3. Am I in Hell?
AM I IN HELL?
ALEXIA
T oday marks the start of me going to hell.
I got up at five a.m. this morning to get ready. I also made sure to check my suitcase one more time, making sure I have everything inside, before dragging my purple suitcase down the hallway and beside the front door.
“Morning,” I say, walking into the kitchen and seeing all the food laid out on the table.
“Morning, Lexi. Can you go wake Dexter and tell him to get up for breakfast?” Mom asks as she walks over to the table with a pan of scrambled eggs.
“Sure, I’ll be back,” I reply before walking off to the door that leads to the basement.
Entering the basement, hot air hits me in the face. I look over at the thermostat, seeing it’s about eighty degrees down here. Damn cold-blooded bastard. I walk down the wooden stairs and across the living room space over to the sliding door that leads into his bedroom. I slide the door open, not worrying about noise, and he’s laid out across his bed only in his Batman underwear.
Gross.
I look around his room that looks like a tornado hit it and find an airhorn, grabbing it and pressing the button, letting it blare in the air. Dexter jumps up, causing him to fall off the bed while I toss the air horn to the side.
“Mom wants you up for breakfast, and we leave today,” I tell him.
“You’re a dick!” Dexter shouts.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I say as I walk back to the stairs and turn the thermostat down to fifty degrees, leaving and closing the door behind me.
“He’s coming,” I state, taking a seat at the table. The back door opens and Aaliyah and Astrid walk in sweating, wearing matching pink workout Alo sets while holding water bottles. “You two look disgusting.”
“And you could look better,” Astrid says, referring to my sweatpants and Sonny Angel baby tee.
“Well, I will be on a plane for almost five hours and I want to be comfortable,” I tell Astrid, placing waffles and bacon on my plate.
“I hope you know your comfort will never get you a man. Probably why what's his face dumped you,” Astrid replies.
“And that’s probably why the whole campus only calls you for hookups.” I smile at her.
Everyone knows she’s only a good fuck. She’s a pretty face and that’s all boys want her for. Everyone at the college says that. Astrid scoffs and Lia pulls her away, murmuring under her breath.
Finally, they are gone.
After finishing breakfast, I retreat to my room to go through my carry-on bag one last time before grabbing my computer and deciding to watch Charlie West’s recent vlog while I wait for my mom to call us. The recent vlog is just a day in the life. Grocery shopping for their house, and playing with his adorable Golden Retriever, Bonnie. He also unboxes some new band merch for the summer concert.
Seeing that part makes me grab my phone and check my Ticketmaster account to see if I moved off the waitlist. I say a silent prayer as I open the app. It shows I’m still on the waitlist, but I moved from number two hundred to number fifty in five days.
Thank goodness. I’m saving for their summer concert, and Faith is my plus one but each of our tickets will be four-hundred and fifty dollars for the VIP package. I need to see this summer concert on tour when they come to South Carolina.
“Hey, hey!” Faith pops in my window that I forgot to close.
“Hey,” I answer dryly.
“Still on the waitlist?” she asks, seeing me frown at my phone.
“Unfortunately,” I reply and close my MacBook, which was playing the vlog.
“Well, I got you something.” Faith pulls out a bag from behind her. I take it and open it revealing two of the Romanticism albums by The MorningStars. “So you can get them signed for us.”
“Faith, these are the original covers.” I look shocked. The original cover was only in the shop for one month before Golden Star changed it from a dancing girl holding a bloody heart to a glass red heart. I have the red heart one but not this one. It’s one of the biggest collectors’ items.
“I know it took me three checks saved up to buy those off eBay.” Faith sighs, sitting on my bed. “It was supposed to be your birthday gift, but I figured if they get to sign it then it would be more special.” I jump and hug Faith, tears swelling in my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whisper to her.
I’m so lucky to have a friend like her.
Our flight is scheduled for noon, so we should arrive around four in California. Then we’re meeting the organizer at our house for the sweepstakes around five p.m. A jam-packed schedule I’m not looking forward to.
Since we are flying in first class, lucky for me, I got a window seat. I have this whole flight planned: I will take a nap, watch a movie or two, maybe write a little of a song. And that’s exactly what I did.
When the flight is almost over, Astrid taps my shoulder, and I take out my AirPods so I can hear her. “Yeah?” I reply to her.
“What are you most excited for?” she asks me.
“Nothing,” I answer, trying to put my AirPod back in, but I’m stopped.
“Come on, there has to be something you're excited for,” Aaliyah says.
