From the Top - Chapter 36

I was sad when Hanna and Kat had to go back to school, especially with Hanna mostly breaking out of her sulk by Saturday, at least enough to come see us play at the Blue Ridge. Mostly, though, I was looking forward to having my life be just a little bit more normal than it had been for the last month.

There were still weeks left of school, but I only had three, since I had to be in California by the eighteenth. I’d already talked to Dr. Wallace and started working out a schedule with my teachers to take the tests a week early, which also meant getting all the assignments and projects done early while still learning everything. It was going to be a lot of work, but unlike before I’d gone for the prelims, I was weirdly looking forward to it, since it was at least normal high school work and not the craziness of filming a reality show.

I got out of my car and headed into the school already thinking about some of the stuff I needed to get done that day to stay on my accelerated schedule when I heard someone yelling my name.

I looked up and saw some guys I think were freshmen walking in from the bus line, jumping up and down and waving at me.

“Hey, Charlie! Saw you on TV, rockstar!”

I don’t think I even knew who they were, let alone had ever talked to them, but I just kind of waved at them and kept on my way. Before I even made it to the door, two more people stopped me to comment on the audition and tell me how much I ‘rocked.’

I’d gotten attention after I got back from California, but it was mostly people in my classes, or people I’d had classes with in other years, asking questions or whatever. Today it was kids I’d never talked to and even one teacher who I think I’d only met once.

And that was only the beginning of the weirdness.

After first period, I had to stop by my locker to switch out some books when Paul Adams walked up next to me. Considering the run-ins I’d had with Paul over the years, I tensed up. I’d managed to go the entire year so far without getting into any fights, which for me was a record, and I really didn’t want to have one now. Dr. Wallace had made it clear that all of the special circumstances being given to me, including getting out of class a week early, were all contingent on my not having any problems, which fighting would definitely be considered as.

Much to my surprise, instead of pushing me, or sneering, or whatever else I’d envisioned, he leaned against the locker and did something even more terrifying. He smiled.

“Hey Charlie, saw you on TV this weekend. That was really cool.”

I just stared at him. Paul Adams, who’d almost certainly been one of the people who beat me with baseball bats at the end of my sophomore year. Paul Adams, who I’d taken to the ground a half dozen times at least and who’d threatened to kill me at least twice. That Paul Adams had just smiled and complimented me.

My first instinct was that it was a trap. I couldn’t see the end game, but it was the only thing that could make sense.

I must have been standing there an uncomfortably long time, staring at him, because he stopped leaning, slapped me on the shoulder, and said, “Hey man, no hard feelings about all that stuff before, right? We were just messing around back then. You know that, right?”

I shook my head in disbelief, stepping back to get his hands off me. “Seriously, man? You’ve tried to make my life hell for three years, and now it’s ‘hey man’?”

“Things just got out of hand a few times, but... you know, water under the bridge and all that, right?”

He was still smiling, but I could see him starting to have some doubts, like this wasn’t going how he planned it. I couldn’t imagine he’d thought it would go any way other than shock and anger on my part, but Paul had never been the sharpest tool in the shed.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered, closed my locker, and walked away without another word, leaving Paul standing there looking embarrassed.

He wasn’t the only one to try and make up for the past. I was on my way to the cafeteria when suddenly Sophia, one of Rhonda’s friends, came running up and fell in step with me. I’d never been friends with Sophia, although I’d eaten lunch with her a bunch of times my sophomore year since she sat with the rest of Rhonda’s group and we’d talked occasionally. It had been all superficial, non-important stuff, though. She was a hanger-on trying to pull a bit of Rhonda’s popularity and had generally been an all-around non-entity.

“Hi Charlie,” she said, giving me a little wave. “I, um, saw you on TV this weekend.”

“You and everyone else, apparently,” I muttered.

“Uhh, yeah. You were really good. Like, really good.”

I knew for a fact that she’d been to several of my shows at the Blue Ridge, so why she was suddenly putting this together now was beyond me.

