Top Of The World

Chapter 14

It was about 11am when Alyssa woke up again, still in Bruno’s arms. She tried to get out of his arms real slow. ‘Hey, where are you going?’ Bruno whispered half asleep. ‘Need to go to the bathroom and somebody left my kitchen like a bomb of pancake dough exploded yesterday morning’ she smiled at him. ‘I’m so sorry, Aly. I will-’ ‘No, it’s fine, go back to sleep.’Aly got up and walked out of the room.
Bruno couldn’t get back to sleep, so he went outside to smoke a cigarette.
‘Well, hello there!’ Bruno heard a man say, he couldn’t see anybody because the sun was shining right into his face and he had to cover it with his hand.
‘Um, hello’ he said a little insecure. Then he noticed Damian on his balcony.
Then suddenly Damian noticed who it was and started screaming like a girl. Bruno didn’t know what to say at all. ‘Oh my goooooooosh!! You are B-B-B-B! Oh my goooosh!!’ Damian was totally out of his mind. Alyssa came outside. ‘Aly, you never told me that you were dating… HIM!’ Damian yelled at her. Alyssa had to laugh ‘Oh Hun, I didn’t know it either!’. Damian was quiet. ‘I’m serious, I had no idea.’ Aly said again. Damian was just shaking his head at her.
‘Oh you… I can’t believe it. But anyway, could I get an autograph for me and my friends at the club?’ Damian ran inside.
‘Um, what kind of club is he talking about?’ Bruno asked Aly a little confused. She just laughed. ‘Don’t even worry!’
Damian got out with a bunch of posters. Bruno signed all of them without bitching around. Afterwards he went back in and looked for Aly. He found her in the kitchen.’You can choose, wanna order something and be sure it will taste good and you’ll survive or… I’ll cook somethin!’ she laughed. He didn’t answer her. He was behind her and put his arms around her. She let go of what she has done. Tilt her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes.’I don’t worry force you, but will you tell me what happened yesterday?’
‘I will, when I can. I’m sorry, I don’t wanna be dramatic and shit but… I know you for like two weeks now. I can’t trust you yet.’ She thought that she ruined it, that he will let go of her and walk off. But the opposite happened, he hold her even tighter. Gave her a kiss on the cheek and said ‘I will order us a pizza, alright? Safety first’

Weeks were passing by and Alyssa and Bruno did a lot of things together and they got closer to each other every time.
It was November already and it was time to release Alyssa’s first record.
Aly came into the studio, totally confused.
‘Oh, guys. I can’t do that. I am too nervous. What if they don’t like the song? What if they won’t applaud? What if I will mess it up and forget the lyrics? What if-’
‘Alyssa Daniels! Shut the hell up!’ Phil said strongly. She just stood there and tears were coming to her eyes. She was an emotional wreck and to be yelled on was just too much at this moment. ‘You will do wonderful and everybody will love you, because you are like the next Beyoncé and you will rock this fucking stage tonight on SNL.’ Phil noticed that she was very thin-skinned right now.
Aly became very close to everyone and she and the Hooligans were real good friends by now, even Phred was still kinda upset that she enver went out with him and that he never had a chance over Bruno.
Alyssa, Bruno, Phil and Jamereo arrived together with Dre at the SNL studio.
Suddenly Aly turned around and said ‘Okay, I can’t do that.’ But unfortunately she ran into Dre, who was walking behind her. He was looking at her shaking his head ‘Oh no young lady, you’re not going anywhere!’
Bruno came and put his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear ‘You will blow them away.’.
‘5 minutes and you’re up Aly!’ this one guy who is responsible for the musicians on SNL said to her when he took a look into her dressing room.
Alyssa got up and walked to the stage. Bruno followed her. ‘I believe in you, baby.’ He said softly before he kissed her on her lips real fast.

Chapter 09

‘Are you serious?’ Rachel didn’t really know what to say. ‘Yea, of course I am. I was gonna walk up to him and talk to him and suddenly they kissed. I mean like, that the fuck. Why is he treating me this way? This is so stupid.’ Alyssa was so mad. ‘And we work together! How is that suppose to go? I mean, I can’t just say oh I don’t care. I wish I could.’ She took a deep breath.He was the first guy where I thought this could be something, after all that shit with Jake.’ Alyssa put her face in her hands. Rachel was rubbing her back.
‘We should probably go home. What do you think?’ Rachel said.
‘Maybe you could wait for a second?’ a man’s voice asked. Alyssa was looking up, stood up and turned around. She tried to wipe away the last tear that was running down her face.
Rachel was giving her a comforting smile and walked away. Bruno came up to her.
‘I.. I guess…’ Bruno was looking to the ground. ‘I guess, I have to apologize to you.’ ‘Can you at least look me in the eye?’ Bruno looked at her. ‘I am really sorry, Aly. Let me explain that to you. I didn’t mean to hurt you but I saw you with this guy…and… I dunno..’
Alyssa crossed her arms infront of her chest ‘So, explain it to me! I’m listening.’ ‘Naaah, not here. Let me take you out for dinner tomorrow. Alright? Bruno looked at her with his brown puppy eyes. She nodded. ‘See you tomorrow then.’ ‘Yea, I’ll pick you up at 7!’
Alyssa didn’t say anything else but walked away towards Rachel. The girls walked home.
Bruno got back to the pub, Phil was already waiting in front of it ‘Dude! Where have you been? And do you know where Aly went? I wanted to introduce some people to her.’ Bruno lit on a cigarette and said ‘She went home. Gotta do that another time.’ ‘Oh man. But she’s okay?’ Phil asked a little worried. Bruno looked at him and Phil knew. They had a couple of more drinks and went home pretty early.

