12. The Fortress
THE FORTRESS
ALEXIA
T he woods are dark, cold, and eerie. I can barely see where I’m running, but I know it’s safer than where I am. “Alexia! Don’t run away for me. I’m helping!” He screams, only making me run faster.
I need to get away.
I have to get away.
My legs pump faster. I’m running for my life until I’m tackled to the ground.
My eyes shoot open when my alarm goes off, waking me from the dream of a not-so-great memory. Peeling my eyes open, I realize I am now the winner of The MorningStar/Golden Star Sweepstakes, and I have to go to an interview with StarStruck Magazine this morning.
Shit.
This also reminds me just how pissed I am at my sister. I get out of bed and head over to the closet to figure out what the hell I am going to wear today.
Looking through my clothes, I feel as if I have nothing to wear. I wish I packed cuter stuff. I finally pick out a black high-waisted pleated skirt, textured tights, and a black corset top. I pair my whole outfit with platform heels and leave my hair down, fluffing it out. I think this could really work for the interview.
I get ready but wait to put on my outfit until it’s closer to the time to leave.
I walk inside the living room to find Lia sitting on the couch, watching a movie while going through some shopping bags. “Good morning, bitch,” I greet her and sit down.
“Morning, Lexi, try on this dress,” Aaliyah says, holding out a blue sparkly dress.
“What’s the party dress for?” I ask, taking the dress and holding it up. It’s a pretty dress but where would I even wear this dress too.
“Don’t be mad,” Lia says with caution.
“Whenever you say don’t be mad, nine out ten I will be, so get on with it so I can say no,” I tell them, sitting the dress on the coffee table.
“Yesterday, Marina invited me to this party in Hollywood tonight and I thought we could go,” she explains.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“At least think about it, please,” Aaliyah pleads.
“No,” I reply as I make my way up my room and throw the dress to the side, falling back on the bed.
I waste some time before I have to leave to go do the interview which thankfully only my mom accompanies me to. I’m surprised she left Lia at the house, but she did. It only takes about two hours, then we take a tour of the recording studio at Golden Star, which is beyond incredible before grabbing some lunch and heading home.
I search around my room for something to do now that I am available for the rest of the day. I decide on reading one of the books left in here for me. I feel like doing something calming right now, and for once there’s nothing to do. Not that I am complaining, I’ve been so busy the past few days, so this is nice.
After I have made it halfway through the book, I decide to finish a song I started writing titled “Spring Break”. I honestly don’t know exactly what it's about yet but maybe finishing it will help me figure that out. I go over to the bay window and pick up the guitar. Taking a seat, I pull out my songbook. I flip to page eight. I haven’t picked up a guitar in a while; it feels a little strange but nice, too. I begin playing, trying to let my creativity flow till I’m done with the song.
“That’s a good song,” I hear someone say from the door, I quickly look up to see Scarlett and Raven standing in the doorway. Shit, I wasn’t expecting anyone to walk in.
“Hi,” I mumble while sitting the guitar to the side.
“I take it writing music is more of a private thing you do,” Raven says, and I nod.
“Stage fright, maybe?” Scarlett asks, walking into the room.
“No, I just never played for people other than my best friend Faith and my family,” I tell them.
“You should. What’s the song called?” Raven asks, joining Scarlett and walking into the room.
“That is still pending,” I answer, standing from the bay window seat.
“Well, we didn’t come here to interrogate you about your musical talents,” Raven says before Scarlett finishes the sentence.
“But we wanted to ask if you wanted to come over?”
I find the words caught in my throat as I hear the question. Holy shit, they did not just ask me to come over! I’m really dreaming now. No one has ever seen where The MorningStars live but I’ve just been invited to.
“Why?” I have to ask as I’m confused.
“Because we like hanging out with you, silly,” Scarlett answers.
“I’d love to come over, but first, I need to change and tell my mom,” I tell them.
“Take your time,” Scarlett says and sits on the couch in my room while Raven looks around.
I walk out of the main part of my room and go to the closet and pick out my outfit which will be a plaid mini skirt with a black tank top that says I don’t smoke in red letters and my Converse. I need to look good going over there. I text my mom, telling her they asked me to come over, and she agrees since she and Lia are going sightseeing soon. Perfect!
“Do I need to bring anything?” I ask them as I start to pack my bag.
“Maybe a bikini and a change of clothes if you want,” I hear Scarlett say. I go to my suitcase and choose a purple metallic bikini and pack some extra shorts and a random T-shirt with all the normal things I put in my bag.
I change and go into the bathroom to brush my teeth so my breath is fresh. Then I spray perfume on and put on some more deodorant and finally some highlighter before grabbing my bag.
“I’m ready.”
