Instant Fame

Part 2

Price of Fame

By Nick Maro

David walked with Roxy off the stage to the backstage area. She had just finished a taping for the late night talk show Black Out with Nathan Black. They had arrived in New York just after two in the afternoon that day. David followed her out the backstage door into the afternoon light. "So now what? Dinner, sightseeing or go back to the hotel?"

"Food sounds good but afterwards I wanna go sightseeing. Maybe hit up a club." She climbed into the courtesy limo and waited for David to follow. He shut the door once he was in the vehicle. "Take us to the best restaurant you know of, driver!" David gave her a look of caution. "David, it's not gonna kill the budget if we pamper ourselves a bit. Lighten up."

"I guess you're right. One dinner is not going to make Misfits Music go bankrupt." David visibly relaxed and leaned back in his seat. "So why did you ask me to come with and not Jetta?"

Roxy poured herself and David a drink. "Because you're my manager, I mean who better to represent me than my manager? Besides you need more downtime than I do. Think of this as two days off from Misfits business and all worries. Just be my friend, okay?"

"I've always been your friend, Roxy. Just fell into the role as boss, but you're right, time to kick back and relax." He took a sip of the drink Roxy poured him. He started coughing and handed it back to her. "I'm not much of a scotch drinker."

"It's okay," Roxy laughed. "I'm sure we can pick up some milk for you later." David gave her the finger and she laughed harder. The driver had pulled up in front of an exclusive restaurant and Roxy looked out the window at the building. "Oh man, this place looks classy as fuck. Think they'll let us in?" she asked looking at her jeans and t-shirt.

David sighed as he sat back again. "Probably not without a six month reservation. Maybe we should just find a place on our own." Roxy nodded as she sipped her drink. "Driver, back to the hotel."

Roxy put her drink down in the glass holder. "There was another reason why I wanted you to come with. You're good with pressure and I'm not. Jetta isn't good with high pressure situations either. I knew that if you came with I'd be fine."

David looked away as he started blushing slightly. "Thank you, Roxy. I don't know what to say." Roxy moved from her seat to sit next to him and gave him a friendly hug and smile. They sat in silence for the rest of the trip back to the hotel. Each of them enjoyed the sights from the limo's windows. The limo parked in front of the hotel and the chauffeur opened the door. David got our first then helped Roxy out. "The one thing I won't relax is my manners." He winked and she started giggling.

"Why thank ya kind, sah. Ah do declare, ya know how ta make a girl's heart go a flutter," she said in a bad southern accent.

"Do me one favor for when I'm around you, don't ever do that terrible accent again. I'll have to take it out of your paycheck for causing physical trauma to those around you." David teased her. He took her arm in his and walked into the hotel lobby. They were mobbed almost instantly by fans who were waiting for her arrival.

"Could I please get some air here? Please! Back off!" Roxy yelled to the crowd. "I'll sign what I can if you'd please back off!" The crowd of fans began to move away a little. "Thank you. Now, I'll sign what I can because I'm very hungry and want to eat." She looked over at David. "Go on. I'll be up soon. Just going to sign a few autographs, I'm starved." David nodded and started pushing his way through to the elevators. He figured he'd call Kimber while he waited for her to finish.

"Get ready Misfits fans! I have just learned that The Misfits will be releasing a new single next Tuesday! It's a sample of what to expect on their new album Rebirth. From what I've been told, it's a whole new style for the band. Thursday on the Lin-Z Show, we'll have Roxy Pelligrini of the Misfits on the show. Maybe we can get a sample of the single from her." Lindsey Pierce was wrapping up her show, the setting sun shown through Stormer's bay window.

Stormer turned off the television and rubbed her eyes. After she had left Roxy's apartment, she came home and stayed up late practicing the guitar with David. Pizzazz was with him helping her out. It seemed they didn't want to go back home alone. She let them stay the night until David and Roxy left for their flight to New York. "Did you find any houses, Jetta?" Stormer asked going to the fridge to get a glass of water.

"Nothin' that we liked, of course, we didn't have much time to look today. I think we're goin' to put it off until the new album is done. We're much too busy to house hunt right now." Jetta went out the sliding door to Stormer's porch. She sat on the plastic chair and watched the birds on the feeder. "Come on out here, luv, the birds are bloody beautiful."

