OMG! I can't believe how long it has been. Thank you everyone for being so patient. I know that it has been long so to say thank you for waiting, i have written a new chapter! This chapter is not quite as long as before, but I just couldn't let you guys wait for so long. I hope that you all enjoy!
The album is released in the chapter and the link for the cover picture is on my profile :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Winx Club
Later that night, the girls were silent as they rode in the limo back to their apartment. After Stella's new song, the crowd went nuts and the girls decided staying behind to sign a few autographs and pose for pictures with the fans. The whole point of the concert was to promote that their CD was being released really soon, but the girls weren't enjoying it. They were a team, and now that Flora was gone, they couldn't enjoy their album release as much as they would have before. The girls arrived at their apartment at around midnight to find that it was empty. The girls were hoping that Flora would be inside and they could all talk about what happened, maturely.
"Flora" Stella and Bloom yelled entering the apartment first.
"Are you here?" Tecna called out after them.
Silence was the only thing that responded. Tecna didn't like the silence so she walked up the stairs to see if Flora was in her room asleep.
"Girls, she's probably out with Helia still" Musa suggested closing the door behind her. "They have a lot of catching up to do."
"Girls!" Tecna cried from upstairs.
The girls looked up to see Tecna yelling down to them from the banister. She had a worried look on her face and was holding a piece of paper.
"What is it, Tec?" Layla asked concerned.
"Flora's gone" Tecna replied.
"What do you mean, gone?" Bloom asked.
"I mean, there is nothing in her room. She has packed up everything and left us a note. She has moved out."
"That can't be" Bloom said astonished and she met Tecna up the stairs and took the piece of paper from her hand.
It read:
Girls, I am sorry that I did not stay long enough to say goodbye to your faces, but the thought of saying goodbye to your faces was unbearable. Tonight made me realise that we are all changing and this band is like poison, slowly killing us without us knowing. I couldn't stay in this apartment with all of the dysfunction and the band atmosphere hanging around my head. So I have packed up all of my things and I have moved back into our dorm back at Alfea. This was not Helia's idea, this was mine and mine alone. This doesn't mean that I'm not your friend. I am still your friend, but I cannot stay in the apartment that caused so much dysfunction and watch all of you continue to change. I am really sorry that I couldn't say this to your faces, or congratulate you on the CD release or the concert. I am proud of all of you. Don't let the band change you guys. I love you.
Love Flora
"It's true" Bloom said finishing the letter. "She's moved back to Alfea."
"Why didn't she say, goodbye?" Musa asked.
The girls were still a little mad at Musa for how she spoke to Flora earlier, but she did have a point.
"She said it would too hard for her" Bloom answered.
The girls turned silent thinking about Flora. Was it so bad here that she had to move out? The girls didn't look at each other until the sound of someone knocking on the door echoed. Layla was the first to walk over to the door. She turned the knob, hoping it was Flora, but it vanished when she saw Tony standing there.
"Evening girls" Tony said emotionlessly entering the apartment.
"Hi Tony" the girls replied gloomly.
"Look Tony" Stella began knowing what he was mad about. "I understand that you're little bit upset about Flora bailing, well I think one day, pretty soon, we're all going to have a good laugh about this." Stella started chuckling.
Tony's face remained unamused by Musa's statement.
"I know the day seems far off, but comedy is just tragedy plus time" Stella added.
Tony didn't change.
"Tony, we're really sorry. We had no idea that Flora would be pulling a stunt like that tonight. She had a huge opportunity and she blew it, but we didn't. We still want this. And we covered for her, and you tonight. We are totally dedicated to this" Musa interrupted before Stella could finish.
"Thank you, Musa" Tony said.
"I was going to say that" Stella whispered to Musa.
"As much as I hate to give you girls, good news, but unfortunately I have some" Tony continued.
The girls looked at Tony waiting to hear what he had to say. Tony looked at their expressions and smirked.
"You girls are now recording artists" Tony said with a smile pulling out a CD from behind his back.
