Deception and Jealousy

1
I Can Be Whoever I Want To

Jerrica stared at the ceiling. Another sleepless night, she thought as she glanced at the bedside alarm clock. It read 2:24 AM. No way am I going to be ready to record at 7:00.

But she couldn't get Rio out of her mind. His honest eyes, radiating love and protection. His kiss. The secret she'd kept from him for five long years. The guilt that used to come only when she thought of Jem had been with her almost constantly since Ba Nee left Starlight Mansion. Since then, everything about the girls-Ba Nee especially-brought the guilt to constant light: the innocence of the young girls, the excitement in Ba Nee's eyes as she finally found her long-lost father, the way she called every week to speak to each girl, as well as Jerrica, Rio, all four Holograms…and Jem. The lies were getting out of hand…

It was almost as if she really were a different person when she was Jem.

"Showtime, Synergy," Jerrica whispered. She transformed from the nightgown-wearing, sleep-deprived blond executive to the glamorous Jem, evening dress and all. I wonder if Riot is still out partying… Jem pondered as she walked out the mansion towards the Rockin' Roadster. Inside, Jerrica thought, I might as well take advantage of my alter ego…

When Jem walked into Le Club Cool at a quarter to three, the Stingers were just retiring from a long and eventful night of clubbing. Rapture had pawned off a cheap quartz pendant to some poor, unsuspecting lady, and was climbing into a cab as Jem walked by. Minx, of course, had a new rich man on her arm as she walked out of the club-this time, a tall Filipino at lest fifteen years her senior. Not her usual ilk, Jem thought wryly.

She spotted Riot on his way towards the door, a skinny blonde on each arm. He dismissed each with a nod as soon as he spotted the rock singer, whom he'd always thought of as the "perfect woman."

"Jem, my perfect love!" Riot spoke excitedly as he put an arm around her shoulders. "What brings you to a place like this at such an hour?"

"Well, I'm bored and I can't sleep, so I figured I'd come out looking for some fun!" She looked at Riot, then the door. "But it looks like you've got somewhere to go-"

"Would you like to come back to my apartment, Jem? We could decide which club to make an appearance at while I freshen up."

"Love to…" Jem replied as they left, arm-in-arm.