2The roar of the crowd filtered from the stadium, echoing through the small area at the end of the hallway. It had taken too many years to get here, and Nicole was extremely nervous as she waited to be introduced.3
Her band mates knew not to bother her for at least thirty minutes before the show, and the 'roadies' had been instructed to leave her alone. Nicole needed time to work up the nerve to walk on to that stage and act like everything was right in her world.4
Her foot started to tap in rhythm to the searing beat that came from the opening act, and she stared off into space as she recalled the long road she took to get there.5
~~~~~~~~~~6
(two years previous)7
Nicole ducked as something came flying at her on the stage, and grimaced when she realized that it was a tomato. Who throws tomatoes these days??? She glared against the bright lights that shon on the band, and tried to see the small crowd that had come to see them play. 8
"You suck!"9
Raising her hand to shield her eyes, Nicole tried to see who had yelled. "You must have me mistaken with your mother!" she shot back, ducking to avoid another tomato that sailed her way.10
Having enough, she put the mike back on to the stand and walked off the stage. Hisses and jeers followed her as she continued on past the dressing rooms, and out the back door, slamming it shut behind her.11
Bringing her fists up to cover her mouth, she screamed into them, the noise muffled enough so it wouldn't carry. When that didn't work to bleed off some of her frustration, she stomped her foot a few times, and kicked a garbage can for good measure.12
Breathing in deeply through her nose, she turned and headed back in to the bar. The rest of the band was in the dressing room, and she stood in the doorway, glaring at them. 13
She knew they wanted to replace her with some 'jiggle chick', someone who was thinner, prettier and had boobs that could double as personal floatation devices. They had messed up on stage tonight on purpose, as they had for the past few times, hoping that she would quit.14
Well, tonight, they would get their wish.15
"I...quit," she said calmly as she stared at them. "You all can take your pathetic playing, and shove it where the sun doesn't shine." With that, she spun and walked away.16
The next day, she took a good look at herself in the mirror, trying to figure out why she wasn't 'lead singer material'. She was cute, but not pretty, and her body was sort of plain. Nicole sighed as the phone rang.17
"Yeah?" she answered.18
"Heard you quit the band," he best friend said.19
"Yeah."20
"Good. Listen, I got someone I want you to meet. There's a band lookin' for a singer." Her friend paused. "Only...it's, uh... adult alternative."21
"Yeah, right." Nicole's eyes flicked to her reflection, taking in her spiked neon red hair, multiple pierced face, and ripped clothes. 22
"I'm serious."23
Nicole sighed. "What the hell. Could be worth a laugh."24
~~~~~~~~~25
It was worth more than a laugh, and soon Nicole was on a heavy tour with four carbon copy band members. She removed most of her piercings, and her hair returned to it's normal black. 26
Backstage partying soon took a front seat in her life, and began pulling her farther and farther from the music genre that she actually liked. Night after night, bar after bar, city after city. She didn't even know what day it was most times.27
Agents started to notice her, but she was too wrapped up in the game to actually care. It was after one show that everything turned from bad to worse.28
Backstage, Nicole moaned as her 'boyfriend for the evening' had his hand under her skirt, working her into a frenzy to wind down after another great show. She had no idea of his name, but he was good looking and had already brought her to three previous orgasms before the show. 29
She threw her head back with a satisfied moan as he succeeded again, and then she brought up a foot, placed it on his chest and pushed him away. Standing, she straightened her clothes, took another long drink from the vodka bottle in her hand. She coughed as the liquid burned on the way down, and followed it with another swig. 30
Intoxicated to the point of not even being able to walk in anything remotely resembling a straight line, Nicole headed back for the stage area. Standing on the platform, looking out into the now empty seats, she smiled in satisfaction. Her old band was still making the rounds of crap bars, and trying to find yet another lead singer.31
Nicole turned to leave, stumbled in a drunken stupor, and fell off the stage. It wasn't a long fall, less than five feet, but she landed on her side, breaking her arm in three places, and dislocating her hip.32
The concussion she also received was worse in her eyes, since she couldn't concentrate on anything for long periods, and even light hurt. Forced into sobriety hit her hard, and she shut herself off from everyone who wanted to help her. 33
It was one of her old band mates, of all people, who got through to her, and made her see that she had to stop the self-pity and fight. The drummer confessed that they had been wrong to want to replace her, and although he couldn't change the past, he wanted to help her change her future.34
It took a long time to pull herself from the depth that she sunk, and longer to work her body back to what it had been before she started abusing it. It took longer still to get the agents back to wanting her. The second band she had joined had replaced her a little too easily, and she vowed to take that disappointment and channel it in to surpassing her wildest dreams.35
~~~~~~~~~~36
(present day)37
Nicole exhaled as the crowd yelled again, and she glanced up to find her old drummer motioning to her. They had formed a new band, bringing in the best musicians they knew, and now they were on top of the world.38
Standing from leaning on the wall, she walked to the stage area and waited to be introduced.39
"Ladies and gentlemen......Nicole!!!" 40
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
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