Blue
I make it to Monica's just as the morning rush is starting. The guys behind the counter wave and smile at me as I head for the small stage. This place used to be a small bar with live karaoke, and when Monica bought it she decided to keep the small stage and have live performers play. She saw me playing one day at the park and asked if I wanted to play at her cafe, and I jumped at the opportunity.It's not that I expected to make it big with my singing or anything. Actually, I've never once thought about trying to become famous using my voice. I use what I can to make money and I happen to be an okay singer and guitar player. I'm no Adele but people seem to enjoy my performances so I keep doing it.
The stage has a wooden stool, a mic with a stand, and a guitar all ready to go for me. I used to lug around my guitar when I came here but Monica told me to use the one here so I wouldn't hurt myself. Even after I objected several times she didn't waver and I gave in to her request. Besides this beauty is way nicer than mine and it plays like a dream.
Monica walks from behind the counter and over to the stage. I stand off to the side and wait for her to introduce me.
"Good morning everyone! I know that most of you are rushing off to work, but as usual, we have a lovely musician to serenade you as you wait for your coffee. Everyone, this is Blue!" She turns and smiles at me.
She claps enthusiastically which encourages others to clap too. It's sweet and I blush a little every time.
Once she steps off the stage I take a seat and look down at my fingers resting on the strings of the guitar. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open my eyes I try to ignore the people watching me and pretend I'm performing for a single person. The only person I have ever wanted to play music for.
It's a dumb fantasy but it helps me get my nerves under control. Slowly the people sitting on the mixed vintage furniture watching me start to blur away and my one fan sits there smiling at me. I smile back at the image and start playing.
My first song is one I wrote when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time. The freedom I felt was like nothing I felt before. I felt untouchable which was something I dreamed about for so long. My first song melts into the next and when I'm three songs down I decide to add a few covers.
My favorite song* When I'm Alone by Lissie* is next and transitions to *Sea Breeze by Tyrone Wells*. They are a lot calmer and fit the comfy cafe vibe better. My last song is *B.O.M.O by Tatiana Manaois*, and when I sing the last note the room erupts in applause. The sound jolts me out of the haze I create when I'm singing and I stand. I bow and carefully set the guitar back where it belongs.
A few people tell me how well I sang as I make my way to the counter where Monica is working on a customer's drink. I stop at the waist-height swinging door that the employees use and wait for her to finish.
"That was amazing Blue! I swear every time you play is better than the last. I wish you would let me contact that friend of mine." She told me about her friend who works as a talent agent, but I explained why I wasn't interested.
The music industry is cutthroat and I don't want to take something I enjoy and taint it. When I sing it's because I want to not because I'm under contract to.
"Hey, Tinker Blue." I roll my eyes at the lame nickname but the teasing smile it comes with makes it hard for me to be angry. "How are you doing beautiful?"
"Does your boyfriend know you flirt with me on the regular?" I ask Diego, one of the baristas.
He laughs. "He knows I'm loyal to his crazy ass, but since he adores you just as much he might get a little jealous that he wasn't here to see you."
I laugh and shake my head. "You two are crazy. I don't know what to do with you."
"How about a kiss for this amazing latte I just made you?" He leans closer and holds the cup just out of reach.
I narrow my eyes at him and lean forward like I'm going to kiss him but turn at the last second and grab the cup.
He laughs. "Smart little street girl."
"You bet your ass sweetheart." I wink at him and take a long swig of the perfectly made latte. "Where is your better half?"
"He had some big case to work on today." He says with a shrug.
Diego's boyfriend is a lawyer and from what I hear a pretty good one. He is also bisexual and since Diego has an odd thing for me they have tried to convince me to give a poly relationship a try, but I kindly refused. They're perfect as a duo and I'm only passing through. It's funny how you can meet such amazing people but still feel that urge to keep moving in life.
"Well, tell my beau I say hi and stay out of trouble. By Monica!" I call out and try to make a quick exit but she catches me before I can sneak out.
