On the Flip Side (9 page)

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Authors: Nikki Carter

BOOK: On the Flip Side
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“I know, Drama. Evan told me he wanted her there. Are you cool with that?”
“I'm cool if you are. I just wanted to get your take on the whole thing.”
Mystique sighs deeply. “Honestly, I don't really like it. I've been working really hard to separate your brand from Drama, but Evan insists on putting you back together on stage. He thinks it'll be good for Epsilon Records as a whole.”
“Have you shared your concerns?”
She chuckles. “You don't
share
your concerns with Evan. You do what he says. I'm a pretty big star for Epsilon, and I can throw my weight around a little bit, but at the end of the day, I have a contract and albums to fulfill. It seemed like they were giving me some freedom with Mystical Sounds, but now they're taking it all back.”
“That's kind of messed up... .”
“Yeah, it's real messed up, but they're the money behind the operation. There's really nothing I can do. Zac and Evan are good friends too, so I'm kind of stuck here.”
“So that means I'm stuck with Dreya on stage with me at the performance.”
“Yes, but not those skanks she's taken to hanging out with. They are not Epsilon artists, and the vixen chick just looks like she stinks. No thank you.”
“All right. I'll call you back later and let you know how it goes. Dreya's acting pretty normal, which is actually kind of crazy for her.”
“Okay. You can handle it. A real star shines in every situation. Drama can't take anything away from you.”
“Thanks, Mystique. Talk to you later.”
I end the call feeling less optimistic about Evan than I did before. I wonder why he's taking a liking to Dreya. It's probably because I asked too many questions and she doesn't make it a secret that we're not the best of friends. Maybe it's his way of getting the scoop on what my camp is doing.
I turn on the smile when I get back outside with the crew. I don't want them to think that something is up, because even though Dreya is here, we're still going to enjoy this weekend.
DeShawn is talking to Sam, which makes me a little nervous, but they seem to be hitting it off. Sam's arms are waving wildly as he talks, which lets me know he's talking about music. DeShawn is listening intently. So far so good. As long as DeShawn doesn't flirt with me, we should have a fun time.
Kevin starts pulling the luggage-laden cart toward the door. “Excuse me! A little help here!”
Sam rushes to help Kevin pull the cart inside. DeShawn takes this opportunity to whisper in my ear. “Don't worry, I won't tell Sam about us.”
A little growl escapes my throat. Who does DeShawn think he is? I mean, yes, he is ridiculously fine, and yes ... he has a muscle-bound body to boot, but he doesn't have anything on Sam.
DeShawn chuckles and jogs ahead to help the guys with the bags. Gia links arms with me while Meagan and Piper follow closely behind.
“What are you going to do about DeShawn?” Gia asks. “He's bold as what!”
Piper says, “Yeah, he kept talking about how he was gonna get you to break up with Sam.”
I shake my head. “I'm not gonna do anything about him. I wish he wasn't here, but I guess he's cool with Kevin and Ricky.”
Meagan says, “I don't see what's so wrong with giving him some play. Didn't you just get mad at Sam for tongue kissing some skank at the club? Looks like he's having his fun.”
“I believe what Sam told me about being drugged,” I say. “Why would he even tell me if he was up to no good?”
“Maybe he thought you'd find out anyway and that it was inevitable,” Meagan says.
“Now you sound like my pessimistic cousin, Dreya, who's here by the way.”
Gia crinkles her nose. “Drama is here? Why?”
“She's performing with us at the AMAs. So, I'm stuck with her, according to the record company.”
“Well, I hope she doesn't start any mess,” Piper says. “I want to have fun this weekend and not end up on the Internet.”
“Tell me about it,” I say.
Not starting anything would be completely unlike Dreya, but maybe she's ready for a change in her world too. She's not really getting anywhere with her funky attitude and gangsta antics. This could be the opportunity for a wonderful change.
Yeah ... well ... I can wish, can't I?
13
“S
o here are the moves.... They're really simple, but the slickness of it is to keep your upper body completely still while you move your feet, legs, and knees.”
Gia must see the look of sheer confusion on my face, because she continues, “Just watch me and Ricky, and then you'll see what I mean.”
Ricky uses the remote control to turn on the music. When the music blares from the speakers, they slide across the conference room floor with ease, like they're not even thinking of the next move. They both have serious facial expressions, but when they get to the chorus, both their faces light up with smiles. So, the somber faces must've been intentional.
When the music ends, Dreya laughs out loud and says, “Girl, bye! I don't know who you think is about to do all of that. I am not doing all that sliding and jumping and dropping on my knees.”
“I want to try to learn,” I say, “but I'm nowhere near as talented as you guys. This is going to take a miracle.”
Gia pulls me onto the floor. “Not a miracle, but a lot of practice.”
“Does anyone else want to learn?” I ask. “Here's your chance to be on the American Music Awards.”
Both Meagan and Kevin shake their heads no, but Piper jumps up. “I thought you'd never ask,” she says.
“Can you dance?” Ricky asks.
“I'm gonna ignore that obviously racially motivated comment! Of course I can dance. Do you think I'd make a fool out of myself in front of you meanies?”
Kiki and Tasia stand up too, even though I wasn't really talking to them. They're part of Dreya's entourage anyway, so if she's not gonna learn the dance, why are they trying to learn it? DeShawn decides to join us as well.
When everyone in the room is standing in two straight lines, Dreya stomps over. “I will try, but if I don't get it quick, then I'm done.”
Kevin stands up, and says, “Meagan and I are going to the beach. We'll see y'all at dinnertime.”
Ricky and Gia exchange surprised glances that melt into smiles. I wonder what they're thinking. I've noticed Kevin and Meagan hitting it off on more than one occasion, and he's her type too.