The next morning. It was sunday. Bruno spent the night at Phil’s house, because they had some more whiskey at his place. Both of them were still sleeping until Urbana and the kids came downstairs and they started playing in the living room, which is where they slept.
‘Daddy! Wakey wakey!’ Zadeh came up to Phil. He slowly opened his eyes and saw his beautiful boy. After a while he was realizing Urbana standing next to the couch as well.
‘Good morning baby!’ he said to her and got up to kiss her. ‘Oh Phil. Go shower and brush your teeth you smell so bad!’ she said to him, but not mad at all. And take him with you. I bet he needs it as well.’ Urbana smiled and pointed on Bruno. After Bruno finally woke up they both got upstairs and got ready. Thankfuly this house has three bathrooms.

Alyssa also woke up on her couch, because she couldn’t sleep all night and was watching TV instead. But most of the time she was thinking about what happend. How stupid, overdone, childish and over dramatic it was. She turned around and tried to catch another five minutes of sleep. Didn’t work, she just couldn’t sleep. So she got ready for the day. Which means, taking a shower and throwing on the sweatpants and the sweater. Going downstairs to the diner and getting breakfast. The rest of the day she will decide what she is going to wear and smoking a lot, because she was so nervous.
‘This is so crazy and ridiculous. I don’t even know this guy. I should have takin’ the other one. He probably isn’t that stressful.’ Alyssa said to Damian thinking of Phred.
‘Oh by the way, Al. Did you know, that you got new neighbor? He is living above you.
‘Lord! Is Mrs.Withers dead??’ Alyssa was shocked. ‘Noo babe, don’t worry. We will still get our coconut cream pie.’ Mrs.Wither makes the most amazing coconut cream pie in the whole damn world. But that’s just for the record.
‘So yea, she is still there. But the mexican family moved out. They’re moving to New Jersey. And this new guy is so damn hot, you won’t believe it.’ Damian was all excited about it.
Alyssa started laughing. ‘How do you even know? You don’t live in this house and you know like everything! And I live here and have like no fucking clue what’s goiing on. Something is going wrong!’ Damian laughed at her.

Chapter 13

There was silence in the room. Then all of a sudden everybody started laughing at her.
Phred came up to her and said ‘Babe, you really just found out?’
‘Yea! I mean…’ Alyssa didn’t know to defend herself but had to laugh as well.
‘I mean, it’s not that obvious, huh?!’ Phil said jokingly.
‘Guys, c’mon. Stop making fun of me!’ Aly begged. ‘You are just the cutest, girl!’ Phred laughed. ‘How can somebody be so confused as you all the time?’ Jam said.
Aly just shrugged her shoulders and took a look at Bruno. He was just sitting there smiling at her. They didn’t talk about it any more and started working again. One Hooligan after the other left the studio until it was down to Phred, Phil, Bruno and Alyssa.
Phredley sat next to her ‘So.. you got plans for tonight?’ She didn’t know what to reply to him and just stared. ‘Um? You lost your voice?’ Phred was kinda confused.
‘Well, yea. No. Kinda. I don’t know.’ Alyssa said fast. ‘If you decided, just text me!’ Phred said, kissed her cheek and went home.
Bruno and Phil were looking at her. ‘What?’she asked. ‘Um, nothing…’
‘Well, guys’ Phil said ‘I gotta run. Need to buy a gift for my babe. It’s her birthday on friday!’ he explained to Alyssa. ‘You remember the party, right bro?’ Bruno nodded.
They said goodbye and  Bruno and Aly were alone.
Talking about the new songs, listening to new tunes.
Finally she went up to him and stood next to him, while he was sitting in his big officechair.
He turned around ‘You still like me?’.
‘Bruno, I like you for WHO you are not for WHAT you are.’ she said all serious.
He pulled her towards him and she sat on his lap and tried to kiss her but she turned away.
‘What’s wrong, Aly?’ Bruno was confused. ‘It’s just… you know… I can’t do that right now.’
Alyssa got up, took her stuff and walked to the door.
‘Wait!’ Bruno jumped out of his chair and stood in front of the door, so she couldn’t get out.
‘What is your problem? Explain it to me!’
She looked down to the floor. ‘My last relationship was…well, not so good. And before I can start something new I have to get over that first…and I think that will take a while. I am sorry.’ she said while she was tearing up. She pushed him a little to the side and walked out the door.

