Loneliness Trilogy Bundle Boxset (7 page)

“Luv, you know what this means more than I do. Although, I think I can guess,” says Marcus.

“That paparazzo will sell that pic he took to at least one tabloid. Our secret will be out in the newsstands by the time every bloke in England clocks in to work for the morning,” I tell him glumly. Having been the target of paparazzo for the past two years, I know the drill all too well.

“Fuck!”

I’m shocked. It’s rare for Marcus to swear. He’s really upset!

“I’m upset for you. I know what’s going to happen. I’ll get it too, but you’re going to get it much worse,” he predicts. Instead of staying at my flat that night, he leaves. Neither one of us is in the mood for lovemaking tonight and my stomach is still oddly upset even after we talk. Taking an anti-acid, I shower and go to bed, hoping that this is all just a nightmare.

The next morning, I present myself as usual at the studio as we prepare our music for our U.S. tour. Walking in, I grin and wave at Tim and Linny, who are both holding…newspapers! Oh, my God, they know!

My gaze moves from the papers to Tim and Linny’s faces. As Laslow walks in, he’s holding a copy of a paper as well. Oh, fuck! I echo Marcus’ expletive of the night before in my head.

“Johanna. Do you, perhaps, have something you want to tell us?” Tim asks me. His brown eyes are burning with anger.

I hear the door open one more time. I know its Marcus. Two seconds later, he is standing at my side, ready to take the band’s anger along with me.

“What the fuck do you two think you were doing? We told you not to get involved with each other! There’s a very good reason for that. This band is only as strong as our weakest member. Look at this!” Here, Tim brandishes a wrinkled copy of a well-known rag in England. I see a momentary glimpse of myself in Marcus’ arms. Oy, this is bad!

Marcus tries to put his hand around my shoulders.

“OY! Get your hand off her!” shouts Linny. “What’ve you lot been doing? Shacking up? Snogging? What?”

“I’m here to take my punishment alongside Johanna. I motioned her to the side of that stage. If I had known better, this would never have happened. Don’t blame her completely. I’m just as enthusiastic a participant in this,” says Marcus.

Tim sighs deeply. “Johanna, we don’t know if we’re going to kick you out for lying to us or ban Marcus from joining us on tours and here in practices. There’s the possibility that, if we ban Marcus, we’ll kick Laslow out as well. Like what you’ve done now? Hmm? Johanna, you’re our best group member. How could you do this? Do you realize that this endangers the band? What the bloody hell d’you think you two were doing?” Tim yells.

I want Marcus to take my hand, but at the same time, I realize that’ll make things even worse. I simply stand there, taking everything Tim says. I am grateful that Marcus is standing next to me.

Laslow moves to stand with Linny and Tim. His face is dark with anger.

I feel a wave of nausea hit me as I realize just how much I could lose - my career with this band. Music is my life and if I’m let go, my name will be mud in the music world. I know that.

Tim seems to soften just slightly as he looks at me.

“You lot leave. Linny and I are going to talk about this and decide what’s going to happen. Go. Now!”

We leave. Laslow is just as devastated. He loves his big brother, but knowing what he knows, he is boiling-mad right now. He takes a sharp right turn and heads to a coffee shop in the middle of the block.

Marcus and I know better than to try and follow him, much less reason with him. We walk to a park bench down the street. If I were to try and drink coffee the way I feel now, the smell would make me horrendously sick. My stomach is churning as if I had contracted a stomach virus. Sitting down, I hold my tummy.

“Sweetheart, it’ll be okay,” Marcus tries to say.

I sob, trying not to let my stomach lurch. Music is my life, but so is Marcus! I’m falling in love with him - and I think he’s falling in love with me!

“Marcus, Tim is a hard-nose about band rules. He runs our band just like a school’s band. Very strict. I could be out of the band today!” Swallowing convulsively, I choke back my sobs and my rising nausea.

“No. I’m not a pro like you and the blokes, Johanna, but I can tell talent and quality when I hear it. You are top-drawer.” Drawing me into his arms, he cuddles my head on his shoulder. Somehow, this makes me feel better. My stomach settles back into its cavity and my nausea subsides. “I’m serious. They can’t fire you - you’re the soul of the group. No matter what happens, I want to stay with you. I see Tim coming, so let me know what the group decides,” he tells me. He slowly pulls his arm from around me and I begin choking my sobs back once again.

“Johanna, back to the studio. Laslow’s on his way. Marcus. You, too. You’re just as involved and you need to hear our decision,” says Tim.

Oh, my God, this does not sound good! If they try to fire me, I’m going to throw myself on their mercy and tell them that I’ve fallen in love with Marcus - which our relationship isn’t just a bit of snogging. It’s serious and I’m committed to him. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. Now, I wish I’d spoken up sooner!

We make a sorry little procession as we return to the studio. Tim is in front, walking grim-faced. I’m right behind, wiping traitorous tears from my cheeks and fighting stubborn nausea. Laslow is behind me and his face is just as grim as Tim’s. Marcus, I’m sure, looks worried and sad. I can’t regret this, truth be told. I can’t help who I fell in love with. Our beliefs are similar and we treat each other with love and respect. Inside, I make a beeline for my comfy chair. I wince as I hear the studio door bang shut and lock. Marcus is making sure that this stays within the group, bless him!