The porch door slid open and Stormer sat next to her friend. She brought a pair of binoculars up to her eyes to watch them more closely. "I love coming out here in the morning. It's a relaxing way to start the day. My mother got me started on bird watching when I was a kid. It just stuck I guess. Take a look at the little yellow one on the feeder." Stormer handed the binoculars to Jetta.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I've been watching it since it built a nest in one of the bird houses. But watch this it's the part that still amazes me." Stormer whistled pleasantly and the yellow bird's head twitched and looked in her direction. Finally it flew toward Stormer and landed on the porch railing in front of her where it chirped softly. "For some reason it comes when I whistle. I've had it eat seed out of my hand before. It's like owning a wild pet."

Jetta didn't move out of fear that it would fly away. She'd never seen that happen, only heard about it on television. "That's just down right amazin', luv! Who else knows about this?"

"Only a few people, David, Kimber, my brother Craig. It's not something I go around announcing to everyone. Anyway, what do you think of Roxy's new found fame?" The bird flew off as Stormer turned to her friend.

"I think it's great. Just hopin' it don't go to her head, though. Last thing I need to do is put her in her place. I just hope that she had a safe flight to New York. Can't believe it was just this mornin' that her fame started." Jetta leaned in her chair to stretch her back.

"She'll be fine. It's just a few talk show tapings then she's coming back here. The only show that I'm personally nervous about is the Harriet Horne Show on Friday. You know how good Roxy is with that kind of pressure." Stormer began to go inside the house. "Come on. I need to go practice. How about you?"

Jetta took one last look at the birds and followed Stormer inside. "Yeah, I haven't had a real chance to do so today. I'll have to pick up Raya since she's me coach."

"Okay, I'll meet you at Flash Studios. I'll pick up Pizzazz."

Pizzazz finished her lap in the pool. She lifted herself out and sat on the edge with her feet still in the water. "Thanks Jerrica for letting me come over. Ever since my father died, I just don't like being at home by myself. There are just too many good and bad memories."

Jerrica sat down next to Pizzazz adjusting her own swimsuit. "It's okay, Pizzazz, Kimber and I were the same way after our father died. I still don't like being in his office at Starlight Music alone. It just takes time to get used to it. You're welcome here anytime."

"Hey Pizzazz! Stormer is here!" Kimber yelled from the backdoor.

"Guess I better go see what she wants." Pizzazz stood and began drying herself off. Stormer walked out the backdoor and greeted her. "What's going on, Stormer?"

"Hi Jerrica, Pizzazz, I've come to kidnap you to Flash Studios. Sorry, but Roxy is my coach and she's in New York till Thursday morning. So if you don't mind helping me out." Stormer let the question trail off.

Pizzazz just smiled and began walking toward the house again. "I'm going to change. I'll be out in a few minutes. I don't mind filling in for Roxy. By the way, David called to remind us to watch Black Out tonight like we'd forget or something." She entered the house and went into the closest washroom where her clothes were.

"Y'know Stormer, Pizzazz really has changed. She's opening up more to people. What do you think about it all?" Jerrica dried off her feet and led Stormer back to the house. She turned on the yard lights and sat on a lawn chair.

Stormer sat on a chair next to Jerrica. She wrapped a twig around her finger while she answered the question. "I kinda like it. She's not as mean as she was to me or anyone else. Plus, she's my half sister. That answered so many questions I had. I personally think she's grown up a bit. Before she was an immature bitch from hell but now she's just a bitch every other day." Jerrica and Stormer each softly laughed.

"Bitch from hell am I?" came Pizzazz's voice from behind them. Stormer jumped in her chair and looked up at her startled. "Don't worry Stormer, I'm not angry but we better get going." She helped Stormer to her feet out of the patio chair. "C'mon, we'll get some ice cream after practice, Jetta's treat of course."

"She's meeting us at Flash Studios with Raya in tow. Do you have the key to the studio?" Stormer walked next to Pizzazz through the hall to the front door. She turned to Kimber. "See you at home for Roxy's debut on Black Out?"

Kimber smiled wide. "You bet. Pizzazz, are you staying the night again?" Pizzazz nodded that she would be. "Okay, see you two at home. Have fun practicing." They each said their farewells as Stormer and Pizzazz drove off. "David is right. Life is strange. One minute someone is your mortal enemy. Then next you're having tea with them." She turned to her older sister. "By the way, Aja wants to talk to you upstairs in your room."

