***

A/N:

!!! Important !!!

My lovely 'Ghosts'

As you might have read in the summary, I want to add a lot of songs into this book.
I want to make sure you all understand I have NO rights to ANY of the songs/videos I use in my book!!!
Even though I may mention Lexi is singing/recording these songs as hers,
ALL credits go to the original artists (and/or cover artists) and their producers!!!

I just find these songs fitting with the storyline and it took a lot of time researching for them. I just hope you all appreciate the selection I made and further all the credits go out to them for making it sound amazing! Again, I only own the rights of the book I write itself.

I will also name all the original song titles and artists (and/or cover artists) by the end of each chapter.

Enjoy!! xoxo Dominique Moust.

***

I swear under my breath as I enter the recording studio, already hearing Delphine's wrath. Good thing I'm prepared for once! My eyes immediately spot Delphine in the recording room, looking cranky as ever. Fuck! My eyes change direction quickly looking for Ryan, who's sitting with his headphones behind the spinning tables, panicking and clearly wishing I'll be here any second. Guess what, sweety? I'm already here. I think as I sneak up behind him, pressing a kiss on his head. Within a split second, Ryan turns around yanking off his headphones. Staring at me as if I'm a dead person, that has risen from the grave...

'What?!'

I ask in utter confusion. It's not like I've never been late before... Apparently, my words shook Ryan out of his comatose state because he immediately jumps up and grabs me in his arms.

'Oh sweety, thank god you're alive!'

He says pulling at my hair and picking at my nose and cheeks, to make sure I'm actually ...me!

'Did someone abduct you?!'

'Where is your cap? You always wear a cap!'

'Did someone steal it from you?!'

'Dear lord, we were so worried! We thought something might have happened to you!'

'What happened? Do you have pain anywhere?'

While asking me a million questions, he's almost scrambling my brain and body in the process as he keeps shaking me around with his arms. A-As if making .. my b-brain into .. an s-s-smoothie .. would make his list of q-questions .. g-getting answered any q-quicker...

'R-RYAN!
D-Do y-you m-m-mind-
L-Letting me g-go!
B-Before I ... t-turn into f-f-fucking ... j-j-jelly?!'

Ryan immediately loosens his grip on me, covering his mouth with one hand slightly embarrassed. Damn, R-Ryan.

'D-Don't worry about it, honey. You're a-adorable when you're worried about me.'

'Well, I'm glad you're alive and well sweetheart. You got me worried sick!'

'Yeah, what is it with me being death or something?
I know I'm an hour late, but it's quite disturbing to me that you and Delphine don't even think I can survive an hour on my own. '

I say chuckling a little painfully at Ryan. I know he's a drama queen but this is a long stretch, even for him.

'Don't mock me!
Yes! You're late all the time, but I always get a heads up from Bhek's when you leave at home. That way I can have everything ready by the time you're here.'

'Yeah, I know that she does it because I always forget in the morning. Although I must admit I'm kinda proud she still does it, with all of her partying lately. But what on earth has that to do with this? Did Bheks prank you? Or are you stoned, or something?'

'What?! God no!
She texted an hour and a half ago! Normally it takes you thirty minutes max to get here. We checked traffic and everything!
Oh fuck. Delphine! She doesn't know yet, she's still freaking out in there!'

I can see Ryan almost getting a panic attack and I quickly push him back on his stool while I mutter.

'Ryan. Honey. Chill the fuck down! I'll go and take care of Delphine, and you better listen too! 'Cause I'm going to answer your shitload of questions in a couple of seconds.'

I press a bottle of water into his hand and take another with me. Time to cool off the dragon lady... See the thing about my manager is, she's annoying as fuck, she doesn't know any boundaries, wears way too exposed clothing, can't resist the urge to give people bloody annoying nicknames, hates it when people are late, dresses way too slutty for her age ...and the list just goes on and on and on. Basically, she isn't humane. Or she's someone who should be working in a military hooker club instead. But I also gotta admit she does one hell of a job.  She's probably one of the biggest reasons I'm famous. I may have talent, but without her as my manager, I wouldn't have been known all around the world. You just need to know how to handle her.
I see Delphine standing in a corner of the recording room swearing like a sailor and gripping at the ends of her ginger hair, almost pulling them out from frustration.

'You know I'm offended by the fact that you'd think I'd die within an hour, right?!'

Her head immediately does a 180 her eyes shooting directly at me.

'Y-You're ...alive?!'

I let out a sigh, already getting tired of me being the dead person.

'Yes!
Now we've all accomplished the fact that I'm still breathing. Will you let me explain why I'm late? Instead of being frikkin' death!'

'Well you can't deny the fact you're a fast driver, so we thoug-'

'I'd die in a car crash?
Un-fucking-believable.'