She has already paid me in advance this week, but she always tries to slide me a little extra each time. I don't want to make her feel like she needs to help me more than she has to but no matter what I do she gets her way. I have quickly learned how stubborn she can be.
"Blue..." I cringe and turn. "Not once have you snuck out of here without me catching you, so what makes you think today would be any different?"
I sigh in defeat. "One day I'll make it to the door at least. Seriously Monica what you pay me is enough."
She shakes her head. "It's not. The amount of tips we get when you perform is crazy, and you deserve a cut. Ain't that right guys?"
There are a few words of agreement from the other employees and I know I've lost. They are all so nice to me and none of them have ever been upset to share their tips with me. It's people like them that make me believe kindness still exists. They don't know me well, but they still treat me like one of their own. It makes me emotional every single time.
"Just take the money Blue." Cole, one of the other baristas says sounding exasperated by the scene we play out every time.
If I didn't know him I would be embarrassed but his love language is snark.
"Thank you, guys." They smile at me and Diego sends me a sassy wink.
"Look Blue, you can always come to me for help. If you want more days to perform or even jump behind the counter we will make it happen. You know that."
I do. Monica has been so sweet and has offered me a way out of my situation, but I know the dangers of it. Depending on people like that can come back to bite you, and I don't want to risk it. Plus she's a small business owner and it isn't easy to employ someone like me who doesn't even have a home.
"I'm good Mon, thank you though." I take the envelope she hands me and waves to her and the others as I head for the door.
When I step outside I feel the familiar tightness in my chest that I get every time I leave here. It's when the fear and anxiety of performing finally hits. I'm able to push it down to get through my set but I can't ignore it forever and sometimes it crashes down on me hard. It's probably something I would see a doctor about if I had health insurance but since I don't I have to deal with it.
I'm not paying attention to the people around me as I make my way to the park. It's where I got to calm down.
"Hey, you!" Someone yells and I startle when I man steps into my path. "I know you."
"What?" I stammer out while looking around and seeing more people staring at me. "I-I'm sorry I have to go."
Before he can grab me I make a run for it.
What was that? Why were all those people looking at me?? And why did that guy try to grab me?
Blue After almost being grabbed by that guy my heart is beating like crazy. I also feel super paranoid and can't help looking around me as I rush in the direction of the railroad yard. Forget the park! Besides, I swear people are watching me but I can't figure out why. What is happening? Is there something weird about how I look today? I cleaned up well before I went to Monica's but maybe I missed something. Except I'm pretty sure she would have said something if she noticed I looked off. "Excuse me." I stop short when a young girl stops next to me. "Yes?" I look around to see if anyone is watching us. She has to be fourteen, so I don't think she's a threat to me. Maybe this has nothing to do with why that guy approached me. "You're the girl from the Twitter hashtag!" She smiles at me like she's just met her favorite celebrity. "I can't believe I found you! Can I take a picture with you?" What is she talking about? "Hashtag?" I ask her. "Yeah! See?" She turns her phone to
ArtemisI normally hate social media. The idea that people want to share everything they think and do at all times doesn't make sense to me.However in this case I was convinced that it could be useful. When Abigail suggested it I wasn't sure if it would work, but she said the post had gone viral within an hour. In that time some people had even snapped a photo of the girl. I was happy to let Abigail handle things after that and I decided to get back to my real work. Several urgent emails were waiting in my inbox to read. Alan has been out of town trying to close a contract with a security firm. Apparently, they were hacked a few times which I find funny since they work in the field of security. In their defense, they specialize in securing people. The first email is from my mother inviting me to brunch on Sunday. She adds that there will be a few friends joining us. That's code for potential wives and their wealthy families. It's the third of this month, and I'm ready to be done wi
