I was on Australian news. Every channel had footage of me fainting on stage. And every one had their reasons behind it. Luckily we're leaving for Melbourne today. The flight is only an hour long, so I don't have to put up flight attendants today. Hopefully the folks in Melbourne are nice as the ones in Sydney.
All the crew were on edge, worried that I was going to collapse at any moment. I kept telling them that I was fine, but they obviously didn't believe me.
The flight was short and uneventful. No gawkers or absurd fans, no border security nonsense, no paps, no incompetent flight attendants. It went as smoothly as caramel. Not what you'd expect for a travelling rock star such as myself. It was kind of weird, in a way.
When we got into Melbourne, the first thing I noticed was how beautiful it was. It was a city, but not crowded or polluted. It was sunny, and it brought out the blonde tints in my hair. As we drove through the streets, I noticed lots of things. A historic train station, not unlike Grand Central Station in New York. Lots of side streets and lanes, that had the most gorgeous cafés. Trams everywhere. The only other place I'd seen those was in San Francisco. A river that split the city in half, and lots of parks either side of it, with majestic trees lining the banks. There were people rowing on the river. We saw a building that claimed to the Melbourne Museum, and another that was the Aquarium. They had everything here.
We pulled up to a large building with blinking lights. I saw this building before, you could see it from the big train station. It looked very pricey. Not where your average tourist would stay. Good thing I wasn't one.
"Welcome to Crown!" the doorman greeted us. Crown. Huh. They have funny names for hotels here. Star City, and now Crown? Some one must have seen my confused look, because Edward whispered in my ear that it was in fact "Crown Casino". Oh. That's why. Casino's always have funny names.
There were fountains in the lobby. Not just small fountains either, massive ones along the stairs. I heard someone mention that they do a light show with them every half hour. I would have to see that. There were chandeliers on the roof of course, and I could see the casino part from here.
We checked in and headed up to our room. We got in with no trouble. As it had been in Sydney, the room was divided into smaller rooms. Naturally I made the dash for the biggest room. Since we would be spending 4 days here (4 shows), I started to unpack. This time Edward helped, and again eyed the pieces of scanty clothing I had packed.
"What were you planning on doing with this?" he asked as he pulled out a mini skirt that was layered with lace. It did not leave much to the imagination. I winked at him as he smiled.
I was hungry, then again I was always hungry, so we went down to the buffet. It was just past lunchtime, so there was still some food left. But the chef saw me coming anyways, and the whole kitchen blurred into action. We sat down at a table, Edward and I, and talked about how gorgeous Melbourne was.
"Did you see the parks? They're amazing!"
"So many cafés…"
"I can't wait to walk around!"
"That train station looked old. I wonder…"
"So what do you want for lunch?" Edward asked out of the blue. I had to think about it for a minute.
"Well I could really go for some veggie lasagne right about now. Do you think they make it?" I wondered.
"I'm sure they do," he said, smiling. He looked behind me, and I turned around to see what he was looking at. All I saw was a waiter scuttling off to the kitchen. Then I realised.
"How long had he been standing behind me?" I asked. Edward only laughed.
Turns out they did make it. It was delicious. Best I've ever had. Well, maybe no as good as my Mom's, but still pretty damn good. A gorgeous iced coffee to accompany it. Edward frowned when I ordered that, but I reassured him by saying it was mostly milk. Which it was.
I was still hungry after my second helping, so I ordered chocolate cake too. I've never eaten so much in my life. Either I'm getting fat, or baby likes food a lot. Baby. I never thought I'd use that term intertwined with myself. It still hasn't hit me yet.
The show was about to start, and I was feeling great. No dizziness, no blurry vision, no nausea. Just to be safe though I had drank a lot of water and taken a few pills to make the sickness go away. Edward kissed me before I went on. Probably no such a good idea, because his kisses always make me disorientated. But I went on anyways.
The crowd loved it. I finished my last song to ear splitting screaming. They sang along to the lyrics. Everyone knows this song. This is the song that everyone hears in their head when someone says "Penny". My most well known song. Hello Hello. It's also my favourite. It went to Number One when I was only 20 years old.