The girls screamed in delight looking at the cover. It wasn't a single, it was a full out album. The over had a clear white background. The girls were sitting together with Flora, sitting on her legs, Bloom, hugging her legs, and Tecna squatting at the front. Layla, Stella and Musa were sitting behind them. Circling around them were decorations like frills, clothing, love hearts and other girly things. Above them in pink letters was 'The Winx' and underneath the girls was the album name called 'Love is all around'.
The girls looked at the back of the album and saw the same white background and some of the girly swirls with a list of all of their songs to date. There was: Love is all around, Free Fallin', Heaven, Haunted, What to do, Story of Us, Bad Boy, Breathless, Better than Revenge, and Mr Know it all.
Stella was confused seeing her latest songs on the album already.
"Tony this is remarkable" Musa exclaimed amazed at their first album.
"It is incredible" Tecna added.
"We all look great" Layla said.
"Tony, this is fabulous" Stella said. "But how did you know about my latest songs? I only performed them tonight. I didn't record them."
"Stella, you didn't think that I wasn't recording your performance was I?" Tony questioned. "Better than Revenge and Mr Know it all, were recorded as you girls were performing tonight and they are on the CD as live performance songs, not recorded ones. Get to charge a little more if people know that these songs were recorded while playing live."
"I can't believe that we did it" Musa said gob smacked that her dream has finally come true.
"Yes, but it is unfortunate that we had to include Flora's song, Breathless, on the album, considering she quit tonight" Tony said disappointed.
The girls fell silent again thinking that Flora spent so much time and work on an album she wouldn't get to see.
"No, we should keep it on" Bloom said. "Flora wrote that and was still part of the band while recording this album. She just won't be singing on the next one."
"The album would get more publicity seeing as how it is the only one with Flora singing before she quit" Tony thought. "I love the way you girls think."
"That wasn't what I was saying" Bloom added.
"It is now" Musa replied to Bloom.
"You girls are on a role tonight" Tony interrupted. "I have more good news. As of tonight, your album is now in stores and is ready to be sold. The album also went live during your concert and sales have already started. You girls have sold on iTunes 100 copies already!"
The girls screamed in delight.
"You girls have literally become an overnight sensation. One of the most famous talk show hosts in Magix, Elara Vega, wants you girls to be guests on her talk show."
"Are you serious!" Stella cried.
"Dead serious" Tony replied. "Only one thing, the talk show isn't tomorrow, it is the day after."
"What?" the girls said.
"She wants you on her show before anyone else" Tony answered.
"Who's Elara Vega?" Bloom asked confused.
"Think of her as Magix's version of Oprah Winfrey" Tecna answered.
"Also, Elara has requested that you girls bring your boyfriends, and as much as it pains me to say, she wants Flora and Helia as well. She wants a total interview, the whole who-shot-john" Tony continued. "But, Stella, you cannot tell Elara or the whole television network that you and Brandon split up. Not one word about him cheating on you."
"Why not?" Stella asked.
"Because, we already have one scandal with Flora, we do not need another one with you and Brandon. After the magazine article, a poll showed that you and Brandon were the 'hot' couple. Everyone one wanted what you two have. If you tell them about the split, your popularity will go down and I cannot risk that with the album just being released."
"Wait, so you want me to call that lying cheating ex-boyfriend of mine and pretend to be lovey-dovey with him on live television?" Stella asked angrily.
"Yes"
"But I can't do that. He cheated on me with Ellie, I can't be in the same room as him, let alone pretend to be his girlfriend and like nothing happened."
"I don't care, Stella. Don't even think about the affair. Just don't say that you split up" Tony said.
"It would be embarrassing to tell the world that he cheated on me" Stella thought aloud. "But I still can't pretend to be with him."
"You can and you will, Stella. If not you will be fired" Tony said. "Limo will pick you up in two days at 7am to take you to the studio for make-up, hair and clothes at 8am. You go on at 10am."
And with that said, Tony turned on his heels and left the apartment. Stella stood dumbstruck as she stared at the door. Tony had just given her an ultimatum. She couldn't believe how tough and mean Tony and been suddenly. And even worse, the things that Flora said about Musa, she was starting to see as well.
