Stereo Hearts
Here are several things that conjure up when you think of the green-eyed monster
"Would you believe she's showed up again" Mercy laughed out loud agitated
"Who?" I turned to look at her "Please babe leave it" I looked over at Quinn Fabray my fourth cousin removed stood across the room from us and rolled my eyes, it was going to be a night of doom and gloom
"Why has she found right in sight of us to park herself?"
"Babe" I grabbed Mercy's hand, trying to calm her down "Let's just enjoy the show"
"She always makes my damn blood boil" she hissed turning to pay attention to the performance, her eyes were on the performance, but her mind was far away back to the first time this bitch crossed a line with her
Flashback
"If it isn't Cousin Sam Evans" she walked up behind us grinning like a freaking hyena with her blond hair flashing all over the place, green mischievous eyes telling me something was about to go down "Great to see you sweet cheeks" she leaned in to take a kiss, at that point I was smiling, because as far as I could tell it was a relative
"Quinn" he smiled jumping back when their lips met "Sorry" he frowned looking back at me
"I miss those lips" she laughed, and that was it for me, she hadn't even thought to take the time to find out who the hell I was, which told me she didn't care, and just like that she was an enemy.
"Quinn" Sam stuttered wondering where to go next "This is Mercy Jones my date"
"Just a date?" she barely looked at me, she must have seen the disapproving look on Sam's face or something because in less than ten seconds she looked at me and smiled "Nice to meet you date" obviously she'd said that on purpose "I mean Mercy, was it? sorry" and that was a weak sorry
The woman even sat at our table, uninvited, giving all the usual I'm interested signs to my date, smiling like she was Miss cute at him, keeping the conversation going like she had nowhere else to be. She kept moving closer to him whispering in his ear, anyone would have thought it was them on a date, coming out of the whisper laughing as if I was the joke. I wanted to stamp on her head there and then, but this was only our second date, she'd claimed to be a relative, and the jealous girlfriend, wasn't a look I was trying for at this point in our relationship, we hadn't even broached the girlfriend subject yet.
"We should hook-up" I heard her say to Sam "For old times' sake, if you know what I mean" she nudged him, I was horrified, they were related
"Quinn" he frowned "That's not appropriate"
"You aren't appropriate" she laughed "Have you seen his bum?"
"Behave" he laughed turning to look at me "Sorry about this, she's always been like this"
"Like what, rude?" I asked, I didn't even want to apologise for my tone
"Absolutely" he smiled at me "She has to be the most inappropriate person I know" he grabbed my hand "You'll get used to her, she's harmless" all I could do was smile but what I really wanted to say was tell her to fuck off now or I'm walking, if only I'd have been confident, I was going to come out of that move victorious.
If that wasn't the loudest, I'm available chat up line in the world, I'd eat mud, 'let's hook-up' I think I rolled my eyes just thinking about it if I remember rightly. She was making me cringe sitting there in all her availability; midriff showing, which she kept rubbing like she was pregnant, or wanted to be, touching his knee with every other word, on a plate came to mind, but again I wasn't that confident.
To be entirely fair Sam wasn't giving back any vibes to tell her any of it was okay, his face clearly wasn't interested, he sat back and cross his legs leaning more towards me than her, but it still hurt, and I don't know if it was because some woman knew more about him than I did at the time, but she gave that feeling time to grow, those green eyes of hers were devilish
End of Flashback
"Here's who we've been waiting for" I grabbed Mercy's arm and moved her to the beat trying to distract her "If she thinks we're bothered she'll be over here like a shot, you know how she works" I whispered in her ear
I knew Mercy was right, after three years of absence, she was still the same, she never kept anything in everything she said or did when it came to me was on stereo, but regardless, my girl put a smile on her face and started moving to the song we were promoting our first artist, she turned singing to me as if Quinn didn't exist.
