[Vorcla]

She glanced at herself in the mirror. She looked almost normal again, except for the pasty-pale complexion - the result of throwing up until her stomach was empty.

Ali Bryan splashed some more cold water on her face. Hot tears trickled from her eyes. Tears of embarrassment, tears of shame. She was a musician, a performer, damn it. She was supposed to love audiences, not be terrified of them. If it hadn’t been for the ecstasy…

She almost retched again at the thought. She’d needed drugs to face the huge Riverbend audience. Fishing out the foil pack of multicolored tablets from her jeans pocket, she contemplated flushing them down the toilet before angrily shoving the package back into her jeans.

Everything was happening so fast. A month ago she had been playing in a nice, intimate rock club before a packed house of two hundred and fifty. Then she’d gotten the call from Dan Henderson, and tonight she had played in one of the biggest sheds in the country before a packed house of almost twenty thousand. The contrast was shattering. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if there had been a chance to gradually work up to it, but this was like suddenly getting thrown into the deep end when you were used to wading in the baby pool.

There had been no time to adjust.

Ali glanced in the mirror one last time. Her eyes were a little puffy, but otherwise she looked fine. She realized she was exhausted; she wasn’t sure if it was from the let down of the drugs, pure fatigue, or both. It didn’t matter, really. She was ready to call it a night. Her hotel room had a Jacuzzi in it; just another perk of being on a first-class tour. She was looking forward to a nice, long soak, and then she would hit the sack and sleep until noon. Tomorrow was an off day, so they didn’t have to pull up stakes until Thursday, when they’d move on to Cleveland to play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She pushed open the ladies’ room door and eased out into the corridor.

Spike Martin loitered in the hallway under the garish yellow auxiliary lights, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. He was wearing his maddening, enigmatic smile under his black Lennon sunglasses and stupid beret.

“What do you want?”

“Just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said, his voice oozing a little too much sincerity. “I saw you go in there. Stage fright, eh? The geezer kinda took you by surprise hauling you back out onstage for the encore. No chance for another hit...”

“He’s not a geezer,” Ali bristled. “And he has more class in his little finger than you have in your whole sorry-assed, bony body. I got through it okay.”

“Right – that’s why you came back here and puked your guts out.”

Ali turned away. “I…I’ll get used to it. Four weeks ago we were playing in front of a couple of hundred people. Now…Jesus - it's terrifying. And I’m the front man. All the pressure’s on me.”

“Doesn’t have to be.” He gently gripped her shoulders from behind. God, her hair smelled so good! “Remember how great it felt when the ecstasy was working? You didn’t feel any pressure then, did you? Nothing fazed you – not the crowd, not even the fact that your old geezer boyfriend is a rock ‘n’ roll legend. Remember how easy it was for you to come on to him? Hell, we all saw it.”

Ali jerked out of his grasp and whirled to face him, her eyes blazing.

“I won’t be needing your drugs again - and I certainly don't need them to be with Dan. I'm a pro. I just needed something to get me through the first night jitters."

Martin nodded, his irritating smile still frozen on his face. “You’ve got about a week’s worth of ‘e’ in that pack, babe. When you run out, I’ve got plenty more – but there’ll be a price next time.”

Without warning, he grabbed her in a bear hug and kissed her hard on the mouth. Ali fought to pull away, but his scrawny frame belied how strong he really was. Finally she managed to work an arm free; she slapped him hard across the face, and he released her.

Ali was trembling; tears of rage and fear coursed down her cheeks. Her eyes blazed; she stood with her shoulders hunched and her fists clenched.

“If you ever do that again, you’re fired! Do you understand me? I can’t do this without a band, but make no mistake – the people come to see me. You're an interchangeable part. The crowd doesn't care if Spike Martin or Lee Sklar or Bozo the Clown is playing bass.”

She straightened up. Her expression softened, but there was hurt in her eyes. “It tears me up to see what's happening to you, Spike. You've been with me since day one.The drugs are ruining you, and I'm not going to give them a chance to ruin me. We used to be such good friends, but...look what they're doing to you. Get off them.”

He shook his head, still smirking.

