Part 5

  Emily was feeling super nervous and jittery.  She glanced at the clock on her wall, five whole minutes had passed.  She only needed three more hours to pass.  Three more hours until she would be sitting in the front row watching a Phoenix concert.  Unbelievable!

  She begin to pace the floor, she had to move, move, move.  Too much nervous energy was all bound up in her limbs.  She glanced at the clock again.  Darn!  Only two minutes had passed?  "This is utter torture!"  she complained out loud.  She grabbed her phone and dialed.

  "Hello?"

  "I'm going stir crazy Sonny.  I don't think I'll make it!"

  "You are too funny Em.  Why don't you come on over to my place, that'll eat up some of your time and then I can give you some pointers in person."

  "That's a fabulous idea Sonny."  Emily paused, "What do you mean by pointers?" but she was talking to a dial tone, Sonny had already hung up.  Emily gave one last glance at the mirror to make sure her hair looked okay, make sure there was nothing green in her teeth, and that she wasn't in danger of a wardrobe malfunction.  One wardrobe malfunction in her life was plenty for her.  She grimaced.  And it had to happen in front of Blaine the Bane of all things.  He never let her live it down either.

  Thankfully taxis were plentifully and cheap in Starlight Shores, and Emily found herself at Sonny's house with plenty of time to spare.  She knocked on the door and Sonny opened it immediately.  "You're wearing that?"

 Emily looked down at her outfit.  "Yeah, why?  What's wrong with it?"

  "Nothing, nothing, come on in..."

  An hour and a half later Emily was taking a taxi to Binder Clips, her concert pass was clutched tightly in her hand.  "Deep calming breaths Em.  Deep calming breaths!"

  "Hey Lady, " the taxi cab driver yelled.  "You okay back there?  You're ain't gonna puke in my car are ya?"

  "I'm fine!  No, I won't puke."  and then Emily said in a quieter tone, "Well, I hope not anyway.  The cab driver frowned.  Emily heaved a sigh of relief as she saw the Binder Clips building.  "Looks like we're here."  She paid the fare, and the cab took off.  She turned and saw the really long line of fans.  It looked like all of Starlight Shores was there.  "Maybe I should have come here a wee bit earlier."

  Emily saw a security guard walking by.  "Excuse me!  Excuse me!  Mr. Security guy, could you help me out please?"  The Security Guard turned around and headed towards Emily.

  "What do you need help with Ma'am?"

  Emily showed him her concert pass.  "Do I have to stand in that line there, " she pointed to the huge mob of people, "when I have this pass?"

  The guard looked at the pass in her hand.  "No Ma'am, that's a VIP pass.  Follow me and I'll escort you in."

  "Sweet!  My lucky day!  Lead the way!"  She followed the guard into Binder Clips and true to his word he escorted her to her seat.  "Front row seats!" she whispered.  "I have to be dreaming!"

  "Enjoy the show Ma'am!"

  She could tell when Binder Clips opened their doors.  The seats started filling up fast with people.  And the noise level began to rise.  She amused herself by studying the various states of dress that people were in.  She saved her frowns for the girls who weren't wearing much.

  All of a sudden the lights dimmed.  And there he was---on stage.  And here she was---in the front row!

    Emily sang along with every song with great gusto.

  Before she was ready, the concert was all over.

  She looked around, wondering which way she should go to exit when a man appeared beside her.  "Miss Emily?" he asked loudly, trying to be heard over the noise of the exiting crowd.

  She looked at him curiously.  "Yes, I'm Emily.  Do I know you?"

  The man shook his head.  "You will.  I'm Phoenix's manager, Roger Money.  Phoenix would like you to come on back stage."

  "Seriously?" Emily couldn't help it, a squeal came out despite her best efforts to suppress it.

  "Follow me then."

   She followed Roger very closely since Emily could easily get lost in a paper bag.  And Binder Clips looked a little bit bigger than a paper bag.  She could end up wandering the halls forever, beating at the walls, yelling for help---she shook her head to clear it.  Time to reign in the ole imagination, it was getting away from her again.

  Roger stopped abruptly, and Emily almost ran into him.  "Go in there.  He's waiting on you."

  "Thanks Mr...." but Roger had already marched away.  Well, nothing for it, Em.  She pushed open the door, and there he was.

  "Emily!  I'm glad you came."

  "Friendly sort, your manager."

  "Roger?  He's always a bit uptight when it comes to concert nights.  He's the clearing the way so we can get out of here undetected."

  "Really?  And where are we going?"

  "Well, I'm kind of keyed up, I always am after a concert.  I need to unwind, and I was hoping I could talk you into keeping me company?"

