Chapter Text
It felt amazing to be on stage again. Hearing people singing her songs, her lyrics, at the top of their lungs with pure joy. Who needs heroin or coke? this felt like the best drug in the world. Brooke closed her eyes and stood in awe as she ended the last song and drank in the cheering fans in front of her.
She opened her eyes and raised the mic to her lips.
"Thank you! Thank you guys so much" she exclaimed. "You’re amazing"
Brooke looked down at the smiling curly-headed girl standing in front of the stage and said "Happy Birthday Chloe! I hope this year is your best year yet! Come on up here and let us sing Happy Birthday to you!"
Brooke reached down and extended her hand to bring Chloe on stage. Chloe happily grabbed Brooke's hand and climbed up and stood next to her. Brooke gave her a quick side hug. She was sweaty after the 2 hour show but Chloe didn't seem to mind.
"Ok everyone let's sing Happy Birthday to Chloe… on three… 1, 2, 3…."
And the crowd began to sing. Chloe's face lit up and she beamed at her family and friends in the small audience. As the song came to an end, Brooke gave her another quick hug and stepped down from the stage.
Chloe was immediately surrounded by her friends on stage that wanted to give her congratulatory hugs and take pics. Brooke was able to slip out of the side opening of the tent and walk toward the house.
The cool ocean air felt good on her skin and even though it was dark the light from the large full moon and the festive lights all around Mike’s property made it easy to find her way. She stopped halfway to the house at the pool and took off her wedge sandals and dipped her foot into the cool water. It felt refreshing and Brooke seriously considered jumping in with all her clothes on. But of course she couldn't. It wasn't that kind of party. And she was hired to do a job. The truth was she felt great, maybe the best she had in months.
It had been over a year since she’d been on stage and almost 2 years since she had released any new music. Brooke lightly shook her head as she stared into the pool, lost in thought. All she ever wanted to do was create music. Her father gave her the love of music, he would play his favorite records on the weekends she went to visit him when she was a kid. And they would talk about music and Brooke would dance around the living room, singing and laughing with him. He also encouraged her dream of doing music professionally and would be proud of all she had accomplished, if he was still here. He died 7 years ago, when Brooke was 18 in a tragic car crash, coming home from work.
Her eyes misted over when she thought of him. It still hurt so much not having him here. She missed him every day. He left her and her sister a sizable amount from a life insurance policy. And with that money Brooke was able to make her dream of pursuing a music career a full-time reality. Her dad was still taking care of her even after he was gone. He was truly her hero.
“Gonna get in?” a voice said coming from behind her
Brooke jumped a little, feeling startled. She thought she was alone. She turned around to see a man sitting at the edge of a pool chair several feet away. How long had he been there? She didn’t notice anyone as she walked up to the pool, but to be honest, she hadn’t been paying close attention to her surroundings.
“Um, no… I was on my way back to the house” she stammered, backing away from him and towards the soft glow of Mike's home.
“Good show.” he said standing up but not moving toward her
“Thanks, it was really fun. Glad to be part of Chloe's night.” she said as her eyes began to focus on the man speaking.
“You definitely made her night… and all those kids. They loved it. You are very talented." he said, taking a step toward her. “If you're going into the house, you’ll want to use the side door, I don’t think anyone is in there and Mike locked the patio door. I can lead the way if you like.”
“Oh ok… sure, that would be helpful.” Brooke said as he approached her.
“I’m Adam by the way…” he said, extending his hand to her to shake it.
She knew exactly who he was. Adam Horovitz, or more well known as “Adrock” from Beastie Boys. Mike’s longtime band-mate and friend.
She had been fixated on him during her performance. And it wasn’t just because he was rap icon “Adrock”, but because of his dismissive demeanor that emanated from him when she spotted him in the crowd. They tell you in the entertainment world that you should pick one person during your performance to focus on so that if you get distracted or need to center yourself you look for that person to ground you and bring you back into your performance. She chose Adam because he looked the most disinterested in her and what she was doing, at least he did at the beginning of the show. By the end, he seemed to be staring at her intently with those big brooding dark eyes. During her last two songs she kept getting distracted by him, instead of pulling her back into the performance, she almost lost herself in those eyes. It took all she had to focus and get through the rest of the show. She wondered what changed from the beginning of the show until the end for him.
“I'm Brooke, but I guess you already knew that…” she spoke with a slight amusement in her voice. She took his hand to shake it. She felt a tiny jolt of electricity go through her body and her eyes immediately went up to meet his. Did he feel that too?
His eyes hinted of a smile, but it never materialized on his face. If he did feel it, he didn't show it.
“Follow me” he said as he dropped her hand. He stepped in front of her and they started to make their way to the house.
“Are you headed home now?” he asked.
“Not yet, I promised Chloe and her friends selfies before I leave. I wanted to freshen up and change before I take pics… I don’t want to look all sweaty and gross” Brooke thought aloud.
“I doubt you could ever look gross.” Adam said softly as he led her down the small concrete path next to the house. He got to the door and opened it standing slightly inside the doorway holding it for her to pass.
