The Rockstar Within Me

The Rock Star Within Me - Chapter 52

Copyright 2013

I woke up on my 18th birthday with little to no enthusiasm. 

I had been working with River nearly everyday for the last week and a half and the hours I wasn’t camped out in a studio I was busy doing promotion with Shatter. It took a lot of dedication to balance my sanity and my career and I was just barely able to do it.

I left for the studio before Shatter was even awake. There was a homemade card waiting on my bedside table from Jess. A very amateur picture of two stick figure girls were on the front and I couldn’t help but smile at how much the card looked like someone much younger had drawn it.

As I pulled into the studio parking lot, my mother called me in a hurry. She wished me a happy birthday and told me how much she missed me and that she couldn’t wait to see me. I asked to talk to my siblings and my dad but she was in a rush and mumbled an excuse before she had to end our conversation prematurely.

I frowned as she hung up.

Although I was happy that my mom had called me on my birthday a part of me still wished my family could have been with me. I remembered fondly the big celebrations my mom would through each of her children. She would always go all out, making the day all about that particular child. It was very much a family celebration and this was the first birthday that I didn’t have my family with me. At that moment my special day didn’t seem as if it was any different than any other day.

A little saddened, I walked into the studio.

The lights were off in the recording room and I flicked them on but was taken back at what I saw.

River stood in the middle of the room, a small plate in his hands with a single cupcake in the middle of it.

“Happy birthday Alice!” He exclaimed, grinning.

I sighed, a small smile on my face.

For River to remember my eighteenth birthday especially after what had happened was something I had not expected. He never seemed like the guy who remembered dates. I was touched that he would go out of his way to help me celebrate it even if things between us were still uncomfortable.

“I couldn’t find any candles so unfortunately, you’ll just have to imagine blowing one out.” He explained as I came closer to him and the cupcake.

I giggled, leaning over and dramatically pretending to blow out the candle that wasn’t there.

“Did you make a wish?” River asked, curious as I picked up the cupcake.

“I can’t tell you that.” I told him emphatically, licking some of the frosting.

“Fine. Keep it a secret.” He allowed, not pressing the issue. He leaned against the soundboard with a grin on his face.

The cupcake was calling me and I couldn’t hold off any longer. I took a bite, but seemed to misjudge the size. I had thought I could get the whole thing in my mouth at once ... 

“Thank you for the cupcake, River. It was really sweet.” I told him with most of the cupcake in my mouth, smiling.

He laughed as pieces of cake fell out of my mouth and I struggled to regain some sort of dignity. At least the red velvet cupcake tasted delicious. 

“I’m glad you liked it.” He smiled warmly.

I had to turn away from his gaze; I had seen that look before and it brought too many feelings back.

“So. Um. What are we working on today? Do you still think the song we were working on yesterday needs to be tweaked...or?” I asked as I sat down in a chair far away from where River was still leaning against the soundboard with a look of adoration on his face.