I turn around pointing a finger at Ryan, at this point officially offended by the situation.

'Seriously?!
I'm one of the best fucking drivers in the district!
A car crash?!
That's just insulting.'

I can see Ryan sticking up his hands pleading he's sorry. I roll my eyes at him before turning my focus back on Delphine.

'Whatever!'

I say waving my hands up in the air, not wanting to continue this topic any further.

'I've got something more important to tell you.'

'You better! Hon. You may be my star, but you can't go MIA like that.'

'I know, just let me explain-'

I say picking up the water bottle and throwing it towards her.

'Cool off dragon lady, I promise it was worth your heart attack.'

I see her pessimistic glare and ignore it while dragging closer one of the crutches.

'I met a woman in Coffee and Cakes...'

***

After explaining the whole thing to Delphine and Ryan, Delphine's mood quickly turned around.
She was completely on board, as I suspected. Ryan cried, of course, like the drama queen he is. He couldn't leave out a certain amount of ooh's and ah's and he thought it was "super adorable" I gave my cap to Roxy. I do really care about that girl. Otherwise, I would've never given her my cap in the first place. But I know Delphine isn't really a person who acts with her heart, she just thinks about her wallet. Which in this case means it's a win-win situation. After our conversation, Delphine went to her office to make a couple of calls.

'Sweetie?'

'Hmhmm..'

I mumble my mouth stuffed with what's left of my breakfast.

'You aren't still mad at me, are you?'

Ryan asks with a hesitant voice, knowing that I wasn't very pleased about the reason they thought something might have happened to me.

'I'm not angry, a bit disappointed maybe.'

'Hon, I know you are a terrific driver. But that doesn't mean you can't get into an accident, like, ever.'

'I know that better than anyone, believe me.'

'Because of your parents, you mean?'

'That ...and something else.'

I say the last bit my voice barely a whisper. It has been a long time since I thought about that day, it was more than four years ago... A pain strikes through my heart just thinking about it, the horror images of that night still imprinted in my mind as if it happened yesterday. No. I quickly shake those dark thoughts off and turn my gaze back to Ryan.

'I uhh... I'm gonna take a quick smoke on the deck. Because of all the drama this morning I haven't even gotten a chance for my morning cigarette.'

Ryan nods knowing that I don't want to talk about it, probably texting Bhek's in a few seconds asking if he said something wrong. I grin softly as I walk upstairs without another word. As soon as I'm outside I light my cigarette, inhaling deeply. I know smoking is bad, especially because I'm a singer. I quit almost two years ago, except for one smoke in the morning. Which is quite an improvement since I smoked a pack a day before that. Normally I smoke it at home before I leave, but because of the thing with Bhek's this morning and everything that happened after, I didn't really have the time for it. My eyes gaze at the view of Los Angeles, as I keep inhaling my cigarette. I can't believe it has just been four months since my parents died. It seems, longer... When my parents died it seemed like the whole world stopped spinning. Their death was tragic and it broke my entire family into little bits and pieces, more than it already was. Bheks and I barely talk to the rest of the family after the accident. Besides from Alex, our older brother who lives in New York, we only talk to one uncle from time to time. And the only reason for that is that we don't really have a choice. My mom tried to break off contact with her side of the family ages ago, she didn't want anything to do with their ways. Not that that worked out in the end... My dad used to work for my mother's family since his parents passed away when he was seventeen and an only child. That's how he met mom. Ever since their death Bheks, Alex, and I have basically been on our own. We love each other a lot and I don't really care we don't have anyone else. I miss my mom and dad, yes, but the others? Hell no! It's more like good riddance if anything else. I miss you both so damn much! I think, taking another deep puff of smoke as I look up at the sky. Bhek's has had it really rough the last few months... Not that I'm doing a lot better, according to her I'm working myself to death. I chuckle softly to myself. It doesn't feel that way to me, it just helps me to get my mind off things.

Music just helps me to get through all this shit, it always has... I sigh my eyes following the smoke as it drifts away in the sky. Bheks doesn't get that, she just drinks a few bottles of Jack every night and hopes it'll make her feel better. Maybe it's mean of me to think that way, we all deal with our shit differently. I approve of her approach just as much as she does with mine, that's all. I take another draft from my cigarette as I drag the fingers of my other hand through my hair, leaning with my back against the wall. Geh-eh... Sorry dad, but I gave my cap away. Although I think if you would've been here, you would probably be proud as hell of why I did it. I smile softly as I can feel my eyes get watery. I'll promise I'll do more stuff together with Rebekah. I feel like we've drifted apart the last couple of weeks. I know she feels the same way. We're identical twins for fuck's sake!

'Sweetie, are you done?'

Ryan's voice immediately rips me out of my thoughts and I look at my cigarette to notice it has already burned out.

