I don't own Night World. My friend Georgia wrote the song 'Missing You', and I just arranged it differently. (OK, I swapped around the bridge and the third verse. That's it. Oh, and I changed one word in the first verse.) For that, this chapter is dedicated to her. Ly, EG!!!
Jez and Morgead: SuperStar
Chapter 8
Jez POV
Months passed rather quickly. Before I knew it I had a contract and was writing songs myself.
I spent most of my nights with a notebook nearby, and a pen usually sticking out of my mouth. After only two songs I'd written, my imagination had dried up. I had nothing inspirational.
Apart from one thing. But I wanted that as a last resort. It hurt too much to look through my diary.
One night, I gave up trying to fight my urge. I had to look through my diary to be able to write something. It wasn't just a want, it was a need. Acute and painful.
I opened it carefully and went through the pages, trying desperately to find some inspiration.
I kept on going back to several entries. The one where I expressed my feelings for Morgead, and the days after. I read it carefully, then smiled.
This was enough inspiration.
I picked up my pen and started writing.
It was midnight by the time I finished. I ran a critical eye over it.
Vs 1
You glance at me
And I'm thinking of
All the possibilities
We could have
Vs 2
I'm dropping hints
So you know how I feel
I'm crying ev'ry minute
Spent without you
Chorus
I wanna be
The one you love
And the one that you are talking 'bout
Ev'ryday
Vs 3
You talk to me
So easily
I wish that you felt
The same way as me
Bridge
You smile at me
A smile so sweet
My heart beats hard
And I feel I can fly
Chorus
Vs 1
It was probably the best I'd be able to do. I would call it 'Missing You'.
I checked the time, and yawned unintentionally. I would continue writing tomorrow.
~ * ~ * ~
I was scheduled to go to Ernest's house to show him the lyrics to the songs at two. I woke late, due to my late night, and got ready quickly. I drove over to his house.
It was a classic American house, big and made of wood, with a large garden. I got out of the car, locked it, and walked to the front door.
Ernest opened it before I knocked, and smiled at my suddenly bewildered expression.
"Saw you through the window," he said. "Come in. How are you?"
"I'm good, thank you," I said. I walked past him.
We went into the living room.
"So, what have you come up with?" he said.
"The basic lyrics and I need a piano to work out the chords," I answered. I passed him the sheets of paper.
He ran a quick eye over them, then smiled.
"Nice start, Jez. We have a piano here. What time do you need to go back home?"
"My Aunt Nan said about five at the latest."
He gestured to the hall. I looked across. There was an open door and a room with a piano.
"You could have a play to see which chords work. Also, the three songs that you've written are enough for the first album. You could do covers for other songs."
I pursed my lips. That would certainly take a weight off my shoulders. "That would be useful. I would be able to choose the covers, right?"
"Yes. Of course."
I got up and started working out chords.
~ * ~ * ~
More months flew by quickly, and before I knew it an album was out. I became popular quite quickly.
I'd covered four of my favourite songs. I'd decided that I should cover 'Lights Across the Sky' by Nat Jay, as it was due to that song that I was a singer and 'Breathe' by Taylor Swift. The other two songs were 'My Heart' by Paramore and 'Shine' by Take That. Before I had time to process my sudden, unexpected success, I had a couple of concerts in and around California. I made sure that none of my concerts were in San Francisco.
It was stupid to hope that Morgead wouldn't hear about my being a singer. With my sudden popularity, he would notice. He wasn't stupid. I just hoped that he wouldn't be too hurt when he did hear about me.
I suppose it was the interview that started it.
Morgead POV
It was a shock.
I stared blankly at the TV screen as it changed to the commercials.
Had I imagined that? Was I finally loosing it?
Probably.
To be sure, I rewinded the TV. I wasn't sure what had made me switch the channel to something I never watched. It was an interview programme, the type I found boring, but I switched over and there she was.
My lost angel.
It was at the beginning of the programme now. I played it, listening to it again numbly.
"Hello California! Here on the Mandy Show, we are interviewing new pop sensation, Jez Redfern!"