Brooke blushed, a little stunned at the comment. Should she acknowledge the compliment? He said it in a way that was very sweet and for a brief moment she felt butterflies in her stomach. Before she could decide to respond he spoke.
“Here we are. I assume you know where to go…” his voice was a little husky, like he had a couple of beers tonight.
“Um, yeah, thanks.” she said and started to walk past him through the door. She didn’t see the small step that was just outside the doorway. Brooke missed it and started to stumble forward. She grabbed for anything that might help her restore her balance and the closest thing was adam’s shirt. She let out a weird scream and both of them went tumbling to the floor.
Brooke landed face down on the carpeted floor, and somehow Adam managed to land mostly next to her with only his chest over half her back.
“Oh my god, are you ok?” Adam said loudly moving himself off her.
She turned her head to face his concerned gaze and let out a huge giggle. And then she started outright laughing. Adam looked confused, but soon he cracked a smile and then was laughing too. It wasn't long before they were in hysterics from laughing so hard. Both laying on their backs looking up at the ceiling.
Brooke gulped air trying to calm down and managed to gain some control.
“Holy… shit… that was…” and Brooke started to giggle again.
Adam calmed down and turned over on his side to face her.
“Seriously though, are you ok?” Adam had a caring tone to his voice even if he was still laughing a little.
“Um… I don’t know… I think so” she said, smiling up at him.
He looked at her in a way that brought the butterflies back to her stomach, and she noticed his eyes again. Those rich brown eyes that seemed to speak to her without him saying a word. He had a boyish quality to him although he must be in his late 40's. His dark hair was graying a bit and his body was slight-- not bulky or big. He wasn't tall but was probably 5 inches taller than her 5'2" frame. He smelled of craft beer and ocean air. She liked it.
His eyes drank her in like they had at the last part of her show. Almost as if he was caught off guard by her in some way, but very intrigued at the same time. She felt flushed and warm. This was unusual, whatever this was. It felt like a weird spell was cast over them for a moment.
Adam moved first and started to get to his feet. Whatever moment they had passed as quickly as it came on. He reached down to help her up. His hand closed around hers and he lifted her to him. Brooke came up easily and bumped softly into his chest.
The heat in his eyes flared for just a split second and he stepped back from her dropping her hands.
“Are you ok?” he repeated.
“Yes” Brooke said as she began moving her arm and elbow that she landed on to make sure it was all in working order.
“Yes, I think I’m fine.” she let out a giggle. “I’m such a klutz”
“I should have warned you about that step. It’s taken out many people. Someone is going to sue Mike one of these days.” he shook his head
“Well I’m alright and I won’t sue, I promise” Brooke said with a half smile. “Are you ok? I took you out on my way down. Sorry about that” she said sheepishly
“I’m fine. Honestly, it’s ok. I’m just glad you weren’t hurt. What would happen if the kids didn’t get their selfies? They’d blame me!” he said jokingly.
“Oh right, the selfies, I better hurry up and get changed.” Brooke started her way down the hall. But then she stopped and turned back to him and said “Thanks for escorting me.”
“My pleasure” he said and turned to go back outside. “Look for a bill from my chiropractor in the mail”, He laughed as he closed the door.
Brooke smiled to herself as she watched him walk back the way they came. ‘Cute and funny... that was a dangerous combo' she thought as she walked down the hallway.
She walked into the bedroom that she was given to use as a dressing room. She went into the adjoining bathroom to freshen up. She needed to splash water on her face and fix her makeup, put on more deodorant and a new dry shirt. The contract she signed when she agreed to do this private show included selfies with all the attendees who wanted one as she indicated to Adam on the walk here.
As she looked into the mirror in the bathroom, she couldn't help but think how strange it felt to be back into rock star mode, after being removed from this world for more than a year. The only reason Brooke agreed to do this gig was as a favor to Sav’s friend Chris, who worked with Chloe's father in the past. Chris reached out to Sav to see if Brooke would be interested in doing an 18th birthday party for his friend's son's girlfriend who was turning 18. She was a huge fan of Brooke's and her only birthday wish was to have Brooke Carter sing at her birthday party.
Normally, Brooke would have rejected this kind of request and chastised her sister for even asking her about doing a private party-- But then she told her who was asking-- Michael Diamond aka Mike D from the Beastie Boys. Arguably one of the founding godfathers of the entire Rap/Hip-Hop genre. How could she say no?
So Brooke agreed to it. I mean, it was chance to get out of New York in October just as the weather was turning colder and be in sunny, warm Los Angeles where she could take meetings with some record company execs, connect with other artists in the music business, do some writing on new songs, work on her tan, and get paid for a gig. It also meant she could get away from thinking about Nick.
Nick. Even thinking of his name made her stomach do a flip-flop and her heart start to ache. No, she wasn't going there right now. She didn't want to ruin the high she felt after just getting off stage and feeling on top of the world.
Brooke zipped up her make-up bag. Changed her sweaty punk t-shirt to a cute white crop tank, pulled her hair up into a messy bun and gave herself one last look. Not bad she thought for a quick fresh up. She turned on her heel and headed out the door, back to the party and her adoring fans.