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The following transcript is from a live episode of Starstruck. It was filmed and aired on September 13, 2027.
Rob: In other news, of course, there's this new John Brown song. It's kind of insane.
Tenesha: Ooh, yes, let's talk about this.
Rob: So, last Friday, John Brown released his highly anticipated single, the first song from his debut album.
Tenesha: It wasn't that one song last year? With Damie B?
Rob: That was for his EP. And he did also have his single with Travis Hilton. But this is for the, like, full studio album.
Tenesha: Oh.
Rob: The new song is called Starboy. And it is shady.
Tenesha: My favorite type. Tell us about it, Rob.
Rob: So the song is pretty much a bragging song, where John boasts about his million dollar cars and his lavish mansion and all the girls he gets. The video features him entering a mansion and destroying his Grammy awards and plaques he got up until now, getting drunk and dancing around with an upside down cross, and then getting into his white Mustang and driving off.
Tenesha: As you do.
Rob: (laughs) As you do. Obviously everyone's been talking about a lot of elements here. The video is going viral and there's a huge controversy surrounding it. He was supposed to be sober but he's proudly announcing that he's not, despite the rehab. There's even a lyric in the song that says, Switch up my cup, I kill any pain.
Tenesha: Oh, he isn't sober? It wasn't just for the video?
Rob: Nope. He went onto Twitter to pretty much confirm it, responding to a fan asking if he's drinking again by posting a picture of him with a tall glass of wine and then making that his new profile picture.
Tenesha: (holding laughter)
Rob: (laughs) He's also getting slammed for the blasphemy in the music video and for posting some pretty offensive content to his Twitter on the topic of religion in response to that controversy.
Tenesha: He's atheist.
Rob: He sure is and it looks like he's not apologizing for it. But what really has everyone talking is the fact that this all seems to be one huge diss at Alex Zimmerman, who's birthday it was yesterday, by the way, just two days later. The song starts I'm tryna put you in a bad mood and that's exactly what it did. Alex has already responded to the song and he's not amused, asking fans to pray for him and later directly responding to John, telling him he can be a dick to him all he wants, but he can't forget to appreciate their fans.
Tenesha: That's... sweet... And boring. Where's the fire?
Rob: It's all coming from John's side, it seems. The song really doesn't hold back in attacks to Alex. From bragging that his car is cleaner than Alex's church shoes.
Tenesha: (laughs)
Rob: And that he can't see the shade from his huge house and behind all those cars and money... He also claims Every day a brother try to test me. Every day another try to end me. And, Coming for the king that's a far cry. As we know, the Crystal Army guys often referred to each other as brothers, so that seems to be a pretty direct reference to them now throwing all this shade at each other.
Tenesha: Not Sam.
Rob: Actually, yesterday Sam took to Twitter to wish Alex a happy birthday, saying, "have a great birthday brother" which a lot of his fans think means he's definitely on Alex's side. He hasn't publicly congratulated John on his release yet, like other celeb friends have.
Tenesha: Oh.
Rob: The song does also hint at new music coming at us fast because he says I come alive in the fall time and at first that's just a brag about how he's here now but he did like a tweet by a fan speculating that this means more music soon.
Tenesha: Let's hope whatever comes next is as interesting as this.
Rob: Well, the ball's pretty much in Alex's court now. It's his move.
Tenesha: If he chooses to respond to John's shade again, I don't see how it can be any better than this.
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The following transcript is from a live episode of Starstruck. It was filmed and aired on September 20, 2027.
Rob: The big news of the day is that John Brown's new single, Starboy, has hit the charts at number 5 which is the best debut his band has had so far and the song is only getting bigger—
Marley rushed to the living room the moment she heard John's name, took the controller from Ben's hands, and turned it off.
"Aww man," the five-year-old complained.
"Sorry baby," Marley said quickly. "But I have to get to work and you have to get ready for grandma."
"Ok..." Ben said, disappointed. He stood up and hurried to his room, knowing the routine already for when someone else was coming to watch him.
Marley stared at the TV's blank screen and sighed. She was never going to escape this.
***
"It's big news," said Millie Rose when she accepted a cup of coffee from her daughter, sitting in the kitchen while Marley finished packing her lunch.
"I know," Marley said, "but I'd still like to avoid it when possible. It's been a whole week and they won't stop talking about it. John is... He's... It's not something I want my boys being exposed to."
She looked at the living room. Kai was on the floor, standing by the coffee table where some of his toys were. Ben was sitting on the couch, reading through an activity book from school.
"I understand," Millie frowned. "But I think if anything it shows that boy needs you now more than ever."
"He's not a boy, Mom," Marley shook her head. "He turned thirty-two three days ago. He's a grown man who needs to be held accountable for his actions, so I'm done reaching out. I'm done giving out chances he doesn't deserve. And I'm late for work."
She was looking at the clock on the wall behind her mother.
"I'm sorry, I need to head out," she said. "You know the emergency numbers, you've got it all under control."
"Of course, honey," said Millie. "Go ahead."
"Thanks, Mom," Marley said, giving her mother a kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you tonight. Love you. Love you, Ben. Love you, Kai."
"Love you, Mommy," said Ben, not even looking up as Marley headed for the door.
Kai didn't either, too focused on his toys to pay attention to anyone else.
***
"This sounds so cool," said Julie as she sat next to John in the studio booth, her ear glued to his side as they shared headphones and listened to a song he'd just finished mixing.
"I think it could go on your album, too," he said.
"What?" Julie asked, surprised. "But this is so fitting to your new sound and to your concept."
"But think about it," he shook his head. "Your fans sit down to hear your album and this song comes along, directly linking our works together. Everyone will talk about it."
"If they're not busy already talking about these other songs we wrote," she laughed.
"Leave that for tomorrow," John said with a smile.
"I'm actually so nervous about that," she said. "I can't believe it's already coming out. We just wrote it last week and... I don't know. I listened to it again and I know it's just a promo song but it still feels like too much."
"After what you told me Alex did to you Saturday?" asked John. "Being a jerk to you all night and then basically kicking you out if you didn't agree to stop doing these songs with me..?"
Julie looked down and pulled away from John, guilty about all the lies she'd been telling lately. But the point of Sebastian guiding her through it was that she needed to find a way to rationalize her actions, to make them seem less awful and feel less awful.
John continued, "What happened to the girl that said, 'So what, I'm still a rockstar, I'm having more fun'? The song we already picked out is the song, Julie. It needs to be released as soon as possible. Because I can assure you Alex has already been working on his retaliation. You're both performing at iHeart's festival on Friday so you need to be ready."
Julie felt her stomach turning. "Can't I just make Solo the next release?" she asked. "The song's good enough. I could even make it a single."
"No," John shook his head. "It's this song. Trust me."
Julie took a deep breath and nodded. "Ok," she said. "I'll let my label know we're all ready for tomorrow then."
John smiled and turned back to the song he'd been working on, pleased. Julie stood up and walked to the door, looking back at him. He was so glad that he was basically running the show now.
She sighed and hurried out of the room.
***
"So what's this new meeting about?" asked Kayli as she arrived, late, to her group's meeting at Blackbird. "I thought we weren't getting in the studio at all this week since we have to prep for iHeart."
"You're not," said Dani. Kayli turned to her and noticed for the first time Rhythmix's publicist, Andrea Harris, sitting in the room with them.
"We've been creating a plan to increase the group's profile leading up to your new single," Andrea said. "You have a girl group to compete with now so we need extra promo."
"A girl group to compete with?" asked Kayli, laughing. "You're not talking about the little Starmaker group, right? Because I thought we agreed they weren't a threat when their new single hit the charts and fell right out back in August."