'Apparently, I am.'

I say holding up the out-burned end of my cigarette.

'Delphine wants you down, ASAP.'

'Of course, she does. First, she takes off for half an hour and when I go outside for five minutes I'm the one who has to rush. Dammit.'

I say walking towards Ryan, I grab him by the arm and start walking down the stairs.

'Tell me, how're things going between you and that gorgeous Kendall?'

I see a slight grin appearing on Ryan's face, he knows damn well I'm jealous as fuck. They're just made for each other. A perfect match.

'Still going strong, darling. I can guarantee you, Kendall's not Bisexual so forget about it.'

'Fuck. I can't help he's just absolute perfection. No offense sweetie, but it should be illegal for a man that looks that good to be completely gay! I never even had a chance.'

I pout my lips at Ryan and wipe away a fake tear. Ryan and I have known each other for quite some time now and we've become good friends. He may be a drama queen, but at least he's my drama queen and he always manages to cheer me up.

'Oh stop it, crybaby. You'll find yourself the perfect man too, just give it some time.'

He says laughing at my fake attempt to cry.

'I envy you. You know that, right?'

'There is nothing to envy, honey. Being gay isn't exactly a walk in the park. Yes, I love Kendall to bits, but not everyone is as accepting as you are. We can't walk hand in hand wherever whenever we want and there are still lots of people who judge us for it.'

'Well, those people suck!
You found your soulmate. And yeah, I'm jealous he's gorgeous as fack, but I'm more jealous of what you two have. Nobody should have to hide their love for one another. But, at least you've got that love. I'd rather have forbidden love, than no love at all.'

'Oh, sweetie... You'll get your happily ever after with someone too!'

'...I highly doubt that.'

The words have barely left my mouth as Ryan grips my arm, looking a little irritated.

'Don't give me that! You're an amazing woman and I'm pretty sure if I wasn't as gay as a daffodil, you'd be my first on the list. Why do you always sell yourself short?'

'Ugh, maybe because I am not good with relationships?!
..They usually end before they even begin. Just, forget about it.'

Luckily Ryan doesn't have time to obligate since Delphine is already at the end of the staircase.

'There you are! Darling, I forgot to tell you, we've got someone coming to the studio for you. In fact, he's already here.'

'And who might that be?'

'Tyler Reynolds. I'm sure you know him, he wants to record a duet with you.'

'The Tyler Reynolds?!
I can't believe he wants to do a duet with me ...when will we record it?'

'It has to be done by the end of the day.'

'W-What?!
Until an hour ago you thought I was dead! And now you want me to record a song I haven't even seen yet, before the end of the frikkin day?!'

'Yes. And now that you're still your joyful alive self, we will record this song just as planned.'

'Fan-frikkin-tastic!'

I say spitting the words at her. She has really gone mental this time around, recording a full song within a day... I don't even know the damn lyrics!

'Is it really that bad, sweetheart? I thought you would've been excited.' 

I jump up at the sound of Tyler's voice and quickly turn myself in his direction. Great, as if my day couldn't get any worse. Now Tyler has seen me trip against my manager.

'Trust me, it hasn't got anything to do with you.'

At this point, Tyler is already standing in front of me his arms crossed and a big smirk on his face.
He's significantly taller than me. Although, almost everyone is.

'You got a big mouth for such a tiny girl, I'll give you that.'

'Well apparently you're the one who wanted to do a duet with me, so you obviously knew. But I didn't know about any of this until just now..'

'Better get used to it. Managers aren't exactly understanding when it comes to bookings or any form of spare time.
They just think we're robots who perform.'

'I like you already...'

I say grinning at Tyler, impressed by the fact that he just had the balls to say something like that in front of Delphine. I'm pretty sure Tyler knows her reputation and besides me, there aren't a whole lot of people who dare to talk like that when she's around.

'Well, you both sure are on the same level. If you'll excuse me my darlings, I have to call your boss.'

Delphine says pointing at Tyler.

'I'll be right back after that. You both go through the lyrics in the meantime.'

I nod, knowing that I can't get out of it anyway. I better get started with Tyler, instead of complaining about it. Tyler follows me to the recording room while Ryan takes a look at the music.

'So you've got signed by the famous dragon lady, huh?'

'Yeah, she sure is something. Delphine wanted me to sign with her right after I finished art school. Been with her for almost two years now, although sometimes it feels more like ten.'

'Haha, I sure as hell know that feeling!'

'Right, your manager is Victor. That must be interesting, they say he's a total-'

'Dick? Yeah, pretty much. But he's a good manager.'

'Same goes for Delphine, wouldn't they make a lovely couple together.'

'No! Believe me, they already have been in a relationship five years ago. They are too much alike to make it work. It was basically living hell when those two lived together.'

