Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 25: Teenage Idol]

Abigail was a member of the school swimming team, her athletic build was a stark contrast to Taylor, which allowed Ryan to to not be cautious with her.

After a while, Ryan let out a sigh of relief, finding himself in a state of clarity, a sort of zen state. Abigail slumped over, looking even more exhausted than Ryan. Clearly, the intense competition among athletes was not something the average person could handle.

Abigail picked up Ryan's water bottle from the nightstand and took a big swig before dragging him out of bed for a shower. When they emerged, Abigail was practically glued to Ryan's side.

"You really haven't hooked up with Taylor, have you?" Abigail still felt hung up on that question. Ryan shook his head.

"Is that so?" Abigail scoffed, clearly skeptical.

"She must like you. On the way to Miami, she was all about finding out the scoop on us. She even had a few not-so-nice things to say about you," Abigail reported.

"What did she say?" Ryan asked.

"She said you used to be a model, that your personal life was chaotic, and that you were always hanging around older women!" Abigail exclaimed.

"And when I mentioned that I wanted her to set us up, she got all flustered. Those little reactions of hers are pretty transparent to me," Abigail asserted confidently.

"So what? She's not the only one with options," Ryan replied, fully aware of his own self-worth.

For a teenager, the world could seem very black and white -- either someone liked you or they didn't. However, for adults, liking or disliking someone was only one piece of the puzzle; it didn't even need to be the most important factor.

On one hand, Taylor was an emotional person, but she was also a very self-centered individual. She knew exactly what she wanted. If a guy couldn't provide that, she would quickly pull away. What set her apart was her ability to present herself as what seemed like the passive object of affection. That was likely why she could pour her heart into writing those songs.

Interviewing the guys mentioned in those songs would probably yield a completely different version of the story.

"You're right, she definitely dates around a lot. Objectively speaking, it's partly because she's so remarkable. You know how guys see dating her as an achievement, something to brag about," Abigail added.

"So she should be more careful," Ryan interjected.

"Why be careful? Everyone knows there's no intention of a long-term relationship; it's just dating," Abigail blurted out, then realized she might have misspoken and chuckled nervously.

"But that doesn't apply to me! From now on, don't bring her up around me!" Abigail warned, playfully pinching Ryan's arm.

"Not worried she'll get jealous?" Ryan teased, his fingers playfully running through Abigail's damp hair.

"I gave her a chance to admit her feelings, but she probably looks down on you, so it's only fair that she gets a taste of jealousy," Abigail responded, biting Ryan's palm lightly.

Then she turned away, taking a moment before speaking again, "Why do all the guys orbit around her?"

Her tone conveyed a hint of bitterness.

...

After breakfast, Ryan and Abigail returned to Taylor's room, greeted by a strange smell that indicated Taylor had thrown up again the night before. Abigail walked over to the bed, pulling back the covers. Ryan caught a glimpse of Taylor, disheveled, and Abigail quickly moved to block his view, fearing he would take advantage of the situation.

Friendship among women... Ryan smirked slightly.

Just then, Taylor stirred, appearing somewhat normal but immediately covered her forehead with her hand.

"I feel like I'm splitting in half! Why did I drink that stuff?" Taylor moaned, her face twisted with discomfort.

"Thank goodness we were here; who knows what would have happened otherwise," Abigail said, concern etched on her face as she sat on the edge of the bed.

Taylor looked up, first at Abigail and then at Ryan behind her.

"I remember you two leaving the room together last night," Taylor murmured.

"I couldn't very well leave him alone with you, could I?" Abigail replied with a smile.

"Good point," Taylor nodded, not finding any holes in her logic.

...

The entire day, Abigail took care of Taylor, but she snuck into Ryan's room later that night.

The next day, the three of them hopped on a tour bus heading to Punta Gorda on the opposite side of the Florida peninsula. Compared to the bustling metropolitan vibe on the west coast, the east coast felt quieter. Punta Gorda was situated near Charlotte Harbor, where fishing and tourism were major industries. The Redneck Mud Park located there attracted many visitors every year.