Underestimated from day one, unafraid to fight for what I want, my head and my heart are coming apart don't want to feel numb, oh
I'm on the other side of the rising sun, and I'm coming, up
Turning it all to glitter and gold, I might be going, and all that I know wherever I go I'm walking on roses
I'm not afraid of the rise or the fall, I'm glitter and gold, glitter, and gold, I'm golden… 'Glitter and Gold' by Imen Siar
"Hey" Quinn was suddenly stood next to us, spoiling our vibe
"Quinn" Mercy smiled "Good to see you"
"Wished I could say the same" she snapped back, I rolled my eyes for her bullshit
"Quinn" I nodded an hello before grabbing Mercy's hand tighter to carry on enjoying the gig
"Didn't expect to see you here" she looked at Mercy specifically "Hoping to see you here" she looked at me grinning
Mercy was already like a fizzy drink for how she wanted to deal with Quinn's shit, and I wasn't about to let her show herself up like that "We manage her" I looked up at Imen singing
"Yeah, I know that" Quinn smiled "Does she follow you everywhere?" she pointed at Mercy again
"You're so damn rude" I hissed at her "Apologise or move way"
"Touchy" she looked at Mercy "Maybe that last comment was too much" she cut her eye at her
"That wasn't an apology" I snapped
"It's okay" Mercy tugged at my shirt, pulling me away from the woman
"if you don't like the conversation, stay home" Quinn shouted after us
"Should we go backstage?" Mercy suggested ignoring her
"We can't leave Imen out here alone, it's her first gig, we promised"
"I know" Mercy looked around "But if she comes at me one more time" she bit her lip with anger, she knew this bitch would stop at nothing; she'd learned that from earlier lessons
Flashback
We'd just moved into our house, everyone was helping us moved things in and around, there was something wrong with the washing machine we'd inherited from his parents and as far as I knew he was in the laundry room fixing it while I was upstairs getting the bedroom sorted so we could at least have a good night's sleep
"God this mattress is heavy" Mom dropped it and grabbed her back in pain
"I'll get Sam" I rushed out of the bedroom excited for the move, our first night in our new home and everything that came with that "Sam" I walked into the laundry to see cousin Quinn hooked up under him, rubbing her head on his shoulder like they were a thing
"It's a family meeting" she grinned at me
"Sorry?" I looked at her, trying to make sense of what I thought I'd seen, and heard, while trying not to explode
"You're intruding" she smirked at me, I looked from her to Sam and back again, he seemed to be as shocked as I was we both stood stunned into silence, he looked back at me with that blank look and I didn't feel like I had anything to throw back, he wasn't defending me, I turned and walked away
I was stopped in my tracks when I heard him shout "Don't you ever speak to her like that again" she said something that I couldn't make out and he followed that up with "Get out" I admit that made me smile before I walked back up the stairs to carry on the struggle, I was angry enough to do the bed on my own
But that wasn't the end of it, because when we all gathered for dinner, there she was again like a bad penny, planting herself on the seat next to Sam, playing happy families. There was a vibe I didn't understand, his parents were angry, Sam kept looking at me, he might have been waiting for some comeback, but I kept my calm. No lie, I wanted to jump up and say something like "Do you really want to sleep with your fucking cousin?" but I couldn't do that to me, him, or our family's so I opted for calm and silence
"Babe" Sam caught me in the kitchen after dinner "I told her to leave, but she keeps coming back"
"Sam" I looked him in the eye "I need the truth" I grabbed his collar "Has anything ever happened between you two?"
"No" he shook his head
"Do you want anything to happen between you?"
