The Stage (Phoenix Rising #1) (40 page)

We’re a family now. He holds me close, scenting me in the huge king sized bed, and I sleep, dreaming about a meadow full of flowers just ripe for the picking.

*     *     *

It’s the finale. Kolton and I arrived together. We didn’t bother hiding at all. He even held my hand as I checked in for hair and make-up. It feels like I don’t have to worry because he’s taking care of it.

I love that about him.

In between our performances are ones from so many big wigs in the music industry. Rania Steele, Jennifer Star, The Mad Kings, and The Band Trump.

I’m singing fan choices tonight. They picked my very first song, “When I’m Gone” by Anna Kendrick. For this song, I’m wearing jeans, TOMS shoes, and a flannel shirt. I get to use my looping pedal like I do in my solo live performances back home. I model my technique after KT Tunstall when she performs “Black Horse and The Cherry Tree,” building the song as I go.

I have back-up dancers, and on either side of me are two kids who are this year’s cup stacking world record holder and runner up. They’re so quick as they stack and re-stack, collapse and rebuild. All the while, I’m taking the sounds they’re making to loop into the beat with my looping pedal. The crowd loves it, their excitement through the roof.

As I finish the song, I’m feeling again like I’ve had a chance to come full circle. I feel so grateful, like, no matter what, I’m a winner because of all the changes I’ve experienced. Because of Kolton, and because of being able to face my fears on that stage yesterday.

Then, after Jessie and Blaire perform their defining moments of the season, and a performance by Rania Steele, the three of us are brought out to find out the final two moving forward. Chuck Faraday says, “The two people moving forward tonight are,” and then he pauses, looks at the notes and says, “Jessie Law—you—are—safe!” Blaire hugs her and comes to stand next to me. I can feel her shaking. Or is it me?

“And the final contestant who’s still in the running for the title, the million dollar recording deal, and a chance at winning America’s most coveted trophy is—Mia Phoenix!” I turn to face Blaire whose face drops. She puts her hands up to her face and takes a deep breath. I reach out to her and she hugs me.

“Hey, not too bad for a boring dresser,” she says, patting me on the back. “Don’t forget the little people who never snitched on you to the press,” she whispers, and then laughs before she walks over to Jessie, who hugs her, too.

She did figure out why I was getting out of Kolton’s car outside the hotel that day. I guess I can forgive her for talking to the other contestants about it now.

We cut to commercial. As I have to run back to wardrobe and get changed into a long white tulle dress, with a black sash and black headband for my next performance, I’m blown away by how well she took that. I think I would have been a lot sadder than she was.

My second performance is “Warrior” by Beth Crowley. They keep it simple. Yeah, all except for the symphony behind me. It’s like a living dream. I love this song because it represents that time when I finally shared my feelings for Kolton. I let down all my emotional walls. It was the end of our staying apart. When I sing, I sing it to him. I watch his eyes twinkle in the lights and know mine are, too.

Jessie sings this amazing version of “Red” by Taylor Swift. It was her first live show song. I get teary eyed watching her from backstage once I get out of my last wardrobe change. As she’s stepping off the stage, I hug her. “So good, Jessie.” She nods, and gives me a hug.

In between our performances are more from big wigs in the music industry. Jennifer Star, The Mad Kings, and then, finally The Band Trump.

And then Kolton and I walk out together holding hands and sing “Stay,” by Rhianna. This time, we aren’t fighting for each other so much anymore. We’ve gone through the worst of it. The rest is just gravy. I remember Brianna saying something like that to me back months ago when we were shooting the taped shows. I feel it so deeply within me, this need to stay with him. To work through our problems. We are the epitome of “Stay.”

Ending the song, feeling such a deep attraction, we have to fight the urge to kiss. I console myself with the thought that it’s only a few more minutes until we’re free of the binds of this show making us forbidden. Not that we’ve bothered to hide much anymore, but it’s the principle of the thing.