When Alyssa arrived home she was paralyzed. In front of her door was a man sitting on the floor. ‘Hey, babe!’ he got up. ‘What..what are you doing here?’ she couldn’t believe her eyes.
‘I miss you so much baby. I needed to see you! You have to come back to me!’ He tried to touch her but she moved away. ‘I don’t wanna see you Jake! Please go!’ Aly said.
‘No! Let’s talk, please!’ he begged. While he was so close she noticed that he smelled like vodka. He was totally drunk. She got scared.
Alyssa walked past him towards her door opened it, got in and closed it as soon as possible.
But he put his foot between the door and the doorway. ‘Let me in, Aly!’ his voice got louder.
Alyssa started sweating and yelled at him ‘No! Go away!! I don’t wanna see you!’
‘Hey! Dude!! What are you doing there?!?!’ she heard a males voice. Then the foot disappeared. She glanced through the door gap and saw Nick and Jake getting into a fight. She got out and yelled at them ‘Stop it guys!! Stop it!!!’ Nick punched Jake in his face so he started bleeding and feel down two steps. ‘You fucking idiot! I will get the cops on you!!’ Jake screamed and started to walk down the stairs after he got up.
Alyssa started crying. Nick turned around and huged her real tight.
They got inside and Nick made her a hot cup of tea.
‘Who was that? And what the hell did he want from you, Alyssa?’
She still weren’t able to talk. This whole situation brought back bad memories.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Nick got up and opened it. It was Bruno.
Great timing, she thought.
‘Where is Alyssa?’ Bruno asked totally confused seeing Nick. ‘Um, she is inside!’ Nick replied.
Bruno pushed Nick to the side and started saying really loud ‘So, that’s the reason why you can’t be with me? You fucking your-’ then he saw Alyssa curled up on the couch with her red eyes from crying. ‘Hun, oh my god, what’s wrong?’ he sat next to her and put her arm around her.
‘Okay, I’ll leave then. If you need anything… you know where you can find me! Nick said standing in the living room, feelin pretty uncomfortable.
‘Thank you.’ Alyssa replied quietly.
Nick left.

Bruno and her didn’t talk, they just sat there watching TV. And that was all she needed right now and he accepted that. He was just with her. Holding her in his arms. Stroking her hair. And kissing her head every now and then. She fell asleep.

The next morning they woke up together. Alyssa glanced at the clock and startled.
‘Brunz!! Get up! We overslept!! We need to run!’. Bruno slowly woke up and said ‘Babe, don’t worry. I texted Phil like an hour ago that we won’t come today. So, get back to sleep beautiful!’
She smiled. He was so caring.
‘And don’t worry, I will give you as much time as you need.’ he said that so lovely. He lounged back on the couch holding her like he would never ever let got of her.

Chapter 12

Aly let go of his face. They were staring in each others eyes and the world seemed to stop turning for a second.
‘Wow..’ Bruno said smiling, still not realizing what just happened. He laid back and licked his lips. ‘Um.. I’m sorry. It just happened.’ Alyssa was kinda embarassed, never before she just kissed a man like that. Bruno didn’t say anything but gave her a little kiss on her lips again.
They were talking almost the whole night and fell asleep on the couch together. Dressed.
The next morning Alyssa woke up alone in her bedroom. ‘Huh? How did that happen? Am I going crazy?’ She got up and went to the kitchen. There she found some self-made pancakes and a litlte note saying
Good morning beautiful. I had to leave for work, but we will see each other in the studio today, right?! Can’t wait to see your face again! Bruno’
‘That’s really cute!’ she thought while she leaned on her fridge. Suddenly she felt something wet on her arm, she looks at it and the fridge. ‘Why the hell is there dough on the fridge?’ she said. ‘And on the counter? And in the sink? Oh lord, that guy is killing me.’
Her whole kitchen really was a mess and all of that for just two pancakes. Alyssa tried not even to think about it. She read the note again and there it stood STUDIO. Damn! She had to go real quick, even she will run late anyways.
‘Great Alyssa, great.’ she said to herself while she was rushing through her appartement, leaving her kitchen as dirty as it was.

After arriving in the studio, she ran down the hallway as soon as she could.
‘Watch out, girl!’ Ari is shouting at her after she ran into him and he spilled his coke all over his shirt. While running she turned around ‘I’m so sorry! I’ll buy you a new shirt!’
She slammed open the door, all the Hooligans were in the studio and were looking at her.
Her hair looked like she was in a Hurricane and her mascara was like all over her face.
‘Hi!’ she sighed, totally out of breath. She smiled at Bruno but he was looking kinda weird at her and pointed on his breast the whole time. Alyssa was totally confused ‘Are you okay?’ she said to him. He just nodded and pointed at her and then at his breast again. Alyssa finally looked down on herself and blushed right away. While running her shirt must got out of place a little. Well, not just a little actually. You were able to see the whole right side of her bra.
She was so embarassed. And everybody was still looking and smirking at her.
She had no idea to react, all she wanted was to run out of the room but that would be too immature, she thought. So she tried to act all cool, which totally won’t happen, but she just said ‘Hey, at least I’m wearing one!’, referring to the girl in the club that kissed Bruno.
She just heard Jamareo saying quietly ‘Buuuurn!’ from the back. Everybody laughed. She put her shirt back into place, put her stuff down and started working.
The whole day she couldn’t really look one of the guys in the eyes.
For lunch some of them went to a restaurant around the block. Alyssa and Bruno walked next to each other and everytime their hands met, they felt those so called butterflies. Alyssa stopped at a shop window and kept talking. After a minute she noticed that she Bruno is not answering her and that it got a little noisy. She turned around and saw Bruno in the middle of a little crowd of girls. They were taking pictures with him and got his autograph, how weird is that.
Phil got back to her ‘Hey, don’t worry. He will survive!’ he started laughing.
After the girls left, they went to the restaurant. Alyssa was looking at Bruno the whole time with this questioning look. But he didn’t give her an answer.
‘She still has no idea, has she?’ Phil whispered into Bruno’s ear. He shooked his head looking happy. ‘I think it’s great the way it is. And I’m not lying at her, I’m just not telling the whole truth!’ Bruno said to him quietly and they laughed. ‘You’re right , bro. Just put it this way! And it’s not your fault she is like living on the moon!’ Phil laughed a little more. Bruno stoped laughing and said pretty serious ‘Don’t make fun of her, dude!’ Phil immediately stoped and looked kinda shocked. Bruno left him like that a little, then giggled a little and continued to eat.