"Never" he grabbed hold of me "She's always been like this, when I was young it was flirting I suppose but now…" he looked at the opening door "Quinn" he rolled his eyes "I need you to leave, I don't care what excuse you make just get out, you're not welcome"
"Okay" she huffed giving him the filthiest look "But you won't get rid of me that easy"
"What the hell is wrong with you" Sam snapped at her "This is so freaking weird"
"You know I've always loved you" she smiled tilting her head flirtatiously "You will be mine"
"Get out" he snapped at her
End of Flashback
"Just forget her for now" I smiled "I'm nervous as hell" I grabbed Mercy's hand, the fact that we'd chosen this event to showcase our new artist was risky, but we hadn't realised how risky until they were actually up there
"She's doing fine" Mercy looked up at me smiling
Up at three am my brains turn on, it's hard to talk about it with my mom, whatever the fear that's keeping me here is barely a reason, oh
I'm a diamond in the dark watch me shine on, shine on
Turning it all to glitter and gold, I might be going, and now that I know wherever I go I'm walking on roses
I'm not afraid of the rise or the fall, I'm glitter and gold, glitter, and gold… 'Glitter and Gold' by Imen Siar
"Trouble in paradise?" Quin had found us again, she was like a broken record, that didn't know it was broken "I thought you'd like to meet my date" she grabbed hold of this guy stood behind her that seemed more interested in the people standing around him than anything she had to say "This is Joe, he's planning on singing"
"Joe" I held his hand out "Pleased to meet you"
"Likewise," he smiled "When Q said she knew people in the business I didn't think she meant the Sam Evans"
"Well, I can assure you I owe her no favours so…" I laughed, telling him I wasn't interested, especially if it meant Quinn was going to have a reason to sit around the studio to bug us on a daily basis
"We're not just a thing, we're married" he side eyed Quinn "You get used to her, she's…" he laughed
"Married?" Mercy butted in
"Six months now" Joe smiled at us
"Finally found somebody who just wants to love me, imagine that" Quinn stared at me
"You're a lucky woman" I smirked at her
"I think I'm the lucky one" Joe grinned at me hugging Quinn as he spoke
"So, what do you…?" I found sudden interest in him, someone to take the pressure off was more than welcome
"Sam" Mercy pulled at my shirt "Give him a card, get him to come by the studio, we're working"
"Sorry dude" I took a card out my pocket "Come by on Monday" I handed it to him "But without the wife" I leaned in to tell him
"Thanks" Joe grabbed the card, tapping his head with it
"So, Sam" Quinn smirked "When are you going to ditch the witch and find a real woman?"
"What do you want?" Mercy looked at Quinn still stood looking at us
"What's on offer?" she looked at me
"A slap round the head, just hard enough to straighten it, he's your cousin for fuck sake" Mercy snapped, angry at the girl standing there looking at me as if she was about to jump my bones. I stood looking at the two women fronting it out, Quinn's cheeks were flushed, her lips pouting, Mercy's look was threatening "Did you hear me?" she snapped
"Move Quinn" I warned seeing things ready to go south
"One of these days" she smiled before Joe, grabbed her hand and dragging her into the crowd
"It's going to happen, and soon" Mercy looked up at me vexed "Ignoring her isn't working" we'd let so much slide, "I should have cut that bitch at our wedding" I could see her mind had wondered off again
Flashback
We'd all stayed at the manor house for the weekend, we woke up that morning, unbeknown to anyone else, wrapped in each other "The next time we wake up together you'll be Mrs Evans" he smiled at me
"I thought you'd agreed you were going to be Mr Jones?" I looked at him seriously
"That's one joke that's not even funny today" he laughed
"I haven't said obey yet" I laughed
"But you're going to, aren't you?" he walked towards me ready to tickle the hell out of me, that was a pet hate, I surrenders, giggling uncontrollably anyway, at the thought "I love your laugh" he hugged me "I better go"
"See you this afternoon Mr" I kissed him for the last time as his girl and watched him leave before I made my way back to my room.
Everything had gone swimmingly that morning, Quinn was working in England, and everyone took a relaxing breath. The bridal party had sunk two bottles of champagne before breakfast, and Julian, Sam's nephew from his older sister Carrie, was sat quietly for once, reciting his nephew speech
Next thing I knew I was getting make up done, my hair was pulled up, thrown down and pulled up again and then the room cleared, and I was standing in the mirror looking at my four-piece underwear set with my mom crying on the bed, and Anne at the bedroom door.
"It's time" Anne smiled at me
"Get into your dress" mom rushed me across the bedroom
"Beautiful" Anne joined my mother crying on the bed when we emerged twenty minutes later
"Come on" I moaned at them "We should be getting me married" my mom waved her half-soaked hanky, called my dad and we were on our way downstairs to the ceremony
The music was going to plan but as soon as I walked in I felt the frost, I looked at Sam wondering what was wrong, his face was like thunder. I carried on walking, smiling, and feeling excited, at this point nothing else mattered except the two of us, whatever it was could go to hell and stay there.
