Marion's Story Ch. 06

Credit here to my friend and fellow author EM Kay (Marina Kelly) who helped with the story and kept me on the straight and narrow and of course did all the editing so thanks Marina....

Things got tricky for a while after that. At school the sole topic of conversation was the lips and who was Mimi. The story circulated quickly that Mimi went to our school. It circulated fast and everyone wanted to know who it was, it was comical to sit in the cafeteria and listen to the other students gossiping about it. Is it her? Or is it her? Nobody suspected little ole me, As Marion I was totally ordinary and ignored by all. The only time students really talked to me was when they needed help with something.

I had developed a bit of a reputation for being good at recording, so for those students looking for help I was an easy target, because I never said no.

The 'who is Mimi society' was like a secret cult as people claimed they knew her, names were thrown around and it caused a real stir. It was the big mystery on campus and some smart ass posted posters all around school with pictures of Mi on it and captioned 'HELP do you know this girl?'

I had a good laugh but as the week progressed the pressure was building especially with the lips due to play the bottleneck Saturday night. It sounded like the whole school was going to be there.

Rehearsal Thursday night Mel informed us. "We've been asked to play Friday night as well because of the interest and they have thrown in a whole bunch more money."

As we chilled afterwards with some beers, I took a big gulp before complaining. "Guys there is a group of students running a campaign at school it's the find Mimi campaign, there are posters and everything."

Jas laughed. "They aren't just around school, there's some in the music shop as well, they're everywhere."

"Yeah well you have to help me, if word gets out, we might get in trouble."

The girls all agreed and they offered to run interference for me, try and keep people away from me as much as possible. It was really hard after gigs because the crowd hung around wanting to talk and I was scared at some point somebody would recognize me and it would be all over.

I got a really cool email from Sue. 'Little bro you have done well, I am proud, maybe not as proud as mom but still proud sorry I couldn't be there.'

Beverly also left me a message. Sandy and I talked every night and it was getting harder and harder for us to be separated. She was as frustrated as me. She had applied for a ton of jobs in town but had failed to even gain an interview, in the end I spluttered. "Sandy ask April or if you don't want to, I will ask for you. I am sure she will find you something."

"Mi I don't want to, she is my ex, I don't want to."

"Baby please." I almost begged. It took two hours of pleading and imploring to get her to agree but it was only on the condition April asked her. I got on the phone even although it was late and asked, April hesitated, she was more than reluctant but under my constant harassment she finally relented. "OK little bro, let's talk, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

"Yeah and how is that going to work?" I asked nervously.

"Well squirt it's simple. "Molly hates her job, I think she took it just so we can be together, she never complains or say's anything but I know she misses being involved with the band, running your social media stuff. If you let her get back involved then I will take on Sandy."

"We can't afford to take her on fulltime; we don't make that much but I will ask the others on the weekend, see what they say. April it isn't something I can guarantee, you know that."

She sighed. "I am not an idiot Marion, I am not asking you to pay her, she just wants to be involved, give her a sense of purpose. If you promise to talk to the band, I will find Sandy a job, I don't want there to be any animosity between us. So, tell Sandy if she is interested and is prepared to work with me, with no drama, she can start next Monday."

It was galling asking for her help, but I mumbled. "Thanks sis, I will do my best for Molly."

When I gave Sandy the news, she was both happy and nervous at the same time, it didn't sound like the last thing she wanted was to be under April's thumb. What else was I going to do? Alli wanted was for her to be closer so we could see if it was going to work.

Friday night we were sitting in the green room chilling before going on stage and April and Molly burst in. "Hey girls." Molly screamed. Their welcome was cool, there was plenty of hesitation from the band, Moll's still had some fences to mend. I had already told the girls that Moll's and I had moved on but April was still not popular with the band.

Eventually there were hugs and kisses. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

Moll's shrugged. "What you thought we were going to miss our favorite band?"

That got the girls attention and Jas asked. "Are you staying in town, it will be a late finish?"

"Well we will be if we can crash at my brother's place?" April cried out.

I shrugged non-committedly. "Yeah that's alright as long as you keep it down, but you'll be sleeping in the lounge."

