However the next morning after picking up a white dress for her the two
talk more about the last few years. Riot then asks her why his partner
hated her so much. "I mean he can't just be mad at you because you have
Starlight Music."
"Well see it's more than that. I think after my father hired him, Eric
assumed since dad had given him full control of Starlight Music that it was
going to be his. But what he didn't know was that dad had given me half and
that there wasn't anything he could do about it. Moreover I think he
believed that I could be as easily manipulated as Pizzazz, whose father too
had his own company."
"But he was wrong wasn't he?"
"Yes but this time he's won. I'm surprised that I'm saying this but without
your group eventually Starlight Music would go bankrupt."
He lifts her chin. "Maybe I can change that, well that is if you would have
dinner with me tonight. Then I could get to know you better."
Although still not sure how far she could trust him, by the way he was
treating her it was hard for her to resist. "Ok Rory I would love to have
dinner with you."
"Excellent." He then, after she gets ready, takes her to Starlight Music.
Although at times not sure what his motives were dinner, with the lead
singer of the Stingers was actually quite nice.
Moreover every time they had dinner she would tell him more; however she
had one problem, she couldn't tell her friends or her sister. They wouldn't
understand and although they hadn't questioned her for a whole week while
she was having dinner with Riot this time she ran into a problem. After
putting on a violet dress with a purple bolero jacket Jerrica then looks at
herself in the mirror. "This dress reminds me of that pretty gown he bought
for me on the cruise ship." She then looks at the clock on the wall. It was
almost time for her date with Riot. She then gets from behind her desk a
small suitcase with her long purple dress and pink Capri hat inside and
goes to leave when she sees Aja and the other Holograms standing in the
doorway.
"Well it looks like you were right Raya my sister is going out but with
who?"
The blonde executive just walks past them. "Oh stop looking at me like
that." She then goes to the elevator but as she enters she turns to them.
"Don't forget tomorrow is the Expo."
"Yeah and isn't Rio taking you?" inquires Shana.
"Yeah, but probably only to find out why I've going out so much, as well as
probably with who." She then hits the elevator button and seconds later
the doors close. However unknown to the Holograms Jerrica had one stop to
make before seeing Riot. She then enters the garage, opens the rockin
roadster's trunk and takes out two photo albums. She wanted to show Rory
photos of her family. She then leaves the garage and waits for Riot's limo
in front of Starlight Music. Nevertheless as the limo arrives and she gets
in Rio appears with Jerrica's sister Kimber.
"Where is she going at this time of night?"
"Where she always goes with him!"
Rio turns to her. "With who?"
"I think its Riot at least that's what we think, the other Holograms and
I."
He squeezes his clenched fist. "Well at least Jem got the hint that he was
no good, but why couldn't his girlfriend? That is unless she was desperate
to get the Stingers to sign on with Starlight Music. No matter, he would
confront her tomorrow at the Expo. But as he makes his plan Jerrica is
receiving a surprise of her own as her companion hands her a small shopping
bag. She looks at him as she pulls out a white strapless bikini. "Rory you
can't be serious?"
"Yes I am and I want you to wear that at the Celebrity beach bash tomorrow
afternoon and I rather you come as Jerrica and not as Jem."
She shakes her head. "Everyone will be expecting Jem not me."
"Well I want you there. To me Jem is only an image, an illusion, please,"
he asks. With the way he looked how could she say no.
"Ok Rory I'll wear the bikini." He then kisses her. However as he does he
sees the photo albums in her hands.
"What's this?" he asks. She then hands him one of the albums. He opens it
to see her as a little girl at the age of ten in her father's lap. He is
reading a book to her. "My love you were an adorable little girl." She
blushes. They then arrive at the restaurant where he asks her some more
questions. She notices that of everything he had been asking her about Eric
and the Misfits, his questions focused mainly on the different times they
had gone after her identity. The way he acted when he found out about
Prescott and Eric's reward for Jem's identity in New York it made her feel
better. "Well it was a good thing my group was not there because he would
have regretted doing that to you." He had said as he had taken her in his
arms. Yes it was a bit much, but it also felt so good. Nevertheless at the
evening's end they are at his penthouse suite. The two are now curled up in
his bedroom. Although Jerrica would have waited till she was married before
making love to a man, with Riot it was different. He made her first time
special. As she rests her head on his chest he watches as she lazily lifts
the medallion around his neck.