  "Talk away!"

  Roger burst into the room.  "The way is clear.  Let's go Phoenix."

  "Emily's coming with me."

  Roger gave her an unfriendly look.  "Is she?"

  Mark grabbed her hand.  "Let's go Emily.  Lead the way Roger."  Roger grumbled, and then set a breakneck speed that Emily had a hard time keeping up with.

  "I shouldn't have worn heels." she muttered as she struggled to keep up.

  Mark glanced at her and smiled.  "Now that would have been a shame.  You look fantastic in them."  Mark slowed the pace down.  "Hey, slow down Roger.  Where's the fire?"

  They reached the end of the hallway and Roger threw open the double doors.  "Wait right out here Phoenix---your driver will be there in just a couple of seconds."

  Mark and Emily stepped outside and were plunged into the dark when the doors shut behind them.  "Why does he call you Phoenix and not Mark?" she whispered.

  "That's who I am to Roger."

  "Oh.  Well, I think of you as Mark."  She left out the part about what else she thought of when she thought of him.  But the thought made her blush anyway, and Mark looked at her quizzically.

  "That's one of the things I like about you Emily.  Look, here's our ride."  He helped her into the limo and Emily tried her best.  She really did.

  But she couldn't help gushing.  "A limo!  I'm riding in a limo!  This night has been unbelievable!  Are there glasses of nectar in here?  Is that a sunroof?  Oooh--what does that switch do?  Music!  Oh look!  A tv!" 

  After trying every switch she could find, poking her head out the sunroof, and drinking a glass of nectar, Emily finally settled down enough to notice that Mark was watching her with a grin on his face.  "What?" she asked.  Then stared down at her outfit in horror.  "Please tell me I didn't have another wardrobe malfunction!"

  He laughed.  "Another?  That sounds like a story I'd like to hear."

  Emily was still scanning her outfit.  "Doubtful" she said absentmindedly.  "Very long boring story."

  "Emily your outfit is fine."

  She looked up at him.  "Then what was so funny?"

  "I was just enjoying the way you do everything with such abandonment and pure joy.  I'm envious.  I don't think I've ever been that free.  Ah look, we're here." Mark climbed out of the limo and held his hand out to her.  "Shall we?"

Part 4

It had taken more time than she had wanted for her burns to heal.  Emily thought she had never been so bored or so hungry in her life.  With her right arm and hand out of commission she had been reduced to relying on her left hand.  She glared at her left hand.  She was practically useless when she could only use her left hand .

  She hadn't been able to practice her magic tricks, and so she was unable to make any money.  She had found it uncomfortable to sleep, her burns either alternately hurt or itched until she thought she would go mad.  Even making a simple sandwich had seemed to be beyond her. 

  She probably would have starved to death if Sonny hadn't taken pity on her and brought her food to eat.  Emily stared at her right arm and hand and slowly flexed them.  She couldn't even really tell that she had been burned, her arm and hand had healed so well.  She was very grateful for that small mercy.  "I am terribly bad at this living on my own thing." she muttered to herself.

  Just then her phone rang.  "Hello?"

  "He's back in town this weekend!"

  "Who is?"

  Sonny scoffed.  "As if you didn't know perfectly well WHO I was talking about!  Phoenix!  You know--the guy who came to your rescue and you fell madly in love with at first sight!"

  "I was delusional when I said that." Emily muttered.  "Thanks for reminding me though what a thorough idiot I made of myself in front of him.  He'll stay clear of the Park, that's for sure!"

  "I doubt it!"  Sonny said cheerfully.  "From what you said, he sounds like a nice guy.  I bet he checks on you just to be sure you are alright."

  "Humph.  Well, as fun as this conversation has been, I need to get to work."

  "Go get him Tiger!" Sonny said with a laugh.

  Emily shook her head as she hung up the phone.  She didn't have time to indulge in such nonsense.  She needed money to pay those ever looming bills, and as always, she needed it yesterday.

  The day was sunny and warm and Emily felt her spirits rise.  Today was going to be a good day.  She just knew it.  As she walked into the Park she was pleased to see that there was already several people hanging around chatting and playing ball.  Hopefully they were in a generous mood.  She fixed her hat a little more firmly to her head and set her jar down.  Time to make the donuts.

  "Ladies and Gentlemen!   If I may have your attention please, I, the Divine Emily..."

  She was interrupted by a chorus of voices.  "Hey!  It's that girl that set herself on fire!"

