Chapter 21: The Curse All of them waited at the hotel room for them to take them to the Jive Party.  Lauralee sat on the couch, with the others, while Lou, Johnny and Donna were going over business with them.  She walked over to the piano, and ran its hand along the side of it.  “Like it?” Alex came from behind her. “This piano is fantastic.” “So, use it.” “Alex, I don’t think…” “Come on, I heard you play, you know you want to.” “Yeah Lau, we want to hear another rendition,” Kevin came up to the piano.  “From one player to another.” The others gathered around her.  Lauralee sat at the bench.  She cracked her knuckles, wiggled her fingers and began to play a piece she had remembered a while back.  They all looked on.  Lauralee again closed her eyes, feeling the keys again.  Whenever she played, she felt like she was in some sort of trance, forgetting about everything and everyone around her.  When she finished, applause filled the room. “It still amazes me,” Alex sat down next to her on the bench. “Every time,” Veronica smiled. “You are a very talented young lady,” Johnny leaned on the piano. “Thank you.”  They all had a conversation when Lauralee noticed Marisa brooding on the couch. “Uh, Alex, can I talk to you a sec?” “Sure,” he led her to the bedroom.  “What’s up?” “Is that the Marisa?” “Yeah,” Alex sighed.  “She’s my manager’s daughter.  I was gonna talk to ya about it before…  Listen, we broke up a year ago. There’s nothing.” Lauralee smiled.  “Alright, but she looks like she has it in for me.” Alex grabbed her.  “I’ll be your bodyguard.” “Oh dear sir, protect me from the evil ex-girlfriend.”  Lauralee folded her hands and placed them beside her cheek. Alex gave her a soft kiss on the lips.  “Milady demands and I will obey.” ~*~ The party was packed: celebrities coming out of the walls, champagne flowing like it was water.  In there, you didn’t have to deal with the press, so Alex, Howie, and Kevin could enjoy their girlfriends at their sides.  A man came onto the stage.  He tapped the microphone.  “Can I have your attention please?  I’m Clive Davis, president of Jive Records.  I hope y’all are having a good time tonight.”  Noise emanated from the crowd.  “I just want to say to all the personnel, artists and management, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.  You earned this party, so let the champagne flow.  But I would like to give some recognition to 5 guys out there who have their album at number 2 on the Billboard charts.  I was wondering if they could come up here.  Backstreet Boys, could you please come up here?” The guys came up on stage as the applause roared.  “Fellas, you blew the roof off in Europe and the rest of the world, and now you’re gonna do it here.  I just want to congratulate you and wish you all the best of luck.  Let’s hear it for them!” The girls applauded loudly when Lauralee saw Marisa come on stage, turned Alex around and kissed him.  The color drained from Lauralee’s face when she saw Alex put his arms around her.  Laura and Veronica stood there with gaped mouths. “Lau?” Veronica saw Lauralee’s pale face. “I think I’m gonna be sick!”  She barreled out of the party, pushing people left and right.  “Lee!” Laura ran to find her and she lost her in the crowd.  “Shit!” ~*~ Lauralee ran out to the alley, where she vomited in a dumpster. She leaned on the back of the alley and slid to the floor.  How could he?  Damn him!  He promised my family! Lauralee sat there, holding her head in her hands, sobbing and yelling out every curse she could imagine.  When she heard familiar footsteps sounding near the alley, she got up and ran.  She wasn’t going to go home.  Anywhere but here… ~*~ Lauralee walked in her house about 7 that morning.  She found her mother sleeping on the couch.  Great, Laura must’ve called her.  She tried to sneak past her. “Lauralee Deverson.” Uh oh.  She didn’t like that tone.  “Mom…” “I’m not going to say anything about the fact that you haven’t been home all night, or that you’re friends called here every hour, or Alex every half hour.” “You just did.” “Honey, what happened?” She looked at Lauralee’s swollen eyes. “Mom, please, just let me go to my room and go to bed.”   “Please just talk to me.” “Bye Mom.  I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.”  She trudged to her room. ~*~ Lauralee lay in bed, her phone ringing so much she turned the ringer off.  She tossed and turned all day, the memory of Alex’s arms around Marisa haunting her mind. When she saw the sunset, she knew the first day was over.  She got up and found her old Tiffany CD.  She hadn’t put that thing on since she was 11.  Finding one song she put it in her stereo, and played the track.  She sat in her bed, hugging her pillow, letting the words overcome her. The flowers you gave me Are just about to die When I think about What could've been It makes me want to cry The sweet words you whispered Didn't mean a thing I guess our song is over As we begin to sing Could've been so beautiful Could've been so right Could've been my lover Every day of my life Could've been so beautiful Could've been so right I'll never hold what could've been On a cold and lonely night The members of our lovin' Still linger in the air Like the faded scent of your roses They stay with me everywhere Everytime I get my hopes up They always seem to fall Still what could've been is better than What could never be at all Could've been so beautiful Could've been so right Could've been my lover Every day of my life Could've been so beautiful Could've been so right I'll never hold what could've been On a cold and lonely night How could I hold what could've been On a cold and lonely night? Lauralee lay in a heap of tears.  She knew it.  She was at that high point and it came crashing down on her.  She expected too much.  She thought that this summer could be the end of the curse that plagued her, but knew it would always stay. Chapter 22 Contents Chapter 20