"Do you like it my love? I could get you one."
She just shrugs her shoulders as she plays with the gold coin. "No, but
there are times I wish I had something like it."
"Such as?" "
You'll laugh."
He rubs her back. "No I won't, please tell me."
"A locket." He then sees her sigh.
"Jerrica if your afraid you'll forget your parents I doubt it, especially
since you have the earrings from your father and of course your voice which
you inherited from your mother."
She just nods her head in acceptance. "Rory can I ask you something. I have
opened my heart to you. You know everything about me, the good times as
well as the bad, but I have yet to know anything about you." Suddenly she
feels her lover go tense. "Did I say something wrong?"
He leans over and pulls her up to where her head is on his shoulder. "No of
course not its just talking about my past is also painful."
"Too painful for you to even tell me?"
He moves a strand of hair from her face. "Not at all Jerrica it's just, oh
how should I explain it? I know in your dad's diary he mentioned that the
night your mother died that you two had an argument and that I suspect is
why you put out your mom's album, to make up for what you said and didn't
say that night." She nods.
"Well I to have had that experience, but it involved my father." He then
lifts her chin. "You're a lucky woman that your father supported your
dreams, my father didn't." Riot says. She goes to ask him to explain, but
instead yawns.
"Dearest Jerrica in due time I will tell you of my past," he says as he
pulls the covers over them both. "Moreover I promise very soon after I take
care of a couple of things the Stingers will come to your company and you
my love will never have to worry about Eric or Pizzazz taking Starlight
Music away from you ever again."
"But what about my secret?" she says in a quiet whisper. Riot kisses her on
the forehead.
"That will never happen I promise you. Now sleep. We both have a busy day
ahead of us tomorrow." He then turns off the light and seconds later he too
falls fast asleep.
````````````````````````` The next day Riot drops her off at Starlight Mansion.
Later that Saturday morning as he leaves the Expo, Riot sees Jerrica and
Rio arguing.
"Jerrica I want to know who you have been seeing! I'm your boyfriend I
thought that at least gave me the right to know!"
She turns looking at him. "Yes, but when was the last time you took me out
on a date huh? It's only when you and Jem have a fight that you want to be
with me! To you I'm just responsible, dependable Jerrica. Well I'm not like
that. I'm much more and maybe I've found someone who sees me as an
attractive woman."
He just shakes his head as he comes over to where she is standing and tells
her he is sorry that he had taken her for granted, but still he had a hard
time believing that another man would want her. Although Randy James had
made an attempt after the Jem Jam concert, the drummer wasn't around and
Rio knew he wasn't that much of a competition. But Riot, this worried him.
He had a way with women. Kimber, Pizzazz, and yes, even the way Jem acted
around him. Although Kimber, Pizzazz, and Jem were easy to explain, his
influence over Jerrica on the other hand was what concerned him. He tries
to tell this to her, but she refuses to listen and walks away. However
later that afternoon at the Celebrity beach, while Lindsey was interviewing
the Limp Lizards, Jerrica arrives wearing the white strapless bikini.
As she walks down the beach, guys who would usually only bother her if she
was Jem were now looking her over and they weren't the only ones. Rio, Eric
Raymond, and Riot were now watching.
"Is that Jerrica Benton?" asks Roxy.
"I don't believe it!" cracks the Misfit's manager. Nor does Rio, who is
being harassed once again by Minx to have dinner with him, when the two see
his girlfriend walking down the beach. The two then watch as she sits in a
beach chair next to where the other Holograms are sitting. Her friends
watch as she takes out a magazine and begins to read.
Moreover as they watched, shocked by their friend appearing as herself,
Lindsey Pierce who had been talking reluctantly with the Misfit's lead
singer turns when Pizzazz cracks, "What's miss goody two shoes up to
dressed like that?"