When we go to commercial break, it’s almost time for the final announcement. Kolton hugs me so tightly I can feel his chest tense up. He leans down and says, “It doesn’t matter what happens right now. You’ve gotten everything you can from this experience. You’re a winner no matter what.” As he walks back to his seat, I can’t help but admire the view. He walks so effortlessly, the man I love.

They’re counting down. The lights turn up when they get to three. On one, “You’ve watched these two performers all season long in a battle for the coveted top spot as the winner of season one of
The Stage
. We all know what’s at stake here: a million dollar record contract, a world tour. But I’d like to give each of you a chance to say something to your coaches. Jessie.”

“Danny, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You saved me when I lost the round back before the live shows, and, without you, I wouldn’t have had this chance to try and prove myself to the world. You’ve already changed my life by taking a chance on me. Thank you so much.” Danny nods and looks like he has tears in his eyes.

“Mia,” Chuck says.

“All those months ago, Kole, you said to me, you said, ‘You’re going to learn to trust me.’ And you know what, I do, more than I ever could have predicted back then. You’ve taught me that I don’t have to do this alone, that I’m stronger than I’ve ever realized. And now I know, no matter what happens right now,” I say, taking Jessie’s trembling hand in mine, “my life will never be the same. And all of this is because, all those months ago, you saw something in me that’s in you, too, and you believed in me. So, thank you for that.” Kolton has his hands grasped to his mouth. And it’s true. If he hadn’t seen my YouTube videos and asked me to the call back, had I not had that producer contact me after being prompted by him, I never would have tried out at all. Both of the coaches are leaning forward on the table.

The lights change. The music pounds like a fearful heart.

“The winner of Season One of The Stage is—

“JESSIE LAW!”

It’s automatic. The crowd is a loud hum of excitement. I hug her. She hugs me. Confetti rains from the ceiling. She starts jumping up and down as I move off into the sidelines. I mean. I thought I’d win. But, then again, it seems like exactly the right thing has just happened.

Chuck Faraday hands her the mic. She’s crying as the music comes on and she begins her finale song, “The Best Days of Your Life” by Kellie Pickler. Her voice is cracking in the best way because of her emotions getting in the way.

I’m stunned. The reality of the outcome of this life-changing event is setting in. But deep down, I know Jessie deserves to win. If I’d won, I might’ve had to answer to cheating rumors, to a lawsuit by the show for breaking my contract. She should get the deal because she
did
follow all the rules. What if she’d had a hard time getting a record contract on her own? And then, her winning really sinks in. I’m not jealous or sad. I’m more than happy for her.

When I feel a tap on my shoulder, Riley hugs me up on stage. “You shoulda won!” she yells over the music.

“Thank you, Riley,” I yell over the music, “for putting up with all of this for me. I’m sorry I didn’t win.”

“It’s okay, ‘cause now I have Deloris and you’re super famous.” She says and I know she’s right. The wins for us keep adding up.

Kolton comes to just off stage and puts his arms around me. I watch Jessie savor this moment of reaching her biggest dream—a dream we shared, but she actually accomplished. This show has done for my career exactly what I’d hoped for. I know my parents would have been so proud of me. And I’m grateful to my dad for teaching me how to play and to my mom for teaching me how to sing.

Wrapped up in Kolton’s embrace, it feels like I’ve been given my wings and taught to fly by the best in the industry. There’s nowhere to go from here but up.

Book Two Preview

A
fter interviews, press, pictures, and the longest night of my life, Kolton and I walk into the foyer of his penthouse. Riley and Deloris have already been home for about five hours. I’m holding my boots in my hand, having had them ripped off in the limo for a foot rub.

As we walk into the dark living room, I smell something pungent and sharp. “Do you have a gas leak?” I ask before stepping into something wet with my bare feet.

“What is that smell?” he asks.

