Alexia Kirby

"He looked at her the way she needed to be looked at, like the whole world could crumble and he wouldn't blink." - Atticus

"Who the fuck gave her my guitar?" Grayson asks.

Definitely didn't expect that to be the first thing he said after hearing me sing.

"Really Gray, that's the first thing you say after the song." Emerson says and hits him. " Charlie gave it to her." Zara says. " Tattletell." Charlie says and Zara kind of moves farther back into Shawn and he grabs her. " I'm gonna kick your ass." Grayson says, pointing at him before running to him. Charlie starts running and throws his drumsticks at Grayson. "This happens sometimes." Raven whispers over to me. I take off his guitar and put it back on its stand. " I didn't break it." I announce.

I do admire the guitar, it's a red and black Ibanez PIA3761 Steve Vai signature and I absolutely love it. " You like it." Scarlett says, appearing next to me. " She can tell 'cause you're just staring at it." Raven adds, coming up behind me. " Yeah, it's gorgeous." I tell them.

"Okay, I'm about to leave." Shawn calls out. "I need a nap. Coming Sunshine?" Noah says. "Aww, Noah can't go to sleep without his girlfriend." Charlie mocks in a baby voice while running. " Shut up dickhead your girlfriend feeds you." Noah calls out heading for the stairs with Emerson. I move my eyes from the guitar and look around for Zara and go over to her.

"I wanted to say see you later." I say to her. " See you later Lex." Zara says and hugs me. "See you guys later." Zara says to everyone. Shawn and Zara both gather some things and head for the door. "I think we should open the PR packages." Scarlett says. "I'll separate them." Kenan says.

After the packages are all separated we go around and begin opening pr packages and fanmail. " So, Alexia have you ever written us any fanmail?" Charlie asks. " No, but my sister complains about me playing your songs all the time." I answer. "Who's your favorite in the band? Like before you met us." Raven asks. " I don't know honestly, I never thought I had a favorite but if I had to pick I'd say, Charlie." I answer while going through a package from Dior to Scarlett. " Damn, Gray tough luck." Kenan says. Grayson just glares at Kenan. " Why Charlie?" Scarlett asks. " He shows the most content and we see more of his personality along with Scarlett and we normally only see pictures or hear quick things about you guys." I tell them. "Well, I guess we see why our manager says we need more online content." Raven says. "Speaking of content, we're doing a youtube video." Charlie says and goes pulling out a camera and setting it up. "Are you okay with being on camera and posted?" Charlie asks. " Yeah, it's fine." I shrug. " Alexia, are you sure?" Scarlett asks. " Yeah, I'm sure," I say. "I get it, I'm being posted and people will start asking questions and am I prepared to handle it." I say. "Are you?" Kenan asks. " Yeah, I think I'm pretty mature to handle it." I answer.

Charlie starts the video and introduces everyone including me. "So earlier today, Lexi here taught us how to do a cheer pyramid." Charlie says. "Did you guys fall?" Grayson asks before he sips his water. "No, I'm a good teacher." I say, proudly. " Okay then teach me." Grayson says, setting his glass down. "What do you want to learn?" I ask, staring into his eyes. "Surprise me." He answers.

I get up letting out a quick okay and go through my phone and show a basic two-person stunt. "Got it?" I ask. " Yes." Grayson replies. " Don't drop me." I order. "Alright don't get a head injury." Scarlett says. " It's all covered. I put down the mats." Kenan says, pointing over to a big space covered in blue mats. Me and Grayson walk over to the mats and position myself in front of him with my back to his front apart but like a foot. I feel Grayson wrap his hands around my waist. "Ready?" I ask.

"Yep."

I bend my knees and jump up as he tosses me up and I land on top of his hands. Kenan is off to the side spotting. " I can't believe you landed that." Scarlett says, surprisingly. "How does she get down?" Charlie asks. " Same way me and Zara got down with you guys, a small toss up and a catch." I answer. "Ready?" Grayson asks. "Yes." I reply. Grayson tosses me up lightly and catches me. Safely putting me back on the floor. "You were perfect." I say, turning around to face him. " I usually am." Grayson shrugs. " You're such an ass." I say as I roll my eyes. "It's not nice to roll your eyes." Grayson reminds me. "Bite me." I reply before walking away.

We end up finally opening all of the packages when I hear my phone start to ring. " Is everything okay?" Scarlett asks. I look down to see who's calling and see Faith's name. "Yeah, it's just Faith, my best friend." I tell her. I answer the call as I walk over to the piano.

"You haven't called me as you promised." Faith says, right as she answers. Faith is wearing the practice cheer uniform so I know she's probably on break at practice. " I know I'm sorry, but I've texted you." I say. " Also coach isn't happy he's missing his center flyer. Heather has been filling in but we all know you belong in the center." Faith tells me. "Well he should be, I'm filming the routine and showing him I have my skills. I even tumbled the other day and I stunted today." I switch the phone to a different hand as I grab the vase on the piano and prop my phone against it. " I saw on Charlie's Snapchat story." Faith laughs and grabs some water.