The whole time Alyssa couldn’t stop thinking about Bruno and those girls. ‘Why did they come up to him and took a picture with him? I mean, I know he’s good looking, but that’s not a reason to do that.’ she thought to herself. In the studio they worked on some new songs for her and tried to record another one. ‘I need to go to the restroom real quick!’ Aly said and walked out of the room. She got to the restroom and got her phone out. ‘I just have to google him… This is all getting too weird.’ She opened Google and typed in Bruno Mars.
She couldn’t believe her eyes. ‘Oh my fucking god! He’s a fucking star and I had like no idea. Why did nobody tell me?!’ Alyssa was confused, she called Rachel.
‘Ray! Did you know about Bruno? About his Grammys and music and shit?’ ‘Um, yea. He’s the guy that is singing this Grenada song. I thought you know?! How could you not know him? Where the hell do you live?’ Rachel laughed. ‘I thought this was the reason why you were extra excited. But now I know, you really are in love!’ ‘In love?? No!! I am not in love, Rachel! You remember my last relationship, right! I don’t wanna fall in love again, especially not so soon!’ Aly said to Rachel, kinda agressive, because she didn’t want it to happen. ‘Oh girl, you know you are!’ Rachel said all calm and serious. ‘Yes… I do…’ .
The girls hung up and Alyssa realized some things. He was in the VIP lounge, he took her to expensive places, there were people taking pictures of him.
She teared up a little. This whole situation was way too much for her right now. The turn of her career suddenly, the hard relationship she just escaped and then Bruno, the guy who’s giving her the chance to trust again, even she believed she won’t be able to trust somebody for a long time. And then finding out about him, which wasn’t a bad thing but it was so unexpected to find out.
She looked in the mirror, then put some water in her face, dryed it and went back to the studio. She stood there watching Bruno and all of a sudden she just said: ‘Dude, you’re the Grenade-guy!’
Bruno stoped the music.

Chapter 11

‘No, no, no Aly! That’s bullshit! Rachel said.
A few days have gone by and Alyssa hadn’t heard anything from Bruno. But luckily Rachel got back from her trip. The girls were sitting on a bench on Venice Beach and watching the guys skateboarding.

Alyssa turned to Rachel. ‘What is bullshit?” ‘Well, first of all that you didn’t call me. But I will forgive you.’ She smiled. Alyssa gave her a look. ‘Okay, seriously, it’s bullshit that the girl kissed him at club, but you have no idea how that happened. You don’t know if he kissed her back or if he started it. And if you think he started it, that’s bullshit as well!’ Rachel was really serious about that. ‘Wanna know what else is bullshit?’ Aly gave her a look and said ‘Is that your new favourite word?’ ‘Shush!’ Rachel put her pointer finger in front of her lips. ‘Bullshit is to stay mad at him forever and not talking to him. I mean, how old are you? Don’t be so childish!’ Aly is looking at her with big eyes ‘Wow! Why are you so aggressive? What’s wrong?’ ‘Sorry girly,’ Rachel sat back down on the bench after walking up and down in front of Alyssa ‘But, I don’t know. That’s just the truth. Maybe you guys should start all over again.’ Aly got up. ‘You are right. All of that is ridiculous! It’s.. it’s just…’ ‘Bullshit?!’ Rachel said sarcasticly. They started laughing. ‘Let’s get some food girl, I’m starving! And then we’ll text him. Something not so weird as the last time.’ Rachel got up and put her arm around Aly’s shoulders. They went and got some grilled cheese and ice-cream.
Then they texted Bruno.

Bruno was working hard the last days. Always trying to avoid meeting Alyssa in the studio.
He really regreted what he did and thought about her all the time.
‘I just don’t know how to apologize.’ he said to himself. ‘Maybe start by saying ‘I’m sorry’ ’ Bruno was surprised to get an answer from Phil, he thought he whispered.
‘Yea, you are right bro. I never said anything to her again.’ Bruno looked down.
‘Oh Brunz, things will work out. All of a sudden it will just go like this’ he fliped his fingers ’ and things will work out.’
Bruno nodded and got back to work. A little later his phone rang, a new text.
‘Hi, I’m Alyssa. I’m a little german drama queen and I would like to get to know you. Because I heard you are pretty awesome. ♥A’
Bruno jumped out of his chair. He couldn’t stop smiling and showed Phil the text. He was just smiling at Bruno. ‘Text her back! Go!’ ‘Alright, alright!’
Bruno sat back down and texted her back. ‘Oh hello there. That sounds seductive. You got time tonight for some wine and a good talk? I think, I know where you live, I could be there at 7. xoxo BM’
It didn’t took a minute to get her reply. All it said was ‘Can’t wait!’
Bruno was so happy. And Alyssa was, too.