"You need to catch up," said Shana, sliding over her phone.
Kayli looked at the screen, where the week's new charts were displayed showing Starmaker's latest runner ups, Crimson, back on the charts.
"Their song was featured on the season premier of some show," Zoe explained.
Kayli rolled her eyes and passed the phone back. "Ok, this means nothing," she said. "It'll just fall out again next week. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal," said Andrea, "is that this new group is getting a lot of internet buzz. You girls have great sales and streaming figures but you don't have the social media buzz that they're getting and you'll needed if you want to take the spotlight back for your new era. So the plan is that either Zoe or you will date someone the tweens and social media love. Get you trending."
"No way," said Zoe as Kayli said, "What?"
"We're married," Leila said defensively.
"Yeah, to famous people," said Kayli. "Well, Santana's famous, I guess. Jake was once famous til he decided to throw it all away."
Leila scowled at her as Zoe said, "Well it can't be me. I'm dating someone."
"You are?" Shana asked, surprised. "This is the first I've heard of this."
"Is it Mike?" asked Kayli, making a face. "I knew you hung out with him but..."
"No, it's not and it's new," Zoe said defensively. They were all looking at her like they knew she was lying. "I'll introduce you all to him soon. We're just not ready to go public with it just yet but I'll talk to him."
"Well..." said Shana, turning to Kayli. "That means you're up."
Kayli looked around at all the expectant faces. "Fine," she sighed. "I haven't had a real boyfriend in years. I may as well get a fake one."
"Good," said Andrea, placing a tablet in front of her. "Because this is who I want you to go on a date with. Gustavo Bukhari."
Kayli made a face and looked down at the guy on the screen. "Gus Bukhari?" she asked. "A model? Seriously? I've seen him around before and he seems like such a douche bag. And an airhead."
"A douchey airhead with over thirty million Instagram followers," said Andrea, taking her tablet back. "I'm setting it up."
Kayli groaned and the other girls smiled in amusement.
***
When Addison walked into Alex's room in the Las Vegas loft he'd rented out for the week, she wasn't ready for what her publicist duties would entail.
Alex had trashed the place with paper. Sheet music, mostly, but on the sofa she noticed a row of printed articles about his feud with John.
He walked out of the bathroom, looking like he really needed to sleep, and chugging a can of soda.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, tossing the soda to the garbage can in the kitchen area and missing terribly. "You're here!"
"Were you just drinking that in the bathroom?" Addison asked, confused.
"Multitasking," said Alex. "I've got so much to do and no time to waste."
"I see that..." she said, following him to the couch. There was nowhere for her to sit down, so she just sat there and took a look. "So what's all this about?"
Alex followed her gaze and said, "Just every bad thing John has ever said to the press about me."
Addison picked up one of the articles and read out, "Must be nice to finally be the leading man in your own one-man show. Better than taking the backseat in a real band but I wouldn't know about that."
Alex pressed his lips into a tight smile. "That was back in April."
"I see..." said Addison, putting it back down. "So what is this for?"
"It was for a song that I already finished a few days ago," said Alex. "And it's gonna be my second single."
"Wait, wait, what," said Addison, taken by surprise. "You can't do that."
"I already did," he said. "I told management and they told the label and it's happening. This Friday at iHeart I'm performing it. And then I'm filming the video next week." He thought about it for a second and said, "You think Sam would be up for coming to perform it with me? Probably not... Nah, I've gotta do it by myself."
Addison stared at him, completely dumbfounded by the news. "So this new song I've heard nothing about until now is, like, some sort of response to Starboy?"
He looked up at her and shook his head as he said, "It's a response to everything."
***
"So I told him that he could come in and we'd take a look but I wasn't guaranteeing that he'd hear what he wanted to hear."
With her mouth full, Marley nodded, listening to some of the gossip two nurses were sharing in the break room.
As she cleared her mouth to speak, Doctor Adrian Parks walked in carrying a bouquet of flowers.
She smiled and stood up, so the other nurses stopped talking to watch. "Aww," they said as Adrian handed Marley the flowers.
"These are for you," he said. "I'd kiss you but... I'm a professional."
Marley took the flowers and smelled them. "I love these," she said. "Thank you so much."
"I wanted to also thank you for coming out to this Nevada conference with me," he said, pulling her out to the hallway. "I know it's a big deal for you to leave your kids behind for so many days like this. Plus these things are so boring. So it means a lot to me."
Marley nodded, a grin on her face. "Of course," she said. "It's really not that big of a deal. I love going places with you no matter what those places are."
"Good," he said. "But to continue showing my gratitude, I have a big surprise for you on Wednesday night when we get there."
"A surprise?" she asked. "What is it?"
"The whole point of it being a surprise would be obsolete if I told you," he said, laughing. "But you'll love it. It's something I know you've always wanted to do."
Eager to find out more, she held back her questions and said, "Ok, I guess now I really have to go."
"Yes, you do," he said. "You'll have to wait until then to find out, though. I've gotta get running but I'll see you later."
"You will," she nodded. He looked around to make sure the halls were clear, then leaned in to give her a kiss on the lips.
As he walked away, Marley smelled her flowers again, feeling her stomach in flutters, then hurried back to finish her lunch before her break ended.
***
The next morning, Julie's new song went out to the world at 10 AM.
She watched it happen from her hotel room in Las Vegas, where she'd just arrived for her rehearsals. She'd flown out in her private jet with Sebastian and John, but the two of them had set out to do Starboy promo, so now it was just her, watching the world have a lot to say about her song.
Despite some of the negative attention it was getting from fans, critics were already pouring in to call it her best release yet, one of her best songs ever, etc. so it wasn't all bad. Her loyal fanbase, of course, ate it up and the song hit the top of iTunes by noon.
***
Across town, John was sitting behind a chair for his interview with Vegas' 98.5 pop station. His promo schedule for Starboy had gotten heavier since the release. He was doing SNL, The Tonight Show, Late Late Show. This song was going to play everywhere.
"So it's safe to say you prefer making music on your own now?" asked the station's DJ as he interviewed John on air.
John laughed. "I always had to do some heavy-lifting lyrically, I think," he said. "The other guys had the talent, of course, so it wasn't that. It was more about... diversity. Tyler rarely wrote anything on his own, so it was usually me or the others. When it was Sam, it was really simple and to the point. You know, pop. I like to write in a more.... direct way. But not in a simple way, if that makes sense."
"Yeah, definitely," the DJ nodded.
"And then Alex," he laughed.
The DJ laughed as well, as did his two other co-hosts around the table.
"Alex was like," he said, "always going into lyrics like, 'how many riddles can I wrap inside another riddle and then rearrange the words and make it make absolutely no sense by the end?' You know?"
He laughed along with the hosts, who seemed to get what he was talking about.
"I mean, he's a smart guy, right?" said the DJ. "Went to MIT."
"Sure," John laughed. "I guess by that logic, we should be looking for hits in science labs. Nah man, talent is talent. It doesn't take just brains. It takes heart and natural talent."
"You said once when you were still in the band..." said one of the female hosts. "His words are always so intricate and it's, like, what do you even mean by that?"
"Just some light teasing, I guess," John said, shrugging and keeping the conversation playful, still, despite this host having a list of old quotes ready to use against him. "But I mean, it's true, right? I think some people think making something so complicated that it's hard to decipher makes it smart or good but... It shouldn't be hard for someone to feel what you want them to feel. So yeah, I do think he tries a little too hard."
"Since we're talking about him," said the DJ, "and you've got this new song everyone thinks is directed at him, can you please confirm or deny it...? You take some pretty heavy shots at whoever it is you're talking about."
