Chapter 31: You're A Star
I feel good
Yeah I feel fine
I've stopped complaining all the time
You'll get yours and baby I'll get mine
Yeah, don't be fooled by what you see
In movies, magazines and on TV
Cos what do they know
About you and me
We don't care what they say
We'll be alright
We'll be ok
Crank it up
Let's mess around
Be who you are
Cos you're a star
You're a star
You're A Star – Josie and the Pussycats
Aeris had never realised exactly how much work went into shooting a music video. Mike was running about, shouting instructions, there were cameras everywhere and the Turks were at the centre of it, enjoying every single minute. The song was going to be aired on the radio for the first time that afternoon and Aeris was keen to have finished the video by then.
They weren't planning on doing a big video. Mike took them into the studio and had them singing along to the single, while a camera recorded them doing it. Then they all had to sit around, talking while the music played over the top. It was basically them relaxing and enjoying their job. Reno and Elena kept pulling faces at the camera. Tseng fell asleep at one point and Aeris saw Mike's evil side as he told her and Elena to get their make-up bags. When Tseng woke up he looked not dissimilar to a clown.
They finished the video at 2:30. Since they had been filming since six, this was quite an achievement.
"Mike's got this theory that the low budget video's will have more success." Rude explained. Aeris nodded and said,
"This was so much fun!"
"For you maybe." Tseng said darkly, trying to get the rouge off his face. Elena tossed him a face wipe.
"Grow a sense of humour, Tseng! Hey, the single's playing in an hour. We're going to listen to it here." She told Aeris.
"I'm heading over to Barret's. Actually, I'd better get going."
"Here's the address for the interview tomorrow." Mike said, handing her a sheet of paper, "Don't be late!"
"Wouldn't dream of it. See you later!"
She got to the café ten minutes before the single was due to play. To her surprise the café was packed. A round of applause went up as she went in.
"What the-?" She started. Cloud grinned at her, standing by the door.
"We found out that you hadn't told anyone about the single. So Yuffie went around the music class and told them. I told the literature class. Tifa told every customer who came into the café for the past week."
"Cloud!" Aeris cried. But Barret was waving her over to the counter.
"Aeris, saved you a seat! And I've put a tape in the machine, to record the launch of your first song!"
"You're all making a really big deal of this!" Aeris protested. Bernadette pushed her way through.
"We are not! This is a big deal!"
"It isn't."
"Where were you this morning?" Yuffie asked. Aeris flushed slightly.
"Um… shooting the video."
Vincent was sitting next to her chair and he kissed her.
"I'm so proud of you." He said quietly. Aeris grinned sheepishly.
"This is really embarrassing."
"Shh!" Barret said, and turned the radio up, pressing the record button.
"And next on Materia Radio, we've got the brand new single from the Turks! But they're not alone on this one, folks. Featuring on this single is Midgar University's very own Aeris Gainsborough. Aeris not only wrote the song, but she's joining Elena on the main vocals. Aeris and the Turks will be joining us on the show tomorrow afternoon so tune in for that!"
"You're on the radio tomorrow?!" Tifa cried. Aeris nodded.
"Now, it's the moment you've been waiting for! Here it is; the brand new single from the Turks, 'I'll Be There For You!'"
A cheer went up, but it died away quickly as the guitar played the first few chords. Aeris held her breath.
"So no one told you life was gonna be this way." She heard her own voice pounding through the radio and gasped. Vincent held both of her hands with his as the amazing sound blasted through the café. Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie, Reeve and Barret were all grinning at her insanely.
After three minutes and seven seconds of the song, it faded away and the DJ came back on.
"I think we can safely say we've got a hit on our hands with that one! Coming up next, traffic report." More applause hit Aeris and she couldn't help laughing.
"Aeris!" She turned and saw Cid and Shera Highwind. They pushed through and Shera smiled at her.
"That was incredible Aeris!"
"I think I'm having trouble breathing right now." Aeris said weakly. Cid nodded to her.
"Damn good song."
"Thanks Mr Highwind."
"Aeris!" Barret said. He was holding the telephone and looked a bit worried.
"What is it?" Aeris asked.
"It's… your parents."
The colour drained from Aeris' face.
"No! I totally forgot to call them!"
She took the phone.
"Hey."
"Aeris Gainsborough! I was just listening to Materia Radio and you were on it!" Her mother's voice shrieked through. Several people turned to stare at the sheer volume emanating from telephone.
"I forgot to call you, I'm so sorry. It's been a hectic week."
"Too busy to call your parents?! Why, I ought to-" There was a scuffling sound and Matthew's voice came through.
"Aeris, you were incredible! Why on earth didn't you tell us?"
"I just forgot! I'm sorry."
