15. Limelight
LIMELIGHT
ALEXIA
T he house is dim when I walk in. It’s about nine-fifteen a.m. Friday morning and I know no one's asleep, but it’s still quiet here. In a big house like this of course you can’t hear the others around. If anything, I know my mom is probably having her morning cup of coffee before she does yoga then she will get ready to go to the recording studio. Lia is most likely on the phone with Astrid.
I make my way to the kitchen to see if my mom is in there and once I walk in, I see her talking on the phone.
“Lex, come say hi to Stephan and Dex,” she says, waving me over. I walk over into the frame of the facetime call and stand beside her.
“Hey, guys.”
“Hey, Lexi Wexi, how’s Hollywood treating you?” Dexter asks.
“Don’t call me that, but it’s fun, I like it here,” I answer. I have to think about that for a second because I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to say.
“I’m glad you’re having fun. You don’t do a lot of that here,” Dexter says.
“I do too! I do cheer and hang out with Faith,” I tell him, defending myself.
“Exactly! You spend hours practicing cheer, and you spend almost all your time with Faith and you go to college,” Dexter explains.
“You’re just mad because you have nothing to do,” I say, walking away from the phone. I go and get my water, then head to my room.
Time to get ready.
My biggest dream is about to happen. I’m going to record my song at Golden Star Records. I’ve been dreaming of this moment ever since I was little when my dad first bought me a Hannah Montana guitar at five years old and taught me to play. I knew then, watching that Disney show, I wanted to be a star. The life of a pop star was for me. I never thought I would actually have the chance to record my song though, especially at my dream record label.
“For what it’s worth, you deserve this,” Lia says, as the limo stops right outside the tall building with mirrored panels.
“Thanks,” I respond, trying to play nice. Fez comes around and opens the door for us. I exit first, taking Fez’s hand letting him help me out, then my mom and Lia follow.
“I shall return once you are finished.” Fez bows and turns to go back to the limo.
“Have a great time with your hours off,” Mom tells him, and he just nods.
He really doesn’t talk much.
“Miss Kirby, we welcome you to Golden Star Records. Please follow me to meet with Mr. Ryker.” A man in a nice button-up and dress pants walks up to us. He's wearing a gold name tag that says ‘Denis’. We follow Denis inside after the doormen open the door for us. We walk into a large lobby area that has mirror ceilings, with amazing chandeliers hanging from them, glossy marble floors, a seating area in the center with the front desk toward the back by a hallway that says cafeteria. To the far right is another hallway by a grand piano. To the left is a photo wall with a headshot of every artist they have signed here, and below it is a monitor that flashes telling you what's upcoming in next to it a directory. To the back left are four golden elevators and a water bottle fill station.
I look up and around, seeing balconies above me and people walking with my reflection.
This is so much better in person. I take a video of the lobby as I follow Denis to the elevators so I can send this to Faith. I’m never deleting this video.
Denis presses the button summoning the elevator as we wait and it doesn’t take long for the golden doors to open. I’m not surprised to see the inside of the elevator is also golden. Denis presses a floor button once we are all inside and I watch as the floors go up until we stop at floor twenty-two. It’s said that each artist has a floor space, this must be theirs. I honestly never believed that rumor because no outsider has ever really been inside Golden Star, but today on this Friday I am.
It’s only been one week and I feel like my life has been flipped upside down.
Me
The infamous floor rumor is true
I send Faith the text just as we stop, and the doors open, revealing Ryker Dame waiting on the other side. My heart skips a bit seeing him as I’m not used to seeing my idols right in front of me. I’m looking at a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter. Not just that he’s won three Goldie’s too which is the Golden Star award and been placed in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of fame with Rocky Myers.
“Lex, move your ass,” I hear Lia say as I’m pushed out the elevator, sending me stumbling. Luckily, I catch myself as it would have been embarrassing to fall. I gain my balance in my heels and stand up straight.
