Heartstrings

Chapter 2- Starry Night

Years later

The crowd was wild. Cheers and screams rolled off of the stadium walls. Thousands of people with their arms up, going crazy for the music I made. Sweat dripping off my jaw.

"Thank you, Thank you, everyone. It means so much to me that you're all here tonight."

My words of thanks were muffled even with a mic, by the loudness of the crowds. I was sweaty and my stylist had chosen what would appear to be a problematic get-up to wear on stage, see through flared leggings, with diamonds sporadically placed all over, a matching top with wide sleeves and black stiletto boots, which made my feet feel all kinds of terrible. I had been going for days, touring the whole of the United States, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and even as far south as Orlando right now I was in Houston, not particularly my favorite place but a tour is a tour. I underestimated just how many people loved my music, I underestimated how much my music would blow up through the wonderful use of the internet.

"We love you!" a girl in blue screamed, with a poster signed with my name 'Jolene'. Her friends all in neon colors as well, and tears streaked down their cheeks from what I could see.

Sure it wasn't as creative as 'Lady Gaga' but that's what my agents told me to go by.

Truthfully I had to go to the bathroom, I actually had to go to the toilet twenty minutes ago but, I guess when you're a rising artist or something like that, you can't use the bathroom as easily.

"My next song, "On my mind" is dedicated to every single person that's been in my life including all of you, all of my fans, none of this is possible without you" Rows and rows of fans had their phones out, their flashlights on.

"Every day hurts a little less" I start. My pitch is just a little off this time. Nothing noticeable.

"I hear words of broken promises," I close my eyes, getting into the feel of the song. I begin Softly, enunciating every word.

"Sweet nothings, and pieces of Dreams.

head in the clouds, and sometimes I scream,

but God only knows what I've been through,

God only knows what I've done to make it here." My voice breaks. 

This song is one of the most personal songs I've written. But I wrote it to be heard. I open my eyes to find hundreds of people crying. My eyes don't know where to look. My fingers dancing along piano keys.

 I run a hand through my pastel pink hair crimped into soft waves, the other playing one part of the song. A multitasker at its finest.

I sang through the rest of the song without a hitch, when I was younger I used to be really bad about forgetting things, especially lyrics.

I sang three more songs from my newest album. I decided with my creative director that I'd call this tour " Starry Nights" a nod to Van Gogh, but also a nod to my inspiration for my songs in this album.

I nodded to the stage crew and after my last song was done they turned the mic off, I waved to the crowds as I walked off stage, exhaustion hitting me like a truck on a highway. My run crew walking marathons around me.

My manager, none other than the Austin Mahone, one of Hollywood's most reputable managers, known for getting his singers on billboards, paced towards me. "Jo, you really outdid yourself tonight, sales were in the thousands, hundreds of thousands."

I nervously laughed. " Well, Austin I'm pretty darn good at what I do."

How many more nights of this do we have left?"

"Two more nights and then we're on to Seattle." He replied.

" And how many nights in Seattle?"

"Well the agency wanted to do four, but we'll see. It depends on sales in Seattle."

I picked at my nails nervously. I don't know if I could do four more nights of constant singing, I've been going for almost 2 weeks now and after Seattle, I'm sure they had another city that I had to perform in. It was all part of the contract. I got the fame and the fortune, and the constant adoration of fans, and my agency and my manager both got a 10 percent commission, as well as controlling a lot of aspects of my career. From who I dated, to where I was interviewed, to the cities I performed in.

I walked back to my dressing room, quickly opened my door and went in, and locked it.

I could finally breathe. I picked up my phone off the charger, hundreds of messages, and congratulations on my performance tonight. This wasn't anything new. People that I've met once constantly texting me. people that knew nothing about me.

Suddenly a call notification came through. Livia Do.

I picked up.

" What is it?" I snipped, maybe a little too harsh

"What in the fresh hell was that, the soul, the rasp, the awe. You absolutely killed it, this has got to be your best performance yet." She praised.

"So I've been told."

" What happened? did Austin say some bullshit again?"

"No, sorry I'm just tired"

I've been going since like seven o clock and its already two a.m, why are you even up?"

" To watch your performance, duh." she replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Liv has probably been my closest friend after the accident. It turned out she moved right in next door to me when I came home that night.

"When are you coming back to L.A.?" she quipped.

" Another week or two probably." I ran a hand over my face, rubbing my temples in circles a couple of times.

The person facing me in the mirror, looking tired and ready for bed.

" Geez." I heard mumbled.

"I'm going to go, I got to get back to the hotel, maybe eat a really late dinner" I half laughed. It was empty though.

I quickly took a makeup wipe and tried to get as much of the mascara and lipstick and foundation and whatever else they stuck on my face off. Got my big purple duffel bag, and grabbed my black sweater and black sweatpants out of it. Quickly shoving my sweaty clothes off and putting my comfy clothes on.

I grabbed some deodorant, perfume, and lip balm, quickly put some on, and then text it Austin to go ahead and get the car ready because I was ready to go, which was very much an understatement.