Page 80 of Love on the Main Stage
Clarice winced as we were interrupted. For once, it wasn’t a fan.
Alia approached, looking more like a baby than ever in pigtails and jorts. It always hurt to see her so vulnerable when it was clear she was just a kid. She just wanted to hang out with friends, but she was being treated like an industry person.
“I didn’t mean to bother you,” Alia wrang her hands. “But I perform at noon tomorrow. And then you all are the evening show on the other stage. I don’t know what to do. I’d like to see you perform—no shade or ulterior motive—but I wanted to ask if that is okay.”
Clarice turned to me, still chewing her pastry.
“Of course,” I said. “We planned to catch your show, too.”
Clarice shot me a look like, “Did we?”
“Really?” Alia lit up. “Oh, my God, I would be sohonored.You’re a fucking legend!”
Oof, kid, way to make a girl feel old!
“You’re too kind. I know we’re doing a mixer tomorrow. Don’t worry about it. You are more than welcome at any of our shows, sweetheart.”
“Good. I’m excited. Thanks! I am looking forward to hearing ‘Wayside’ live. I keep belting it out in my car.”
“That’s so sweet,” Clarice said. “I am sure you will kill it tomorrow.”
“Shit. I need to go. Jay will be missing me. But I saw you and… I wanted to ask.”
“Sure, dear,” I said. “And.. here… can I give you my number?”
She handed her mobile over. I put my number in and texted myself.
“Now, you have me on speed dial. I mean it. Please reach out if you need anything. We’re peers.”
“You didn’t have to?—”
“I was you once. I have been on the popstar pipeline, sweetheart. And in that time, I wished I’d had more people in my corner.”
She bent to hug me, then raced off towards her handlers.
“That was genuinely sweet,” Clarice said.
“You act as though I am incapable?—”
“She’s our competition.”
“No. Her handlers are. I wish her no ill will. She’s talented. The world is just waiting to chew her up and spit her out. I’d rather be there to help when she needs to flee the men abusing her.”
“You’re good people,” Clarice said sweetly. “I know you hate to hear it—you hate mushy shit.”
“I do.”
“But this is why you’re such a great partner and deserve someone wonderful, Mary. Whether you want to hear it or not, you deserve a happily ever after. You have a big heart. I gotta believe that is what your girl sees. Your ability to support others—to hype them—is such a blessing. All of us have been affected by your generosity.”
I blushed.
“Stop! It’s true. You don’t have to be anything but respectful to her. You could curse her for what Max did?—”
“That wouldn’t be fair.”
“You didn’t have to give me a chance. You didn’t have to write a song with me or to write ‘Justice’ for us. You didn’t have to sing on the damn record. But the point is, you did that.”
I nodded. “I wrote songs with you because you’re fucking talented, Clarice.”
