CHAPTER TWO

Two weeks later we were in the studio finishing up the girls album. I was turning out to be a Jack Of All Trades! Jerrica had asked me to become the bands road manager, after Howard had unofficially announced it at the yacht party. On top of that, I was helping produce the album as well. I was really getting a knack for any and all things electronically related to the band business.

They were working on a new song "Twilight in Paris", to be the first song they would video in Paris. The girls were doing well, but just needed a little tweaking. Not one complaint as they played it over and over until it was right. Just two more days until we were heading to Paris. I was looking forward to sitting next to Jerrica for the 15 hour flight, but she flew out while we were still finishing the album. Said she had to finish all the arrangements before the band and crew arrived. I knew she was doing what was best for the band, but what about what was best for us. With everything going on with Jem and the Holograms the past few weeks, I was being to feel like I never got to see my girlfriend anymore.

We had very little time to get settled in Paris before the shooting began. Everyone was suffering from jet lag, causing tensions too be heightened. Jem seemed to be the only one truly cheerful. I stood off to the side, watching the filming, seeing Kimber get in a huff, feeling like the Holograms were getting left out. When she stormed off, alone, I became worried. I followed her down a dark alley. When she didn't slow down I called out to her.

"KImber. What's up with you?" She turned around to face me, crossing her arms over her chest like a sulking child.

"Don't play big brother with me, Rio." She kept walking off so I reached out to gently grab her arm.

"Jem is not trying to hog the action, and you're acting like a spoiled brat."

"You think jem's so wonderful. What if I told you Jem is really …"

"Kimber!" I heard Shana call out. Just a second later she was beside me. Putting her hand on my chest and gently pushing me away. "Excuse us," she said politely.

Aja stepped in, putting an arm around Kimber nand beginning to walk away. "Anthony need us," she said, leaving me standing there alone.

"Hey, Rio!" Anthony called to me. I hurried over to his side.

"Yeah?"

"Any chance I can ask you to do something for me?"

"Sure, it's the least I can do, since your helping the girls."

Anthony smiled big, his white teeth flashing bright. "Maybe you should see what I need before you say yes," he teased. "I need you to be an actor. Our leading man, well, turned out to not be what we need. I'll direct where you need to go, what to do. It's pretty simple. Think you can do that?"

I just nodded. How had could it be?

Anthony had me slip on a trench coat and walk down a street, as they filmed inside a cafe, with Jem watching wistfully in my direction.

Then we headed over to the Eiffel Tower, where I walked past Jem, and onto a passenger boat, completely ignoring the pink haired beauty. This was all easy enough. But the last scene, that I wasn't prepared for. Anthony had Jem and I stand across from each other , with a fountain in between. We were to run to each other, thrown our arms around the other in a great gesture of excitement. Then we needed to kiss. Now, I took theater in high school, and they taught us about stage kissing, but apparently Jem didn't know that. Her kiss was genuine and true, and quickly brought Jerrica to the front of my thoughts! I didn't want to have to shoot the scene again, didn't want to have to kiss her again, so I let her kiss me the way she needed to, and hoped it was all the needed. Anthony called "Cut and Print"! And I let out a sigh of relief.

We moved on to a smaller street, to retake a scene with the four girls standing on steps. As Anthony directed the girls, I heard something like a crack. I looked up to see a stone gargoyle, one of the decorations that adorned the top of the building, coming down fast, straight for the girls!

"Jem!" I screamed as I ran forward.

"Above you!" Anthony called out.

I got to the girls and shoved to to the left, just as the stone monstrosity hit the stairs where they had been standing. Shana ran to Anthony, where he held her tight. And Jem, well, she found her way into my arms.

"So close, so close," I said, holding onto her as hard as she held me.

"Don't let me go," she whispered.

Aja pointed out the man on the roof, that clearly caused the accident. That sent part of the team up to the roof to see if they could find them.

We all agreed it was best to get back home. The guy that dropped the gargoyle on them was most likely hired by Eric Raymond, and they couldn't afford to be away from home any longer. We had only been in Paris 24 hours, and I hadn't seen Jerrica once. I sat alone on the long flight home. As we walked towards the door of the baggage claim at the airport, the Countess was going on about a new clothing line for Jem, and Kimber was once again being a child. I had had enough. I was tired, hungry and just overwhelmed. I had no idea I could so much conflict within myself. I needed to talk so Jem about our kiss, clear things up, but I hadn't had a moment alone with her to bring it up. As we stepped inside, Jem thanked the Countess and took off in a run. When I called to stop her, Aja grabbed my arm.

