My Time with a Future Music Star

New York City

Lizzy was reading a magazine while Ben was sleeping. Lizzy was stroking Ben's hair. "Alcohol's not an easy thing to recover from", Lizzy quietly stated, "Trust me, I know." Blake shouted from the driver's area: "We're here!" NYC is in 5 minutes!" What?", Ben woke up. Jack tossed Ben a drink. "Diet Mountain Dew?", Ben asked puzzled. "New York City", Lizzy smiled, "Never was there ever a girl so pretty.", Ben continued. "Aww", Lizzy said happily, "do you think we'll be in love forever? I should add that song to my next album." "Do it", Ben said. Lizzy put on her heart-shaped sunglasses as they arrived in New York City. "We're gonna take a ride", Lizzy sang happily. "Where in New York City are we staying?", Ben asked. "Brooklyn", Blake answered. "Brooklyn baby, indeed.", Ben said to Lizzy. "You're going to meet my sister Chuck too", Lizzy added, "She's a photographer and lives here. She'll be at tomorrow night's concert?", Ben asked. "Well, yeah.", Lizzy answered, "We were heard from a record company, so these tours are our income. I share it equally with my tour mates." "Well, consider the million dollars as insurance", Ben said. "I don't share the money", Jack stated, "Because I'm the boss." "Shut up!", Lizzy said throwing a pillow at him, "You must be a manager or something." "That's right!", Ben said, "He should be!" "Hey! Good idea, Ben." "Everyone gets an equal cut of the concert money and Ben's money." "Mr. Millionaire's just tagging along", Blake said jokingly. "Ben's good luck and fortune.", Roger said.

The RV arrived a somewhat larger hotel in Brooklyn. When they got there, they unpacked and wanted to explore the city. Ben gave an "equal portion" of his winnings to each of the bandmates including Lizzy. Ben and Lizzy went to a pizza place. It was a popular pizza parlor in New York City, mind you. As they sat at a booth, a young lady younger than Lizzy arrived. She had straight light brown hair and had a camera around her neck. "This has got to be Chuck", Ben thought as Lizzy went to the lady to hug her. The two girls went over to the booth Ben and she was sitting at and introduced each other. "Nice to meet you, Ben", Chuck said, "Lizzy told me a great deal about you." The three of them sat down at the booth. "Just out of curiosity", Ben began, "Why do they call you 'Chuck'?" "It's just a nickname friends and family called me", Chuck explained, "My real name is Caroline". "She's really good at photos", Lizzy said, "and this guy is my lucky charm. He saved us from being stranded in Atlantic City."

Ben and Lizzy explained to Chuck about their misadventure last night and how Ben became a Millionaire. After eating pizza and talking, the three went to the Empire State Building. "I can take a picture of the two of you on top of the building if you want", Chuck said. The three of them were near the observation deck (near the top) and Chuck proceeded to photograph Ben and Lizzy. Chuck even took a photo of them looking at each other with the viewfinders. "Perfect!", Chuck remarked. "Thanks, Chuck.", said Lizzy, "You're an amazing photographer and sister." "Thanks, Lizzy", Chuck said. "I once heard of a woman back in 1947 who fell off this same deck of this building and landed on a vehicle belonging to the United Nations", Ben went on, "The police ruled it a suicide and found a note justifying her suicide. They called it 'The Most Beautiful Suicide'. To me, I call it 'A Diplomatic Suicide". "Well", Chuck said, "Thank God for safety rails." "We were Born to Die eventually", Lizzy said, "Through the fire, we're born again." The three of them decided to leave the building after hearing the "suicide". "That woman", Chuck went on, "What was her name?" "Evelyn McHale", Ben replied. "That's what I call ultraviolent.", Lizzy said.

The three of them went to Time Square and looked around. "Broadway.", Lizzy pointed out. "You should do a play or musical there.", Ben stated. "Hey, life is about 100%" "of the shots you don't take," Lizzy and Chuck finished. "Take a picture of us near the big Coca-Cola screen", Lizzy told Chuck. "Ok", Chuck said as she took the picture. "Why don't all three of us be in it?", Ben suggested. "I don't know", Chuck said nervously. "Never know unless you try", Ben said. "Turn the lens toward us" "Ok", Chuck said. Ben said: "Ok, selfie on three 1, 2, 3," "Selfie!", The three of them said together. "Where I come from", Ben stated, "It's called a 'selfie'". "Wow!", Lizzy said impressed, "I'll have to remember that. I like it too." Ben, Chuck, and Lizzy went on to the different shops. Ben bought an I love NY shirt. "Where to?", Ben asked the two ladies. "I got to get going", Chuck said. "Ok", Lizzy said, "Ben and I are going to Coney Island before it gets dark." "Haven't been there in a while.", Chuck said, "I have something for you, Ben". Chuck got out a small bag from her purse and left. Ben opened the bag and found a digital camera. "It'll come in handy at our next stop.", Ben stated. "You'll love Coney Island. I'm the Queen there.", Lizzy stated.