“I just stepped in something,” I say. “Turn the light on for me.” As if on cue, the light flips on behind us. It takes me a second to realize what I’m seeing: Katharina Inez standing with her back hunched over and looking at us sideways. She’s holding a beer bottle with some cloth spilling out of it. Her other hand is behind her back.

There’s black eye make-up running down her face. Her clothes are dirty, her hair oily. She looks like a character from a bad horror movie.

My heart is beating in my eardrums. My whole body is shaking, and I’m looking for a way out. Riley and Deloris?

Are they okay?

“All I have to do is light it and throw this bottle at that wall right there,” she says, in a monotone whisper, pointing toward the wall between us and the front door. Everything about her gives me chills. The eerie calm hiding the irrational underneath. “You’ll never get out.”

Riley’s room, the staircase, the elevator. They are on the other side of the wall. She looks at me now, her eyes black and intense. She shakes her head ‘no,’ as if she’s reading my mind.

“I’ve already poured enough gasoline all along the floor so your little sister’ll have to escape on her own. Right? That’s her room there by the door. You hid in there once. When I came to talk to Kolton—after you stole him from me!” Her voice rising to a high pitch squeal.

What are we going to do? How did this happen? How did she get in? I grab Kolton’s hand, but let go when her lips twitch as she hones in on our grasped hands.

“Katharina, come on. Let’s just me and you go talk somewhere,” Kolton says, standing taller. His body tense.

“I’ve tried that already,” she whispers. “All I wanted was to talk to you, to my tiger. But she won’t share, and then you got a restraining order against me. You leave me no choice.” She’s monotone again, pacing.

“Katharina, put that bottle down. You’ll get hurt, sweetie, and then you won’t be able to model anymore. I don’t want you to get hurt, okay?” Kolton tries, putting his hands out, like he means to soothe her.

“Oh, I don’t
want
to model anymore,” she says, almost like it’s funny. She’s looking at the glass bottle in her hand. “The only way out’ll be the patio, climbing down the emergency exit. But you’ll have to go alone. You won’t be able to save your sister this time. No more heroes!” and then she smiles. It’s a hollow, vacant smile. Mixed with the black eyes, it seems to seal our fate. My heart is pounding. My body preparing for fight or flight.

I have to run. If I make it past her, I could get to Riley before she has a chance to light and throw the bottle full of accelerant.

“You won’t be a hero anymore,” she laughs. It’s a maniacal laugh you’d expect to hear from some villain on TV, not in real life.

Kolton moves up behind me really close and whispers, “When I move, go get Riley,” he demands.

She brings the lighter out from behind her back, her thumb pressing on the metal circle.

Then the sound of the metal flick of the lighter—he pushes me out of the way as he grabs her arms. I run. I hear the glass crash, but I keep going.

I open the door to Riley’s room, throw the covers off of her, just like last time. I pick her up out of bed and run. She’s heavier now, but adrenaline gives me strength enough to keep going. I smell fire, hear Kolton yelling from somewhere else—maybe the kitchen. I press the elevator button. Smoke everywhere and the smell of gasoline burns my nostrils, the roaring sound of fire feels like it’s chasing me.

Then screaming again, hers and Kolton’s. I stop for a second, after the door opens. Should I put her in the elevator without me? I could try and help him.

When I hear him yell, “Run Mia! Run!” I step into the elevator and press every button here until the doors close on the hell the apartment has become.

“Mia? What happened?” Riley screams and falls down on the metal floor. The smoke followed us into the closed up space. “Was it a fire?” She’s gasping.

We’re both coughing and hacking, and I’m holding her, shaking together in the corner of the little metal room. I feel us being pulled down toward the ground. It smells like gasoline, and my feet are burning on the bottom from when I’d stepped into it with my bare feet.

“What about Kolton? Deloris?” She’s screaming, frantic, her little face a mirror image of what she looked like almost two years ago. “We have to help them.” She’s begging me to save them—just like last time.