CHAPTER 2
CIRCUS
Earlier that night...
"Wow! From what I heard outside it sounds like you guys finally acquired some talent!" Zed said as he walked into the backroom of the tour bus. He took an appraising look at the Acey's new bassist. Long white hair, leather jacket, short black skirt barely covering a nice ass, and knee-high boots… Not a bad start.
"Play nice, Zed," Bucky warned.
"I always do," he said in a cocky tone.
"Right….Anyway, Zed, Eliza, Bonzo...this is Casey Jacobs. She'll be joining the tour as the Acey's new bassist."
Zed watched as she turned around slowly. His eyes moved from her feet, appreciating the ivory skin between her boots and the short hem of her skirt and of her bare stomach. His eyes lingered on her perky breasts before moving further up to her face. HOLY SHIT! His mind was reeling, a thousand things running through his brain at the same time. CASEY JACOBS MY ASS...GOD, SHE STILL HAS A GREAT ASS...HOLY SHIT SHE'S STILL USING JACOBS… He licked his bottom lip and pulled it between his teeth as his eyes took her in again.
"Casey? Really? You guys managed to find another Acey?" Eliza said from next to him. "I can't keep you guys straight as it is. I'm just going to call you Princess."
"Princess?" she asked skeptically.
THAT VOICE, GOD THE MEMORY DOESN'T EVEN COMPARE...He snapped out of his Addison induced stupor as Eliza's words actually sunk in. He let out a low scoff. "Boy is that fitting," he mumbled under his breath.
"Yeah, Princess...as in Snow White...white hair...it's easier to remember than another Acey name….I'm Eliza, by the way." She walked across the room and shook Addison's hand. "I'm sure you've already been told, but I play drums for Zombies."
"It's nice to meet you, Eliza, I heard a lot about you on the drive over."
HOW THE HELL IS SHE STAYING SO FUCKING CALM?!…. BECAUSE SHE'S ADDISON FUCKING DONNELLY, THAT'S WHY...JESUS CHRIST! PULL IT TOGETHER...
"The two idiots standing by the door are Zed and Bonzo," she said motioning behind her.
Addison smiled and waved.
FUCK ME...THAT SMILE...
"Why are we even wasting time with introductions?"
FUCKING LACEY…NOTHING LIKE HER GRATING VOICE TO DISTRACT ME FROM THE FACT THAT MY FUCKING EX IS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!
"We may have to be on the same bus as them, but that does not mean we have to be friends with them. And I'm sure you've read the band contract?"
He couldn't help but laugh. OH, IF YOU ONLY KNEW, LACEY…THAT CLAUSE WAS VIOLATED YEARS AGO, OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN...WAIT...HOLY FUCK SHE'S GOING TO BE ON THE TOUR! WHY AM I JUST NOW REALIZING THIS?
"That last part is non-negotiable!"
He could feel her glaring at him but he couldn't take his eyes off Addison.
"I've read it, I've signed it," Addison said calmly. Her eyes drifted over, meeting his. "It won't be an issue."
FUCK ME...SHE'S PISSED...SHE ALWAYS WAS HOT WHEN SHE WAS MAD...WHO AM I KIDDING...SHE WAS ALWAYS HOT….STILL IS...
"Good! Well...with that out the way, let's go get some practice in. We've got to get you up to speed!" Lacey's voice grated against his eardrums.
"Lacey, no amount of practice is going to make up for lack of talent," Zed said as he walked across the small room and sat down on the counter next to Tracey, who just happened to be right next to where Addison was standing.
GOD, SHE SMELLS GOOD...THAT WAS REALLY WEIRD FOR ME TO THINK...FUCK IT...STILL TRUE.
Lacey rolled her eyes and flipped her ponytail. "Let's go!" she said as she stormed out the room. Tracey and Stacey followed quickly behind her.
"Good luck with that, Princess..." he whispered throwing her a wink.
Addison narrowed her eyes and unplugged her bass. "Bucky, just throw my bags onto my bunk. I'll deal with them later."
He couldn't help but watch her ass as she walked out of the room.
"Necrodopolus...eyes up here!"
