. Enjoying the night air, the gay lad glanced over to see the small sparkling stars in his best friend's ears.
Parting her dark hair, Dee pushed his lips together and whistled. "Whew! That's some bling you got there. Flawless color. Two carat. Whomever gave you those earrings has good taste."
"A gift from my father," smiled the dark haired girl. "They're an early birthday present. Speaking of which, he'll be out of town next week and said it would be okay to host a slumber party on my birthday. You game?"
"Party?" Dee smirked. "I'll get send the invites via Twitter!"
"Whoa Paris Hilton!" Pilar stopped him. "It's a SLUMBER party. That means you, Cynthia, Flo, and Sam. No one else! I'm not going to have a bunch of strangers trash my house!"
Dee snapped his fingers. "Damn. It would've been the party of the year at school."
"That's what I'm afraid of," clucked the young girl. "Sorry, this is a simple sleepover with close friends. NO EXCEPTIONS! So you coming?"
The gay teen laughed. "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Pilar smiled as she felt the presence of a handsome, dark blond gentleman standing in the doorway of the balcony. Focusing her blue eyes on the familiar face, she stood up from her lounge chair.
"Pilar, can I talk to you in private?" Jagger asked. "Please?"
Taking a hint, Dee got up too. "I'll leave you two alone." Spinning on his heels, Jagger's half-brother went downstairs to join the other party guests.
Folding her arms, the blue eyed teen pushed her glasses back and frowned at the singer of The Rioters. She was not happy. "Okay speak, Jagger."
Running a hand through his dark blond hair, the young man inhaled a breath. "Pilar, I'm sorry. It was a crappy thing that did down there by making you sing."
"It sure was," she scowled. "What were you thinking? I didn't want to be gawked at by a bunch of strangers and you made a fool out of me tonight!"
"I know," Jagger replied. "I went overboard. I wanted to show everyone how really talented you are and I guess I got carried away. I thought you liked performing."
"I like performing for a small group of people I know," Pilar explained. "Friends. Classmates. But put me on stage with a bunch of strangers when the pressure is on gives me extreme stage fright. I can't do it! That's why I couldn't perform tonight! That's why I choked!"
"Maybe you need a boost of confidence," he suggested. "A chance for someone to help you overcome your fear."
"Everyone keeps saying that!" She snapped. "But face it! I'm not cut out for being a singer! Each time you put me in front of a mike, I can't open my mouth! I don't have what it takes!"
He clucked his tongue. "Don't say that! You were born with an amazing gift! You need to share it with the world!"
"Why do you care so much about my talent?" She wondered.
Jagger shrugged. "I just do!"
Slowly he approached her. Pilar could feel the tense heat of his body next to her. Inside, she wanted him to hold her, touch her, and melt into those lips of his. Parting her dark hair, Jagger lowered his face to press his mouth on hers. An electrical surge shot through them as they embraced and finally submitted to their emotions.
Loud commotions erupted downstairs interrupting their kiss as the pair quickly pulled away. Shifting their focus toward the balcony screen door, the duo noticed Desiree Raymond marching angrily toward them followed by Dee.
"JAGGER! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" The spoiled blonde demanded to know.
He exhaled. "I was chatting with Pilar. I wanted to apologize…"
"THAT FREAK!" Desiree shrieked. Her eyes fueled with hatred. "LISTEN YOU NO TALENT HUSSY! THAT CRAPPY PERFORMANCE OF YOURS SHOWS YOU THAT YOU HAVE NO MUSICAL SKILLS SO QUIT TRYING TO PLAY THE WOUNDED PUPPY HERE! STOP PLAYING ON EVERYONE'S SYMPATHIES INCLUDING MY BOYFRIEND'S!"
Pilar objected. "I wasn't…"
"Desiree! You're out of line!" Jagger warned.
"I'M OUT LINE?" The blonde teen screamed. "YOU'RE THE ONE THAT IS MAKING GOO GOO EYES AT THAT FREAK! I MEAN LOOK AT HER! THE GOTH MAKE-UP! THE NERDY GLASSES! THE NOSE RING! SHE'S A TROLL!"
"DON'T CALL MY FRIEND A TROLL!" Dee jumped in. "YOU'RE ONE TO TALK YOU BLEACHED BLONDE BIMBO!"
"SHUT IT QUEER BOY!" Desiree yelled at her boyfriend's younger sibling. "STAY OUT THIS!" Her eyes then darted back at Pilar. "LISTEN UP PILAR! JAGGER IS MY MAN SO KEEP YOU PAWS OFF HIM!"
Jagger grabbed his girlfriend's arm. "That's enough, Desiree! Stop embarrassing yourself!"
"I WON'T BE SILENCED!" Desiree wailed. "JAGGER IS THE MOST TALENTED PERSON OUT HERE AND DESERVES SOMEONE WHO IS EQUALLY AS TALENTED! YOU ARE NOTHING! YOU WOULDN'T EVEN LAST ON POP FACTOR LIKE YOUR LOSER FRIENDS!"
Anger boiled within Pilar's body. She could deal with Desiree's disdain for her from the name calling, the threats, the bullying but she drew the line to which the entitled rich girl ridiculed her friends. Clenching her fists to both sides, the gothic looking teen erupted.
"SHUT THE HELL UP YOU STUPID, NO TALENT SKANK!" Pilar's voice roared. "YOU CAN HATE ME ALL YOU WANT BUT LEAVE MY FRIENDS OUT OF THIS! THEY HAVE MORE TALENT THEN YOU AND THAT POOR EXCUSE OF A BAND COMBINED! IN FACT, DEE AND I ARE PUTTING TOGTHER A GROUP AND WE'RE GOING ON THAT POP FACTOR AUDITON! PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR ASSES BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER!"
Jagger's mouth dropped. "You have a band?"
Dee appeared lost. "I…guess…so…"
Desiree cackled. "Hah! You have group? Who's fronting it? You? Miss-I-Choke-Every-Time-I-Go-On-Stage!"
"No! It's not me!" Pilar responded. "But believe me when I tell you we found an awesome singer who'll make you eat your words, Desiree Raymond!"
The blonde teen laughed wickedly. "I'd like to see you try! Fine then, bitch! Pop Factor auditions are in three weeks! Let's see who makes it!"
"You're on!" Pilar shouted.
Jagger clasped his girlfriend's arm, yanked her way, and both marched downstairs. Left alone with Dee, Pilar dropped to the lounge chair in shock.
"So…I guess…you've changed your mind about being our lead singer," Dee commented.
"Actually, I haven't," she remarked. "I have to find someone within three weeks to front your band."
"Do you even know anybody good enough?" The gay teen asked.
Pilar shook her head. "Not a clue."
Slapping his forehead, Dee frowned. "Oh crap! We're screwed!