"Look, he's really..." John said, trying to figure out how to put this since it would be making headlines by the end of the day. "It's no secret that we don't really talk anymore. Some things have been exchanged through Twitter that weren't exactly nice. And he had his little stunt at the VMAs, ripping my picture."
"And a picture of his ex-wife with you," said the DJ. "Speaking of, she hinted in her performance that she may have had a relationship with you beyond friendship."
John chuckled. "Look, everyone can speculate about my love life, past or present," he said. "But what I have with Juliet is a mutually beneficial friendship and working relationship. We've been working on a lot of new music together, actually. For her album and for mine. If people wanna gossip that's on them. And if Alex has a problem with me cozying up to his ex or writing with her then... He'll just have to deal with it."
***
As John left his interview, a grin on his face, he was joined out in the hall by Sebastian, who had a similar look of satisfaction.
"That was great," he told John. "You know, when Julie suggested I become your new manager, I thought she was just going crazy. But she was right. It's a great match. And a great idea to start selling you both as best friend duo. Like Ed and Taylor. Great apart but the world cares more when you're together."
John smiled and continued walking towards the exit with his new manager. In just a week of being his guy, Sebastian had booked John twice as many gigs as his original team had been able to get for a whole month. Like his work with Julie, this deal was mutually beneficial.
***
"I've got a new article for your collection," said Addison, handing a freshly printed gossip column to Alex, who had already cleared the others from his couch.
Alex took it, reading what John had said about him earlier that day and rolling his eyes. "He's said most of this before," he said. "What's new?"
"The song he co-wrote with Julie for her album," Addison said. "Where she sings, I'm in love with John..." Alex looked up at her and she said, "with John Wayne. But if you listened to the rest of the song it's very clear she means John Br—"
"I don't wanna hear it," he said, shaking his head. "I'm sure it's more garbage about me and I don't care."
"Well you should," she said. "Because I'm sure you're gonna be asked about it very soon and you're gonna want to prepare a response so you aren't lost or ambushed. Are you not at all shocked that he's producing this album for her?"
"Nope," said Alex. "I already knew."
"What? How?"
"I got the heads up, like, two weeks ago," he shrugged.
"And you didn't tell me?" she said. "Alex, I'm your publicist."
"I know, I know, but I just..." he sighed. "It doesn't even matter. Just... Let me forget about it for now so I can go to these rehearsals tonight and not have it on my mind. I need to focus."
"Ok," said Addison, nodding. "Sorry. I'm excited to hear the new song. I'm sure it's great."
"It is," he assured her. "It's the song. This is gonna help us regain the narrative a little, trust me. We won't let them win."
***
The following day, as preparations for the iHeartRadio Music Festival were underway, Marley and Adrian took a stroll through downtown.
Vegas was filled with wonders and Marley had been there only a few times, but never really got to explore the city this way.
"So is this your surprise?" she asked, gripping onto Adrian's arm as they walked across a street. "Or are we going to the surprise?"
"Would you just be patient?" he laughed, leading her across quickly and then down the next street. "We're almost there. I promise. Just down this street."
They walked for a few more minutes and then he opened a door, leading her inside what seemed like the lobby of an office.
There were people everywhere moving things around, talking to each other and on the phone. They looked to busy to stop for anyone.
"Are we supposed to be here?" asked Marley. "Where are we?"
"It's iHeart's festival office," he explained.
"iHeartRadio?" she asked.
Just as she did, a man walked from the back carrying a giant poster standee and set it at the front with other supplies and boxes before heading back into the room he came from.
Marley took a look at the big lineup on the center part of the standee.
She had heard about the festival coming up but forgot completely that it was in Vegas. Just a couple blocks from where she currently was.
"Why are we here?" she asked him.
Adrian began to answer them but a girl walked up to them and said, "Can I help you with something?"
"Yeah," Adrian told her. "We're here for the iHeart Fest Contest. We signed up online."
"The singing competition?" asked the girl, grabbing a flyer from a nearby desk. "Yeah, you just have to go to this location. Stand in line for quite a bit. Then go into the room with the judges, give them the name you used when you signed up and the number you were emailed, and then just sing. The top contestants chosen by the panel of judges get to sing for the festival crowd and since the whole thing is televised, the fans at home get to vote for the best one."
"Thank you so much," said Adrian, taking the flyer and then leading Marley out while the girl wished them good luck.
Out on the sidewalk, Marley said, "A singing competition? That's your big surprise?"
"A friend told me it was happening," Adrian said. "I've heard you sing and you're better than any of those artists performing tonight."
Marley rolled her eyes, like he was just saying that.
"No, really," he insisted. "And you told me that when you were younger your big dream was to be a singer so... I thought you could get your chance to sing on a big stage and have everyone tell you how great you are at it."
"Adrian, I don't want to be a singer," she said.
"You told me you used to write your own songs," said Adrian. "And I've seen you writing small lyrics here and there. You love music. Why is this a bad thing?"
"Because singing for myself, at home and in the car," said Marley, "is very different from doing anything that involves this industry. I've seen the insides, ok? I don't like it. I don't want to do music at all. You shouldn't have done this."
She continued walking ahead of him, not really sure where she was going. He followed, feeling stupid for thinking she would love this.
***
Just across the street from the iHeartRadio Music Festival office, Kayli sat in a small restaurant, watching her date, Gus, eating. It's the main thing she'd known about him twenty minutes into their fake date, other than the fact that he loved raspberry lemonade.
Outside, paparazzi were photographing them, so she decided to give a conversation a try once again. It'd mostly been small talk.
"Aren't you a model?" she asked curiously.
He looked up and saw that she was staring at him emptying out his plate. Laughing, he said, "Sure. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself every now and then." He smiled almost charmingly and added, "Especially on such a special occasion."
Kayli was the one who laughed now. "You don't have to pretend this thing is real," she told him. "We both know our publicists set this up."
"You don't think that means we can't have fun with it, do you?" he said. "You're pretty, you seem smart and funny. Though you don't eat much."
He looked down at her plate and said, "I'd already eaten before I came."
"You ate before a date at a restaurant?" he asked. "Wow... You really weren't taking this seriously."
"Sorry, nope," she said with a sheepish smile.
"Are you done eating then?" he asked.
"Yup," she said.
"Great," he nodded, stuffing the rest of his food into his mouth and swallowing hard, much to her disgust. "Then let's get out of here."
"Where are we going?" she asked.
***
"This is my favorite park in Vegas," Gus said, leading Kayli on a stroll. They were being photographed, once again, though now from a much further distance.
"Never been before," said Kayli, looking around. "It's nice. And a little crowded for a park."
"This is crowded to you?" asked Gus, looking around at the people, perhaps ten in total spread about and a man playing guitar about a hundred feet away from them.
Kayli shrugged. "I'm from a small town," she said. "The park by my house is usually pretty empty."
"Small town, really?" asked Kayli.
"Not that small," she corrected herself. "Just not this big. Ever heard of Lima, Ohio?"
He laughed. "Yeah," he said. "I've heard of Lima. So you're one of the artists that popped up from there. Let me guess, you also went to school with Juliet Vasquez."
"Actually, no," said Kayli. "She is older than I am but we did attend the same high school."
Gus shook his head and said, "It's crazy so many famous people could come from a place like that. I mean, it's not L.A. or New York City or... Las Vegas."
"You're from here, right?" asked Kayli.
"Yup," he nodded. "Born and raised. Til about four years ago when I started modeling and now I feel like I'm from all over."
Kayli nodded. "Yeah, I actually know what that feels like."
They began to approach the street player, who saw them and changed his tune. He played a song from Rhythmix's most recent album. Clearly he knew who she was.
Kayli recognized it and smiled at him. "Go on, sing, Miss," he told her.