His head snapped up to find Bucky glaring at him.
"Don't even think about it..."
Zed smiled. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you slept with Macey just to piss off Lacey."
"I did no such thing! Macey pursued me...Pissing Lacey off was just a nice bonus..."
"Zed..." Bucky ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I'm only going to say this once… Keep it in your pants. The Acey's are off limits, especially Casey, understood?"
"Shouldn't be a problem."
"Better not be. Now if you'll excuse me...I apparently have luggage to deal with...God does that women have a lot of shoes."
Zed laughed to himself as Bucky walked out. GOOD TO SEE SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE. He ran his hands through his hair. "I need a drink..."
"You need to take what Bucky said to heart, is what you need to do, Z!" Eliza snapped at him.
"Why are you so pissy?"
"Because I don't want our chance blown because you need to get your dick wet! Just stick with the groupies for fuck's sake!"
Zed rolled his eyes. "Bonz...drink?" Bonzo nodded his head. Zed hopped off the counter and followed him out leaving Eliza behind. They walked a few blocks away to the same bar they had just been in.
When they walked in the door, the bartender waved in recognition. "Back so soon?"
"Definitely need another round...or ten...better just give us the bottle," Zed said as he and Bonzo sat down in the last booth against the far wall.
"You got it," the bartender said, pulling out two shot glasses and grabbing a bottle of Jack before bringing it over to them.
Zed lit a cigarette and took a long drag.
"So…," Bonzo said. "Are you planning on telling E? Or Bucky for that matter?"
He shook his head and slammed a shot back. "Tell them what?"
"Really, Zed? You had her picture tucked in your bunk all through basic training. You clung to that picture like a lifeline the entire time we were in Iraq. Her hair might be different, she might be a bit skinnier, and she might be going by Casey for some reason, but I'd recognize her anywhere. That's your Addie, isn't it… And don't think I didn't catch the last name thing, either."
Zed poured and took another shot. "Fuck!"
Bonzo took a shot of his own. "I'll take that as a yes..."
"Why is she here?"
"Um...to play bass? I didn't even know she played."
Zed took another shot and shook his head. "She's good too, better than your ass…"
"Thanks a lot..."
"Just stating the truth. She's a better guitarist than me, too. And why does she still have to look so damn gorgeous? Fuck!…." He poured another shot. "God, I still remember the first time I saw her...I never stood a chance…"
"Wanna talk about it? In all the years I've known you, you've never talked about her. All you've ever done is stare at her picture. Hell, it took a year before you even uttered her name… Must be a hell of a story to get this kind of reaction out of you."
Zed poured them both another shot. "Drink up, man. There's no way I'm rehashing this shit sober..."
They both took the shot.
Zed closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. "It was the first day of my Junior year..."
"You ready for this Zed?"
"Mason...for the last time...How much different can it really be?"
Mason shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you..."
"Dude! You've been 'warning' me half the summer. It's school...can't be that different."
"Alright..." Mason opened the car door and stepped out. "Welcome to Seabrook High for the Creative Arts..." he said with a flourish of his hands.
"Enough with the theatrics, dude!" Zed laughed grabbing his backpack and climbing out of the car. "Thanks for the ride, Mrs. T!"
"Have a good day boys!" Mason's mom called out before she drove off.
"Come on...I'll show you around." Mason led him through the main entrance of the school and down the central hallway.
"This place is huge," Zed murmured as he looked around.
"And this is only the admin building," Mason laughed. "Luckily, as a junior and as a student of the music program, you'll only need to know your way around this building, the music building, and the quad." They stepped out of the main building and into a large courtyard. "This is the quad. We all hang out here in between classes and during lunch."
"There's a stage..."
"Well, yeah...Where else would we have impromptu performances and jam sessions?"
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
"This place is amazing!" Zed smiled.
"Dude...relax...it's still school…." Mason said rolling his eyes. "Come on. Let's go find our lockers." They walked over to the music building and begin to navigate the crowded hall. "Ah! Here's mine. Let me drop this stuff off and then we'll find yours." Mason got to work figuring out his combination.
Zed took a moment to look around. As he glanced down the hall his breath caught. "Woah...Who is that..."
