25Thank you to LeilaX for reviewing. I really do appreciate your advice and your reviews. Thanks a million. I was planning on deleting this story but then I realised I love it no matter how contradicting it is to my usual life. So here goes, even if no one reviews it's okay but it would be appreciated.
Oh yeah, if you see any mistakes constructive criticism is welcome. Just please phrase it politely I'm still human.
Blue, magenta, green, yellow and white danced around the stage as smoke spewed onto the stage. Dancers in flashy outfits paraded about the stage waiting for the main attraction to come.
Isaac Hastings sat in the VIP row, conspicuous with his business suit and tie among the energetic teenagers. Next to him, an incognito actor sat cheering with the rest of the crowd as the star appeared.
"If it's a sold out concert," Isaac began, "why do they say her star is burning out?"
Roy rolled his eyes. "Look around. What is the crowd made of?"
"Children, pre-teens and adults."
"See any teenagers?" Roy pressed.
"Yes," Isaac admitted.
"How many?"
"I don't know…many?"
Rolling his eyes, Roy began explaining something his best friend wouldn't have bothered to research about in a million years. "Her star was the brightest at sixteen when she was a new singer, that was when she had garnered most of her fan base. Nearly all children and pre-teens were attracted to her because of her acting in Disney movies."
Eyebrows furrowed, Isaac just stared at Roy in question.
Sighing, the actor continued. "As she grew, the kids who watched those movies grew, some stayed fans, most called her un-cool. While Antoinette - remember her? – became the next Britney Spears and is still sizzling hot, Christiana grew worse and worse. So now – rumours say that she will be the next Christiana."
Isaac blinked.
"I know! It's just sad, isn't it? P.S. You're acting like a mute again."
Chortling was his only reply.
Belinda nudged Isaac's side. "Baby, can we go?"
"It just started Bel," he murmured in reply, a tight smile on his face. "We can't just go."
His fiancée pouted and tugged at his arm.
"Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaathan," she moaned. "I don't want to stay."
Roy snorted. "What's holding you back? I'm just dying for you to go."
"Then die," she retorted.
Interruption came in the form of Christiana shouting, "WHAT'S UP NEW YORK?" and flashing a peace sign at the crowd.
Isaac choked.
"WHAT?"
"What's wrong?" Roy asked. "She just said – oh, that."
Belinda's eyes narrowed. "We're going sweetie."
"I've got to go," Roy mumbled and slipped away into the darkness.
Whipping his cellphone out of his pocket, Roy speed dialled his partner in matchmaking crime. One ring, two rings, three rings – "Hello?"
"This wasn't part of our deal. How do you expect-no, well, how do you think he's going to react now? It's only going to-I understand, uh-huh, fine, if this doesn't work out, it's your fault. Bye."
He hated her. He despised her. He detested her.
He didn't want his new star to be a slut. Isaac couldn't understand why Christiana had to just go on and make him loathe her more. The same freaking slut who looked like his step-mother. The tight skirts that had entranced his father. There she was parading around the stage, barely dressed, bending to touch the hands of her fans. It was the bending that got to Nathan. Since several teenage boys were standing there.
"You said that the main reason she got out of her contract was because she didn't want to be a slut. What happened?" Roy asked.
Isaac rolled his eyes. "I wish I knew." Shifting uncomfortably in his seat he kept his eyes reluctantly on the stage.
"What is she wearing? How will this affect her career?" was all he really thought as he stared at the dancing figure who just about begun to actually sing.
Of course, Belinda took it the other way but he didn't care. He wasn't about to manage a project that was going to fail and fail through and through because some diva decided she wanted a new image lift.
"Well, the teenage guys are having a good time."
And just for that simple reason he wanted to just put his arms around her and take her away and he knew it was just so wrong.
" Roy, name a famous executive and singer union."
"Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman. What? You're getting ideas?"
"No!" he protested. "Just make sure I never become like that."
Feeling the sweat on her body as she paraded around in a shimmering silver dress. Well, if you could call it a dress that is. Feeling her neckline dip slightly as she swayed to her own music she couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
The faux fur stole dropped from her shoulders and revealed herself even more but what could she do? If her ratings were dropping she wouldn't be able to help it. Britney did it, Christina did it, Lindsay did it, there was nothing wrong with Christiana doing it. Her dress would be called to conservative by the likes of them anyway. Surely, surely, if Isaac were still out there he'd understand.
Of course, she knew that he didn't know that she existed. He was probably happily married to Belinda with a happily ever after wedding and genius kids who will learn to read when they were two.
And it hurt.
She watched Nathan Hastings face in the crowd. Emotionless, as usual. Her eyes wandered to his left and right.
As she finished the song, her eyes widened in shock.
Could that be?
But how?
Belinda?
She hadn't changed a bit. The same blonde hair, the same annoying face, the same clingy look as she grabbed at Nathan Hastings' arm.
That only could mean one thing.
Nathan Hastings was Isaac.
She was stupid. She admitted with this revelation. Isaac Nathaniel Hastings, Nathan Hastings? It was so typical of him. Not very creative either. Did he know it was her? She would be a freak. What would he think?
Cheryl dropped the dress unto the floor as she exited for a clothing change and grabbed a tank top and a denim skirt accompanied by a jacket. If she were to know that Isaac would have been Nathan Hastings she might have been a bit more decent.
NO! She doesn't care about him. What he thinks about her shouldn't matter. It was her career, not his. Well, technically it was, but that wasn't the point. All he was is her new music executive and nothing else would change that. No, nothing else would.
She wasn't just a somewhat vulnerable Cheryl anymore, yearning for popularity. She was Christiana, a pop sensation. Isaac would have to matter a little more than that to come before her popularity. She chose it over him once.
Cheryl could probably do it again.
But what if Belinda was actually dating Nathan Hastings and dumped Isaac. Nathan seemed like the type to be attracted to a smart person. Isaac might have dumped Belinda a long time ago. What if she walked up to Nathan Hastings and said, "You're Isaac, aren't you?" and he laughed.
What if Isaac was right now at home, married, watching 'Jeopardy' or something? What if Nathan Hastings wasn't him?
She wouldn't risk it. No way.
Nathan didn't look a bit like Isaac. Isaac had the same hair, the same eyes, true but their face wasn't the same. Their features. Their expression. Nathan was harried, rings around his eyes, slightly ruffled hair with constant late nights. Isaac wouldn't have become like that, right? He always loved his work, always completed it on time. The only time she saw those features were when he tutored her.
And satisfied she settled with that conclusion.
You could have said she was in denial.
She didn't want it to be him. She never wanted to see him again. Never ever. Making excuses she knew weren't true. She just didn't want it to be him.
Yet, she looked at herself in the mirror and decided she liked her clothing now a whole lot better.
"You've talked to her already? She's already changed. Yes, I do hope the perception he holds will change. You didn't talk to her? Well, either way, good riddance with that outfit. I understand, fine, fine, whatever boss, you just keep that Belinda away from me. WAIT! I HAVE TO WHAT?"