"Isn't Jerrica supposed to meet us?"

"Leave me alone, Aja." I walked away, heading to get my own ride home. I had just left the City of Lights, one of the most romantic places in the world, and didn't get to see my girlfriend the entire time. I was beginning to feel like … well. Kimber. I just wanted to go home and sleep.

The next week I jumped into the music business, head first. We got the album finished and out for sale. The girls worked as hard as anyone in the PR department. They were covering the town in posters, stopping at all the radio stations working to get the music on the air. I avoided seeing Jerrica… and Jem. I had to be able to focus on my job. Two days after the release of "Twilight In Paris", Lindsey Pierce contacted Jem to be on the show. But after a miscommunication, Kimber took off. Jerrica called me, panicking. They needed to find Kimber in a hurry and get to the studio by 2pm. I got in my van and began driving to all the places I knew Kimber to frequent. It wasn't until I turned on the radio KMAX and caught Jem's broadcast, that I knew where to find Kimber. I headed back to the mansion, blaring on my horn to get their attention. With my windows rolled down I hollered.

"Hey, you got 15 minutes!"

I was surprised when Jerrica insisted on riding with me, allowing the Holograms to take the rocking roadster. I was grateful. I gripped the steering wheel, hoping Jerrica didn't see my white knuckles as I spoke.

"I keep trying to talk to you, but you're always running off doing things for Jem. Maybe it's too late already." I didn't want to lose her, but it was getting to be too much.

"What's wrong, Rio?"

"I - I can't be Jem's manager any longer."

"But I - she… We all need you."

I pulled into the studio lot and stopped the van. I jumped out, not able to handle the confined space as she spoke.

"We could never replace you!" I walked around to open her door. I took a deep breath before speaking.

"I don't want to hurt you, Jerrica."

"Then, please. Say you'll stay." She leaned in to me and I pulled her close. "Please," she whispered.

I let out a sigh, knowing I could lose Jerrica if I left, but that I still might if I stayed. I could feel something inside me, every time I thought about Jem. Even in just the dark corners of my mind. "If it means that much to you."

The holograms showed up then and pulled Jerrica from my arms, claiming they needed to find Jem.

The show jumped right into the band singing "I Got My Eye On You." I was there when they recorded it in the studio, but this time, it was different hearing it. Jem really did have her eye on me. She was not singing to the camera, or the live audience. She was singing to me. I felt my head spin. Was I doing something to lead her on? I closed my eyes and thought about Jerrica. My Jerrica. The girl that had owned my heart since I was just a young teen. But I felt her slipping away. It wasn't her pale blonde hair I was seeing behind my lids, but the cotton candy pink of Jem. What was I going to do?!

The girls finished their set and sat on the couch to start their live interview, when the Misfits crashed the show, pushing their way onto the couches, claiming they wanted a chance to do a song as well. The got up and began fighting over the instruments. When Lindsey asked the crew to help get the trash off the stage, I was more than willing to help. As I stepped up to Pizzazz and put a hand on her shoulder to escort her out, she turned to look at me over her shoulder.

"Hey, Rio. If you ever get bored with Jem, you can always come work for me."

"Don't hold your breath, PIzzazz."

"Well, in that case, get your paws off me!" She slammed her elbow into my gut at full force, knocking me back. I lost my balance and fell into a large speaker, which dominio'ed onto a set light, pulling down an overhead lighting system. The large chunk of metal holding over a dozen lights, was barely holding on by one cable, and was swinging towards Jem.

"Jem!"

I watched as the lighting system came crashing down, just inches away from where Jem had just been standing.I quickly jumped on the the camera rig, meant for overhead shots.

"Get me over there," I hollered to the technician. We were able to get it up and over the rubble so I could reach Jem.

"Jem, COme on. Hurry. HOld on tight!" She grabbed a hold of me and we jumped back on to the rig, just as another large lighting system came crashing down, causing another small explosion.

I scooped up a very upset Jem and carried her to Lindsey's dressing roommate where she passed out. It seemed like hours, rather than mere minutes before she began to come to, but she was having a nightmare about what had happened.

