CHAPTER 1 -THE START OF A NEW
BEGINNING
“OH-MI-GAWD” Bianca screams hugging her friend
“I know, I know, isn’t it great” Arora says excitedly
“Do the others know?” Bianca asks her heart pounding frantically
“Not yet, I’m on my way there now”
A stocky older man walked out into the alley where Arora and Bianca were, he stood for a moment looking Arora up and down, which disgusted her so much, she glared back at him.
“Bianca your breaks over” he states his eyes fiercely looking at the two girls a sly expression plastered on his face.
The 2 girls looked at each other, the same expression on their faces.
“Mr. Cannes, take this Job and shove it” Bianca declares throwing the apron at him, and smiling from ear to ear.
With that the 2 girls run off, laughing with excitement, their dream had come true, they got a record singing and the chance to take their music across America.
They jump into Arora’s car and speed off their hearts still pounding immensely.
“Oh-mi-Gawd, I cant breathe I have wanted to do that ever since I started that crappy job” Bianca giggles
“Wait you’re not bull-shitting me are you?” she queries studying her friends face.
“Hell no, like I would lie about this” she says turning into another street.
Arora too busy thinking about the phone call she received earlier missed the driveway and ran up onto the curb.
“The driveways there” Bianca mocks pointing to the concrete flower-lined driveway.
“Don’t even start with me” Arora warns laughing.
They both spring out of the car and run up to the door on the cottage-style house, Bianca pounds on the door, and Tatum opens it, a little astonished to see her friends.
“Man do we have the best news” Bianca pronounces almost bursting
“What?” Tatum questions
Bianca goes onto to tell Tatum everything about what happened, the record deal, the tour and of course her triumphant quitting from Taco Bell.
The 3 girls jumped around on the porch, ecstatic, like little schoolgirls.
“Dad I’m gonna be rich” Tatum screams, running inside
“Does Cas know?” she inquires running back over.
“On our way” Bianca replies
Tatum stepped up onto the railing of the porch.
“I’m gonna be famous, screw this city I’m going to New York” she hollers at the top of her lungs.
Arora rolled down the soft top on her Jeep, which was an 18th Birthday Present from her parents. She jumps in and prompts the others to follow.
“Oh-mi-gawd, think of all the mags we can buy if we make it big” Bianca giggles
“If? Don’t you mean WHEN?” Tatum corrected, hoping into the car, after Bianca.
Chastity was the forth and final member of the quartet Vixen, and the oldest. Vixen had been playing talent shows and minor gigs for just over a year. It had all started as a result of a dare. They were dared to appear in the school talent show, and sing, which been stubborn and unable to back down the did, and much to their surprise they won. After some coaxing, even begging from the school music teacher, they realized just what they could become, and so they were formed.
Arora pulled up to Chastity’s house this time without hitting the curb. They pile out of the car, in a noisy fashion, and wildly dash to the small flat adjacent to Chastity’s parents house. Tatum bangs on the door eagerly. Chastity opens the door, dressed in her waitress uniform.
“What are you guys doing here?” she asks pinning her hair back
“We are going to be SO famous” Tatum declares flinging her arms around Chastity
“Girl have you been into those smelling salts?” Chastity inquires, confused by Tatum actions
“Yeah she has, but that has nothing to do with it. Remember how we sent in that demo tape, and they said they would get back to us, well they did I got the call this afternoon, they want us, they really want us, the whole deal, a record deal, and here comes the best bit, we, Vixen are going on tour as an opening act for heaps of headlining groups, on one of those Pop Musical Tours” Arora explains a tear of joy fleeing from her eye
“No shit?” Chastity says dropping the clips in her hand, and staring at her friend as though this may have been some cruel trick
“No dog, cat horse or human Shit” Bianca replies
“AHHHHHHHHHHH” Chastity screams, wrapping her arms around the other three.
* THE NEXT DAY *
Arora walks in through the glass doors first followed by the others, she smiles shyly at the receptionist. They had all been there before but this time it all seemed so much more frightening almost intimidating. Their hearts pound more ferociously as two representatives approach the 4 very nervous girls and 1 mother.
Bianca’s mom had to be present as Bianca was only 17, and to sign any form of contract she needed a parent present. The other 3 girls were all 18, though Arora’s birthday was only 1 week ago.
“Hello there, you must be Vixen. I’m Mark and this is Julie” he introduces pointing over to the skinny middle-aged women standing next to him in a tailored suit.
“That we are. I’m Arora, this is Chastity, Bianca, and Tatum, and Bianca’s mother, Grace” she states, trying furiously to extinguish the butterflies in her stomach.
The others offered quick hellos, and handshakes, along with nervous smiles.
“Please come on through and we’ll discuss the terms and you can ask any questions that you have”
* AN HOUR LATER *
It was all like an amazing dream, from which no girl wanted to wake up. It was so simple, they would be signed on a trial basis under the label Jive, and if the response was good they would be offered a full record deal. They would also to start them on the track, be one of the opening acts for the “America Verses Us” tour, which showcased many popular, and just starting out bands. Bianca’s mom asked most of the questions, but was abruptly told to be quite by her daughter.
