Star Crossed (Starlight #3) (22 page)

             
Chapter 28

The trip to the hospital is short. They rule out concussion and serious injuries. But their psychologist suggests I have a few sessions in case there’s on-going shock.

‘
She seems to be incredibly resilient,’ the psychologist tells Adam. ‘But it’s always worth making sure.’

I turn to Adam.

‘See? I’m fine.’

He breathes out hard.

‘Ok,’ he says. ‘I gave you my word. You can perform tonight.’

He frowns.

‘I can’t believe I’m saying that,’ he adds with a laugh. ‘Summer Evans. You are one crazy girl.’

I smile at him.
‘I’ve worked all my life for this,’ I say. ‘You of all people should be able to understand.’

He kisses me gently on the lips.

‘I guess I do,’ he sighs. ‘Have you decided on your song?’

I look at him in surprise.

‘Of course,’ I say. ‘The one I wrote for you. In Finland.’

‘
You’re sure you want to do that one?’ says Adam. ‘You’ve hardly had any time to rehearse.’

I breathe out.

‘Yeah,’ I say, marvelling at my own sureness. ‘I do.’

I frown, thinking of the best way to explain it.

‘After what’s happened to me the last few days,’ I say, ‘it’s like all my fear has gone. I used to think the worst thing that could happen would be to sing badly on stage. But now,’ I shrug, ‘I don’t know. Performing badly would be awful. But I just don’t care so much anymore.’

I
meet his eyes.

‘
I’ve realised,’ I say slowly, ‘that it would be far, far worse, to lose you. I want to sing this song, because it means a lot to me.’

Adam smiles, a gentle happy expression.

‘And I guess when you’ve been kidnapped and held at gunpoint,’ I add with a smile, ‘a music contest doesn’t seem so scary.’

He laughs at that.

‘Come on,’ he says. ‘Since you’re so determined, we’d better make sure you look the part. I’m going to organise you something to wear for the show.’

‘
Do we have time?’ I ask. ‘It starts in a few hours.’

I’m thinking I might be better rehearsing than picking a dress.

‘We have time if you trust me,’ says Adam. ‘I’ve got something in mind for you. As long as you’re happy for me to pick what you wear tonight, then you can spend the next few hours practising.’

He frowns.

‘There’s some other things to take care of too,’ Adam adds. ‘I’ll need to break the news to Scandelous. They’ll be disqualified.’

‘
But why?’ I say. ‘They weren’t involved in my kidnap. Were they?’

‘
No,’ says Adam. ‘But Jenny’s been behind the scenes all along, pulling strings. I’ll bet if I look deep enough into it, I’ll find all kinds of unfair advantages for Scandelous.’

I think about this. He’s probably right.

‘But it’s not their fault,’ I say slowly. ‘They didn’t
ask
for those advantages.’

‘
It’s still cheating,’ says Adam with a shrug. ‘Besides,’ he adds, ‘I would have thought you’d rather they didn’t compete with you.’

I think about this.

‘No,’ I say. ‘I don’t feel that way. They’ve worked hard to be here Adam. It’s not fair to disqualify them for their mother’s behaviour.’

‘
You’re saying I should give them a chance?’ asks Adam incredulously.

I nod, thinking it though.
‘Scandelous have been through enough,’ I say. ‘Jenny has just been arrested. It won’t be long until all this comes out in the press. They don’t need the shame of being kicked off the contest as well. They’ll be made into hate figures.’

Adam nods slowly.

‘That’s true,’ he says. ‘But they might deserve that. They haven’t exactly been kind to you during this contest.’

‘
No they haven’t’ I agree. ‘But that doesn’t mean I should stoop to their level. You should let them compete. They’ve worked for it all their lives.’

‘
Ok,’ says Adam with a slightly mystified expression. He kisses me and touches the Saint Cecilia pendant. ‘Are you sure you’ve got your profession right?’ he asks teasingly. ‘You’re a singer you know. Not a saint.’