'Hah! Why doesn't that surprise me, at all... I would literally pull my hair out if I had to live with her, and I love my hair!'

'You don't seem like that type of girl.'

'I don't seem like a lot of things, that doesn't mean that's who I am.'

I say while sitting down on the bench looking at Tyler. Before today I've never seen him in person, I knew his work though. I'm a big fan actually. R&B has always been one of my favorite genres and he's an amazing singer. He sure is handsome, he has got black spiky hair, brown eyes, and is wearing a black tank top, sweatpants, and a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers.

'Like what you see?'

He says standing in front of me his arms crossed, smirking.

'Trust me, you don't wanna go there.'

'And why is that?'

'Let's just say every time I start to like someone, it comes back to bite me in the ass. Big time!'

'We've all been there, beautiful..'

Tyler sits next to me as I hear the words coming from his lips, and instantly I squeeze my eyes shut. Bad timing!

'D-Don't. Call me that.'

I say biting my lip. That word, that one word, it honestly startled me. Nobody has called me that for years. Everyone I know knows not to call me that. The moment that word left his lips I instantly felt like my heart got stabbed.

'What? Beautiful? It isn't a lie, just so you know.'

'It's ...not that.
It's just, someone I used to know called me that.'

Fuck. I close my eyes, cursing at myself. How am I going to explain it without saying too much?
I don't even know what to say exactly.

'I just ...don't like to be reminded of it.'

'Honey it is then.'

A small smile appears on my face by his attempt to change the conversation.

'Thanks. And Lex will do, I'm not a big fan of nicknames in general. Ryan is the only one who does that, it's probably because he's gay. In his case it's cute. Otherwise, it'll most likely remind me of Delphine.
And we wouldn't want that now, do we?'

I say grinning about the fact I compared one of the best male singers of this era with Delphine.

'Hell no. Lex will do!'

'Now let's get started with those lyrics, I'm already freaking out that it has to be recorded by the end of the day.'

'Don't worry, I got all the hard parts. You just have the chorus and the bridge.'

He says while pulling a few pages of folded paper from his pocket.

'You know, normally that wouldn't convince me too much. But since you sing R&B, I'm kinda glad.'

I scoot over to Tyler so I can see what's written on the papers and I see him grinning slightly.

'Don't get anything in your head Tyler, I'm still not interested.'

'Hey! I didn't say anything. And call me Ty.'

'You didn't have to Ty, your eyes were already undressing me. The answer is no.
If you want someone that looks like me, I can hook you up with my twin sister. I think you'll be her type more anyways.'

'Is that right? We'll continue this conversation later then. As for the lyrics, see these parts?
That's all yours.'

He says pointing at some of the pieces of the lyrics. Just as I expected, the other parts are filled with a shitload of words.

***

We go over the lyrics for half an hour and I quickly fall into pace getting the hang of it as we also try to figure out which tone I have to sing in. Delphine has come back already and is in the studio together with Ryan, who played the music a couple of times. After a couple of times rehearsing together, I manage to remember the whole thing. Tyler wrote the song himself, so he remembers his parts perfectly and he can give me a heads up when I come in.

'Alright, I think we're ready.'

I nod, mumbling my lyrics once more.

'Yeah, I think I'm good. Wanna try the whole thing?'

'Gladly, I hate recording in parts. I rather do the whole thing over, than to cut and paste everything together.'

'Same here. Besides, if we have to sing it live we also have to be able to do it.'

'Couldn't agree more.'

I focus my attention on the window while I walk to the mike searching for Ryan, as I see him looking at the screen. That little snake is eavesdropping, I can see it from the look in his eyes. I pop up my headphones and turn to the microphone and yell from the top of my lungs.

'Yo Ryan!'

'Aah! Goddammit, Lexi! I've got the mike on max so we could hear you rehearse..'

'Uh-huh... Well, shame on you. You shouldn't have eavesdropped! We wanna do the whole thing in one take, you ready?'

'Is that even a question?'

'No. But I still need to ask, don't I?'

'The mikes are set, so your good to go honey.'

I turn my attention back to Tyler and nod.

'We're good. Oh and after this, I want the story behind the song. You owe me that much since I'm singing it and all.'

Tyler comes walking towards me with a smile on his face nodding that I've got a point.

'Fine. Nut don't complain later, alright?'

'Deal. Now let's do this.'

I quickly set the other mike across from mine so I can take Ty's lead whenever I need to.
We both take our places and I signal Ryan to get the music started.

https://youtu.be/YgFyi74DVjc

***

A/N:

!!! Important !!!

Original song titles used in #Two:

Written in the stars. By: Tinie Tempah

All credits go to them and their producers, I do not own these songs, nor videos!!!