45. Dream, Girl ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

With each day, came a week. With each week, the first month of boot camp ended. At certain times, I felt like I was on autopilot. Yet, I was still enjoying the flight.

Aja Frost definitely gave me the prep talk and encouragement that I needed from time-to-time. Zeke wasn't as involved as much, but he made sure to check on me every few days. Due to my schedule, thankfully, I hadn't ran into his parents. They were in the house for about a month before leaving to go overseas last weekend. I was just glad I didn't have to wake up early to beat Zeke's mom trying to get a ride from Maximo. Now, I could stay in bed longer.

Colby did inform me that I could have a personal driver, but I declined because it wasn't free. My lawyer warned me to keep my costs down as much as possible in the beginning, because a 3-million-dollar advance can run out quickly. This is also why it was smart to continue this fake relationship with Zeke. Actually, he and I had a good conversation last night.

Zeke spoke, "You know the finale for my show is coming up in a couple weeks..."

On the side of the house, we sat in front of the pool on the lounge chairs. The only light source came from the full moon.

I spoke, "I can't believe season one is almost over. I've been rooting for either Larry or Sasha to take the win."

Yes, my old co-worker Larry rapped his way to finale night of Zeke's show The Power House.

Zeke agreed, "As good as they are, I have a feeling the audience is going to vote for Avery to win."

I sighed, "I hear ya."

Zeke added, "But I brought that up, because I want you to be on the show."

My eyes bucked as I quickly looked at him. "Show where?"

"Don't act like you forgot. I told you I wanted you to be on the show. Jae, I want you to be the special guest performance for the season finale. You and Aja Frost have the number one song out, right now. Ricky told me you're releasing another song in a week which is perfect. You can perform both songs. That's five million viewers tuned in. That's not including the replay or social media. You're new song will be another hit."

"I haven't performed since Ricky's party. I haven't professionally performed at all. I am still in boot camp. With my schedule, I wouldn't have time to practice.  Five million people will eat me alive. I'd be heavily criticized. People will be asking why I wear sunglasses like H.E.R. and wigs like Sia."

Zeke unexpectedly laughed, "Not H.E.R. and wigs like Sia," he continued to be tickled. He leaned over his chair crying in laughter.

I realized that I'd only kept that to myself. Glad Zeke found the humor in it. "Sir, I was being serious."

Finally, Zeke was able to talk again, "You are hilarious, Jae."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "It wasn't that funny."

"I know, but the way you said it... You're naturally funny. Anyway, we're going to end this conversation here, because I've told you a million times already that I am here to help you. You also have RiSe Records, your team, and your new best friend Aja Frost."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So, you've been watching us?"

Zeke shook his head. "No. I don't have to people watch. Just don't hang around her so much."

"Why? You jealous?" I teased him.

"I've been in this environment my whole life, and it comes with a lot of pressure. When the spotlight hits you at a bad angle, you'll need a go-to, and it shouldn't be other celebrities or toxic people. You should invite Monica back out here and communicate with your family often. They'll remind you of where you came from." Zeke stood up.

Did he just call Aja Frost toxic? "Isn't it a little late to be warning me about people?"

Zeke began walking. "Too late would be after something's already happened. I'm giving you a heads up."

I followed him. Zeke opened the side door allowing me to walk in the house first.

Not wanting to continue to talk about Aja, I asked, "Do you trust RiSe Records with my career?"

Zeke immediately answered, "One hundred percent. I trust you about forty percent."

I gasped, "Why don't you trust me with my own career?"

"You haven't finished boot camp. You're getting on-the-job training. That's rare these days. Even when you complete it, you still won't be completely in-the-know. However, you can change that by learning the business; even the parts that aren't your responsibility."

We walked up the stairs together.

"I'm going to prove you wrong, sir."

Zeke said, "Be my guest."

When we got to the top of the stairs, Zeke said, "Don't stay up too late. Night, Jae."

"I won't. Goodnight." I gave him a hug.

Zeke rubbed my back before letting me go. He went back downstairs as I went to my bedroom.