“The concert,” I answer.
“I’m most excited for the shopping spree,” Aaliyah beams.
“I don’t want to go shopping,” I insert.
“Of course you don’t,” Astrid says, flipping her blonde hair. “But you should, the grudge look is so early 2000s.”
Jesus, this girl irritates me. I choose not to start anything after that comment.
“At least get something…for me,” Lia pleads.
“Maybe,” I tell her and put my AirPods back in.
I know my mom wouldn’t want me to ruin Lia’s big win and that’s the only reason I give in. For my mom. To help myself hold my tongue I go change into my shorts.
I’m still bitter I lost. I want to know how Lia even won; she doesn’t have a musical bone in her body. I’m the musical one in our family, not her. She can’t even play an instrument, for God’s sake. This is so fucking weird; it may sound crazy, but I think she cheated somehow.
As soon as we land, Lia and Astrid go to change while me and Mom wait. We changed on the plane, which thankfully we did, because the line for the restroom is so long. While waiting, I text Faith that I’ve landed.
Me
I landed
Faith
OMG HOW WAS IT????
Me
Fucking boring but I had a good ride
Faith
Lucky!!! I’m at practice and coach is being brutal
I’d do anything to be back in Carolina at cheer practice right now. It’s my happy place.
“How did you enjoy the flight?” I look over at my mom, knowing she’s trying to make conversation. She’s always trying to make conversation as we wait.
“It was fine,” I say.
“Are you looking forward to anything this week?” she asks.
“The concert,” I answer for the second time.
As soon as I spot my luggage, I go over to grab my suitcase. Mom’s large black suitcase comes around next and she grabs it. I grab Lia’s two suitcases while Mom gets Astrid’s three. Why the fuck did these two pack so much? Finally, we manage to figure out how to push them all and go wait by the restrooms with them.
Soon, Lia and Astrid emerge in little sundresses. Aaliyah is in green, and Astrid is in white. They both wear platform sandals with a little mini bag.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I mumble.
“How do we look?” Lia asks and turns so we can get a three-sixty view.
“Horrible, now get your stuff,” I say and walk around her with my suitcase.
“Someone is in a bad mood,” Astrid says.
“Isn’t she always?” I hear Lia agree, but I ignore her.
“The car should be outside,” Mom says, catching up to me.
Stepping outside, California is way hotter than South Carolina. I can feel the humidity. I just know it fizzed my hair. “Okay, where’s this car?” I ask.
“There,” Lia says, pointing. “It's a white Hummer H2 Stretch.”
The fact she knows that says a lot. There’s a man standing in front of the car, holding a sign with Aaliyah’s name on it. Astrid and Lia squeal while running to the limo. “I hate it here already,” I state, dragging my suitcases behind me.
“Hello, I’m Fez, and I’ll be your driver for the time you are here,” Fez introduces himself as he gets Lia and Astrid’s bags.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Mom says as Lia and Astrid get inside the limo. Fez grabs my bag next, and I lightly smile at him before getting in. The interior has leather seats, lights around the inside, along with a bar that has unlimited drinks. My favorite part is the music from The MorningStars already playing, specifically the song “Roadside” .
“We need to change this,” Astrid says, grabbing a tablet off the table beside her. Of course she’s changing it.
Mom talks to Fez outside the car before she gets inside, and Fez closes the door then gets into the driver's seat. “Ladies, I will be taking you to your home for your two-week stay in Holmby Hills,” Fez tells us before pulling out.
I stare out the window as we drive through California. The sights entertain me as we go, and I just ignore Lia and Astrid as they look through all their magazines. All I have to do is make it through the week and I’ll be back home before I know it. Back to Faith, back to my room, back to cheer.
Turning into the Holmby Hills, we pull up to a gold gate that has a gray-white house behind it. The house has a roundabout with a fountain in the front. You can see the green curtains inside flowing around in the large windows. I’m actually excited to see the inside.
We say ‘Thank Yous’ as we get out of the limo. Fez takes our bags inside the house as we walk up to the lady dressed in a blue dress with curled strawberry blonde hair.
“Hello, everyone, I’m Tati. I’m the sweepstakes organizer and host,” Tati introduces herself.
“This is so exciting,” Astrid says. Why couldn’t she just go to the Hamptons with the rest of her family?
“I will be giving you all a tour of the house then you will have time to get settled before Fez and I come back to take you all go on a shopping spree then to dinner at Mastro’s steakhouse,” Tati explains while waving goodbye to Fez.
