Chapter Five
Alex’s POV

So, as any other rock star in jail, I was pretty peeved. Though Carmen had managed to get me out on ten thousand dollars bail, I was still pretty pissed.

Kate—that petty, little stuck up bitch—had called the friggin’ police on me? It wasn’t like I had been about to kill her. It hadn’t been like I was holding a gun to her face. It hadn’t been anything like that, though the police had told me I was being charged with something like ‘domestic violence,’ or something.

And what really sucked was the fact I had to wear that god damn orange jumpsuit. I looked like a clown—a circus freak. It wasn’t my usual decked out style. Another negative about the jumpsuit was the fact that it made me feel fat.

It had been two days since the incident, and I was being led into that little room with the glass dividers, and the phone extensions. When I saw Carmen smirking at me, I resorted to flicking her off—without the guards noticing, of course.

With my hands chained together—like I was some stupid feral beast—I saw down, looking at the finger-printed glass window, and then Carmen. He smiled sweetly at the men behind me, signaling for them it was time to go away.

I reached for the phone, disgusted with how greasy it felt beneath my fingers. Did they even clean these things?

Carmen must’ve seen my look of disgust, because I heard her giggle through the corded phone. “What?” I growled at her, not in the mood to get ridiculed by her, of all people.

“Your rock star is shining through, Alex,” she told me lightly, still showing that flashy, sweet smile at me. “Tone it down. I’ve got the bail money, so you’ll be set to go pretty soon.”

“Why couldn’t you get it two days ago?”

“Tch. It’s a wonder why you got yourself locked up in here. No appreciation,” she sighed the last comment, batting her eyelashes playfully, trying to encourage me into a fight.

To bring out my ‘inner rock star,’ no doubt. I sneered at her, not in the mood for her antics. “When am I getting out of here, Carmen?”

“When are you going to start being nice to me?”

“I’m not playing around. My reputation is on the line—if not already maimed! I gotta do something—even if it means not getting the chance to strangle Kate Fitzgerald.” The last part came out under my breath, but Carmen managed to hear the insinuating words.

“Maybe you should stay here, Alex. That jumpsuit seemed to fit you pretty well, don’t you think? Orange is your color. Maybe I can talk to that chick that designs your stage wardrobe to put it in all your clothes.” She said, leaning back in her chair. Carmen tilted her head back, gazing at me from beneath her dark, probably mascara-ed lashes. As one hand help up the phone, her other was stretched across her stomach.

She was assessing me; I knew it. She always gave me that look when I had done something wrong.

“Stop being my friend and start being my manager, Carmen,” I mumbled, “and just get me out of here. I gotta do something.”

“Does this something consist of maiming this poor, mishap soul by the name of Katelyn Fitzgerald?”

“No shit, Carm.”

“Does this involve promoting yourself and making up for trying to attack her too?” She continued, sounding like a reprimanding mother scolding her bad, bad child who had threw mud at someone. “Does this involve humiliating said Kate Fitzgerald, in some way, shape, or form?”

“Of course,” I breathed into the phone.

There was a pause, and that sickly sweet smile that Carmen had shot toward the guards was back, and I could tell that she was calculating.

“Perfect,” she smiled, blowing on her nails slightly, as if there were dust on them. “I like the way we think, Alex.”

I smirked back at her, wondering if she was thinking what I was thinking.

After all, once a rock star, always a rock star.

So it was pretty easy for a rock star of my caliber to get a spot on GMA on late notice. And Carmen knew how to push buttons and pulls strings, which helped out in most situations like this here one. I was set to go on in a week, and I was pretty sure that would be enough time to go snooping around and get ready for the gig.

And, of course, do a little research on Katie Fitzgerald. That was the snooping part. And I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be easy, but I had my ways. And my ways had a name: Carmen.

She had been calling around for some information on little Katie girl, like where she hung out, who her friends were, and anything about that damned ex-boyfriend of hers. He was gonna pay for screwing her over or whatever—because, in a way, he screwed me over.

