The Ballad of Roxanne Pelligrini
Written by: Craig Phillips
The characters herein this story is the property, copyright © and registered ® trademarks of Hasbro. The characters Jonathan Lawrence Patterson, Christopher Michael, Max Rogers, Edwin Pelligrini, Steve Pelligrini, Tyler McConnell, and Manic Deeds are my creations. The story itself belongs to me and is copyright ©. Reproduction of this story in any manner without prior written consent is strictly prohibited.
One word of warning, I do not believe in censorship of any kind, and therefore what you read is what you get.
Chapter 7: (The Engagement) (Part 2)
Jerrica's eyes widened, certainly her ears had deceived her. But the longer she looked the man sitting across from her the more she realized the truth, "Mr. Pelligrini, please forgive me, but you did say you are Roxy's father?"
"Yes. After my wife passed away, I fell on hard financial times," he sighed heavily, "I had no choice but to send my daughter to live with my brother and his wife."
"I'm so sorry Mr. Pelligrini," Jerrica spoke with a heavy heart.
"Please, call me Steve," he insisted, "Miss. Benton you have to understand, giving up my baby girl ripped me a part inside. The years I've lost with her, watching her grow, hearing her first words, or even watching her take her first steps," Steve sighed again, "I know I'll never get any of that back. Jerrica, I was a fool to leave my daughter with my alcoholic brother. He didn't think I knew that he began drinking again, but I did. Word travels fast in the Pelligrini clan."
"Mr. Pelli…um…Steve you may call me Jerrica. I can't begin to understand your pain, but I can help reunite the two of you together," Jerrica came out from behind her desk and sat in the chair next to Steven, "Roxy plays in the Misfits and we now represent her and the band at Starlight Music. They are finalizing their latest album, and she is due here at four o'clock."
He looked over at the young blond, "there is one other thing Jerrica."
"What's that?"
"Roxanne never met her older sister Jessica, because my parents took her in and raised her," he said growing more and more depressed about what he'd done to his girls.
Jerrica could not believe all that had just been revealed to her. She began to understand the hard life Roxy had been living, and why she'd become such a hostile person. Add to that she had a sister she'd never met; this had to be a terrible burden on Steven. Jerrica was determined not to let him down. The real question was, would Roxy be willing to talk to him, because she'd never really known him after all? How would she take it?
"Steve, why don't you come back at about ten 'til four, and wait in the studio for Roxanne," Jerrica smiled.
He looked into her eyes, and saw the caring spirit that surrounded Jerrica, "You have no idea what this means to me Jerrica. I just hope Roxanne will want me as her father, I mean where the hell have I been for over 20 years?"
"Getting your life right Steve, and you can't forget that either," the reassurance in her voice didn't really do much in convincing Steve that things would be okay.
Steve stood up, Jerrica followed and as he began walking towards the door, he turned to Jerrica, "thank you so much Jerrica for all that you are doing for my baby girl."
Jerrica approached Steve and put her arms around him and gave him a warm understanding hug, "I'm not going to lie to you and say everything will be perfect, but time heals all wounds."
They parted from the embrace, and Steven headed out of the room and towards the elevator. Jerrica went back to the conference room, still completely overwhelmed by what just happened.
"What's up sis?" Kimber asked as she double checked all of the paperwork on the table.
"Kimber that man that just left here was Roxy's father." Jerrica rested against the table with her arms crossed, looking troubled.
"No way!" Kimber shrieked. "Where has he been all these years?"
"Well he told me the entire story, and basically when his wife died he ran into financial hardships. So he turned over custody of Roxy to his brother. And you ready for this? Roxy has an older sister named Jessica."
Kimber was completely dumbfounded; she didn't know whether or not to believe the story, "Jerrica, some strange man walks into your office claiming to be Roxy's father. No way has my sister bought this bullshit story. Don't you remember what happened with Banee?" Kimber looked into her sisters eyes, but what she could see was sincerity, "Oh my God, Jerrica you're serious."
