Page 15 of Legendary Rock Star
Anything to win. I kissed the camera and gave it a wink, this time as an adult. I pointed at the pop sensation when I said, “That is for you …”
Then I strutted off stage.
The emcee was announcing the next performer that was to go on stage. I passed the all-country girl and said, “Rihanne, break a leg.”
She tipped her cowboy hat at me and said, “Thanks for your help, Phoenix.”
“Not a problem,” I said and headed into the after-performance studio.
From now on, though, I needed to ensure I won, and only me. No more destroying my own chances to somehow wash away my mistakes.
The host interviewed me about my performance, and I was smiling and mostly talking about how everyone needed to vote for me.
After that I heard the end of Rihanne’s song, but I met the blue-eyed gaze of my siren. Instead of going to the wait room, I doubled back. She was fidgeting in her tight outfit. But she pressed her hand to mine and I had goosebumps when she said, “You were great out there.”
Rihanne headed toward the booth I had just vacated. I didn’t budge from Maggie’s side as I said, “Thanks. Is it Jane’s turn now?”
She trembled a little. “Yes, then me.”
“Are you sure you want to wear this?”
“I want to win.”
A singer needs to control his or her voice, and she was obviously having trouble. But I hugged her and didn’t care that the crew saw me when I kissed her forehead. I said, “Ignore me. I don’t want to distract you.”
She placed her hand on my chest and my heart fluttered from her simple touch while she said, “Yes you do. And it’s working”
I held on a little too long and said, “Look, Mark texted something about the Christmas songs I sent over, but I’ve not read it yet. Come find me in the contestant wait room when you’re done.”
Jane finished her rock girl performance and the lights were starting to flicker, Maggie’s cue. She widened her stance as she said, “Maybe. If I have time.”
“Break a leg,” I called out to her as she strutted onto the stage.
Wardrobe had worked too fast on her transformation. Her walk seemed unnatural. I headed into the wait room and took a water from Finnigan. Then I joined him, Sawyer and Joe on the guys’ couch where we had a better view of the stage.
Maggie’s voice was breathy at the beginning when she sang, “Well mama, he done told me…”
My mind raced. She’d had perfect pitch when we sang together. And then I saw her waist.
I knew it. Her clothes pinched away her power. That was likely the cause of her new breathiness.
The judges clapped and one said, “That was powerful and so different.”
Maggie smiled and said, “To be honest, I’d never heard the original.”
“Seriously?” the British judge asked, like he was mocking her.
She nodded to the cameras and her hair shook. “And I worked all night to ensure the song was ready… Phoenix helped me.”
The pop star then said, “Rumor backstage is that you and he are doing more than just writing music.”
Maggie’s face turned red and she glanced at the stage and not the cameras as she said, “There is no time for anything else.”
She seemed guilty and the pop star motioned with her head as she said, “Honey, there is always time for romance.”
“I’m here to win.”
“Not with that pitch,” the British judge quipped.