She smiled. "Thanks, little bro."

As we took stage the place erupted into a raucous volatile eruption of foot stomping and cheering. We started strongly, as I looked down into the mosh pit there was Molly her arms in the air dancing franticly her eyes closed grinding furiously on April who was also off on another planet. We started with a fiery intensity and it just went up wildly there were a ton of stage divers and drunken dancers who just wanted to be on stage. Jas handled them well defusing the situation by dancing with them sexily

The security couldn't keep up and in the end, I think they gave up. It was only ten when a girl jumped on stage and rather than heading for Jas, she ran towards me and she wanted a kiss and to dance. I had no choice she threw her arms around my neck muting my guitar until I kissed her back and the crowd erupted again and the ground swell was huge. Thankfully security reinforcements arrived and they were able to keep people off the stage.

At the end of the night there was a huge crowd trying to get into the green room wanting to carry on what had been a huge party. Jas and Mel dealt with most of them and we sold over two hundred CD's that night and that just about used up every one we had.

Once the crowd had dissipated, we chilled with fresh drinks the manager dropped off. As we sat talking, I raised April's request. "Oh hell yes, thank god." Jas screamed, jeez I am sick of it, somebody needs to do it because I can't keep up."

Mel nodded. "Yeah we could use some help that's for sure."

Molly and April appeared not long after and Mel gave Moll's the news. The smile on her face lit up the whole room."

Molly was straight onto it, she had already been doing some groundwork. "Guys would you be interested in playing the Stifel theatre again?"

We all replied in the affirmative but Mel asked. "Why do you ask?"

"Well we do the cleaning and building maintenance there and the manager saw me hanging around with you guys at the battle of the bands and he said the interest has been so high following the gig they want you to do another show."

"Wow do you think they would provide accommodation?" Cindy asked.

"Yeah, I reckon they would, what they offered was a forty percent take of the door. Guys the place holds three thousand people and they are suggesting the entrance price would be twenty bucks."

"Jeez that's over twenty grand." Mel muttered.

"Yeah but only if we can sell the place out, we probably wouldn't get that many people." I said.

"Like hell." Moll's grunted. "They have assured me with the interest they already have it would be a sell-out."

Once we got back to my place I was exhausted a night like that is so electrifying it is impossible to keep the emotions in check, for me I have to throw everything in to it and I am carried along by the adrenalin, but once I get home I crash. April and Molly walked in behind me and I sighed. "I'm going to sleep, here on the cushions you guys can have the bed."

They both stared at me. "Are you sure? We didn't expect to get the bed, we just didn't have time to book accommodation."

"Nah you take it, I'm bushed."

I crashed and thankfully sleep didn't take long because the noises coming from the bedroom were torture."

Saturday night was a repeat, the place was sold out and it was wild. So many fans Jesus it was incredible looking out over the heaving throng of people singing, screaming our words back at us they knew them so well. It was head swelling and ego boosting.

Sunday morning, I wanted to sleep in but I had to drive to Dodge and pick up Sandy. It's a long tedious drive of over 5 hours and it was well after lunch when I arrived. Mom was happy and excited to see me, there was a huge lunch spread and mom had invited Bev as well.

Lunch was pretty amazing and mom astounded me, she was completely over everything the band was up to she knew every gig and show we were playing.

I loaded Sandy's stuff into the Nova squeezing everything in.

As we were getting ready to leave I could see the sadness on mom's face. I think she was going to be sad to see the back of her house guest.

We packed the wagon quickly and hit the road before mom washed us away with her tears. It was after midnight when we rolled into home.

We both crashed and it was after nine when we woke up. April rang about lunchtime admitting she had slept in as well and wouldn't be there till tomorrow. Sandy and I glanced at each other and smiled whispering. "Thank god."

We spent the rest of the day carrying all her stuff up and setting up the apartment the way she wanted. It was a side of her I hadn't seen, she was quite forceful.

The next day April turned up early and she and Sandy disappeared off together, as I watched them drive away, I had a terrible thought. "What a fucking idiot, after seeing their kiss did I really want them to spend more time together?