Even though it was going on eleven o'clock, I had to make the call. My phone rang as I held it up to my ear.

"Jamie?"

"Monica, you sleep?" I asked my cousin.

She yawned, "I was. What's up?"

"What are you doing in two weeks?"

"Uhh... Is that the week of the 22nd?" She asked me.

"Let me check." I quickly pulled up the calendar on my phone. "Yeah. The 22nd is a Thursday."

Monica sighed, "That's the day I'm going to Atlanta to spend the weekend with my--"

"Monica!"

"Chill. I'm just going to see if this is a make it or break it situation," she told me.

I asked, "Can you come to L.A. the week before?"

"Ain't like you gonna have time to spend with me," she joked.

I smacked my lips. "Monica!"

"Girl, you know I'll be there. I'll text you when I'm up-up."

I smiled, "Alright. Good night. Love you!"

"Love you, too. Bye." Monica hung up.

I hopped on my bed. Now, I don't have to go through this preparation for my first TV performance on my own. Man, that's sounds crazy. My first TV performance.

I picked up my phone and scrolled through my text messages. I had a new text from Zeke.

Zeke: What did Monica say?

I nearly fell off my bed in laughter. Zeke has humor from time-to-time. I text him back.

Me: She'll be here next week.

Zeke: Good. Now go to bed

Me: I'll go to bed when I'm ready

Zeke: I thought you have to be up at 6am

I glanced at the time on my clock. How could I forget that tomorrow I have a very early meeting with the label?

Me: I don't need a reminder. That's why I have a schedule! And goodnight lol

Zeke: Night

The meeting with RiSe Records was a lot! Not even stress could hold my attention. So, I consumed a bag of chips as I sat in the studio thinking about everything that was mentioned. They discussed a four-month tour in the U.S. and Canada for sure and potentially the rest of the world, a big super bowl commercial with Aja Frost and other celebrities, my first album along with how many tracks should be on it and when it should be completed for a next year release. Toward the end, they all congratulated me on having the number one song. They quickly discussed my future TV performances on The Power House and a late night show that somehow was happening in the same week. So, yeah! These bag of salty chips were necessary. I won't tell Mr. Joe if you won't.

My phone vibrated, reminding me of my next meeting. I got up and headed to the elevator. I was glad when I was the only one on it as I took it to the first floor. The doors opened.

"Oh, today is going to be a good day. Good morning, beautiful," Deonte Way spoke to me.

I brightly smiled, "Good morning! How are you?" I walked out the elevator.

Deonte pulled me into a hug. "I'm better than I was before I saw you. You know me and you got a session tonight?" He stepped onto the elevator with two other men.

"At seven!" I told him.

"Don't be late," he joked.

I pointed at him as the elevator doors closed. I looked over at the booth to see the man that always checks who goes in and out of the building.

"Maximo just pulled in the garage, Miss Jae," he told me.

"Thank you, Mr. Otis." I waved at him as I walked out the doors. Seconds later, Maximo was parked in front of me. He got out the car. "Did I keep you waiting?" He asked me.

"No. I just walked out."

He opened the door for me and helped me inside.

"Thank you, Maximo."

I took the opportunity to close my eyes and rest my mind before my next meeting. Unfortunately, it was only for 15 minutes. The building was small at 4 stories tall. The name on the building took me by surprise.

I walked inside Lydia's Performance Arts Studio.

"Good morning, Miss Jae A.B." The woman at the front desk stood up wearing a big smile.

I smiled back as I adjusted my sunglasses. "Hi, umm... I have a meeting with--"

A woman walked into my view. "I'm Lydia Sinclair." She held her hand out to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jae A.B."

I shook her hand. "Hi. You, too. Umm... is this a dance studio?" I asked her.

Lydia clasped her hands together. "It is, but we also provide singing lessons, teach breath control, and how to perform live and command a stage. There's an art to performing."

Finally, a meeting that I don't have to sit in and be an ornament.

