"I am so excited," Aimee sang as she combed her blond hair in front of the mirror.
"Aim, you're hogging the full length mirror again," Fiona said with a roll of her eyes, trying to apply eyeliner with a compact mirror.
Aimee paused. "Is it wrong to admire my beauty?"
The other girls groaned upon hearing that.
It was a very lively night in the Maxwell Beach House as everybody prepared to watch the performance of Joaquin de la Rosa. After all the drama the previous days, everyone was excited for a reliever wherein they could surely go out, relax and have fun.
Ellie had just gone out of the hospital yesterday after 6 days of being confined. She instantly went to the Beach House and had a long serious talk with Madison and Drew. They talked about all that had happened and all that had to be resolved. Ellie apologized for her being selfish and was very thankful that Drew saved her life again. She admitted that her actions were unacceptable. The good news that she happily informed them was that she would finally be accepting his and Olivia's advice to see a shrink.
Madison was glad to see Ellie looking happier and much healthier. After all the drama, she was starting to like the model again and see her in a lighter side. The fact that Joaquin likes Ellie was also out in the open in their conversation. But she admitted that she was still unsure how she feels about her admirer because she still has feelings for Drew and Madison respected her for that.
They also talked about how the media people will certainly be bothering Ellie and the model bravely told them that she will lay low for now and focus on herself first before going through with her career. She wanted to manage her life for the moment and its much easier now after her reunion with her mom.
"I told you Aimee, he's got a thing for Ellie. Deal with it," Madison teased as she chose which to wear between two of her favorite tops.
They have searched Joaquin's face on the internet as soon as Madison told them about him. Though most of the girls did not recognize him, Aimee had claimed to know Joaquin as a model and had proclaimed that she found him yummy and she wanted him for herself especially knowing that he's a musician.
"Whatever Maddie," Aimee answered, not really affected by the statement. "The battle isn't over until it's over."
Lindsay giggled while ironing her hair. "Is he Asian?" she asked.
"He's part Israeli, Mexican, African-American and Irish," Aimee explained with a toss of her hair. "Hot, right? I just wished he got the Irish accent instead though but he grew up in Israel."
"What a nation," Lindsay quipped.
"That's a lot of blood," Fiona commented.
"Eew, I hate blood," Vicky admitted. "Like I really faint when I see blood."
"Seriously? But blood flows in you," Fiona commented with her eyebrow raised.
"I mean when the blood is already out of the human body like in an injury or something," Vicky explained. "Especially in the hospital when they have to get blood from you and they will use an injection on you and you'll see your blood being sucked into the tube."
"Okay let's stop talking about blood now or I might puke," Madison complained, pretending to gag.
"Imagine if Joaquin could suck my blood like a vampire…" Aimee said seductively, earning a hit from Madison and laughs from her other friends.
"Wow! The place is hopping!" Drew commented as they entered the crowded place of Luna's Shack.
Madison had to agree, surveying the area. It was the perfect place for a relaxing and cozy evening, situated by the beach. Someone was playing the piano at the left side of the stage but there were also other instruments placed on the other corners.
"We're going to have a problem finding a table," Chet sighed with his arm around Fiona.
Madison still could not believe how the twins had gotten real close after that night of talking. It would be hard to imagine how hard they were at each other when they were younger and how they hated each other's guts. The vacation really did them good and it wasn't even over yet.
"Maddie! Drew! Here!" someone called out over the noisy background.
The rest of the gang followed the voice and they saw Ellie standing by a long table almost at the center and in front of the stage.
Dan whistled. "That's such a perfect spot, huh? Just right in front of the stage," he commented.
Everybody approached the table with Drew on the lead.
"I just can't get over how perfect she looks," Lindsay whispered to Madison. "And they say that celebrities only look pretty on screen or when their photos are airbrushed or something. But she wasn't even wearing any make up."
"I know," Madison chuckled, knowing fully well who her friend was talking about. Despite her being against plastic surgery, the beauty she saw in Ellie now is much different. It was more on the once wounded girl finally becoming happy for real.
There were already three people settled on the table besides Ellie. Madison recognized the two women as Rebecca and Olivia who both smiled at her. The other one was a balding man around his 40s with a grim look on his face. Ellie introduced her aunt and her mom to Madison's friends and the sullen man was introduced as Tony Parker, Joaquin's manager. He gave all of them a nod.