“You’re so naïve, honey. You’re not in the guppy tank anymore; you’re in the big time, swimming in the ocean with the sharks. You need the drugs to keep from being crushed to a flat disc."

He leaned in close to her, and she took an involuntary step backward.

"In a year or two, unless you really catch on, you’ll probably be passé. Someone else will be touring with Dan the Man. Look me up this time next year and we’ll see if you can still get by without drugs.”

“I don’t believe you,” she retorted. “Dan and Gene don’t need drugs.”

“Not now,” Martin shot back. “They’re legends. They’ve got money and clout; they can do anything they want. When they first started out, though, your knights in shining armor were two of the biggest dopers in the business.” He paused, and his Cheshire-cat grin faded when he saw the searing indignation in her eyes. “You know it's true. They were in the same boat then that you’re in now, Ali. Right on the cusp of stardom. The drugs made the pressure bearable. Why put up with it, when a little pill can take it away?”

He headed off down the hall, and then turned back.

“You know where to find me when you need more, Ali. And you will need more.”

She watched him go, seething, but a small part of her, deep inside, feared that he might be right.

Then she raced off to her dressing room to gather up her personal gear for the ride to the hotel.

*****

“Awright, this interview session is over. These guys ain’t gettin’ any younger – they need their beauty sleep.”

Solly Abramowitz stood on a table with his hands on his hips. It would have been comical, but there was nothing funny about his owl-eyed glare as it raked the assemblage of reporters. The rock scribes realized that one misstep could get them on Solly’s shit list, and none of them wanted to be on that. A small mob of Riverbend crew people surged forward with programs for Dan Henderson to autograph, and he graciously began to sign them.

As the crowd broke up, Karen Poulous sauntered over to Gene Foster, who rose from his chair as she approached. If anything, she was even more breathtakingly beautiful now than she had been thirteen years ago, when she was a twenty-two year old rookie reporter for Rolling Stone. She was just now entering her prime. Her snug jeans and Rolling Stone tee accentuated the lithe contours of her clean-limbed athlete's body - a body kept firm and taut by a murderous, hour-long regimen of gymnastics she performed every day. Foster had once watched, goggle-eyed, as Karen performed her torturous routine, realizing with chagrin that if he tried to duplicate her moves for even five minutes, he'd be in traction for a month.

She smiled as she approached; clear green eyes shone in a lovely, heart-shaped face that evinced little or no make-up. Her skin looked as fresh and dewy as a schoolgirl's.

“Ah, baby, you look so good,” he said. “You still look like you’re twenty-two. “

“Ah, Foster, I’m a reporter, remember?” she asked, her emerald eyes twinkling. “You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. But thanks for trying; I’m flattered.”

“Your first assignment for the Stone was our last tour. We kept running into you – just about every city.”

“Yeah, and then you and I would run into each other – repeatedly – at the after- concert parties,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eye. “My readers never knew you were so good you made me scream your name to the sky.”

“Maybe not, honey...but everybody at the hotel sure did.”

She laughed as she traced the logo on his tee shirt.

“Ah, yes. Your infamous ‘I’m with the band – show me your hooters’ shirt.” She brushed a fingertip across his lips. “Let’s go somewhere private and you’ll get your wish.”

Just then the doors swung open to admit a giggling explosion of blondeness. Foster motioned to a security guard to hold the girls back, and Karen regarded them with a rueful smile.

“Let me guess – they won the contest. They already showed you their hooters?”

He nodded with a grin. “Might be a little crowded, but you’re welcome to join us.”

She kissed him, looking genuinely disappointed. “I’ll take a rain check. Call me?”

He took her hands in his and kissed them. He didn't want her to go.

“Look, hun, I was going up to Cleveland to see Dan’s show on Friday. Can you get free?”

She brightened. “Sure – that would be great! Promise me, though – no Barbie Twins?”

“I promise,” he chortled. “Here, let me have your cell.”

Karen handed him her phone and he deftly programmed his number into her contacts.

“Now you can reach me anytime you want.” His smile was wistful. “I’ve missed you, Karen.”

She kissed him again. “Feeling’s mutual, babe. See you Friday.”

