THREE WEEKS LATER

 

It’s been three weeks, I haven’t had anything scheduled so I’ve been able to wallow and sulk in peace. Matt’s been great staying home with me and keeping me occupied. We haven’t had Whisper around to help realign our chakras or help the qi in our Fung Shui. Last time he was here it turned everything to shit. Yes, obviously it wasn’t his fault, but I couldn’t bring myself to see him, even though he would probably somehow make me feel better. I have no idea how Whisper does that, though.

Today is the release of the video and I just can’t bring myself to be excited about it. There’s a launch party at the office, everyone’s going and Matt is trying to get me to go, but I really don’t want to.

“C’mon man, how would it look if a member of the band isn’t there for its own launch? You have to come. Zaria won’t be there, I checked.”

“She won’t?”

He shakes his head and I sigh.

“Okay fine!” I throw on my leather jacket and walk to the car with Matt. We get to the car to find an envelope under the windscreen wiper and we both look at each other curiously.

“What the fuck is that?” I ask and Matt shrugs.

“No idea,” he says pulling it from the windscreen and opening it.

He pulls out a letter and what looks like an air freshener that you hang from your rear view mirror as he chuckles showing it to me. It’s of a little fat Buddha sitting next to a ficus. Matt sniffs it and chuckles.

“Smells like sage.”

I burst out laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding?”

He shakes his head opening the letter when little bits of herbs falls out all over the floor. “How the hell did he get into the parking garage?”

I shake my head. “That’s kinda creepy, right?”

He nods and clears his throat. “Hello, sexy boys,” Matt says putting on an accent to sound like Whisper which makes me laugh. “Today is big day. I proud of you two and your video’s going to be huge. Nathaniel, keep your demons at bay and remember be cool, calm and collected always, and something good will come to you if you do. Matthew, you be a good boy and relax your chakra. Today big day of meetings. Chances will come to you both. Take them. Be one with world and soar my sexy boys. Listen to your heart. When it calling to you. Listen to your soul. There nothing more you can do… Wait isn’t that last bit close to song lyrics?” Matt asks cracking up in a fit of laughter.

I chuckle and it’s funny how even though Whisper isn’t here, he seems to know just when to show up to make us feel a little better. “That Korean Fung Shui guru…” I shake my head. “Man he cracks me up. Okay, let’s get going. I needed that. I feel like I can actually face this now.”

“Good, you can do this, Nate. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Nodding, I jump into the car and Matt hops in lacing the Buddha air freshener around the mirror and he drives us to the office where there’s a flurry of people running around. It really is a party.

We head up to the rooftop where the event’s to be held and there’s a big screen where I’m assuming the clip will be projected. There’s a makeshift bar, stools everywhere with drinks and canapes.

Paparazzi are here—invite only—and a few of the who’s who are here too. In a way I’m glad Ria and I never went public with our relationship because then we didn’t have to do the whole public break up bullshit. This way I can look like a tragic rock star and no one knows why. Matt leads me to the drinks bar and we pick up two tumblers of whiskey.

Tillie comes over. “You guys ready for tonight?”

“Are you?” Matt asks and Tillie and I both raise our eyebrows in curiosity at his reply.

“You’re so weird, Matthew. You know that, right?”

He chuckles and shrugs. “Hmm… maybe.”

Tillie ruffles his hair and walks off. I look at him and shake my head. “What was that?”

He shrugs again. “I’m weird… or am I keeping a secret? You’ll never know.”

“Yeah, I’m thinking the former.”

I notice Danger, Ryan and Lunar off to the left not far from us.

Tillie taps the microphone as everyone gathers around. “Welcome everyone to the first screening of the music video for ‘I’ll Take Your Breath Away’ featuring Recoil and the talented and breathtaking Oscar-winning actress Zaria Shafir.” My heart pounds harder at hearing her name. “Before the clip airs live we’re going to premiere it here. So without further ado, I give you Recoil and I’ll Take Your Breath Away.”

I have a giant swig of my whiskey as the lights dim and the screen flashes with the video. Seeing Ria come up looking sexy as fuck has my heart in palpitations instantly. I look away taking another sip as ‘oohs and ahhs’ come from the crowd. I look up just in time to see Danger running his tongue up her neck, I know what comes soon after and I can’t take it so I stand up and casually make my way down the stairs inside the building. In an attempt to calm my breathing, I place my hands on the wall in an attempt to try and calm down.

Cool, calm and collected, Nate!

Suddenly, a hand on my back pulls me into the now and I look up seeing Lunar.

She smiles at me and I shake my head. Lunar frowns pulling me into an embrace as I hug her tightly. “I’m so sorry, Nate,” she says softly.

“I just don’t get it,” I murmur back while she holds me.