“Welcome, Alexia. I’m pleased to have you here and producing your song today,” Mr. Ryker says.
“I’m excited to be here,” I say, trying to sound calm.
“You have no idea how much she loves this music stuff,” Lia says, and I elbow her behind me.
“What? I’m just saying, you’re like obsessed with this band and music,” Lia says.
“If you’ll follow me this way to the recording studio, we can get started,” he says, turning to the left and walking down the hallway.
I take in a breath before following Mr. Ryker. We walk past some awards hanging on the wall along with photos of them over the years. The hall has a red and white color theme with any furniture in the hall being silver.
We stop at a glass door that says ‘Recording’ on it, and it has a green light on above it. He opens the door, revealing a studio and the band sitting inside along with two others.
“Everyone!” Everyone in the room turns toward us. My stomach flips at now being at the center of attention in the room, which shouldn’t bother me because I perform in front of thousands of people at cheer competitions.
“This is Alexia Kirby. She will be recording her song ‘Dramatic’ with us today.” Dame Rykers motions me forward.
“Alexia, this is our music engineer and recording specialist,” Dame Ryker tells me who the other people are inside the room.
“Welcome. It’s a pleasure to work with you. I'm Cooper.” A blond man walks over to me.
“And I’m Stacy,” the woman with green hair introduces herself.
“Nice to meet you.” I shake Stacy’s hand.
“Okay, Aaliyah and Mrs. Wimberly, you can take a seat over there in the lounge space, and we have complimentary snacks ready for you all. If you would like to leave at any point it must be done while the light is green, when it’s red that means recording is in session,” he tells them.
Lia heads over after hearing that there is food.
“Thank you,” my mom says and pulls Lia along with her.
“So, so sorry I’m late.” The door opens and in walks Emerson Hayden in a beautiful green sundress with her hair curled perfectly.
“I meant to be by, but I had a meeting,” she says, clutching her notebook in hand.
“That’s okay, Emmy, this is Alexia,” Mr. Ryker says as she pushes up her pink glasses.
“It’s so lovely to meet you.” Her voice is very chipper and slightly high-pitched.
“Nice to meet you,” I say but she keeps walking over to me and hugs me.
Oh. My. God.
She’s hugging me. Now, I should be extremely happy because I love the Hayden family, and they are the part owners of this place where I’m recording, but I don’t really do physical touch, and I’ve never met her up close like this. I awkwardly pat her back as she hugs me, not knowing what to do.
“I’m sorry I’m a hugger,” she says, pulling away.
“You're fine,” I excuse her.
“I bought lyric printouts of your song for everyone,” Emerson says, pulling out a stack of my song. She hands me one of the music sheets.
“First we must figure out the music composition,” Cooper says, and Kenan walks over the piano.
“Could you play the chords for us?” Kenan asks.
“Can I borrow a guitar?” I ask, since I originally played the song on a guitar, I figured this would be the easiest.
Grayson stands up and brings over the one that was beside him. “Are you sure you want me to”
“Just take it,” he says. I take it, and our fingers lightly skim each other. I once again feel flutters as we touch but I dismiss the feeling.
“Here, take a seat,” I hear Charlie speak up and look over to see him standing beside a black stool. I walk over to the stool feeling a bit awkward and sitting down.
“I’m ready when you are,” Kenan says. I begin to play the chords of the song. Everyone becomes silent as I play. I try to avoid looking at anyone because I am scared of what everyone will think. Kenan comes in on the piano matching my chords I play on the guitar then soon the bass comes in so Raven must have gotten up.
Our music begins to mesh in a harmonious way, creating the song I envisioned. I come to the end of the song, and Kenan finishes off.
“I think we can make that on the board,” Cooper says.
“It’s a phenomenal song,” Scarlett says, patting my shoulder.
“Thank you.”
“Okay, let’s hear the song in the booth,” Stacy says.
“Yeah, go, bestie, go!” Charlie shouts. This causes me to laugh a little as I stand up and Grayson comes over for me to give him the guitar.