  Before she knew it she was surrounded by a small crowd of curious onlookers. Including her friend Sonny.  Sonny gave her a little wave and smiled.  Emily sighed silently to herself.  Well, maybe she could get this notoriety thing to work in her favor.  An audience was an audience.  And Sonny better tip well!

  Emily found that today she was on fire.  In a good way.  All of her tricks were actually working out!  She made a flock of birds appear from nowhere!  She got that pesky wand to turn into a bunch of roses!  The crowd was clapping and cheering, and best of all, donating to her cause.  The Emily must have money to survive cause.

  And then, there he was, smiling and cheering with the crowd.  She got tunnel vision, and stumbled a bit through her cards trick.  What in the world was Mark doing here in the Park?

  She glanced at her friend Sonny, who looked the picture of innocence as she dropped some money into Emily's jar.  "Tell me what you know and what you did!"  Emily hissed at her when Sonny was within earshot.

  "I have no idea what you're talking about Em.  You're doing fabulous today, by the way!"

  "Sonny...." she started to say, but stopped abruptly when Mark approached her. 

"How's the arm?" he asked her.

  "Er, well, the arm?  Oh, my arm, it's great.  Well, it's better.  You can't tell I ever burnt it."  Emily wanted to shoot herself, it might be less painful.  Her tongue was all tied up and she was making a fool of herself again.

  Just then the crowd seemed to realize who Mark was and he was swarmed by a bunch of people asking for autographs.  He smiled and chatted nicely to everyone as he signed autographs.  Emily plopped herself down on the ground, it appeared she wasn't going to make any more tips today.  Sonny sat down next to her.  "I hate you." Emily told her, without any heat.  "Not even a warning!  You work at Starlight Records, somehow you knew he was going to be here.  You should have warned me."

  "Well, " Sonny said,"In my defense, I did say he was such a nice guy he would probably come by and see how you were doing."

  "That is not the same thing.  I thought you were joshing me, joking around.  How..."

  Sonny moved closer so she could whisper in Emily's ear.  "Well, I happen to be passing by when I overheard him talking to the Boss man about this girl who burned herself while doing this magic trick.  Naturally I had to get closer and hear what they were saying.  I knew they were talking about you.  After all, how many girls burn themselves by doing a magic trick in our little Park?"

  "Thanks a lot."

  Sonny shrugged.  "Well, it's the truth.  Anyway, he was talking about how he wanted to find out how you were doing, but he thought you might find it kind of creepy if he just showed up at your doorstep.  So I might have interrupted and volunteered the information that you would be back in the Park today."

  "You did what!?"

  "Yep, I did.  I put my job in jeopardy for True Love."

  Emily narrowed her eyes.  "Sonny..." but she stopped short when she realized Mark was standing over her.

  "Sorry about that." he said.  "It's hard for me to go anywhere without getting stopped.  Most times I don't mind talking to fans.  Sometimes, it is a pain."

  "No problem!"  Emily stood up and brushed the grass off of her outfit.  Sonny stood up as well.

  "Are you busy tonight?"

  "Me?  No, no, I don't have, well, that is, I'm free."  Shut up now Emily!  She told her herself silently in her head.  She could feel her face flaming up.

  "I'm performing tonight at the Binder Clips Center.  I was hoping you would agree to come as my guest?"

  Sonny shrieked.  "She would love too!"

  Emily elbowed her.  "Thanks Mark, yes, I would love to go."

  "Excellent!  Here's a pass, just show it at the front gate and they'll let you in."  He pulled a pass out of his pocket and handed it to Emily.  "Emily, you were terrific today.  I'm sorry my presence interrupted your show, I didn't intend for that to happen."  He leaned down and put some money in her tip jar.  "You are so much fun to watch!  I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight!"

  Emily blushed bright red.  "Thank you!  I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight too."

  Sonny waited until Mark had left.  "See!  I told you.  He totally likes you!"

  Emily pushed her friend and laughed.  "You're crazy!  He just feels sorry for me."

Part 3

Early the next morning Emily hauled herself up out of bed.  No matter how tempted she was to just pull the covers over her head and ignore the day, she was determined to be positive all day, no matter what.  She dressed quickly, eager to get an early start, and if she was lucky, an even earlier finish.  She needed to make some money.  A lot of money!  She grabbed her magician's hat and plunked it on her head as she headed out the door.

  Once she arrived at the Park she took a deep breath,then set her tip jar down onto the ground, and got down to business.  First she tried to conjure up the birds again.  To her amazement, it worked!  She was so excited she tried a different trick, turning her wand into flowers.  That trick failed.  She ignored the snickers of the small crowd that had surrounded her to watch.  She tried the trick again.  And again.  And again.

