Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

Leaving L.A.

============ Two days later. ============

(The tour continues. Billie's brother had talked her into giving Needle Dick another chance, and for a while everything goes great between her and Needle Dick...but then he doesn't call or text her back. He's not there at her concerts like he promised he would be. Billie continued to perform, doing her best to smile on the outside...but inside she was miserable.)

(Things come to a head, when she's doing her last show in Phoenix, Arizona. She finishes all of her songs, then thanks the crowd for coming to her show, and then it starts...faint at first...then growing louder. The crowd starts chanting..."Stairway...Stairway...Stairway....We want to hear Stairway.")

(Billie looks back at her brother, who shrugs. They couldn't do Stairway, since David wasn't there, and none of the guitarist knew how to play the song like David did. Billie tries to apologize to the crowd, who start booing her. She runs off the stage crying.)

(Meanwhile Ellen and some others have been running their mouths about the 'paternity' case. Accusing me of being 'guilty'. After I answer the judge's questions, and my lawyers press their case against the woman, her case begins to fall apart. My lawyers get the judge to agree to another paternity test, which claims I'm not the baby's father. Turns out the woman had been paid a rather large sum to lie, as well as the phony doctor who had forged the papers. I talk to my lawyers, and a deal is quickly reached. I agree not to press charges against the woman, if she publicly apologizes. My lawyers also get her to give up the names of the two people who paid her to lie. I had to admit, I wasn't surprised at all when she named them. The slander charges that Ellen had against me are quickly dropped, as she agrees to apologize on-line, about accusing me wrongly. I'm soon packing up my stuff from Valerie's guest house.)

"I told you that you can stay as long as you want." (Valerie says.)

"Yea... I know you did...and I appreciate the offer...but there's not exactly anything left for me here in L.A."

"I am sorry about you and Billie, David."

"Wasn't meant to be I guess."

"So where are you going now? Back to Philadelphia?"

"Not right away. I need some peace and quiet. Maybe some time in Maryland or Lancaster."

"What about, Billie?"

(Sighs)"She made her choice, I guess."

"If she asks me about you, want me to tell her to fuck off?"

(Chuckles)"No... but I know you're tempted too."

"Aren't you?"

(Shrugs) "I said what I had to say to her when we slow danced together. Can't think of nothing else."

"I still don't believe it. I mean...what kind of girl dates a guy named Needle Dick?" (Valerie asks.)

"Well...maybe he's just a little prick." (I reply.)

(Valerie laughs.)

"Keep in touch with me...okay?"

"I can't promise you that."

"David..."

"Valerie...I need to clear my head...okay? I don't know what to think right now. I just know I got to head back East, where I belong."

"At least tell me which road you're taking home. In case of an emergency?"

"Route 66...figured I'd see the sights."

"Send me some pictures?"

"Of course. Well... guess it's time to go."