CIMORELLI : All Powered Up

FIFTEEN : Paying it Forward

We took a little lunch break after going through the concert details in the morning. Amy, Lauren, Dani and Kath all went out to buy us food and Mom went out to speak to some of the residents at their request. Lisa and I stayed and talked, chilling inside the conference room whilst Bee took a phone call.

"This is amazing. All these girls that she helped and this foundation... this is the stuff of my dreams..." I told Lisa, she nodded at me in agreement,

"Geez, I know, and she's only MY age!" she said, "Stina, look at everything she's accomplished, how can I ever live up to this?" she asked, I looked at her, trying to find an answer, but then Bee walked in from the conference room doors, she smiled at me and Lisa letting us know she overheard our little conversation. She sat next to us and said something I will remember forever.

"You know, " Bee started, "I never would have made it up to this point if it weren't for you guys.."

Lisa and I looked at each other, and I asked, "What do you mean?"

"My life was going nowhere. I was an angry teenager always looking for a fight. I bummed around, making everyone's life a living hell just because I thought mine was. I never even thought about a future let alone starting all this.." she waved around, "But then, by some divine intervention I found you. Bubba couldn't believe the change..."

"Bubba?" Lisa asked

"My grandfather. He took me in after..." Bee cleared her throat "After my parents died. Anyway, after watching you girls sing your hearts out on the internet, I was hooked, and you girls just inspired me."

"But we sang covers. We didn't start out helping people like you do," I protested.

Bee fervently shook her head, "But you did. Help people, I mean. In ways you might not even be able to imagine. You made people smile. You made people believe in family. You made every single person who watched your videos believe that anyone, even six young sisters from the suburbs could make a difference. You gave us hope."

I sat there in silence. Basking in the awe for what our legacy has become, I know that people loved us, proven by our views, and likes and follows and tweets, but--

"You're making us sound like more than what we really are.." I told her.

"We have our flaws, you know..." Lisa added.

Bee let out a short laugh, "Yeah, don't we all. But my point is, you don't have to worry about amounting to more than what you already are. You might not see everything you've done for millions of people, but let me show you what you've done for me." She stood up, and extended her hands outward, we looked at her and she said, "Everything I have, all this, this foundation, my company, my art, EVERYTHING, I got because of you."

"Bee--" I started, but she stopped me

"You made me get up off of my butt and work for this. By some extent, I got lucky. But for the most part, all this is your doing. Through your songs, and your advocacy, you mined a gem in what I used to think was a worthless life. All this...all this is yours." She paused, "And I will do everything I can to repay you for what you gave me." she said with full conviction.

Lisa and I were taken aback. Awash with a sense of gratitude, and at the same time, with duty. We will be stronger, more than ever, to try and help as much people as we can.

"Well," I said, "I will do my very best not to disappoint." smiling at Bee.

"Ditto." Lisa said, "But all that about this being ours? I dunno, Bee. You worked hard for this. Don't give us credit for this. This is all you."

Bee smiled, "Well yeah, perks of that is I get to make executive decisions.."

"True, you do! I, erm, executive decisions about what exactly?" Lisa asked

"Oh, it's all official, I worked it out with your mom."

"Worked, what out exactly?" I asked with caution.

"You and your sisters are all going to be spokespersons of and major stock holders in my company. This shouldn't come as a surprise, I mean, I named it Renegade FFoundation for Pete's sake." Bee ended with a humorous tone.

"Uhhhh, WHAT?!" I exclaimed

"Whose ready for some kick butt luuuuuuunch?!" Dani screamed, bursting in through the doors, carrying bags full of food.

Bee looked at them and then at Lisa and me, "Heheh, we'll talk shop later." she whispered, "Woohoo! let's eat, I am starving!" she told the others.

Amist the unpacking of food items, Lisa and I just stared at each other.

"What just happened?!" Lisa asked me with an incredulous expression on her face.

I shook my head, eyes bigger than sauce pans and managed to blurt out a response. "Huh, I guess it's time for us to update our resumés."

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A/N

woot! the girls are leveling up! (pokemon reference. lol. forgive me.)

thanks for the love, guys.

b