Karen turned and strode off. Foster watched her and swallowed hard. It was difficult to believe that a woman could look so good just walking away. Just then the two squealing blondes reached him and nearly bowled him over.

They were in their early twenties – hadn’t even been born yet when Arizona broke up. Close up, it was obvious they were sisters. They seemed to be almost interchangeable, one indistinguishable from the other.

Dan Henderson cleared his throat as he autographed the last of the programs.

“Uh…do you even know their names yet, Gino?” he asked drily.

“I’m Shirley!” one of them burbled.

“And I’m Sheena!” her sister chirped.

“Sheena?!” Henderson and Foster exclaimed in unison.

“As in ‘Sheena, Queen of the Jungle?’” Henderson asked, smirking. “You’re going to be in for an interesting night...Tarzan.”

“I certainly hope so.” Foster gently pushed the girls toward Frosty Muirfield, the tour manager. “See the nice man with the white hair, ladies? He’ll get you a seat on the bus back to the hotel.”

The girls squealed, and each took Muirfield by the arm. He led them out of the room.

“Oh, Danno, I almost forgot,” Foster said. “Solly wants a meeting in the hospitality room in ten minutes. I have to go get my stuff out of my dressing room and get it on the bus. Meet you back there in a few.”

Henderson groaned. “Solly and his meetings. The man has no mercy. I just want to get back to the hotel and hit the hay.”

Foster snorted. “Yeah, right. Are you going to sneak over to Ali’s room, or is she going to sneak over to yours?”

“Neither,” he said. “And by the way, Casanova, please don’t make the Barbie twins scream your name to the sky – I’d like to get some sleep!”

Foster blushed. “You could hear that – me and Karen talking before?”

“Yeah.” Henderson affected a cackling ‘old man’ voice. “I may be gettin’ old, sonny, but I ain’t deef yet.”

Foster laughed. “Okay, ‘Grandpa.’ See you at the meeting.”

As Henderson trudged wearily down the hall, Foster pulled a side a roadie. “Everything set? Someone taking care of Ali?”

“Yeah – Blake’s telling her Solly’s having a meeting in the hospitality room in fifteen minutes.”

“And you have somebody here on the staff to take care of the rest?”

The boy hesitated. “Yes…Mr. Foster, Mr. Henderson’s going to be really pissed!”

“He’ll get over it,” Foster said, chuckling. “He always did. Besides, I think he’ll enjoy himself. Thanks, kid.”

Then he turned and hurried out the door in the direction of the tour buses.

*****

Dan Henderson leaned back in a folding chair in Riverbend’s hospitality room and closed his eyes. He had allowed himself the luxury of an ice cold Coke, since he didn’t have to sing anymore tonight. It tasted like the nectar of the gods. He wondered where Ali had gone. He wished she had been there for the press conference so the media could get to know her as well.

And he missed her.

He shook his head. Yes, it was crazy, but he missed her. He wished she’d been sitting between he and Gene, fielding questions from the reporters. They would have loved her.

But mostly he wished she’d been sitting there so he could have slipped his hand in hers under the table.

“Watch it, Henderson,” he muttered aloud. “You’re acting like a sap! She’s just a kid; it’s hero worship, and it’ll wear off soon.”

Just then the door swung open, and the ‘kid’ walked into the room. Her face lit up when she saw him, and her smile was radiant.
To Dan Henderson, that smile was like the sun rising over the mountains.

“Ali!” He stood up and hugged her. “God, you were so great, honey! Where’d you go?”

“To the ladies’ room,” she said truthfully, and then yawned. “I’d had to pee for almost forty-five minutes. I just couldn’t hold it anymore. I would have been crashing the party if I came back to the interview session then. I went back to my dressing room and brushed my teeth, and a roadie came to get my gear.”

Henderson chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “Well, we missed you. You here for Solly’s meeting?”

“Yeah.” She looked around in puzzlement, and frowned. “Where’s everybody else?”

“Well, Gene was going to get his gear stowed…”

Just then there was a metallic ‘click’ at the door. Ali went over and tried the knob.

