LOGIN
Ten years ago
Raeleigh Campbell
POV
{I've made it, I've finally made, all my hard work was finally paying off. All the hard work, sleepless nights, sacrifices were worth it to get to this moment. I can't believe I finally made it big. Making it with my two best friends meant more than anything to me.
Or that's what I thought two years ago, my friends want to go off on their own, they want to abandon me. I feel like I have to start all over again. I don't want to. If my family didn't sacrifice so much for me, I would pack up and start over.
I’ve met with someone who could help further my career. I want to be the best the world has ever seen, I’ve got big dreams. I’ve been feeling a lot lately.
I thought I’d have at least three more years before they abandoned me, I thought I’d have more time to convince everyone I was good enough.}
At seventeen I already have my entire future planned out. I’ve been working myself to the bone, with new music and school. I didn’t have much of a social life, the only human interaction I have is on an anime site.
We’ve just put my music video out for my first single. Putting my name out there is one of my top priorities.
I was running late for a show, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how far I’ve come. I was singing for a modelling show.
I smile when I hear my song come on the radio. My new single. My new love
My parents were so proud of me. My siblings were proud too, I guess.
{BANG}
"Dammit!” I shout out when my car hits the car in front of me. I just got my license. My father’s going to take my keys away if he finds out about this.
Traffic was slow. I was new to LA; I wasn’t used to driving either. It was my first time driving solo. My father didn’t trust me to drive alone.
And of all cars, it had to be a luxury car? Those sporty overpriced cars. How much was I going to have to pay for this car? There’s no way my parents wouldn’t notice if that much money went missing from my savings.
I get out of the car and assess the damage I’ve done. I tie my hair as the wind blows in my face.
I take out my phone out of the car and take pictures of my car and the person in front of me.
The man gets out of his car as well. “Well damn what a way to start off my Monday morning?” He says in a flirty tone.
“Urg you’ve got to be kidding me. Get her to pay whatever we got to go...” The girl in the car shouts before I could even get a word out.
I restrain myself from rolling my eyes. I needed to take care of this in a civil manner. What if they sued me for injuries they didn’t sustain? Did I need a lawyer?
“Here’s my information. Can we not call the police, and I’ll pay for whatever damages.” I grab a business card Jay had made for me.
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it...” he doesn’t take my card, frowning at his car, he walks toward his car and driving off before I could even say anything.
I stood there speechless.
Was I just snubbed? I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before. He must not need my money if can afford to pay for the damages himself.
I get back into my car and drive to the venue. I didn’t want my mom and team to wait for me. I worked too hard to get this.
When I arrive at the venue I see an open parking spot, I park and rush in.
When she got to my dressing room, the people were already waiting for me. I was helped into a bright pink mini dress, a gold sandal with silk lace-up straps. They curl and tie my golden blonde hair into a messy bun at the back of my head.
“The jewellery is on its way.” My new manager says.
I nod.
I was both nervous and excited for my first solo live performance. Even though it was just a modelling show. It was still a way to put my name out there.
The higher ups of Greenhouse will be here; they’ve invested in my many models and it’s one of the reasons I got this gig you could say.
They were the best; the Jacobs family is the best at this business. They’ve been doing this for years. They’ve been leading and setting the trends in the entertainment industry.
Today was the day. The day I prove they didn’t waste their money and time on me.
I couldn’t help but think about the guy who I bumped into, his dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes took me by surprise, I’ve never seen anyone with that shade of blue.
He looked around my age, so maybe he didn’t want his parents knowing he got into an accident, should we have called the police? What if he sues me?
Shit. Why didn’t I think of that?
My mom helps me place a necklace around my neck and the earrings on my ears. Both diamonds. My first diamonds. My parents would never let me have, they didn’t think I was responsible enough. I lost a gold ring when I was younger since then I wasn’t trusted with one.
"Rae you’re up in five..." My manager says.
I nod and head backstage. I’m given a mic, and they help me into my mic pack and earpiece.
The music started playing...
I walk out onto the stage.
“How long until you know?
How long until you’re mine?
How long until we’re together?
Ah, ah, Aah...
Fallin' for you wasn’t part of the plan.
I could love you for the rest of my life.
For the rest of my life...”
I walk to the centre of the runway. I look at the model who passes me.
“So, tell me if you want this,
I’ll be waiting,
I wanna hear you say it,
Tell you want this.
With every moment with you is golden.
It's like I've started dreamin.
It feels like I’m in heaven,”
I twirl and walk down to the end of the runway. I shimmy.
“I'll be singing.
La la la la, la la la la
You’re mine
La la la la, la la la la
You're all of me.
La la la la, la la la la
And I’ll be yours.
La la la la, la la la la”
I dance to the beat, and I pull out my tongue.
“Be mine, my love.
You're my heart and soul.
This is our moment.
It’s finally our moment,
You could have me in any way you want.
How long until you’re mine?
Until you see me?”
I make eye contact with Mr. Blue eyes. My eyes widen and I nearly miss my cue.
He was huge, I didn’t realize how big he was earlier. But he didn’t seem so big until he was squeezing into a single chair.
"La, la, la, be mine,
La, la, la, make me smile,
La, la, la baby..."
I place my hand under my chin, and I pull out my tongue and pull a silly face.