"I understand your skepticism Kimber, but yes I am very serious. How in the world do you tell tough girl Roxanne Pelligrini that her father is in town and wants to see her after over 20 years?" The two of them were interrupted by the conference phone ringing. Jerrica hit the speaker phone button, "Yes Joyce?"
"Miss Benton, the band Manic Deeds are here for their meeting with you," Joyce said.
"Okay, please bring them down to conference room three," Jerrica ordered.
"Yes Miss Benton," Joyce said and hung up her phone.
Jerrica turned to her sister, "Kimber we'll have to talk about this later."
"Yeah, I still can't get over this," the red head shook her long hair."
"I know Kimber, this is so surreal."
Mary, Sheila, and Roxanne were getting their music together to take with them to Starlight Music. Today was the final mixdown of the tracks, and they all knew this was going to be a long session.
"So I was thinking of calling Phyllis and inviting her to my wedding shower," Roxanne started while packing her bass guitar in its case.
Mary and Sheila exchanged glances and began laughing. Sheila spoke up.
"You're bonkers yank, you know damn well Pizzazz wants nothing to do with us. All she wants to do is shack up with Riot, and write bloody horrible music."
"Shei, Mary, Pizzazz and I go way back, and as much as I hate her for leaving the band, this is my goddamn wedding shower, and I want her there," Roxanne stood up with her bass in tote.
"Roxy, what are the odds that Phyllis will ever want to show up? You know she's going to want something in return," Mary missed her Misfit sister as much as Roxanne, and nothing would make her happier than for them to get back together. At the same time, Phyllis deserted the group, and swore she'd never be back on any level, "but you're right Roxy, we go way back with her and this is your wedding shower."
"Bloody waste of time, but whatever," Sheila shrugged and grabbed her saxophone, "Well c'mon we got thirty minutes to get to Starlight Music.
"Kimber, can you make me five copies of the contract?" Jerrica asked her sister as she finalized the agreement between Manic Deeds and Starlight Music.
"Sure thing Jerrica," she took the contracts to the copy room.
"Jerrica, we can't thank you enough for signing us," said guitarist Jake Patterson.
"Believe me, we at Starlight Music will be there at every corner to help Manic Deeds grow," smiled Jerrica, "Of course the next part of this deal is getting your full length album produced. We'd like you to start at the end of the month, during this time Starlight Music will set up interviews with The Lin-Z Pierce Show, The Harriet Horn Show, and we'll line up some magazine interviews."
"This is too unbelievable, I'm in a daze," admitted Christopher.
Jerrica giggled and smiled, "Just be yourselves and you'll be great," just then the door opened and Kimber entered.
"Okay Jerrica, here are the originals and here are the bands copies," Kimber handed her sister each grouping of paper work.
"Oh Jerrica, is it possible if we tour around the studios?" Christopher asked.
"Sure. Kimber, take the guys down to studio B, since that's the one they'll be using."
"You got it sis." Everyone got up and shook hands. Kimber led the band to the elevator. They went inside and headed to the studio.
As they exited the elevator, Christopher saw a familiar platinum blond coming towards the group, "Hey guys, I'll catch up with you in a bit," and with that Christopher headed down the hallway.
Jake rolled his eyes, "bass players," everyone in the group began laughing.
Christopher came up behind Roxanne wrapped his arms around her, and nuzzled her neck, "Hey gorgeous."
"Hi babe, what are you doing here?" Roxanne giggled.
"Well, the boys and I have just joined the Starlight Music family," He smiled brightly at his girlfriend.
"Oh kick ass," she hugged him tightly, and then whispered in his ear, "I want to talk to you in private, because I have something I have to tell you."
Christopher just nodded his head. Roxanne took his hand and led him around the corner to an empty office. The other Misfits looked on as their bassist walked off.
"So what did you want to tell me Rox?" He gave her a soft kiss on her inviting lips.
"Chris, I did a lot of thinking and…well… I decided that I will accept your proposal," she took two fingers and placed them on his lips, "Now before you say anything let me tell you why I changed my mind," Roxanne sat up on the table and took both of Chris's hands, "You mean everything to me, and you've given me more than I could have ever expected from a man. I had a long talk with Mary and Sheila and they brought up one simple fact, that you are the best thing to happen to me."
