A Far Cry Of Hope

Chapter 2: Bronze-Haired Stranger

BELLA POV

After my unexpected visit from Alice - my agent - informing me that I could start my gigs at the hotel tonight, I had to get over my hangover from the night before.

The guy I vaguely remember talking to, wasn't in my room and even when I went for a walk round the block for 10 minutes, I caught no sight of him and ectera.

I stopped at my normal stop - Jake was waiting for me. "Hey gorgeous!" he said, his normal every morning greeting.

"I'm alright, just gimme a tea today Jake, I got a gig tonight." His eyes widened.

"Really? Dude spill!" He stopped mopping the floor and came and sat at my table. Another waiter served me my tea, I thanked them and then said

"Well, your welcome to come along there Jake - The Maghkiol Hotel - just round the block, Y'know the one I've been staying there recently and now they finally said I can do a gig. I won't be singing my own songs, just y'know - re-writes of other ones. I think I'm doing 'You belong with me' and 'Ego' tonight."

"Can I invite my mates? I can invite the kids too if you want." he chuckled. I laughed as well.

"Maybe the kids are too young for that kind of action, Jake - it's a gig with booze and girls in short, tight clothing. How is Leah by the way?" Leah was Jacob's wife and mother of the kids.

She usually had problems in her knee, which meant that Jake had to run the restaurant all by himself and hire a babysitter.

He blew out a gust of wind, his husky scent filled with pity. "I don't really understand the makings of it Bella, but it looks like she has arthritis in her knee tendon, which is holding her upper and lower knee together."

I put my tea down then - talking about body parts isn't good when you're eating. He noticed my discomfort. "You did ask, Bella." he chuckled again.

I mock glared at him and got up. "I better get going Jake, my peeps are arriving tonight and I need to go greet them - see ya around!"

He rose too, "Good day Bella." I plugged in my iPod again and set off jogging back to the hotel.

It was half past 7 when the knock on the door came. I opened it to find Alice in her party gear (Black leggings and a bright neon orange jumpsuit) and her two bodyguards by her side.

It was rumoured that she's worth billions. (Hehe good things she's my agent!) Which is why she has Boris and James to protect her. They were wearing their normal black leather jackets and jeans. My make-up artist Jane decided that dark blue glitter would be my theme tonight. I wore some simple dark black jeans, the best quality - Jane quoted and a low ridding midnight blue top with bright white diamond stud earrings with bracelets and necklaces to match. I wore high heels with straps. She stepped back to admire her work.

"You look fab-u-lass!" she sighed. I grinned "Thanks Jane - sweetie, your a superstar!" I hugged her and we walked downstairs.

The place was completely heaving and mental. I quickly marched to near the back of the stage. I was to sing at least three songs tonight. I was doing re-writes of the songs other artists had done. I wasn't happy but well I was to do this to get people in the mood. Like my songs weren't good enough. I wasn't really what you called famous, international...yet. I was just a simple club singer to start of. I didn't enjoy it much but...it's a start I suppose. At least people looked out to me and remembered me. I was on the right track.

Alice had chosen the songs I was to start with (with a little hints I made on the way - there was always a certain song she'd choose and I so wasn't gunna sing.) I was to open up with 'Chocolate Love' by SNSD.

Thankfully I was able to sing the ENGLISH version as it was originally a Japanese song, I think. I grabbed my mic-set, put it on, and seized my Gucci dark black sunglasses. It was meant to bring a mysterious element to my performance, I was told. I walked onto the blacked out stage and took my position. The loudspeaker came on as the curtain came up:

"Ladies and Gentlemen - the Maghkiol Hotel is very proud to announce our new club-singer, the one and only...Izzybelle!"

The whole room started to cheer as the curtain came finally up and the music started, I lifted my glasses as I sang and danced my way into history:

The song ended and immediately went onto my next chosen song, 'Sweet Dreams My L.A. ex' by Rachel Stevens.

I paused at the end of the song and took a breather. The audience seemed happy of my singing but at least they weren't booing. They waited for me to say something; I panted slightly and grabbed my bottle of water behind one of the speakers. I giggled nervously into the microphone. "Urmm, Hi everyone, as you heard I'm Izzybelle. I hope I entertain you all well tonight. I will also be performing for you for the next 5 nights, so you're stuck with me."

A few men cheered then. "I'm now going to continue singing, but my third song; I've decided that I will have a personal request. Anything from Lady Gaga to Britney Spears I can accept. So...any requests?"

Alice and James went into the crowd with their handheld microphones and I wanted nervously on the stage - a few men called out for me to do the rest of the gig naked, another few asked for me to pole dancing. Then a man asked a suitable request. I couldn't see him very well, but I defiantly saw a few strands of a strange, alluring bronze hair.

"Can you sing Taylor Swift?" he asked.

"Yes I can - which song?" I replied.

'You belong with me' " he replied as well as blushing. I smiled warmly and nodded my head. James motioned to the stereo guy and the music started playing. I was glad that song was chosen; I loved the way Taylor wanted this boy, her friend even, to ask her out, ditching his bitch girlfriend. I sang more openly, more confidently than the other two songs.

I bowed deeply and looked at the man who suggested the song but he was gone. I sighed and realised that everyone and I mean everyone was clapping and standing up. The rest of that evening seemed pretty boring to me. Ok I sang the choices I decided to sing but when I was singing that request, it felt ... right. I seemed to have lost my sparkle in my eye. Everything had been normal I had decided to see if he was still there - and he hadn't been.

I went upstairs to my penthouse suite on the top floor. I had been living in this depressing hotel for nearly a month and one look was all it took for my sparkle to flare and then die. I sighed and unlocked my door. I turned and locked it and did the slide-lock as well. I didn't feel for visitors to congratulate me tonight. I got changed into my silk night dress and slid into my triple king-sized bed. I rolled over, still thinking of my bronze-haired stranger.