They stopped in front of him and Kayli felt embarrassed as others had started approaching too. They noticed her, who she was, or at least knew that she was famous, and now there was a small crowd egging her on to sing.
Shaking her head, she said, "Oh no. That's really kind but I'm just... No, I can't."
"Oh come on," said Gus, elbowing her and watching more people coming. There were at least ten people around them or headed their way and even more seemed to be noticing from across the street.
"I'm resting my voice," she said.
Gus gave her a look but then to her surprise, it was he who began to sing.
["Write On Me" by Rhythmix, from their 2026 album, Kiss Myself. Original artist: Fifth Harmony.]
Gus: Pick up the pen, put it on the paper.
Kayli turned to him, surprised.
Gus: Write on my skin, bring me to life.
"You sing?" she asked. In response, he shrugged and kept singing.
Gus: Can't start again, there ain't no eraser.
"And you know my song..." she said, impressed.
Gus: All of my flaws, you got them so right.
Like everyone else around, she watched this famous model, whom she thought she had all figured out, revealing a beautiful, smooth, soulful voice.
Gus: Everything is blank until you draw me. Touching on my body like you know me.
"Come on," he said, indicating for her to take over. Kayli sighed, shaking her head, but ultimately she couldn't help joining in.
Kayli: Write on me. Color outside the lines. Love the way you tear me up. Baby, take your time.
The man playing the guitar smiled as people started putting money in his hat, watching Kayli sing beautifully.
Kayli: Write on me. Give me some wings, I'll fly. Love the way you tear me up. I'll never change my mind.
Gus joined in and Kayli looked up at him again, smiling as he harmonized perfectly with her.
Both: Write on me, write on me. Write on me, write on me.
She looked away from him and to the crowd they'd gathered for their own mini-concert. She had been clapping her hand on her hip without realizing and the crowd was now clapping to that beat as well.
Kayli (Gus): I could see a city sleep (ooh). I could see an ocean wave (ooh). Everything is changing and it's written on my face (ooh). I could see a city sleep (ooh). I could see an ocean wave (ooh). Everything is changing and it's written on my face (ooh).
She got so distracted watching them that she missed her cue, but Gus sang the next lines. She just turned to him again, clapping with everyone else and enjoying his voice.
Gus: Write on me. Color outside the lines. Love the way you tear me up. Baby, take your time. Write on me. Give me some wings, I'll fly. Love the way you tear me up. I'll never change my mind.
She joined him again and Gus belted out a few lines, impressing her even more with the extent of his talent. She had a feeling this was just one part of him she didn't know was there.
Both (Gus): Write on me, write on me. Write on me, write on me (write on me). Write on me (write on me). Write on me (won't you write on me yeah). Love the way you tear me up. Write on me.
The street player stopped strumming and all that was left were the claps from the crowd.
Kayli: Write on me.
Gus: Write on me.
Both: Write on me.
As everyone clapped for them and gave the guitarist more tips, Kayli smiled at Gus, raising her eyebrows at him as he just shrugged in a coy manner.
***
"Where did all of that come from?" asked Kayli as she and Gus arrived at her hotel. He walked her into the lobby, where the paparazzi weren't allowed anymore and they could have a moment of real privacy.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Back at the park," she said. "I mean, that was just... Unexpected, to say the least."
"You mean me knowing your music?" he asked.
"That and your voice," she said. "You could seriously be a professional singer. You could be one of the performers at iHeart Fest this weekend. Easily."
He laughed in a boyish manner, brushing his hair back. "I'm nothing compared to you," he said. "You might have the best voice I've ever heard in my life. Seriously."
"Wow," she said. "I mean, I've heard that before, obviously but... Didn't think I'd hear it from you."
"Why?" asked Gus. "Because you think I'm some douchey airhead?"
Kayli gaped, staring at him speechlessly.
"Yeah, I heard," he laughed.
"I'm going to murder my publicist," she said.
"It's fine," he assured her. "Honestly. I thought it was funny. Because I thought you were a douchey airhead."
She gasped, offended so he gave her a look.
"I guess we both misjudged each other then," she said.
"No, I think I got it right," he joked.
She nudged him and said, "Well, you were right. There was a way to do this whole fake date thing and have fun."
"Maybe we should have a fake second date," said Gus, walking backwards towards the entrance. "I'll call you."
"Me or my publicist?" said Kayli, raising an eyebrow.
"I said what I said," he responding, a smirk on his face as he turned around and walked out. She took a giant breath and bit her lip as she headed for her elevator.
***
The next morning, Marley decided not to accompany Adrian to his conference. She was still too upset about their fight the previous day and felt embarrassed about the whole thing. She could hardly look him in the eye.
She stayed in their hotel room for about two hours after he left and then got a little stir crazy, so she decided to head out and go sight-seeing for the next three hours before Adrian returned.
However, as she headed down the lobby of the hotel, she had the grand misfortune of running into an old face.
"Marley," said Julie when Marley attempted to walk right past her.
She had no choice but to stop, while Julie smiled as though they were best of friends. "Hi," she forced herself to speak. "I didn't think I'd ever run into you here. Figured if you were in town, you'd be staying at a much nicer hotel."
"Oh, I'm not a guest here," she said. "I actually have a suite in the Caesars Palace."
"I'm not at all surprised," said Marley, pressing her lips together.
"John didn't mention you'd be in the city," Julie said, crossing her arms. "You could've stayed in the suite with us."
"Us," Marley repeated.
Julie responded with a smile. "Yeah, we're just... writing and having fun before the big festival. Are you coming?"
"No, actually, I'm here on a trip with my boyfriend," she said. "I didn't even realize there was a festival going on."
"Your boyfriend?" said Julie. "Wow, it's certainly a fancy vacation. So where is he?"
"Umm..." Marley hesitated. "He's out." Julie nodded but Marley added, "Getting the car for us. We're going sightseeing so..."
"That's very cool," said Julie. "I'm meeting someone but, uh... You have fun."
Marley forced a smile as Julie saw who she was waiting on and followed them down to the hotel bar. Marley felt like an idiot for feeling the need to lie, but not when she saw Julie approaching a blonde girl who was pulling something out of her purse, only for Julie to slap it back in there and yank her away.
"Whatever," Marley told herself, knowing exactly what Julie was up to now. "It's none of your business."
But knowing that this was the company John was keeping now didn't bring her any comfort at all.
***
Down at the T-Mobile Arena, different acts were coming in and out for the sound check. Some fans with special passes were around to watch, but for the most part it was just industry folk, musicians, and crew.
"I'm not saying I'm not grateful for the slot," said Santana as she walked with Shana and the rest of Rhythmix. "Just that I know it's like a consolation prize. My last album flopped, I've got nothing in the works yet, and they're like, 'Thank you for letting us book so many artists from your label. I guess we'll book you, too, even though no one will care if you come or not.'"
"Oh come on," said Shana, frowning. "That's not true."
Behind them, Kayli giggled, so they turned around and saw that she was busy on her phone.
"What's got her all girly today?" asked Santana.
Shana smiled and teased, "She's in lo-o-o-ove."
Kayli looked up, a scowl on her face. "Am not?"
"You so are," said Leila.
"Big time," Zoe said. "Hasn't shut up about her date with Gus."
"Gus?" asked Santana, making a face at the name.
"Bukhari," said Shana. "Like, the hotels."
"An heir," said Santana, much more impressed now.
"A super cute model," Leila added. "Who's got Kayli all hot and bothered."
"He does not," said Kayli, though she blushed and tried to laugh it all off. "We're kind of friends and we're gonna keep dating to give us some publicity. That's all."
They teased her as they arrived at the doors that led up to the stage but they were stop by security guards.