They each in turn took the pen and signed on the line next to their names. For what seemed like eternity there was silence, then after each on was finished, there were hugs and hand-shakes all round.
They had just over a month before the start of the tour, which meant a grueling practice schedule everyday.
* A MONTH LATER *
“What! You still haven’t told them?!” Bianca pronounces astonished
“I just haven’t found the right time” Arora mutters fidgeting
“Arora Denise Born, we leave in three days, you HAVE to tell them”
“Don’t you think I know that? But I also know that they are so going to freak, they hate this whole music thing, they call it a phase and pray that I’ll soon grow out of it”
“Your 18, they can’t stop you, and if they wont support you, it’s their own loss. Look tell them tonight, do want me to come over?” Bianca offers
“Na, I should do it myself. Man I was hoping I could just, you know - get on the plane, and they wouldn’t even know” Arora says half joking, half completely serious.
* THAT NIGHT *
Arora pulls up to the large metal gate and entered the code, the gates open and she drives along the oak-lined driveway, then pulls to a halt in the spot she usually parked. She took a deep breath.
“Be brave” she re-assures herself out loud.
She steps out and heads up the large stairs and straight through the intricately designed wood and glass doors.
“Arora where have you been?” her father calls from the living room
“I had to get something from the mall and figure, ah - a few things out”
The “few things” she was referring to was in the matter of legal guardianship of Bianca while they were touring. Arora had legally be signed as Bianca’s guardian for legal reason whilst on tour, as Grace couldn’t go, mainly because Bianca would never allow it.
Arora took another deep breath knowing it was now or never, she walked into the living room, where her mom and dad were along with her younger brother, Levi.
“Mom, Dad, Levi, I have really great news, I hope that your excited as I am” she says knowing full well they wouldn’t be
Her parent’s attention was hers, as all eyes were also.
“What?” Her father questions
“Vixen got signed, to a record company, Jive” she boasts excitedly yet still with a hint of unknown caution
“A record deal?” her father repeated “you signed it already?” he continues
Arora could tell by the tone in his voice this was about to erupt into yet another Born Family argument.
“You didn’t bother to consult us first?” his voice slowly raises its tone
“You didn’t have to be there, and I knew this was a great opportunity. I’m an adult now Dad, technically I don’t even have to tell you, but I thought you’d be happy for me”
“Well you’re not doing it, I’ll rip that contract up myself. Its not what we discussed would be in your future” he declares as though that was the end of the matter
“What WE discussed? Ha, that’s a Joke, none of what you think is my future is what I want, cant you understand I’m not you, I don’t want what you have. I really wanted you to be happy for me, but even if your not, I’m doing this. I’m following a dream, from which you have no right to destroy. I’m getting on that plane, and I’m becoming what I want”
Arora immediately regretted what she just said, remembering she had not yet told them about the tour, and she intended on slowly feeding information.
“What?” her dad says in an automotive voice
Arora dropped her tone, and stared her father directly in the eyes.
“We’re going on tour as an opening act, for the America verses Us tour, we lave in three days” she says trailing off
“No you are not, I won’t allow it, this is complete foolishness, and as soon as its morning I’m marching you to that company and voiding that contract”.
“I’m sorry dad, I really wanted you to be happy for me, but your clearly just trying to be you overbearing controlling self as usual. And you know what? Its out of your hands, nothing I do from this day forward is up to you, if anything just be slightly happy for me, because you cant change my mind, I’m going” and with that she ran up the stairs, as the tears ran down her cheek, she knew this was not the end of the matter, though she wished it so much to be.
* THE NEXT MORNING *
“How’d they take it?” Tatum asks licking more from her ice cream
“Mom said nothing, but Dad was so angry, threatened to march me down and end the contract” she said mimicking her fathers voice “I could hear him all night, saying how it would bring reproach on the church, the ministers daughter been involved in such a worldly profession”
“Well at least the know right?” Bianca offers sucking back on her milkshake
“I guess” Arora replies half-heatedly
“Now all you got to do is break it to him why you not going to that Bible College”
“One land mine at a time is enough. Okay lets just drop this whole parentials deal we are going on tour, we should be jumping around like complete basket cases” Arora screams, attracting looks from passers-by.
Bianca suddenly bursts out into song, and jumps to her feet singing some made up on the spot song about been rich and going on tour, causing the other 3 to bound about like deranged wackos right there in the middle of ‘their’ mall, in Burbank California.
* TWO DAYS LATER *
The four girls waited eagerly, somewhat impatiently for the boarding call to be announced. Their hearts pounding at an alarming rate, due to uncontrollable excitement and sheer terror, of the new.
* AN HOUR LATER *
They wave good-bye to the friends and family members there to see them off, each one with their own message of “good luck” and “safe trip” and the occasional “say hi to so-in-so”. After a big blow kiss good-bye they run down the boarding tunnel, laughing with electrifying energy, and adrenaline, they were on their way to New York, and beyond.