I smile.
‘I’m a singer with a conscience.’

He laughs.
‘I guess that’s the best kind.’

Adam is true to his word, and goes all out to fix my dress and place on the show. To my relief it turns out the video I was forced to record was never aired. Adam insisted on that. He was so sure he’d find me.

So at least I don’t have any extra press attention for my performance. I don’t want opinion on my song to be influenced by a sympathy vote.

I’m given my own room in the TV studios, and staff members fall over themselves to make sure I’ve got the equipment I need. It’s completely different to how things were at the start of the show, when we were the Wildcard, and got the short straw in everything.

I spend two solid hours
rehearsing, mostly practising the more difficult notes in my song. It’s harder than I thought. I guess being drugged and kidnapped has taken its toll on my voice. I keep missing the high notes.

Maybe Adam was right. Maybe I should do an easier song…

I’m wondering if I should try and get some cough syrup or something. My throat feels a little sore. Maybe it’s just dehydration, and I should drink a lot of water.

There’s a knock on the door, and a shy-looking staff member enters. I smile at her. She’s been running around to fix me up with what I need.

‘I just wanted to check if you wanted anything?’ she asks.

‘
Um. Maybe some water,’ I reply, feeling a little guilty to be sending her on such a menial errand.

‘
No problem,’ she says smiling. Then she reaches in her pocket.

‘
Your mobile phone,’ she adds. ‘Adam sent it for you.’

She
’s looking at me quizzically, and I wonder what she knows. Adam assured me that details of my kidnap are being kept hushed up.

I take the phone.

‘Thanks,’ I say.

‘
I think you’re going to win,’ says the runner in a sudden rush. ‘You were always my favourite.’

I beam at her.

‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘That’s so good to hear. You’re sure you’re not nursing a secret crush for Deven,’ I add with a wink.

She laughs.
‘He
is
cute,’ she admits. ‘But you have the best voice by far.’

As soon as she leaves I ring Tammy. I know I should be rehearsing but I need to fill her in. I can’t stand for her to think I missed her gig without good reason.

Tammy picks up straight away sounding worried. And it soon becomes apparent that she knows what happened – or at least part of it. Tammy was one of the first people Adam called when I went missing. And she didn’t believe the video either.

‘
I know you Summer,’ she assures me, ‘I always knew that ducking out last minute is not your style.’

Still, Tammy is shocked and horrified to discover what actually happened.

‘I
knew
there was something off about Scandelous,’ she keeps saying. ‘I
knew
it.’

‘
Not Scandelous,’ I correct, ‘their mother.’

‘
Yeah well,’ says Tammy. ‘It explains why they’re such bitches. Sounds like they’ve been hot-housed from birth. That kind of pressure must suck.’

‘
Yeah,’ I agree, thinking how lucky I am with my own family.

After I’m done
talking to Tammy, I call everyone else I can think of. I speak with George and my mum. But it turns out no-one else was worried. Adam did a good job of playing down my vanishing for a few days. I could kiss him for that.

My eyes flick to the clock and
I feel a little jolt of nerves. I didn’t realise how much time I’d spent on the phone.

Only an hour to go…

Right now I need to practise. A lot.

I’m so engrossed in the music that I hardly hear the door open. And as Adam walks in my face lights up.

‘
Hey baby,’ he says softly. ‘Nearly show time. You ready to give the performance of your life?’

I nod, feeling suddenly emotional to be so close to him.

‘Then you’d better check out your dress,’ he says, handing me a dress-bag. ‘I hope you like it.’

I take the bag, my eyes still on him. Then I unzip it and pull out a simple satin dress. It’s a deep red and classic, like an old-fashioned jazz singer’s dress.

‘It’s perfect,’ I breathe, taking in the long length and the beautiful scooped neckline.

‘
You haven’t tried it on yet.’

‘
I don’t need to,’ I promise him, holding it up. ‘I can already see.’