"What? Oh my god!" Lindsey says, shocked at seeing the blonde executive in
the white bathing suit. "Excuse me!" She then gets her cameraman and
rushes over to where Jerrica, who is now being questioned by her sister
Kimber, is sitting.
"Uh sis, Jem is supposed to be here remember, not you." Her older sister
goes to respond when Riot appears and says.
"Awe contraire Kimber, Jem is here she just isn't hiding behind the
hologram your father programmed." he says. He then sits next to Jerrica and
kisses her hand. "You look beautiful!" However his words get the other
Holograms' attention.
"What did you say?" snaps Aja.
Their friend turns. "He knows everything. See, Rory read Dad's diary."
"Oh!" snaps Aja crossing her arms across her chest.
"Yes, but if you think I'm going to wreck the relationship that has started
between us by telling Eric or the Misfits that I know who Jem is you're
mistaken. Besides when Rio finds out you have been seeing me, from what I
have seen, I will have you all to myself very soon," he says as he points
towards Rio who is running over to them. Before he can demand an
explanation Lindsey Pierce kneels down next to the two and is amazed when
Riot points out that he and Jerrica made a perfect couple. This gets
Pizzazz's attention who then runs over, shoving Rio aside; and after
getting in front of Kimber demands to know what Jerrica is doing with her
man.
"What do you think your doing with Riot!" she snaps as she grabs his arm,
kicking sand in the blonde executive's face.
"Stop it!" Jerrica cries.
"That's enough Pizzazz!" snaps Riot who pulls his arm away from her. "I
will not tolerate such behavior from you. Unless you want the rest of the
world to know how I truly feel about you I suggest you leave at once!"
Although still wanting to argue, she is pulled away by Eric who tells her
to forget it, that after they got back from the New York concert he would
get an explanation from his partner. However as Riot brushes the sand off
Jerrica's suit Minx and Rio have another argument. Angered that he still
won't give her any attention the Stinger's keyboardist goes for a swim, but
instead gets caught in an underwater current and is pulled under. Rapture
then goes and gets Rio who jumps in and saves her friend. Then after she is
revived, the Holograms and the other Stingers get a surprise when Minx
announces that because Rio had saved her she was going to change. Though
happy to hear this, Riot is also concerned when Minx wants to please
people, her eagerness can also turn into a serious disaster. He then
whispers to Jerrica, before leaving with his backup singers that if Minx
appears offering help to her to let him know, that he would pay for any
damage that his companion might do. Although thinking that Riot might be
overreacting she agrees. He then kisses her on the cheek and after joining
his backup singers in his limo the three leave the beach.
Moreover after a few days of Minx's attempt of being a good friend, Jerrica
gets a full view of the keyboardists over eagerness to please people and
it's more than she can handle. She then tells Riot over the phone about
everything Minx had done.
"Oh darling I am sorry. How much damage did my little keyboardist do?"
"Well besides trying to give me a new look that nearly took hours to remove
the makeup the fools put on me she made some of the Starlight Girls sick
with candy and ice cream. Then there is the paint guns and Rio's
synthesizer she destroyed after the two had a fight."
"I see, anything else?"
"Well now that you mention it she installed a security system."
"Oh no." says Riot as he puts his hand over his face. "Please tell me she
didn't."
"She did Rory, but thankfully Rio pulled it out."
The blonde singer shakes his head. "I'm sorry she caused so much damage,
but I think there is more. By your tone I can tell something is wrong.
Please tell me."
She sits back in her office chair. "Rio confronted me about you Rory. I had
to tell him about us." But as she says this Jerrica gets all choked up.
"My love please don't cry. Maybe this will help. Tonight the Stingers are
playing one last performance at Le Klub Kool, why don't you come and see
us. Moreover bring a contract for me to look over."
She smiles. "That does cheer me up Rory. Of course I'll come."
"Good, and please wear that lovely ensemble I met you in the first time at
Le Klub Kool."