"Follow me," Lydia led the way down a hall to a staircase. We walked up and up and up, again. "We have an elevator, but we only use it to carry heavy equipment. Do you have stairs where you live?" Lydia asked me.

I nodded my head as I was near out of breath.

"Stairs make for good exercise. You can go fast, slow, skip, run, hop - it's all exercise." Lydia and I finally reached the top floor. "For the next two weeks, you will walk up the stairs to get to your home room. It is one of my favorites - Studio 4D."

From one hall to another, we stopped outside of an open door. "You may enter," she said.

I walked inside a large, shiny wood floor, with two mirrored walls, short windows on another wall, and a piano with all the props you could ever need to put on a show on another wall. The room was bigger than Zeke's bedroom. His room was basically the size of a one bedroom apartment. Studio 4D was brightly lit with natural light coming in from the short windows. I think this may become one of my favorite places.

In no time, I was singing the music scale. "Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do..."

Five minutes later, I was singing it while jogging in place.

"And stop!" Lydia told me.

I collapsed to the floor.

"No, ma'am, Miss Jae A.B. On your feet, quickly. Whenever you feel tired, you are going to walk. Your heart is beating fast at this moment. You don't want to drop. You want to help your heart ease it's way back to it's normal speed. When you're on stage, the first song could last from 30 seconds to five minutes. Are you going to fall to the ground as soon as you finish the song? No. You might have to do an interview right after or even go into the next song. What if you have to dance? Think about how much ground you have to cover. Is it a small stage or a big stage?

"Back to the top. This time, we're going to do the music scale first with jumping jacks, from one side of the room to the other. Next, you'll pretend to jump rope. Finally, you'll dance in place - act like you're performing with a microphone in hand. You're going to do this five times. Are you ready?"

I could barely catch my breath. "Yes!" I shouted. Earlier, I should've opted for some berries instead of a bag of chips.

Lydia blew her whistle. "One! Two! Three! Let's go!"

I began with jumping jacks. "Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do... Do-Ti-La-So-Fa-Me-Re-Do..."

"I need you singing, Jae A.B. Not talking loud, but singing," Lydia instructed me.

I sang, "Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do... Do-Ti-La-So-Fa-Me-Re-Do..."

By the end of the lesson, my body was aching for the rest of the day. Mr. Joe would never! Then again, Mr. Joe would if he knew about those chips. See this is why I can't ever do anything sneaky - guilty conscious.

It almost slipped my mind that I was meeting with Deonte Way at the RiSe Tower. I was glad to have 20 minutes to freshen up before we met in the studio.

I was tired that I grew impatient as Deonte Way explained the song. "It's a duet with equal parts. Think Avant and KeKe Wyatt's 'Nothing in This World.' But I want it to have harmonies, some acapella, and high notes. I want this to be a memorable song - a classic."

I asked, "Can I hear it?"

He said, "Yeah! Play the song, Scott."

Scott, the sound engineer, sat in front of his laptop and the mixing board. He pushed the play button.

By the end of the song, Deonte Way didn't need to hear me say it. I just did not like the song. I could tell he was disappointed so I told him that I'd loved to collaborate with him in the future. From there, I went back home.

The rest of the week went that way until Friday night. My body had grown accustomed to the physical activities, and I no longer felt extremely tired. In the back of the vehicle, I closed my eyes as Maximo played music from a random radio station. It was quite relaxing - a beautiful love song. That's when I knew what I needed for my album to be complete. I would write a love song.

Before I could get to my bedroom, my phone vibrated. Thinking it was Colby, I ignored it. Sometimes, I wondered if Colby ever went to sleep. Soon, I took a much needed shower. Once I got in bed feeling so fresh and so clean, I looked at my phone for the missed call and a text message.

A.B.: It's been a few weeks since we last spoke. If you're up when you get this message call me.

I quickly sat up as I called him. When the rings stopped, I spoke before he could. "A.B.?"

"Jamie, Jamie, Jamie..." His voice was the best thing I've heard all day.

Hopefully, after our conversation, I can have a peaceful dream.