‘We need to go home soon! I have to buy some food. And candles. Should I buy candles? Is that too corny? And I need something nice to wear. Shouldn’t be sexy, should it?’ Alyssa was running wild. Rachel couldn’t do anything but laughed at her so hard that people were already looking at them. ‘What??’ Alyssa stoped walking. ‘You are too cute! You act so crazy haha. Why are you so excited?’ Rachel was still giggling. ‘Because…well… because..I really like him. And I am so excited that he really wants to come over. God, I can’t wait.’
They bought some candles, some food from the china restaurant around the corner of Aly’s place and a new sexy dress.
She was all ready when it was 6:30pm. At 6:45 the door bell rang. She ran to the door and opened it. In front of her was standing a really handsome young man. ‘Umm… Hello?’ she was a little disappointed that it wasn’t Bruno. ‘Hey! Wow…’ the guys said. ‘What?’ ‘Oh, I mean um, I’m sorry. I am Nick, I am your new neighbor from upstairs!’ She remembered Damian saying something about that. ‘Ah yes. Hi! And welcome to the house!’ Alyssa said smiling while reaching out her hand. He shook it. They had a little smalltalk when suddenly Alyssa saw a bunch of flowers coming up the stairs. Nick turned around and saw Bruno. ‘Oh my, I didn’t know. Wow. Um, hi! Hello!’ Nick said. Alyssa was confused why Nick was so excited all of a sudden. ‘Hey!’ Bruno said to Nick and then looked at Alyssa. Who was standing there in the doorway with her red hair in curls wearing a blue kinda tight dress with black high heels. It was hard for him to breath properly. ‘Hey!’ he said to her. She just smiled at him. Bruno tried to get past Nick with his bunch of flowers. After he got in, Nick said goodbye and she closed the door.
Bruno came back out of the kitchen, putting the flowers into a vase.
They looked at each other deep in the eyes. You could almost feel the tension.
‘I missed you!’ Bruno said. At the same time Alyssa said ‘I got chinese food!’
Wait what? ‘Oh god, what did he just say? And what the hell did I say?’ she thought to herself.
‘I mean..um…-’ She tried to say something but she was so nervous. Bruno started laughing. ‘Chinese sounds great!’. Alyssa walked past Bruno into the kitchen. Shaking her head to herself. He was watching her from behind. She looked amazing in this dress. This is the first time she bought new clothes for a date and it’s the first time she wears a dress to one.
When she came back to the living room with the food, Brunz was sitting on the couch undressing her with his eyes. After they ate she said ‘I’m sorry about all that. I just wish you would explain it to me.’ She was all calm and ready to hear him out.
Bruno was telling her the whole truth. That he was just dancing with that girl at the club because he saw Aly with Tyler, that she kissed him and that he walked away from her as fast as he could, that he really was sorry about the last date he ruined, that he really was with his ex girlfriend and he told her what happened.
When it came to the last part her eyes started tearing up a little. ‘Oh honey, you have no idea how sorry I am.’ Bruno stroked her cheek very softly. ‘No, Bruno. I don’t even have a right to be jealous or something…but…it just hurt. I know, it’s stupid.’ Bruno gave her a little kiss on her lips. ‘Are you ready to start all over and have a good fucking time together?’ Bruno smiled at her. Alyssa nodded and started smiling as well.
‘Hey, I have a little surprise for you. Where is your guitar?’ Bruno asked. Alyssa pointed behind him. ‘What do you-’ ‘Shhh, just listen beautiful!’ Bruno winked at her.
’Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they’re not shinin’
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her tryin’
She’s so beautiful
And I tell her everyday
Yea, I know, I know when I compliment her, she won’t believe me
And it’s so, it’s so sad to think that don’t see what I see’ he stoped.
‘That’s all I got so far. Actually I wanted to show you first when I was done but I couldn’t wait for it.’ Bruno smiled and put the guitar away. ‘So…? You like-’ before Bruno could answer Alyssa leaned over to him, held his face in her hands and gave him a long kiss on his lips.

Chapter 10

At 6pm she started to get ready. She didn’t wear anything fancy but was all classy and chic.
She was done at 6.55, which made her happy, because she was just in time.
It was 7.15pm already.
Her phone started to ring, she got a new text. ‘Probably Rachel’ she thought. Because Rachel was on her way down to New Mexico to her cousins reception and she was checking on Aly the whole day. She read the text. ‘Hey you! I’m sorry I won’t be able to pick you up, let’s meet at the restaurant. B’
Wait. What? Is he serious? Alyssa tried to be all calmed, shrugged her shoulders, swallowed it and made her off to the restaurant. It was a really fancy one. The adress was in his text. It was the Providence. She stood before it and thought ‘Holy Macaroni’.


