CHAPTER THREE
For once the girls made an appearance I wouldn't be needed at, the Countess Du Voisin's Fashion show. I decided I would still attend, as an observer, rather than part of the show. Dressed in a tux, I stood off to the side, hoping not to be noticed. But I had chosen the wrong side of the room to stand on, as Jem found me, even though I was in the back of the room.
"Oh, Rio, I had hoped you would come!" She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. Kissed me like Jerrica would kiss me after not seeing each other for days. It threw me for a loop. I had to hold her out at arms length and really look at her, make sure she wasn't Jerrica in disguise. I knew it couldn't be. Jem was far more outgoing than Jerrica ever would be. Before I could respond to her actions, she was being pulled away by Kimber, they were about to hit the runway.
The fashion show was amazing, the Countess's designs were just right for the girls. Jem sang a new song as they paraded down the runway. It could have been a perfect night. If not for the sprinkler system going off right at the finale.
In all the chaos of everyone running, I couldn't find Jem, or any of the girls. But I did find the Countess, still standing at the end of the runway as the sprinklers trickled to just a drip, her beautiful gown in ruins. I later found out the girls had simply returned home.
It was day of the Battle of the Bands. I couldn't believe how fast six months had gone by. I had gone from being a simple handyman around Starlight Music, to being the road manager, producer, and so much more, for the top rising rock band of our time. I also was wrapped in a love triangle of my own. I didn't even know if Jerrica was aware of my growing feelings for Jem. I wasn't about to share with her either. Not because I wanted to hide it, but because I still wasn't sure what it was, so how could I tell her! I took a deep breath as I entered Starlight Manor and headed upstairs to where Mrs. Bailey said the girls were gathering.
I wanted to give them a chance to head over early and take a look at the stage setup before the battle began. But as soon as I saw their faces, I knew something was up.
"Hey, what's going on here?" I asked. Jerrica stepped up to me, put her hand on my chest and told me to go head, the girls needed just a little bit longer. Not that excuse again! Their faces said what she wouldn't.
"I know you too well," I said. "There's something wrong."
"Rio, you will have to trust me," Jerrica replied. I had to, even if it felt wrong. She had trust in me, and I wasn't sure I deserved it.
"Okay, but if you need me…" I sighed and turned to walk away.
"Rio," Jerrica called back, "I'll see you later."
I knew something was wrong, but I respected her wishes and headed over to the stadium to finalize the girls set up. I had no doubt the girls were going to win this, and not just because I knew them all personally. But they weren't going to win if they didn't show up!
I was just fixing the master back reel when I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned, expecting to see Jem, but instead, I got lusty Pizzazz in my face.
"What's the matter, loverboy," she teased as she leaned down to rest her arm on my shoulder. "Has Jem chickened out?" I knocked her arm down.
"She'll be here," I tossed back.
"Want to bet," she laughed as she sauntered out the door.
I tried to block out the sounds of the Misfits as they played their set, still very nervous that Jem and the Holograms hadn't shown up yet. Howard Sands took the stage and explained the crowds cheer would determine the winners. Eric Raymond strutted out to stand next to Howard as the crowd cheered and the stars on the giant guitar lit up the neck, stopping just two stars below the top. As they walked backstage, Eric was gloating.
"No Jem and the Holograms, huh?" He snickered. "If they aren't here by the end of the intermission…" he glanced at his watch and I took that moment to leap and go after his throat.
"You're behind this!" I grabbed his shirt and nearly lifted him off his feet. "What have you done with them?"
Howard got in between us before I could do any real damage to the jerk.
"No, Rio! Don't!" Eric took off running, the coward. "Calm down!" Howard was right. I needed to keep a level head. Something had clearly happened to the girls. Just then, a forklift bearing a load went past us, and I heard the cry of a child.
"Ashley's in that trunk!" Stormer yelled.
"Raymond, you two - bit…" I ran to grab the trunk before it was dropped into the trash compactor. We got it open and Ashley popped out, jumping up to throw her arms around my neck.