The camera switched to her. She was sitting on a sofa, smiling. She looked almost exactly the same. The only differences were that her hair was longer, and her features were more mature. Her eyes were different somehow – they had a sadness in them.
All of that only made her even more beautiful than she had been before.
"So, Jez. You're new on the music scene?"
"Yeah, I am."
Her voice was the same, glorious perfection. I stared at her beautiful face in shock. She continued talking.
"I started working seriously with music since June. Before that I just had a couple of jobs in bars."
The camera went back on Mandy Wilkinson, the interviewer.
"And your new album, Stepping Stones, has been out for one month, and is already very popular. How do you feel about that?"
"Well... to be honest, I'm kind of just letting it wash over me. One of my friends, Ernest McCleod, helps me a lot. But it was his idea to get me singing in concerts." She grimaced. "I probably shouldn't have accepted. I don't get how I am able to walk out there and sing well. I'm too nervous all the time."
Mandy smiled. "I'm sure you'll get used to it in a while. But good luck for your concert right here, today." Mandy turned to the camera. "Yes, you heard right. New singing sensation, Jez Redfern, will be performing one of the tracks on this album. This is her first TV performance."
She held up a CD case. It had the words Stepping Stones and Jez Redfern written on the front, and a picture of a small river with rocks protruding the rushing water.
"So what made you choose the song that you are singing today, Jez?" Mandy said.
A beautiful smile flashed across Jez's perfect face, showing the unexpected dimples in her cheeks. "I didn't choose it. My producer phoned me this morning and said 'You know that interview that you're giving this afternoon? Well, you have to sing too, so get there two hours earlier than I said. You've got to sing Without You.' I just had to agree."
Mandy chuckled, then said, "Well, go get ready."
Jez jumped up and disappeared off-screen.
After about three minutes of Mandy's mindless fashion news-updates, it finally switched back to Jez. She was standing, lithe and graceful as always, even when she wasn't moving, at a microphone.
The backing track started, simple piano, guitar and drums, and she started singing.
She was incredible. I'd always known that she was a good singer, but never thought much of it. It just seemed natural for her.
I couldn't understand most of the words – I hadn't the ear for identifying lyrics – but from what I could make out, it was about missing someone.
She finished the song, and the audience all clapped and cheered. I could understand why. She was phenomenal. Absolutely extraordinary.
She walked back to the sofa. Mandy was smiling and clapping along with everyone else.
"Well done. Were you nervous about this?" she asked.
Jez laughed slightly as she sat back down. Her eyes were slightly wild, as they always were when she done something that scared her.
"Scared me to death," she said lightly.
Mandy seemed shocked. "You didn't show it. It's a good skill to have when you're a singer, obviously."
Jez smiled.
"Let's talk about Stepping Stones. The dedication is for 'My best friend, who I had to leave, but will never forget. I'm sorry'. Who is that?"
Jez smirked slightly, but I could see the pain in her eyes. "My best friend. That's all I'm going to say."
Mandy nodded reluctantly. "Alright."
The TV screen turned black. I'd turned it off.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I said. I slid from the sofa, on my knees. I closed my eyes. It didn't help. The same divine face was there, wild red hair billowing, silvery-blue eyes flashing at a challenge. The way she'd been before.
I knew as I forced myself up from the floor that I would buy the CD. I wanted to listen to what else she'd written.
No time like the present, I thought to myself grimly. I checked my expression in the mirror, then opened the door to go out.
I walked to the nearest HMV (A/N You have got HMV in America, right? If not, it's a shop for video games, DVDs, CDs and so on. Most things electronic that are interesting) and went through the artists. I found Jez Redfern pretty quickly and went to the counter to buy the album.
When I got back home, I opened the CD and put it on. She had done some covers, and some were her own songs.
She'd covered 'Shine' by Take That. We'd always said that it was our song. We'd even made a crazy dance when we were younger, especially for that song.
Jez had said that she was doing concerts. I would try to get a ticket for one, just to see her again. I would pay for it after, though. Seeing her and loosing her again...
"Don't be an idiot," I muttered to myself, but went to the computer to see if I could find a ticket anyway.