"Oh my god, I wanna meet the friend!" Charlie exclaims running over to me and almost knocking me over as he does. " Charlie be careful, you almost knocked Alexia over!" Grayson shouts over. At least he's kind of worried about my safety. "Charlie this is Faith, Faith this is Charlie." I introduce them. "So you're the best friend." Charlie says. " Lex, you are like famous around here now. Reposts and more." Faith says. " Aww look at little Lexi wexi coming into stardom." Charlie mocks and rubs my hair to which I swat his hand away and try to fix my hair. " Yeah, I turned off my notifications so I wouldn't have to hear the dings." I tell her. "Most liked photo, the one you posted today with Raven and Scarlett. Also, have to ask Scarlett where she got her shoes from, I love them." Faith tells me. "Scarlett, where did you get your shoes from?" I call over to her and she turns around on the sofa. "Naked Wolfe." Scarlett answers. " Thanks, Scar." I reply. "Naked Wolfe." I tell Faith like she didn't just hear the whole talk. "I'm going to have to go soon, I'm at practice." Faith says. " I figured. Are you enjoying the break?" I ask. " Yeah, tomorrow we're going to Myrtle Beach and staying till Friday." Faith says. " I bet you'll enjoy it. Three days with no practice." I state. " And will but I love you, Lexi. Text you after practice. Wish me luck, we're doing more full outs." Faith sighs, standing up and fixing her uniform before grabbing her phone and water. " I love you too, Fae, and good luck you got this best flyer ever." I reply. Faith air kisses and hangs up.

"I like Faith." Charlie states. "You like everyone." Kenan interjects. "Not bullies." Charlie says, sticking his tongue out. "You're so childish sometimes."Raven says. "I try to be." Charlie says and jumps over the sofa to be beside Scarlett.

Charlie leans in and gives Scarlett a kiss. "Ew." Grayson says. "Grayson doesn't like love." Kenan says. "I don't either but why doesn't he?" I ask, sitting beside Charlie. "I don't mind it per say but I don't believe it's possible for me." Grayson corrects. "Well, that's not true."I tell him. "Why is that?" Grayson asks. "Because there is someone who can fall in love with you." I tell him.

Grayson looks at me in the most indescribable, invocable way, a way that suddenly I feel as if no words can come from my mouth. A way where I feel dizzy and as if the world is blurred out of focus but surrounding us. I know now that if he tried someone could easily fall in love with him, I could easily fall in love with him.

"You really believe that......why?" He says, looking at me in my eyes. I struggle but I manage to get out a sentence. For the first time, I realize.....

"I don't think you'd be a hard person to fall in love with you."

The house is dim when I walk in. It's about 7:15 now and I know no one's asleep, but it's still quiet here. In a big house like this of course you can't hear the others around. It makes it easier for the voices to get you.

I make my way to the kitchen to grab some water before I go to my room. When I walk in I see my mom talking on the phone.

"Lex, come say hi to Stephan and Dex." Mom says. I go over to the phone which is on facetime and stand beside her. " Hey, guys." I say. " Hey little Lexi wexi, how's Cali?" Dexter asks. " Don't call me that but it's Fun, I think I've become more spontaneous." I answer. I have to think about that for a second because I'm not sure if I have or haven't. "I'm glad you're having fun. You don't do a lot of that here." Dexter says. " I do too. I have cheer and theater and Faith." I tell him. " You spend like three hours practicing acting, almost all time with Faith on weekends and free time, you do homework during free period, take detailed notes, and you're at cheer ninety percent of the time." Dexter explains. "You're mad because you have nothing to do." I say and walk away from the phone. I go and get my water and start to head to my room. "Goodnight mom." I say as I walk out.

I enter my bedroom and throw my bags to the floor and go straight to the bathroom to shower. I feel slightly exhausted today so I just want to take a long shower. Never mind, I'm taking a bath tonight. I turn on the hot water and pour some lavender body wash in along with one of the bath bombs left out and let that do its thing while I brush my teeth and get undressed. I go into the main part of my room and pick a book and grab my phone before getting in the tub of bubbles.

The thing I love about this bathroom is there is a TV in the tub so I can watch Grey's Anatomy while I relax. I'm rewatching all my favorite Slexie episodes, as I scroll through my socials finally catching up on everything. I reply back to some messages sent and then comments. My phone vibrates as in a message is delivered to me and I check it and see it's from Faith and it's a link for a Youtube video. I click it and the video opens up to a video on Spotlight Weekly.

"Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome back to weekly catch-up, where I catch up on everything that happened this week in Hollywood. This week's topic is this girl here." Michelle says and the photo that comes up next is me. Me! I'm the topic of the week. I sit up straighter and begin to actually pay attention. "We first see Ms. Alexia Kirby arriving in LA due to the big contest most of the country entered and AaliyahWimberly won in attendance to this is their mother, Aaliyah's friend Astrid Croce and Alexia Kirby."

How do they know all of our names in detail? I'm creeped out. Then again this is Hollywood.

