Bittersweet Moments

35 | Hot Fudge Sundae

35 | Hot Fudge Sundae

I was in a state wherein everything was a daze because it was all surreal.

The girls were more than welcoming, accepting me into the group. Although I was left out since these girls knew each other from college, I still felt right at home. Ritzi was most overjoyed, especially when I did a little show of my voice for them. According to Walter, I was a missing piece in their group to make it perfect.

Oh, and Walter. Thank everything for his existence. Twelve days from now, we would have a stage performance for the biggest producers in Hollywood. Walter claimed he was coaching us himself, because that big performance was going to determine the fate of the record deal for us.

And aside from the gorgeous lounge space in the building, Walter gave us a manager to help us out in schedules. Not to mention, Brennan showed up in our practices to hand us tips and tricks.

Brennan had been ecstatic when I told him the big news, as was Mom. Jessica was proud of herself for helping me out and Lawrence had been dying to hear me sing. And Montana? Montana freaked, desperate to rub it all over Dad's face but I insisted that it was a surprise. My sister was genuinely concerned for me, for the pressures of Hollywood and all.

And here we were, Divide and Conquer, in our comfy lounge room. At the sofa set, Carmela, Ritzi and Shai were playing Uno cards. On the other hand, Phoebe and I sat cross-legged on the floor, sharing stories.

"It was a hard time for me, you know? My parents were conservative, and it was an all girls Catholic school I went to," Phoebe ranted on, "But we all get past that."

"Then I do hope I can get past mine," I muttered.

"Exactly! You are starting!"

I had told the girls the whole story of it. Everything. They marveled at the craziness it became, but I was miserable for talking about it.

We looked up in surprise when Shai slammed her cards down on the table and lunged at Ritzi. Carmela used a Monopoly board to shield herself from the commotion.

Phoebe and I laughed. "Hey, hands off my girlfriend!" she playfully scolded Ritzi.

"She's going to murder me!" Ritzi squeaked.

Chuckling lightly, Phoebe turned back to me, eyes sparkling. "Back then, it didn't seem like Shai understood," she told me, "She embraced her queerness while I . . . I was still getting there. We always fought."

I nodded, understanding. Two different worlds, but still so similar, clashing. Shai was still attempting to wrestle Ritzi but she was unsuccessful because Ritzi was a black belter.

Carmela was looking at me funnily.

"Is there something bothering Carmela, you know, about me?" I whispered to Phoebe, "You know, I understand I'm out of the group and the odd one out. I could always talk to Walter – "

"No, no! Don't do that!" said Phoebe, "We like you here, honestly. It's just that . . . until college, it has been C and I. Then we met Shai and Ritzi in college and from there, it was chaotic. Carmela is like the mommy hen for us. And adding another girl to the mix, that's just added work for her. Especially since you're so young."

"So . . . she's not mad at me?"

She waved it off, "She's come around. But, um, it could be the fact that you're close with Brennan."

"Oh," I sighed, "She's a fan."

Our free time was interrupted when Violet, our manager, stepped inside the room. Violet was no tormentor, but she could be pretty scary and much of a perfectionist. I don't know, like a lady Mycroft, lacking the 'manipulative' characteristic.