That bastard lost me the chance of ever getting Kate to play with my band. I sniff lightly at the thought, making myself feel better as the thought progressed. In a way…he had set me up for the let down!

What a sod. I mean, how rude is that?

I sat back in my recliner, my fingers running over the red leather. I pondered about getting my condo redecorated—I mean, c’mon. I had money to throw around, so why not put it to good use?

Max sat across from me, putting the bar to good use. Robbie stood behind him, standing on his tip-toes to catch a glance at what Max was concocting. I rolled my eyes at Robbie, just as he turned to give me a cheeky smile.

“So, Jailbait,” he grinned at me, purring out my newest nickname, “how’s the scheming going? I’m sure you’re not going to be too hard on the girl. I don’t blame her for denying you. I’d totally get a kick out of knocking you off you high-horse.”

Before I could get a word in, Max jeered at me, too. “Hell yes. I wanna meet this chick. She sounds like a badass. Do you think she’d go for drummers, Rob? Because obviously she doesn’t dig the singers.”

“Oh, shut the hell up,” I hissed, running a hand down my face.

Robbie chuckled lightly and ran a hand through his shaggy burnt orange hair, whilst plopping down on the arm of my recliner. I cringed away from him, shooting him a nasty glare. With a sneer, he cooed lightly at me, and pinched my cheek, causing it to turn a rosy red shade.

“Oh, lookie, Max,” he said, waving his hands up and down in front of me. “Our little man is growing up! He’s pining after a chick, dude! Just look at that face, man. Priceless. Do we have a camera, Max? Because this is totally a Kodak moment.”

“How touching,” I mumbled, moving to push Robbie off my chair. He laughed, jumping away from my offending hands.

Max joined in Robbie’s laughter, but this time, he came bearing drinks, so his taunts weren’t as bad. At the moment, I’d rather be drunk than deal with those two…I wasn’t sure of the alcoholic mixture, but I took it with a grateful salute to Max. After he relinquished the drink to me, he took a sip of his own, and took on a startled look.

My brow rose in question as he turned, grabbing at the buzzing cell phone on the counter. Before he flipped it open, I saw the flash of incoming call: Carmen.

“’ello?” He asked around his cup as he took another large swig. With a faint shrug of his shoulders, Max tossed the phone at me and returned to his jeering with Robbie.

“Huh?” I asked rather rudely, but I didn’t really care at the moment.

“Is that all you have to say to your savior, Rayne? Because I’m pretty sure I just saved your ass in about a million different ways,” she said offhandedly, and I could imagine her looking at her nails with vague disinterest.

I stood up from the recliner, intent on getting away from my band mates. They were making it hard to focus on Carmen. “Yeah? Do tell, my devious little cretin.”

“I’ve managed to stop GMA from announcing that you and Kate will be on next week. Because, evidentially, she didn’t know you were going to be there, and from what my sources say, there’d be no way in hell she’d come if she knew you were there.”

“Is that it? Because that’s not an amazing feat, really,” I commented.

She shushed me. “It is, actually, because GMA almost didn’t show you any mercy. Thank God I had Maddy with me.”

The name drew the curiosity out of me. “Maddy? A friend of yours?”

“Actually, she’s your Cinderella’s best friend. She gave me all of this here juicy gossip. And I didn’t even have to pay her. How awesome is that, Alex?” She giggled lightly, and the static crept into my ears at the laugh.

My brows drew together; now that didn’t make sense. “Why would she sell out Kate? That doesn’t sound like a best friend to me, Carm.”

“Oh, pish-posh. I told her my side of the story, and she told me hers. You know, ‘cause we can relate. Being the best friends of famous—err, well, for Maddy, somewhat famous people. It’s a tedious task, my friend. You’re a living, breathing Prima Dona.”

“You can relate to this Maddy chick? Does that mean she’s just as much of a bitch as you are?” I questioned, sauntering over to the window overlooking the city. It was nearly noon, and cars were swerving in and out of sight.