She laughs, blushing. "What time are you playing?"
"The same time as before eight o' clock." The two then talk a few minutes
more before she hangs up. Nevertheless when Jerrica is getting ready to
leave she is stopped by her now ex-boyfriend.
"I have to leave tomorrow to help Johnny Deacon in San Francisco, but
before I go I want to tell you that I think your making a mistake dating
that jerk!" Rio said.
"I'm sorry I know that you don't approve. I can't explain but he's been so
nice to me. He's even willing to make up for what Minx did at Starlight
Mansion. Besides I think Riot has changed." Jerrica says.
"Yeah right."
"He has. For the past two weeks while we've been going out before he leaves
he's taken time with each of my foster girls, telling them how sorry he was
for how he treated them. Ashley has even forgiven him for how he acted
towards her."
"I don't care and if you continue seeing him miss boss lady then we're not
dating any more, got it?"
"Fine! You've always wanted Jem anyway!" Jerrica yells. She then rushes
out and as she does her friends see her. Shana then sees Rio come out.
"Now what did you say to her?" Shana asks.
"She's gone to see that jerk! That arrogant clown who nearly took Jem away
from me!"
"Well she wouldn't be seeing Riot if you would take her out once in a
while!" snaps Raya who by now is face to face with him. "It angers me the
way you treat Jerrica. She's always so nice and although every time you
ignore her and go out with Jem she always forgives you. It serves you right
if another man takes an interest in her!" Their road manger goes to make a
quick response but then looks at his watch. He had to get going.
"Fine whatever! Let them have each other. At times she's just like him
anyway, always manipulating the situation. That and her lying!" he says as
he storms out. But as leaves to meet Johnny, Jerrica has arrived at the
club. Although happy that her companion's group was coming to her company,
she was also sad and Riot sees it as he and the Stingers perform. Then once
he is finished, and after changing clothes, he then joins Jerrica at her
table. Seeing that she is sad he suggests they go back to his penthouse.
Tomorrow was his mom's birthday as well as the Stingers party. He wanted
Jerrica to be there. In addition he already picked out and bought an outfit
that he wanted his companion to wear tomorrow night. The two then leave the
club.
However later that evening, as the two eat dinner, Riot can tell that his
love's mind is elsewhere as she looks out from the balcony of his hotel. He
had already signed the contract now all he had to do was contact Pizzazz's
father, sell him his half of Stingers Sound and then he could run Starlight
Music with Jerrica. Moreover he would find a way of making up the money
that his soon to be ex-partner had stolen from her music company. Riot then
picks up the white box and slips up behind her. "Jerrica?"
She turns when he says her name. "I'm sorry Rory. I guess I'm not good
company tonight." She then sees the box in his hands. "What's this?"
"Open it. I want you to wear this tomorrow night at the Stingers party."
She then as he holds the box in his hands lifts the white gown from inside.
"It's beautiful Rory!"
"Yes it is, but I think it would be more beautiful if I saw you in it." She
laughs at him, but then sees his face. He really wanted her to wear it.
"Maybe this will get you to do it. After my party tomorrow night I will be
yours and I mean that literally." He then tells her he had signed the
contract; that he would leave Stingers Sound and come to Starlight Music.
This does the trick. She then enters his bedroom and puts on the gown.
But as she slips the white spaghetti strap gown on she notices that it was
a little bit like the glitter n gold dress that she had worn as Jem, except
it was different. One thing that was immediate was that the gold ruffle was
bigger on the glitter n gold dress that she had worn as Jem. This one was
smaller and just around the waist connected to a big gold bow. She then
feels something on her neck. She looks up to see Riot clasping a gold
choker around her neck. He then slides a long gold scarf over the front of
her neck so the two ends rested on her back. "You could wear your hair like
it is tonight and this white bow could hold your hair back."
She sighs as she turns, facing him. "How can I say no? Rory, after all that
has happened, the lies I told you, you still want me."
