Chapter 4 NLTL
Mariah looked at her reflection one more time, deciding she looked good enough. Her eyes were still a little puffy and swollen underneath from crying, but her makeup helped disguise them, her eyeliner tracing her eyelids in a way that made her eyes appear wider. Her hair was clean and blow-dryed straight, so at least she looked put-together. She studied her eyes in particular, deciding she just looked sleep- deprived. No one would know the difference. Besides, she was only going to the studio to meet with Alan, anyway. She wanted to look professional, so she needed to look a little conservative while still apparing in-control-- she wanted Alan to know that she was adamant about her opinions and was going to stand her ground. She was not going back to Fantasy. Smoothing down her tight green t-shirt, hugging her small waist, she turned off the bathroom light and strode to the kitchen, checking her purse for cash. She really didn't want to call a cab, but since she still hadn't recieved a call about her car, she deemed it necessary. There was no way she could ride a bus, or she'd never be left alone. Scowling, Mariah pulled a thick phone book from the top left drawer under the desk she kept her telephone on and flipped to the yellow pages, calling the first cab company she found. She didn't want to be late.
AJ sauntered into the studio, taking his sunglasses off as he walked purposefully down the hall and to the elevator. He pressed the button that would take him to the fourth floor and waited as the elevator went up. He wanted to listen to some of the tracks he and the rest of the boys had recorded a week or so ago. This was his first free day since rehearsal was over, and he wanted to see how everything had come together. The album release was coming soon, and he was anxious to analyze their new sound. He lit a cigarette and sat down on a stool, pressing play. The opening notes to "Incomplete" began playing, and he sat back, ready to listen.
He knew this was going to be the first single from 'Never Gone', and he wanted to listen to how the final track had come out with no interruptions. As his deep, raspy voice flowed through the speakers, he smiled to himself. He was always critical of his own performance, but on this track, he was willing to admit that he sounded good. He hit all the right notes at the right times, none of them being at all flat or sharp. He sounded passionate and apologetic all at once, a perfect combination of emotion for this particular song.
Taking another drag of his cigarette, he heard the click of what sounded like high heels coming down the hallway. Peeking his head out of the door, he saw Mariah Cohen coming down the hall, striding purposefully with her head held high. He quickly brought his head back inside the room, adjusting his hat, and he sighed. "And today was turning out to be such a nice day," he mumbled. Before she could see him and come in the recording room to harass him about so carelessly teasing her the day before, he closed the door quietly, hoping she would go take care of whatever business she had come to take care of, him being no part of it.
"For the last time, I am not going back," Mariah said slowly and evenly, carefully accentuating every word. Alan was such a pain in the ass. She stared him in the face, his beady gray eyes eventually looking away. She also looked away, staring at the rain beating down outside his window. It was going to be fantastic trying to hail a cab in the rain.
"Mariah," he began. "I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding--"
"A misunderstandinig," she restated. "You know, Alan, you're right. That's all it was. A simple, meaningless misunderstanding." She flipped her hair over her shoulders, walking closer to his desk. She leaned down on his desk, her hands resting on his desktop, supporting her. "It was a fucking misunderstanding on my part for ever making the mistake of joining the damn group!" She pushed herself away from his desk, fuming. "Those girls are so stupid. So incompetant! All they know how to do is look pretty and carry a tune. They don't know how to talk to the press. They don't know how to promote an album. They don't know how to come talk to an agent and put their foot down by telling him what they want for a career. Which is exactly what I'm doing now."
Alan swallowed nervously. "You know, the contract isn't up for--"
Mariah shrugged her shoulders, laughing lightly. "I don't care. I don't care if the contract isn't up for five more years." She stopped, eyeing the short, portly man. "Do you remember when you first met me, Alan?" she asked. "Do you remember when I was just a regular Jane Doe from the street, and Fantasy just got signed? Do you remember when I worshipped the ground you walked on, because you promised you'd make me a star?" She lowered her voice, looking him square in the eye. "Do you remember the day I came to you to ask your advice? Do you remember what you did to me?" She looked at him disgustidly, and though it took all she had, she didn't turn away. Scenes flashed through her mind as though she were watching a movie. Alan stepping up to her, putting his arm around her. Alan bringing his hand down and fondling her breast. Alan bringing his other arm down even further, touching her...
"Tear it up, Alan. Tear up the fucking contract, or I will ruin your life."
Alan swallowed hard. "Now, Mariah.... let's be reasonable here--"
"I will call the police. I will get your perverted ass to rot in jail before it rots in hell. Tear it up. Burn it. Destroy it. Now."
"Mariah-- I can't tear it up. I still have the other 4 girls. But-- I won't hold you to it. I swear. I won't collect any more royalties from you. I-- just-- please. Don't call the police."
Thunder boomed and lightning cracked outside. "Alan. I am not a fucking moron. We all signed seperate contracts. Now.... tear it up!"she screamed.