“Did you hear that, Maddy? He just called you a bitch,” she told someone—that someone who he supposed was Maddy—and he nearly smacked himself. There was a static filled pause before Carmen could come up with something wittier to say. “Is that so? Well, Alex, she calls you a total Chris Brown poser. Ouch, man.”

“I did not call you a bitch, Maddy!” I yelled exasperatedly, throwing up my free hand. “Don’t listen to Carmen! She’s the conniving bitch behind the scenes. I just asked if you were a bitch—and I’m not a poser. I’m the real deal,” I huffed, puffing out my chest in a manly manor, even when Carmen nor Maddy could witness the gesture.

“Blah, blah, blah, Alex Rayne. You’ve got yourself in a spot—a spot all of America can see. And they don’t seem too pleased with it, you see?” She asked me, ignoring my last rant.

“But—”

“Shh! Maddy’s helping us, Alex. But not for you, but for Katie. Are you in?”

I took the phone away from my ear, and I gave it a weary glance. “What exactly am I agreeing to, Carmen?”

“Coffee at that little mocha shop no one knows about with your two great friends,” she replied, her tone sweet. It sent shivers up my spine.

“Uh—right. I’m not buying. This whole ‘sneakiness’ and ‘secrecy’ is totally not working for me. Spill, Carmen.” I snapped into the phone, taking the business-like approach.

“Oh, fine. You’re no fun anyway. You’re not getting duped, Alex. C’mon. Why would I dupe you? I’m your personal manager. You give me all my money, and it would be rather stupid of me to go get myself fired and—”

“Damn straight I pay you,” I snarled. “Whatever. I think I know that mocha shop you’re talking about. About fifteen minutes from my condo, right?”

“Aye-aye, sir.” I could hear her snickering, and imagined her saluting me.

“I’ll be there soon—and don’t let this Maddy chick leave, okay?” I told Carmen, my voice deadly quiet and serious. “She might be the only one who can get Kate to talk to me again, and maybe even play the piano for that ballad. You understand?”

Carmen sighed a long, weary sigh. “I know. You just kill the mood, you know? And I’ve got her here still. I’m pretty sure one of your biggest fans won’t be passing up the chance to meet her favorite rock star—even though you almost assaulted her best friend.”

“You’re not making me feel any better about myself, you witch.”

“You’re a big boy, aren’t you? Grow a back bone,” she told me lovingly, and then the line went dead.

Max and Robbie questioned me about the phone call, but I paid them no mind, because this chick—if Carmen was really telling the truth—could actually get my ass out of trouble with Kate.

The little coffee shop had been cleared of all customers a few minutes before I came. Apparently, Carmen had rented us the whole shop for our pleasure.

When she saw me striding toward their little table (after I nearly punched that stupid fat manager who wouldn’t let me into the shop, because he didn’t recognize me as Alex Rayne) she jumped up from her little table, throwing her arms up into the air with some extra flamboyance.

“Alex, babe!” She greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “How are you this fine day, hmm?”

I pushed her away from me gently, and turned my attention on the bushy-haired chick that was still occupying her seat, and not throwing herself all over me. She smiled lightly at me, but it was a guarded expression—that much I could tell. Her eyes twinkled lightly and her curly chestnut hair bounced as she moved her head slightly, to glance at Carmen.

“I’m good,” I informed Carmen. Without a second thought, I decided to let my oh-so famous charm bleed out; I held my hand out to Maddy, grinning lightly. “I assume you’re Maddy, Kate’s friend? My name’s Alex Rayne. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maddy.”

My grin widened as she tentatively took my hand, and shook it lightly. She didn’t seem dazed by my sudden appearance, as most stark-crazy fan girls were by the mere sighting of me.

“I know exactly who you are,” she told me. “You threatened Kate because she wouldn’t play in your band. Even though I totally still love your music, I think you’re heartless.”

Carmen let out a wail, which startled me. “Oh, how you wound him!” She cried dramatically, and I rolled my eyes.

Maddy shrugged her shoulders lightly. “I just thought I should inform him.”

“You bet you should! He deserves it,” Carmen smirked.