"Tell her she's in BIG trouble!" She heard her mother shriek. Matthew laughed.
"We'll talk to you later."
"Ok. Bye."
She handed Barret the phone and sank into a chair. People were congratulating her all around. Vincent smiled at her.
"I think its official. You're a star."
"The single isn't coming out for two weeks. But the video's airing next week, on Friday." Aeris said. Yuffie hit her shoulder.
"Just accept the compliment, Aeris!"
It was a good thing that Aeris went back to Vincent' apartment that night. Because Tifa called the next morning.
"Aeris, there are around twenty reporters standing outside the Dorm, waiting for you!"
"You're kidding?"
"Nope! What are you gonna do?"
"I don't know… just ignore them, I guess." Aeris said helplessly. When she hung up the phone, it rang again instantly. This time it was Mike.
"Aeris, this is incredible! Every paper in Midgar wants to interview you and the Turks!"
"Really?"
"Really! I've set an interview it for 2 this afternoon. That OK?"
"Yeah. I have classes this morning though."
"As long as you can make it here."
"I will. Thanks Mike."
Vincent was smirking at her.
"What?" She asked.
"Told you, you were a star."
"Yes, I know. I'm hungry, I'm making breakfast. Have you got a class today?"
"Yes, this afternoon. You're got literature this morning, right?"
"Yeah… do you want eggs?"
She cooked scrambled eggs as Vincent dressed. Then she went to the computer and printed off her paper.
"I hope I get a good grade for this one." She said. Vincent smiled.
"You'll do well. You worked hard on it."
"Professor Jenova's a pretty tough grader. He really expects a lot."
"Relax. You always work yourself up like this and you always do fine." Aeris slipped the paper into a plastic cover.
"I know… I can't help worrying."
"Aeris, you just released an amazing single, have handled the press when they were slandering your family and you're worried about your grades, despite the fact you haven't gotten anything below a C all year?"
She stared at him and then smiled.
"OK. I'll relax."
"Yes, you will. Let's eat.
She and Cloud sat near the front row in Literature class. Aeris scribbled down notes and then looked up to listen to the next part. Professor Jenova looked around.
"Can anyone tell me what made Frankenstein so controversial for the time it was written in?" A student in the third row was chosen.
"The fact that the book was based on the desecration of bodies?"
"Exactly! But there was another reason." Jenova said, peering around at them. Aeris cast her mind back to the notes she had made and raised her hand.
"Aeris?"
"Because the author was female? I mean, there weren't many female writers at the time and the book was selling well before they found out that it was Mary Shelley who wrote it."
"Well done, Aeris. Yes, Mary Shelley was praised as one of the most spectacular writers of the time, which was quite an achievement, especially as it was the time of the Romantic Poets."
"But wasn't she married to one?" Cloud asked. Jenova nodded.
"Indeed she was. And they were also good friends with Lord Byron."
The bell rang, signalling the end of the class. Jenova clapped his hands.
"Hand in your papers as you leave." Aeris and Cloud were the last ones to leave. As Aeris handed him her paper he said,
"Glad to see you're keeping on top of your work. Don't let your music get in the way."
"I won't."
"You're a good student, Aeris. I don't want to see you fail in any area. Spread out your time."
"Believe me, I have no intention of failing any of my classes." She promised. Jenova nodded and turned away. As Aeris was leaving he said,
"I liked the song, by the way."
"Thanks Professor."
Elena and the others were waiting for her in the interview room. The reporters were going to come in one at a time.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. I was working."
"Working?" Rude asked. Aeris sat down.
"Literature paper."
"Ah."
"Aeris, you're here. Great, we'll send in the first reporter!" Mike said. He waved someone over and a woman came in, with several other people holding cameras, clipboards and microphones. Aeris looked at Elena as a make-up artist attacked her with powder. Elena smiled.
"Nervous."
"Little bit. But surprisingly not as nervous as I was about handing in my literature paper."
"Professor a monster?"
"Kind of. But he never really loses his head with a class."
"OK, we're ready! Let's go." Said a man wearing a baseball hat. The blonde woman smiled sparklingly at the camera.
"I'm with the Turks at Midgar Media ltd, to discuss their new single, and joining us is none other than Aeris Gainsborough, who not only sings in 'I'll be there for you' but actually wrote it! Good afternoon everyone."
They all said hi and the blonde woman looked at the Turks.
"How did you meet Aeris?"
"She was at our stadium concert in January. A friend of ours introduced us after the concert." said Reno.
"How did that meeting turn into the production of a single?" Elena answered this one.
"Well, we invited Aeris to a lyric-brainstorming session. I think it was Rude who found the song."
"Yes, I was looking through Aeris' lyrics book and found the song. Aeris, why don't you tell it?"