BlueI slowly stop laughing when I notice the guy's face hasn't changed. He isn't cracking a smile or laughing along with me. Neither is the woman next to me. "Are you serious?" I ask with clear disbelief in my voice. "Yes." He says. "Okay. Can I ask why?" I'm not sure what to ask if I'm honest. "I'll be right outside Mr. Rhodes." The redhead says before leaving me alone with this crazy man."I need your help with a problem I'm having." The man says as he moves and stands at the edge of my bed. "Well, admitting you have a problem is the first step but what does that have to do with me marrying you?" He doesn't seem amused by my odd comment."I need to be married by Sunday. My family has a tradition where all children are supposed to be married by the age of thirty. Either to someone of their choice, within reason, or to someone of their choosing." He says this in what I assume is his way of explaining the situation. It only makes me more confused though. "Aren't things like fo
Blue"I agreed to marry you, not carry a child! What the hell? It's a good thing I didn't sign anything yet. You are fucking crazy if you think I'm going to give you free rein over my reproduction choices." We are back to me wanting to kick this guy out on his ass. How dare he drop that bomb on me! "I never said you would have to carry the child. We could claim you have a problem conceiving and use a surrogate to carry the baby. We can even use a donated egg if you don't want to have any biological connection to the child." My mouth drops open in shock. Literally. Did he just say..."You want me to pretend I can't get pregnant and have another woman carry a baby that isn't mine but will be passed off as mine? You are certifiable." I can't believe I thought about marrying this guy!"Look...Blue," He stops and tilts his head at me with an odd expression on his face. "Is that a nickname for something?"Great now I have to explain this to some rich prick. "No. When I was little my fo
ArtemisI hesitate outside of Blue's room feeling a strange surge of concern for her. After what she told me...something changed. She wasn't just a random woman I picked to play a role in my life. She was a real person with a past and from what it sounds like, possibly a bad one. She was in foster care. What happened to her in the system? Suddenly I want to know everything about her. What happened to not caring? I told myself to keep my distance from the woman I would marry so I wouldn't have to deal with the mess of a relationship, but I don't know what that means now. From one conversation with a mysterious woman, I've only just met my whole plan has been thrown out. Maybe because she isn't like most women I know. It's not just the blue hair, it's more than that. I have never been interested in getting to know people. My mind is constantly wrapped up in my work. The only reason Alan and I are friends is that he was the one to keep that connection alive. He is an extreme extrovert
BlueI stand in front of the mirror and see a girl playing dress up looking back at me. It's blindingly obvious that these sorts of clothes don't suit me. My hair is a bright blue sign saying this businesswoman look isn't me. Also, it doesn't hide some of the scars I have. One in particular. It's a section of round burn marks from when one of my foster dads put a cigarette out on my skin a few times as punishment. I was too little at the time to fight back and too scared to try. For the most part, I don't notice it and it's easy to forget some of the dark moments of my past, but this outfit highlights all my worst parts. It's unflattering and...off. Still, Abigail thinks it would be a good idea to wear it, so I'll follow her advice. I would prefer people not to make horrible comments about my looks if I'm going to be in the spotlight from now on. I'm hoping that once Artemis and I are married...if we get married...Who am I kidding? I'm accepting his dumbass deal. What the heck? It
BlueThe view is amazing from Artemis's office. I don't think I haven't had the chance to see Seattle like this. It's breathtaking even with the dark clouds steadily rolling in. His office on the other hand looks very...professional. There isn't a hint of anything personal anywhere in the room. No pictures of family or diplomas like you see in most offices. It's a lot of brown and black with a pale grey wall and wood accents. It sort of reminds me of what you would expect an old man's den would look like.I'm not surprised, to be honest. He seems to like control and this room allows him to become the center of everyone's attention. The air around him screams authority and I guess that's enough to fill this space. Still, if I had a say he would at least have some colorful pillows. Even something like a soft cream color would do a lot for this place. "Who decorated your office?" I ask moving away from the window. I can feel his eyes following and soon I hear his footsteps as well. "