‘
Actually,’ says Adam, ‘you do need to try it on. You’re due on stage in ten minutes.’

Ten minutes?

‘That went fast,’ I say, laughing to try and hide my nerves.

‘
Uh huh,’ agrees Adam. ‘It wasn’t easy to get you that dress in time, I’ll tell you.’

‘
Thanks,’ I say with feeling, as I slip off my ragged dirty dress and into the slinky new one.

I catch sight of myself in the mirror.

Oh. Wow!

‘
You like it?’ smiles Adam, taking in my delighted face.

I take in my reflection. The dress has transformed me into a sultry siren.

‘I love it,’ I tell Adam.

‘
Good,’ he says. ‘Cause you’ve got about two minutes to get through make-up, and then you’re backstage.’

Chapter 29

Waiting in the wings is the strangest thing. Because the moment I see Scandelous I have a deep surge of dread. I guess now I’ve realised how much they look like their mother, I associate them with the kidnap.

I force my gaze away, ignoring the pounding in my stomach and concentrating on how I’m going to perform.

But then a familiar voice calls my name.

‘
Summer?’

I turn to see Keisha.

Oh no.

But she seems a shell of her former bitchy self.

‘I just wanted to say thank you,’ she says quietly. ‘I know what you did. You stopped us getting kicked off the show.’

Her eyes are cast downwards and she looks like a little girl lost.

‘You deserve to win,’ Keisha adds quietly. ‘I always knew it. You’re more talented than any of us. We were just jealous. All of us.’

I try to smile at her.
‘Keisha…’ I start to say. But she cuts me off.

‘
We’re not going to compete,’ she says. ‘I wanted you to know that. But because of you, we can at least go out with some dignity.’

I stare at her. It’s a lot to take in.

‘You should,’ I say finally. ‘You girls are good. You’ve worked hard. You deserve a chance to perform.’

But Keisha is shaking her head.

‘We’re done with it,’ she says. ‘Our whole lives, we’ve been told what we should be. Pushed to perform. I’ve talked with my sisters and we’ve decided. We don’t want to do that anymore.’

I nod at this. I guess it makes sense. I can’t imagine life with Jenny Grogan as a mother. But it must have come with a lot of pressure.

‘From now on we’re going to sing for fun,’ continues Keisha. ‘Maybe we’ll end up professional. Maybe we won’t. But it will be
our
decision. Not our mother’s.’

It’s amazing. For all that I disliked Keisha, I’m suddenly really touched by her bravery. On a whim I reach out and hug her.

‘I’m proud of you,’ I say with feeling. ‘What you’re doing takes a lot of courage.’

Keisha is stiff in my arms for a moment, and then she relaxes, as though this is the first hug she’s ever had in her whole life.

‘Thanks,’ she murmurs. Then she straightens up and I see some of the harder Keisha return.

‘
I’d wish you luck,’ she says. ‘But you don’t need it.’ And then she turns on her heel and is gone.

Weirdly I find myself scanning the backstage area for Jenny. She would usually be the one to sort out sudden changes in the performance line-up. I have no idea
how the show will handle this.

Can
Sing-Win still air with one third of its acts missing?

‘
Hello gorgeous.’ The rich low voice makes me smile instantly. Adam has come backstage.

‘
What are you doing back here?’ I scold, secretly delighted. ‘You’re not supposed to talk to the contestants before performance.’

He grins.
‘It’s my show remember? I make the rules.’

Adam sweeps me into his arms.

‘I saw Keisha talking to you,’ he says. ‘I guess she told you they’re pulling out?’

I nod.

‘It was a brave decision,’ says Adam thoughtfully. ‘You were right Summer. To keep them in the show. It meant they did the right thing on their own.’

‘
Does it mean the show will be cancelled?’ I ask.

Adam frowns.

‘Of course not,’ he says. ‘We’re on live in about five minutes.’

