Onward Journey (Broken Descent Sequel)

Show Up and Show Out

In between the shows in the U.K, Bruno performed on various T.V shows, one being the BRIT awards' show. Bruno stood in front of the full-length mirror in his dressing room. The show's hair stylist had just finished working on the "Whomp and Stomp."

"Damn," he whispered, running his hand through his hair and doing one spin around until he faced the mirror again.

He heard a noise from behind him, but when he turned around, no one was there. Shrugging it off, he faced himself again and tilted his head down to look at the hair on top of his head.

"I look so hot," he said to just himself, or so he thought.

A burst of laughter erupted from behind, and when he turned around once more, he saw that it was Charlotte who entered the room unnoticed. She held her arms crossed across the front of her body with her laptop tucked underneath. Spinning around to face her, Bruno kept a wide grin on his face.

"Hey Char," Bruno said.

"Hey Dad," Charlotte replied, laughing a little more.

"You laughin' at me?"

Charlotte nodded slowly, dramatically,

"Well...I'm about to go on TV. Gotta look hot comb hot."

Bruno lifted both arms up, doing another spin. Charlotte laughed a bit louder again, and when he stopped, she lowered her laptop a bit.

"You havin' a good day?" Bruno asked, lightly touching her shoulder and tugging gently on the drawstring of her hoodie. "The show's getting closer. You should put your new dress on and get ready soon. Don't cha think?"

"Yeah...about that...I don't think...I can...I don't think I can go."

"What?"

"It's just," Charlotte said softly, gripping her laptop tighter. "It's just that I have this final paper due tonight...at midnight..."

"Your English paper?" Bruno asked. "Sweetheart you've been working on that paper for weeks and weeks...and I think it's amazing. I think it's done."

"It's not," Charlotte said, shaking her head. "It's just...not done yet. It can be better. I'm sorry...I'm sorry that you got me the new dress and I know you want me to go to the show and stuff..."

"No no," Bruno said with a fading tone, bringing his arms around her. "It's okay. You finish that paper. You got your dad's drive...that's for sure...nothin' wrong with that."

A few moments later, one of the producers came to the door to let Bruno know that it was almost time to get ready. Once the producer left, Bruno gathered a couple of his things, looking back at Charlotte who was at a small table, working on her computer. He stood behind her, watching her stare and type faster than he ever could. At first, he rested his hand on her shoulder, which made her stop and tilt her head up and around to look at him with a smile.

"Good luck, Charlotte," he said, bending down to kiss her cheek. "I love you."

"Good luck, Dad," she replied. "See ya later."

While Bruno and the hooligans were on their way to their tables in the crowd, Bruno's phone rang several times. One of those times, he took out his phone to look at the screen, even though he had an idea about who it was. Phil peered over his shoulders.

"You're ignoring Kim's calls," Phil said. "Bad idea..."

"It's fine. I don't have time right now. She probably just wants to wish me luck and stuff. I'll call her later."

"All you need to know...is that every time you ignore a call, you piss her off a little bit more, second by second.."

"You don't know that."

"Doesn't matter how strong your relationship is...you ALWAYS answer when the wife calls."

Bruno shrugged off Phil's advice when Kim called once again. He put his phone into his pocket just as he began to hear loud music and see the large crowd of people beginning to file into their tables. Bruno took his seat at the table. He looked to his side, at the empty place setting where Charlotte should have been sitting. He pouted a little.

At the beginning of the dinner, during the drinks and appetizers part, Bruno was unusually quiet. His phone rang as it sat on the table. Phil rolled his eyes as Bruno let it ring for the first couple of times.

"Fine." Bruno muttered. "Fine."

Bruno grabbed the phone from the table and slapped it up against the side of his head.

"What Kim? What?" He said firmly.

For the first several minutes, Kim didn't let Bruno get a word in. Even Phil and some members of the band could hear her voice from across the table. Keeping his hand around his glass firmly, he grew more and more frustrated.

"Hey, hey," he blurted. "Lemme talk. I got stuff to do on this tour...especially on days when I have TV shows. You already know that. We got rehearsal and soundchecks. I can't just drop everything just to say hi to the family. I'm sorry...but I can't do that."

After that, there wasn't much more for Bruno to say, not that he could get another word in anyway. He ate his whole dinner without saying anything, putting down the whole mood of the band.

"C'mon, Bruno," Phil said. "You're depressing all of us. We got a big show to put on soon and you look fuckin' miserable."

Bruno ran his hands through his hair one more time before picking his head up.

"I never shoulda got married. Should've just kept on with the music and that's it."

"Don't say that," Phil responded. "You love Kim...and you have great kids. You just need to balance it more."

"I do love my kids....and I do love Kim...I don't...I don't know anymore."

Bruno and the hooligans were called to the backstage area to get ready to go on stage. Normally, Bruno would be hyping everyone up for the performance to make sure everyone started the performance with energy. He would be chanting and jumping around. He'd be extremely hyper.

This night, he hung next to the wall, just waiting with his arms folded against his chest. The rest of the band lingered, a bit unsure of what to do with themselves. Bruno heard the last half of the song being played on stage with a stern look on his face. He felt so mad and emotional that he almost got to the point not wanting to perform. Almost.

"Dad!" Bruno heard from a side angle, forcing his gaze up from the floor.

Bruno gasped as Charlotte came running toward him.

"Peanut...what are you doing here?" Bruno asked as his eyes started to sparkle.

"I finished my paper," she grinned, "...and I then I thought that I would regret not seeing you sing later...so here I am."

Charlotte had put her hair up and, of course, was wearing her new, sparkly, and teal dress that he'd insisting on buying it for her.

"Daddy look at this dress! It looks like Ariel! It's so pretty! Can I get it? Please! Please! Please!"

"Of course, Peanut. Let's go try it on."

Charlotte giggled as she hugged her dress and her little legs and feet thumped all the way to the dressing room.

Gently rubbing her arms, Bruno couldn't help but smile at her. Producers from backstage called for him, saying that it was almost his turn. When he turned back to face her, Charlotte stood there with a slight smile.

"You look beautiful, Charlotte."

"Thanks Dad," she said, initiating a hug.

"Love you," Bruno said, kissing her head and letting her go.

On his way to the stage, Bruno started yelling and screaming, which caused his bandmates to do the same. Charlotte smiled at his back before turning back to the crowd.

"Woo!" she heard him yell loudly, making her laugh and smile. "Let's GO!"