"Roxy, you are the best thing to happen to me as well. Sweetie I can see it in your eyes now that you wanna go through with marriage," he kissed her again. Roxanne teared up, but he gently wiped them away.
"It's so weird, all that's happened to me in my life. For the first time I am truly happy, but not over the successes. I'm truly happy because I have you in my life, and I am ready now to be your wife," Roxanne kissed him passionately on the mouth.
Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box. Roxanne just looked at the box and started to tear up again, but this time they streamed down her cheeks.
"Dammit Chris you make me cry too much, I should kick you in the nads," she giggled and sniffled.
"Well if you did that, then we can't have kids," he winked at her.
"Yeah that's true," she watched Chris put the ring on her left ring finger. Roxanne looked at the diamonds as they shimmered in what light was around.
"Hey sorry to interrupt you two love birds, but Rox we do have a session we are paying for." Mary said as she entered into the room.
"I'll call you tonight honey, I love you and thank you for being patient," Roxanne kissed him one last time on the lips.
"Okay Sugar," he watched his fiancé walk out the door, and as she did he felt tears well up in his eyes. Christopher then collected himself and walked out the door to find his band mates.
Roxanne headed to the control room of studio C. When she walked in there was a man that was sitting on the couch, someone she had never seen before,
"Um who are you?" she inquired.
The man stood up and slowly walked over to her, "You're as beautiful as I remember you Roxanne," he said, "You have your mother's eyes?"
Roxanne felt a cold chill shoot up her spine, "Look just who the fuck are you?"
"Roxanne, I'm Steven Pelligrini, your father."
Mary and Sheila exchanged puzzled glances, but it was Roxanne's narrowing eyes that stood out the most.
"Huh. So you're my father," her voice became more menacing, "well big fuckin' deal! Look Steve, why should I even give a shit about you? You abandon me, and left me with your abusive brother!" Mary slowly walked up to Roxanne and put her hand gently on her shoulder in the hopes of calming her down.
"Roxanne, I can't take back the pain you have gone through, but please understand me I never wanted to do it," he sat back down on the couch and rubbed his hands over his face, "When your mom got very sick, our finances became so strained that I there was no way I could support my family. I went through hell because I didn't want to lose either of you," he looked up at his daughter who was still starring at him.
"I could give a fuck about why you gave me up, but what I want to know is why you never came back to get me after mom died?" Roxanne leaned against the wall trying desperately to choke back her tears, but it was no use. Seeing her father there for the first time in her life caused the tears to spill from her eyes.
"Roxanne, after your mom died I went through years of severe depression. You mother was my true love, and when she died I lost so much hope," he stood up again and walked towards his daughter. She was starring at the ceiling, tears streaming down her cheeks. She bit her lower lip still fighting to keep from bursting out, "Please look at me Roxanne," he gently guided his hand to her face and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Roxanne closed her eyes and then opened them as she made contact with Steven, "What," she said coolly.
"I have missed you so much angel, when I needed my baby girl I couldn't have her. I'm not trying to clear my conscience, but I am asking you to forgive what I did," his eyes filled with tears.
Roxanne could no longer take this, she ran out of the room practically running over her band mates. As she ran down the hallways she went into the ladies restroom, and starred hard into the mirror. Her face was red and flustered, her makeup was beginning to smear, and her eyes were bloodshot. She pounded her fists against the counter and began falling to pieces. Her insides were torn up with anger, confusion, joy, and pain. Roxanne had gone through so much in her life, the childhood abuse, an inability to read, the loss of her first love, the success of the Misfits, being newly engaged, and now meeting her father. Her memories of abuse came rushing back in a torrent of pain and fear. Roxanne slid down the wall, crying, shaking, and unable to pull herself together.
"Why daddy, why?" She spoke softly and she cried harder than she'd ever done in her life.
A moment later, Mary and Sheila entered the restroom. They walked over to Roxanne and both just hugged her tightly.
"Rox, I'm at a loss for words. First time in my life I really am," Sheila tried to lighten the mood and make Roxanne laugh.
