Rise by Cassandra Robbins

 

 

 

 

GIA

Past – Eighteen years old

UC Berkeley, California

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Julianna, my roommate and bestie, flops down on her bed and looks at me.

“What are you talking about? This is the opportunity of a lifetime.” I pivot and reach up for a pile of jeans, then toss them into my suitcase.

“I can’t believe you actually pulled this off.” She lies down, resting her head on her hand as she watches me pack.

“Jul, I’m kind of insulted that you doubted me.” I shoot her a glare as she laughs, falls onto her back, and stares up at the ceiling.

“Rhys Granger. The Stuffed Muffins. This is crazy.” Her long blond hair covers most of the pillow, and for one small second, I’m grateful that I’m the only one going. Not that I think Rhys would be into her, but Julianna is beautiful. What’s wrong with me? I never feel like this.

“Hello? Gia?” My eyes focus and I realize she’s holding my cell phone, which is playing “Lost in You,” the Stuffed Muffins’ latest hit.

Dread flows through me as I snatch it out of her hand. “Don’t answer it.” Her horrified face should make me pull myself together, but I’m slightly off right now.

“Geez, Gia.” Julianna shakes her head at me as I frantically decline the call. I look at her and back at my phone before sinking down to sit on the edge of my bed.

I need to think. This might be nothing—just my mom wanting to tell me to be careful and that she’s excited for me.

“You okay? You’re starting to worry me.” Julianna’s big blue eyes show concern. I must look as bad as I feel. And I feel like I want to puke.

“I thought you said your mom was fine with you going on tour with them over winter break.” She cocks her head, and the kindness in her voice makes me want to cry because I’ve worked so hard, and if this phone call is what I think it is…

“I did.” I jump up and pace in our tiny dorm room, which is so limited on space that my giant suitcase takes up a big portion of the floor.

“Shit.” I make my brain think. Julianna was right. It’s a miracle I’ve pulled this off. It all boils down to the fact that both my photography and English professors are giant Stuffed Muffins fans. So much so that I was pretty much given a guaranteed A. All I have to do is an exclusive interview that my professor, Mr. Berry, can submit to Rolling Stone for me and provide some recent pictures, and it’ll probably put me on the map. Over the years, I’ve stayed in touch with Nuke, their drummer, and if his drunken phone calls complaining about how the band is not in sync are any indication, Rhys absolutely needs me. I mean, who else knows him like I do?

The time is now. I’m already late—this is the tail end of their tour.

Six weeks.

Six weeks to make Rhys realize what I have always known. That we’re soulmates. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t seen him in years. Or that he has become one of the biggest stars in the world. What matters is us. He needs me. It’s why I’m so determined to get out of here. They’re playing tonight in Seattle. Nuke was a bit fuzzy on how long they were staying.

My phone starts singing again and I take a deep breath. Might as well deal with it because I’m absolutely going to do this.

Exhaling, I toss my hair off my left shoulder. “Hey, Mom, what’s up? I’m super busy, so if it’s not an emergency, I really need—”

“Gia, you need to stop and listen to me,” my mom yells through the phone, halting my rant. Damn it, I had hoped I could talk right over her.

“You need to call your brother.” And those are the last words I ever want to hear out of my mom’s mouth.

“Why?” I almost explode at her. Why the hell did she tell him?

“He’s not happy,” she says flatly.

I huff. “Axel’s never happy.” Taking a deep breath, it’s hard not to go off on my mom, but I hold back. I glance over at Julianna who sits at the end of her bed looking like a Disney princess, except for her gross and annoying habit of picking her nail polish off. I almost swat her hand, but I need to focus.

“Look, sweetheart, I know this is through the university, but Axel has some concerns.”

I go to open my mouth but she continues. “Call him. You know he’s only looking out for you. If he says yes, then by all means go, and do the best job in the world.” She says the last part as if she’s on a talk show. She’s so phony and completely see-through. God, I can’t believe I felt guilty because technically this has nothing to do with Berkeley. But now I don’t. Of course, she’s trying to make Axel happy. That’s what everyone does. It’s all about not upsetting Axel.