I look over my shoulder at Piper, and she's frowning, but Kevin made it clear that he wasn't trying to get at her. I don't think she wanted to admit that, but it's the truth.
“Okay, everybody. This should be simple because it's basically five moves, and then we do variations of them on each turn. So the first is stomp, stomp, kick, cross, stomp. We'll start off slowly.”
After a few tries, everyone gets the first move, except Dreya. But she's not trying very hard.
“We're not going to go on until Drama gets it,” Gia says. “Everyone, take five except me, Ricky, and Drama.”
They work with her for another fifteen minutes, and she gets it. Finally. But we've got four more moves to go.
By the time we learn the entire routine, it's three hours later and we are drenched in sweat. Kevin and Meagan finally rejoin us, both looking as if they've had a wonderful time.
“Kevin, can you record us doing this step?” I ask. “We're going to give everyone copies of it so we can practice.”
“Who's got the camera?”
I point to my bag that's sitting on the chair. Meagan rushes to get the camera for Kevin, and then he smiles appreciatively when she hands it to him.
“Thank you, Meagan.”
“You're welcome, Kevin.”
Gia looks at me and we hurry to start the dance, before Piper has a chance to get heated.
We get through the routine on the first try, even Dreya. It's incredible that she was able to learn all those steps. I think she was embarrassed because her little groupies were down with it.
“Can we please get something to eat now?” DeShawn says. “I am hungry den a mug.”
“So am I!” Meagan concurs.
“Are we doing room service or what?” I ask. “I'm too tired to go back out.”
Sam says, “I'm with Sunday. Room service sounds great.”
“Don't worry, y'all. We'll charge it to the room,” I say when everyone looks at me kind of strange.
“Do you think you should run that by Mystique or Evan?” Dreya asks.
Since when did she care about spending money? Especially someone else's money! And I know she's not about to start acting like she's the good girl, on the straight and narrow, and that wild Sunday is the one spending up the money all recklessly.
“They expect for us to eat, Dreya. That's not a big deal.”
“I just don't think Evan would want them eating room service. It's expensive, and he would rather spend the money on more important things than food and beverage.”
Okay, now this is really feeling trippy, like some kind of alternate Twilight Zone reality.
“How do you know so much about what Evan wants?” Sam asks the obvious question that was hovering at the forefront of my mind.
“We had a long talk and he's about his business. Don't get mad at me because Evan and I connected. He's about to change the game and I'm trying to change it with him. That's real talk.”
Kiki gives Dreya a fist pound. “That's what's up,” Kiki says.
“Okay, for the sake of everyone's sanity, I'll call him and see what he says.”
I take my cell phone and step out of the conference room. I don't want everyone to hear the conversation in case it goes in a direction I'm not trying to have it go, although I don't see what the big deal would be.
“Sunday, how's it going in Destin?” Evan asks without even saying hello.
“It's going well. Hey, I just wanted to run something by you before I do it, because I don't want there to be any issues.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“We've been practicing all afternoon to get this choreography down, and the crew has done a fabulous job. I'm going to email you and Mystique a video of the rehearsal.”
“Fantastic! And Drama was able to hook up with you too?”
“Yes. Surprisingly she was very cooperative.”
“Surprisingly? You thought that she wouldn't want to work with you?”
“She hasn't in the past.”
I can hear Evan sigh through the phone. “Why are you holding her to her past? If we're going to go forward like a family then we're going to have to let go of past hurts.”
Okay, first of all Dreya is my
real
family. There's no record label that can make us any closer than we already are. We're blood.
“I'm not holding on to anything. I'm just happy she's moved on, so we can all do what we need to do.”
“That's what I like to hear.”
“So, I wanted to ask you, since the team has worked so hard, if you had an objection to us getting room service. They don't really feel like getting dressed to go back out.”
“Room service, huh? Pizza Hut doesn't deliver to your hotel?”
“Um ... well ... I'm sure it does, but I want to reward everyone for their dedication.”
“Aren't you paying them to be on the show?”
“Yes?”
“Aren't you allowing them the opportunity to be seen around the world?”
“Um ... yes, I suppose.”
“You suppose? You aren't sure?”
This conversation is going down a slippery slope into the tremendously irksome. “I am sure. Are you telling me you don't want me to do the room service? Let's cut to the chase.”
I hear Evan chuckle. “Let me say this. If you decide to feed everyone room service, steak and lobster, like a big dog, trying to show off, then it will be your decision. But I will say that it's coming out of your royalty money.”
“Why don't you check your books, Evan? I've made a lot of money and hardly spent any. I should have quite a bit at my disposal.”
“You're right, Sunday. You have been thrifty, and I like that in you. You haven't done anything flashy, or blown a lot of money on stupid stuff. I just don't want you to start. It's addictive, and that's how the best of the best end up broke.”
“You would know something about that, wouldn't you? Isn't that what happened to your last crew? They ended up broke?”
“Zac told me that you were the real deal, and that I wouldn't be able to just tell you anything and have you obey. So, since you've got a good head on your shoulders, I will treat you like I'm talking to my equal. Yes, they ended up broke. They were a bunch of drug-abusing idiots. Reign Records is going to be different.”
“Okay, I believe you. But I'm making a decision tonight, to allow my crew to eat what they want. They deserve it. I deserve it.”
“Just don't think of me as your enemy, Sunday,” Evan says. “We're all on the same team.”
“All right. I will talk to you later.”
We're all on the same team?
Hmmm ... I don't know if I can believe that yet. This industry is beyond cutthroat, and everybody does what they have to do to survive. Something tells me that Evan isn't above playing dirty to come out on top.

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