"You can't come through these doors without a pass," one of them said.
The women exchanged looks as Kayli put her phone away and said, "We're the act, you idiots."
"The act is already in there," the other guard told her, standing his guard.
She gasped, looking at him incredulously and then turning to the others. "Is he kidding?" she asked.
Before Kayli could have a freak out, Santana said, "Do you not know who we are?"
"We do," said the first guard. "But the act in there right now has requested a private rehearsal."
"Rehearsal?" said Shana. "We're at soundcheck. Who's still rehearsing?"
"A last minute addition to the lineup," said Sebastian from behind them, cutting in. "You can let these women in."
He directed that last sentence at the guards, who moved, seeming to follow his orders.
"I swear to god if this is—" said Santana, following him inside, only to discover that the act on stage was three familiar-looking girls.
"Crimson?" said Shana, stopping beside her as they watched Sebastian make his way to the stage.
They walked down the floor to get closer as Kayli said, "You've got to be kidding me. These bitches are performing? Why is this the first we hear about it?"
"Calm down," Leila told everyone. "It's not a big deal. Good for them. It's big exposure."
"Are you serious?" asked Kayli. "Were you not at that meeting Monday morning? Our team thinks they're cutting into our fanbase and our spotlight. It's not a good thing that they're here, where more of our fans will see them."
"Our fans are loyal," Leila disagreed.
"Our fans can be persuaded to leave us for something new," said Kayli. "Even if it's not better."
They glanced up as Sebastian talked to the girls. Santana was watching quietly, murmuring to herself, "What is he up to?"
But answering her question, Sebastian walked back to them and said, "I just signed these girls three days ago and already got them a major gig. I swear, I was born to manage."
He stood beside Santana who asked, "You're managing them now? Seriously?"
"I'm growing my roster," shrugged Sebastian. "By the way, they're unsigned since they didn't win first place in their little TV show so... I'm advising them to stay away from Lima labels."
Santana glared at him but didn't get a chance to respond because the girls were gathering into positions to begin a song.
"Why are they in our soundcheck spot?" asked Kayli, angry.
"They were just added to the lineup a few days ago," said Sebastian. "They need the extra rehearsal."
A beat dropped and the girl front and center started to sing.
["Break Yo Chest" by Crimson, their debut single. Original artist: Star Cast.]
Deena: Had the baddest, upped your status to a pro. Me, on your arm, made you a superstar, ah.
She moved out of the way and another girl sang, dancing her way to the opposite side of the stage and struggling to keep her breath.
Penny: Hand in my hand transformed you to a man like damn. Everybody knowing who you are.
The girl left in the center bent down to one knee and danced suggestively, her vocals staying on point throughout her verse.
Carmen: Then you presented symptoms of brain damage. I'm convinced that you bumped your head. Let my heart slip right out of your hand. Right out of your hand.
The first girl made her way back to the center while the other moved away. She noticed the Rhythmix girls and winked in their direction before continuing to sing to an invisible audience.
Deena (Crimson): And now I'm frozen. Some glass should remain broken. You wanted out, you chose this. Messed round and slit your wrist. (Killed love, killed us)
Kayli felt uneasy, looking at the other girls. Shana looked just as concerned, while Zoe just stared blankly and Leila smiled, bobbing her head along.
Deena (Crimson): And now we're frozen. Some glass should remain broken. You wanted out you chose this. Your mistakes to made you sick. (Killed love, killed us but I live...)
The girls danced in unison now and Santana turned to Sebastian to say, "They look pretty rehearsed to me."
"I didn't say they weren't already great," said Sebastian. "They just need to be perfect."
Deena (Crimson): You say without me here your life is like a nightmare (So dream on). You swear your heart has lost it's rhythm cause I'm gone (Pa ra pa pam pam).
The girl singing lead stood in the center while the other two danced behind her and switched spots. She closed her eyes and sang her heart out, her voice reminding Santana of someone's but she couldn't really put her finger on who that was.
Deena: You're telling me it's like you bleeding from the inside. But you made your mess, now roll in it. And the next time your heart beats...
Then the girls all came together to dance once again.
Crimson: I hope it breaks yo chest.
They weren't as explosive a unit as Rhythmix, at least not yet, but they certainly had the looks and the voices to pull off a good enough show.
And, Santana realized, the right manager to make them the stars of any show.
Crimson: Che-che-che-che-che-chest-chest. Your chest, che-che-che-che-che-chest. Breaks yo chest. Che-che-che-che-che-chest-chest. Your chest, breaks your, breaks - break... Breaks yo chest.
***
When Marley returned to the hotel and checked her watch, there were still another forty minutes until Adrian got back. She was too tired to try to go back out there in the sun, too tired to even try to make it to her floor. So she walked to the bar she'd seen Julie go into and took a seat at the counter.
Past the bar, she realized, were dozens of tables, a man playing the piano, and several guests dining out. It was a small restaurant.
"Great..." she muttered.
The bartender turned around, noticed her, and said, "Oh sorry. What can I get you?"
"Hm?" she looked back at her. "Oh, uh... Tonic water please. No, a lemonade. Thank you."
"Hot out there, huh?" said the bartender as she began to pour the drink.
"And very busy," Marley added. "Guess there's a lot going on this weekend."
"It's Vegas," said the bartender. "It's always busy. You from around or a visitor?"
She smiled and said, "I'm pretty sure I have tourist written on my forehead but thanks for being polite enough to ask."
The bartender handed Marley her lemonade and said, "Well, you never know around here, really. Business or pleasure?"
"Both, kind of," said Marley. "I'm here with my boyfriend for a conference. Endocrinology & Metabolism. Doctors all around the world getting together to talk science and medicine advancements."
"Oh right," said the bartender, leaning against the counter. "I met a few other people coming to that yesterday. Isn't it today?"
"Today and tomorrow," said Marley. "But I didn't go today."
"Probably for the best," said the bartender.
"Right, because this is so much more fun," said Marley, taking a big sip of her lemonade.
"There's a lot else you could do instead of some medical conference," the bartender shrugged. "There's a huge music festival in town. My cousin's going to that."
"Well, I'm sure she'll have a lot of fun but I definitely don't wanna go to that," said Marley. Just thinking about it made her feel a bit ill.
The bartender got distracted when another guest came for a drink and Marley noticed the music suddenly stop. She turned to the piano and saw its player getting up, placing a sign over the piano and walking out to a patio.
With the bartender distracted and the only waiter in sight heading to the kitchen, Marley took a deep breath, got up, and headed for the piano.
She thought everyone would immediately notice her and stop her, but nobody really did. So she took a seat behind the piano and stretched out her fingers, working up the courage to start playing one of her latest creations.
["I Don't Think About You" by Marley Rose. Original artist: Kelly Clarkson.]
The bartender looked up at her, surprised. Marley glanced up briefly but since the bartender wasn't doing anything about it, she continued and even got the courage to start singing.
Marley: When you're lost in the moment. You can't see where you're going. I didn't know who I could trust. So I put all my faith in us.
The waiter came out of the kitchen and, upon seeing her, started heading her way, but the bartender reached out and stopped him.
Marley: Oh, you tore me to pieces. Turned my strength into weakness. I didn't want it all to fall apart. So I decided just to play the part.
The guests were starting to pay attention, conversations stopping or lowering as Marley's voice grew louder, little by little, and demanded their attentions.
Marley: But honestly, I'd do it all again. Putting up with all the bullshit. It made me strong enough to do this.
When she sang the chorus, there wasn't a single pair of eyes around that wasn't watching her.
Marley: It used to bother me... Thought I could never leave... After all that I've been through, nothin' left to prove. No, no, no, I don't think about you. Weighin' down on me... I lost my sanity... And now that we are through, nothin' left to lose. No, no, no, I don't think about you...