She just stifled a laugh, and held on tighter to her friends, "you two are all I have in my life. My sisters, my best friends, and my entire world."
"We're always here for you, Misfits stick together forever," Mary said boldly.
Roxanne felt a surge of love warm her heart. Mary was right, Misfits do stick together, but of course one Misfit was missing.
"Can I ask you two something?" Roxanne looked at both girls.
"Of course," Mary said.
"With all that is going on right now, and God I can't believe I am even doing this, but should we ask Phyllis to rejoin?"
Both Mary and Shelia were shocked, "Are you kidding?" They said at the same time.
"No really, all this shit with her seems petty compared to what has happened in the past few weeks. Look I was the most vocal about never wanting her back, but we need her voice, she is after all a Misfit."
Mary and Shelia looked at each other, and they both felt the same way. They did in fact want Phyllis back, but there were going to be a lot of conditions, changes, and new rules in the band.
"Roxy, to be honest, I stand behind any decision you make. It is in the past, and you're right she is and will always be a Misfit," Sheila said feeling this great sense of what the future could hold.
"You and I go way back to our teens Roxy, and this is the first time I have truly felt that this would be the best move for us."
But reality set in when Sheila began caressing her stomach, "One thing that is going to hurt us is that in a few months I'll have to quit the band."
That was another blow that the girls completely overlooked, but Roxanne quickly chimed in, "Sheila, Misfits stick together no matter what!"
"Yeah and no matter what happens, you'll always have a place in the band!" Mary gave her a big smile and then looked back at Roxanne, "So how you feeling, you better?"
"Yeah, I'm okay Mar. I just don't know how I'm gonna take having a father in my life again."
"So you are going to let him into your life?" Sheila asked.
"Just in these past few moments with you my family, I realize I need him, Chris, and even the old bitch Phyllis Gabor in my life. That is my family, and I need you all to be in it," Roxanne slowly got to her feet, "I just wonder if he'll want to give me away at my wedding?"
"Are you kidding, his baby girl is getting married, of course he will Roxy," Mary hugged her friend.
They all headed back down to the studio, but as they rounded the corner Roxanne saw her father getting into the elevator. She ran as fast as she could and caught the doors before the closed. She practically leaped into her father's arms and held onto him tightly. She began crying again, but these were tears of joy. She looked up at him.
"Daddy, I forgive you, and I love you so much," she said with one of the biggest smiles she ever gave anyone.
Steven held his daughter tightly as the doors to the elevator closed, "That means the world to me angel, thank you."
"Daddy, would you give me away at my wedding?"
"Of course Roxy, you know I'll be there," he held her again and stroked her long platinum hair.
"Tonight daddy, I'm taking you and Chris out for dinner," said Roxanne as the doors to the elevator opened up onto the first floor.
"Yes of course sweetie, I'd love to meet Chris," the two of them exited the elevator and headed for the parking ramp, "Honey, do you have a number I can get a hold of you at?"
"Call Mary's house that's where I've been staying, it's 555-1354," she said taking his hand in hers. She felt his gently grip on her delicate hand.
"Okay sweetie. You had better get back to working on that new album. I hope you'll give me free tickets to your concert," he said chuckling and kissed her cheek.
"Daddy, you'll have an all access pass and be in the first row," she winked.
"That's a date sweetie. I'll call you later baby girl for our dinner date," said Steven as he walked down to the doors.
Roxanne quickly chased after him, and held on tightly, "I love you Daddy, please promise me that you'll never leave again," she looked up at him hoping to receive the reassuring smile she dreamed of as a child.
"I promise you Roxy," he smiled deeply, and his eyes warmed up Roxanne's heart.
This was what she waited her entire life for, and as Steven waved good bye to his daughter, Roxanne headed back up to the studio. She could not wait to tell Chris this news, and she hoped that two of them would hit it off.
Now the only other major task for Roxanne was to get a hold of one Phyllis "Pizzazz" Gabor. No matter how bitter the band breaking up was, this was something that had to happen. The Misfits were a dynamic force not to be reckoned with, but would she ever accept the new Misfits? They were after all "signed to the enemy" in her eyes, and that might not go over well.