As I sung the last words, I left the stage, waving, saying thank you, crying a little bit. As I came off stage, I was beaming. My first finished show in Australia. Edward ran to me and hugged me so hard I almost choked. But I hugged him just as hard back. When he finally released me, I saw that everyone else was smiling as well. We did it. Now only 20 more shows to go.
Click. Click. Click. Flash. Shouting. Pushing.
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to take a walk. Somehow, the paps found us. I hate the camera flashes. They always leave me blind, they're so bright. I just want to walk here! Get out of my way. Leave me alone. Stop trying to touch me. Ugh, does anyone know how to get back to the hotel?
We told Steve of our being attacked when we finally managed to get back to the hotel. He frowned, saying that they shouldn't be this bad here. And he's right. But oh well. We have to get on with the job. Edward was worried that the stress the paps were causing me was bad for the baby, but I told him that I was fine, like always. It was so much easier having him know. No more lying, feeling guilty. What was I worried about in telling him? If I knew he was going to have that reaction, I would have told right there at the doctors. Me and my silly fears I guess.
Everything was running smoothly. Brand new audience, sound was perfect, costumes has been organised into stage order. My make up was on, perfect, thanks to Elisa. I was wearing my highest heels (gorgeous, but uncomfortable), with a glass of water in hand. I couldn't wait to get out there. All of my shows were sold out, which meant just a big a crowd as last night. Steve was happy, non-stressed, which was a first for him.
"Wow, you seem relaxed tonight. Usually you're a wreck," I said to him.
"Nonsense. Relaxed is my middle name." I couldn't keep a straight face. Neither could he. We both burst out laughing.
We were all ready to go. I think I was the only who was the least bit nervous. But usually after the second song I'm fine. I have my pre-show ritual though. It involves a coffee (although now it's just plain water), then I put on another layer of lip gloss, then I go to the bathroom, then take off my heels and do a full lap of the backstage area, 3 times. I put my heels back on, drink a little more water, then stand were I enter 'the door', for the first act. If I don't do that then I'm a wreck.
Ah, the screaming of teenagers. Always keeps me going. I have just said goodnight to the screaming fans, and am walking offstage. Hard to do in this big puffy dress, but I manage. Edward is the first to meet me, and he gives me a hug. And a kiss on the cheek of course. I walk, as fast as I can go in these giant heels and flowing dress, to the dressing room, to put on normal clothes. Edward holds on to me as I walk, because I have fallen many times while wearing this outfit. Who chose this thing anyways? Oh right, I did. Was I on the vodka when I picked this?
Elisa helps me get out of the stupid thing. The relief one gets when you take off your heels and sit down is indescribable. As I'm sitting in the dressing room chair, in my underwear, I think about what my life will be like with a child. Busy, I'd imagine. Panic sets in as I realise I don't know how to change nappies, let alone want to. Edward can do that part. My hands move to my stomach, as if I was expecting there to be a bump. But it was flat, as always. For now. What am I going to be like when I'm huge? Will Edward still think I'm pretty? What if I don't lose the baby weight?
I feel clothes drape over the back of the chair, and the door open and close. I grab the clothes, not caring what they were (either that or I trust Elisa's fashion sense). I change and open the door, not expecting anyone to be quite so close to it, but there he was, right there, ready to kiss me as soon as the doors open. Edward grabs me when I nearly fall over. He kisses me strongly, and I have to break away so I can breathe.
"You know, it only takes your presence to make me lose my concentration, therefore making me clumsy…" I mutter to him.
"I know," he grins. Stupid, arrogant, gorgeous man. He grabs my hand, still grinning, and we walk down the hallway. The car should be outside by now. We are in no hurry though, it'll wait for us. As we round the corner, I can see a woman coming towards us. It's another long hallway, and I can't be sure that I know her. I know it's a woman though, because I can hear the click-clack of her heels. As we get closer, I can see she's blonde, and very pretty. Impeccable fashion sense. I look at Edward, and he is angry. Like, really angry. I get scared just by looking at him. Whoever this woman was, he was not pleased to see her.
I can now see her clearly, and she looks familiar. I know I've seen her somewhere before. She stops, about five metres away from us, glaring at me. Then her expression changes as she looks at Edward, to one of love, and desperation. Then it dawns on me. I had seen this face before. In a photo that I had not long ago picked up and looked at.