That morning Flora was greeted with the sound of birds chirping outside her bedroom window. The sun shone through the window and shone the light in Flora's eyes. Flora yawned as she woke up to find that she was back in her dorm at Alfea. She almost forgot that she moved out of the apartment the night before. Flora looked over and saw that Bloom's bed was empty and looked like it hadn't been slept in for a few weeks. It was so empty in the dorm without her friends, but she knew that she had done it for the best. She got out of bed, got ready for the day and ate breakfast in the mess hall with Galatea and Mirta.
Classes went by slowly but she found herself completely concentrating on every word the professors were saying. It was because she didn't have Stella asking Flora questions about what they were saying, or Tecna debating topics with the professor if they didn't sound accurate. It Flora was being honest she would say that being alone in classes was actually helpful but when she got back to her dorm later that day, it was still empty and she felt a pain in her heart. She missed her friends, and hoped that pretty soon, they all would come back to her. She dumped her books and bag on her desk and walked over to her laptop. She turned it on and found an email from Bloom. Flora, letting her curiosity get the better of her, opened up the email to find that Bloom was asking her to join the girls on 'Elara' for an interview for tomorrow morning, with Helia.
At first Flora didn't really want to be a part of all the drama of the celebrity life but she felt that there was a hint of plea in Bloom's email that Flora couldn't ignore. It seemed that Bloom was begging her to come to the interview, perhaps if she doesn't go then none of them could go. Even though she didn't like how they all changed, herself included at one point in time, Flora was still their friend, and they needed her. Before she replied Flora picked up her phone and called Helia.
"Hello" Helia answered when he picked up his phone.
"Hi sweetie, it's me" Flora answered.
"Hi Flora, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I've got a little bit of a favour to ask"
"Anything for you"
"Just wait to hear it before you say that."
"What do you mean?"
"I know that you are going to hate for this but, I got an email from Bloom this morning. She and the girls have been asked to do an interview of 'Elara'."
"Wow, that is really something. Their album must be a hit"
"Yeah, I forgot about the album until I saw an add on iTunes about it."
"Do you miss it?"
"I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss it. I do miss it, but it wasn't for me. I didn't like who I was when I performed. I just miss the girls."
"So what are you asking, Flora?"
"Bloom said that Elara wants everyone on the show, including me."
"That's great, Flora" Helia said a little unsure.
"I know you don't like the idea of me going back to that life, considering what happened, but it sounded like the girls need me or none of them can do the interview."
"Look, I want you to do what you want, Flora. Don't do anything just because I don't like it. The only reason I didn't like it was because you were someone you weren't and you were in danger. That's what I didn't like."
"So, would you be comfortable me going with them for the interview?"
"If that is what you want to do, then I'll support you. I just don't you to change again and be mistreated again."
"Helia, it is only one interview, and I will be back with you in the afternoon."
"Then go for it."
"Great, so the limo is picking both of us at 8am"
"That sounds….wait what?"
"They want the guys there to. They want to talk with the boyfriends."
"So that's why you really wanted to call. To see if I could go with you."
"…maybe….." Flora replied a little timid.
Helia sighed.
"Helia, I know you hate the celebrity life and after what happened you have every right in not wanting to have anything to do with that life, but I am asking you to do this one last thing for me. Please, I need you there."
Helia was silent.
"Please"
"Eric won't be there?"
"Restraining order from my parents. He's at an anger management clinic."
"You won't be sucked back into that life again?"
"Not even if they paid me a lot more than I ever imagined"
Helia went silent again.
"Please, Helia. This is not because I want that life back, I don't. I just want to do this for my friends. They need me. And I need you."
"…Alright, but if there is any sign of you being mistreated or getting digs at us, we are leaving, I don't care if it is on television"
"Deal" Flora said happily.
"Alright, then I will see you at Alfea in the morning."
"Thank you so much, Helia! I love you"
"I love you too"
"Bye"
"Bye"
Flora hung up the phone with a smile on her face. Not because she was returning to show biz but because her and Helia can see the others again and help them out. Flora felt bad for how she left things and thought that this could be a way to make amends with them. Flora turned her attention back to Bloom's email on her laptop. She opened up a new email and wrote: "We'll see you there" and sent it off.
I hope that you all enjoy! Thanks for reading!
~AngelAlexandra~