THE LIMO ROLLS to a stop at the curb. Levi steps out first, then Bass follows.
“Listen up,” Mom says as we’re all still tucked inside the limo. “Evangeline, I know this isn’t your first rodeo and, Jayla, we’ve been over this a million times, but I’m gonna say it anyway. Smile pretty for the cameras and move on. Don’t answer any personal questions. Stick to who you’re wearing and the award you’re presenting tonight. That’s it.”
I nod. “Got it.”
Mom turns to look out the window and smiles fondly when she sees my dad’s bandmates, Andrew, Tommy, and Chaz. Beside them are Lucas, Ace, and Wes.
“Stay with Lucas and we’ll be right behind you.”
“I see my parents,” Evangeline says, looking out the window, then turns to me and winks. “Come on, Va-jay-jay, let’s make this red carpet our bitch.”
Mom shakes her head before tapping on the window to let Bass and Levi know we’re ready. The back door opens and Bass helps her out first. Alex gets out next and offers his hand to Evangeline. The crowd roars when she emerges from the limo.
This is it.
The first time I will officially walk the red carpet as Jaybird.
God, I wish Zach was here.
The sound of the screaming fans is muted by the pounding of my own heart. Bass holds out his hand and as I set one foot outside the limo, he leans down into my ear and says, “Princess, listen closely. Keep your eyes on me and don’t look directly into the cameras. Then turn to the stands and wave to the fans.”
The moment I’m out of the limo, camera flashes come at me from all angles. Lucas appears at my side and places his hand on my back. “You ready?” he asks, giving me a side squeeze before releasing me and taking my hand in his.
I smile and nod once. “Let’s go.”
He tugs my hand and leads me over to the bleachers where people are screaming. I look over my shoulder and see that Ace and Wes are right behind us, waving to the crowd.
“Jaybird, Jaybird, Jaybird,” the crowd chants over and over. A rush of adrenaline pumps through my veins and a cocktail of emotion causes tears to prick the corners of my eyes. People are leaning over the barrier with their cell phones; little girls are crying and waving posters. I catch a glimpse of one of the posters held up by a young girl that reads “I love you, Jaybird” and a girl beside her holding another that says “The Royal’s Princess.” I point to the girls, then blow them a kiss and wave. Lucas grabs a phone from one of the fans and turns it around so that we can take a selfie with them in the background. We pose for more pictures, sign autographs, and high-five a few hands hanging over the wall before Bass and Levi walk over and steer us back to the line.
Mom stands there shaking her head, but she’s smiling. Lucas and I continue to make our way down the red carpet, stopping for photos. I pose with the band, pulling Alex into a few more and confusing the hell out of the photographers. We haven’t made any formal announcement about Alex being the new lead singer for Royal Mayhem. We plan to do that tonight.
Yesterday, Alex and I met with Miles Townsend at Rhythm & Riffs for our interviews and photoshoot. The Marcus King Tribute issue came out at the beginning of this month with a young Marcus King on the cover. The story was told by people close to my dad, including Miles himself, and my mom. I wasn’t lying when I said Alex could pass for a young Marcus King and the fans will see for themselves in the May issue, right before the release of Jaybird.
“WELCOME BACK TO the Grammys Red Carpet Special coming to you live. I’m Julia Rappaport. Let’s check in with Ross Sterling.”
“Julia, I’m here with the lovely Jayla King and Lucas Wild.”
“Hello, Miss King. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. We were beginning to think you were a mythical creature.”
Jay smiles. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Ross.”
“She looks so hot,” I say out loud to no one in particular. Logan bristles beside me.
“Look at you. I’ll bet you have all the boys falling at your feet. Do you see this gorgeous girl, Julia?”
“She’s stunning.”
“That she is. Who are you wearing?”
“Thank you. This is a piece from the Project Mayhem T-shirt line designed by Anna Sizemore and myself.”
“That’s amazing. You modeled for Miss Sizemore, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re still in high school, correct?”
“Yes, I’ve made a lot of friends at my new school. Hi, guys.” She blows a kiss to the camera. “I miss you!”
“Boyfriend?”
“I’m dating, but nothing serious.”
My eyebrows shoot straight to the sky. Ouch! What the fuck?
“Don’t get all salty over it,” Cole says. “She’s sticking to the script.”