Alan jumped up out of his seat and walked over to his filing cabinet, his breathing shallow. Taking Mariah's contract, he handed it to her. "Do what you will with it."
With the contract in hand, she began ripping it apart, then stuffing the papers in Alan's shredder. When she was done, she turned to him and nodded curtly. He swallowed hard, and Mariah walked out the door, slamming it behind her.
Ten minutes later, Mariah sat on a plush leather sofa downstairs on the first floor of the studio building. It was storming something fierce, and Mariah was afraid to drive anywhere in this type of weather herself, let alone let some stranger drive her home in a cab. She stared out the window at the rain, coming down hard on the pavement outside. Every now and then a clap of thunder would sound, and a bolt of lightning would follow almost immediately afterward. Cars sped by as if it were sunny outside, sending water from puddles in the street flying upward, colliding with the rain falling down.
The studio was empty and dark. The west wing of the building was being remodeled, and with the weather like it was, all the construction workers had gone home. As far as she knew, it was just her and Alan in the entire building, but she was fine-- he knew better than to mess with her.
She wondered what the remaining members of Fantasy were doing. Whether they had come up with a game plan to try to get her back or if they were just going to do their thing without her. She knew Becky Ramirez was ecstatic that she had left; Becky had always been jealous of Mariah. Putting Becky out of her mind, she wondered about the other three girls. She had always gotten along with them well.
"Mind if I sit here?" a familiar voice rasped, breaking Mariah out of her reverie. She turned toward her left, where the voice had come from, and looking down at her was AJ McLean. She groaned inwardly.
"Why not?" she said grumpily, and scooted over, turning back to the window. She didn't intend to talk to him.
"Nice day out, huh?" he asked, trying to make small talk. He watched Mariah, her head turned from him, her red hair cascading down her back. She didn't reply.
AJ shifted in his seat. "Okay... I know you're ignoring me, and I understand your reasoning. But... just believe me when I say I'm sorry. Please."
Mariah softened at his atonement. She deserved an apology, but he didn't have to give her one. He did it out of his own good. She shrugged. "Forget about it. I shouldn't have blown up at you like I did," she replied regretfully.
"I don't know about that. I think I deserved it."
"I was just upset."
AJ nodded. "And that's certainly understandable."
Mariah looked at him and looked down at her lap quickly. "I dunno. She... we were never close. We never had a relationship really. I guess it was just a shock. I'm okay now." She shook her head. "Anyway. What brings you here today?" She figured small talk was better than sitting there in silence. After all, he had apologized, and she did feel a little bad for yelling at him like she had a few days before.
"Ah... just listening over some of the tracks for the album. I was curious to see how some of the final tracks sounded.... now I'm just waiting for this rain to slack."
Mariah nodded. "I had a meeting with my agent. Everything with Fantasy's final now. I'm on my own."
AJ raised his eyebrows, surprised. He was sure she was going to go back to the group. He shifted to the right, pulling a pack of Marlboros out of his back pocket. "Do you mind?" he asked, reaching into his pocket for a lighter.
Mariah shook her head, waving her hand. "Go ahead."
He offered Mariah a cigarette. She told him no, and he lit his own, taking a long drag.
"You know," he started, "I lost my grandparents a few years ago. I know how hard it can be."
"I'm alright," Mariah said. "Really. Like I said, we weren't ever close."
"Well... ya know, if you ever need someone to talk to... I know what you're going through," AJ offered.
Mariah looked at AJ questioningly. "Thanks," she said. "You really... you didn't have to say that."
AJ shrugged, turning his head to breathe out the smoke. "It's true," he said, turning back to Mariah. "I wish someone, anyone, would've been there for me. I know you're not too fond of me, but trust me when I tell you this from my own personal experience-- someone's better than no one. Look where it got me," he said, referring to his time spent in rehab for cocaine and alcohol addiction.
Mariah shook her head. "Yeah, I guess."
While AJ smoked, he and Mariah sat there in silence, both watching the rain fall. Stubbing out his cigarette a few minutes later, AJ stood up.
"Well... looks like the rain slacked up some."
"Yeah," Mariah replied, standing up. "Guess I'll call a cab." She dug in her purse for some change, absentmindedly walking toward the payphone on the other side of the lobby.
"Still didn't get your car back?" AJ asked.
Mariah sighed crossly. "Let's not get on the subject of that."
"I'll drive you home." AJ offered, pulling his keys out his pocket.
Mariah turned and looked at him. "Nah, don't worry about it,"she declined. "It's fine."
"No, really," he said. "I'm going that way anyway."
"Well..." Mariah trailied off. "As long as I'm not putting you out of your way."
AJ smiled inwardly. So he wasn't exactly going that way... but he was if he was dropping Mariah off, so technically he wasn't lying. "Yeah. It's no problem."
Mariah positioned her umbrella, ready to open it. "I'm ready when you are,"she said.
AJ pushed open the door and Mariah held the umbrella above their heads as they sprinted toward the parking lot, heading for AJ's car.