“We’re locked in!”

Henderson’s eyes narrowed.

“Foster! Damn him! And I fell for it hook, line and sinker.”

“Well, let’s call for help,” Ali said. “Somebody’s bound to hear us.”

Henderson shook his head. “Oh, don’t worry, they’ll let us out – once the tour buses have pulled out. These doors are padlocked in the off season. Whoever has the key will let us out shortly. Gaaaahhhh! The ‘Practical Joker’ strikes again! Just like the old days.”

He grinned suddenly, and his blue eyes softened in remembrance. “Yeah, just like the old days…”

“Well,” Ali said, “at least we’re locked in together. Let’s not waste the time.”

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

Henderson pulled away. “Uh, Ali, somebody will be along in a few minutes. We can’t…”

“I know, silly,” she teased. “There's no law says we can’t kiss, though, is there?”

He smiled. “I suppose not…”

And as Ali turned out the light, they did just that…

*****

“Who we missin’?” Solly Abramowitz demanded from the front of the tour bus.

“Dan, Gene and Ali,” Frosty Muirfield chimed in.

“The stars,” Solly said with a grimace. “Jesus, I hope they get here soon. I wanna go to bed.”

“Here comes Gene,” someone said.

Foster bounded up onto the bus, and Shirley and Sheena squealed from the back.

“Let’s go,” he said.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Solly snarled. “What about Henderson and Ali?”

“Oh, they’re taking AT.”

“AT?” Solly asked, puzzled.

“Alternate Transportation,” Foster explained, and the passengers broke out in laughter.

“Foster, if this is one of your practical jokes…” Solly began dangerously.

“Don’t worry – they’ll love it. I’ve arranged a river cruise down to Cincinnnati, then a carriage ride to the Westin Hotel. Very romantic.”

Now the riders broke out into wolf whistles and catcalls. Solly glared and the bus became as silent as a church. He turned to the driver.

“All right, Fred. Head ‘em up and move ‘em out."

Foster made his way down the aisle to his seat, to the delight of the sisters.

Solly plopped down in the front seat behind the driver and shook his head.

Then he grinned.

“Just like the old days…”

To be continued.

['Ginnis]

Hot tears were trickling from her eyes.

Passive voice.

She fished out the foil pack of multicolored tablets from her jeans pocket. She contemplated flushing them down a toilet before she angrily shoved the package back into her jeans.

A lot of 'she' in here...may I suggest something?
Fishing out the foil pack of multicolored tablets from her jeans pocket, she contemplated flushing them down the toilet before angrily shoving the package back into her jeans.

Too run-ony? I dunno, just a thought.

Her hotel room had a Jacuzzi in it! Just another perk of being on a first-class tour.

I'm not crazy about that exclamation point. You use a lot of them, sometimes it could be over doing it. I know she's excited about it, the fame the glory and all, but it's still funny to me anyways

The whole rant with Spike, while it proves a valid point at times it feels over dramatic and forced. Ali's too long winded and pure to really communicate just how pissed she is. I'd recommend some side commentary, something about how they move or their actions. You had some which was great, but for something like that more is best. I mean, the way I see it, he's egging her on because he knows more than she does and she's watching her childhood icons be besmirched by the likes of a total slime ball...and there's probably a little something else there too. It's got to hurt her some, looking at someone she's known from the beginning be like that. She says that he's always been there, is she just now getting a really good look at him and what he's become? She could be terrified that she's gonna end up just like that, but is it what's necessary? Is he right? Does she know he's right? Lots of conflict to play with there, and as always, just thoughts.

She kissed him again. “Feeling’s mutual, babe. See you Friday.”

Words cannot describe how much I like Karen...

“Henderson, if this is one of your practical jokes…” Solly began dangerously.

I could see really obscurely why you used Henderson but are you sure you didn't mean Foster? Sorry, just checking.

I'm gushing. I love it. MOOOOOORE! By the way, I enjoy usually being the first one to comment on your work. I feel like I have a special little spot...I may become territorial. =P

[Vorcla]

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

Hot tears were trickling from her eyes.
Passive voice.

