Part 7 - The Past

“He said what?” Cynthia could barely believe her ears when I told her what happened before Dany offered me the job. “Honey, you know I was the one to push you into that meeting, but you need to be smart about this. Do I need to remind you about Adrian?”

Adrian is an ex boyfriend. He used to be part of a fairly famous band that quickly abused their fame and then split up due to character differences. Adrian and I started pretty much the same way I met Dany, only I was much younger and needed much less to be much more impressed.

Back then I was head over heels in love with Adrian. He would spend every minute he could with me, making me believe I was special. We were official for a couple of months, until I walked in on him being particularly friendly with a groupie after a concert in Hamburg. We then had an off again, on again relationship that lasted for over a year until I ended it, partly pressured by Cynthia. My relationship with Adrian tested me, my career and my friendship with Cynthia. Luckily, all of it survived this and came out stronger in the end.

Cynthia hated the time until I officially ended it with Adrian and I stopped taking his calls or attending their concerts. She was unhappy back then because I quit her magazine to pursue the foolish girl dream of having my bad boy. And he broke my heart.

She was unhappy now because I was repeating the same thing. I tried to explain it’s not exactly the same since this time I have a job, not to mention my name was known in the business and many magazines would offer me a job if they knew I was looking for one. But looking back at this, she had every right to be unhappy and bitch at me. Cynthia knew full well this job I was taking was only available until me and Dany got tired of each other.

“Look, I know what happened with Adrian and you know I learned my lesson. Maybe Dany isn’t as bad as you think him to be, ma– “

“Are you out of your mind, An? He’s a rock star! Just because you want him to be your rock star that he’ll be different than Adrian or any of the rock star boyfriends I’ve had!”

Few hours later, I found myself walking out of the hotel and climbing into a silver car that waited for me outside. I was alone with myself for the first time in the past few days and I couldn’t stop hearing Cynthia’s words in my head. At some point I realized I still had to call Ron and tell him I quit and in my mind I started playing out how our conversation would go. Every each way I played it out, Ron was shouting at me over the phone, repeating what Cynthia had been saying to me over the past hours.

My head felt overcrowded, overfilled with people’s words and judgment. I got my phone out and dialed Jayden’s number.

01.06.2013

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Part 6 - Confessions

My heart skipped a bit and for a very long minute, I stared at him. Part of me wanted to say it back to him, part of me wanted to punch him. 

You see, when a woman meets The Guy, she knows. And she knows right away. It doesn’t matter if he’s a rock star, a guy you bumped into when you weren’t watching where you’re driving your cart in the store, someone who bought you a drink at the bar. It just makes no difference. When you see him, you know. And there’s a part of you that wants to scream at the world how much you love him. 
The tricky part with rock stars? They can rarely be trusted. 
That’s why my mind was running on double speed, trying to figure out what to say to break the silence. 

“Love, you barely know me. Maybe you should give me a chance to prove to you I’m just like any regular guy.” 
“No, Dany. Even if I wanted this, I can’t do it. I cannot afford to travel around with you.” 
“Why?” 
“Because I have a job.” 
“Then quit. You’ll earn more than enough by being our photographer.” 
He was now pacing around the room, approaching me. And he had his most charming grin on. 
“And how does that work out exactly, Dany? I stand there night after night, waking up in a different city every morning and expecting the moment when I’ll walk on you and a groupie?” 
 With two more steps he was standing right in front of me, his hands cupping my face. Before I could do anything, his lips touched mine. I didn’t struggle. 
I had to give it to Dany, he certainly had everything thought-out and planned. He had the answer to all my questions. 

“I swear to God, I will rip Dany’s balls off if he hurts her, Jayden. You better tell him that.” 
I could hear Cynthia cursing outside the door. Right about now, I was becoming a little fearful for Jayden, who was outside with her. She was a raging bull and all the men wore the color red right now. 

Pushing Dany away from me, I went to the door and opened it a little. It came as no surprise that Cynthia stormed in and locked eyes with Dany. Then she looked at me, as if to make sure I’m okay. 
Jayden walked right behind her, smirking, as if he knew what had happened between me and Dany. 

“Cynthia, Jayden, sit down because we need to talk,” I said in a voice that barely sounded like mine. 
They both sat down – Jayden next to Dany and Cynthia next to me. For a very long minute silence fell in the room until I broke it with my barely-sounding-like-mine voice. 
“Dany and I talked about my future as a journalist and…” 
“And about your future, as in Dany The Rock Star and his girlfriend?” Cynthia took out a cigarette and lit it, nervously inhaling and exhaling the smoke. 
“Yes. Dany offered me a job as Vicious’ photographer. Cynthia, I need you to back me up on this and help me.” 

I can’t deny Cynthia looked more than unhappy when I said that. She knew full well what those words meant and she didn’t like it. She hesitated a moment, playing with the lighter in her hand. 
 “Dany, Jayden, you’re part of Vicious, I want you to make a contract for Anya. You,” she pointed at Dany with her long finger and narrowed her eyes, “and her dating doesn’t mean there will be no contract.” 

Dany smiled. 

22.12.2010 
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