He takes her hands in his. "Jerrica I was the one that lead you on. I
manipulated you; hurt you in ways a man should not do to a woman. I love
you with all my heart." He then kisses her.
hated her so much. "I mean he can't just be mad at you because you have
Starlight Music."
"Well see it's more than that. I think after my father hired him, Eric
assumed since dad had given him full control of Starlight Music that it was
going to be his. But what he didn't know was that dad had given me half and
that there wasn't anything he could do about it. Moreover I think he
believed that I could be as easily manipulated as Pizzazz, whose father too
had his own company."
"But he was wrong wasn't he?"
"Yes but this time he's won. I'm surprised that I'm saying this but without
your group eventually Starlight Music would go bankrupt."
He lifts her chin. "Maybe I can change that, well that is if you would have
dinner with me tonight. Then I could get to know you better."
Although still not sure how far she could trust him, by the way he was
treating her it was hard for her to resist. "Ok Rory I would love to have
dinner with you."
"Excellent." He then, after she gets ready, takes her to Starlight Music.
Although at times not sure what his motives were dinner, with the lead
singer of the Stingers was actually quite nice.
Moreover every time they had dinner she would tell him more; however she
had one problem, she couldn't tell her friends or her sister. They wouldn't
understand and although they hadn't questioned her for a whole week while
she was having dinner with Riot this time she ran into a problem. After
putting on a violet dress with a purple bolero jacket Jerrica then looks at
herself in the mirror. "This dress reminds me of that pretty gown he bought
for me on the cruise ship." She then looks at the clock on the wall. It was
almost time for her date with Riot. She then gets from behind her desk a
small suitcase with her long purple dress and pink Capri hat inside and
goes to leave when she sees Aja and the other Holograms standing in the
doorway.
"Well it looks like you were right Raya my sister is going out but with
who?"
The blonde executive just walks past them. "Oh stop looking at me like
that." She then goes to the elevator but as she enters she turns to them.
"Don't forget tomorrow is the Expo."
"Yeah and isn't Rio taking you?" inquires Shana.
"Yeah, but probably only to find out why I've going out so much, as well as
probably with who." She then hits the elevator button and seconds later
the doors close. However unknown to the Holograms Jerrica had one stop to
make before seeing Riot. She then enters the garage, opens the rockin
roadster's trunk and takes out two photo albums. She wanted to show Rory
photos of her family. She then leaves the garage and waits for Riot's limo
in front of Starlight Music. Nevertheless as the limo arrives and she gets
in Rio appears with Jerrica's sister Kimber.
"Where is she going at this time of night?"
"Where she always goes with him!"
Rio turns to her. "With who?"
"I think its Riot at least that's what we think, the other Holograms and
I."
He squeezes his clenched fist. "Well at least Jem got the hint that he was
no good, but why couldn't his girlfriend? That is unless she was desperate
to get the Stingers to sign on with Starlight Music. No matter, he would
confront her tomorrow at the Expo. But as he makes his plan Jerrica is
receiving a surprise of her own as her companion hands her a small shopping
bag. She looks at him as she pulls out a white strapless bikini. "Rory you
can't be serious?"
"Yes I am and I want you to wear that at the Celebrity beach bash tomorrow
afternoon and I rather you come as Jerrica and not as Jem."
She shakes her head. "Everyone will be expecting Jem not me."
"Well I want you there. To me Jem is only an image, an illusion, please,"
he asks. With the way he looked how could she say no.
"Ok Rory I'll wear the bikini." He then kisses her. However as he does he
sees the photo albums in her hands.
"What's this?" he asks. She then hands him one of the albums. He opens it
to see her as a little girl at the age of ten in her father's lap. He is
reading a book to her. "My love you were an adorable little girl." She
blushes. They then arrive at the restaurant where he asks her some more
questions. She notices that of everything he had been asking her about Eric
and the Misfits, his questions focused mainly on the different times they
had gone after her identity. The way he acted when he found out about
Prescott and Eric's reward for Jem's identity in New York it made her feel
better. "Well it was a good thing my group was not there because he would
have regretted doing that to you." He had said as he had taken her in his
arms. Yes it was a bit much, but it also felt so good. Nevertheless at the
evening's end they are at his penthouse suite. The two are now curled up in
his bedroom. Although Jerrica would have waited till she was married before
making love to a man, with Riot it was different. He made her first time
special. As she rests her head on his chest he watches as she lazily lifts
the medallion around his neck.