“Alright, let’s ride,” Raven says, jumping up from the bed and walking out. I text Lia and my mom that I’m leaving. I make sure my mom replies before I leave.
Raven drives us to Malibu in her dark blue Jaguar and we stop for smoothies along with cake pops on the way for fun. Scarlett also thought It’d be fun to take pictures, so we did. Scarlett sends some of the pictures we take to the group chat, entitled Avengers 2.0, which I am now added to. I try not to freak out because I am actually becoming friends with them.
Everyone is named after a character in Marvel. It was Zara’s idea when she made everyone take a Marvel quiz Scarlett tells me. Raven is Black Widow, Scarlett is Hawk Eye, Emerson is Captain America they changed the A to E, Noah is Thor, Grayson is Loki, Shawn is Nick Fury, Kenan is Tony Stark, Charlie is Spider-man, Zara is Wanda, and I am Doctor Lex Strange.
“Welcome to the fortress,” Scarlett says as we drive up in the driveway.
“It’s also close to Charlie’s penthouse,” Raven says.
“Most of us have two houses. This one, the one we live in and another where all public things go on,” Raven explains. They really like their privacy.
“You all live here?” I ask.
“Technically, yes, but Shawn and Grayson are the only ones who don’t stay here full-time,” Raven answers.
Raven drives up into the parking garage and parks the car beside like ten others before unlocking the doors. How many cars do they have? I genuinely have no idea what they do with all of these.
We go around to the front of the house, which has large flower bushes, perfectly cut grass, and a stone path leading to the door. The mansion is a white, modern architectural style with large windows. The shape looks like a bunch of rectangles connecting, plus the house sits up on a hill so you can see the large pool in the back.
Scarlett unlocks the door, letting us enter a large space with glossy wooden floors and a sea animal light fracture hanging from the ceiling. “Welcome to The Fortress!” Raven says, placing her keys inside the table by the door. I look around, taking it all in. To the right are some steps that go to a platform with a seating area along with a piano and guitars. In front of me is a wall with music records covering it, and to the left in the middle are some floating stairs with glass railings.
This is a beautiful house.
“Hey, we’re back!” Raven yells out. We walk to the right, which leads into the large living room and music area, and Scarlett starts hooking up some instruments. Over in part of the living room, there are boxes, packages, and envelopes.
“What are all those?” I ask.
“Fan mail, brand deals, PR packages,” Raven answers, walking down past the living room into what looks to be a dining room.
“Lexi!” Charlie exclaims, squeezing me into a big hug.
“Hey, Charlie,” I say, laughing a little.
“Don’t kill her, Charlie,” Kenan says, appearing as well. Charlie lets go of me and goes over to Scarlett, tackling her onto the sofa and planting kisses everywhere on her.
“I missed you, pretty girl,” he says in the dreamiest voice ever.
If I could shoot myself, I would.
“I’m sure she missed you too. Come on, lover boy,” Shawn says, pulling Charlie off Scarlett. When did he show up?
“It’s nice to see you again,” Shawn says.
“You didn’t have ballet today,” Raven says as more of a question.
“No, Madame had a doctor's appointment,” Zara answers, looking down at the floor.
“Where’s Grayson?” I ask, noticing he’s absent.
“On set with Emmy and Noah. They have to film behind-the-scenes tapes and an interview,” Charlie answers. “He’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“Come on, stop the boy talk. Let’s play some music,” Raven says, slinging on her bass.
I watch Raven and Scarlett play for a while and talk to Zara as well. She doesn’t seem like much of a talker, but I try to get her to loosen up. We all tried making a pyramid because they wanted to see some more cheer skills. I even managed to teach Raven how to do a back walkover. Shawn brought us all pizza as lunch, and me and Zara made pink lemonade to go with it.
“Lex, why don’t you sing this with me and Scar,” Raven suggests.
“Yeah, I want to hear you sing!” Charlie exclaims.
“I don’t know,” I try to say something to get out of this.
“You’ll be great. Just try,” Kenan says. I sigh and get up from beside Zara. Charlie holds out Grayson’s guitar, I recognize it from the performances.
“Are you sure I should be touching this?” I ask, skeptically.
“He won’t be mad if you touch now, he might beat me up, but eh, whatever.” Charlie shrugs. I take the guitar and put it over my head slowly. Why wouldn’t he be mad if I touched it?
“You’re singing lead. I’m sure you know the lyrics,” Scarlett says before starting their song called “Lover Boy”. It's more of an uplifting chicklit song that also somehow shares feelings of how you feel about a boy.
I’ve never performed anything outside of musical performances at school, so this is new and I’m super nervous. Surprisingly, I’m actually able to open my mouth, sing, and play the cords just as Grayson walks in.