Jerrica turned and started to climb the stairs. "Do you know why?" Kimber just shrugged as she followed. They went up the two flights of stairs and turned down the hall to Jerrica's room. The door was ajar. Jerrica pushed it open and saw Aja pacing back and forth. "What's going on, Aja?"

Aja looked up from her pacing. "It's Synergy, Jer. Nothing's wrong with her per se, just that I've found a few things that I missed before. Come on, I'll show you." Aja led them to the hidden holographic wall where the computer known as Synergy was kept. "Hello, Synergy. I wanted Jerrica to see what I found."

"Certainly, Aja," the soothing melodic female voice replied. A previously hidden door popped opened on Synergy's frame.

Jerrica and Kimber exchanged confused looks. "I give up. What is it Aja?"

"I don't know. It looks like you can plug in some new circuit boards or microchips here. I'm not one hundred percent sure. Without your father's design specs or blueprints I can't say for sure." Aja waved them both over to look for themselves. She pointed out the areas she had mentioned with a flashlight.

"Synergy, why didn't you tell me when you first discovered this?" Jerrica asked somewhat still confused.

"I couldn't because you were in the presence of Pizzazz all day. Would you have liked to have her know of my existence?"

Jerrica sighed and studied the open panel. "No, you were right in waiting. Do you know what the ports are for by any chance?"

"Sadly I do not, Jerrica. I was not programmed with this knowledge or the knowledge of my schematics. Your father may have passed before he could have programmed such information." Synergy's face on the monitor showed one of sympathy and remorse.

Jerrica looked at her sister then at Aja. "Nothing we can do now. It's a mystery for another day. So who's for dinner?" The two other women voiced their dinner preference as they walked out of the cloaked room.

A stray beam of early morning light fell across Roxy's sleeping face. Dust danced in the sunlight as she stirred. She slowly rolled on her back and laid there enjoying the heat from the sun. She sat up and saw David meditating at the foot of her bed. The room the studio booked them was a single king size bedroom. She offered to let him have the bed but he preferred the floor. She walked past him and went into the washroom. They had an early flight back to Los Angeles.

It was Thursday and she had an appearance on the Lindsey Pierce Show that afternoon. After showering, Roxy came out to find David had ordered breakfast. "So, who's paying for this meal, the studio or Misfits Music?"

David looked up at her after cutting up some of his breakfast. "Actually, I am. It's my way of thanking you for inviting me along. I took a guess and ordered for you." He patted to a spot next to him for her to sit. "I probably could've gotten a better room for us."

"So why didn't you? Then you could have had a bed to sleep in also." She took a bite of the eggs she had just cut. "Not too bad for hotel food," she mumbled mostly to herself.

"Figured it wasn't worth the trouble, we were just here for the one night. Sleeping on the floor for one night wasn't going to kill me. Anyway, we have a flight to make." He took a bite of his breakfast. "You know what though I had a lot of fun. The view from the Empire State Building was amazing."

Roxy finished her eggs and wiped her mouth. "Yeah, it was." She noticed that David had finished with his meal. "Thanks for breakfast. It wasn't that great, but hey, it's the thought that counts." She smiled at him and gave him a hug. "Thanks for being here with me. I'm almost certain I would've strangled someone by now. Goddamn those fans are crazy. The Misfits never had fans like that before. Is this how it's going to from now on?"

"I honestly have no idea. I think this is only isolated to your fame." He thought about it while checking his bags. "Well, for now at least. I'm just worried about Lindsey's show today. She's playing the first minute of the single live on the air. Did you ever get this nervous with your first song?"

"Between you and me, I still do." Roxy checked her own bags. "Pizzazz won't admit it but she's usually the most nervous. I think it's one of the many reasons why she hated Jem for so long."

David picked up his bags and started towards the door. "I think that phase in her life is over. She's matured, and honestly, you all have. But I feel like I'm just repeating myself again." He opened the door and held it open for Roxy who was right behind him. "Let's load up the limo and I'll check out." Roxy nodded and they went down to the waiting limo. David checked out of the hotel and got into the car with her.