  She was so busy concentrating on her failed trick she didn't notice when her friend, Sonoko Lee came up to her until Sonny spoke.  "Looks like you could use a break!  How about you take five and talk to me while I'm on break?"

  Emily jumped a bit at the sound of Sonny's voice.  "Sonny!  Sure---I could use a break!"

  "Em, you won't believe what I heard at work today." Sonny said excitedly.

"Really?"  Emily snorted.  "This isn't going to be another Elvis sighting is it?"

"Elvis!"  Sonny pretended to be mad.  "As if!  No---this I overheard from the big man himself, my boss.  Phoenix is going to be playing at the Binder Clips Center this weekend!"

  Emily squealed with delight.  "The Phoenix!?  Here!?"

  Sonny nodded her head.  "Yep!  For two nights!  Oh--I would kill for tickets to see him in concert!  But the tickets are mucho expensive and they sell out fast!"

  "Bummer!"  Emily moaned.  "I can't even pay my rent, let alone go see a concert!"

Sonny gave Emily a hug.  "You know Em, if you end up needing a place to crash, I have a couch."

  Emily hugged her back.  "Thanks!  I may need it!  I better get back to working or I'll be sleeping on your couch sooner rather than later."  Sonny gave Emily a little wave and then she was gone.

  Okay, Em, Emily said to herself, let's see what we can do!  Emily decided to move on from the failed flowers trick and try out the new trick she had been practicing at home, which she called the "Fireball".  It was a little bit on the dangerous side, but what did she have to lose?

  "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am about to perform a daring trick I like to call---the Fireball!"  Her audience wandered back and began to oooh and aaah, instead of the usual boos she got.  She took that as a good sign.  She wiped her hands together, said a quick prayer, and Presto!  Er, Presto!  Presto??  She started to blush from embarrassment.    Presto?!  Now came the familiar boos.  Her Fireball kept fizzling out!  One last time, Em, she told herself silently.  Presto!!

  Now her audience was screaming!  In a bad way.  "She's on fire!  Call 911!  She's on fire!"

  Emily couldn't help herself, she panicked.   "Help!  I'm on fire!  Call 911!  Help!"  She waved her arm around, fanning the fire more and more.  She was starting to feel woozy at the sight of her arm engulfed in flames.

  And then the fire was gone, and she stared into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen.  "My hero!" she whispered.  "You saved me!"

  Her rescuer shrugged as he pulled his jacket off of her arm.  "I simply starved the fire." he told her matter of factly.  He gently pulled her arm closer to him.  "You should see a doctor though and get that burn checked out."

  Emily nodded.  "I feel faint."  And with that she made her humiliation complete by passing out at the feet of her Hero.

  Emily carefully got out of the car, mindful of her bandaged arm and hand.  She leaned her head back into the car, "Thanks, Mark, for everything."

  Mark smiled at her.  "You sure know how to put on a show!"

  Emily gave him a sheepish smile.  "Well, I try my best."  She pulled away and headed for her front door.  She stared at it, unsure exactly how she was going to unlock it with her left hand.  Usually she needed both hands for the "combo pull door handle while wiggling the key to convince the sticky lock to unlock" dance.  She heard Mark call her name so she turned around.

  He had jumped out of his car and was heading up towards her.  "I know how independent minded you are, but at least let me help you get into your house."  He put his hand out for the key, "Please?  Let me help, I'll unlock your door."  Emily looked at him a little suspiciously.  Mark laughed.  "If you could only see your face Emily.  I promise not to molest you---I just want to make sure you get inside okay."  Emily haded him her key.  He didn't seem to have any trouble unlocking her door.  She glared at the lock.

  Mark handed her key back to her and she hesitated, unsure whether she should invite him in or not.  He simply smiled,  and said, "I'll be right back."  He was gone only for a few moments and when he came back he had her tip jar with him.  "Don't want you to forget this."

  "Ohh--yes!  Thank you!  I am such a door post sometimes!" she groaned.

  "Maybe I'll see you around."

  "I'd like that."  Emily sighed as she watched Mark drive away, she still had the tip jar clutched firmly to her.  He was daydream material only, she told herself.  He was obviously well off, with that fancy car he drove.  While she---she was barely paying her rent.  Rent!

  She hurried over to her kitchen table and dumped out the contents of her tip jar.  She counted it twice, and then once more for good measure.  She couldn't believe it!  She had over a thousand dollars in there!  Someone had been a generous tipper and she had a pretty good idea on who it was.