“Okay, Alexia, just pretend we aren’t here,” Ryker tells me.
“I know it’s harder than we say,” Emerson says.
“You’re telling me,” I whisper to myself.
I make my way over to the recording booth. “Okay, so you’re going to put the headset on, and we will give you a thumbs up when we are ready,” Stacy says.
“Just be yourself,” Cooper says as I enter the booth. Inside there are three mics and stools so I just choose the one in the middle.
I put on the headset; it fits snugly around my ears. I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to right now. “Ready when you are,” Stacy says through the mic. A beep sounds through the room and a green light shows up above the window. Cooper gives a thumbs up and my voice begins to radiate through the mic.
The lyrics come naturally to me as I’ve sung this song so many times throughout the last couple of months. It’s honestly more than a song to me; it’s everything I’ve felt with the trauma I’ve endured throughout the last few years regarding the incident that happened when I was thirteen.
Everyone thought I was overreacting, not handling it well, or should just move on and this is how I coped. Writing this song and getting through the time that was hard.
This song is a coping mechanism that got me through all the bad thoughts that drove me to try to take my life several times.
I enter my bedroom and drop my bags to the floor. I go straight to the bathroom to shower. I feel slightly exhausted already, so I just want to take a long shower. Never mind, I'm taking a bath. I’m just happy to be home.
I turn on the hot water and pour some lavender soap in, along with one of the bath bombs left out. I let the bath run while I brush my teeth and get undressed. I go into the main part of my room and grab my phone before getting in the tub of bubbles.
Time to relax.
The thing I love about this bathroom is there is a TV on the wall so I can watch Grey’s Anatomy while I relax. I’m going to rewatch one of my favorite Slexie episodes. As I scroll through my socials with the episode playing in the background, finally catching up on everything.
My phone vibrates as in a message is delivered to me and I check it and see it’s from Faith; it’s a link to a YouTube video. I click it and the video opens to
Spotlight Weekly.
“Hi, I’m Michelle and welcome back to Weekly Catch-Up, where I catch you up on everything that happened this week in Hollywood. This week’s topic is this girl here,” Michelle says and the photo that comes up is me. Me! I’m the topic of the week. I sit up straighter and begin to actually pay attention.
“We first see Ms. Alexia Kirby arriving in LA due to the big contest most of the country entered and Aaliyah Wimberly won and in attendance to this is their mother, Aaliyah’s friend Astrid Croce and Alexia Kirby.” Yeah, the sweepstakes Lia stole a song to win.
“We’ve also spotted Alexia getting into Grayson’s limo after the concert included in the prize package.”
That was an accident. I wish it never happened.
“We then see her later out in Santa Monica Pier on her day with the singer and Noah Sterling and then again on set but leaving with Grayson Archer then we see them entering his mother’s driveway in Malibu.”
How the hell did they see that! I didn’t even notice anyone following us.
“Next, we see her yesterday with Raven Dowson, bass player of The MorningStars, and Scarlett Cross, lead singer and guitarist. We didn’t see where they went but we saw them getting smoothies and taking pictures.”
Don’t they have better things to do with their life.
“We have several theories of who she could be. Is she a new member of the band? Has she become friends with the band or is she Grayson’s new girlfriend? Stay tuned because we are finding out, but what we want to know now is what will Miss Alexia do with her newly appointed limelight?”
They are interested in me for all the wrong reasons.
Faith
Did you watch it?
Me
Yeah, unfortunately
Faith
Soo, are the rumors true!
Me
Of course NOT
I turn my phone off and lean back into the tub sighing. I would never lie to my best friend but truly nothing is going on.
Lia bursts into the bathroom. “You have to come to the party with me!” Lia says, huffing.
“No.”
“Please, you’re all over Hollywood news. You have to,” Astrid's voice says, but she’s not here, then I spot Lia’s phone in her hand.