Once at the airport, David and Roxy found Misfits Music's private jet ready for their flight. They climbed aboard and had their luggage stowed away. David set his carry on bag on a seat across from him. Roxy sat next to him. "I really hate flying and I hope you don't mind." She gripped his hand and tried to hide her scared smile.

"Of course not, that's what I'm here for." David buckled himself in, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and the pilot announced they were clear for take off.

"Look at all of the people!" Stormer said stunned as she watched the people on the tarmac. "All of this for Roxy." She turned to look at Pizzazz. "Think we should greet the fans too?"

Pizzazz looked out of the limo's window. "No, Roxy can have her moment in the sun. Next week she'll have to share it with the rest of us." She looked up at the sky and saw the private jet beginning to descend. "Here they come."

The jet landed and taxied to a full halt. After waiting a few minutes the limo pulled up next to it and the luggage was loaded into the trunk. David climbed out first and waved to the people before him where was given a polite reaction. He climbed right into the limo without any hassle. "So Misfits Music isn't flat broke because I left for a few days?" he joked with his sisters.

Roxy began descending the stairs and was given a huge ovation. She waved to her fans and started signing autographs on her way to the limo. Stormer smiled at everyone from inside the limo. She was happy her friend was getting acceptance by the public. Roxy accepted cards and gifts as she got into the open limo door. She sat next to David and smiled at everyone. "That was easier than at the hotel." She hugged Pizzazz and Stormer warmly. She then hugged and softly kissed David on the cheek. "Thank you again for coming with. I wouldn't have lasted without you there." Stormer and Pizzazz both exchanged raised eyebrows. Roxy caught the exchange. "No! It wasn't anything like that. Just David is really good with dealing with stressful situations. A mob of obsessed fans isn't very calming."

"I thought Kimber and Jetta were coming with to pick us up," David said as the limo pulled past the fans.

"Jetta is practicing with Raya and Kimber is at Starlight Mansion helping watch the Starlight Girls. She really wanted to come but Jerrica asked her to watch them," Stormer explained. "I hope you don't mind us coming with to the studio."

Roxy could only smile at her friends. "I only wished you guys could've come with to New York. David and I did so much." She showed them pictures they took of their trip on the ride to the V-TV studio. The limo pulled up to the Lin-Z Show entrance. "Well, wish me luck guys," Roxy told them as she got out of the limo.

The clip of the Misfits new single finished playing and the audience erupted into applause. "Well, I'll say one thing for sure, Roxy, I'm very impressed. The Misfits new album sounds like a winner," Lindsey Pierce congratulated her.

Roxy blushed slightly. "Thank you, Lindsey. The single was actually improvised. I just started playing and everyone else just joined in. I think The Misfits all know each other enough to do such a thing. I do have our new manager to thank somewhat for that. He's done something that Eric Raymond never did. He talked to us and listened to what we had to say." She waved off stage at David.

"Jerry, swing a camera at David Gabor off stage. Let's let everyone see him." At Lindsey's command the cameraman did as asked. David shyly waved at the camera. The cameraman went back onto Lindsey and Roxy. "Now Roxy, before we have to leave, I have one question. Will you be doing a solo album?"

Roxy looked nervously at her feet then back at Lindsey. "I do have the option of doing that if I want. I just have to be inspired is all. So for the foreseeable future I'd have to say no." The audience expressed their disappointment.

"Okay, that's the show. I want to thank Roxy of The Misfits for stopping by. Also, I want to thank the rest of The Misfits and Misfits Music for letting me to be the first to play a clip of their new single." She waved at the camera till the red light went off.

"Thanks for having me on, Lindsey."

Lindsey walked with Roxy to the where David, Pizzazz and Stormer waited off stage. "It was no problem, Roxy."

"Hey Lindsey, I thought The Misfits had a lifetime ban from the Lin-Z Show," Pizzazz gave the blonde host a little smirk.

"I just said that in anger. You should know by now that such things don't last." Lindsey walked them to the back exit where the limo was at. She opened the door to be greeted by a mob fans screaming for each The Misfits and Roxy's autograph. Pizzazz, Stormer and Roxy each went out and signed their names. "David, you've done a great job with those women."