Jessica. Now I understood the angry look on Edward's face. What was she doing here? I swear our minds are connected, because Edward asked the same question.
"What are you doing here?" he almost snarled at her.
"I though I'd come and see you, knowing you tag along like a puppy to its mother. Always knew she was a bitch," she answered calmly. I glared at her.
"You are such a hypocrite," he hurled back.
"Hey, she was the one who stole you off me. She doesn't deserve you. I know you so much better. We were going to start a family together, Edward! How can you just abandon me like that? All our hopes and dreams, and things we wanted to be. We can still have that! Come back to me, so we can have a proper family."
"Um, can you not talk about me while I'm still here? Or at least hurl you're insults at me, rather than throw them off to Edward?" I interjected.
"Shoo fly. Go annoy someone else. I'm trying to talk to the man I love. You know he loves me too? He's just denying it. Look, I can see it in his eyes. See that? LOVE. Something you'll never know, slut," she abuses. I look at Edward. I snort.
"Love? Yeah right. All I see is murderous rage. I'm guessing he'd like to chuck you off some form of bridge right about now. You'd better stay away from those while you're here, you might find yourself in the river."
"Oh my god, do you ever go away?"
"Nice comeback, I'll be sure to write that one down."
"At least I didn't steal another's boyfriend! God, you're such a slut! You think you're so hot just because you have a couple of songs on the radio. So hot that you could steal an innocent girl's man!" she shouts at me.
"In case you didn't notice, he broke up with you. I was the one he-" I stop mid sentence as I realise something.
I was the rebound. Disposable. Something to enjoy, then dump. A pick-me-up. Was he using me as a rebound? No, Edward would never do that. But the doubt was still lurking…
"Run out of insults, bitch?"
"Can you both just stop!" Edward speaks for the first time in this cat-fight. We both look at him. His eyes were on me, not of rage but of caring. How could he use me as the rebound? The look in his eyes made me think he really loved me. He turns to Jessica.
"Look, Jessica, we're through. There is no us anymore. I don't love you. You've got to understand that," he says calmly.
"You're lying to yourself! How could you possibly love her? The slut, bitch, drinking-doing-drugs-and-having-sex-with-every-human-male-on-the-planet-who-isn't-gay whore?" She takes a deep breath after her giant sentence.
"She's not like that, you're making it up. Go back to L.A, and don't bother us again."
I liked the way he said 'us'. Like we were a package deal. And I suppose we were.
"Fine. But I wanted to do one thing first." She smiles flirtingly at Edward and moves forward towards him. Oh no. I know what's coming. If she thinks she can do that without a broken arm, she's severely mistaken. Edward stood still. He must not know what she was planning. She is getting closer, that stupid smile still on her ugly little face. She gets about a foot away and stops. She puts her hands up towards him and I start to move, ready to break her arm. Then she does what I did not expect. She brings up her arm, and slaps Edward fully across the face. Hard. I heard the sound. It echoed through the hall as I stared at Edward with horror. He doesn't seem hurt at all. I would be on the ground. But then again, Edward could lift keyboards with one hand.
Jessica glares at me one last time, then walks down the hallway again, quickly. I am too scared to move. Edward is rubbing his cheek. Huh. So he isn't indestructible after all. I don't know what to say, or do. Edward turns to me and smiles. How could he be smiling after what just happened?
"I'm so sorry about that," he apologises.
"Why are you sorry? It wasn't your fault. If anything, it was my fault. I mean, she's right, in a way. I did kind of steal you…"
"Don't be ridiculous. The only thing you stole is my heart. Wow, that sounds corny. But it's true. I've always belonged to you, even though I didn't realise until about 6 months ago," he rambles. "And she's crazy with jealousy anyway, even if I wasn't with you, God forbid. You have nothing to worry about. I might have to take legal action though… it's getting a bit out of hand…" he trails off.
I still can't believe she would do that though. And why would she come all this way, just to have a fight with us? It doesn't make sense.
I can't dwell on this for long though, because I still had the other issue to deal with.
And I didn't want to be known as a rebound girl.
Sorry about the late update. Those awful, horrible things known as EXAMS kept me from writing. Hope you liked the chapter :)
I think Jessica needs some new insults. What do you think? Review, and tell me your best insults! :)