Chapter 5

I
keep going over the band’s rules. Tim has said it more than once - “Rules are rules.“He’s also called me the voice of the band.

“Okay, everyone. What’s done is done. We leave on our U.S. tour next weekend - four days. We can’t kick anyone out and still have this tour go off. We can’t back out of the tour because we’re contractually obligated. So, this is what Linny and I have discussed…”

Linny takes over. “Laslow, you’ve gelled remarkably well with the band. You’ve learned your stuff in record time and we sound better than ever. Johanna - you’re the voice of our band. We need your vocals. We thought about kicking Laslow out, but he’s not the one that snogged you, Johanna. It would be unfair to punish him for your actions.”

Tim seems to come to life.

“This is what we’re going to do. Laslow, Johanna, you’re both staying in the group. We’re leaving in four days on our U.S. tour. Marcus, you cannot come on the tour. Johanna, which is it? Going on this tour? Or staying back with Marcus?”

Hot tears fall down my raw cheeks. I look up at Marcus and give him a look of abject apology. He understands my look and gives me a slight smile and nods at me to speak - he knows why I’m making the decision I’m making.

“I’ll go with you lot. I…I understand why Marcus has to stay back…”

Marcus raises one hand.

“Tim, if you don’t mind, I’d like to make one point.”

Tim gives Marcus a sharp, curt nod.

“I was talking with Johanna in the park. I told her that she is top-drawer when it comes to singing talent. If your band is to continue as it is right now, she has to stay a member, especially since you’re going on your tour in the U.S. I will stay back, but I don’t have to like it. I…I care greatly for Johanna.”

I look at Marcus - he had the same thought I did! I smile slightly, feeling better.

Tim looks at the two of us in surprise. “Be that as it may, we’re not kicking either one of you out. You are vital to our band. Like Linny said, Laslow has gelled very well with us. We’re going on our U.S. tour, visiting and performing in each city, then we’ll come back home.”

I’m relieved at this decision. So much worse could have happened and I know it. Tim cancels practice until the following day. We’ll all practice our parts individually at home. Practicing together today would be useless because of the emotions. At home, I am of two emotions. First, I am very excited that our band has become well-known enough that we’re popular on the other side of the pond. On the other hand, I’m torn about leaving without Marcus, but I do also understand the band’s position. I try to practice, but between the nausea, nervousness, and my crying, it’s impossible for me to sing. Instead, I have a lie-down and drink some hot ginger tea. After napping for an hour, I wake feeling more normal and decide to read through my music. It’s a sorry substitute, but until I can sing without crying or feeling like I’m about to vomit, it’s all I can do. I do wonder why I’m still so nauseated - I mean, the whole issue has been decided. I should be able to face the issue without feeling sick at my stomach, but at dinner, I’m forcing myself to eat some soup when Marcus calls me.

“I’m coming over. We have four days left before you leave,” he says.

Instantly, I feel better. I finish my soup and do my dishes, then straighten out before Marcus knocks at my door.

Once he’s inside my flat, we sit cuddled together.

“I don’t like that I have to stay here on this side of the pond while you perform, but we can talk via messaging, Skype, chat and on the phone,” he tells me.

I mull it over for a moment. That’s true. While I would love to have him physically with me, I understand that’s not going to happen. I sigh deeply. “I know. I’ll miss you. Not having you with me as we move from city to city will be hard, but you’re right. I’ll take my laptop and buy a cell phone that I can use in the States. As soon as I have it, I can send you the number.”

In bed, we make slow love. Tonight, there is no roughness. Instead, we caress and kiss each other until we reach our completion together.

Marcus stays at my flat with me every night until Saturday morning. He leaves before Tim arrives to help me take my bags out to his car. Before he left, we made long, slow and lingering love. It’s going to have to do until we return to England. I’ve packed my vibrator, knowing that I’ll need to relieve myself frequently. We’re going to be gone for four months!

Tim talks excitedly on the way to the studio - we’re meeting up with Laslow and Linny there. A shuttle will pick us up and take us to the airport.

“So, do you have everything you need? Passport? Computer, crochet, books, iPod?” he asks me.

Growing excited, I nod.

“I have it all, Tim. I also brought some blank music sheets in case we find some inspiration in the U.S. to write new material,” I tell him.

“Good. Brilliant. Johanna, this is going to be an excellent tour! We are going to amaze the Americans and they are going to love our music! Watch for our CD sales to shoot up even more! You’ll be able to set aside even more into your old-age account, just you see!”

At this prediction, Linny hoots.

“Old age? Tim, she’s a kid! That applies more to you, me and Laslow!”

I giggle. Still, just underneath all the bubbling excitement, I am sad that Marcus couldn’t join us. Because I understand why this has to be, I brought more than what Tim listed. I also brought my e-reader, loaded with several new books, as well as several magazines to keep my mind occupied. If I can’t be with Marcus, then I’ll just stay as busy as I can so I won’t miss him as much.