"We've spotted Alexia getting into Grayson's limo after the concert included in the prize package."

That was an accident. I wish it never happened.

"We then see her later out in Santa Monica pier only with Grayson Archer, lead guitarist, and singer of The Morning Stars and then again on set but leaving with Grayson and we see them entering his mother's driveway."

How the hell did they see that? I don't think I like this, it's getting very scary and I don't want to be followed. Actually, I don't like a lot of things but this takes the cake. Speaking of which, I don't like either.

"Next we see her today out with Raven Dowson, Bass player of the Morning Stars, and Scarlett Cross, lead singer and guitarist. We didn't see where they went but we saw them."

The fact they have pictures of all of this is suspicious. Well, not really because it's Hollywood but for me to be a normal person it's weird. Don't they have better things to do with their life?

"We have several theories. Is she a new member of the band? Become friends with the band or is she Grayson's girlfriend? Stay tuned because we are finding out all things this story, but what we want to know now is what will Miss Alexia do with her newly appointed limelight?"

They are interested in me? I'm a topic of Hollywood news. Hate it.

I turn my phone off and lean back into the tub sighing. I hate Hollywood.

Aaliyah bursts into the bathroom with Astrid,
"You have to come to the party with us!"Aaliyah says, huffing. "No." I state. "Please, you're all over Hollywood news you have to." Astrid begs. "That's why I'm not going." I tell them. " We want the spotlight effect." Aaliyah says. " Guys that won't happen. My spotlight effect will wear off soon." I wave them off. "Not if you keep being seen with them, those people never give up till they know everything." Astrid says. "If you go this once I will owe you forever." Aaliyah says. " If I do this you'll owe me whatever favor I want." I say. "Whatever it is." Aaliyah clarifies.

"Then I'm in but get out I need to get ready."

I get out and get ready in the purple dress and pair it with Lia's silver heels and black leather blazer. I pull all my hair make into a low ponytail and grab my purse packed with my things before leaving my room. I find Aaliyah and Astrid in Lia's room. "When are we leaving?" I ask. "Like ten minutes, but we have to walk down the road to get to Marina's limo." Aaliyah says. " Fine let's get this over with." I groan

We walk up the road past two big houses till we see Marina outside her limo. " It's about time, get in the car bitches." Marina says and opens the limo. We all crawl into the limo and Marina, Lia, and Astrid go to talking right away.

Turns out the party is at a teen club Noah owns. As we enter Lia, Astrid, and Marina head off one way but I look around and try to find Emerson or Noah around, I soon spot them sitting in a VIP space and so I start to walk over there. I'm normally not the kind of person to just walk up to people but somehow being out here with Grayson has just made me go for things and I'm not sure I'm liking it.

"Lex, we didn't know you'd be here. Let her in." Emerson says, cheerfully. The bouncer in charge of CIP opens the chain for me. " I didn't know I'd be here either till an hour ago." I say, sitting on the silver sofa across from Noah and Emerson. "We're happy you could make it. Who did you come with?" Noah asks. "My sister, Astrid, and Marina." I answer. "Marina? She's not supposed to be here." Emerson says, off guard, and looks over at Noah. " That's tomorrow Emerson's problem." Noah tells her. " Why can't she be here?" I ask. " We made a deal that with the arising bad press surrounding her she would stay away from parties and things till things died down but she's obviously not listening." Emerson says, picking up her glass of sparkling whatever. " Fire her." I shrug. " I wish but she's a really big actress and having her in my first movie will be big." Emerson says, gulping down the rest of her drink. " Emmy, go easy on the drinks." Noah says and kisses Emerson's cheek. "What do I do?" Emerson panics. " Talk to her tomorrow. Show her that just because you're her age you're still her boss and she can't disobey you." I suggest. " I've never been good at confrontation." Emerson says, taking another drink from the tray but Noah takes it. I decide to why not try one of the pink bubbly drinks, so I take one from the tray. " I don't like confrontation either but talking to her is the less dramatic way to go." I say. "Will you come with me to tell her tomorrow?" Emerson asks, after gulping down some water. "She's a nervous drinker but not as in alcohol tho." Noah says. " Of course." I reply.

I put the drink up to my lips and taste it. Very bubbly and sweet. It Tastes almost like cotton candy. I set the drink down on the table beside me and pick up water. As I begin to drink the water and look over the crowd my eyes latch onto one spot.

In the darkened spot beside the stage corner where The Chosen Ones are playing, I see a man. Not just any man. I see him.

As he steps forward I see my true nightmares face, but he's supposed to be gone. He is gone. My hand flies up to my neck where a chain once was. It's not upon my neck among the others, but it feels like I can still feel it there. "A special necklace he said".

My breathing starts to get heavier as I lower the water from my face. I can hear Emerson and Noah asking me if am I okay but it all comes off as a faded sound, the room starts to spin, the red and white lights sprinkled everywhere as his face peaks into the light and I'm sure it's him. The dizziness kicks in as the last thing I remember in those blurring moments is my face in a white porcelain bowl behind a golden door with Emerson soothing me.