As I walked to school I cursed myself for being a fool.

At rehearsal we were talking about new songs when Molly walked in with a bag full of papers and things.

She smiled. "High gang, so who is busy for the next three weeks"

We all glanced around the group, Mel grumbled. "No games or bullshit Molly... what's up?"

She glanced around the room with a big brassy smile. "Well Next Saturday night you are playing the Stifel theatre, I pushed them and they have offered a guarantee of twenty grand, but if the place does sell out then it will go up to twenty five grand. Then the weekend after you're playing the Midland Theatre in Kansas City then Wednesday night you're playing the Riot bar in KC but the weekend after that Crossroads are running a mini festival, I approached them and as soon as they heard that you were interested they offered you a spot."

She glared at our stunned looking faces and spluttered. "Don't get your hopes up... it's just an afternoon spot at crossroads, but it is a spot."

"Holy fuck Moll's Jesus that's amazing." Cindy hollered with a megawatt smile.

"Hell yeah!" Jas added with her best cowgirl yell.

They all turned to me, what was I going to say? I reluctantly sighed .... "Yeah I'm in."

Mel grunted at me with a disbelieving glare. "Jesus Mi, you could sound a little interested."

I laughed. "Hey it's OK for you layabouts but I have finals coming up and I have plenty of shit to do."

"Fuck school." Mel snarled. "This is a chance to make a real impact, Moll's has done a great job, now we need to bring it."

"Yeah I get that, but I am nearly at the end, my degree is in sight, and I have truckloads still to do."

Molly added. "Mi you could always defer the degree and finish it later, don't turn your nose up at this. It is a great opportunity for the band, think about the future."

"Jeez my mother would kill me, she would be disappointed. A lot of people put a lot of work into getting me here and I don't want to let them down."

Mel hugged me. "You can still do it, knowing you the way I do I bet you are so far ahead you could afford to slacken off and still pass top of your class."

When I told Sandy, she seemed mildly excited but hesitant. "Jeepers Marion, I have only just arrived and I have a new job it would have been nice to spend some time together."

Seeing my look of disappointment she added. "It would mean spending a lot of time on the road wouldn't it?"

Trying to appease her I mumbled apologetically. "But you can come with us, it's only over the weekend, and it's not like we will be gone for weeks."

When I mentioned about school her face dropped. "Mi your mom will be disappointed you know how proud she is."

I sighed. "Yeah I know and I will keep trying but it will be hard to commit the time and effort."

I think it's fair to say Sandy wasn't impressed, she knew exactly how mom was going to react, to the news.

Over the next month we played too sold out gigs across the state and our reputation continued its exponential growth. The crossroads Festival was incredible, OK we only played the afternoon spot but to be on stage with artists like that was humbling, it certainly brought us back to earth with a crash, suddenly we were the small fish in a much bigger pond.

It wasn't that we didn't play well or that we weren't appreciated, it was just the adoration the fans had for the headline acts. I learned a lot sitting either in the front or off to the side watching intently the guitar players and how they approached lead solo's was enlightening. I had a lot to learn, the first lesson for my guitar plying was, sometimes it is what you don't play that's important, and I was going to use that.

Sandy fell into her job easily, April had fitted her into my old role as a supervisor and I spent the first few days working with her.

As those first couple of weeks slid by, she became more comfortable in her role, in fact I saw the change, she loved it so much her personality changed from this shy timid little country girl into a real feisty little go getter. She had a drive and energy that had been hiding beneath a sea of insecurity. Every night I had to sit through long drawn out explanations of her day and how she was building and improving her team. Some of the suggestions and ideas she floated were picked up by the company and she received several letters of commendation. She had definitely found her niche. I noted with some trepidation however the amount of time she spent talking on the phone or if not talking then texting, when I asked about it, she shrugged surprised. "Hon it's only April just work stuff you know."

Sandy really appreciated the trust April had placed in her, she reveled in the responsibility and rather than shy away from it she threw herself into it with enthusiasm.