“Right this way.” Tati walks through the open door and lets us in first, then closes it. I don’t pay attention to much of the tour, I just remember where each room is.
Apparently, this house is owned by the rock legend, Rocky Myers, which explains why there are posters of him around the house. I admire him, he’s one of the artists that made me want to be a musician.
Tati finally hands a key to the house to all four of us before she leaves us all to pick our rooms and says she’ll be back in an hour with Fez.
Entering the room I picked, it smells like Lavender and apples. Not a combination I thought I’d be into, but I like it. The room is the largest bedroom I’ve ever been in with a king-sized bed in the center, flowing green curtains, a bay window, and a seating space across from the bed. I notice a guitar is sitting on a stand beside the window.
I walk farther into the room turning around to see the wall the door is on has two opaque double doors and then there is a smaller door to the right before the living room space. I open the double doors, leading to a bathroom. Then I open the small doors, leading to a large walk-in closet.
Since I know I don’t have long before we have to leave again, I go over to the bed, which has a gift basket on it, and I open it. On the top is a welcome card signed by all the band members. I flip it over in my hands before sitting it down. I can’t believe I held that in my hands. I have to calm the internal screaming down before continuing on. First, there is a hoodie, just a basic one with the band logo on it, and matching sweatpants that have lyrics from their song “The One” on them. Then there’s a red silk pajama set with my initials on the left breast ( AK) , Chanel perfume, La Roche-Posay face wash and face lotion, and lastly, an autographed CD from The MorningStars.
This is the best day of my life, and I will treasure this forever. I take a picture of the whole basket and send it to Faith, knowing she will want to see it. I’m beyond excited. I hate to admit it, but this is a great start.
I sit the gift basket to the side and begin to unpack because I know I won’t do it once I get comfortable.
“Alexia!” Aaliyah screams my name as she bursts into my room, holding her makeup bag.
“Can I help you?” I ask, annoyed.
“I need you to do a cat eye for me,” Lia tells me.
“No,” I reply and go back to doing what I was before.
“Lex, can you not be a bitch for once and just do me a favor? You do it the best,” Lia says. I sit down my hair supplies I have in my hands and motion for her to sit on the bench at the end of the bed. “Thank you.” She grins. I give her no reply.
After I finish her eyeliner, she bounces out of the room, and I get dressed in a purple rhinestone spaghetti-strapped dress and my leather blazer with platform heels. I fix my hair in a half up, half down and I apply my favorite lip gloss and all my rings. Lastly, I grab my purse and leave the room with about ten minutes to spare.
Fez is already downstairs waiting for us outside the limo. I get inside finding Mom already here, going through the CD selection. “Find anything in there?” I ask.
She jumps back a little and I know I’ve startled her.
“Jesus, Alexia, you scared me,” my mom says.
“Sorry, you look focused,” I state and lean back with my arms crossed over my chest.
“I wanted to find good car music,” Mom explains.
“And you thought it would be on CDs.” I raise a brow.
“No need to judge me, young lady.” She points at me.
“I’m not,” I surrender. That's a lie, I am.
“Liar.” I just shrug at her. I pull out my phone and put in my AirPods to drown out everything while we drive to Rodeo Drive. I definitely do not want to hear whatever my sister and her friend will be giggling over.
We arrive at Rodeo Drive to see Tati Liam standing in front of the Chanel store. “Welcome to your unlimited shopping spree. You have forty minutes to go into any store and buy what you want,” Tati explains as we walk up. This may seem like a lot of time but it’s not, Rodeo Drive is huge, and these stores are too. Of course, whoever won is tempted to go into many stores leaving this to be not enough time. Plus, we still have to check out to see how much was spent so Golden Star can pay. I raise my hand with a question in mind and a bored look on my face.
“Yes, Alexia?” Tati asks.
“What if we don’t want anything?” I ask and look to the side. I can just see the upset look on Lia’s face.
“Just buy something,” Lia pleads. I hate when she whines.
“Fine.” I fake a smile.
“Settled.” Tati claps and holds out four black credit cards.
“Courtesy of Hayden Productions. Now smile for the camera.” I didn’t even notice the cameraman behind her on the side.
A man circles around us, taking pictures, and I try to avoid him, but I’m pulled in by Astrid to take pictures. “Okay, girls, your time starts now,” Tati says.
To say it didn’t take me long to get what I wanted would be an understatement. I went to one store and then sat on one of the benches for the rest of the time.