I changed it - thanks.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

She fished out the foil pack of multicolored tablets from her jeans pocket. She contemplated flushing them down a toilet before she angrily shoved the package back into her jeans.

A lot of 'she' in here...may I suggest something?
Fishing out the foil pack of multicolored tablets from her jeans pocket, she contemplated flushing them down the toilet before angrily shoving the package back into her jeans.

I stole it! Hope you don't mind...

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

Her hotel room had a Jacuzzi in it! Just another perk of being on a first-class tour.

I'm not crazy about that exclamation point. You use a lot of them, sometimes it could be over doing it. I know she's excited about it, the fame the glory and all, but it's still funny to me anyways

Went back and got it - and most of the others. Should only be 2 or 3 in the whole story now.

Also, I went back and pruned Spike and Ali's confrontation. I think it works better now.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

Words cannot describe how much I like Karen...

Thank you.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

“Henderson, if this is one of your practical jokes…” Solly began dangerously.

I could see really obscurely why you used Henderson but are you sure you didn't mean Foster? Sorry, just checking.

Oops! Oops! Oops! That's what I get for posting at 3 AM. Thanks, Kara.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

I'm gushing. I love it. MOOOOOORE! By the way, I enjoy usually being the first one to comment on your work. I feel like I have a special little spot...I may become territorial. =P

Thanks. I enjoy that you're first to comment as well - I usually learn a lot from your comments. I think you're usually first because most sane people in my time zone are asleep when I'm posting, and it's just early evening for you! As always, thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Kara. Much appreciated!

[Jimbalaya]

“Doesn’t have to be.” He gently gripped her shoulders from behind.

I'm wondering...She came out of the door to face him. How in the hell did he get behind her? Martin is an evil wizard, maybe a Jumper...I could use him in my story.

Ali angrily jerked out of his grasp. She whirled to face him, her eyes blazing.

Maybe just my opinion, but I think you could combine these two sentences and drop 'angrily'. Adverbs have their place and this one isn't really needed here. We know she is angry because her eyes are 'blazing'. Maybe something like "Ali jerked out of his grasp and whirled to face him, her eyes blazing. I know from the previous paragraph that he is behind her, and she whirls to face him, but there was no indication that he moved behind her. First he was infront of her, then behind...Anyway, just a suggestion.

He leaned in close to her, and she took an involuntary step backward.

Maybe just me, but I don't think you need the comma in there. Gives an unnecessary pause.

“Maybe not – but everybody at the hotel sure did, honey.”

'honey' at the end of this sentence seems out of place and a little ackward. Maybe "Maybe not, Honey...but everybody at the hotel sure did."

Just then the doors swung open to admit a giggling explosion of blondeness.

Awesome line! It was nicely descriptive without seeming to be so. And very funny!

Dan Henderson leaned back in a folding chair in Riverbend’s hospitality room and closed his eyes. He had allowed himself the luxury of an ice cold Coke, since he didn’t have to sing anymore tonight.

Just wondering, why does it matter if he's singing or not? Can the man not have a Coke regardless?

I was waiting for this one. The characters are as lively as they were four chapters ago. This was a fun chapter, aside from the Martin scene. The mood was jovial and it was very fun to read. Incredible writing as usual. Very enjoyable.

[Vorcla]

Originally Posted by Jimbalaya;

Just wondering, why does it matter if he's singing or not? Can the man not have a Coke regardless?

Nope. All that carbonation causes the "belches." Makes for a very unnatural singing delivery. I made the mistake of drinking a Pepsi one night at a gig. I wasn't normal again til the third set.

Originally Posted by Jimbalaya;

“Doesn’t have to be.” He gently gripped her shoulders from behind.

I'm wondering...She came out of the door to face him. How in the hell did he get behind her? Martin is an evil wizard, maybe a Jumper...I could use him in my story.

A couple of lines earlier, I wrote, "Ali turned away." I don't think he's Jumper material anyway!

Originally Posted by Jimbalaya;

“Maybe not – but everybody at the hotel sure did, honey.”

'honey' at the end of this sentence seems out of place and a little ackward. Maybe "Maybe not, Honey...but everybody at the hotel sure did."