As she sang in a beautiful C6, Marley noticed all the eyes on her and looked down at her keys, afraid of looking up again and choking under the pressure. She skipped to the bridge of her song and sang with conviction, feeling all the pain of months earlier, when she'd first written it.
Marley: It was hard to hold on. Days and nights I thought I'd never make it at all. Couldn't make it at all. Now I stand tall. Feeling like myself again, no worries at all. Breathe.
She thought about what might happen if anyone knew about this song, if the person she'd wrote it about ever heard it.
Marley: No one can stop me from livin' this moment for--
But it didn't matter because the whole song was about not caring about that person anymore. So she closed her eyes and sang her heart out, hitting her C6 again.
Marley: Me... I found my heartbeat. After all that I've been through. No, I don't think about you.
She sang through the rest of the song with a smile on her face, feeling a little better about everything that had been bothering her lately.
Marley: It used to bother me. Thought I could never leave. After all that I've been through, nothin' left to prove. No, no, no, I don't think about you.
There was no denying that it still bothered her, and would continue bothering her for some time, but at least now she felt like she had a better way of handling it than lashing out at people she cared about.
Marley: Weighin' down on me. I found my sanity. And now that we are through, nothin' left to lose. No, no, no, I don't think about you.
Singing her song had given her an incredible rush, reminding her that that dream inside her from when she was a little girl was still alive. It was just a tiny flicker and she had to shut it down, but at least now she knew it was still there.
Marley: I don't think about you. No, no, no. Not anymore. No, no, no, I don't think about you.
Upon finishing, she got up and smiled gratefully at the people who cheered her on, then walked off and went upstairs to wait for her boyfriend.
***
"Hey, I ran into Marley earlier," said Julie when John returned to their suite from another tiring day of interviews.
John was headed for the bathroom but stopped midway and turned to her. "At your soundcheck?"
"At a hotel," she said, digging into her purse beside her and pulling out a small paper bag. "I got us a little something and she was there."
She tossed him the bag and he caught it perfectly, taking a quick look inside and then glancing up at her, more confused than before. "She was buying drugs?" he asked.
"No!" she exclaimed, grunting. "Ugh, she was at the hotel where I went to meet my girl for that stuff. By the way, it goes without saying but only the weed is for you. The other stuff is mine. I'm gonna need it for tomorrow."
John ignored her concerns about the drugs and threw the bag back as he asked, "Why is Marley in Vegas? Did you talk to her? Was she alone? Is she coming tomorrow?"
"Uh..." said Julie, losing track of all the questions. "She said she was on vacation with her boyfriend or something."
John scowled. "That douche," he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, ok, makes a little more sense now."
"She seemed so miserable, though," Julie shrugged. "So I wouldn't be too concerned."
"Why would I want her to be miserable?" asked John. "My relationship with her is nothing like yours and Alex."
Julie scoffed. "And what does that mean? Alex is a big part of my family. He sees them more than I do. Marley hardly wants anything to do with you."
"Just lay off anything that has to do with her, Jules," said John, staring across at her sternly. "I mean it."
He headed into the bathroom and slammed the door. Julie rolled her eyes and said, "Jeez. Someone's a little sensitive."
The shower came on so she took a deep breath and lied back down, hitting play on her phone. Her new song played and she sang along, practicing and getting every word down.
***
Friday morning, her song was also the topic of discussion in a loft a few blocks away. Addison walked in and saw Kara sitting there, all comfortable beside Alex talking about it.
Now aware of the visitor, she approached slowly while they talked.
"This is so stupid," said Alex.
"The song?" asked Kara. "You haven't even heard it. I actually thought it was pretty good."
"No," he said. "What the media and even some critics are saying. People are really crediting John for bringing pop, rock and country together with Julie... Something I already did with her years ago when we wrote Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet. To this day that's one of her biggest hits. I was responsible for that genre fusion with her."
"So?" said Addison, breaking up his rant and interrupting. Kara immediately sat up and Alex stayed frowning. "Nobody cares about that anymore or how many Grammys it won her," she continued. "They just wanna know about the shade and the secrets and the gossip and how you're going to respond."
"She's right," said Kara, though she didn't really acknowledge Addison. "They need to hear this new song tonight and remember you're the better musician. They're gonna lose their shit."
"Right..." said Alex, getting up. "Well, I should probably go take a shower. We'll have to get ready for the festival soon."
He walked to his bedroom and left them alone. Kara looked at the floor and then up at Addison, who asked, "So you're back?"
"My schedule happened to have me in Vegas this weekend," Kara nodded. "And Alex invited me so..."
"Cool," said Addison. She started walking away but then stopped herself and returned to the same spot. "No, not cool," she said. "Sorry but... You disappeared on me. You took off and you just... You bailed on me. And now you're hanging around my client all the time which means I have to see you all the time and it's weird."
Brow creased, Kara said, "I'm sorry but your client is one of my best friends. If anything, it's weird that you decided to work for him."
"I'm good at what I do," she said defensively.
But Kara said, "I'm sorry that I didn't say anything and just left, ok? I freaked out. And I had an easy out. But I've done a lot of soul searching."
"Oh I'm sure," said Addison, annoyed.
"I have," said Kara. "And that's how I realized what I did to you was wrong. But I'm here now and I'm gonna be around more and... I think you're gonna have to suck it up and stop acting weird." She got up and said, "For our sake and for Alex's."
As Kara walked down a hallway and Addison remained alone in the living room, remembering why things had ended so badly.
***
Marley was woken up by the sounds of Adrian trying too hard not to wake her up. He was sneaking around all about the hotel room, making more noise than was necessary in attempts at doing everything quietly.
She opened one eye first, then both when she saw that he was trying to sneak away.
"Hey..." she said, sitting up slowly.
"Oh," he said. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I was just getting ready for the conference today."
She sighed heavily and said, "Can we just talk for a moment?"
He nodded so she patted the spot next to her feet. He took a seat there and said, "What's up?"
"We didn't get to talk yesterday when you got back," she said. "And I really wanted to apologize for being such a jerk to you on Wednesday. I was... triggered, I guess."
"You don't have to apologize," he told her. "I should've known given everything you've been through that this wasn't something you wanted."
"It's not that I didn't want it," she said. "It would've been a really cool experience. Like, getting to live out a dream I always had, just for one night. But... The truth is that even though it was really nice and thoughtful, I just wouldn't ever be able to do something like that. This, music, is a dream that was soiled to me by the way my friends, many of them ex-friends, have used it to drag each other through filth."
"Oh," was all he had to say. He hadn't really put that much thought into it.
"I've always resented it a little," she said. "That I killed this dream thinking it was impossible and that it wouldn't make me happy. And then so many of my friends got it... And just stomped on it."
"I'm sorry," Adrian sighed.
"No, don't be," she said. "None of this is on you. In fact... Yesterday, I realized that what they do isn't to hurt each other. It's... to heal themselves. And I should've just thought about it that way all along, positively. I should've been more grateful to you for your surprise. And I am now."
She reached over to give him a hug and he gave her a kiss on the lips, happy that she had changed her outlook on the situation and was no longer upset with him or anyone.
"Thank you," she told him, pulling away. "Now... Can you wait on me so we can go to the conference together? As planned?"
Adrian's lips widened into a smile and he nodded, "Yes, of course. I'd love nothing more."
***
When John got up, Julie was already gone. He hadn't seen much of her the previous day, since he'd been so ticked off about the Marley stuff.
He got ready without her, letting the styling team come in and get him as ready as he needed to be. They were supposed to share a van, but she didn't show up on time for that, so he left without her and headed out to the venue.