For the first time in her life she had a decent income which manifested itself in clothes, every day there was a new dress or new pair of shoes not that I was complaining, I got to try out lots of new outfits. We often spent the evening exchanging outfits. Hers were far more demure, more everyday where mine were more for stage and were far more risqué. It was fun and we always ended up making love. It was apparent straight away that Sandy was more comfortable making love with Mi than me. Not that she was uncomfortable with my genitalia but she obviously enjoyed it more when I was made up.

It made mornings rushed as I hurried to shower and scrub off all of the makeup before going to school.

The life of a rockstar, man it was hard work. It seemed almost every day there a new interview or event we had to attend to help promote the battle of the bands showcase. Most of the interviews were band interviews, but the one that scared me the most was the personal one. As I sat surrounded by the film crew and the interviewer started to ask the more personal questions I started to sweat. The usual stuff what age did I start to take an interest in music, where was I from, was my family musical, what was my first guitar, what did I do for a job. I stuttered my way through the interrogation and the interviewer Sharon laughed at my nervousness. When I explained I was studying music she became more interested and delved deeper and it was hard to keep her at bay.

It got more interesting when she pulled out one of the posters searching for me. "So, Mimi it seems you have become a real celebrity at your school...why is this circulating? Why the cloak and dagger? Wouldn't it be easier to just tell everybody... or do you have a secret?"

Reluctantly I muttered. "Well I suppose I do, I come from a very religious family and if my parents saw me dressed the way we do on stage they would be shocked. In my day to day life I don't dress like this, which is why nobody at school recognizes me."

She laughed as she looked up and down my outfit. "Yes, I've seen some of the outfits you girls wear. So your parents don't know about this?

Shaking my head I mumbled guiltily, "Not really."

Nodding she sniggered, " Yeah I can see how it might be embarrassing, so nobody knows your real identity? It's apparent that none of the kids at school know anything about you or your secret life as a rock star"

I shook my head. "Nope, I am pretty private."

"Well what about friends? Surely they must know, they must all be laughing seeing the posters."

I shrugged off her comment. "Yeah my closest friends know but they are sworn to secrecy."

"Well then, to put all the screaming girl's heart's to rest do you have a boyfriend?"

I nodded. "I have a partner, but no boyfriend I actually have a girlfriend, but that is private."

She didn't look all that surprised, and now she had her juicy tit bit she was happy. "Well I guess you have just shattered a few hearts. Thanks for being honest."

Molly turned up at most of our gigs and as we talked it was obvious that she hated her job working with April, the only reason she took it was she knew she couldn't stay with me and needed to move, which meant a job. When the girls in the band and I talked we agreed she had been doing a pretty good job managing us and if she could maintain the gigs and income, we would pay her ten percent."

The day we told her the news that we were prepared to make her status as manager official and there would be ten percent in it for her she rang April and resigned. Rather than being upset April appeared happy. At the time I thought it was strange...

With our reputation growing by the day, we were spending more and more time on the road, and we seemed to be spending a lot of time in Kansas City. Molly raised the question. "Why don't you move to KC? It would save a lot of travel at the moment."

The other girls in the band were pretty keen, unfortunately it was going to have to be an all or none move otherwise we wouldn't be able to rehearse. My studies were my anchor, I wanted that degree and I wasn't moving.

It got harder when April offered Sandy Molly's old job, but again that would require us moving to KC. When I said no, she became very annoyed, "Mi it's such a great opportunity for me, it would mean more money ass well."

"Sandy, you told me how much this degree means to mom, it was your idea that I finish it."

She nodded sulkily, "Yes you're right, of course you need to finish, it will mean that I have to do a lot of driving though."

April came to her rescue when she talked the company into providing a car for her, and April was elevated to hero status.

With the trip to LA only two weeks away we sunk into some really heavy rehearsals, if we weren't playing, we were rehearsing and it was going great. I had a couple of new songs that I loved, one a deep rock ballad didn't sit to well with Mel it was in the key of F sharp minor and her voice struggled, whereas it suited me perfectly. I tried shifting the key to suit her vocal but it wasn't just the key it was the style. The other girls liked it and we fell into the song easily enough. Jas said after the third fail on the night. "Mel just let Mi sing it, problem solved."