“He’s right,” Logan adds. “If she’d said yes, we’d have reporters hiding in our bushes by the end of the week. Then you’d find out real quick who your true friends are.”
“That’s a little extreme,” I say.
“It’s not. She’s ‘Jaybird.’” Cole throws up his hands. “Do you have any idea how long people been waiting for this? The media is probably going apeshit trying to dig up dirt on her.”
“Congratulations on Jaybird. And ‘Piece of Me’ is already in the top ten on the charts right now.”
“Really?” She smiles. “I didn’t know that.” Jay smiles over at someone off camera, probably Emerson, and gives a thumbs-up.
“We’re joined by Andrew Wild, Tommy Stone, and Chaz Vargas of Royal Mayhem. Hi, guys. Come on up. And who is this?” He gestures to Alex.
“Ross, this is Alex,” Andrew says. “He’s our new lead vocalist.”
“Well, hot damn.” Ross fans himself. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Alex smiles uncomfortably. “Thank you. It’s good to meet you, Ross.”
Ross presses his hand over his heart. “Has anyone ever told you that you could totally pass for a young Marcus King?”
“He does resemble Marcus a little,” I admit.
“It’s the Latin features,” Cole says. “Dark hair and light eyes.”
“Have you seen his mom?” I ask. “Jay said she’s a blonde.”
“Never met her.”
Alex laughs. “I’ve heard that, yes. I actually knew Marcus for a few years before he passed and he used to joke about it too.”
“Alex is an incredible performer,” Andrew adds. “He’s worked with Marcus in the past. Marcus would be pleased that Alex was our choice for lead vocalist.”
“Well, you’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill, my friend.”
“Don’t I know it.” Alex smiles.
“You guys are presenting the award for Best New Artist, yes?”
“We are.”
“And LAW is a nominee.” He turns to Lucas, Ace, and Wes.
Lucas nods. “We are. It’s surreal to be grouped in with so many incredibly talented artists.”
“Well, good luck to all of you.”
“Thank you, Ross.”
Jay smiles and waves to the camera once more before latching onto Alex and continuing down the red carpet. Ross watches them walk away, then turns back to the camera and mouths “Wow.”
Julia’s face pops up on one side of the screen. “Wow is right. She’s gorgeous.”
Ross nods in agreement. “For sure. And that Alex? Now that’s a nice-looking man.” They both laugh.
My phone vibrates with a text from Lexi. I saw Jay on TV. You know she loves you and that’s all that matters.
I know.
My phone buzzes again. This time it’s from Jay. I love you, Z, but I’m not ready to share you with the rest of the world just yet.
I chuckle and text her back, I understand. I love u too.
I miss you so much. I hate being away from you. How am I gonna survive months away from you when I’m on tour when I’m already going crazy after two days?
We’ll figure it out.
It’s me and you, Z. We’re a team. Always and forever. Xoxo
Always and forever.
Losing her isn’t an option.
We’ll make it work.
“HEY, ZACH,” REAGAN says, leaning against the locker next to mine.
“What?” I shove my books into my locker and check my phone. It’s against school policy to carry our phones during school hours because of something to do with invasion of privacy.
“Have you talked to your girlfriend today?”
“No, why?”
“Maybe next time you talk to her you should ask her to explain this.” She thrusts her phone in my face. Grabbing her phone, I take a closer look at the screen and my heart sinks in my chest, when I see a picture of Jay kissing some guy. He looks familiar.
“Where’d you get this?” I ask, pushing her phone back into her hand.
“It’s all over Celebrity Wall. That’s Ace Matthews from LAW. According to the Wall, Jayla and Ace dated until he hooked up with Nikki Fox at a party. Do you think this was taken at the Grammy’s after-party last night?”
“She didn’t go to the after-party,” I happily inform her, shutting my locker and walking away. I was on the phone with Jay for half of the night before I fell asleep.
Walking into the dining room, I feel everyone staring as I make my way over to our new table where Cole is sitting with Harper, Brad, Cherry, Evan, and Lexi.
Pulling out a chair, I spin it around to straddle the seat and prop my arms on the back. “I saw it,” Cole tells me before I can say anything. “You know they’re friends. You met the guy at her birthday party. That picture was taken last year at the Mayhem Foundation charity dinner. I was there. Of course, there’s no picture of what happened afterwards, when she pushed him away and called him a dick.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Gotta love the media.”