Author's note: This is the first of a series of stories in a new universe. My next several stories will intertwine and complete threads and arcs from other stories, so if you feel as if this one isn't finished enough for your liking, you'll get more in the upcoming stories.
I hope you enjoy. - BH
*****
I rose my finger to the sky and screamed, "Yeah!"
The band hit the choreographed last notes, and the pyro explosions and flames heated the massive stage to an almost intolerable level, as I looked to the ground. I double checked that I stood on my mark as the flames shot up around me. The stage opened below me as the lift dropped me to the lower level, and a throng of people ran to my side.
"Great show, Jimmy," my manager shouted. My ears would take a while to adjust back to normal.
I handed my earpiece and wireless microphone to someone, and they grabbed the wireless microphone pack off of the waist of my skin-tight pants.
It was chaos around me. I never understood who all of the people backstage were. I suppose some were actual fans of my music. Most had to be sponsors or leeches encouraged by someone to hang out so they could say they were backstage at that night's Jimmy Mace show.
As usual there was a line of girls screaming to see me for my post-show meet and greet. I'm not sure why I let them talk me into doing post show meets. They were a drag because of how exhausted I could be after a show, but the fans loved them.
I was shocked the first time I watched mothers and daughters fall to their knees once they got into my dressing room. No one told me not to, and many others encouraged me to take advantage of it, so I did.
I succumbed to the temptation when I was an eighteen-year-old idiot. Fame hit me fast and hard. I banged everyone I could. I did all the drugs offered to me, I drank stupid amounts of alcohol, and worse I got caught up in a scandal being caught drunk in a club getting a blowjob from a pair of married sisters. I sued to get the video off the website that leaked it and any others that posted it, but it was still out there if one looked hard enough.
I spun out of control too early. If something hadn't changed, I wouldn't have made it to twenty-one.
I felt too empty after my first tour ended to continue that lifestyle. I wasn't raised that way, and the sad eyes of my mother when I got home brought me back to a different reality.
She was ashamed.
I promised her I'd clean up my act and make her proud. Six months later, she died from a heart attack in Connecticut while I was on tour in Japan.
I resolved to get clean for her. No drinking. No drugs. I desperately wanted to be a boring twenty-something kid who just happened to be one of the biggest pop stars in the world. Wants and needs are drastically different.
No matter what I did, I couldn't be normal.
*****
After the show, the first group of fans were let into my dressing room. I hadn't showered or changed, but they didn't care.
There were five girls in that first group. All were cute, but one was breath-taking. She was also the meekest. She looked like she was afraid to be in the room as her friends screamed and tried to paw at me.
"Settle down, Ladies. How about we get some pictures?" I said trying to calm the room.
We took several photos, group shots, individual shots, and selfies. All the while, the shy red-headed goddess didn't say a word.
"What's the matter?" I asked her after her friend forced her to get a picture with me.
"I, uh, I don't want to be here."
She looked ready to cry.
"Everyone out, now!" I shouted.
Security burst into the room.
"Wait, guys," I said when they tried to usher her out. "She's the one who's in trouble."
She looked at me and gasped, "I'm not in trouble."
I was confused. I thought she was there against her will.
"Huh?" I asked. "You said you didn't want to be here. I thought you were forced or something."
She looked at me as if I were an idiot. I guess my life was too sheltered. After thinking about it for a second, I realized I was an idiot and was embarrassed.
"You what?" she shouted. At last, there was some spark out of her. It was adorable. "Do you always assume people are held against their will at your concerts?"
"Guys, leave us for a minute, okay?"
The room cleared and I walked over to the concessions table.
"Want some water or something?" I asked.
"I just want to go."
"I have to say, I'm not used to that. Why don't you want to be here? You came to my show, right?"
"I'm not some slut groupie. My friends had it set in their minds that they were gonna reverse gangbang you, and I wanted nothing to do with that."
I laughed.
"You think it's funny?"
I handed her the unopened bottle of water and sat on the couch.
"Yeah, it is funny. I don't have sex with my fans anymore."
She rolled her eyes.
"Look, now that I know you're safe, you can go. I was just worried about you."
She still couldn't care less about being in that room with me. I was enthralled with her though.
She handed back the bottle of water and said, "Thanks. It was nice to meet you."
"Hey!" I said as she had her hand on the door. "Do you want to get a picture where you're smiling before you go? You weren't really into them before."
She smiled, "Can I?"
"Of course."
We took a couple more selfies, I watched her walk away, and then went about the rest of the pictures, groping, and autographs for those who were left in line.
Being a celebrity sucked. Sure, the money doesn't suck, but the fame? It sucked and anyone saying different is a narcissist. I suppose you'd have to have one of the upper echelon of egos to do what we do, but sometimes I just want to see a movie with a group of friends.
My old friends. The ones who didn't care about Jimmy Mace. The ones who loved and missed me being good old Jimmy Majewski.
I missed that guy too.
*****
I woke to my cell ringing. I didn't need to set an alarm; I had an assistant who called me to make sure I was awake. It was weird, but she gave me some lame excuse about making sure I didn't need anything.
"Good Morning, Kim."
"Good Morning, Boss. You've got a half-hour to get ready, and then it's off to Good Morning America. Your breakfast will be there in a few minutes."
As I showered, I thought of the red head from the night before. I blew it by letting her get out without getting her number. She probably would have given me a fake one anyway. She made it clear she didn't want to be a groupie. I didn't want a groupie though.
My breakfast was on a tray on the table when I emerged from the bathroom. Life on the road sucked, but that particular hotel had good food and I was starving.
I checked the time and frowned. I didn't have time to eat, and sure enough, Kim knocked on my door before I could.
"Come in, Kim."
I put the sausage and some of the eggs on the toast, wrapped a napkin around it and took a bite.
"Jimmy, we're going to be late."
"I'll eat as we walk."
My entourage of security waited and formed a circle around me. I wouldn't be bothered up there, but the lobby would be a madhouse.
We pushed our way through the throngs of fans, then I saw my red-headed crush at the guest services desk. I shouted at Kim, pointed at her, and told her to get her number. She was the only one in that area, so I hoped she would get the right one.
Kim was shocked at my request, I'd never done that before, yet she tried to comply. I was whisked into the limo, and the doors were shut.
"Morning, Jimmy," my manager, Carol, chirped.