Mason looked up and followed his gaze. When he saw who had captured his new friend's attention he let out a laugh. "Keep dreaming dude."
"What?"
"I'll give it to you...You've got amazing taste, but that..." he said pointing down the hall to the blonde that Zed was staring at, "is never going to happen… Besides, I don't think your girlfriend back home would appreciate you scoping out another babe."
"I wasn't trying to. How could anyone not notice her...she's gorgeous..." he whispered in awe. "Do you know her?"
"Know her? Yeah, Zed...Everyone at Seabrook High knows her."
"And I'm a little offended, by the way," Zed laughed. "Not that I'm looking to date anyone else, but why don't you think I'd have a chance?"
"Because you my friend, are here on a scholarship, and she's what we call a triple crown winner around here. There's a hierarchy."
"Triple crown? Is that like a triple threat or something? Dancing, Singing, Acting?" He asked, still not taking his eyes off of her.
"Oh, she's all those things. She's crazy talented. But let me break this down for you. Remember when I said over, and over again that this isn't like your High School in Seattle?"
"Yeah..."
"Addison Donnelly is the A number one example of that. Triple crown… She's music royalty, acting royalty, and...she's hotter than hell."
Zed looked over to him. "That's for damn sure. I didn't know girls like that were real. And what do you mean music and acting royalty?"
"Well let's see...Have you heard of Missy Donnelly?"
"The actress?"
"The three-time Oscar-winning actress. America's Sweetheart..." Mason specified. "Yeah, that's Addison's mom."
"No way!"
"Way...and her dad is Dale Donnelly."
"Doesn't ring a bell," Zed said focusing his attention back on the beautiful girl down the hall.
"You may not know the name, but you know his work. Pretty much every major song that's charted or won a Grammy in the fifteen years has been produced by him. Oh, and her grandfather was the founder of Bamm! Records."
"No fucking way!" Zed whisper yelled.
"Way..."
"Wow..."
"Yet despite the impressive pedigree, she's also one of the nicest most honest people you'll ever meet."
"How well do you know her?"
Mason let out a small laugh. "Addie is one of my nearest and dearest friends. We basically grew up together. My Dad is her Dads go to studio drummer….And actually, she's the reason I'm at this school. When she was accepted she was furious that I hadn't applied. She said there was no point studying at this school if she didn't have the best surrounding her...demanded that I get a makeup audition."
"If you know her so well, why is this the first I'm seeing her? We've literally spent almost every day together since I started working at the record store."
"Because you moved to LA during the summer, and she spends the summers abroad. I'm pretty sure this year was Paris with her mom and the Hamptons with her dad."
"Damn...that's some next level shit."
"I tried to warn you, dude. You aren't in Seattle anymore."
"Obviou….DUDE! She's walking this way!" Zed started to panic.
"Just be cool!" Mason warned.
"Hey, Mase," Addison said as her and another girl walked up to them. She gave him a quick hug, stealing a glance at Zed as she pulled away. "How was your summer?
"Good. Yours?"
"Eh...Paris was lovely but the company sucked, the Hampton's sucked, but the company was lovely. It balanced out." She looked back up to Zed. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?"
"Addie...Bree...this is Zed. He moved here over the summer and works down at the record store with me."
"Zed..." Addison said with a smile that took his breath away. "That's not a very common name...Do you have a last name, Zed?"
"Jacobs," he replied, holding out his hand.
She smiled even wider taking his hand in hers. The moment their hands touched, they both sharply inhaled at the electric current passing through them. "Addison Donnelly...it's nice to meet you, Zed Jacobs," she said softly. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."
"I hope so..."
Just then they heard someone call out Addison's name from across the hall. "Addison! Rebecca just signed the challenge sheet!"
"Oh, shit..." Mason laughed under his breath.
Addison rolled her eyes. "Of course she did...Does it look like I'm concerned?"
Bree laughed next to her. "Looks like your in luck new guy..."
Zed gave her a questioning look.
"I'm sure Mason can fill you in," she said with a coy smile. "Come on Adds."