I only went to the Prada store and got black sunglasses, a black leather handbag and one of the Prada chain necklaces in purple: my favorite color. I look around seeing Lia and Astrid walking out of one of the stores, looking like the epitome of Hollywood celebrities.
“Okay! We need some shots of you all to go on the Golden Star website and in the new edition of Starstruck Magazine,” Tati says, coming over with a photographer.
“You don’t want to take any?” Mom asks, sitting by me with her five shopping bags. I shake my head in response. I don’t want anything to do with this. I don’t want to be on a website, and I don’t want to be in that magazine. If I am going to be in those one day, it will be because of me and my music, not my annoying stepsister.
“Alexia, Mrs. Wimberly, why don’t you join us for this shot,” Tati says to us, waving us over.
“How about just one? Then maybe later we can have a movie night with those cookies you wanted to try,” Mom says, grabbing my hand. Of course she knows how to cheer me up.
“Deal.” I sigh, standing up and walking with her to take the picture. I’m ready to eat at this point.
Thank God that’s next.
Once Tati had all her pictures, we were free to head to the steakhouse for dinner. “I wonder if they will fall in love with us when they see us!” Astrid giggles. I roll my eyes.
You can't fall in love with someone by seeing them.
“What do you think Lexi?” Lia asks.
“I think you guys are delusional,” I answer while twirling my fork in my crab pasta. I know my mom is just itching to say ‘it’s not nice to play with your food’ because she keeps staring at me with her “stop” face.
“Oh, it’s possible, Lexi. I mean, we are gorgeous. We could pull a movie star,” Lia says.
“Or a rockstar.” Astrid smiles and flips her hair.
“If you pull either, let me know, I wanna see that,” I say to them, “‘till then, I'm going to the restroom.” I get up as ladylike as possible and make my way to the restroom.
This is just what I needed: a moment alone. I take in a couple of deep breaths, calming myself. I can feel air fill my lungs again and I immediately feel better. I take my phone out of my purse and text Faith, updating her on my day and sending her the pictures I took of Rodeo Drive. I know she loves collecting pictures.
I lastly re-apply my lip liner and gloss before exiting the bathroom feeling as good as new. As I exit the bathroom, I run right into someone falling toward the floor, but I’m caught by someone, when I open my eyes, I realize someone caught me as their green eyes stare into mine.
The wind is knocked out of me as I see the perfectly freckled face of Charlie West, the drummer of The MorningStars. His eyes are much greener up close, and his brown hair looks just as amazing as it does in the videos, except it’s not as sweaty.
“Charlie, apologize to the poor girl,” a female says as he pulls me to my feet.
“I am so sorry,” I whisper.
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been walking outside the women’s restroom,” Charlie says with a bright smile.
“He doesn’t look where he’s going sometimes.” I look over to see Scarlett Cross talking.
I think I may actually faint.
I can’t believe I’m here standing in front of the women's restroom in a five-star restaurant in front of Charlie West and Scarlett Cross.
Two members of The MorningStars.
I think I’m starstruck.
No, I am starstruck.
“Are you okay?” Scarlett asks.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m just in shock,” I say. I’m surprised I’m not stuttering.
“May I ask why you are in shock?” Charlie asks kindly.
“You’re a part of my favorite band,” I say.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Charlie does a small bow, and I smile, letting out a laugh.
“We love meeting fans!” Scarlett says excitedly.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Charlie, what’s your name?” he asks.
“I’m Alexia,” I answer.
“And I’m Scarlett. I love your lip combo,” Scarlett says.
“Thank you! It’s the color Chocolate lip liner from Nyx and a random pink gloss,” I tell her.
“Thank you for telling me,” Scarlett says.
“So, are you one of the people who is here for the sweepstakes?” he asks.
“More like I’m tagging along but I want to go home.” I roll my eyes.
“You’re having no fun, but that can be fixed,” Charlie says.
“Fun? I think our ideas of fun are different,” I state. “Can I get a picture with you two?” I decide to take my chances.
“Of course,” they reply.
I hand Charlie my phone since he’s the tallest and he snaps the picture, handing me back my phone.
“Thank you so, so much,” I say, staring down at the picture.
“It’s truly no problem,” Charlie says.
“We have to get going but it was so nice meeting you,” Scarlett says.
“It was great meeting you too.”
I slowly turn back around with a big smile on my face. I can’t believe I just met Charlie West and Scarlett Cross. This may be the best day of my life, even if I’m in hell.