“Danger said the reason he was so into it the last time was because Ria had told him to think she was me, and that it should be like being with me for the first time in a really long time. He said it was the only way to get into the right mindset. So maybe Ria was thinking the same thing while getting into character… that it was you the first time after a long time apart?” Lunar touches my arm. “Maybe you guys can sort this out?”

I pull back from her and sigh. “Maybe, not sure. But I’m glad you and Danger are okay.”

“We’re good. I was upset, but I know he loves me. I know they didn’t cheat on us, Nate. It was stupid of me to think that way. They wouldn’t do that to us. I was so totally insane with jealousy I pulled you along for the ride. I know now they were only acting the part. I believe them… even Zaria.” She gives me a soft smile. “Make it right, Nate. You’re miserable.”

I nod as the music for the video stops.

“C’mon, let’s get back up there, hey?”

We head back up the stairs hand in hand toward the rooftop. Everyone is clapping and it’s good to know this time around the video is a hit. Lunar squeezes my hand and lets it go as I walk over to Matt.

He slaps my shoulder and nods. “You okay?”

With a smile I give him a curt nod while Tillie continues with the speeches.

“So that’s it for the formalities. Does anybody else have anything else they’d like to say?” Tillie announces.

Matt shoves my side making me furrow my brows in confusion as all the lights go out. Slight murmurs and chatter echo over the darkened roof.

Tillie gasps. “Oh shoot, sorry everyone, there must be a blackout. I’ll get the power back on as soon as—”

“You are... so beautiful… to me,” Ryan sings as a spotlight flashes down on him walking toward Tillie as he plays his guitar. Everyone, including me gasps, as Ryan continues the song almost perfectly as Tillie starts to cry. Matt is sitting right next to Tillie when Ryan stops and is smirking widely.

The ass knew this was gonna happen.

Ryan steps up to Tillie’s feet and places his guitar to the back of him as he squats to one knee. “Tillie Anne Marks… you are so beautiful and my life wouldn’t be complete without you and our pets. But it would be better if you could be called my wife. Please do me the honor of marrying me so you can boss me around officially?”

She laughs and nods. “Of course. A million times… yes,” she says as tears fall from her eyes. Ryan smiles wide patting his chest as if to look for the ring. His eyes open wide as he pats his chest frantically. Matt stands up pulling out a box from his jeans and hands it to Ryan as Tillie gasps and everyone laughs.

“You sickos… you planned that didn’t you?” Tillie asks.

Matt smirks sitting back down with a shrug as Ryan pulls out a giant ring and places it on her finger. She smiles, bouncing up on her toes and Ryan gets up pulling her into a hug, kissing her passionately while everyone claps.

Oliver comes up to the microphone as the lights turn back on and he smiles. “Now this really is a celebration. Let’s party everyone. Drinks are on me!” Everyone cheers and throws their hands in the air as I manage a chuckle for the first time in three weeks. I figure I’ve had enough of all the lovey dovey shit, though, so I’m going to stand by the edge of the building and get some air.

Cool, calm and collected!

I manage to do that for about ten minutes before a waitress comes up to me. “Excuse me, Mister Levine?” she asks.

“Yes?”

“This is for you,” she says handing me a black piece of card then she walks away. Furrowing my brows, I figure it must be her number. I’m flattered, but not the least bit interested. I go to screw it up when something catches my eye. ‘Zaria Shafir’ the gold embossed name sticks out like a sore thumb as I look at it. Swallowing hard, I turn the card over to see some symbols which takes me a bit, but I soon decipher it. It’s my symbol for Matt. There’s writing underneath the symbol for Matt so I think she’s telling me to get Matt to read it for me.

Exhaling, I figure, I’ll play her game. I take the card over to Matt and he looks at me. “You look weird, what’s wrong?”

I lean into him. “I need you to read something for me.”

He nods. “Okay.”

I bring up the card and he laughs. “Why is there a rhino on it?”

“You’re a rhino,” I say.

He jolts his head back with a smirk. “Me? Why am I a rhino?”

“‘Cause you’re the older brother and you’re protective and boisterous… Fuck! That doesn’t matter, Matt. What’s it say underneath?”

He looks at me and furrows his brows. “It says… Go to your gallery, I have a present for you there. Wait? What gallery? You don’t have a gallery?”

Exhaling, I slump my shoulders. “I do have a gallery, it’s just no one knows about it. Except for the cleaner… and Ria.”

“What! Do you sell stuff? You should be selling stuff. Can I see it? Dude, how did I not know about this?”

“It’s not an open gallery, more like my own exhibit. But Ria said I should open it and sell my stuff. I just kinda forgot about it and since…”

Matt slaps my shoulder and shakes his head. “Dude, you should open it. You’re a great artist, Nate. Your paintings are amazing. You know I’d support you in this.”

“I know, we’ll see.”

“Well, are you gonna go? Her present might be her.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that, too. Hopefully, it is, then I’ll know we’re okay. If not then I know we’re over for sure. But either way I have to go.”