Addison looked back to Zed. "Make sure you get a good seat in the quad," she threw him a wink and turned to walk away.
"Holy shit dude..." Mason whispered. "Teach me your ways!"
Zed reluctantly tore his eyes away from Addison's backside. "What?"
"I've never seen her like that. You're here for like five minutes and you already have the school HBIC eye fucking you!"
"So many questions..." Zed laughed as they started towards his locker. "What in the world is an HBIC, what is going on in the quad, why am I in luck, and what challenge?"
Mason feigned frustration. "I told you things were different..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah...start talking."
"HBIC… Head Bitch In Charge, captain of the cheer squad, ruler of the school… That would be Addison."
"She's a cheerleader too?!"
"Dude. Keep up," Mason laughed. "She's THE cheerleader. She was the first sophomore in school history to even challenge for HBIC, much less win. Man...you should have been there for that performance… She did that Brittany song, I'm a slave 4 U… I love her like family, but man...that performance was just..." He bit his knuckles as his eyes rolled back in his head. "I'll never be able to listen to that song the same way again."
"I'm just going to pretend I followed any of that," Zed whispered as he worked the combination to his locker.
"Just wait," Mason smiled.
When morning classes concluded, Mason met Zed back at his locker. "So...how was it?"
"Not too bad," Zed said with a smile. "I can definitely get used to only having real classes in the mornings."
"I promise you, your music classes are not going to be easy if that's what your thinking," Mason said in warning.
"Oh I know, but it'll be nice to just be able to focus on those instead of going in between academic classes."
"That makes sense I guess," Mason shrugged. "On to more important things...we need to get to the quad ASAP. There is no way I'm missing a second of what's about to go down."
They quickly made their way outside to an already crowded quad. Mason stood on his toes looking around. "Dude..." he said looking up to Zed. "Can you see Bree?"
"Bree? Oh! Is that the girl who was with Addison this morning?"
"Yeah..." he said still struggling to look above the sea of heads.
Zed craned his neck ever so slightly. "Over there..." he pointed towards the front row of tables next to the stage.
"So glad you are freakishly tall..." Mason laughed as he started off through the crowd towards Bree.
When they finally made their way to the front, Bree spotted them and waved them over. "You made it just in time..." she said just as someone walked to the center of the stage.
"That's Pierce," Mason leaned over to tell Zed. "He's in the acting school. He's a Senior, student government president, captain of the football team, and...Addison's boyfriend."
Zed gave him a panicked look. "She has a boyfriend?"
"Why do you care?" Mason laughed.
Bree shook her head and smiled. "She doesn't anymore…"
"They broke up?" Mason asked in shock.
Bree just nodded her head and smiled.
"Welcome back everyone!" Pierce called out. "As I'm sure you've all heard, a challenge has been made for this years HBIC. So...without further ado...Rebecca...the stage is yours," he smiled and threw her a wink as he pulled her in for a kiss.
Bree rolled her eyes.
Pierce walked off stage and the music started. They all watched as Rebecca danced across the stage singing Mandy Moore's Candy. The crowd broke out into applause when she struck her final pose.
"Damn," Zed mumbled under his breath. "That was awesome."
Mason and Bree shared a look. "Zed...that was nothing," he said.
"Addie's got this in the bag," Bree said with a wide smile.
Right on cue, Addison took the stage. Zed's jaw dropped as he took in the sight. Never in his life had he seen someone exude so much confidence and own a crowd with a single look. She was mesmerizing.
"There's only two types of people in the world
The ones that entertain, and the ones that observe
Well, baby, I'm a put-on-a-show kinda girl
Don't like the backseat, gotta be first..."
Zed couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"I'm like the ringleader
I call the shots
I'm like a firecracker
I make it hot
When I put on a show
I feel the adrenaline moving through my veins
Spotlight on me and I'm ready to break
I'm like a performer, the dance floor is my stage
Better be ready, hope ya feel the same
All the eyes on me in the center of the ring
Just like a circus
When I crack that whip, everybody gonna trip
Just like a circus
Don't stand there watching me, follow me
Show me what you can do
Everybody let go, we can make a dance floor
Just like a circus..."