The elevator doors opened, and she made her way inside and headed off to Studio C. The elevator chimed and Roxanne headed down the long hallway. Her mind was spinning, but this time it felt so good. She reached the studio and quietly entered. There she found Sheila and Mary sitting with Rio Pacheco mixing the tracks.
"Well the bottom end is very powerful, the mids sound tight, and the highs round off the sound," Rio finalized the mix by pressing a few buttons, "looks like this mix in in the can and now we can move on to the next song."
"I can't believe how good it sounds, I mean this tops any of our older recordings," Mary confessed. She had always sat with the various engineers, but they never listened to her advice. To them she was just a girl.
"Well, Mary you caught a lot more in this mix than I did. You have a very keen ear."
Mary blushed, "Thanks Rio."
Roxy took a seat on the brown leather couch next to Sheila, "looks like the session is going well eh Brit?" She said with a wink.
Sheila lightly punched Roxy in the arm when she heard "Brit," so things better with your dad?"
"Mm hmm, and he's gonna give me away at the wedding too," she said with a big smile on her lips.
Mary spun around on her chair and faced Roxanne, "See I told you he would."
The girls spent the next three hours critiquing each songs mix. After which, Roxanne headed down the hall to Manic Deeds recording session. She walked in and saw that Chris was listening to the music with his eyes closed. Roxanne stood there for a moment watching him intensely. She loved how he worked, and how he dedicated himself to every single detail of the band. She sat on a chair that was by the large mixing desk. The playback was up pretty loud, and Roxy was really getting into the song.
After it finished, Chris opened his eyes and noticed Roxanne had been sitting across from him. He got up and walked over to her, leaned over and kissed her.
"So what do you think of that song?" He asked.
"Personally it's a piece of shit Chris, you have done better," Roxanne said trying to be as serious as possible even though she was totally joking.
"Well fuck, why don't you tell me how you really feel Roxy," Chris said obviously shocked by her reaction.
"Chill Chris. I was only joking around. It is a great song. Is this one you wrote?"
"Well I wrote the lyrics, but John wrote the music."
"It kicks ass Chris," Roxanne smiled, "Hey, don't make any plans for tonight. There is someone I need you to meet."
"Oh?"
"Chris, my father just came to see me."
"Really! I don't know what to say," said Chris as he took Roxy's hands, "what did he have to say"
"Look Chris, you're busy working and this will take a while to explain. Just don't make any plans for tonight, because I want you and him to meet"
"Um…okay…but…"
"No buts Chris, I really need you to do this for me, we all are going out to dinner. Just make sure you are ready." And with that, Roxy headed out the door and to the parking ramp.
She met up with Sheila and Mary who'd both been talking to Jerrica and Kimber. As Roxy got closer she started to hear some very disturbing news.
"What's going on?" Roxy could see sadness in the other girls eyes.
"Roxy, Pizzazz's father died of a heart attack this morning," said Jerrica with a heavy sigh.
"Oh God, has anyone called Phyllis?" Roxanne inquired.
"No. The only call I got was from Rory and he said that it happened at six-thirty this morning. Pizzazz is at home right now and from what I understand she has become completely withdrawn from everyone."
"Poor Phyllis," Mary said wiping her eyes.
They each had a close bond to Mr. Gabor, more so Roxanne and Mary because they helped Phyllis reach the level of stardom that she craved. Though he never liked the way Eric ran Misfits Music and how he ripped off his daughters band, Mr. Gabor just wanted to see his little girl become successful.
"Let's just go right now to the Gabor Mansion and see if she'll talk to us," Roxy said. The girls all nodded their heads and left Starlight Music for the Gabor Mansion.
Driving down the streets of Los Angeles, the girls knew they had to be there for Phyllis. The business side of the Misfits was not important, the fighting they did was not important, but being there for their sister was.
"I can't believe this happened," Mary said somberly.
"She's going to need us, Mary," Roxy added.