I groaned, rather loudly, at that. With a frustrated sigh, I rubbed my face with my palms. “If you just wanted me to come here to bash me, I might as well leave,” I muttered, “because this isn’t helping me make it up to Kate. I best be going—”

“Oh, stop it,” Maddy snorted. “You can’t play victim here, with me.”

I turned my glare to Carmen. What the hell had she been thinking? She returned it with another sickly sweet smirk.

“But,” Maddy started again, looking rather nervous, I noted. “I do want to help you, Mr. Rayne—”

“Call him Alex, honey,” Carmen corrected with a flick of her fingertip.

Maddy blushed, and I lowered my gaze, only to find one of my many sold band shirts adorning her chest. My own face looked rather constipated, with all the wrinkles and such…

“Anyway,” she started again. “I want to help you, Alex. Not just because you’re a rock god, but because Kate’s my best friend. And I really don’t want her to remember you as the one who ruined all of her chances to move on.”

My brow arched—perfect and golden. “What are you talking about?”

“You said a lot of hurtful things to her, Alex. I seem to recall her sobbing out ‘whore’ and ‘bitch’ a few times. She was already broken enough—couldn’t you see? And you just showed her her place, didn’t you? She was fractured, and now she’s shattered. Did you know she hasn’t been out of her house for three days, Alex Rayne?”

“I haven’t been reading the tabloids lately,” I drawled. “You know, being stuck in jail and all. You don’t get any good gossip mills ‘round there.”

“Alex,” Carmen warned, her lips tight.

“God damn it!” I snarled, rounding on her. “You really think I’d hit anyone—a sobbing girl? I was pissed, Carmen. I was downright pissed. But I wasn’t going to hit her!”

“Then what were you going to do?” Maddy questioned, her eyes curious.

I threw my hands up then, prepared to tell her off too, but nothing came to my mouth to spew. I closed my eyes and ran a hand down my face again, sighing. “I don’t know what I was going to do, but I wasn’t going to hit her. Maybe the wall, but not Kate.”

Guilt was eating away at me, I realized. Maybe I had gone out of my way to be overbearing and intimidating, but I had never intended to hurt her. I sat back in the chair, slouching back. I breathed in and out, in and out.

I felt a small hand cover mine, and it took me a moment to realize that it wasn’t Carmen’s. It was Maddy’s.

“It’s okay. Kate’s…a hard case. I’m sure she never thought you’d get into this kind of trouble. But I think you should go on GMA next week—play the piano. She absolutely loves classical music like that. Sing to her—isn’t that what Carmen said you were planning on doing?”

“I’m…serenading Kate Fitzgerald?” I asked, balking at the very though.

“Of course he is!” Carmen smiled, reaching over to plop her hand down over on mine and Maddy’s. “After all, he is pining after her. He’s just too manly to admit it—they had a lover’s spat, mind you,” she informed Maddy, whose eyes lit up quite considerably. Suddenly, her hand was wrenched from mine, and she pointed an accusing finger at me.

“I knew it! I knew Katie was hiding something from me!” She giggled happily, clapping her hands together. “Don’t worry about a thing! I’ll make sure Katie-girl makes it to New York Friday, mkay?”

I drew my brows together, and turned to Carmen. She had donned her not-so-obvious devious smile. My mouth dropped slightly before realizing what had been done, and said, and what had been assumed.

The damage had been done. A slow, evil smile spread across my face.

Katie Fitzgerald was defiantly going down—without her dignity intact.

a/n: Muhahaha. ‘ello, chums. Idream here bringing you the latest chapter if this here storyyyy. Xtristex will be working on the next few chapters, since I’ve done most of these. :3

But anyhow, this chapter was a lot of fun to write! Alex is a Prima Dona, doncha think? He plays the role perfectly. And I thought it would be interesting to see Maddy, Kate’s BFFL, help Alex out in the wrong run, because she doesn’t want Kate to be stuck on this one incident. :)

Review! You could totally get a Rayne T-shirt if you do! (Jayyyyykayyyy!)