Addison jumped off the stage and began to dance through the crowd stopping in front of him. The crowd around them disappeared, the only thing he could see was her.
"There's only two types of guys out there
Ones that can hang with me, and ones that are scared
So, baby, I hope that you came prepared
I run a tight ship, so beware..."
She ran her hand down his cheek and winked before she spun around and stood on the table next to them.
"I'm like a ring leader
I call the shots
I'm like a firecracker
I make it hot
When I put on a show..."
She walked across the tops of the tables making her way back to the stage.
"I feel the adrenaline moving through my veins
Spotlight on me and I'm ready to break
I'm like a performer, the dance floor is my stage
Better be ready, hope that you feel the same
All the eyes on me in the center of the ring
Just like a circus
When I crack that whip
Everybody gonna trip
Just like a circus
Don't stand there watching me, follow me
Show me what you can do
Everybody let go
We can make a dance floor
Just like a circus..."
She turned her back to the crowd and dropped the mic before falling backward, allowing them to catch her.
The entire quad burst into applause as they started chanting her name.
"Woah…." Zed whispered still unable to take his eyes off of her.
Mason and Bree laughed as they took in his expression.
"I told you..."
Pierce took the stage again. "Ladies and Gentlemen, for the second year in a row the Mighty Shrimp HBIC is Addison Donnelly!"
The students in the crowd cheered loudly again.
"That was just… I've never seen..." Zed couldn't find the words.
Mason and Bree laughed again.
A few minutes later, the crowd had finally thinned and they sat down at their table to eat their lunch.
"Adds!" Bree squealed as she saw her make her way through the tables to join
them. "That was fantastic! Congrats girl!"
Addison hugged her best friend. "Thanks! I told you I wasn't worried!" She smiled over to Zed. Before either of them could say anything to the other, Mason wrapped her up in a tight bear hug.
"That was awesome!"
Addison's laughed and hugged him back, just as her phone began to ring. "Mase...I got to get that," she giggled trying to pry him off. When he finally let her go she pulled her phone out and rolled her eyes. "It's the wicked witch of the west," she announced before answering it. "Hello, Mother…Yes….No, I drove this morning...Only one person challenged….of course not, it was easy." She rolled her eyes again. "No, I have not signed up for the play, I told you, It's the same day as the Music Review. No, ma'am...yes, ma'am..." she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'll sign up this afternoon." She sat down on top of the table and closed her eyes as she continued to let her mom talk. She suddenly perked up and smiled. "You are? For how long?...I mean, congratulations!...Mmhmmm….wow… sounds amazing… yeah… Love you too, Mom. Bye." Addison hung up the phone and smiled. "Mom's flying out right now to film in Greece. She'll be on location for at least six weeks..." she looked up to her friends. "Who's up for a party?"
Mason's face lit up. "Would you happen to need a band to play at this party?"
Addison laughed. "That depends, Mase...are you planning on singing? You know I think you're a great drummer, but vocally..."
Mason rolled his eyes. "Ha. Ha. No…I am not. But, my man, Zed, here, is. A few of us from work have been jamming together for the last month. What do you say?"
Addison looked over to Zed. "So you're a singer?"
"Sure am," he replied confidently. "I play guitar too."
"Really? Do you have your schedule on you?"
Zed dug in his back pocket and handed her the folded up piece of paper. She opened it up and read through it before handing it back to him.
"Looks like we'll be spending quite a bit of time together this semester." She turned back to Mason, "Your band can play."
"YES!" Mason jumped up and hugged her again.
"I'll get the word out for the party. Are we doing low key or…." Bree asked with a large smile.
Addison shook her head and laughed. "When do I ever do anything low-key?"
"School-wide blast it is!" Bree exclaimed just as the bell rang.
Addison smiled and stood up. "Come on, Zed Jacobs. We have a class to get to."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just want to thank everyone who reviewed and sent me PMs after I posted chapter 1. You guys are the best and I am eternally grateful for all the support! The next few chapters are going to be mostly flashbacks, but it'll hopefully provide some context for the rest of the story. I hope you enjoyed today's update. Drop me a review and let me know!