‘
But how will it work?’ I ask. ‘Scandelous are part of the line-up.’

‘
We’ll just cut together some footage of them on the show,’ says Adam. ‘Like a long curtain call. It will cause a bit of controversy, but it’s not big deal.’

He kisses my mouth.

‘Certainly nothing compared to
your
drama’ he adds.

I smile.
‘I guess not.’

‘
Listen,’ says Adam. ‘I know I freaked you out before, by talking about marriage.’

‘
You didn’t,’ I protest.

‘
I did,’ he says. ‘I know I did. But I promise I’ll take it slow ok? You’ve got your whole career ahead of you. I want you to know I’ll be here for you. Always. And marriage. Well. We can talk about that later. Announcing our relationship too,’ he adds. ‘That can come whenever you’re ready. I can wait.’

‘
Thank you,’ I say sincerely, ‘for understanding.’

‘
Don’t mention it.’ Adam looks a little sad. He pulls me tighter, and then his eyes drift to the performance stage where the set up is finishing.

‘
I have to go,’ says Adam apologetically. ‘I just wanted to kiss you one last time before you go on stage.’

It turns out Adam is right about Scandelous. The producers cut some footage together and the effect isn’t as strange as I thought it would be. It almost runs like a normal show. Except, of course, the live audience are annoyed that Scandelous aren’t performing. Many are fans.

But when it comes to
Deven’s turn to sing, the mood instantly calms. He’s the cute golden boy, and everyone loves him.

Deven
belts out a great tune – a really fun pop song about summer nights that I can just tell will be a chart topper.

He exits with a bow and a standing ovation. And then it’s my turn to perform.

After several weeks of Sing-Win and all I’ve gone through, I’m hardly nervous as I step out on stage. It all feels so right. This is what I was born to do.

As I take the microphone though
, the song I’m about to sing suddenly hits me. Before I’ve sung about exes and heartbreak. I was laying myself bare, but it felt safe. I was singing about events which were comfortably in the past.

Tonight I’m singing straight from the heart.

There’s a hush as I take the microphone. I take a deep breath.

Then w
ithout an introduction I launch straight into the song. And as I start on the words I feel myself swept away in the power of what they mean.

I used to have my armour

I used to have my mask

Didn’t need no shining knight

Learned too much from my past

My eyes flick to myself on the monitor. In my long red dress I’m the epitome of
‘lady sings the blues’. But I’m singing much deeper than that. I’m singing about the purest love I’ve ever felt.

Then it was you

It was you

You made me naked

You made me pure

And everything I ever felt

Was not like before

This time my eyes seek out Adam. His face almost throws me. It’s as though every feeling is painted there. I smile a little, looking into his eyes.

You made me naked

Armour stripped away

At first it scared me

My gaze is locked on Adam and it’s like
no-one else exists. We both know what’s coming. That top E. I take in a deep breath. But my body seems to be shifting of its own accord. Almost as though the song is singing me.

I don’t take my eyes off Adam for a second as I sing the final note combination.

But not anymore

I’m not scared anymore

The note sails out pitch perfect, as though my voice is caressing it. And I let myself linger over the note, giving it emotion.

When the final breath goes from my lungs I feel as though all of me is spent. Like I just delivered the most powerful performance of my life.

There’s a deathly silence and a moment of fear flashes through me.

Did I sing off-key and not notice?

I’m suddenly struck by what a risk I’ve just taken.

But then, just when I think I’ll be exiting to deathly hush, the audience explodes. It sounds like thunder.
A great boom of applause, cheering and whistling. I’m almost blown back by it.

My eyes switch to the judges and I see all three are on
their feet, clapping. The audience rises like a Mexican wave. And then everyone is standing, cheering my performance.

It’s so much
, I can’t believe it. I feel as though great waves of adoration are tumbling over me. All I can do in response is grin.

‘
Thanks,’ I say finally, replacing the mike. Then I make a little bow and exit to the cheering.