With these two chapters, the first half of Superstar is done. I'm gonna be taking a quick sabbatical 'til I get things straight for the second half of the book. Then I'll be posting again. Working on a couple of other things for the blog too. In the meantime, if you any comments or suggestions, just drop me a comment here or on Twitter (@wlsherrod) or on my author page on Facebook. Thanks again for reading and supporting Facets of Creativity!
Chapter 64: Here We Go Again
“So,
another producer wants us to jump through hoops, huh?” Terry asked. He was at
home relaxing. Of course, for him that meant practicing more on top of what
they’d practiced at rehearsal earlier that day.
“Whoop-tee-doo,”
Eric deadpanned. “I’m starting to feel a bit like a sideshow freak.”
“I
know. What d’you think, Groove?”
“We’ll
see. Russell’s been talkin’ to a guy from Musicmax Records.”
“They
must’ve gotten tired of Mikki and his attitude.” Terry smiled.
“Well,
it’s not like he was their only act, but it is safe to say.” Eric paused. “Have
you heard from Dom?”
“No.”
“Are
you okay?”
“I’ll
just have to be, won’t I?” Terry asked.
“Yeah.”
Eric sighed. “Terry, why are you doing this?”
“Doing
what?”
“Being
here with the band. Why are you doing this. What’s your motivation?”
“If
you got something on your mind, just say it, Groove.”
Eric
sighed. “I think you’re here because you’re mad at Dom for ditching you and you
wanna show her up.” Eric raised a hand, stopping Terry before he could speak.
“Yeah,
it’s great to have you back with us. You belong here, but the revenge thing, getting
back at her, you gotta let it go, cuz. It’s gonna poison everything you do and you’re too
talented to let that happen.”
Terry
sighed. “I can’t help it, Groove. I keep thinking about her all the time. ALL
the time.”
“You
gotta let her go, Terry.”
“I’m
tryin’.”
“Try
harder.” Eric looked at his watch. “I gotta go. I need a nap before work
tonight. “
“Awright,
peace.” Terry said as they man-hugged. Eric left and Terry figured he might as
well get his mail. There wasn’t much outside of junk mail, a newspaper and a
copy of the latest Vibe.
Terry
walked into his room and turned on the TV. He went to the kitchen to pour
himself a Rum and Coke when a report on Entertainment Tonight made him put the
rum down.
Mary
Hart was talking. Her lips were moving but Terry couldn’t hear anything she was
saying. He assumed it had to do with the video clips of Dominique, in a
beautiful, flowing, white wedding dress and veil and a dude, who had to be
Kevin Shields, in a sharp black tux. Terry sat heavily on the bed, his legs
failing to support him. A hole existed where his heart was moments ago and he
felt himself shutting down, shrinking down a cold lump in the center of
himself. Tears rose and Terry buried his face in his hands.
Anger
sparked and flared inside of Terry. The fire of it flowed through him like an
energizing current that exploded into action. He lashed out, throwing smashing,
breaking and screaming anything to express the fury inside him.
When
Terry came to himself, his room was a shambles. Amazingly, the window wasn’t
broken, though anything else made of glass was. The TV was a smoking ruin and
there were holes in the wall and the door. The floor was covered in trash,
glass and rubble. Terry surveyed the room. He was a little unnerved by what
he’d done. Something caught his eye and he knelt down and picked it up. It was
a picture of him and Dom. They looked so happy in the picture. At the moment it
was taken, Terry thought that was how they’d be for their rest of their lives.
Too bad reality didn’t match up with his dreams.
All
the anger, desire and thwarted dreams coalesced and crystallized inside him
then. He knew what he had to do.
“You’re
not getting away that easily, bitch.” Terry growled as he crumpled the picture.
The
phone rang and Eric cursed whoever it was that was disturbing his nap.
“Hello,”
He snapped.
“I’ve
got to go.”
“What?
Who is this?” The flat, robot-like monotone didn’t sound like anyone he knew.
“Groove,
I’ve got to go.”
“Terry,
is that you?”
“I
can’t stay.” Terry droned on. “I have to go.”
“Go
where? What are you talking about?”
“To
California. To get Dom back.”
“Terry,
she’s living her own life now! Let her the fuck go!”
“I
can’t,” Terry intoned. “She’s mine, Groove. No one else’s. I’m gonna show her,
Groove. I’ll make her see.” Eric was about to speak his mind, but Terry had
already hung up.
“Damn,
Terry.” The gutbuzz in Eric’s stomach kicked into overdrive. He wanted to do
something, but he didn’t know what that would be. Terry was grown and was
capable of making his own decisions and, regrettably, his own mistakes.
Chapter 65: Leavin’ On a Jet Plane
Within
a week, Terry had either given away or sold most of his possessions. He’d even
managed to sell his car. All he was taking to California was his acoustic
guitar, a keyboard and a duffle bag full of clothes. He was waiting on his cab
to take him to Midway when there was a knock at the door. He thought it was
Eric trying to stop him from leaving.
He
was only half right.
“Denise?”
Terry said.
“Hi,”
She said and sauntered into the bare room. “I was hoping I’d catch you before
you left.”
“Why?”
“You
like me. I know you do. I can see it in your eyes…feel it when we’re close to
each other.” Denise said as she moved closer to him. “You can’t leave. The
group needs you…” She caressed his face. “…I need you.” Terry grabbed her hand,
effectively stopping her.
“Don’t
do that.”
“Why?”
Against his better judgment, Terry looked at her: She had on a light blue
sundress that contrasted nicely with her light chocolate skin and matched the
open toed sandals she wore. Denise’s limpid brown eyes pulled Terry in even as
he tried to look away and her shapely body, braless beneath the dress, pulled
at his attention as well.
“I…I
gotta stay focused.”
“Maybe
there’s a reason.” Denise said as she gently pressed the full, sleek and warm
length of her body against Terry. “Don’t spoil something that could be a
beautiful thing, Terry.” She gently kissed him for emphasis.
Terry
reluctantly broke the kiss. “I can’t.” He breathed.
“Yes,
you can.” She kissed him again and Terry responded, pulling her closer.
Their
embrace grew more and more passionate and Terry started to let himself go and
enjoy it. That’s when he saw Dominique in his mind, looking so happy in her
wedding dress next to her husband. Anger seeped into him and cooled his ardor.
No matter how beautiful Denise was, she wasn’t the one he wanted. He gently
pushed Denise away.
“What’s
the matter?” She asked. “Why did you stop?”
“Denise,
you are an incredible, wonderfully gifted, woman. If things were different, I’d
love to be your man…”
“But
you’re in love with someone else.”
Terry
nodded. “All I see is her and I’m going to get her back.”
“What
about your music.”
“I
still want that. And it will happen.”
Terry gazed straight into Denise’s eyes as he spoke and she saw the fire and
absolute certainty there.
“Yeah,
it will.” She grinned and kissed his cheek. “Good luck and be careful.” She
said and walked out.
Doubt
dropped into him and Terry wondered if he might be making a mistake. He could
still go back to Avant Groove, still go to Denise and let her love him like she
wanted him to. He could still change his mind.
Then
he heard a horn blow out front. He was conflicted for a brief moment, then
Dominique’s face appeared in his mind and all doubts fled and were replaced by
a diamond hard resolve.
The
horn blew again and Terry grabbed his belongings and walked out to take back
what was his.
END OF BOOK 1
(c)2015 W.L.& Courtney Sherrod
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