Alex

I was finally able to walk around when the Apollo kids were certain it wouldn't hurt my stomach area, which took like a week of me sitting in a bed doing nothing. Don't get me wrong, I had a steady stream of company, and some much appreciated alone time with Jake, but I had ADHD for Zeus' sake! I couldn't just sit in a bed all day!

I took a deep breath of the fresh, woodsy air and sighed. "Fresh air!" I cried, causing a few people walking by to turn and laugh a little at my enthusiasm. I smiled widely despite it.

Maija laughed from behind me as she followed me out of the Big House. "Weirdo." She muttered, smiling as she punched me in the shoulder.

"Thank you." I beamed.

"Hey Al, good to see you walking again."

I enveloped him in a hug. "I know right? It feels great to be out of that stuffy old room!" I giggled as Jake took my hand and spun me around like we were dancing.

"Well, now that you are, will you do me the honor of taking a stroll with me in the woods?" He asked, pulling me close by extending the arm he was holding behind his back, wrapping an arm around my waist as well.

I smiled at him, but I looked over my shoulder at Maija; I promised her I'd hang out with her. Only she wasn't there. After looking around for her, I found her walking off with James. I rolled my eyes and intertwined our hands. "Let's go."

Jake's smile almost blinded me as he led me through the woods of Camp Half-Blood. Monsters looked in from the safety of the trees as we walked past but otherwise left us alone. We reached a clearing after a bit of walking and Jake's face lit up. "Hey! You'll never believe it, this is a shrine built to my dad!" He gestured to a large bunch of rocks in the middle of meadow that looked more like a pile of rat droppings then a shrine. "It's called 'Zeus' fist', cool huh?"

I wiped the smile that was forming on my face. "It looks like a pile of deer droppings." I told him honestly.

Jake looked back at the rocks and tilted his head to the side. "Well, when you put it that way..." I laughed and leaned into his side, putting my head on his shoulder. Jake kissed my head. "Think you're fit to climb to the top?"

I sent him a sly smile, "Think you're fit to catch me?"

I heaved myself over the top of the last layer of stone, just as I got up Jake wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up, spinning me around. I laughed while demanding to be put down.

When he finally did, I turned in his arms that were still wrapped around my arms, I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Hey," He whispered, cocking his head lightly to the side. "Look."

I turned to the left. The sun was just starting to going to descend beyond the horizon, bathing the sky in all different color; beautiful pinks, oranges, blues, and purples. I took in a sharp breath. "It's beautiful..."

Jake nuzzled his face into my neck from behind me. "Not as beautiful as you."

"You're so cheesy." I giggled. Giggle? I never giggle.

"That's why you love me."

"Yeah," I turned my head to kiss his lips. "I love you."

"Then from that chord, you go to-"

"You ready kid?" My dad called. I turned and smiled at him. Ever since I woke up in the Big House in late June five months ago, my parents promised to spend more time with me because they didn't want to away from me for so long like last time, but I didn't expect them to come to all my concerts. Not that it was a bad thing, I loved my parents. Meaning they didn't embarrass me with baby stories.

"Yeah." I stood from my place in one of the chairs backstage. I was teaching Jake the chords to a song I was working on. Jake had agreed to let me teach him guitar so I didn't have to hire someone to take Dylan's place. "Come on Jake."

Today was my first day back to my tour, and I couldn't wait to start. Well technically I wasn't in Jackson, Mississippi like we were scheduled to in a week, but a talk show. I think her name was Ellen. I joined Maija and the twins just as she was announcing my name. I waved when the spotlight was directed on me, then gave Jon the cue to start. He ran the bass drum and a track of me laughing played, it was prerecorded for the soul reason of adding effects to it.

"Dance.

Back door cracked

We don't need a key

We get in for free

No VIP sleaze

Drink that Kool-Aid

Follow my lead

Now you're one of us

You're coming with me

It's time to kill the lights

And shut the DJ down

(This place about to)

Tonight we're taking over

No one's getting out

This place about to blow

Blow

This place about to blow

Blow

This place about to blow

Blow

This place about to blow

Blow

This place about to

Now what (What)

We're taking control

We get what we want

We do what you don't

Dirt and glitter

Cover the floor

We're pretty and sick

We're young and we're bored (Ha)

It's time to lose your mind

And let the crazy out

(This place about to)

Tonight we're taking names

'Cause we don't mess around

(Blow)