Once off the tour bus, they transferred to a park shuttle that drove them through scenic wetlands.

"The air quality here is so much better than in Miami," Taylor said as she slathered sunscreen on her neck.

"Definitely," Abigail agreed, inhaling deeply. She wore a short t-shirt that revealed her toned abs, paired with hot shorts that left little to the imagination.

She casually glanced back at Ryan, who was already used to her flirting under Taylor's nose.

Ryan, seated behind the two of them, finally voiced a question that had been on his mind all day.

"Why is there so much buzz about you online? It seems way more intense than for other country singers."

"Jealous much?" Taylor replied playfully. "It's pretty straightforward; most of my fans are teenage girls, so naturally, they're more active online."

Most working-class folks didn't have the luxury to keep up with celebrity gossip all day and interact frequently on the internet.

"I've seen people calling themselves Swifties online already," Abigail chimed in.

Ryan suddenly had an epiphany. While most country music fans tended to be middle-aged, Taylor was more of a teenage idol who happened to sing country songs.

But becoming a teenage idol wasn't something just anyone could do. It started with having songs that resonated with young people.

In that respect, he was at a disadvantage -- most of his tracks were probably only popular among party animals, Ryan realized a harsh truth.

Taylor turned her head, the large sunglasses she wore reflecting Ryan's image.

"You're not thinking of following that path too, are you? You've got the looks, but your music style is a problem," Taylor giggled.

"Sure, in the past, boy bands like NSYNC and Backstreet Boys had their share of crazed teen fans, but that's not the case anymore," Abigail added, trying to contribute to the conversation.

...

In a cramped apartment in Stratford, Ontario, a teenager was making a meal in the kitchen. Due to his height, he had to stand on a stool to reach the stove. The cooking was nothing fancy -- just some discount hamburger meat from the supermarket alongside reheated leftovers from the night before.

The radio was playing Chris Brown's R&B hit With You, and the boy hummed along, clearly feeling the rhythm.

"♫With you, girl, with you, with you...♫" His young voice was bright and clear, skillfully hitting the high notes typical of R&B songs, showcasing a talent for singing at such a young age.

Suddenly, the sound of the wooden door swinging open caught his attention.

"Mom! You're back from work?! Or... did you lose your job again?" The boy exclaimed, his surprise quickly morphing into concern.

His mother, with messy dark hair, dropped several letters and a utility bill on the table before bending down to feel the boy's forehead.

"Mom just took a break. Do you remember that executive from the record label, Mr. Braun? He's coming now; we have a meeting set up!"

"Awesome!" the boy shouted, jumping up with excitement.

His mother guided him to the bathroom, combed his hair, and made him put on new clothes he'd only worn on Christmas. Together, they headed to the train station.

By the time they arrived, Mr. Braun was waiting for them at a nearby restaurant. The young "record executive" looked so youthful that the boy's mother doubted he had even graduated college.

"I live in Atlanta right now, working as an entertainment consultant for the Atlanta Hawks, and I started a record company in partnership with Universal Music, one of the largest music groups in the world. I can get Jermaine Dupri to produce your album; do you know him? He's Janet Jackson's longtime boyfriend and produced Mariah Carey's last album. He's a big deal! You know P. Diddy, right?" the young man, introducing himself as Scooter Braun, claimed to have numerous close connections in the industry.

The boy looked up at his mother, noticing an expression of shocked belief on her face.

"As I said, I can bring your son back with me and provide the best resources, but things just got a bit complicated, and I need to lay out some new terms," Scooter hinted, glancing significantly at the boy's mother.

"What do you mean?" she said, tightening her shirt collar nervously.

"I mean, your son is too young. To avoid any legal issues, I need to become his guardian until he turns 18!" Scooter slowly explained.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.