| Chapter 44: Paradise… Or is It? Two months later Lauralee was in her living room, putting the finishing touches on her song with her piano. They were halfway done with the album, with 8 songs already recorded, as well as doing choreography for some of the songs, meeting with stylists, and publicists. Lauralee got to write 2 songs for the album: one was one she wrote a couple of years ago, that she wrote to her father called “Whenever You Call.” The track was already laid down, with her playing piano on it. Finishing the last note, she wrote it down and headed to her room. Her mother went on a business trip, so she was by herself. She sat on the bed and laid in thought. The recording was going ahead of schedule, so they planned a to have a couple of days off. They planned it in two weeks, around the release of the Backstreet Boys’ new album. The girls had worked it out because they would be in New York City for the release, and they couldn’t be working with them in the same city. Plus, her relationships with everyone, besides the girls, were drifting away. She barely saw her family because she was working such long hours. Her friends would constantly call her, but she never had the time to call them back. They would call to let her know about a party that was being held, but of course she couldn’t make it. The one that she was most concerned about was Alex. She made time to call him, but their conversations were strained. She had to really think about her words, instead of pouring out her thoughts like she always did. Alex had invited her to Los Angeles to be with him during his last recording for the album, but she had to turn him down. She knew Alex knew something was going on, but she always had to deny it and say everything was OK and she was busy with her job. She was startled when the phone rang. “Hello?” “Hey baby.” “Hey, what’s up?” “Nothing much, what about you?” “Nothing, just sitting here. Mom’s away, so I’m here by myself.” “Really? Hey, I’m off for a couple of days, why I don’t I fly out and stay with you?” Lauralee sat up. “Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “Why not?” “It’s that… I have to work and I wouldn’t be around. You would be bored.” “Then why don’t you take a day off or so.” “Because I can’t.” “OK, that’s it. I’m gonna be really blunt here: What the fuck is going on with you?” “Nothing!” “You’re never home, you couldn’t fly out to LA with me because you had ‘to work,’ and you sound like you’re always hiding something from me.” “I’m not hiding any…” “Are you seeing someone else?” The words knocked the wind out of her. “What!” “Are you?” “No! I’m not seeing anyone! I love you Alex. Why would you think I would be seeing anyone?” “Lau, you have been so distant from me for the past two months. I haven’t seen you and you seem so guarded on the phone. Please… just talk to me.” The tears flowed from Lauralee’s eyes. “Please Alex, I’m gonna see you in two weeks. I took off that whole week you’re here. This will all be over so soon, and we can be together.” “Baby, I do love you, but we’re not talking like we used to.” “Alex, please, we’ll work it out. I promise you, we will.” “OK. I’m trusting you with this.” “Thank you.” “OK Hun. I’ll talk to you later.” “Bye.” “Bye.” ~*~ Lauralee trudged into the dance studio, her eyes all swollen from crying and not sleeping the night before. The girls were all inside with Riley and Swoop, their choreographer. “Hey Lau, we were…” Veronica noticed Lauralee’s face. “Oh my God, what happened?” “It’s Alex,” Lauralee sat down. “He thinks I’m seeing someone else.” “Oh shit,” Laura sat down next to her. “That had to hurt. I had the same fight with Kevin last week.” “I want to tell him the truth.” Riley stood in front of her. “Lau, we have come so far with this, we can’t back down now.” Lauralee stood up to face him. “We? We! You don’t have to hide this! You don’t have to lie to every single person you love! My boyfriend thinks I’m cheating on him, I never see my family, and my friends don’t even call me anymore, thinking I’m too good for them! So don’t tell me this is a we thing, because you aren’t the one who has to lie. So if this is the way it’s gonna be, I would rather turn down a hundred record deals than push away everyone I love,” she sat down in a heap of tears. Riley knelt down next to her. “Lau, I didn’t mean anything by it. I know this is tough on all of you. But it will work out. I wish I could take away the pain of this. I’m sorry, we can…” “No, wait, I’m sorry Riley. I can’t ruin everything we’ve worked for. I talked to him last night, and we’re gonna smooth things out when he comes here.” “It’ll be fine Lau, you’ll see,” Bianca put her hand on Lauralee’s shoulder. “Come on, can we finish the routine?” Lauralee nodded and they got to work. Chapter 45 Contents Chapter 43 |