Sheila; however, stared blankly out the window in the backseat. Her focus was not on Mr. Gabor's death, but on her own problems. She'd thought about Tyler every day since that fateful phone call. What was she going to do, her parents would surly disown her, and what was worse she was terrified about having a child. She was not ready, or really mature enough to be a parent. Just a few years ago she had come to America with The Tinkerbilly's and was playing in clubs. Not long after, the Misfits recruited her, and her life as a troublemaker really took off. Motherhood seemed the furthest from her mind, but it was a reality. Sheila had to find out why Tyler ran away, was it just fear, or was he really serious about it not being his kid. She could not go through this alone, but how could she ever ask the other girls. They had their own issues, and dramas. Her pride often got in the way of asking for help, but it was a fight within herself that she could never win.
They finally reached the gates of the Gabor mansion. The security guard recognized them, and allowed the girls to enter. Though he was oblivious to the Misfits music, he figured they'd just been away for a while. Mary drove up to the large circular driveway, and parked the car next to the steps. There were a couple of other cars, black sedans in fact that were parked there as well.
"Do you think Phyllis will want us here?" Mary said as she turned to Roxanne.
"I guess we'll find out," she replied, "Sheila, you've been really quiet, that's unusual for you." Silence filled the car. Roxy turned around towards the backseat, "Hey Jetski?"
Sheila continued looking out the window, but was snapped out of her trance when the word "Jetski" was used, "Fuck you Roxy!"
"You coming in or what?" Roxy snapped back a little.
"Whatever."
Mary put her hand on Roxanne's, "Don't fight right now."
Roxy turned around and got out of the car, Mary turned around and saw that Sheila's cheeks were damp from tears, "Sheila, you can stay in here if you want."
She quickly wiped her face, "No, it's fine, I'll come in."
They both got out of the car and caught up to Roxy who was already being greeted by the maid, Matilda.
"Miss Gabor is up in her room, she has not come down all day, and she will not answer her door," said Matilda.
"Maybe she will for us," Mary said hopefully.
Matilda led the three girls into the Grand entryway. For the past year Harvey Gabor set out to make changes to the mansions cosmetics. New paint, new banisters for the staircase, even new imported Turkish rugs and tapestries were added to give new life to the room. The girls began making their way up the staircase which they had done so many times before. This time felt awkward, because of the bitterness they all went through with Phyllis.
They reached Phyllis' room, but they just looked at each other. No one knew who was going to knock on the door. Even Roxanne was nervous, but she took a deep breath and rapped a few times lightly on the solid oak door.
"Pizzazz, it's me Roxy. I'm here with Jetta, and Stormer," an eerie silence filled the hollowed walls. Roxanne knocked lightly again.
A moment later, there was a clicking sound and creaking as the door slowly opened. A familiar face appeared from behind the door, it was Phyllis. She was as white as a ghost, her eyes were red, and her makeup was streaked from obvious crying.
"Well, well, well, look at what we have here!" A very sarcastic voice from Phyllis echoed in the girls ears, "Come to show your support huh?" You got a lot of nerve showing up here after the hell you three put me through.
Roxanne felt her anger building, "What we put….," but Mary tapped lightly on her back.
"Pizzazz, we just wanted to come by and see if you were alright," Mary had always been the most compassionate one, but that pissed off Phyllis a lot.
"God Stormer, you never did act like a Misfit. You just whine, and bitch about everything." Phyllis' words cut through Mary's heart like a knife. She then focused her attention on Sheila "And what's your problem Jetta?"
Jetta's blood boiled, "Right about now you, you daft cow!"
"Well fuck you all, I don't need your pity party, and I don't need any of your kind words," she stormed back into her room, but didn't close the door.
The girls knew that Phyllis was hurting, and lashing out was her way of dealing with it. Needless to say, they felt a responsibility to be there for her, no matter what.
Roxanne made a b line for Phyllis, "you always said Misfits stick together no matter what."
"Look Pelligrini, I am not a Misfit anymore. You all took that away from me, it was my fucking band. Eric and I put it together, and my father….." her voice tailed off as she looked at her father's picture on her bureau," gave us the money f…." she burst into tears.
