Once Upon A Song

Chapter One

It all started on a hot summer day in July. You know, one of those miserable days when the heat is actually visible, rising up in a shimmering mist from the steaming pavement. It was late afternoon, and I had just gotten home from another long day at the bakery where I worked. My dark hair was disheveled, I had flour all over my clothes, and all I wanted to do was change into my worn-out plaid pajamas and curl up with a good book. Or maybe take a bubble bath. With lots and lots of lavendar-scented bubbles. And maybe some I would light some scented candles, and play some Enya on my Ipod...

I was so absorbed in my pleasant thoughts that I didn't notice the man standing at the bottom of the stairs leading up to my apartment until I had collided with him, my face slamming into his hard chest

“Juliet?” he asked, amused, as I yelped in surprise.

I blinked, taking a step back nervously. Vivid thoughts of serial killers ran through my head, along with "STRANGER DANGER" flashing in bright, neon lights.

"Uh, yeah?” Inwardly I cursed I had a feeling you weren't supposed to admit your identity to random men waiting for you at your apartment door.

The man smiled. He was decent-looking, maybe mid-thirties, dressed to impress in a smart three-piece suit. His shaggy blonde hair and three-day scruff contradicted the formal attire. He held out his hand.

“Alexander Stevens,” he said, flashing me a megawatt smile with dazzlingly white teeth.

I took the proffered hand gingerly. “Um, Juliet Rose?”

He beamed. “I know.” He cocked his head, bright blue eyes studying me intently, and I blushed.

“Sorry, but do I know you?”

He chuckled. “Oh, my bad. I’m your brother Justin’s manager. You know, your twin brother.”

This was getting stranger and stranger. I glanced longingly toward my apartment door, wondering if this man was going to rob me. Or maybe strangle me and leave my body in a ditch somewhere. Depressingly, I wondered how long it would take people to realize I had disappeared I didn't exactly have a hot social life.. It could take years, or maybe no one would ever even notice I was gone, and...I realized the man was waiting for me to answer him. What was it he had said? Oh, yeah. Justin. Twin. Right.

“Oh," I said rather lamely.

The amused smile slipped from the man’s face as he sighed heavily. “Look, I need your help. Or rather, Justin needs your help.”

I frowned, biting my lip. The mentoion of my brother annoyed me, as usual. “Justin hasn’t talked to me since he won that stupid contest. Why would he need my help now?”

“Perhaps there is somewhere we could sit down?” the man suggested, his placating tone reminding me of a used car salesman. In defintetly wasn't letting the guy into my apartment.

I crossed my arms defiantly. “Here is fine.” 

The man in question shot me a glance, but merely nodded. “Okay then. As I was saying, I am your brother’s manager. You obviously know that he beat out hundreds of other contestants for a spot in the popular band, The Brothers Grimm.”

I blew out a breath impatiently. “Yeah, yeah. I heard all about it. On the news. And the asshole hasn’t bothered to call me since he got the freaking gig, so again, why does he need me now?”

The man suddenly looked uneasy. “Well, you see…it's like this. Your brother...well, he was out celebrating in London, see. And he may have had a few drinks and, er, maybe some hard drugs…not too much!” he added, seeing my shocked look. “But enough to get sentenced to three months of mandatory rehab.”