David smiled as he watched. "I didn't do anything, Lindsey. All I did was showed them the direction in which to go. The rest was up to them. But, I knew what you meant. So thank you." He looked back out of the door and saw them by the limo waving him over. He quickly smiled at Lindsey and ran to his friends. He put his arms around Roxy and Stormer's shoulders. They got into the limo together, shut the door and drove off.

The limo dropped Roxy and Pizzazz off at the Gabor Estate. Stormer and David were let off at Stormer's house. "Kimber should be home by now, David." She unlocked the door and went inside with him following closely. "Kimber! David's here! You home?" There was no answer and she shrugged at him. "Maybe she left a note or something."

Stormer checked her answering machine. The messages were mostly telemarketing and hang ups. "Hi, Mary. It's me, Kimber. Tell David to stop by the Starlight Mansion when he's free. I have something to ask him. Well, talk to you later. Love ya, babe!" It was the last message on the machine.

"So you'll give me a ride there?" David asked walking to the door. "My car is still at the Misfits Music parking garage." Stormer grabbed her car keys and led him out the door.

"I take it you and Roxy got closer, David?" She asked turning onto the main highway.

"Yeah, I guess we did. The hotel room was decent. My only complaint was they only had single bed rooms available. I slept on the floor but we've become closer friends." He turned to look out the window. "I helped her with her reading comprehension on the ride home. I think the term is soaking information up like sponge is what best describes her progress."

Stormer pulled through the gates of the Starlight Mansion. "Here you are." She pulled around the curved driveway to the door. "I'm glad that you and Roxy bonded. I've always thought of her as a best friend even if she was mean to me. See you later."

David opened the door and got out before closing it he leaned in. "Thanks for the ride. I'll drop Kimber off tonight. We can talk more then." He shut the car door and went to the mansion door. Stormer drove off as he lightly knocked. The door opened a crack and he saw half of Aja's face peek through. "Hi Aja, Kimber said she'd be here. Is she around?"

Aja opened the door all the way. "David!" She swept him up in a big hug startling and confusing him at the greeting. "Of course she's here. By the way, Roxy was wonderful on Lindsey's show."

"I'll let her know. Kimber sounded like it was kinda important that I stop by." David smiled as Aja led him upstairs to Jerrica's room. She opened the door but Kimber wasn't to be seen. Aja started walking toward a wall. "Aja, wai-" He began to say but stopped when he saw her disappear through the wall. David stood there confused until an arm appeared out of nowhere and waved him in. Slowly he walked towards this phantom, mystery wall. He walked up to it and stopped. Swallowing hard he put his hand on it to test things. His hand went through the wall, it was a hologram. When he walked all the way through, he found Kimber, Jerrica, Aja and a big computer were all in the hidden room.

"David meet Synergy," Jerrica said with a smile. "It's about time the two of you met."

"wow." It was a rare thing for David to be stunned. "So, uhh, Kimber. What did you want to ask me?"

Kimber ran up to him giggling as she hugged and kissed him deeply. "I missed you but what I wanted to ask was if you're any good with electronics or computers."

"Sorry, but I'm not. At least not with anything as sophisticated like Synergy." He looked at the monitor where a purple-haired and skin toned woman was watching him. "Why do you ask?" Kimber waved him over to where a panel once was at. It looked like it needed some circuit boards and microchips. "I have no bloody clue, Kimber. I'm sorry." David sat next to Kimber on the floor and talked to Synergy for most of the night.

"…and welcome back to the Harriet Horne Show. My guest Roxy has been telling us about her act heroism. Now Roxy, what was going through your mind at the time?" the blonde host asked pointblank.

"I was thinking if I was killed, my death would've been on every damn tabloid news show across the country. Not something I'd want." The audience laughed slightly. "My only problem with all of this is the clerk who saved me from being shot in the face isn't getting his full credit." The audience applauded loudly.

Harriet clapped politely and stood up. "Roxy, I think now is time for the surprise I promised. The studio flew in two people from your past. Two people who were a big influence in your life." Roxy looked up at Harriet in confusion and an inner dread ate at her. Harriet swept her arm out in a presenting fashion. "Here they are Roxy, your Aunt Ester and your Uncle Hal. All the way from Philadelphia!" A curtain opened and there stood the abusive aunt and uncle she had ran away from when was a teenager. A scream began deep inside her mind.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "FALL FROM GRACE"

PART 3 OF INSTANT FAME