Aeris found the camera facing her and cast her mind back to the session.
"Well, Rude was looking through my book and he noticed the song. He didn't tell me what was going on, but he called Elena over to have a look. Then she called over Reno, who got Tseng. And I didn't have any idea what was going on and was getting pretty nervous. Then they asked if they could hang onto the song."
"Then what happened?"
"Our producer, Mike, said he wanted to meet Aeris. So we called her in and told her about the proposition."
"Did it take a lot to convince you to take them up on their offer?" Aeris was asked. She laughed.
"No way! It was my dream coming true! We recorded the song the next day."
"So things got together pretty quickly?"
"It's the way it works." Reno said, leaning back in his chair.
An hour later, they were on the fifth reporter. Aeris had repeated herself so many times it was unbelievable.
"OK, only two more reporters. I'll send the next one in." Mike said. Aeris fell back in her chair.
"Thank god! I don't know how you guys can do this!"
"You get used to it sweetie." Elena said, drinking from a water bottle.
The door opened and in a cruel twist of fate, Aeris' least favourite person in the world walked in. She stared at James in disbelief. He stared back.
"Aeris!"
"Oh, I don't believe this." She muttered. Mike tapped his watch.
"You've got fifteen minutes, Midgar Today."
"Thanks." James sat down and started asking questions to the Turks. Aeris had to admit, he was being professional about the situation. Well, he'd already proved that his writing was the most important thing to him. Eventually he turned to Aeris.
"Will you be collaborating with the Turks in the future?"
"I don't know… I hadn't really thought about it."
"We tend to write our own songs, but if Aeris keeps writing songs like 'I'll be there for you' we'll certainly take them off her hands!" Reno said. James looked down at his clipboard.
"The song is a favourite for the number one spot at the moment. How do you feel about that?"
"It'll be great! It's always the most amazing feeling to get a number one." Elena gushed. James looked at Aeris. She said,
"It'd be one of the most amazing things that have ever happened to me. All I want is to write songs."
Mike came in.
"Time's up."
"Thanks." James said, nodding to the Turks. The next reporter didn't take long. He jotted down a few answers and then thanked them. Aeris lumped back in her seat. Aeris turned on her.
"OK, who was that? He knew you!"
"He's no one."
"Aeris! Come on, a guy that cute? What's wrong with him?"
"A lot. The foremost thing being that he's the reporter who wrote the article about my parents."
"Oh! Oh…" Elena realised what was going on. Reno laughed at her awkwardness.
"Way to put your foot in it Elena."
"It's OK. Do you guys want to go for coffee?"
"Sure."
They left the studio, talking about the interviews.
"Aeris." They stopped and she turned. James was standing by the exit to the studio.
"What do you want?"
"Did you get my letter?"
"Yes, and I threw it away." She turned to leave.
"Valentine doesn't deserve you."
"Shut up James."
James walked forward and looked her in the eye.
"Valentine is a bastard. What's so special about him? Why would you want to be with him?"
"Aeris, do you want me to call security?" Rude asked. Aeris shook her head.
"No, we're going."
"Aeris, just answer me! Why are you with him?" James called. Aeris eyed him in disgust.
"I'm with him because he's twice the man you are, he's a wonderful person and because I love him. And he managed to beat you up pretty well last time, so just stay away from us, OK?"
Before he could answer, they had walked away. Reno grinned at her.
"That was cool."
"He's so… irritating. I can't remember if he was that irritating when I was dating him."
"Who cares? If all else fails, just put a restraining order on him." Reno said dismissively. Elena smiled.
"You and Vincent are so cute together! You should never break up!"
"I don't have any plans to." Aeris laughed. Reno laughed and put an arm around Aeris' shoulders.
"You know, Aeris, I know a great guy. Personal bodyguard. Broke a guy's legs with a toothpick. Bet he could sort out James for you."
"Aw, thanks Reno. Glad to know you're looking out for me."
"Yeah, well. I don't like reporters very much." Reno said. Aeris grinned.
"Does anyone?"
Barret's was fairly empty when they arrived. Vincent was there and so was Tifa, as well as some other customers.
"How'd it go?" Tifa asked.
"It was great." Aeris answered simply. Barret said,
"Look at this!" He turned up the television. There was a news piece about Aeris and the Turks."
"I think we can safely say that Aeris Gainsborough is going to go far." The presenter said, smiling. Rude glanced at Aeris.
"See? You're a star."
And for the first time, Aeris felt like it.
(OK, I realised that Aeris never seemed to be going to class, so I decided to send her in! James just keeps on coming back, doesn't he? Never mind, I'm sure I can plan some sort of horrible accident for him. Evil Laughter Anyway, please review. We've reached a hundred reviews now! Yippee! You guys are the greatest!)