Mary ran over to her sister, and held her tightly. Phyllis threw her arms around Mary and sobbed uncontrollably, then broke away from Mary's hold ad grabbed her father picture, "I've been so fucking stupid. Riot used me! Me!" She screamed, almost throwing down the picture frame, and now my daddy is gone. I have no one."
Sheila sat on Phyllis' bed, "Pizzazz we were all used by Eric, and Riot. Everything changed when those two formed Stinger Sound."
"We're here Pizzazz right now, with you," said Mary gently caressing Phyllis' back.
"You know my solo album didn't even get released?" Phyllis stifled her cries, "He kept saying that the market was not ready yet for my solo work, and that fans would never accept me outside of the Misfits. Dammit why am I so blind?"
Roxanne sat on the beanbag chair that was by the wall, "Look we all got fucked in the ass by those two bastards. I lost millions because you and Eric fucked us on parts of the contracts."
"We can't fight about band stuff," Mary said trying to calm the tension.
"What I did to you three was wrong, and I only realized that after I got screwed out of my royalties from Riot when I went to resign," Phyllis confessed.
The girls focused on Phyllis' story about when she resigned her contract six months ago, she inadvertently signed away all of her copyrights to Stinger Sound. When the contract was renewed, Riot had changed some of the language of the contract, and Phyllis never bothered to read it. She had assumed that the contract stayed the same, but when she got a copy of the contract, and read the fine print she was horrified. Stinger Sound owned the rights to all of her recent lyrics, and music.
Mary looked on in horror, "was any of the Misfits catalog lost?"
"No, I had daddy's lawyers look at the contract after I got burned, and nothing from our past was lost," Phyllis looked at each one of the girls, "I don't blame any of you for what happened, I blame myself for this happening. I have only realized after my father passed today."
Roxanne looked at Phyllis, and was not sure if this was an act, or the truth. She knew Phyllis was a master manipulator, and if she wanted, she could get anything.
"That's a great story Pizzazz, but it doesn't explain why we got fucked out of money."
"Roxy, Eric went behind my back and just like Riot, he changed the language of the contracts," Phyllis wiped her eyes again.
"Yeah right," she said sourly.
"Believe what you want Roxy," Phyllis snapped.
Mary sensing more fighting decided to change subjects, "Pizzazz, do you need anything?"
Phyllis sighed, "No."
"Okay look Gabor, do you want to rejoin the Misfits?" Roxy blurted the words out.
Caught off guard, Phyllis lightly tapped her head, "What?"
"You heard me. In or out?"
"Why do you want me back?" Phyllis still in shock scanned the eyes of her former band mates.
"Because Misfits stick together no matter what, and besides I am getting married and I want you as a bridesmaid," Roxanne say the priceless expression on Phyllis' face, and it made her smile.
"You're what?"
"Yeah, she's engaged to Christopher Michael, he's bassist of Manic Deeds," Sheila explained.
"So are you in or out?" Roxanne asked impatiently, "oh and we're signed to Starlight Music."
"WHAT?" Phyllis shrieked, "You expect me to sign with that bitch Jerrica Benton?"
"She's not a bitch Pizzazz," Mary spoke up, "she cares more about our career than Eric, or Riot ever did."
Phyllis felt betrayed inside, she had heard rumors that the Misfits were considering signing, but she didn't think they would. But reality was sinking in fast for Phyllis, because she knew that she lost everything at Stinger Sound, and all she may ever have.
"God, I can't believe I'm saying this, but yeah I'm in," her reluctant tone was a bit of a surprise to the others. Phyllis Gabor never caves in, but they all knew this would get the band back on stage.
The girls spent the rest of the evening and night with Phyllis. Roxanne talked about Christopher, and how she didn't know where she'd have the reception. Phyllis offered up the backyard of the Gabor mansion.
Sheila didn't really say much that night, but put on a fake smile and half-heartedly laughed at some comments. Her biggest fear now became how is Phyllis going to take her being pregnant, and her leaving the band? Sheila got up and ran down back down stairs and headed outside. She ran down to a grouping of trees and completely broke down again. She needed Tyler, but would he ever want her again?
To be continued in Chapter 8: The Engagement (Part 3)