Love at The Bluebird

CeeCee Walker dashes those hopes by blocking the door, forcing me to stop and talk to her.

“It was so nice meeting you today, Gavin.” Her eyes take their sweet ol’ time traveling up and down my body as if I’m a piece of meat she’s picking out at the butcher’s shop. “I already volunteered myself to cover your record release party. Here’s my card; think of me if you ever want someone to accompany you to some of these industry events.” She hands me her card and catches me off guard by planting a kiss dangerously close to the side of my lips.

“Thanks, but I already have my plus-one covered,” I politely tell her with a small smile and a curt nod. Suddenly, a large banging noise comes from the glass, startling CeeCee and moving her attention away from me.

“We’ve got to go. Get out of his way!” Sosie yells at her through the glass, and I have to bite my lower lip to keep from laughing.

Fuck, now I gotta give Sosie a bonus for being her bitchy self today.

“Thanks again!” I dip my chin at CeeCee and slip out of the room into the crowded hallway. Shit, so much for getting out of here quickly, I think as a crowd of ladies circles around me. My fans are the reason my songs are sitting pretty on the charts, so even though I want to take off, I make time for them by signing autographs and taking photos before finally heading to our car.

“Please tell me the rest of the interviews we have lined up for today aren’t going to be as torturous as that one?” I sigh as soon as the doors to the car are closed.

“CeeCee Walker is the only barracuda on the agenda for today,” Rachel, my A&R rep from the label, informs me and Sosie with a smirk, causing us to laugh at her accurate description of CeeCee. “The rest of today should be smooth sailing.”

“Thanks for saving me back there, Sos.” I ruffle the top of her hair like I used to do when we were kids, prompting her to slap my hand away while giving me a dirty look. She pinches my bicep hard in retaliation before rummaging through her purse for a brush to fix her hair.

With a deep breath, I remind myself that this is my time right now. I’ve hustled and worked hard to be in the position I’m now in, and I’ll enjoy every damn minute of it. No one is going to ruin this opportunity for me. I clap my hands and rub them together, refusing to let a leech like CeeCee Walker put me in a bad mood. “Let’s have fun and get this show on the road!” I exclaim as the car drives us to our next interview.

Chapter Two

ALY

I VAGUELY HEAR the mumbling sound of what appears to be someone’s voice as I slowly start to wake up. The soothing voice starts off in almost a whisper, but gains volume, recognition starting to alert my senses. The low, smooth male voice proceeds to get louder and louder until it reaches a crescendo into the opening chorus. I smile as Bono from U2 tells me it’s a beautiful day and I shouldn’t let it get away.

You’re right, Bono! I won’t!

Every morning, I choose to wake up to this song—one of my all-time favorites—hoping it sets the tone for my day to be beautiful, to be exciting. To be memorable.

My smile widens as I open my eyes to see the sunlight creeping in through my curtains, telling me it’s going to be another gorgeous day here in Nashville. I throw the covers off me, put my slippers on, and start my morning routine of getting ready for work. After I take care of business in the bathroom and shower, I head to the kitchen to make coffee.

While the coffee brews, I fill my cat’s bowl up with his breakfast before making my own. I pour myself a bowl of cereal, grab my cup of joe, and sit down to start eating. As usual, I stare off into space while my mind thinks of all the things I need to accomplish today. Apollo jumping on the table startles me out of my trance, and even though I should yell at him to get down, I instead scratch behind his fluffy ears where his sweet spot is.

“We’re going to rock this day, aren’t we, Apollo?”

Yup, I’m that girl. That girl who’s the optimist, the romanticist with a bohemian, hippie flair and Goody Two-shoes way of life. I’m that girl who thinks the glass is always half full and am grateful for every day I get to wake up and live another day. One might call my exuberance for life annoying, but in a world where life can become dark and depressing in the blink of an eye, I call my positivity “survival.” My happiness and love for life makes people roll their eyes, but honestly, I’m beyond the point where I care what other people think. If they want to live their life with doubt, stress, and anxiety, then so be it. I choose to be this way, and let me make it perfectly clear, I’m damn happy to be that girl.