Fallen Star *Prolouge*

Falling Star1

Prologue2

The shrill ringing of the classroom telephone broke the silence in Tateum Livingston’ s dreadful biology class.  Slowly Tate looked up from her biology final.  In a week school will be over and Tate and her best friend Brandi s life would change.  Graduation was that Friday and the real world was waiting right on the other side on Monday.  3

The only other goal in Tate s life is singing.  Growing up in the small town of Claysville Tennessee music was the only escape for these small town girls.  Tate s Mom was the normal housewife and her father was a successful farmer.  Nothing-big just normal small town stuff.  The only two people Tate can really depend is her eighty-five year old grandma who she calls Momma G (Momma Livingston to everyone else) and her best friend Brandi Marshall.  She and Brandi met in the sixth grade; they were totally opposite but totally the same in many ways.  Brandi was beautiful even at that age.  She had, at that time dirty blond shoulder length hair that she curled everyday.  Now her hair is bleach blond and usually left straight. She weighted a whole one hundred and twenty five pounds sopping wet, where as Tate has always had a problem with her weight and her appearance.  Up until her freshman year of high school she would make it a point to dress like a tomboy.  But Brandi changed all that.  One night in a drunken rage, Brandi chased Tate with a pair of scissors, cutting her ponytail off, leaving only a horrible mess.  Needless to say Tate s image drastically changed.  The only thing is Tate never changed the color of her bright auburn hair.4

Brandi lost her Mom when she was two and her Dad the beginning of that sixth grade school year.  Brandi came to stay at the Livingston house and I guess you can say she never left.  Ever since then Tate and Brandi have been inseparable.  Now barely nineteen years old and getting ready to graduate high school the girl s had the world in their hands.  All Tate and Brandi could do was cross their fingers and hope for the best.5

“Tateum, there is a fax for you in the office.  I don t understand why it can t wait until the end of your final.  You know how much...” 6

“Thank you Mrs. Allison, I ll go get it  Tate interrupted.”  Unable to move Tate stared at her desk.7

Maybe it s Alex?  Please be Alex! Tate thought to herself.8

“Tate, what are you waiting for? Go!”   Brandi whispered to her best friend.9

“What if not Alex maybe they denied me again?”  Tate s heart dropped into her stomach.  10

“Maybe I m having a heart attack?” 11

“I can t go, oh jeez Brandi, go with me”   Tate pleaded.12

“No Tate I can t go.  Unlike you I have no talent so my only hope is to ace this test so I can get into the space program.   Just go.  It ll be OK.  Just hurry back.” 13

“But...”  Tate began.14

“Just Go!”   Brandi yelled.15

Tate looked up at the clock on the wall of her Clay High School biology class and her heart started pounding.   Please let it be Alex, please.   16

The sounds of her shoes on the floor reverberated in Tate’s ears as she ran down the hall towards the front office of her high school.  A million thoughts came to her mind.  17

Oh they didn't’t like me.  They loved me.  I m dying!18

Tate stopped short of the office door where she could catch her breath and maybe calm her heart.  19

Oh I can t go in there.  What if they didn't t like it?  Maybe the song was too sappy.  What if they just don t like me?  Yeah I m overweight but that doesn't mean I can t do it as well as anyone else. I swear if they turned me down because of my weight, I'll, I'll, well I don t know what I'll do but I'll do it!  I can t go in there; I ll just turn around...20

Just as she was about to leave the office door swung open and there stood21

The Irish office manager Lilly, so-called Fire Dragon, due to her wild red hair.22

“Tateum?”  Lilly questioned.23

“Oh Lilly, I promise I was getting ready to come in....um you just surprised me...That's all.”  Tate gave her most dutiful smile.24

“Come on girl, get it over with, I want to know too.”  Lilly pushed Tate into the inner office and sat her down at the desk.   “OK I didn't’t read it, I wanted to be as surprised as you are.”   Handing Tate the folded piece of paper Lilly sat at the edge of the desk.   “So read it” 25

Oh please be from Alex saying I got the deal!26

Tate took the paper and slowly unfolded it.  As she began to read Lilly analyzed her face trying to figure out if it was a good news or bad.  Tate looked up at Lilly and began to cry.27

Standing and placing her hand on Tate’s should Lilly frowned.  “Oh baby girl, I m so sorry.  I know how hard you tried.” 28

“Your sorry, what are you sorry about?”   I GOT IT!   Tate screamed and jumped up at the same time enfolding Lilly in a hefty hug.29

 “I got it!  I got it! They loved it! I got it!” 30

As Lilly began to laugh she pushed Tate out of the office.   “Go!  Go tell Brand!.  Be coy about it now.”   Lilly urged as Tate gave a silent nod.31

As Tate began to walk slowly back to her biology class she tried to regain her composure and figure out a way to tell Brandi without breaking down in front of everyone. Once again pausing in front of yet another door, Tate took a deep breath and turned the knob and stepped in.  All at once twenty some odd heads of the senior class of 2002  look up at Tate with wonder in there eyes.  As Brandi got up to go over to Tate thinking the worst, Tate began to cry.32

 “Oh, Tate it s OK.  That’s only one label there are more, you know we can... “33

 ”I got it.”   Tate whispered.34

“I m sorry, say again.”  Brandi looked at Tate, her eyes burning from trying to keep the tears from falling.   “Did you just say you got it?  You got the record deal?” 35

Looking straight into Brandi s eyes Tate screamed out...36

“I GOT IT!  I GOT THE DEAL!”37

Brandi and Tate began to scream.  Everyone in the classroom was cheering.  Ignoring the end of the day bell as it began to ring everyone gathered around Tate and wishing her luck and good fortune.  Gathering her stuff she all but fainted on the way to the car to go home.38