"What's happened?" I asked him when I got to the front, he looked over to the left, I followed his eyes and hissed at the sight of the woman sitting there, in white smiling the only thing missing was the veil "This isn't happening" my face cracked I couldn't help it, tears rolled down my face, after everything the woman had put us through this was the last straw "Sorry" I told Sam and walked back down the steps and ran down the aisle
I could hear Sam's footsteps following me, but I wasn't stopping for anyone, everyone in that room knew what that woman had put me through I shouted loud enough about it at every opportunity, and they allowed her to walk in on my day.
"Babe" he stood at the car door holding it open in protest of me attempting to leave
"Sam" Carrie called "Let me" she walked past him and stepped into the car and shut the door "You know she's had a fixation on him since she was maybe 10 years old?" she grabbed my hand "If any of us could figure it out we'd be able to deal with it, he doesn't encourage her, he never has, we think there's something missing with that one"
"I can't take her shit anymore" I cried
"So, she wins?" Carrie asked me "let's drink to that" she took the bottle of champaign out the cooler and opened it "To Quinn" she poured the first glass and passed it to me "The cousin who took your man, sorry I mean who you gave your man to"
"I didn't" I insisted
"So, you didn't just leave the love of your life at the alter for some skank cousin to take?"
"I…" I laughed "I did didn't I?" I looked at her
"The only thing that can burn that bitch now is for you two to get married" I considered what Carrie had said for a second before throwing the champaign down my throat "It's customary the bride to be sober for these occasions" she laughed
"Can't waste champaign, especially pink champagne" I laughed as she opened the car door, I started crying again when Sam was stood there still waiting for me
"I'm sorry" he hugged me "I keep saying that, and it doesn't make things any better, but I mean it"
"I know your hands are tied, I let her get to me"
"Are we getting married?"
"Hell yes" I grabbed his hand and walked back into church
We walked down the aisle together, very untraditional, but I think everyone understood, including Quinn, or at least I thought she did, until well into the reception, when the dancing started and she flung her arms over Sam's shoulder like some desperate Becky, and rubbed on him until her dress could hardly be seen. Her embarrassed mother stole the show in the end, when she pulled her off him, shook her like a ragdoll and ordered her off the dancefloor, before taking Sam's hand and finishing off a more civilised version of a dance with the groom
"Hey" Quinn shouted across the hall "Sam" everyone stopped to hear what she had to say "I must say" she slurred "I could really do you in that suit, you looked hot today, pity it's all going to waste"
"I'll let you know if anything goes to waste" I told her, everyone cheered at my come back but I felt bad for saying it, but the bitch was flirting with my man on my wedding day, I should have dented her head
"Don't feel bad" Sam smiled at me "I don't say anything because mom and dad asked me not to bite, she's dying to pin something on me"
"You should report her to the police, get an injunction or something"
"I would" he smiled opening the car door for me "But family shit prevents" he rolled his eyes
And that was the last time we spoke about Quinn until tonight when she turned up again. We'd maybe been off radar for a while, then we'd started writing, producing, mixing and then we'd finally decided to jump back in, we'd been doing so much promotion work we decided to get our own label, and now she's found us.