Part 2

  After a grueling and humiliating day of poorly performing magic tricks in the Park, Emily just wanted to collapse on her bed and sleep.  She swallowed down her urge to cry.  This was not what she had envisioned when she had left home ten months earlier.  She didn't even know what was holding her to this town, other than she might have inherited some of her father's tenacity and stubbornness.  She refused to crawl home and admit defeat.

  Just as she was getting ready to indulge in a good pity party, her phone rang.  It was her mother, Kellie King.  "Sweetie, how are things going for you?  Did you find a good job yet?"

  "Hello Momma."  The urge to confide to her mother was nearly impossible to ignore, but she managed it, barely.  "Oh, yes.  Didn't I tell you?  I've got a fantastic new job!"  She winced a bit when the words left her mouth, thankful that her mother couldn't see her.  "I'm on my way to Stardom.  It's just taking me a bit longer than I expected."

  Emily had to pull the phone away from her ear because of the excited squeal that came from her mother.  "Do tell Emmie!  I knew you could do it!  Who are you working for?  Is he rich?  Handsome?  Single?"

  Emily sighed.  "Momma, you are incorrigible!  I am not looking for love, so it hardly matters IF my boss was single, handsome, or rich."

  Her mother was quiet for a second.  "Well, is he?"

  "No, um, I don't have a boss, well, I do, but I'm my own boss.  I've signed up my own deals and everything.  I couldn't have imagined being where I am today ten months ago.  It is---unbelievable!"

"Emmie, that's wonderful!  You're such a talented girl."

  Emily talked to her mother a few minutes more, then pleaded exhaustion and ended the call.  She shook her head.  Her mother never changed.  She was always wanting to know if Emily had found a boyfriend yet, or if there was boyfriend material anywhere nearby.  But her favorite scheme was trying to set Emily up with the neighbor's son, Blaine.

  Emily made a face.  Blaine the Bane.  That's how she thought of him.  Her mother seemed to think that just because she and Emily's father were childhood friends, then teen sweethearts, and then married right out of highschool, that Emily was destined to do the same.  And her mother picked Blaine, of all people.  Blaine who had cut her hair when she was 6 yrs old.  Blaine who planted slugs in her boots.  When he was teen he graduated to vulgar name calling and spreading lies about her all around town.  Blaine who was the town thug, if her mother ever cared to open her eyes to see it.

  Emily flopped down on her bed onto her back and threw her arm across her eyes.  Her life had come to this.  Lying to her mother, well, stretching the truth a little bit.  She did say she couldn't imagine her life being this way ten months ago, and that was the God honest truth.  She had made two hundred thirteen dollars and ten cents.  In four days.  She only needed eight hundred dollars more, in three days.

  She needed a miracle.

Chapter One: Emily

Emily groaned as she looked at the amount of bills that were stuffed into her mailbox.  Every single one of them were in red envelopes with Urgent written on them in big, black, bold letters.  Where in the world was she going to get the money to pay her bills?  And her rent especially!  It was due in 7 days.  Her place wasn't much, but it was home.

  She sighed loudly.  Things were not going as smoothly as she had anticipated when she first came up with The Plan to move to Starlight Shores.  She cringed inwardly as she thought about her foolish declarations to her parents.  How she would move to Starlight Shores, rent her own place, get discovered for her amazing talent, and be rich and famous!  She told them her talent was rusting away in this hick town they were living in.  She was meant for bigger and better things!

  She thought briefly about calling her parents up, and asking for help.  She was drowning and she couldn't see any end in sight.  She decided against it however, the memory of her father's last words to her were still very fresh in her mind.  "You are being foolish and bull headed.  And I will not support you in this!  When you fail, and you will, and you finally come to your senses, I will send you some money to get you back home.  Until then, you won't see a dime of my money.  You'll make it or break it on your own."

  She sighed again.  There was no hope for it.  No one would hire a nobody like her.  Sure, most of them had heard of the King family and its famous Ranch, but this was Starlight Shores, not some pow dunk town filled with horses and cattle.  They were only interested in Celebrities and Stars, not the daughters of blue collar workers with dirt under their fingernails, and horse manure on the bottom of their boots.

  She grimaced.  She would just have to buck up and put on her costume and head for the Park.  She hated being a Magician, and she wasn't very good at it either.  But whether it was pity or because she was so terrible it was laughable, people would stop by and put a few dollars in her jar.  She could usually get enough to at least get a few groceries, and pay her water and electric bill.  But she needed a lot more money, and soon.  She would have to spend as many hours as there was daylight for seven days to see if she could scratch up enough cash to pay her rent.