“That’s why I’m not going,” I tell them.
“I want the spotlight effect,” Lia says.
“That won’t happen. My spotlight effect will wear off soon.” I wave her off.
“Not if you keep being seen with them, those people never give up till they know everything,” Astrid says on the phone.
“If you go this once, I will owe you forever .”
“If I do this, you’ll owe me whatever favor I want.”
“Whatever you want.”
“Fine, I’m in, but get out. I need to get ready.”
“Thank you!” Lia cheers and runs out of my bathroom. God, what did I get myself into? I get out of the tub and put on a random dress I packed then pair it with Lia’s silver heels and my black leather blazer.
I pull all my hair into a low ponytail and grab my purse before leaving my room. “When are we leaving?” I ask, standing at Lia’s bedroom door.
“Ten minutes, Marina is almost here,” she says.
“Fine, let’s get this over with,” I say. When Marina's car pulls up, we all say bye to Mom and go outside.
“It’s about time, get in the car, bitches,” Marina says and opens the limo. We all crawl in the limo and Marina and Lia go to talking right away. I tune them out.
It turns out the party is at a young adult club Noah owns. It’s for ages eighteen to twenty-five. As soon as we enter Lia and Marina head off one way toward a group of boys. There’s no way I’m going that way. I look around and spot Emerson and Noah sitting in the VIP area, so I start to walk over there.
“Lex, we didn’t know you’d be here. Let her in,” Emerson says cheerfully. The bouncer in charge of VIP opens the chain for me.
“I didn’t know I’d be here either till an hour ago,” I tell her, sitting on the leather sofa across from Noah and Emerson.
“We’re happy you could make it. Who did you come with?” Noah asks.
“My sister, Astrid and Marina,” I answer.
“Marina? She’s not supposed to be here,” Emerson says, confused and looks over at Noah.
“That’s tomorrow Emerson’s problem,” Noah tells her.
“Why can’t she be here?” I ask.
“We made a deal that with the arising bad press surrounding her, she would stay away from parties and things till things died down, but she’s obviously not listening,” Emerson says, picking up her glass of sparkling whatever.
“Fire her.” I shrug.
“I wish, but she’s a really big actress, and having her along with Noah in my first TV show is big for me,” Emerson says, gulping down the rest of her drink.
“Emmy, go easy on the drinks,” Noah says and kisses Emerson’s cheek.
“What do I do?” Emerson panics.
“Talk to her tomorrow. Show her that just because you’re her age, you’re still her boss, and she can’t disobey you,” I suggest.
“I’ve never been good at confrontation,” Emerson says, taking another drink from the tray, but Noah takes it from him. I decide to try one of the pink bubbly drinks, so I take one from the tray.
“I don’t like confrontation either but talking to her is the least dramatic way to go,” I say. “Will you come with me to tell her tomorrow?” Emerson asks after gulping down some water.
“She’s a nervous drinker but not as in alcohol though,” Noah says.
“Of course,” I reply.
I put the drink up to my lips and taste it. It’s very bubbly and sweet. It tastes almost like cotton candy. I sit the drink down on the table beside me and pick up a water from the ice bucket. As I begin to drink the water and look over the crowd, my eyes latch on to one spot.
The darkened spot beside the stage corner where The Chosen Ones are playing, I see a man. Not just any man. I see him.
As he steps forward, I see my true nightmare’s face, but he’s supposed to be in prison. He is in prison. I saw him get taken away in the car. My hand flies up to my neck where a chain once was. It's not upon my neck among the others, but it feels like I can still feel it there. “A special necklace," he said.
My breathing starts to get heavier as I lower the water from my lips. I can hear Emerson and Noah asking me if I’m okay, but it all comes out as a faded sound, the room starts to spin, red and white lights sprinkled everywhere as his face peaks into the light. The dizziness kicks in as the last thing I remember in those blurring moments is my face in a white porcelain bowl behind a golden door with Emerson soothing me.