She went inside and the guy that shows you the tables said ‘Good evening! How can I help you?’ He looked at her like he was judging her, because she wasn’t wearing clothes from Chanel or Dior. She felt it. ‘Um yea hello. There should be booking for a table-’ ‘What name?’ He was really unfriendly. ‘Umm… his first name is Bruno..’ Alyssa really just forgot his last name. The guy is giving her a weird look. Alyssa was looking through the saloon, but he wasn’t even here yet. ‘Maybe I can just wait at the bar?’ she asked. They guy nodded, but wasn’t really feeling well with it. While she passed him, he was looking at her up and down.
It was 7:36 already. She ordered a Vodka Tonic and kept waiting.
The waiters start looking at her with this pity look. She was so emberassed. It was 8pm already, she had her third Vodka Tonic and decided to call him. She didn’t know why she didn’t do it way earlier.
‘Hello?’ Oh my god. It was a girls voice. Alyssa didn’t know what to answer. The girl asked again ‘Hello? Can I help you?’ Suddenly she heard the girl giggling and Bruno’s voice in the background saying ‘Who is this?’ he asked her. He took the phone right before he could say something Alyssa hung up. She was so angry, so sad. She feels so humiliated.
She put her phone back into her purse, paid her drinks and walked out of the restaurant. Feeling the pity glances in her back. Outside she was yelling for a taxi.
She wanted to call Rachel so bad, but she didn’t want to ruin her trip.
‘Here we are! Are you sure you are welcome here?’ the cabdriver said after stopping in front of a big gate. She gave him his money and got out of the cab. It was Phil’s house, she didn’t know where else to got and they really liked each other. And he is Bruno’s best friend, so maybe he could help her a little or at least explain it.
Phil and Urbana were sitting in the living room when suddenly the door bell rang. Phil got up and opened the door. He saw Alyssa, standing there with tears running down her face. He steped aside to let her inside. ‘He is the biggest jerk I’ve ever met!!’ She yelled and went straight to the living room. Urbana stood up. They met before in the studio. ‘Shhh cutie, the kids are in bed already! What’s wrong?’ She huged Aly. They sat down.
‘I have no fucking clue what’s wrong!! I was all ready at 7 and then I got a ext saying we’ll meet at the restaurant. And guess what? I waited until 8. Fucking 8pm. Then I called him… but he didn’t answer his phone. A girl did.’ Alyssa started to tear up, she was so angry.
‘What? Oh wow… what a great guy he is’ Urbana shooked her head. Alyssa got all steamed up about it. ‘I can’t believe how stupid this all is. I mean, c’mon, how old is he? This is so fucking immature. And letting me sit there in the restaurant for like 30 minutes, because he is with another girl? What the hell?’ Alyssa said and drank the scotch Phil brought her.
‘I’m so sorry girl. I don’t know with who he is. He really was excited about tonight and the dinner with you.’ Phil said and got up. He walked outside on the patio and called Bruno.
He picked up and immediately Phil said ‘Dude! Where the hell are you? Alyssa is sitting here. Did you loose your god damn mind?’ Bruno couldn’t reply. He didn’t know what to say.
‘What? You’re not talking to me either?’  ‘Tell her, I’m on my way to your house. This all is a misunderstanding. It didn’t happen anything. It just…’ Bruno didn’t finish his sentence. ‘Went wrong? Hell yea. You better be here soon!’ Phil hung up.
5 minutes later the door bell rang again. Alyssa calmed down a little, after her second glass of scotch. When she heard the bell she was looking at Phil and Urbana. ‘Is that him? I really don’t feel like talking to him.’ She went to the door and opened it. There he was. Their eyes met but Aly tried to make her way outside past him. He came after her and said ‘Please wait. I can explain. It was just work!’ She turned around and was staring into his eyes. ‘I am really, really angry right now. And I really dont wanna talk to you right now. Just get the fuck off!’ Bruno stroked her arm and she got goose bumps all over. But she walked away anyways and Bruno went inside the house and got into the living room. ‘I messed it up, I guess…’
‘Who was that girl anyway? The one from last night?’ Urbana asked. ‘No, it was my ex girlfriend-’ ‘Are you crazy? You know she still loves you!’ Phil said a little bit louder then he wanted. ‘Yes, I know.’
‘Wait!’ Urbana looked confused ‘Are we talking about Chanel?’ Bruno looked at her ‘Nooo! I had another one after her.’ ‘Of course…’ she mumbled.
‘Mommy! Can’t sleep!’ Zadeh was standing in the living room with his big stuffed animal. Bruno always tried to figure it out what it was. It looked like a hippo and an elephant. Small ears, a trunk… An elippo?!
Urbana brought him back into his room and read a story to him.
Phil sat down across the coffeetable from Bruno. ‘Tell me, bro. What happened?’
‘Well, she came in and we talked and…’ ‘And you had sex.’ ‘Nooo! Well… umm… we made out…and stuff.. But no real sex’ ‘Oh yea, that really is a misunderstanding. Have fun explaining that to her.’ Phil wasn’t very happy about that.
‘Oh c’mon, she is not even my girlfriend! I am unaccountable!’ ‘Yea, and she probably never will be after that. And I know, that you like her and that you care.’ Phil sounded kinda aggressive. ‘I’m sorry. It jsut happened. I was just so stressed and..yea whatever. I don’t have an excuse for that. Okay, what should I do now, Phil?
‘Pray!’