"Do you like it my love? I could get you one."
She just shrugs her shoulders as she plays with the gold coin. "No, but
there are times I wish I had something like it."
"Such as?" "
You'll laugh."
He rubs her back. "No I won't, please tell me."
"A locket." He then sees her sigh.
"Jerrica if your afraid you'll forget your parents I doubt it, especially
since you have the earrings from your father and of course your voice which
you inherited from your mother."
She just nods her head in acceptance. "Rory can I ask you something. I have
opened my heart to you. You know everything about me, the good times as
well as the bad, but I have yet to know anything about you." Suddenly she
feels her lover go tense. "Did I say something wrong?"
He leans over and pulls her up to where her head is on his shoulder. "No of
course not its just talking about my past is also painful."
"Too painful for you to even tell me?"
He moves a strand of hair from her face. "Not at all Jerrica it's just, oh
how should I explain it? I know in your dad's diary he mentioned that the
night your mother died that you two had an argument and that I suspect is
why you put out your mom's album, to make up for what you said and didn't
say that night." She nods.
"Well I to have had that experience, but it involved my father." He then
lifts her chin. "You're a lucky woman that your father supported your
dreams, my father didn't." Riot says. She goes to ask him to explain, but
instead yawns.
"Dearest Jerrica in due time I will tell you of my past," he says as he
pulls the covers over them both. "Moreover I promise very soon after I take
care of a couple of things the Stingers will come to your company and you
my love will never have to worry about Eric or Pizzazz taking Starlight
Music away from you ever again."
"But what about my secret?" she says in a quiet whisper. Riot kisses her on
the forehead.
"That will never happen I promise you. Now sleep. We both have a busy day
ahead of us tomorrow." He then turns off the light and seconds later he too
falls fast asleep.
````````````````````````` The next day Riot drops her off at Starlight Mansion.
Later that Saturday morning as he leaves the Expo, Riot sees Jerrica and
Rio arguing.
"Jerrica I want to know who you have been seeing! I'm your boyfriend I
thought that at least gave me the right to know!"
She turns looking at him. "Yes, but when was the last time you took me out
on a date huh? It's only when you and Jem have a fight that you want to be
with me! To you I'm just responsible, dependable Jerrica. Well I'm not like
that. I'm much more and maybe I've found someone who sees me as an
attractive woman."
He just shakes his head as he comes over to where she is standing and tells
her he is sorry that he had taken her for granted, but still he had a hard
time believing that another man would want her. Although Randy James had
made an attempt after the Jem Jam concert, the drummer wasn't around and
Rio knew he wasn't that much of a competition. But Riot, this worried him.
He had a way with women. Kimber, Pizzazz, and yes, even the way Jem acted
around him. Although Kimber, Pizzazz, and Jem were easy to explain, his
influence over Jerrica on the other hand was what concerned him. He tries
to tell this to her, but she refuses to listen and walks away. However
later that afternoon at the Celebrity beach, while Lindsey was interviewing
the Limp Lizards, Jerrica arrives wearing the white strapless bikini.
As she walks down the beach, guys who would usually only bother her if she
was Jem were now looking her over and they weren't the only ones. Rio, Eric
Raymond, and Riot were now watching.
"Is that Jerrica Benton?" asks Roxy.
"I don't believe it!" cracks the Misfit's manager. Nor does Rio, who is
being harassed once again by Minx to have dinner with him, when the two see
his girlfriend walking down the beach. The two then watch as she sits in a
beach chair next to where the other Holograms are sitting. Her friends
watch as she takes out a magazine and begins to read.
Moreover as they watched, shocked by their friend appearing as herself,
Lindsey Pierce who had been talking reluctantly with the Misfit's lead
singer turns when Pizzazz cracks, "What's miss goody two shoes up to
dressed like that?"