"Oh, Rio! You gotta save Jem and the Holograms! They're at Starlight Drive-in!" Before I could take off, Howard reminded me how short on time we were, the girls had to be on stage soon or he would have to award to Misfits the win.
"I'll need every second you can give me!:"
I was so lucky as I sped to the old drive in theater. Normally, getting pulled over for speeding through red lights and driving well beyond the speed limit would land most people in jail. But it was worth it, I had to get to them! As the officer pulled me over, I explained how the girls had been kidnapped, but we knew their location. He said his daughters were huge fans, and if I was telling the truth, he would be the hero of the day to his girls. But if I was lying, I would be spending a lot of time in jail. I really hoped Ashley was right!
As we sped towards the theater, he must have called on his radio, for by the time we reached the parking at the drive-in, there were close to 20 patrol cars pulling in with us!
I opened the double doors that were below the huge screen as the officer handcuffed one of the big burly guys responsible for the girls kidnapping. I wasn't sure what I would see, my heart was in my throat. But I was purely surprised to see them all sitting on a bunch of old crates.
"Hi!" They had all said in unison.
"You're all okay!"
Jem jumped up and walked towards me with open arms.
"And you're always just in time!" She flung herself into my arms and kissed me, again. I could have stayed in that moment forever, but in the blink of an eye I remembered where we were suppose to be.
"Come on. The contest is about to end"
I ran out and jumped into the first car near me, not caring it was a patrol car. Getting the girls to the stadium on time would be worth any time I would spend it jail for taking the car!
We got there with moments to spare, getting the girls set on their special hydraulic stage we had built just for the show. And just as Howard was announcing that Jem and the Holograms had failed to show and the winners were…. The stage lifted and Jem began to sing. I was standing off to stage right and was watching the girls take over the show. Jem turned and looked right at me. I couldn't help myself, as silly as it might be, I blew her a kiss. Just a moment later, Jerrica stepped up beside me. I felt my heart flutter. It seemed like forever since I had seen her. I missed her. Yet…. Jem.
The crowd went wild as the stars on the rock meter went to the top, causing fireworks to explode. Howard Sands came back onto the stage and announced Jem and the Holograms the winners, of not only the mansion, but the movie contract, too. The Starlight girls were brought on the stage to celebrate with the band. For a night that started out with what could have been a tragedy, it ended just perfectly.
Just two days later, I stood by Jerrica as we entered Starlight Music.
"Oh, this is even more exciting for me than Jem and Holograms winning the contest. It's like coming home," she said as the glass elevator took us to the top floor, and the business offices of Starlight Music.
"Allow me," I said as we stepped up to Eric's office door. I grabbed the name placard and ripped it off the door, dropping it into the waste bin. "So much for Eric Raymond."
But we were in for a surprise when we opened the door to find Eric clearing out the office. He had been caught stealing Jem's car, so we thought he was in jail.
"It's amazing what lawyers can do if you pay them enough," Raymond said with glee, as he headed for the door.
"And what are you taking from my office?' Jerrica demanded.
"Personal possessions," he mocked, tapping the large envelope he held.
I had had enough of his smugness.
"Raymond," I said through gritted teeth. He turned to look at me and got a face full of my fist, knocking him to the ground just outside of the office. "That's something 'personal' to remember me by," I said as I rubbed my now sore knuckles.
"I'll remember," he gasped as he touched his reddining jaw.
Jerrica and I stayed in the office, now her office, as night fell; rearranging the furniture, cleaning out any evidence Eric had ever been there. I held her close as we stood at the floor to ceiling glass wall and watched the fireworks going off at the nearby stadium.
"I'll make something great of Starlight Music, something my father would be proud of."
I turned her in my arms to face me. "He's be proud already," I said, knowing it to be the truth. I leaned in and kissed her, kissed my girlfriend with all the love I had for her, letting that kiss wash away any thoughts of Jem.