Go, go, go, go insane

Go insane

Throw some glitter

Make it rain on him

Let me see them Hanes

Let me, let me see them Hanes

Go insane

Go insane

Throw some glitter

Make it rain on him

Let me see them Hanes

Let me, let me see them Hanes (C'mon)

We are taking, over (Blow)

Get used to it, over (Blow)

This place about to blow

Blow

This place about to blow

Blow (Oh)

This place about to blow (Oh)

Blow

This place about to blow

Blow

This place about to

The boys and I cut out to leave Maija left, fading out on one last 'blow'. Everyone in the audience stood and cheered loudly for us. I smiled and motioned everyone up to take a bow. Just as we were finishing, a woman with short blond hair came up to us; Ellen. "That was amazing!" She took a break to let more cheering in before continuing. "We'll be right back with Alex and her band, don't go away!"

We stood with wide smiles until a male voice yelled out, "Clear!"

Ellen turned to us and shook our hands. "That was great girls." We thanked her in unison. "Alright, lets go over here and get situated for after break." She lead us to the main section of the stage where a couch and a chair waited us. Jon called the single chair, running over to it and plopping down in it. I laughed and calmly followed behind, sitting in the middle with Jake on my left closest to Jon and James and Maija snuggled on my right. Jake draped his arm around my shoulders.

"And we're back in 3, 2.." Without saying 1, he pointed to Ellen who started flawlessly.

"Welcome back, we're here with the teens taking the world by storm, Alex and Maija. Girls, congrats on your first tour."

"Thanks Ellen, you know we could never have gotten here without our fans," I said from the script I had running in my head. "They're the best people in the world."

She nodded, seeming uninterested in my routine answer, sliding to the edge of her chair. "Tell us about that last song, it's not your normal style is it?"

I shook my head. "No its not, I'm working on a more...pump up album, things that would play at clubs. I think it's a nice change from my norm and really challenges me to open up to an older audience of music lovers."

Ellen nodded and quickly changed subjects. "So I see the absence of one white haired guitarist. Care to explain that?" I sucked in a breath to calm myself. 'She doesn't know.' I repeated to myself to keep from snapping at her. Before I could answer she turned to the camera. "I think I struck a nerve." And winked. Her audience laughed, I tried to wave it off with a laugh and a fake smile.

"Dylan had some personal issues he had to take care of," I lied. "And it just wasn't working out."

"So you dumped him." The audience members started laughing again. The memory of me stabbing his weak spot with my dagger flashed in my mind.

I chuckled uneasily, "Yeah I uh, dumped him."

"Now who's this hunk here? You move on fast!" Ellen leaned her chin on her fist.

I laughed for real this time, so did Maija and the twins. I took Jake's free hand. "This is my boyfriend Jake." I confirmed. Sometime during early August I had finally come to peace with Dylan's passing, soon after I asked Jake if his offer was still open. Since this was the first public thing we had done since the end of summer a week ago, this was the official announcement.

The audience 'Oo-ed' and 'Aw-ed'. I looked down at my lap, heat rising to my face. Maija laughed at my face into James' shoulder. Ellen turned on her next. "And what about you, Maija? Who are you cuddling with hmm?"

Now the tables were turned with Maija heating up, and when Maija's face gets red, it gets RED. Like all down her neck and sometimes down her arms which could be easily seen from her grey, cut off sleeved, shirt with a black skull in the middle. Her blond hair was pulled back, but not necessarily into a ponytail, more bunched up at the top of her head with clips and bobby pins. It was pretty funny watching her fight with the hair team backstage. Especially with her five inch converse pumps.

She pretended to try to hide behind her black boater hat, like Anna had coached us. Something about making it look more innocent, like we couldn't do that by ourselves. "That's James, they've been dating ever since our break in Michigan." I supplied.

Suddenly a picture of them walking hand in hand next to Dylan and I came up on the screen behind her, as well as the smaller T.V. on a table next to us. "Oh I see! So both of America's sweethearts are taken, sorry boys. Looks like you gotta go back to chasing Vanessa Hudgens."

I laughed. I liked this lady. "What about you huh?" She asked, directed at Jon. I smiled as he and Ellen got into a heated discussion about a girl named Sandy that Jon liked. Before I knew it I heard the blonde host say, "Come back after break for the one and only Taylor Swift!"

The director man called cut again and Ellen thanked us for being on the show. I told her it was our pleasure, letting Jake lead me backstage so I could change out of the stupid outfit the dressing staff made me wear. I mean, who pairs a midriff cut panda shirt with a short, tight, black ruffle skirt? The only things I like was the 'Believe' necklace and the hairstyle; down and wavy, simple but elegant.