ArtemisBlue and I are both breathing hard. I realize too late what I just said and I hate that I lost control like that. Actually, I hadn't been thinking when I said it. My mouth blurted it out before I knew what I was saying. Shit. Then because I can't seem to control myself around her, my eyes travel down her body taking in every detail that I have yet to see. When I bumped into her she was wearing a baggy sweatshirt and loose jeans. Somehow Abigail had bought her clothes that fit her almost perfectly and is giving me a good idea of the body that hides beneath them. "Those clothes look wrong on you." I blurt out. Blue looks down at her outfit and blows out a breath. "Yeah I thought so too, but I didn't have anything else. Plus Abigail went through the trouble to bring it so I didn't want to waste them. Plus she said it would give me a better image in the press since my last photos were less than appealing." She said what?"Why would that matter?" I ask her knowing full well w
BlueWhat is going on? Here I was expecting some yelling or fighting but got hysterical laughter instead. Are they all high? Well, probably not Iris, but she looks a little confused as well. Same girl, same. “What is so funny?” I yell. They all slowly calm down and it’s Rhea who speaks next. “Blue, I know that this may seem strange, but we’re happy.” Say what now?“What do you mean? You guys would be getting nothing!” I remind them as if it weren’t clear. “We know and that’s the great part. Honestly, it’s a relief. That money is tainted with bad memories for us. It’s a burden, but to someone who’s as kindhearted as you it could be a huge blessing. You’ve come from having so little to having enough money for a hundred lifetimes. You could do anything! We are happy to let that money go and let you decide what to do with it. Once the funeral is over we can finally let that time of our lives die too. It’s the last tie to what our family name used to
ArtemisThis week has been hell. My grandfather and parents did not want to leave this world without one last special, and I’m hating every second of dealing with it. Still for my sisters it means closure even though our relationship with them was strained. Then there’s the whole matter of the will. Honestly, I don’t want to know what my grandfather has left me to deal with. If what’s happened in the last few months are only a piece of what I have to face then I’m going to hate the rest even more. My sisters are happy to let me handle it since they don’t want a thing from my father or grandfather. As much as they feel a sense of loss, they also feel relief. The last die-hard Rhodes are gone and we can all move on. My charity work with blue has been a lot more rewarding than any of the other work I’ve done, and seeing her smile is all the payment I need. Fuck. I haven’t been able to spend much time with her thanks to all this, but as soon as it’s over I am taking the fi
BlueI make it back to the bookstore just as Dane comes in searching for me. “Everything okay?” He asks looking me over for injuries. “Yeah, they didn’t have what I was looking for and I even asked an employee to look, and it took forever just for her to tell me they didn’t have the book. Crazy right?” I laugh weakly and hope he doesn’t notice my discomfort in lying.He doesn’t ask anything, so I guess I did okay, but as we drive home my anxiety hits an all time high. How am I going to look at Artemis and his sisters knowing what I know and not say anything. These people have been rich all their lives and even though they are individually wealthy do they expect more now that their grandfather and parents are dead? I can only imagine the amount of money those three died with and now it’s coming my way. There is so much anxiety and pressure waring inside me that when we get home I rush through the front door and to the nearest bathroom to throw up. No one seems
BlueI need to find a way to get out of here without anyone asking questions. Also, that means leaving the babies and Lilly which I’m not sure anyone will be willing to do with everything else going on, but I need to go to this meeting. There’s no time to debate logistics, so I head back to the living room where I see the Rhodes siblings still discussing something. Artemis’s eyes lift when I walk into the room, and he gives me a confused look. Maybe he sees something in my face that has alarm bells going up, so I try to smile and act like nothing is going on. “I’m sorry but something came up at my office, I need to run in and handle it. Can I leave the kids with you?” I ask him. “Of course. Is everything okay?” He asks standing and stepping around the couch to walk in my direction. I don’t really want him touching me right now. It feels fake now. After what I heard it has me overthinking still and I don’t have time to dig deeper into all those feelings right now.