"What? Oh my god!" Lindsey says, shocked at seeing the blonde executive in
the white bathing suit. "Excuse me!" She then gets her cameraman and
rushes over to where Jerrica, who is now being questioned by her sister
Kimber, is sitting.
"Uh sis, Jem is supposed to be here remember, not you." Her older sister
goes to respond when Riot appears and says.
"Awe contraire Kimber, Jem is here she just isn't hiding behind the
hologram your father programmed." he says. He then sits next to Jerrica and
kisses her hand. "You look beautiful!" However his words get the other
Holograms' attention.
"What did you say?" snaps Aja.
Their friend turns. "He knows everything. See, Rory read Dad's diary."
"Oh!" snaps Aja crossing her arms across her chest.
"Yes, but if you think I'm going to wreck the relationship that has started
between us by telling Eric or the Misfits that I know who Jem is you're
mistaken. Besides when Rio finds out you have been seeing me, from what I
have seen, I will have you all to myself very soon," he says as he points
towards Rio who is running over to them. Before he can demand an
explanation Lindsey Pierce kneels down next to the two and is amazed when
Riot points out that he and Jerrica made a perfect couple. This gets
Pizzazz's attention who then runs over, shoving Rio aside; and after
getting in front of Kimber demands to know what Jerrica is doing with her
man.
"What do you think your doing with Riot!" she snaps as she grabs his arm,
kicking sand in the blonde executive's face.
"Stop it!" Jerrica cries.
"That's enough Pizzazz!" snaps Riot who pulls his arm away from her. "I
will not tolerate such behavior from you. Unless you want the rest of the
world to know how I truly feel about you I suggest you leave at once!"
Although still wanting to argue, she is pulled away by Eric who tells her
to forget it, that after they got back from the New York concert he would
get an explanation from his partner. However as Riot brushes the sand off
Jerrica's suit Minx and Rio have another argument. Angered that he still
won't give her any attention the Stinger's keyboardist goes for a swim, but
instead gets caught in an underwater current and is pulled under. Rapture
then goes and gets Rio who jumps in and saves her friend. Then after she is
revived, the Holograms and the other Stingers get a surprise when Minx
announces that because Rio had saved her she was going to change. Though
happy to hear this, Riot is also concerned when Minx wants to please
people, her eagerness can also turn into a serious disaster. He then
whispers to Jerrica, before leaving with his backup singers that if Minx
appears offering help to her to let him know, that he would pay for any
damage that his companion might do. Although thinking that Riot might be
overreacting she agrees. He then kisses her on the cheek and after joining
his backup singers in his limo the three leave the beach.
Moreover after a few days of Minx's attempt of being a good friend, Jerrica
gets a full view of the keyboardists over eagerness to please people and
it's more than she can handle. She then tells Riot over the phone about
everything Minx had done.
"Oh darling I am sorry. How much damage did my little keyboardist do?"
"Well besides trying to give me a new look that nearly took hours to remove
the makeup the fools put on me she made some of the Starlight Girls sick
with candy and ice cream. Then there is the paint guns and Rio's
synthesizer she destroyed after the two had a fight."
"I see, anything else?"
"Well now that you mention it she installed a security system."
"Oh no." says Riot as he puts his hand over his face. "Please tell me she
didn't."
"She did Rory, but thankfully Rio pulled it out."
The blonde singer shakes his head. "I'm sorry she caused so much damage,
but I think there is more. By your tone I can tell something is wrong.
Please tell me."
She sits back in her office chair. "Rio confronted me about you Rory. I had
to tell him about us." But as she says this Jerrica gets all choked up.
"My love please don't cry. Maybe this will help. Tonight the Stingers are
playing one last performance at Le Klub Kool, why don't you come and see
us. Moreover bring a contract for me to look over."
She smiles. "That does cheer me up Rory. Of course I'll come."
"Good, and please wear that lovely ensemble I met you in the first time at
Le Klub Kool."
She laughs, blushing. "What time are you playing?"