Pathetic.

All but me—screw that. He’s my brother but I can see his flaws. I take another deep breath.

“Fine.” I huff. “I’ll call Mitchell, but just for the record, I’m eighteen, so I don’t need permission from either of you.”

The line goes silent. “Hello?”

“I’m here.” Her voice is loud and clear. “Call your brother, young lady, if you want to continue using your credit card.” And then the line really does go dead.

“Goddammit.” I toss my phone on the pillow. “Goddammit.”I jump up and pace.

“What?” Julianna tries to follow, her blond hair slapping me in the face as I turn quickly.

Sighing, I look up at the dull white ceiling. “I have to call freakin’ Mitchell.” I clench and unclench my hands.

“Who’s Mitchell?” Julianna’s voice goes up. She gets flustered easily.

“Axel. Mitchell is Axel,” My eyes flash at her. “Never mind.” I wave my hand, already rehearsing what I need to say.

Hey, big brother. I’m going to spend my whole winter break with the Stuffed Muffins. Why? Because I need to convince Rhys Granger that we are destined to be together. So, deal with it and don’t stand in my way. Somehow that’s not going to fly. In fact, he might lock me up. He and Rhys are not close anymore.

“Screw this. He can’t control me,” I mumble and push on his number. It’s like a Band-Aid that you know is going to burn and sting when you take it off, so you rip it off fast. That’s where I’m at. Might as well rip it off.

“Oh dear.” Julianna wrings her hands as I straighten my shoulders back, frowning at her. I don’t need any bad juju. I love her to death, but she worries way too much.

I’m about to sigh in relief because he’s not picking up and I can leave a message when I hear, “What?”

“Hey, Mitchell, so—”

“No.”

“Um, rude. You don’t even—”

“Listen, Gia.” He sounds grumpier than usual. “I have shit going on, so I’m gonna make this fast. Over my dead body would I ever allow my baby sister to be anywhere near Granger.”

Holy shit, that’s harsh, and kind of vicious. “Axel. I’m doing this through the university. It’s comple—”

“Do you think I’m Mom? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re lying and the answer is no.”He barks the last part, causing Julianna to cover her mouth as I hold the phone away from my ear.

“Fine, I won’t go. But you’re making a huge mistake. Completely clipping my wings. This is my career, you kn— Axel? Mitchell?”

I look down at my phone. “God, he’s such an asshole. He hung up on me. Can you believe it?”

Julianna sinks to her bed, her eyes full of tears, and I have to fight myself not to yell What the hell are you crying for? My whole life plan has been ruined.

Or has it?

“Julianna?” I drop down next to her, my mind spinning. This could work. Julianna’s dad is rich, not wealthy, but rich. And Julianna is freakin’ perfect. She’s so responsible, she has access to money—aka she can give me a loan.

“I’m so, so sorry, Gia. I know you truly wanted to do this but… you know what they say. If it’s meant to be then—”

“Screw that,” I interrupt her kind but unnecessary pep talk.

“We make our own destinies. And I need your help.” Taking her cold hands in mine, I give them a supportive shake. I’m dealing with a complete rule follower here. Julianna never did anything adventurous until the day we became roommates. Thank goodness I came into her life.

“You do? Oh God, what?” Her eyes grow huge.

“Stop it. It’s not a big deal at all really.” I smile at her, and she stares back befuddled.

“Okay. Listen, if my mom and Axel are going to be like this, then I can’t use my credit card because…” I trail off. Of course, she looks confused.

I smile. “Julianna, I need you to give me a loan and cover for me if my mom calls.” I squeeze her hands again as her eyes get bigger, if that’s possible.

“Don’t panic.” I let go of her hands. They’re clammy. “She’s not going to call.”

“Oh, thank God,” she whispers.

“But in case she does, just pick up and tell her I’m working.” I do jazz hands and smile encouragingly, trying my hardest not to lose patience.

“Oh dear.” She blinks at me and again, my conscience nags at me. I jump up and move to close my suitcase, needing to get away from her responsible energy.

