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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.
Aiden WilderPOVThe Wilder / Jacobs family Christmas had always been loud. There were so many family members everywhere. Everyone was talking over one another, we’d host most of the events, my family was the centre of the attention most of the time.My mother had an eccentric aunt who mostly lived in Italy, who was an actress at one point but didn’t quite make, then she married a man who had it all. Aunt Zarah was spoilt as my mother would call her, she was cut off and soon married Lorenzo Silva they had a son Aleksander he was eighteen years old now. My aunt couldn’t have children so they had him via surrogacy. My aunt loves Aleksander more than she does her riches and finer things in life.My mother would say, the only person in the world who could get aunt Zarah to think about anyone but herself is Alek.The only time I saw the Silva family was at last Christmas. But that would change next year when Alek stays with my parents because he’s attending college here in the states.When
Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe Malibu air felt heavy this afternoon all the sunlight and salt air didn’t hide the tension I was feeling within. I sat crossed legged at the edge of the private pool at my hotel. Sunglasses on and a towel draped over my shoulders loosely. I was supposed to be relaxing, the cameras were finally off me for a day. I didn’t have a show tonight. Instead my phone hadn’t stopped buzzing since I landed this morning. Another text from my brother...Russ: He’s been calling again.I sighed tossing my phone on the lounge chair behind me. The sound of the other guests talking on the floor below mine. I was so stuck in my own troubled thoughts about Carson and his inability to let go. He wasn’t just contacting me now, he was going after my family.I let out a loud sigh. I didn’t know what to do. It was my rare one day off and I was worried about Carson. Gone was the excitement about meeting Craig in just a few months.“Let me guess,” I muttered loudly as my sister Riley s
Raeleigh CampbellPOVI leaned back against the hotel chair, phone in hand, my foot on the end of the seat, staring at the text thread between Craig and I, we decided not to tell each other our names until we’re face to face, that lingering fear of him not wanting anything to do with anything to do with me after he learns about who I really am. It stuck to me like glue.Craig:The day after the Super Bowl. Just us. Away from all the chaos of the game. You’re in?My thumb hovered over the keyboard, my heart thundering in my chest. I’ve been waiting for this moment from the moment he brought it up. There was a time I dreamt of this moment quietly, when I dreamt of meeting him, Craig being my soulmate. Now I don’t even feel worthy of being his friend. I don’t feel worthy of meeting him, yet now I am excited to meet him. Now after seventeen years it was finally happening. I was finally going to meet him.Yes. I’ll be there. Can’t wait to meet you.I hit send and a rush of excitement sprea
Raeleigh CampbellPOVMy fingers hovered over the keyboard, my heart hammering in my chest. I’ve been typing and deleting the same passage for the past ten minutes, unsure how to say it without sounding impulsive, without making it seem like a decision I’d regret later.Just ten minutes ago Craig asked me if we could meet. And I was trying to hype myself up. The thought of meeting him made me nervous and excited at the same time. Like I was excited but also scared he wasn’t who said he was.Finally, I exhaled and typed outOkay. I’ll meet you.I hit send before I could second-guess myself or worse talk myself out of it. We’ve been talking for so long I feel like I’ll know it’s Craig the second I see him.My phone buzzed almost immediately with a reply from him.Really? You mean it?It was heard for me to even admit it to myself. But yes, I meant it. I’ve been thinking about meeting for weeks, no months, but saying it out loud, or even admitting it over text, made it seem like a realit
Aiden WilderPOVThe night had stretched long past midnight. I knew I should be in bed by now, I needed to be up at four but I couldn’t go to bed. I was sitting in the dim lit study of my apartment, the entire apartment was quiet, too quiet for my liking. I has a half finished warm whiskey on the desk next to it, my phone glowed on the chat of Teigan and me, I liked the quiet most days, but since discovering my grief, I’ve been broken up inside. I didn’t like the way it made me feel. I didn’t want to feel this way.I knew trying to sleep would be pointless, I watched the screensaver on my laptop. A picture Lydia and I took on our trip to Boston to see her parents. She was so excited we took the picture in the backyard of her childhood home. She had the brightest smile on her face. I was hugging her from behind with my arms around her kissing her cheek. We were so happy then.Sleep evaded me because I was consumed with thoughts of Lydia and our entire relationship keeps replaying in my
Raeleigh CampbellPOVI tucked my legs under me on my hotel bed, the laptop open in front of me.“Hi, Rae,” Dr. Morgan says softly. Her voice was calm, like she’d done this her whole life. It was soothing. It was exactly what I needed. “How have you been holding up since the release?” she asks.I try to smile. But I knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “Busy,” I wasn’t lying, I wrap my fingers around the cup of my cold tea, so I had something to do with my hands. I had a tendency to tap my fingers nervously doing my sessions with Dr Morgan. I’ve been with her for only a few weeks. “I’ve done a lot of press for Your ghost, in between shows. I’ve been too busy for our sessions too...” I add. I didn’t know why but I felt like I should tell her that. Instead of the truth. I didn’t want to talk to her her. I wanted to pretend I was fine until I retire one day.“I’ve seen some of your interviews.” Dr Morgan pauses “You look... Like you were wearing a mask... ”The pause was deliberate. “But I wasn’
Raeleigh CampbellPOV“You know when I wrote this song, I actually wrote two versions. I had the one I released and the one I kept to myself. One was released as a pop song for the radio and the other felt like a diary.” I smile at the crowd as I set up my mic.I felt like I was sharing a side of m
Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe applause still rang in my ears as I stepped into my dressing room, but the second the door closed behind my dad, it was like a switch inside me was switched off. I was a completely different person. I sat down and let out a sigh. All the happiness I felt just seconds away
Raeleigh CampbellPOVMy head resting against the bathtub, my eyes closed trying to soak my aching body. Being onstage for two hours takes years off your life, my body feels worse than when I’m working out. Which is another thing I hate doing. Working out is a form of torture created to punish us b
Aiden WilderPOVThe first thing I heard when I woke up wasn’t my alarm. It was the buzz of my phone on the nightstand. Hope filled my entire being.My eyes snapped open, hoping it was her…My screen blurry, I blinked the sleep away and looked again, it wasn’t her. Disappointment filled in deep wit