"The same time as before eight o' clock." The two then talk a few minutes
more before she hangs up. Nevertheless when Jerrica is getting ready to
leave she is stopped by her now ex-boyfriend.
"I have to leave tomorrow to help Johnny Deacon in San Francisco, but
before I go I want to tell you that I think your making a mistake dating
that jerk!" Rio said.
"I'm sorry I know that you don't approve. I can't explain but he's been so
nice to me. He's even willing to make up for what Minx did at Starlight
Mansion. Besides I think Riot has changed." Jerrica says.
"Yeah right."
"He has. For the past two weeks while we've been going out before he leaves
he's taken time with each of my foster girls, telling them how sorry he was
for how he treated them. Ashley has even forgiven him for how he acted
towards her."
"I don't care and if you continue seeing him miss boss lady then we're not
dating any more, got it?"
"Fine! You've always wanted Jem anyway!" Jerrica yells. She then rushes
out and as she does her friends see her. Shana then sees Rio come out.
"Now what did you say to her?" Shana asks.
"She's gone to see that jerk! That arrogant clown who nearly took Jem away
from me!"
"Well she wouldn't be seeing Riot if you would take her out once in a
while!" snaps Raya who by now is face to face with him. "It angers me the
way you treat Jerrica. She's always so nice and although every time you
ignore her and go out with Jem she always forgives you. It serves you right
if another man takes an interest in her!" Their road manger goes to make a
quick response but then looks at his watch. He had to get going.
"Fine whatever! Let them have each other. At times she's just like him
anyway, always manipulating the situation. That and her lying!" he says as
he storms out. But as leaves to meet Johnny, Jerrica has arrived at the
club. Although happy that her companion's group was coming to her company,
she was also sad and Riot sees it as he and the Stingers perform. Then once
he is finished, and after changing clothes, he then joins Jerrica at her
table. Seeing that she is sad he suggests they go back to his penthouse.
Tomorrow was his mom's birthday as well as the Stingers party. He wanted
Jerrica to be there. In addition he already picked out and bought an outfit
that he wanted his companion to wear tomorrow night. The two then leave the
club.
However later that evening, as the two eat dinner, Riot can tell that his
love's mind is elsewhere as she looks out from the balcony of his hotel. He
had already signed the contract now all he had to do was contact Pizzazz's
father, sell him his half of Stingers Sound and then he could run Starlight
Music with Jerrica. Moreover he would find a way of making up the money
that his soon to be ex-partner had stolen from her music company. Riot then
picks up the white box and slips up behind her. "Jerrica?"
She turns when he says her name. "I'm sorry Rory. I guess I'm not good
company tonight." She then sees the box in his hands. "What's this?"
"Open it. I want you to wear this tomorrow night at the Stingers party."
She then as he holds the box in his hands lifts the white gown from inside.
"It's beautiful Rory!"
"Yes it is, but I think it would be more beautiful if I saw you in it." She
laughs at him, but then sees his face. He really wanted her to wear it.
"Maybe this will get you to do it. After my party tomorrow night I will be
yours and I mean that literally." He then tells her he had signed the
contract; that he would leave Stingers Sound and come to Starlight Music.
This does the trick. She then enters his bedroom and puts on the gown.
But as she slips the white spaghetti strap gown on she notices that it was
a little bit like the glitter n gold dress that she had worn as Jem, except
it was different. One thing that was immediate was that the gold ruffle was
bigger on the glitter n gold dress that she had worn as Jem. This one was
smaller and just around the waist connected to a big gold bow. She then
feels something on her neck. She looks up to see Riot clasping a gold
choker around her neck. He then slides a long gold scarf over the front of
her neck so the two ends rested on her back. "You could wear your hair like
it is tonight and this white bow could hold your hair back."
She sighs as she turns, facing him. "How can I say no? Rory, after all that
has happened, the lies I told you, you still want me."
He takes her hands in his. "Jerrica I was the one that lead you on. I
manipulated you; hurt you in ways a man should not do to a woman. I love
you with all my heart." He then kisses her.