BlueThe door opens behind me, and Artemis walks inside with Iris next to him. His sisters are on their feet in an instant and rushing over to wrap their little sister in their arms. The three of them start to cry while Artemis stands off to the side watching them. His forehead is creased, and his jaw is tight like he isn’t sure what to do but also like he’s worried. So, I walk over to him and slip my hand in his. “You okay?” I whisper. He sighs. “I’m glad she’s okay.” That’s enough for me. This is all so fresh, so it makes sense that none of them know what to say or do next. “What can I do to help?” I ask him. “We need to wait for the lawyer to the estate contacts us. They will let us know our grandfather’s and parent’s wishes for burial and memorial services. Then we go from there. After the funeral there will be the reading of the will, and we’ll all know where we stand in this family.” He grinds his teeth at that last part. I may not know much a
BlueAfter Artemis leaves, I stand in the hallway and try to figure out the best way to go about this. Rhea is torn up over the news and I want to be there for her, but what can I do? I don’t want to just sit back and have them handle everything while they work through everything emotionally. It’s no secret, things were strained between all of them but that was still Artemis’s parents and that has to be hard for him. Before I can come up with a plan one of the babies starts crying. All of them have a different cry and this one is Eros. I walk into the nursery and pick him up right away. His head turns to my boob as soon as he’s in my arms. Before I take him out to feed, I check on Selene and Damion, but they are still asleep.Those two sleep like the dead when they want to except apparently at night when the smallest sound has them wide awake. In the end all of them end up in bed with me and Artemis to finish off the night. Not that either of us care much, we love cuddling u
ArtemisI hadn’t heard from my grandfather in several weeks and I’m wondering when he will send Iris to us. I’m willing to fly to wherever they are and pick her up myself but any attempts at contacting my grandfather have gone unanswered. That is until Rhea comes stumbling into the house looking as if she’s seen a ghost. “Artemis…” It sounds like saying that much was too much effort. “What?” “Rhea? What’s wrong?” Blue rushes over to my sister and helps her to sit down on the closest chair. “Rhea, what’s going on?” “Just look.” My sister hands her phone to Blue, but I can hear the audio. 'Another tragedy involving the famous Rhodes family. Unfortunately, this accident resulted in the death of three members including the Patriarch of the family, his son and his daughter-in-law. The following information may be upsetting for some. The police and rescue crew discovered the pilot a mile away and the members of the family different distances from the crash. Ou
ArtemisSeeing Blue juggle, the children’s home and motherhood is like watching a bee buzzing around a hive. She has been going non-stop and is trying so hard to make up for the time she lost not being there to help. I know she thinks that she will let someone down if she isn’t giving one hundred percent of herself in everything she does, but I can see her burning out. At night she’s been crashing as soon as her head hits the pillow, but she’s up any time the triplets need to be changed or fed. I try to help as best I can, but she always tells me to sleep, and she will handle things. Only she doesn’t realize that she sleeps through a few of the nightly cries, and I make sure nothing wakes her. Now that she will let the babies in the nursery, I turn off the monitor while I’m in there and switch to getting alerts on my phone. That way she can sleep, and I’ll still be able to hear the babies. She needs the rest. Since the babies came, I’ve been in full dad duty. Not that
BlueThe first few weeks home with the triplets is chaos. Lilly is such a sweet girl and even though she needs a lot of help with things she hasn’t complained once having to share our time. Artemis has made everything so much easier by just being here and helping wherever it’s needed. He was joking about the personal chief either. I mean when does he ever not mean these things? I should know that by now. He also did have a whole medical room set up in the house. There are plans to expand the house even more thanks to all the plans he has. Athena found a house down the street from us and has been so happy with her decision to adopt. She’s an amazing mother and it’s been great having her so close by. Rhea, not wanting to be left out also bought a house on our street and has been stopping by with her kids almost everyday much to Artemis’s displeasure. He’s gotten a lot better with having his sisters around but he’s still his grumpy self with them. Now they just find it fu