Today is the day. It's finally here, tonight we debut the song and from tomorrow the music video will be on all the music channels. Me, singing and dancing on the T.V I am on cloud nine right now. At 5pm the hairdresser and make-up artist arrive, they are a thank you from Johnny and his manager for all my hard work. My Nan is fussing about making tea and sandwiches- you would think we were having twenty people round with the amount she has made- both girls are stick thin though so I doubt they will be eating anything. They decide on big bold curls for my hair and smokey eyes.
When my hair is done I slip into my dress so I am ready to leave once my make-up is finished, she places a black cape round my neck to protect my dress and starts her magic. I stand looking in the hallway mirror at the finished results, I hardly recognise the girl staring back. She is stunning. My dress looks great I can't wait for Nathan to see it. He and the girls are meeting me at the club. It's 8pm, there is a car waiting outside to take me to the venue- I could get used to this lifestyle- I grab my black sparkly clutch and kiss my Nan goodbye as she wipes away her tears.
The club looks fantastic, there are decorations everywhere but it doesn't look tacky. Me and Johnny do a quick rehearsal before the doors open, I have a V.I.P booth set up for my friends, Nathan and the girls are first to arrive, closely followed by Jeff and Kelly. We open a bottle of champagne and Evie proposes a toast. "To my best friend, I'm so proud of you, to Emily". They all raise their glasses. Paul and Steve show up with Jessie, I don't know who invited her but I certainly didn't. She is tarted up to the eyeballs with over the top make-up and a little red dress that is ridiculously short it doesn't leave much to the imagination. "Hi guys, wow this is great, ooh champagne, don't mind if I do. Oh yeah, well done Emily" she says. I try my best to smile but it doesn't work, she is already staring at Nathan, who comes over and puts his hand on my lower back, leaning in he whispers in my ear. "You are the most beautiful girl in the world. Knock em dead tonight Charms, you deserve this and so much more". Making my excuses I leave them all to it and go to find Johnny.
It couldn't be going any better, they are loving it! Everyone is on their feet dancing, this is a dream come true. Johnny and his manager are thrilled with how things have gone and have already got another song lined up for the summer. I can relax and just enjoy the rest of the evening now. Walking across the dance floor someone grabs my hand, I turn to see little Sam, he starts to twirl me round, he is completely wasted. He points to the bar and I see Otis standing with Rich, I go over to say hi- and buy a wrap- Rich doesn't say anything just gives me that creepy look and Otis can't take his eyes off me. I reach up and whisper in his ear what I want. He gives me a knowing smile and takes my hand, leading me towards some empty seats, we sit down to do the exchange, to anyone watching it would just look like we are having a conversation and holding hands. "Please let me take you home with me" he says. "I don't think so Otis" I say smiling at him, kissing his cheek I walk away to the ladies.
After having two lines I feel that familiar buzz, I want to dance with my friends, especially Nathan. I can't see any of them at first but all of a sudden I spot Jessie grinding up against him, she turns round and lunges at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach. I back away going to the ladies again, having another two lines, I can't process what I just saw, I need a drink.
At the bar a few people stop and ask for pictures, I don't feel like smiling right now but I don't want to disappoint them. I down two shots of Sambuca and a large brandy before going back to the table and grabbing an open bottle of champagne; heading outside for a cigarette. The air is cold but I don't notice because of all the drugs and booze in my system, I walk round the corner where there is a low wall; kicking off my shoes I sit down and swig from the bottle. I light my cigarette, take my first drag and it feels fantastic. I don't know how long I'm outside for but I start to lose my buzz. Reaching in my bag, I pull out my wrap, there is only a little bit left so I sprinkle most on my hand, then dab the rest on my gums. "What are you doing?" I don't look up. Instead I take another swig of champagne and light another cigarette. "Are you fucking stupid?"
"Excuse me" I say finally looking up at him. He looks angry. "Emily, you're sitting on a wall by yourself sniffing cocaine. Have you lost your mind? How long have you been taking this stuff? Don't tell me since you met Otis? That's why you wouldn't leave him. He was plying you with this shit, keeping you hooked. Emily, please you're better than this, you're better than him, I promise he will destroy you" he says sitting down next to me. "What do you care? Don't think I didn't see you in there kissing Jessie. What, was everything between us just bullshit?" I ask trying not to cry. "What about you? I saw you with him, sitting at that table holding hands, it wouldn't surprise me if you're still seeing him behind my back" he spits.
Wow he is furious I've never seen him like this. "I was buying drugs from him, nothing more but you clearly think so little of me Nathan, that's good to know this early". This is all too much, I need to think but I can't focus. I feel dizzy and I am going to be sick, I just manage to lean over the wall and get my hair off my face before bringing up the contents of my stomach.
I don't remember what happened next. I wake up to see its 7:30am my head is pounding and Nathan is asleep next to me, I remember seeing him and Jessie together; my stomach is in pieces. I start to cry, how can this be happening? I thought it would be so easy being with him. "Emily, please don't cry, I'm sorry about last night. I promise there is nothing going on between me and Jessie. It's you I'm crazy about. I've been crazy about you from the moment we met" he says pulling me closer. I can't help but melt into him I let him hold me for a while. "I need to take some tablets my head is hurting" I say getting out of bed. "We need to talk properly but I'm going to take a shower first" he says. When I come back up he is in the shower and his phone is on the bed, it buzzes with a text-he has an iPhone so I can read the message- then an image comes through, I can't resist taking a look.
You keep playing hard to get but that kiss last night was the start of something. We can keep it a secret if you want, Emily doesn't have to know xxx
The image is of Jessie in her underwear. I run to the bathroom and hurl in the toilet, it feels like my heart is being ripped from my chest. I can't breath Nathan has got out the shower and is asking me what's wrong. I flinch at his touch, walking out of the bathroom I go downstairs. Luckily Nan has gone next door so she isn't here to witness what follows. I sit there crying, when he comes down he has obviously realised I saw the messages. "Emily, please I can explain" he says. "I don't want to hear it, I don't want to look at you or be near you. Just take your stuff and leave". He does leave and I cry myself to sleep.
YOU ARE READING
The Sweetest Feeling
Romance"You look good, I've missed your face" he says. "I've missed you too" I say daring to look up at him. He is staring right at me. He touches my hand and a spark surges through me, by the look on his face I know he felt it too. It's a tight space an...