I bow before making my way to the back as the crowd claps.
I hand my mic to one of the crew members and they help me out of the packs.
I head to my dressing room and Jay is waiting. I let out sigh of relief. “How do you think I did?” I ask.
He smiles. “The higher ups were impressed...” he says.
I let out a breath. “Thank goodness...” I didn’t know I was worried about that until this moment... This was my moment to shine.
Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe restaurant was dimly lit dark wood, soft golden lighting, and soft jazz music played in the background. It was private and intimate. It was the kind of place where people whispered instead of talked.Aiden Wilder had rented out the entire upstairs for us. We needed private. I could already imagine what would happen if the media found out about us meeting.I stood just inside the doorway, fingers tight around the strap of my bag. My guards were outside, along with his security. It was just us in here.For sixteen years, I imagined what it would feel like to see him. I couldn’t believe that none of the versions in my head were even came close to this.Aiden stood when he saw me. He didn’t make a move to come closer, he just stood there, staring at me.It was the same eyes. The same beautiful eyes that stared at me while I sang on the runway after bumping into his car.The last time I saw those eyes in person, I thought he’d stolen my candy, I was really upset t
Aiden WildePOVThe entire stadium was screaming, roaring, some in anger some in happiness and excitement. It reminded me of thunder.Red, white, and gold confetti rained on us. My teammates slammed into me, helmets bumping. I could hear their laughing, shouting and Malik our running back crying. Someone run over to coach and poured Gatorade down his back. Cameras swarmed us waiting for a story. Microphoned shoved into our faces. But the guys didn’t care. They were over the moon from the win.Honestly I didn’t feel any of it. I stood still, breathing in disbelief from our win.We did it. We won.We did what we set out to do. We trained for this moment.We actually won the Super Bowl.My shoulder ached, my hands shook, my lungs burned from running, tackling, pushing every cell in my body to their limits and we did it. It paid off. I couldn’t feel the exhaustion yet, just the rush from the win.A side line reporter grabbed my arm, screaming questions at me.“Wilder! Wilder! Talk to me.
Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe stadium lights were blinding. Even more blinding than the stage was... The countdown to my entrance echoed in my ear, but I wasn’t paying attention to it. It was half time and all I could see and think about was the look in his eyes.There was cameras all around me. And I didn’t care, all I wanted was to see and speak to Craig.No Aiden Wilder.Craig was Aiden Wilder. His family owned almost all of America and I was worried the lights would be too bright for him, he’s had the lights on him all of his childhood.For almost seventeen years of conversations, secrets we’ve never shared with anyone but each other, sixteen years all crashing into one impossible truth. We’ve met in person. I told Craig about how I nearly murdered him multiple times.Craig is Aiden.The guy I used to hate because I thought he stole the candy I loved, the one who’s car I crashed into. It’s all coming back to me.My heart still hasn’t recovered from the moment we shared in the tunnel.
Aiden WilderPOVThe Super Bowl wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Meeting T tomorrow felt more exciting than the actual game.This was one of the most important games of my career and all I could think about was T. Something about today felt, I don’t know how to describe it. My uncle’s buying the team, this summer. I’m meant to prove myself, show that my family didn’t buy my place on the team.Today was supposed to be all noise, hype from the entire team and I’m supposed to stay focused on the game.I’m supposed to want to win because I want to impress T. I knew she was here today. She told me she was attending the game. Knowing she was out there watching me, fuelled me into getting us to the Super Bowl.I usually thrived in chaos of the stadium. The chaos, cheers and the energy from the crowd is what fuelled me. But today, every sound echoed differently in me. Everything felt wrong, like I woke up in an alternate dimension. Like this wasn’t my world. All those comic books were going
Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe roar of the crowd hit me first.The wild, unbridled screams of thousands of fans who love me and my music. It’s the kind of roar that reminds me why I still do this, even when there are stalkers out there trying to take this away from me.My team nearly cancelled this show, they didn’t think my security was tight enough to protect both me and my fans. Quinton Sayers my security has been with me four years, I normally call him Quin, standing beside me even while I stood just off stage.My heart pounding beneath the shimmer of my costume. The lights painting streaks of pink, blue and purple on the stage. I could feel the excitement from the crowd even though I wasn’t onstage yet.I was someone little girls looked up to, women find solace in my songs. I write about my life most of the time. I learnt the hard way that writing about your personal life made you the love struck girl who wrote about falling in love too much, the sad girl who wrote too many break up s
Aiden WilderPOVThe Wilder house always felt so much smaller after dark on New Year’s Eve. Not in a bad way of course with almost the entire family here, my cousins and siblings filling the room with music, laughter and clinking of champagne glasses. The smell of my aunts cooking brought a sense of nostalgia I desperately wanted to share with T.My cousin Grayson tuning his guitar to play Christmas carols. Grayson signed with uncle Aaron’s company when he was ten and every year since he’d play a Christmas carol for us at New Years. They’d spend Christmas with his father’s family and spend New Years with the Jacobs/ Wilder family. It was tradition.Yet instead of enjoying these traditions with my family I wanted someone to share it with. I slipped out onto the back porch needing some air.The December cold bit at my skin, but I didn’t mind. The cold helped clear my head. I looked at the endless stars wondering T was doing right now. Was she working? Was she spending New Years with her