"Misfits! Stop," she cried out as she tried to get up.

"You can't get up yet. Take it easy." I tried to help calm her down.

"Oh, Rio. I'm so glad you are here," she said sincerely. Our eyes were locked for a moment. I was mesmerized by the intense blue of her eyes, just s shade darker than Jerrica' in that moment, my girlfriend's eyes were far from my mind. Jem leaned in close to capture my lips in a tender kiss. It didn't go any further than that brief touch, as the door burst open and Aja and Shana came in in a rush of worry. I jumped off the couch as if I had been touched by fire. Which in a way, I had.

"I'd better… Uh, check the equipment." I made my excuses and hurried out the door. It took most of the rest of the day to help clean up. Our items were not damaged, but it was the least I could do to help the crew of Lindsey's show. It didn't help that my thoughts were still on the kiss.

I spent the next few weeks giving Jerrica one excuse after another, for my I couldn't see her, usually using broken equipment as my reasoning. But when she called again, she was full of excitement.

"Rio! I hope you have everything fixed, because we are going to Vegas!"

I was learning to dislike traveling far distances with the band. I never got to see Jerrica, and only rarely saw Jem. While setting things up for their upcoming show that night, the girls were sitting at a table, where they clearly were talking about something important. Yet, I kept feeling all their eyes on me. I would glance their way and just get more uncomfortable. I'm not sure why, but I could swear they were talking about me. Did they know, had Jem told them about our kiss? Were they now judging me? And what about Jerrica? Did she know?

Later in the evening, I watched with unwanted jealousy as Jem was escorted around by two unknown men. They were just being friendly, showing her to way to the reception they would be having later that night, but still. And I still hadn't seen Jerrica.

Just a short time later, Jem called us all together. Aja was missing.

"Look everywhere you can! We will meet back here in ten minutes!"

I took off, not a clue where to look. The girls would check places like the ladies rooms andI headed for one one place I knew we needed to start; The Misfits dressing rooms,

"Mind if I look around," I asked them, as they all stood outside their room, as if they knew something was going on and were watching it unfold.

"Not in our dressing room!" Roxy yelled back at me.

"Sure, you can look," Pizzazz said, moving Roxy out of the way and opening the door. She stepped in behind me and promptly closed the door.

"Take your time," she said seductively. I looked around quickly, yet saw nothing. I didn't want to be in there alone with her any longer than I had to.

"Thanks," I said, heading for the door, which she was standing in front of.

"What's your hurry? We're gonna win, Rio. I could do great things for you.: She has the brazenness to slide her hands along my chest, stepping closer to me. Her voice took on a husky sound. Pure Pizzazz seduction. "Dump Jem, and I'll…" She winked at me.

"You aren't fit to breathe the same air as Jem!" I grabbed her hands off me and pushed her away from me, causing her to stumble away. I heard her scream in frustration as the door slammed against the wall. I met up with the girls, unfortunately no one had found Aja yet. The promoter was being less than courteous, offering the stage as headliner to the Misfits and telling Jem there was a penalty clause if they didn't perform. Just then, Aja came running in, leaving the Misfits in an angry tizzy about losing, again. The band quickly took the stage and the show began. Once again they took the audience to a magical place, full of music and mystery. But the moment they left the stage, chaos reigned again.

The concert hall had been robbed while the show was in full swing, but the band was being accused of the theft, because the money had been found in Jem's room. As she was being arrested, Pizzazz stepped up and pointed right at me.

"Take him, too. If she's in on it, you can bet he is."

"That's a lie. I didn't do it. Neither did Jem." I walked over to Jem, who had her hands handcuffed behind her back. I placed a hand on her shoulder to show her my support.

"Detective, please. How could I rob the casino while I was on stage performing?" He knew the thieves were men, but still believed she could have been their accomplice. Just then, Ashley, a Starlight girl, that should have been back at home, came running forward, claiming she knew the truth. The detective took Ashley, and a cloaked woman, aside and spoke with them.

While we stood there waiting the detectives return, Jem spoke with me.

"I can understand Pizzaz wanting to get at me, but why you?"

I had to laugh. I didn't go into all the juicy details, of Pizzazz's failed seduction, Jem didn't need to hear all that.

"Let's just say she's… not a woman who takes rejection well."

Just a few minutes later, they returned, and Jem was set free. We were all more than ready to go home.