Beginning of the end

Part 29 [May 13 '22]

Friday the 13th was always a special day. Blake would have liked to enjoy the day on her honeymoon. Cut off from contact. Allowing Carla to field public relations and Jamie to bask in the glow of their success. Drew could never imagine a swollen ego, he had Randi to keep him in check. Blake should have been unreachable. Lost on some island sipping bubbly drinks with strawberry wedges in the glass, unable to keep her hands off of her new husband. The ring that should have been on her finger now was currently in Kaleb's apartment. The would be best man. He appeared to be on the edge of an apology every the three times that she'd seen him in person. Like anyone could take accountability for his actions. Impossible.

Carla should have been the one to take this call, but Blake was there in person. Two hours she'd accepted. It was a weird rush. She put Zelda to bed, and Rosie took over as caretaker while Blake was hurried to the studio. In person. Zelda commented on how big Mama's eyes looked. False lashes, burnt umber lids, and black and red liner. Lips that popped coca cola red, framing white teeth, tan skin, and fake smiles.

Black skinny jeans that should have come from a slasher flick, and a mesh black top over a metallic red bralette. Healthy? Healthy wasn't on the table. Blake was as hot as the red gloss accent nail in a row of matte black polish.

"Is this really necessary?"

"She is watching. If she isn't watching. She might as well be watching. Make me jealous. Make me jealous that my boyfriend is watching you on camera."

"Its mostly audio."

"A sane man would kill to be near you. Flaunt it."

"There is nothing to flaunt."

Carla smirked, eyes going up and down Blake's body. "You are not seeing what I am seeing."

"Always."

"Trust my judgement. Blake G is fire tonight." Elevator eyes continued, "walk it like you know that."

Fake it. Not until she made it. Blake would never make it. Blake was a mess. Blake G, on the other hand, had her shit together. Blake G. listened to Simmer on the way to the studio, parked, and walked right in. A man opened the door for her and Blake G smiled. She thanked him, and headed right up to the recording room.

A radio show. She had not known what to expect.

"We have Blake G in the house tonight!" Some sort of cheering. "Blake. Can I call you Blake?"

"I am a fan of my name, yes," she said. The smirk was natural. Blake did not exist. Blake G ruled.

"I love that attitude," he was vibrating confidence. Not false confidence. Needless confidence. He was a success, but he was not a name. Matt Ice at the local radio. He had a steady following, but he was a radio DJ. Was this anything?

This was everything. Pink Slip held steady. Pink Slip did not cheat, or backstab, or disappear. Blake leaned forward in her seat. "I aim to please, Max."

Carla would have been proud.

Carla was listening even while Blake did not know it.

"What do you have with you tonight?"

"Oh, just a bit of candy." Leftover candy that she had meant to spoil Kiefer with.

"A bit of a sweet tooth, huh?"

"I love sweet things," she smiled. Sugary sweet.

"I can tell." He talked like he was wooing his next mistress. Blake smiled.

"So Mr. Ice," Blake smiled. Max smiled at her, head enveloped in massive headphones, face obscured by microphones and sound equipment. "How are you tonight?"

"Me? I am fire. I am so pumped. I am excited. Do you know why?"

Blake shook her head.

Max laughed. "She shakes her head like you all can see it. Which you can, on FM100NWradio.com if you want. Not a plug but... you might want to catch this." Blake chuckled. Sure. Unlikely, but sure. "So Blake... your latest album, is it very personal?"

A punch to the gut.

"Very."

Her tone was too serious.

"I can tell." He nodded. Blake couldn't smile for a few seconds. She pulled it together. He made no observations about her body language. A mess and a half, surely.

"So, Blake," he continued. Blake looked him in the eyes. "Who is this album about?"

She suppressed the anxiety. "Well its about more than one thing... but mostly one person." Not her fiancé. Not her husband. Not her boyfriend. Her ex. It was his tattoo on a human being that served as cover art. What could she say?

"I know your wedding date was May 10th," he said, all smiles.

Blake could have deteriorated into ash in that second. May 13th. Friday the 13th. The breakup was not announced. She swallowed to keep the bile down.

"But a birdy told me that you fancy Friday the 13th."

"Smarty birdy," Blake kept a jovial tone. She needed to keep her half lunch down.

"We have new ratings because its Friday... so I know the top requested single on the radio right now."

Huh? Blake had not predicted this.

"Do you, Blake G. know what the number one song is? On the request charts. Right now. This moment? Today."

Red lips parted. "Today?" Confusion reigned. "No... should I?" A nervous laugh. She felt the camera in that moment.

"You should!" he was excited. "You should! Because its you!" Que? "Its you. Chico is number on on the charts right now, today." He bothered to pull up a screen and send it to her.

Wide eyed Blake stared. "Are you kidding me?"

"I am not kidding. You are 100% on number 1. The spot. The number one spot." Blake starred. This could not be happening. "Your single, Chico, from your 2022 album Cure for Apathy hit number one today. Friday the 13th. Your fans have been freaking out." He kept smiling. "I have heard so many people saying that they were here for your wedding. Requesting your song as a wedding present." Churning in her stomach, burning in her chest. "You have some pretty loyal fans. I am sure they want to celebrate with you."

No.

"I have a few on the line, if you want to talk to them."

Blake smiled. Blake G could handle this. Blake was going to puke. Blake smiled. A number one single. There was something wrong with reality. She laughed, feeling crazy. "I would love to talk to them." She could do this. She couldn't do this. She could not go on, she was going to go on.