Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

Farewell Eddie Part 2

"Just for that comment. I'm going to make you your favorite drink. Hot chocolate and marshmallows...I'll bring it into the studio when it's done."

"My mommy spoils me."

"Don't push it, smartass!"

(Valerie leaves and goes into the house. I go into the 5150 studio, and as soon as I enter, I realize my mistake. Everywhere I look, I'm surrounded by stuff belonging to Eddie. Strange how it didn't bother me before I think. I walk over to an acoustic guitar sitting alone in a corner. I pick it up and notice the curved back of it. Interesting I think.)

(I sit on the floor with the guitar in my lap. I try to play a tune, but the sound is so different, so hauntingly beautiful, that it brings tears to my eyes.)

(I sit and cry, remembering my oldest sister slowly wasting away from cancer. I feel arms slowly encircle my shoulders. Valerie holds me as we both cry. We talk for awhile. Then she goes upstairs, as I drink the hot chocolate. I begin playing a tune on the acoustic guitar, as an idea forms in my mind. I hook the guitar up to a mixer and adjust the sound some and begin playing the opening chords to stairway to heaven. About an hour later. I had the sound we needed.)

============ Two Days Later ============

(Irving Azoff stops by with a contract. I'm to be paid one million dollars for doing the Live from Home show with Billie and her brother. Irving Azoff gets some of the money, and so does Valerie, and also the crew of handlers and my personal security detail.)

(Which leaves me with thirty thousand. Still not a bad pay day. He had gotten the 'no sex' part changed to 'safe sex'...which was surprising, but I still had a bad feeling that not everything was on the level. Like maybe I wasn't wrong about the handcuffs.)

================================

(I go over to Billie's parents' house to practice the song more. Billie plays her piano as I play the acoustic guitar.)

"Oh my God...that was fucking awesome!"

"I liked it."

(Billie jumps up and gives me a hug, then she grabs my head and pulls me close for a kiss, but I pull away.)

"Alright. Now I know some things bothering you. What is it?"

"Don't I got to wear protection for kissing too?"

"Damn you. What do you want from me? I argued for two fucking hours for them to let you come along, and this is how you thank me?"

"Billie...I do enjoy being with you...but all of a sudden, we're supposed to practice safe sex only? I feel like I got a muzzle on my cock. Thought you were on birth control?"

"I am... but I guess this is their way of making sure I don't get pregnant during tour. A precaution. They're trying to avoid any negative publicity...okay?" 

"Since when is being pregnant with your boyfriend's kid negative publicity?"

"David. Please. I don't like it either, but there's nothing I can do about it!"

"I know. They're putting your career first...still kind of sucks though."

"Part of being with someone famous. Besides, we gotta save our energy for the fans."

"That's true. I'd want you to choose your career before me anyway."

"You're being sweet and modest, as always...but at least we're together at night, and not apart for six months."

"Hmmm....now that would be interesting."

"What...what would be interesting?"