End of Flashback
"Remember what the counsellor said, the more we react the worse she'll get"
"I just don't feel like she can get any worse" Mercy huffed "What did she mean one of these days, what the hell does she think she's going to do?" she hissed "She threatened me"
"If she was going to do something she'd have done it by now" I hugged her "That Joe's right, she's all talk"
"But words hurt too"
"I know babe, it's taken me years to get to where I am with her, I'm hoping mom's right and she'll grow out of it"
"Come on babe, it's been seven years and she's still the same as she was the first time I met her, she's never going to change"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Something" she looked at me with expectation
"I either please you and lose my family or please my family and lose you"
"Is that why you do nothing?" she snapped at me
"I can't believe we're arguing over her" I rolled his eyes and threw my hands in the air "She's so not worth it"
"Well, she thinks she is and you not doing anything makes her think she's got a damn chance, there I've said it" she snapped "And I'm not asking you to choose"
"You're telling me?" she turned to look at me, her look telling me our artist was making their debut appearance on the big stage, so this wasn't the time to get into it
"We're working" she finally hissed and turned to focus on the stage, clapping along with everyone else
I'm leaving the past and taking me back to I'm a be going, I'm breaking the glass and making it last rocking these poses
I'm not afraid of the rise or the fall, I'm glitter and gold, glitter, and gold, I'm golden
I'm not looking back, I'm not afraid, got nothing to lose, so I'm a be brave, I'm leaving my fear for the unknown
I'm taking my faith, watch me glow…'Glitter and Gold' by Imen Siar
"You did it" I shouted when Imen finished, of all our artists, we were more nervous about her than anyone, she was shy beyond belief, but Mercy had been right, put her on stage and she'd fly and she did "You were right" I hugged my wife, the night seemed to be an absolute success, people seemed ready for the main event
"Well done" Mercy mouthed, watching Imen leave the stage before she turned back to look at me "For the record I'd never ask you to choose between your family and me babe, we're one in the same" she reached up and kissed me on the lips "Toys, basket" she admitted "Sorry"
"I'm sorry we have to go through this"
I saw Mercy look across the room and roll her eyes, Quinn was stood staring at us again, she was stood with one hand on her hip, the other rested limply on Joe's shoulder, he was paying her no attention, talking with a group of people, it looked like he'd wanted time with his friends, and she'd demanded to come along just to be a pain. I smiled at this thirty plus year old married woman stood there mimicking a teenager's immature, ridiculous efforts to attract attention, skimpily dressed and deep pink lipstick, to set the needy look off
"Basic bitch" Mercy hissed
"You alright?" I asked
"Yeah" she smiled, obviously realising I was right, she wasn't worth it "I'm good"
"Okay" I let her hands go and wrapped my arm around her, knowing her jealousy was justified, Quinn always went too far
"Ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between above or below" the compare laughed "She was good wasn't she?" he asked the cheering crowd, of the supporting act, Mercy turned to smile at me, we'd taken the first successful step, in our new venture "And now for the person I hope you've all been waiting for he stepped off stage without saying anything else as the music started and the crowd went wild
"Hey" she walked on stage getting the crowd even more heated "Just want to shout out to my little bro and his wife, my sister from another mother, on their label's debut performance tonight it was great, stereo hearts limited I feel so proud" Carrie held her heart before waving at us "This one's for you guys" she pointed at us as the music got louder
"Wow" I hooted at her watching Mercy already moving and waving her hands in the air, this was the song she'd dedicated to us at our wedding, dreamt it up in an hour
Adrenaline rising, ain't feeling no pain, I'm floating and flying, the room is spinning, making me sway
And I ain't even had to go, and open up a bottle of wine, tonight
I can go on a bender, anytime that I please, don't need a bartender pouring, over-serving me
I can get intoxicated on you, baby, anytime, cause you're mine
"Hey" Joe came over to us with Quinn by his side "Q has something she wants to say" he pulled her from behind him
"Yeah" Quinn looked at Mercy "Sorry for the remarks I made earlier"
"And?" Joe asked
"And" she rolled her eyes "It won't happen again"
"I'll call on Monday" he nodded at me
"Monday" I smiled shaking his hand
"Did that just happen?" Mercy laughed jumping to the song "Wow" she held her hand up at the song
I still like my Rosé, boy, don't get me wrong, but you're what I reach for when I want something strong
Never hungover, but I can't stay sober with you, and I don't want to
There ain't no last call, counting down on the clock, I can have all I want, don't be cutting me off
Cause too much of your good love ain't a bad thing (Oh), and your kiss got me wishing I could bottle it up
Every sip to my lips is a sweet sugar rush, cause your love gets me more buzzed than pink champagne
Yeah… 'Pink Champagne' by Carrie Underwood
"I see you managed to see that green eyed monster off with some pink champagne again" Carrie laughed when she finished the song "Go sis"