· artist ·

105

this is it.

this is how I die.

or at least, that's what it felt like. my heart was pounding so loudly that I could feel it between my locks. my legs crossed, uncrossed, just to do it, just to be doing something that wasn't literally dying from anxiety.

"we'll be live in five," the tall guy from behind the camera shouts. he looks very chill; why can't I be as chill as him?

"is this your very first interview?" it was one of the hosts, Steve Calvin. the guy had dark skin and a bald head. his smile told me he had seen many people in my position. i nod.

"fantastic! i love an interview virgin!" he and his blonde lady counterpart, Jordyn Williams, both let out a hearty chortle. i laugh too, though his comment seemed terribly odd and not very funny. "well, first off, it's important not to be nervous or, at least, not to seem nervous. you might just think you look nervous, but there's millions of people watching, and they might think you look cocky, or look stuck up. so smile, be happy, give the people what they want. that's what show business is."

i nod. got it. lie, lie, lie. no matter how you really feel, lie.

because that's show business, right?

"and we're on in 3...2...1."

and my whole life changed.

"Good morning, America! Welcome to The Sunrise! On today's show, we have special guest, Janet, speaking with us. Janet, how does it feel to be on The Sunrise?" Steve asks me, with a huge grin.

My tongue felt dry. "Um...amazing! I'm so happy to be there."

"We're happy to have you." Jordyn tells me, in a tone she's clearly repeated hundreds of times before. "We will be speaking to our guest later about her journey from ordinary girl to overnight sensation, and we'll even be getting a performance later, but first, we'll be talking about the weather. Florida, there's a hurricane warning for this Sunday..."

The screen cuts to someone else, and the director signals it. I sigh, adjusting my hair, looking anxiously at the hosts. "Did I do okay?"

Jordyn laughs. "You really are nervous, huh? Listen, hun, you're fine. But you really shouldn't just sit here all idle. Go interact with the crowd. They are, after all, here to see you."

"Me? No. You guys are the one with the show..."

Steve chuckles. "You think these people pay fifty dollars to see a bald man and a white lady talk? No offense," he says to Jordyn, who shrugs. "Our show is whatever; it's the news. You" he wagged his pointed figure at me, "the performers are where the real business is."

Hearing from an established professional that you have more fans in the building than they do had to have been one of the craziest moments of my life. But I still took it as true. I got up and went to introduce myselves to the crowd.

Soon enough, the other segments were wrapping up. The director was signaling to me to rejoin the stage so the interview could take place. I rush quickly up the stage.

"On in five...four...three...two..."

"Welcome back, America!" Steve announces gleefully. "Our special guest, Janet, is a new star on the rise. Her debut single, Just Like The Movies, has already racked up 95 MILLION streams and has sold over five-hundred thousand copies worldwide! She is here on her debut television interview today to discuss how she's adjusted to her new stardom and we'll also learn a little more about the star." He flashes a bright smile at the audience before turning his attention to me. "So, Janet, what was the inspiration for Just Like The Movies?"

"Um, well, I just started dating this guy." I felt so inwardly nervous: I had to tighten my foot inside my shoe to stop myself from fumbling with my fingers. "We're still dating actually, and he means the world to me. So, the song is basically talking about how our love is something out of a movie. It's just supposed to be like a really cheesy, really cute sentiment to like my new life and my boyfriend and...yeah," I chuckle. I feel awkward, but the crowd is looking at me with slight adoration, so I must be doing something right.

"Awe, how sweet." Jordyn presses a hand to her heart. "So how did you feel when you saw, just the day after you released the song, the mindblowing success it faced."

I laugh. "Well, that was pretty frickin' awesome!" The crowd laughs. "Music has always been my passion and as a kid, I had always grown up, wanting to be a famous singer."

"Speaking of, tell us a bit about your life before all of this. Tell us about your childhood and life growing up."

I sigh. Darker subject. "My mom, she introduced me to all my favorite music. Every Fugees song, or Eminem record, or Madonna, that was all her. My dad taught me how to cook, and he taught me how to be a good person and a good friend. He taught me to listen."

Steve smiled. "Your parents sound like real winners. They must be really proud of you."

I shrug. "I'm not sure if they know, actually. My dad is in jail right now; he was a good person, but he wouldn't leave the street lifestyle. My mom had a...habit. I don't blame her; of course, my father being a dealer, it was easy for her to get...what she wanted. I didn't want to deal with it though. Home became a miserable place for me. In fact, I ran away. I was homeless for a year before I met Ja...my boyfriend, got a job, and got enough money to record my music."

"What an inspiring story." Jordyn says. The crowd also looked awed. "Well, our segment is sadly almost over, but is there any last words you want to say?"

I look at the crowd, and try to find some deep words to give to them, some words of resonance. All I can think of, "Nicki Minaj is literally my idol. Nicki, if you see this, I love you."

The crowd cheers and the director cuts us off. I stand up and try to make my way to my dressing room, but Steve's hand stops me.

"Janet?" He asks.

"Yeah?" I ask wary.

"Would your boyfriend happen to be Jacques Walters."

I nod. "Why?"

He shook his head. "You know what, never mind. I'm glad he has you, is all."

I meant to ask him what he meant, but he was already back on the stage.

AN:

Haha I finally published this chapter like I promised I would.

Hope you guys like I really worked hard on it.

And I do want to update more regularly so Ima try to do that.

Anyway, how was you guys day?