“Yes… go… tell me what happens.”

“I will,” I reply as I rush off down the stairs and out of the building.

The entire car ride I can’t help but think that the present is her and she’s changed her mind. She wants me back and we’re going to be okay. I pull up at the gallery and race inside, but it’s dark with no sign of Ria anywhere.

“Ria,” I call out then I hear footsteps. I turn and see a shadow walking toward me. She steps into the light and I smile reaching out to embrace her, but I jolt back in surprise when I’m met by a petite blonde with aqua highlights, a nose ring, two lip piercings and very dark but big black doe eyes. Despite her grunge arty look she’s quite stunning and I’m taken aback. “Ahh… not Ria.”

She chuckles. “Um, no, not an actress. As much as I’m perfectly suited to being famous and am brilliantly stunning, sadly… no, I’m just Alex.”

Smirking, I raise my eyebrow. “Okaaay, just Alex… aaand… what are you doing here?”

She smiles opening her arms wide and spinning around like a kid in a candy store. “This is my new home, Nate,” she calls out.

I tilt my head, slightly confused. “It is?”

She stops spinning and puts out her hand abruptly. “Alex O’Donovan, I’m your new business partner.”

Scoffing, I tilt my head even further. “Ahhh… come again?”

“Oh Nate, you filthy dog you. Not on the first date,” she quips and starts running around the gallery looking at the artwork. “These pieces are amaze, like really eclectic, Nate. You have such an eye for detail. Where did you study?”

I shrug. “My bedroom?”

She bursts out laughing and shakes her head. “Oh God, I’m gonna love working with you. This is gonna be great. I can see it now, a little more light in the place, open up those front windows and get a street sign out the front to get the foot traffic in. Nate, this is gonna work. We’ll get these paintings selling like hot cakes at a bake sale.”

I stand here in shock wondering what’s actually happening right now. “Umm… sorry, who are you?”

“Oh my God, are you not listening. I’m Alex, your curator slash manager… I’m going to run this gallery for you.”

“And… where have you come from?”

She smiles. “Well, there’s this bird called a stork and when a baby is born—”

“Alex!”

“God… okay, sheesh. Ria hired me. Said you need a push in the right direction.”

“But, she didn’t want to come with you to see me?”

She sighs. “She’s confused. She doesn’t want to give you the wrong idea, but she doesn’t want to see your talents go to waste either.”

“I see.”

“Hang in there Fred Astaire, you’ll be right.”

“You’re a little weird.”

She nods. “Thank you. That’s so nice of you to say.”

“Yeah… definitely weird. But how will this work? Do I pay you?”

She smiles and shakes her head. “Well, I’ll never say no to payment. But Ria has covered me for a seven day a week salary for a year. So you’re stuck with me for the next three hundred and sixty-five days, bucko!”

Opening my eyes wide, I gasp out of shock more than anything else. “Wait, she paid you to work for me every single day for the next year?”

“Sure did.”

I shake my head. “But what about Christmas… and Easter? Thanksgiving and fucking I dunno… Hanukkah?”

“Well, I don’t think for a second that you celebrate Hanukkah, but don’t worry, I’ll be available all those days.” She winks. “She paid me double time and a half for holidays. So yeah, I’m working those days for sure.”

“Alex this is too much, she doesn’t need to pay you for this.”

“She said you’d say that and that if you said no to accepting me as your manager to tell you that I would be out of a job and back on the streets. See you’re actually really helping me out as much as I’m helping you out here, Nate. She said that would help you make up your mind to keep me or not.” She grins at me like she knows she’s just won the battle of wills and I groan running my hand through my hair.

“Why were you on the streets?”

She exhales. “Douche boyfriend… left me with nothing, literally. He stole everything from my apartment and my bank account. Wiped me out in one foul swoop. Left me with nothing and with no family to fall back on, I had to go to the streets.”

“That’s rough.”

She winces, her confident outlook faltering slightly for a moment before it’s back up again. “Yeah, but you roll with the punches. I was studying art and business before the douche came into my life and took everything. Ria made an appearance at a homeless shelter I was boarding in. We became good friends and she helped me get back on my feet. I finished my art and business course and now I can put it to good use, working for you.”

“Okay. I don’t know anything about selling art or running a gallery, so I’m gonna leave that up to you, but I’d like to remain anonymous. I’d like people to buy my art because they like it not because they know it’s painted by the drummer from Recoil if you know what I mean?”

“Anonymity… got it! I already have ideas on how we can spruce this place up and get it open for the public. It’s going to be great, Nate, I promise.”

I walk up to her and put out my hand for her to shake. She smiles and shakes it strongly. “Okay let’s do this.

“Yes!”

Maybe Ria wasn’t the chance that was coming to me today, maybe it’s Alex and the Gallery?

Perhaps Whisper’s at it again…

Nah… I chuckle.