“Thanks,” I said, still wary.

“So, I was wondering...” Sophia trailed off before seeming to gather her courage. “Are you going to Winter Formal?”

I blinked in surprise. Was Sophia Prichard asking me to the dance? Even if I was available, which I very much wasn’t, she hadn’t said two words to me since Rhonda very publicly dumped me.

“Uh no, actually I’m going to be out of town that week,” I told her.

“Oh,” she said, visibly deflating. “Is it for more filming and stuff? For the show?”

“I can’t really say,” I said before picking up my pace. “I’ve got to go.”

I didn’t exactly run away from her, but I did actively try to dodge in between some people to lose her. I kept my head down all the way through the cafeteria line, trying hard to not even make eye contact with anyone until I was at the lunch table.

“Man, everyone’s gone crazy today,” I announced as soon as I set my food down.

“What do you mean ‘today’?” Joseph said, laughing at his own joke.

“You wouldn’t believe the stuff I’ve had to deal with already. People I don’t even know telling me how much they loved me on the show, Paul Adams trying to be my new best friend, Sophia Prichard asking me to Winter Formal...” I trailed off, shaking my head.

“Oh no, someone got famous and now doesn’t like it,” Peyton said, mocking me.

I rolled my eyes. “I was on one episode of a reality show. Not even the full reality show, just the auditions.”

“Made it through to the prelims of the biggest music reality show in the country. Sounds pretty famous to me,” Joseph said.

“So did thirty other people,” I pointed out.

“None of whom go here,” Peyton said. “Seriously though, what did you expect? You were on TV. The next closest person to here that’s ever been on TV are the anchors on Channel Six, and they live in Asheville. Hell, there are famous internet stars who most people have never heard of, and you were on actual TV.”

“Plus, everyone’s figured out you’re going to the semi-finals already,” Amy pointed out.

“What? How? I haven’t said anything.”

“We all knew you went to the auditions and that you made it through. And when you did, you were doing all this extra work, talking to teachers about getting stuff turned in early, because you were going to miss class time. You came back and immediately started doing it again. The only reason that makes sense is you made it through to the finals.”

“People are paying attention to how much work I’m doing?” I asked her, shocked.

“Weren’t you listening to Peyton?” Cameron asked. “You’re famous. Remember?”

“If this is fame, I don’t really want it,” I said, shaking my head. “None of these people are my friends. But everyone wanted to talk to me today. Hell, it’s not like they don’t know I’m a musician already. I played at prom and most of them have seen me on stage at the Blue Ridge. Why is what they saw on TV so different?”

“Because to them, playing at prom or the Blue Ridge is like being in a school play,” Cameron pointed out. “It’s relatable. They see people on the school stage all the time, and the Blue Ridge has been here all their lives. TV is completely different — you were in front of celebrities who now know your name.”

“Face it, man, you’re kind of a celebrity now,” Joseph said, gesturing with his fork.

“It’s only going to get worse too,” Peyton said. “Once they see you on more episodes, and if, or I guess when, you make it through to the finals, it’s going to blow up even bigger. And remember, this is just one small town. Eventually, it’s going to spiral out to more than just Wellsville.”

“What do you mean ‘spiral out’?” I asked.

“First it’ll probably be local news from Asheville or Nashville. If you win the whole thing, maybe some morning show stuff. I can’t remember national news doing big stories on winners, but I’ve definitely seen them on the morning shows, and they had video of their home towns, which means camera crews. Also newspaper and internet stuff too, although that’ll be a smaller hit.”

“How do you know all this?” I asked.

“Some past contestants of this and the modeling show I watched have talked about how winning changed their lives.”

“Oh,” I said.

“You should enjoy it while it’s just kids at school,” she said. “Besides, this is what everyone wants — to stand out and be recognized. Don’t pretend you don’t love the attention at least a little bit.”