As he walked backstage and was prepped for the event, he heard familiar voices from one of the dressing rooms on the way to his.
He stopped by a door, saw the name on the star, and walked in without knocking, nearly stopped by a guard at the end of the hall before he shut the door.
Sebastian and Julie looked up at John and the latter's eyes widened in surprise. "You're super late," said Sebastian.
"You look..." John told Julie.
She stood up, wearing black leather pants with a bullet belt, a gun holster, and fringe on the legs. Her abdomen was covered in glitter and for a top she wore only a black bra, the cups covered in diamonds.
But the main event was that her dark hair was once again dyed, this time very, very blonde.
She waited for John to finish, so he said, "Like a wild west biker stripper."
Julie couldn't help laughing but Sebastian wasn't amused. "This type of major change to your look is supposed to go through me first," he said. "It affects your career."
"It's gonna get people talking," said Julie, smiling. "Between the outfit, the hair and the performance, they won't stop talking about me. Just look at John."
John was still staring at her new look, but stopped after her comment made Sebastian look at him in annoyance. "Hm?" he said, looking at him.
"You two are hopeless," said Sebastian, rolling his eyes. "I'm gonna go check in on Crimson. Try to behave."
"No promises," said Julie playfully as Sebastian left the room.
Once they were alone, John stared at her look again and said, "No, but you really do look great."
"Thanks," she said, grabbing a cowboy hat and putting it on. "Hat or no hat?"
"Hat," he said.
"Cool," she said with a smile. "Hey, I had an idea and I wanted to know how you felt about it before you go out there and watch the other shows."
He squinted at her and waited for the idea she was about to proposed. Knowing Julie, it would be both really good and really awful at the same time.
***
From backstage, Julie and John watched several sets. First, they made it to Lyric's performances.
["Scars to Your Beautiful" by Lyric Heron. Original artist: Alessia Cara.]
Lyric: She just wants to be beautiful. She goes unnoticed. She knows no limits.
John was a bit annoyed, having to sit through and pretend these songs weren't about him and that that particular song everyone went so wild for wasn't about Marley.
Then they watched the hip-hop trio, Average at Best, perform their number one single, You Hate This.
["You Hate This" by Average at Best. Original artist: Really just nonsense I made up.]
Average at Best: You hate the money, you hate the jewels. You hate attention, you hate rules.
Julie was starting to get antsy when Rhythmix came out and performed a few of their hits. Once again, John watched Julie and an arena of people sing along to a song that famously dissed him.
["Shout Out To My Ex" by Rhythmix. Original artist: Little Mix.]
Leila: Guess I should say thank you for the hate yous and the tattoos. Oh baby, I'm cool by the way. Ain't sure I loved you anyway.
Julie found it amusing. Then Derek came out and the arena went wild. He was a clear favorite so far and she was up next.
["Out Of Your Emotions" by Derek. Original artist: Me again. You're welcome.]
Derek: I hate you, Kelly. Get out of my car. I don't want you to stay, cause I hate ya. You have no effect on me. You don't support me.
"Gotta go get all set up," she told John, patting his arm. "Coming with or..?"
"I'll join you in a little bit," he said. "I wanna watch a bit more of this. Derek's songs are such bangers."
"Totally," Julie agreed, giving his shoulder a squeeze and then hurrying off.
***
When she returned, Derek's set was over and everyone was waiting on her. She could hear the fans getting antsy and then start chanting her name.
"Do you hear that?" she told John as a crew member checked her earpieces under her hat and hair. "That's probably my favorite sound in the world."
"Weird," said Alex, passing by behind them and making them turn quickly. "Mine's the sound of my daughter's voice but... I guess that's just me. Nice hair."
Julie's smiled turned into a scowl as Alex walked away. "Ignore him," John told her. "We're about to make him eat his words."
That was the first time John had been that close to Alex in over a year, but of course the latter had failed to acknowledge him at all.
"We're all good," the crew member said once he had finished adjusting Julie's headset microphone.
She took a deep breath and said, "Ready?"
"On your mark," John responded.
Julie gave her people the ok and headed onto the stage as one of her most classic songs, and one that fit her current cowgirl theme, began.
["Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet" by Juliet Vasquez. Original Artist: Hayden Panettiere.]
"Vegas, how are y'all doing tonight?" she said as she walked out there, working the stage and getting all the fans screaming.
She smiled, taking in all their adoration.
"That's what I like to hear," she said.
Julie: I thought things couldn't get much worse, but guess what they did?
***
Backstage, John watched and was surprised to be joined by Kara, of all people, just as Sexy Dirty Love was beginning and it was time for him to prepare as well.
["Sexy Dirty Love" by Juliet Vasquez. Original artist: Demi Lovato.]
Julie: Hittin me up late always be blowing up my phone. I'm lying awake wondering why I'm still alone.
"She's so full of energy," Kara said, watching as Julie worked that stage to the best of her abilities.
"Why am I not surprised?" he said as he looked down at her with a small laugh. "You're still following Alex around, huh?"
"You're still following Julie?" Kara responded.
John smiled. "Mutually beneficial relationship," he said. "Yours doesn't seem to be."
"Yeah, I hear you keep using that phrasing," said Kara. "But the way I see it, it's more mutually destructive." She looked out at Julie, who was dancing seductively with her dancers.
Julie: You got me so high! Pull me closer into you and watch our bodies intertwine.
Kara sighed, "She really does have a lot of energy out there. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's on something really strong."
As John was approached by crew who came to prep him, he stayed silent.
"Oh wait," said Kara. "I do know better, enough to be absolutely sure she's using. Maybe if you were a better friend you'd intervene but... I guess that wouldn't really be beneficial to you."
She walked away and John thought about that, how he was just watching Julie get more and more hooked every time she used. But so far, she seemed to only really use when it was time to perform, which wasn't too bad.
At least, he didn't think so. Besides, he was the last person to tell her how much she should indulge, when he was still getting a handle on trying to drink in moderation. And so far, he was doing a pretty good job.
John got ready and watched the rest of the song up close. He was handed a microphone right as Julie finished up.
"I have a surprise for you tonight, iHeart," she said as the song ended. "I'm going to be releasing a lot of new music soon because my album is in the works..." The crowd cheered. "And," she said, "I'm co-writing it with my amazing producer... The multi-talented John Brown!"
At this announcement and the sound of his name many of the more wild fans lost it. Julie smiled, laughing a little as she watched the positive reaction to her officially stating the news.
"I'm sure you've all heard this one by now," she said. "This is for him."
["Starboy by John Brown. Original artist: The Weeknd.]
As the song played, the crowd went wild.
Julie: I'm tryna put you in the worst mood, ah. P1 cleaner than your church shoes, ah. Milli point two just to hurt you, ah. All red Lamb just to tease you, ah.
She swayed her hips around to the beat and did her best keeping up with John's flow.
Julie: None of these toys on lease too, ah. Made your whole year in a week too, ah. Main dude out of your league too, ah. Side piece out of your league too, ah.
Then John came out and, as Kara had thought wouldn't happen until Alex's set, the crowd lost their shit.
John: House so empty, need a centerpiece. Twenty racks a table cut from ebony.
He reached center stage with Julie and put an arm around her as he continued singing.
John: Cut that ivory into skinny pieces, then she clean it with her face. Man, I love my baby.
Backstage, Alex watched with Kara and Addison in his dressing room, the latter two shocked that Julie would even dare do this.
John: You talking money, need a hearing aid. You talking bout me, I don't see the shade. Switch up my style, I take any lane. I switch up my cup, I kill any pain.
But Alex wasn't as surprised, just silently staring at the screen.
Julie: Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah. Look what you've done.