Sounds good. Done. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Jimbalaya;

He leaned in close to her, and she took an involuntary step backward.

Maybe just me, but I don't think you need the comma in there. Gives an unnecessary pause.

Hmmm. Don't know about this one. No problem mechanically. Let me think about it.

Ali angrily jerked out of his grasp. She whirled to face him, her eyes blazing.

Maybe just my opinion, but I think you could combine these two sentences and drop 'angrily'. Adverbs have their place and this one isn't really needed here. We know she is angry because her eyes are 'blazing'. Maybe something like "Ali jerked out of his grasp and whirled to face him, her eyes blazing. I know from the previous paragraph that he is behind her, and she whirls to face him, but there was no indication that he moved behind her. First he was infront of her, then behind...Anyway, just a suggestion.

I'll think about it. If I like it, I may steal it, though.

Thanks again, Jimbo. Between you and Kara, I should be able to get this puppy settled in. Always appreciate your comments.

[Venomous Vixen]

No time for another ecstasy.”

This line sounds a bit odd, just never heard someone say it like that. Perhaps something more like 'No time to drop another pill' or 'No chance for another hit'... I think that would be more realistic coming from a drug-dealing, slimeball like Spike.

Other than that I didn't find anything that had not already been fixed up by the previous posts. I agree with Kara - Karen is beyond likable... and something about her ability to brush off his 'Rocker behavior' and still get excited over meeting him a few days later is just gah... makes you wonder what she is really thinking in that head of hers. I am guessing we will see a lot more of her.

Nice way to end it as well, and I am looking forward to that cruise and dinner that they will be surprised with (assuming that was not a joke as well). I think the mellowness of it will be a good bit of calm in the story. Another great chapter hun, and you are carrying the characters through brilliantly. Oh Spike pisses me off lol!

[Vorcla]

Originally Posted by Venomous Vixen;

Oh Spike pisses me off lol!

Hehehe! Good - that means I'm doing my job. I really like the "No chance for another hit..." line. If it's okay with you, hun, I'll steal it.

Ah, yes - Karen. She and Gene Foster love each other; they just haven't figured it out. They have for years, but both have been so career driven that they haven't considered telling each other. He's written songs about her ("Green Eyes" on Arizona's last studio album; some tunes on his post-Arizona solo CDs). He's Peter Pan; never grew up. That's one of the things she loves about him. It's also one of the things that drives her nuts about him. But she loves him enough to overlook his indiscretions - like the "Barbie twins." We will see more of her.

So - do you think they should get together?

Oh, and the river cruise and carriage ride is real. I think I told you Liz and I stayed at the Westin and did that very thing after the James Taylor concert at Riverbend on June 11. Very romantic...

As always, I greatly appreciate your comments. Thanks for taking the time, hun.

[katofmystery]

Originally Posted by Vorcla

“If you ever do that again, you’re fired! Do you understand me? I can’t do this without a band, but make no mistake – the people come to see me. You're an interchnageable part. The crowd doesn't care if Spike Martin or Lee Sklar or Bozo the Clown is playing bass.”

Only thing that I could find was this little spelling error. The story just gets better and better! I'm so excited! Maybe Ali will stop with the drugs! Tickles me pink! Five lovey faces!

[Vorcla]

Whoa! Typo city! Missed that one altogether; thanks, Eagle Eye!

Glad you're enjoying it, kat. And please keep us posted on how you're doing out there. You are out of range of the wildfires now, I hope? Thanks for taking the time to comment. We'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

[Venomous Vixen]

Of course you may use that line, I would be honored

As far as Karen and Foster, I truly would like to see them get together. Not because it would be a 'happily ever after' but more so because I think even in a Rockstar lifestyle there comes a time when you still want to settle down and grasp for the normal things you missed through life entirely. Plus, she seems to understand where he is, what he has been through and loves him all the same. There would not be that jealousy or distrust, just finally got the timing right. Just my personal opinion, lol, take it as you like hun!

[Vorcla]

Well, I did steal your line - thanks, hun! As for Gene and Karen...who knows? They DO make a cute couple...