As soon as everybody was seated, Tony excused himself and went backstage.
"What's his problem?" Drew asked Ellie who were sitting beside each other.
Madison was beside Drew so she heard him ask the question.
"On you mean Tony?" Ellie responded with her voice a little too loud that shushed the whole table. "He wasn't very happy Joaquin chose to perform his first gig in a small bar like this. He dreamed of something big already but Joaquin wanted to take it slow. He was especially furious at me because he thinks it was my fault."
"That's outrageous," Madison exclaimed but Ellie just laughed.
"It doesn't matter. He's like that but he could be nice when he isn't in a grumpy mood."
The conversation on the grumpy Tony Parker was soon put on halt as a young woman came to their table and gave away menus. Everyone stated their orders and then the server left.
Madison looked around the place again and saw people taking photographs and videos of the event. But she was surprised that nobody was bothering Ellie or even her mom and aunt since the hype about her being hospitalized was still fresh.
"No mean paparazzi tonight? That's new to me," she murmured to her boyfriend.
"Only a few chosen media people were given access to this event to avoid that kind of riot. I bet Tony wasn't happy about that too since he surely wants exposure for Joaquin," Drew explained.
Madison sighed. "This whole Hollywood thing is too complicated to me. I wouldn't want my life to be exposed to the world like what happened to Ellie. I am a very private person."
Drew grinned, placing his arms around his girlfriend. "Well I'm glad. That means you're all mine."
She slapped his arm playfully. "Oh you sappy little baby."
Someone walked in front of the stage who appeared to be a famous DJ. The crowd slowly hushed up as he took over the stage. "Good evening everybody! DJ Caruso here to sizzle your night. How are we all doing so far?"
"Great!" Egg yelled.
"Fantastic!" Chet added.
"You're hot!" Aimee exclaimed and everyone laughed.
"Why thank you madam. See me later for my phone number," he responded sleekly.
Madison rolled her eyes and half of their table groaned but the rest of the audience laughed.
"Arrogant much?" Lindsay murmured to her friends.
"I was only kidding," Aimee admitted to the table with a toss of her hair.
"And now without further ado. Put your hands together to one of the newest and freshest talents in the music industry… Joaquin de la Rosa!"
Joaquin went to the stage carrying an acoustic guitar and sat on a stool placed at the center as everybody cheered for his entrance. Two microphones were placed next to him, one for him and one for his guitar. He looked very different to the haggard person Madison saw in the hospital especially with his black and white fitted polo that shows a little of his muscles and a pair of jeans. His hair has the same shaggy rugged look and he actually captured the look of a musician ready for his gig.
"Go Joaquin!" Ellie yelled and the performer grinned at her from ear to ear.
"I know him! I remember now!" Vicky whispered to her friends. "I saw him in a magazine before but he had shorter hair then."
"He looks great, right?" Ellie whispered back with a wide grin and quickly riveted her attention back to the stage.
"Thank you all for coming here today," Joaquin started as the clapping died down. "I've never really thought that my very first gig will be here in Spring Break. Music has been my passion for as long as I can remember but I was the type of person who preferred to stay in a shell than go all out like this."
He paused. "But there was this person who made me realize talent and passion would be such a waste if not shared and conquered. And I am here because of you, Lili. I wrote this song especially for you."
All the girls in the crowd aaw-ed and Madison glanced at Ellie to see how she reacted. The model did not catch her eye though as she was still entranced with the person on stage, a tear trickling on her face.
Joaquin started strumming a soft and mellow melody on his guitar.
You were there and I never knew
Someday I will feel this too
That love songs often tell me to feel
When we met I did not regret
Certain things I did not expect
You were everything to me that's real
You were troubled by your past
And I hope it wouldn't last
Would you like to make this present with me?
Nothing may be certain
Nothing may be sure
How can I forget
That there is a rule
But I would not be bounded
Of what can be
Since the day
You came my way
Madison felt the strong arms of her boyfriend wrapped around her body. It was such a perfect a moment with that perfect song. It was a song to fall in love to and a song to fall in love with. A song of falling in love. And she cannot help but hope that someday, Ellie will feel the same way with Joaquin or maybe with someone else who will be pretty special, just like how Drew is to her.