John: I'm a-I'ma-I'm a Starboy.
They finished the chorus and then the song transitioned into her new song, which many of her fans in the audience had already memorized.
The dancers came back out, one of them bringing out a chair and placing it front and center while some of the others pulled John onto it.
Julie hadn't told him about this part of her plan, but he laughed in amusement, sure it was about to be good.
["John Wayne" by Juliet Vasquez, part of her upcoming 2027 album. Original artist: Lady Gaga.]
"It's like, I just love a cowboy," Julie said, taking off her hat and putting it on him. "You know. I'm just like, I just, I know, it's bad... But I'm just like, 'Can I just like, hang off the back of your horse? And can you go a little faster?!'"
Julie: 3 am, mustang speedin'. Two lovers, headed for a dead end. Too fast, hold tight, he laughs. Runnin' through the red lights.
Backstage, Alex was now arriving to the sidelines. Addison and Kara stayed a few feet behind, afraid of how he would react now that he was hearing the actual song.
Julie: Hollerin' over, rubber spinnin'. Big swig, toss another beer can. Too lit, tonight, prayin' on the moonlight.
Now that he was realizing the reason it had so many people talking was that it was about Julie's getaway with John and their subsequent car crash.
Julie: Every John is just the same. I'm sick of their city games. I crave a real wild man. I'm strung out on John Wayne!
And on stage, Julie was dancing around John while her dancers handed her a lass. John watched in delight as Julie took the rope and waved up in the air as she danced.
Julie: Baby let's get high, John Wayne...
She held that thing up in the air and looked back at him, winking.
Julie: Baby let's get high, John Wayne!
Then she tossed it aside for the dancers to catch and focused on John for a moment, making her way behind him. He looked up, trying to get a good look at her as she placed her arms on his shoulders and slid them down, caressing his chest from behind him.
Julie: Blue collar and a red-state treasure. Love junkie on a three-day bender. His grip, so hard, eyes glare. Trouble like a mug shot.
While she let go and walked away, he smiled, already thinking of all the press this was going to get them. Julie knew how to play the game and he couldn't get enough of it.
Julie: Charged up, 'cause the man's on a mission. 1-2 ya, the gears are shiftin'. He called, I cried, we broke. Racin' through the moonlight.
She made her way to the front of the stage and interacted with some of the fans, getting on her knees and dancing there, being the western biker stripper John had praised her as.
Julie: Every John is just the same. I'm sick of their city games. I crave a real wild man. I'm strung out on John Wayne!
For the second chorus, she returned to John, getting a leg up and putting her foot down between his open legs. On both of her sides, there were dancers doing some of the same moves as her, but when she did it in her current position, it became a lap dance.
Julie: Baby let's get high, John Wayne...
Alex's jaw hardened while he stood on the sidelines, watching his ex-wife grind on his ex-best friend while singing a song about wanting him.
Julie: Baby let's get high, John Wayne!
Once her lap dance was over, Julie took a seat on him and sang directly to him, caressing his face while all the fans cheered.
Julie: So here I go... To the eye... Of the storm... Just to feel your love.
Sebastian watched with a grin on his face backstage. Initially, he would've thought this was crazy. She was declaring that she was going to take all the hardships being with John would bring 'just to feel his love' and that was nuts. If any other two people with their history did it, they would be hated by the public.
Julie: Knock me over! Here I go!
But with these two, they might just pull it all off.
Julie: Into our love storm...
Julie got off John's lap gracefully and walked to the front again, joined by her dancers in some choreography.
Julie: Baby let's get high, John Wayne...
Tired of watching, Alex shook his head, walking away from the stage until he needed to be back for his short set.
Julie: Baby let's get high, John Wayne!
***
As Julie closed her set with a performance of So What, Alex returned to the sidelines.
He watched the new girl group, Crimson, perform their one song and judging it silently distracted him from everything else going on. He only had two songs to perform, so it wasn't like he had to do this for much longer.
Julie was cooling off when Alex's set started, so she listened to Say Amen from her dressing room. About midway through the song, she decided to head out, unaware that Alex had a second song coming.
She walked backstage, greeting people casually, still reeling from the performance and what she had taken to help her do all of that comfortably.
And she joined some of her friends at the sidelines to watch Alex finish out his song, even clapping a bit when the fans did.
But when the song ended, Alex didn't say goodbye or start doing a cover or anything like that.
He took his microphone and said, "I want everyone out in the audience and everyone watching from home to take their phones out right now. Open iTunes... I just released my new single, you can buy it now. It's called This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race. And it's my truth."
["This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" by Alex Zimmerman, for his upcoming 2027 debut album. Original artist: Fall Out Boy.]
Alex: I am an arms dealer. Fitting you with weapons in the form of words.
Julie raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by all of this. She was joined by John, who had been listening from nearby and was now as intrigued as she was.
Alex: And, don't really care which side wins. Long as the room keeps singing. That's just the business I'm in, yeah.
Alex just stood behind a microphone stand, strumming his guitar and singing like the true rockstar that he was.
Alex: This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race.
Then he turned to the sidelines, fully aware that John and Julie was standing there. He looked right at John when he sang the next line:
Alex: I'm not a shoulder to cry on... But I digress.
Then he turned back to the audience and sang his heart out, taking everything John had said about him and turning it into more witty, masterful language for his art.
Alex: I'm a leading man. And the lies I weave are oh so intricate. Oh so intricate.
Julie turned to John, watching the sour look on his face as Alex clapped back. She couldn't help but smile a little.
Alex: I'm a leading man. And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate.
Then Alex, with the help of his band, sang the next verse. Julie had a feeling in her stomach that this was direct a little more towards him.
Alex: I wrote the gospel on giving up.
Backup singers: You look pretty sinking.
Alex: But the real bombshells have already sunk.
Backup singers: Primadonnas of the gutter.
But then he moved on to more that was hard for even her to decipher in the moment.
Alex: At night we're painting your trash gold while you sleep. Crashing not like hips or cars. No, more like p-p-p-parties.
She hated to admit it to herself, but she knew already that she would look up the song later and listen more carefully, try to catch every little thing Alex had hidden in his so intricate words.
Alex: This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race.
He sang into one of the main cameras filming him, as though addressing the rest of the world.
Alex: Bandwagon's full. Please, catch another.
Then he continued strumming, blocking out all the screaming and the cheers and just focusing on the song he'd spent so much time weaving together into perfection.
Alex: I'm a leading man. And the lies I weave are oh so intricate. Oh so intricate. I'm a leading man. And the lies I weave are oh so intricate. Oh so intricate.
Then the song came to a more instrumental part and he focused primarily on the guitar.
Alex: Yeah... Whoa-oh.
As the music slowed down and he stopped playing, he let the guitar hang over his body and addressed his audience.
"All the boys who the dance floor didn't love," he told them. "And all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough... Sing, until your lungs give out!"
He took a break, letting his backup band sing for him as he clapped his hands in the air and signaled the audience to join him.
Backup singers: This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race.
When he had them all clapping, he sang again, more forcefully.
Alex: This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race. Oh, oh. This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race!
Then he grabbed his guitar and started drumming again, singing as best as he could, knowing that regardless of what John had to say about his music or his artistry, he was good at this.
Alex: I'm a leading man. And the lies I weave are oh so intricate. Oh so intricate. I'm a leading man. And the lies I weave are oh so intricate.
And this was his best way of fighting back against all the attacks he'd received from the opposition.
Alex: Oh so intricate... Ehhhh ahh!
The song ended with a bang and Alex leaned into the microphone, softly saying, "Your move," while the fans cheered over everything.
But John and Julie weren't standing that far away and they'd heard him. They'd heard everything.