Chapter 05

Wednesday

The appointment at Electra Records is this morning. Alyssa couldnt sleep the whole night. She called all of her friends yesterday and asked them if they made a video of her. But everybody denied. She couldn’t understand it. ‘This is all so weird…’ she thought to herself.
Because she didn’t sleep, she had enough time to get ready in the morning. She turned on her music and took a long shower, she got out and put on her lotion. She wrapped herself in a towel and walked over to her makeup table. Alyssa is an addict when it comes to makeup. She wishes she could afford all the great brands, but right now she has to stick with the drugstore stuff.
She puts on her foundation, her eyshadow, mascara and lipstick. Her red-dyed hair is drying in a towel. Now there is this one big question ‘What the hell should I wear?’

Alyssa got out of the cab in her jeans, red shirt and a black blazer. She was wearing wedges.
When she walked into the office people started to turn around and look at her.
‘Hi. My name is Alyssa Daniels. I have an appointement, apparently.’ The woman behind the desk was giving her a weird look. ‘Follow me!’ she said and stood up. She wasn’t as nice as the one on the phone. They came to the end of an endless hallway and the woman is pointing to a chair in front of the door. Alyssa nodded and sat down.
After a while the door opened and a man came out of the room to greet her.
‘Hello there! My name is Bay - Schuck, Aaron Bay - Schuck!’ they shook hands. ‘Nice to meet you’ Alyssa replied. They walked into his office. ‘Take a seat, please!’ Aaron was pointing to a chair in front of his huge desk.
‘So, I was taking a look at your video and I have to say I was very impressed. And that doesn’t happen very fast normally.’ ‘Umm…. may I ask you who sent in this video? Because it wasn’t me!?’ ‘Oh, sure. I will introduce you to him later. Well, we have to go to the studio right now, anyways. So I can hear you sing again and we can talk about some songs perhaps. Shall we?’ Aaron got up and walked towards another door on the right side of the room.
Alyssa started to follow him. They walked another endless hallway. ‘Is this fuckin’ Hogwarts?’ she mumbeled to herself. She almost lost track of Aaron and run some steps.
Suddenly there was music coming from somewhere, when Aaron opened a door on the left side the music got even louder. ‘The studio’ she thought.
When she came into the room she was paralyzed. She knew him. Another guy was turning around. She knew both of them.
Aaron walked straight to the tall one and said: ‘This is Philip Lawrence. One of our best producers. Also he is an amazing singer himself. And this is Mr. Mars. But if you’re nice, yu can probably call him Bruno!’ Aaron laughed and gave them a hand. ‘Those are the men that are responsible for you standing here right now!’
Phil recognized Alyssa being a little confused and came up to her ‘Hey! We know each other somehow, you remember? From the Hendrix Bar, I was the one that lost his phone!’ All she could think of was THEM? She tried to get her acts together and replied: ‘Yea, I remember. Hi!’. She gave him a hand. Then Mr.Mars came towards her and reached out his hands, she put hers inside his. ‘Hey! How’s it going?!’ he asked. ‘Oh well, good I guess.’ Alyssa smirked.
They had a little smalltalk and then Alyssa sang her song ‘If I were a boy’. Of course it wasn’t produced professional but the guys were blown away.
‘…but you’re just a boooooy’ she ended the song and got back to them. She was so insecure but tried to make it look like she was the coolest girl ever. Aaron walked up to her smiling and said: ”I better see you tomorrow morning at 9am in my office to sign your contract! Then we will talk about everythign else! Please stay with us, you know you want to! I gotta go now, have lots of things to do! Bye guys!’ and with this he was gone. Alyssa felt like she was dreaming. ‘Oh mein Gott, das kann doch nicht wahr sein!’ she said to herself in german, her native language. She looked at Bruno and he gave her the biggest smile ever. ‘I guess, that means we are colleagues now!’ he said and Phil came to her and gave her a big hug. ‘Oh my god, this is great!!’ he yells, ‘We need to celebrate, huh?!?’ Phil was all excited. ‘I’ll go and get the champagne!’ When Phil was gone Alyssa looked at Bruno again. He saw it glancing in his eyes and asked: ‘Are you okay, baby?’ ‘You have NO idea what that means to me… This all happens so fast and it’s so surreal.. I can’t believe that!’ the tears started to fall. Bruno came and wiped away the tears from her cheek. She was taking a deep breath ‘How can I make it up to you?’ she was looking right into is beautiful brown eyes. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I owe all of this to you, so I have to make it up to you somehow… please, I really want to!’
‘I just want to be there when you win your first Grammy!’ Phil said when he walked back in. Alyssa smiled at him. He poured in the champagne into the glasses and handed both a glass. ‘So, Bruno, what can I do for you?’ ‘Alright, alright, alright, alright…let’s see. If you think you owe us big time… I want the Statue of Liberty! And the Empire State Building! The Hollywood sign….’Alyssa and Phil started laughing. Bruno looked straight into Aly’s blue eyes ‘And a date!’ he smirked. ‘Oooh okay, hold on! You have to pick two!’ she said to him returning his look. ‘Oh dude, that’s a hard one!’ Phil said jokingly while pouring in the second glass of champagne already. ‘Aaaight, I definately take the Empire State Bulding…and… man, I mean the Hollywood sign would look hella fine in my backyard, don’t ya think bro?’ ‘She would too. And in you kitchen AND in your bedroom AND…well, everywhere.’ Phil whispered into Bruno’s ear.
‘Sooo?’ Alyssa asked.
‘Friday. 7pm. I’ll pick you up!’

