AN : I don't own any of the boys. I just on everything else. :)
Present Day
'I need out.'
I need out or I need a drink.
It's all the same … different town, but the same thing.
Same songs and the same boring rhythm. It's no wonder they're gonna rip our heads off - this is outrageous.
Oh Look! She's panicking. Wonder how long I can stand here and not do anything before she blows a fuse. Hmm … 1 … 2 ... 3...
"Do something you idiot!"
Yup, there it went. The last strand of her composure. She looks funny like that. All red in the face and angry as hell.
It's not my fault these people expected good music and got this crap. I mean yeah I sing it, but that doesn't mean I like it. I just do what she tells me and on that note, let me fix this before someone gets hurt.
"Please everyone, calm down." Jenna tried to shout over all the angry shouts. Nothing but more angry yells and shoving occurred.
"Stop this before someone gets injured" called out John MaCallister the owner of Johnnycakes Flats Inn. Johnnycakes Flats Inn. Now that was one for the funny Inn names scrapbook.
The band still played. 'Didn't they know when to quit it?' Obviously mommy dearest won't let them stop. Heartless. "But maybe I can use this" she muttered to herself.
She found herself a microphone. "Has to work." No luck, the stupid thing wasn't even connected and she needed to fix this now before 'mommy kins' got too upset.
She fought her way toward Mike, drummer and accomplice to her many schemes. She practically yelled into his ear for him to hear her, but once she did the biggest grin broke out on his face. He nodded and motioned for her to go for it. Zoë pulled her back a moment before she reached the front of the tiny stage. She winked an handed her a good microphone.
Here we go.
She picked up her electric guitar and gave the first strokes to the strings. The drums joined and her voice came out as a whisper beneath all of the shouting the 'audience' was making.
Biting back her fear she inhaled deep and stunned the crowd into silence.
It's late at night the worlds asleep
And I'm trying not to think
I take some pills cuz my mind bleeds
I'm thinking what is wrong with me
Because the only thing i know
About honesty
Is every lie I've told
That you believed
I'm afraid, To be alone
I'm afraid, That one day you'll find out
And you'll be amazed
At the secrets i keep
You'll be amazed
At my mouth full of lies
I'm too afraid to come clean
My life's still free in the house of cards
The rhythm took over and she carried the song on an amazing pace. She owned the crowd and the looks on their faces only made her sing louder.
Now i can't look you in your eye's
Because the guilt is killing me
I try disconnect my heart again
Just so i can breathe
I wanna be myself again
But i just can't coz
I'm afraid, To be alone
I'm afraid, That one day you'll find out
And you'll be amazed
At the secrets i keep
You'll be amazed
At my mouth full of lies
I'm too afraid to come clean
My life's still free in the house of cards
It's such a shame what I've become
After years of breaking down
My whole life has come undone
Cuz I'm trying to fake it all
And I know that you love someone
But that someone isn't me
Isn't me
No
(..)
And you'll be amazed
At the secrets i keep
You'll be amazed
At my mouth full of lies
I'm too afraid to come clean
My life's still free in the house of cards
You'll be amazed
You'll be amazed
She closed off the song and bid the crowd a good night. She felt great … in power, in control. That ended the moment she reached her mother.
"What the fuck was that, a joke?"
Ms. C, that was amazing. Did you see us, we rocked!" mike tried. Fully knowing it wasn't 'amazing' to her mother. Any doubt of how she felt was blown away by her scowl.
"You" she pointed right at Victoria's face, "explain! The rest of you pack the stuff, we're out of here as soon as possible."
" 'Ma! We have free rooms here - you can't do that!"
"I can't … I can do whatever I want. Now move, all of you."
Victoria stepped over to her. Close enough to not strain herself, because right now her throat was killing her, but she didn't get too close as to avoid taunting her with her closeness.
"You told me to fix it. I fixed it. I thought you'd be happy or at least pleased."
"I told you to fix it, not to embarrass me in front of all these people. Did you even listen to yourself? You sounded hoarse and stupid. And the lyrics … what was that all about?!"
"Nothing. They're just words. They don't mean anything. Did I really sound so bad?"
Her mother opened her mouth to finish killing her hopes, when she was miraculously interrupted.
"OMG! You were great! You sounded so good. And that song. Wow! I wish I was half as good as that. I mean you've heard me sing. I'm not all that good, but you …"
That was it for Victoria. No way did Jenna think she couldn't sing.
"What are you talking about? You're great all by yourself. I mean yeah, I can hold a note but you … you hold it, own it and make it your own. Jenna you have all the talent you'll ever need. You just have to get out of this town."
"HA! Get out of town? I love my home too much. I couldn't leave my family and all the things I've grown up around, not for the world."
Home. Victoria didn't know what a home was like. She hadn't been 'home' in 6 yrs. Yet, in the gleam she saw in Jenna's eyes, she knew a home would be nice.
"Jenna dear. You always sound perfect. Tori just gets lucky people don't know what good singing sounds like."
"Victoria 'ma - my name is Victoria."
"Everyone calls you Tori."
"Not you" she muttered.
Jenna frowned at Rodmilla but kept her smile in place.
"Now if you lost some of that nasty weight you'd be perfect. I have some diet books I could lend you … I mean surgery isn't for you, but a good diet would make such a big difference with you. If you want fast results you could always vomit whatever you …"
Rodmilla didn't get to finish her 'advice' session.
"Mom! What are you saying?! She doesn't need to loose any weight. She's perfectly fine. Oh God Jenna, I'm soo sorry."
Jenna was sobbing from all the things Rodmilla had said. She knew she wasn't the fittest person out there, but she didn't want to hear it from this woman. They weren't even that far away from each other in the weight department.
" 'Ma you're not that skinny either. You can't just tell people what they should do or not."
"And you're defending her!? I cannot believe this. This little twit could out do you singing and you're telling her to 'go for it'. Unbelievable. Not that it matters, with the way she looks she wouldn't get far."
That was it!
"I've had it! Who do you think you are? You don't insult whoever you think is a threat. Jenna is an amazing girl with a great heart and she doesn't need you poisoning her with your words."
Jenna's family had come over the moment they'd seen her crying. They led her away while Victoria kept arguing with her mother.
"You don't talk to me like that - not ever. Now stop being a baby and help pack" Rodmilla said dismissing her last few statements.
"NO. I won't, not until you realize you have control issues. Everyone doesn't have to do what you say" she was fuming by that point and the fact that her mother wasn't even listening to her.
"And neither do I !"
That seemed to snap her out of it. Victoria stormed off heading straight for the front door and the freedom that would come from being far away from hr mother. She didn't get too far before her mothers grip took hold of her arm.
"You don't walk away from me. You don't do anything that I don't tell you to. Now get back there!"
"No more - you don't get to hurt me anymore. Not anymore."
She stormed out the door, not noticing the four pairs of eyes that had watched the entire thing play out.
The song is by Madina House of Cards. Review …