“Please, Julianna. You need to believe in me. If you don’t, then I don’t think I can handle it.”

“You know I believe in you,” she snips.

“Fantastic, I need a loan.”

“But they said no, Gia.” Her voice is calm, and I don’t need to look at her to know she’s picking at her nail polish again. I can hear the annoying scratching.

“I mean, you can’t disappear for weeks and think they won’t know.”

I hold up my finger and sit on top of my overpacked suitcase. “Watch me. Throw me my phone.” I motion with my hands while blowing a piece of hair off my face. She leans over and hands it to me. I give her a saucy wink and push on my mom’s number.

“Watch and learn.” Surprisingly it goes to voicemail, which I take as the universe telling me this is one-hundred percent right.

“Hey, Mom, so after thinking about it and talking to Mitchell, I’m not going to go.” I sigh dramatically because there is a fine line between obvious and spot-on perfect.

“I’m super disappointed.” Another deep sigh. “Butttt… Julianna has offered me an alternative.” I shake my head and glare at her since the mention of her name has made her moan in despair.

“Her dad is a big commercial real estate guy. And he’s hiring her over the break to help out. Anyway, he was getting ready to hire a professional photographer to take pictures of his properties and update his website. But Julianna convinced him to hire me instead.” Gazing at my shoes, I avoid the look on Jules’s miserable face. “I want you to know I’m devasted about not being able to get the scholarship. I’ll check in when I can.”

I push end and turn to Julianna. “See, easy peasy. Now how much can you loan me?”

“You’re like a Jedi master at lying.” Her face is flushed and I smile because again, thank goodness she has me. She hasn’t been this excited since I made her go to TJ with me for a fake ID.

“You’re seriously going to do this no matter what?” She licks her lips as I motion for her to sit on my bag so I can zip it up.

“Yep. I need enough for a plane ticket to Seattle and emergency money… a couple thousand should do it in case I need to buy some things.” I’m pulling numbers out of my head.

“Whatever, I don’t care about the money. Gia?” She grabs my hand.

“What? And you can get up.” I almost laugh at her but that would be horrible. It’s not her fault she’s a truly good, innocent person.

She stands and takes a breath. “You promise that your mom will not call or… or Axel?” She whispers my brother’s name and turns pink. Christ, I forgot she has a crush on him.

“You have zero to worry about. In fact, don’t answer our phone, okay?” I turn and start to dump my moisturizer into my makeup bag.

“I’ll have Rhys pay you back as soon as I get there.” I flip my hair off my shoulder.

“Please, don’t worry about the money. What I’m concerned about is… I mean…” She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

“You’re positive he’s going to want you, right? I mean, you’ve built this up in your head, been saving yourself for one of the most famous men in the world.” She says all this lightning fast and for a moment, I falter. Her words make me sound crazy.

“I’m sorry. But as your friend I feel I need to at least say this.” She straightens her shoulders back.

My eyes narrow on her as I stop to think. Jesus, what if he doesn’t want me? I’ve spent so much time getting to this point that I haven’t even let one bit of doubt enter my plan.

“Gia, you’re sure he feels the same way? You haven’t seen him since you were twelve.”

I sigh and drop down to sit on the end of my suitcase. “Eleven, and it was a funeral. I can’t get into it, but it was a bad time.”

She lowers herself to sit next to me on the case. “Please, don’t be mad at me. I just don’t want to see you get hurt is all.” She wraps her arms around her knees.

I nod. “I know, and to be honest, I have no idea if this is going to work out.” I rub my temples. I’m starting to get a stress headache—either that or a huge reality slap.

“Look.” I bop her shoulder. “Worst-case scenario, I get a bunch of exclusive photos of the band and sell my story to Rolling Stone. Then Cameron Crowe reads about me and turns it into a movie.” I smile at her.

She shakes her head at me. “If anyone could make that happen, it would be you.” She rubs her face as I hug her.

“I have to do this. I know you think I’m crazy, but he’s the one.”

“You are crazy, so crazy, but I believe in you. Now give me your account number.”