Chapter 04

‘She killed it!’ Phil walked into the studio ‘Who are you talking about, bro?’ Phil asked. Bruno turned around and said ‘Umm…you know, the girl from last night.’ He was kinda embarassed that Phil caught him talking about her, like he is fangirling.

‘Oh yea, she is-’ before Phil could finish his sentence Bruno started talking to Cee - Lo again.

They worked on new songs almost for five hours and after they are done Phil totally forgot to tell Bruno about Alyssa being in the Club this morning.

Meanwhile in Downtown L.A.

Aly got done cleaning the Club early and spent the day at a Lakers game and at Venice Beach. Even she’s not living in Los Angeles for a very long time, she already made a lot of great friends.  The best friend she found, is Rachel. She is 23 years old and a beaitful, blonde and flawless woman. But not snobby at all, you just have to love her.

Rachel and Alyssa  got home to Aly’s small apartement, which is just above an american diner. Inside Aly walked straight to the balcony, because she saw Damian, the guy from the other house on his balcony. ‘Daaaarling!! Where the hell have you been the whole day? I’m having a date tonight and I still don’t know what to wear. You need to help me. Wait I will go and get my clothes!’ Damian went inside right before she could even answer. So, she lit a cigarette and sat down. Rachel came outside and sat right next to her.

After they decided on which outfit Damian is gonna wear tonight they headed inside, turned on the music, got the beer out of the fridge and started dancing and singing.

‘With you I always feel like I’m 13 years old’ Rachel laughs. Alyssa gave her a big smile.

They spent the night at a pub around the corner. Flirting and dancing with some guys.

And one of them looked really familiar.

Alyssa couldn’t help it, but starred at him. After she talked to Rachel, she turned back around but the guy was gone. ‘Shit’ she tought. Suddenly somebody tapped on her shoulder. Immediately she turned around and saw Eric. ‘Hey! Aren’t you the girl that performed at the Hendrix last night?’ ‘Oh my goooood!! People start to recognize you, baby!!!’ Rachel screams in Alyssa’s ear. Of course Aly got all excited, especially when she rememberd that he was in company of this really handsome guy, but she tried to keep her cool and replied ‘Yup, that was me. Hope you enjoyed it!’ Eric nodded in agreement. 

‘Well, I gotta go now. Keep bokin’! Eric said and walked away. ‘Keep bokin’?’ the girls said at the same time. Rachel looked confused. ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Aly shrugged her shoulders.

Tuesday

BEEP BEEP BEEP 

‘Fuck you!’ Alyssa turned around again. She is laying in her big bed with so many pillows, that you have to be afraid that you suffocate in the middle of the night.

After some minutes she got a bad consciense on herself and got up. She put her fluffy bathrobe on and went to the bathroom. ‘Wow, Aly. No wonder you’re still single. Who wants to wake up besides that?!’ she said to herself while looking in the mirror. After she’s done she went to the kitchen to make some coffee. On the way she picked up her mail from the floor in the hallway, okay, you can pass her hallway in like 3 steps. But this apartement is her little castle which she loves so much and everything that’s in there shows a different side of her. With her coffe, a cigarette and and the mail she went outside on the balcony. It is middle of august and the weather is just amazing. 

All of a sudden she spit out her coffee all over her balcony. ‘What the fuck?!’. 

She put her coffee away and read the letter like 5 times. ‘How the hell? What video?’

She went inside and called the number which is written on the letter.

‘Electra Records, Chrstina McCandless my name. How can I help you?’ the woman on the other end said.
‘Hello! Alyssa Daniels my name. I just received a letter from you which says that I am invited to an audition or something. Because you liked my video. But I never sent in any video and so you probably got the name wrong and some poor girl is waiting for her reply. I just wanted to make sure you’ll get it right.’ ‘Oh, let me check that real quick. May I have your name again, please?’ Alyssa said her name again and the woman was gone for a while.
‘Hello? I’m back, I’m sorry that it took me so long. My boss was busy. But I have to tell you that there didn’t go anything wrong. You are the girl that performs at the Hendrix Bar in Downtown, right?’ Alyssa couldn’t reply at first, she was shocked. ‘Excuse me? Alyssa? Are you still there?’ ‘Um, yea yea. I’m sorry. I am just shocked right now.’ ‘Oh, that okay. But anyways, you’re the right person. We are happy to see you soon!’ ‘Oh okay, well, thank you then…. I guess.’ ‘You are very welcome! Have a great day!’ the woman replied and hung up.

Alyssa sat on the floor of her living room. How did that happen? Who sent in a video of her?

‘Is that destiny?’ she thought to herself…