Being a Star (Isn't Easy)
Chapter Twenty-Five
Several hours had passed since the
detectives had left. It was now dark outside and everyone was still in Ezra's
hospital room. They had left for a while, taking a break, but then returned.
Even though Fein had been arrested and the police were looking into Carl Hinley,
none of them felt comfortable leaving Ezra alone.
"Mind if I turn on the TV, Ez?" JD asked.
"No, go ahead."
JD grabbed the remote and pushed the power button. The TV came to life and JD
started flipping through the channels.
"Wait, JD, go back," said Vin.
JD went back a channel and saw that the local news was on. When he heard the
newscaster, he knew why Vin wanted to see it.
"...charged in the stalking of actor and singer Ezra Standish. Mister Fein
implicated producer Carl Hinley. Mister Fein said that Mister Hinley hired him
and that he was obsessed with Mister Standish.
"The police came to Mister Hinley's house tonight with a search warrant," the
woman newscaster said as she motioned behind her. She was standing in front of
Carl Hinley's house. There was crime scene tape in front of the house and there
were several police cars and two ambulances.
"Mister Hinley refused to open the door after the police identified themselves,"
the newscaster continued. "He opened a window and opened fire on the police. The
police were forced to return fire. The shootout lasted for several minutes.
Then, Mister Hinley opened the front door and walked outside, still firing
rounds from a nine millimetre hand gun.
"The police had to return fire, and Mister Hinley was shot and killed. Mister
Hinley's obsession with Ezra Standish has come to an unfortunate and tragic end.
Now, back to Bethany in the studio."
"Thank you, Sarah. Now in other news..."
JD cut the television off. "Wow," he whispered.
"Are you okay, son?" Josiah asked.
Ezra nodded. "Yeah. At least it's over."
"Now, all you have to do is get better and get out of here. Then, you can have
your life back," said Vin.
Ezra gave him a slight smile, "Yeah." Ezra knew that it was wrong, but he was
relieved that Carl Hinley was dead. And, with Fein in custody, he was free. Free
of both stalkers. Free to have his life back without having to live in terror.
He took a deep breath and smiled.
A YEAR LATER
Ezra smiled as he stood backstage at the concert hall in Atlanta, Georgia. It
had been a year since he had performed or been in any movies. There had been the
trial of Fein to get through. Luckily, Fein had received forty years in prison
with no chance of parole. And, Ezra's old bodyguards had received five years
each, with no parole. He had had to let his broken leg heal. Then, he had had to
go through extensive therapy for his back and chest muscles, because of where
the glass had gone through his chest. Thankfully, he had regained his lung
capacity. He didn't know what he would've done if he'd never been able to sing
and perform again.
Performing was his life, it was his dream. When he saw his lover Vin walking
toward him, he smiled. Vin, Chris, Buck, and Nathan had decided to move to
Atlanta, and stayed on as his bodyguards. They had all become a family.
"Are you nervous?" Vin asked when he reached Ezra.
Ezra nodded. "A little. It's been a while."
Vin gave him a smile. "You'll be great, baby."
"Thanks." Ezra and Vin's lips met in a sweet loving kiss. When they heard a
throat clearing, they broke away. Looking to the side, they saw Casey.
"Sorry to interrupt, but it's time, Ezra," Casey said.
"Alright," Ezra said. Laying one last peck on Vin's lips, he followed Casey to
where Rain and Inez were waiting. Before walking out on stage, he saw Rain throw
a wink to Nathan. He smiled.
Rain and Nathan had gotten together a couple of months before and both seemed
happy. He was happy for them.
When they walked out on stage, the audience of twenty-thousand stood up and
started cheering and clapping. Grabbing a microphone, he smiled at them and
started talking.
"Thank you! I have to admit that I'm a little nervous, it's been so long. But I
want to thank everyone for all of the well wishes that I received during this
past year. My backup singers Rain, Inez, and Casey, and I have written a song. A
song that we want to dedicate to all of you!"
The crowd went crazy, cheering and hollering. Ezra smiled as the band started
playing. He yelled into the microphone, then started singing.
"I may run and hide
When you're screamin' my name, alright
But let me tell you now
There are prices to fame, alright
All of our time spent in flashes of light"
Rain, Inez, and Casey joined in on the chorus.
"All of you people can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Every time we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life."
Ezra returned to solo, smiling and pointing at the crowd, interacting with them.
"Looking at the crowd
And I see your body sway, c'mon
Wishin' I could thank you in a different way, c'mon"
Rain, Inez, Casey, and Ezra started singing the chorus.
"All of you people can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Every time we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life"
"All of your time spent keeps us alive," Ezra sung solo. Ezra, and the
three women repeated the chorus, then Ezra returned to solo.
"Yeah, every time we're down
Yeah, you can make it right
Yeah, and that's what makes you larger than life"
Ezra, Rain, Inez, and Casey repeated the chorus one more time. When the song was
finished, the crowd went wild.
Ezra performed for an hour and a half. When he reached his last song, he spoke
into his microphone. "Thank you! Y'all have been a wonderful audience! Now, this
will be the last song of the night, and it's called "Dedication". And, it's
dedicated to the special someone in my life. You know who you are." Ezra looked
to the side, locking eyes with Vin, who was out of sight off stage. Vin smiled.
Rain, Inez, and Casey left the stage. As Ezra sat down on a stool, in the middle
of the stage, all of the lights went off. A spotlight was on Ezra. The band
started playing.
"Heart and soul I love you so much
Body and soul I want you too
Heart and soul I love you too much
And this I dedicate to you
"I need your love
I need your kisses, yeah
I need your hot, hot love
I need your wet, wet kisses, yeah
"I love you
"Heart and soul I love you so much
Body and soul I want you too
Heart and soul I love you too much
And this I dedicate to you
"Dedicate this
"I need your face
I need your wild, wild eyes
I need your hands, your fingers
With your hands creeping down my thighs, oh, yeah!
"Heart and soul I love you so much
Body and soul I want you too
Heart and soul I love you too much
And this I dedicate to you, oh, yeah!
"Heart and soul I love you so much
Body and soul I want you too
Heart and soul I love you too much
And this I dedicate to you
"Heart and soul I love you so much
Body and soul I want you too
Heart and soul I love you too much
And this I dedicate to you"[2]
When Ezra sang the last word, and the band played the last note, the lights went
back on. The crowd all stood, cheering, screaming, and clapping. Ezra smiled a
huge smile as he bowed.
"Thank you and God bless!" With that said, Ezra ran backstage, and was swept
into a hug by Vin.
"That was great. Thanks."
Ezra knew that Vin was talking about dedicating that song to him. "No, thank
you. For coming into my life and for loving me."
"I'll never stop lovin' ya, baby," Vin said before he locked lips with Ezra.
As they kissed, Ezra felt complete. He had wonderful friends, a wonderful job,
and the love of his life. He had also survived his two stalkers. Life was going
right. And, he couldn't wait to see what else life had in store for him.
THE END
[1] "Whiskey Lullaby" is performed by Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss on his Mud
on the Tires album.
[2] The songs used were "Larger Than Life" by Backstreet Boys which is on their
Millennium album. And, "Dedication" by Lita Ford.