As I was walking back to the dressing rooms, I bumped into someone. Jake caught me as I fell back by my underarms. He helped me stand properly, asking over and over if I was alright. I kissed his cheek in thanks and assured him I was alright.

I turned then to apologize to the person I ran into. She was still on the ground, obviously not as lucky as me to have someone behind her to catch her. I held out a hand to her. "I'm so sorry miss, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"Oh it's fine," She took my hand and stood, brushing herself off, holding a hand out to me to shake. "Taylor." I took in her appearance, long curly blond hair cascaded down her shoulders to the beginning of a sparkling pale white dress that stopped mid-thigh.

"Oh, Swift right? Alex Jackson." I introduced myself, taking her hand. "And that's Jake."

"Ahh," Taylor nodded with a laugh. "'America's sweetheart', yeah I know you. Nice to meet you."

I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah that's me..."

"Oh hey, don't be ashamed of it! It's a great title to have."

"I'm not, don't worry, it's just I've had run ins with other singers that don't like how much publicity I get." I flashed back to meeting some of the record company's other clients.

Taylor nudged me. "They're just jealous. But hey, I listened to your album, and it was incredible. Would you consider doing a duet with me?"

I recalled in surprise, this was the first time anyone had asked me to do anything like that. "That sounds like an awesome idea! I'd love to."

"Taylor to the stage." A voice called over the loudspeakers.

We both looked up, as if we could see the person. "Well that's my cue, but text me, and we'll talk about details, OK?" She pulled a piece of paper out of her purse and quickly wrote down a cell number, handing it to me with a quick hug. "Talk to you later Alex!"

With that, she disappeared in a flash of blonde. I smiled at Jake. "My first duet! This is so exciting."

"You sing duets with Mai all the time." He joked.

I smacked him and grabbed his hand to pull him along. I walked behind a dressing divider and talked as I changed. "Yeah but Maija is my partner, and Taylor isn't. I'll probably never sing with her again, unless this first time is a big hit, then I would consider doing it again."

I pulled on my favorite grey owl v-neck with yellow skinny jeans that matched the color on the owl. I laced up my grey Chuck All Stars and pulled on a white beanie. I changed my glasses for contacts so I could wear my Aviators and as I walked out, I put in yellow winking face studs in my ears.

"I guess so." Jake decided to stay in the outfit the designers had chosen for him. A green graphic tee that I think said something about believing, which oddly enough matched my previous necklace that I swapped out for a triangle stud one, covered by a black leather jacket. His starting to fade jeans were held up by a worn brown belt and a belt buckle I didn't necessarily approve of; but it's not like my opinion matters anyway. Jake also had on his green Jordan's and a black beret that went off to the right.

He looked hot. The perfect mix of bad boy and country boy that I fell in love with. Jake wasn't from Michigan originally like Maija and I were, he's from northern Alabama somewhere but moved here in second grade. He was a southern gentlemen.

I took his hat off and ran my hand through his fresh cut hair, messing it up further. Jake had always worn it long, past his ears at the shortest, but now the sides were clean cut and short while the top was longer so I could run my fingers through it easily; tousled just right. My hand moved over his chin where light stubble graced his strong jawline, he was convinced it made him look good, and I'm not complaining. I loved the prickly feeling on my neck when he kisses me there or nuzzles into the crook like he has a habit of doing sometimes, or running my hands over it like I was now. I brought his head down to my level to kiss him.

He pulled away first, needing air more often then I do. "Come on pop star, let's get out of here." I gladly took his hand and left the dressing room to meet up with my friends.

Hey guys, so this is officially the last chapter of A Star Is Born! :C

But I decided if I did make a sequel, I could make it about Alex going through challenges of the music industry. What do you think? Good idea? I'll post here when I've posted the sequel if I make it, but before I do y'all have to review and tell me if it's a good idea or not, because I'm not going to write something if no one's gunna read it.

I'm also going to go back and edit the story to maybe add a little more detail and what not, maybe combine a few chapters, etc. Not saying you have to go back and re-read everything, but just a heads up.

Thank you so much to those who stuck through with me to the end, and I really appreciate your kind words and criticisms. Keep reviewing guys, it makes me so happy.

BTW! I put the outfits from this chapter up on my profile, I would appreciate if you guys went and looked at them. I am no fashion designer, like at all, but I think they're pretty descent. :)

Always yours,

~Arty