“That’s not what I want,” I said. “I just want to play music. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Cameron raised an eyebrow skeptically. “If you just wanted to play music, you’d go to work at the factory and play at the Blue Ridge in your free time. But no, you’re pushing as hard as you can to play bigger venues, put out albums, get on reality music competitions. Face it, man, wanting to be a professional musician is wanting fame.”

“I don’t want fame, I just want success. I want to be able to support myself and the people who depend on me by playing music. I want the band to make enough money touring that we don’t need day jobs. I want our songs on the radio so people can hear them,” I don’t know why what Cameron said bothered me, but it did. “You’re right that I want more than just playing music as a hobby in my garage. But it’s not about the fame or attention for me. It’s about music being my life and career. It’s how I want to make my living.”

“Maybe, but in entertainment, they kind of go hand in hand,” he pointed out. “Success comes with name recognition, which is all fame is really. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and pursuing your passion professionally. Just don’t act all surprised and annoyed when some level of fame comes with it.”

“It’s not the fame itself that bothers me, well, not directly. I could live with people knowing who I am. It’s feeling like people only see me differently now because of the TV show, even though they all knew I was a musician way before that. It feels fake.”

“He wants people to appreciate his talent, not just that he showed up on TV,” Amy said.

“Thank you. Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“I don’t know if you can get one without the other. At least not until after you’re dead,” Peyton said.

I grumbled and took a bite of my hamburger. Everything they said made sense, and I guess I could deal with random people I didn’t really know trying to be my friend. It was the people who’d gone out of their way to be mean to me suddenly trying to be my friend that I couldn’t stand.

That feeling was taken to the next level at the end of the day. I’d kept getting shout-outs throughout the day. “Looking good on TV, Charlie!”, “Can’t believe you’re gonna be famous, dude!”, “Way to represent Carr High!” They kept coming all afternoon.

I tried to just smile and keep moving. I was almost thankful when the day was over and I headed out to my car.

“Charlie! Hey, Charlie, wait up!”

I was in my own head, still kind of spun around by the day, so I didn’t even recognize the voice until I turned to see Rhonda, hurrying towards me with a big smile on her face. Part of me wanted to ignore her and just keep walking, but I didn’t.

“Hey,” I said, as flatly as I could.

She sidled up next to me, a weird grin on her face.

“I just wanted to say hi and see how you’re doing. I saw your audition last night! You were amazing.”

“Uh, good, I guess.”

Rhonda giggled and lightly smacked my arm. “Stop acting like you don’t love all the attention. I know you love it when people fawn all over your music. And really, you deserve it. I always knew you had talent, but that was on a whole different level.”

She reached over and put her hand on my arm, giving it a little caress.

“What are you doing?” I asked, looking down at her hand.

Rhonda took a step back, dropping her hand from my arm.

“What do you mean?” she said, kind of annoyed.

“I’m talking about you hitting on me. Just stop.”

Rhonda rolled her eyes. “I’m not hitting on you, I just saw you today and you were looking good, that’s all. Besides, I heard you broke up with Sydney so you’re a free agent again.”

“You have got to be kidding me. You’d have to be crazy to think I’d ever date you again. Do you remember how we broke up? You dumped me in the middle of a party to sleep with the guy I hated most, and then when I started dating someone else, you screwed with them for… I don’t even know why. I tried to stay friends with you after we broke up, but you wanted nothing to do with me. So don’t pretend like you care about me now just because I’ve been on TV.”

Rhonda dropped the act, glaring at me. “God, Charlie, when did you get to be such an ass? I’m trying to give you a compliment and be nice, and you’re acting like I killed your dog or something.”

“A compliment? The only time you compliment someone is when you want something. You don’t care about me or anyone else; you just want the status of dating someone who’s a little bit famous.”

Rhonda laughed derisively. “Please, don’t flatter yourself. I don’t need to date some reality show contestant to be popular. I already am popular.”

“Great. I’m happy for you. Then there’s no reason for us to talk. Ever.”

Rhonda glared at me for a moment longer, then spun around and stormed off without another word. I watched her go, shaking my head.

The world had gone crazy.