《Super Nova》


 Chapter 1

    ¡°NOVA, you¡¯re on in five!¡± The stagehand yelled from outside the door.


    Nova Quinn, known only as Nova, was exhausted after a year-long world tour. Finishing up thest show of her newest self-titled album, Super Nova, had been my physically draining on the rock star than she could have ever imagined. Nova was the hottest female singer in the business and had done it all; movies, magazines, won a Grammy, and an A-list celebrity.


    The public knew her as being a bit of a diva and she often was the talk of celebrity gossip news. Despite her reputation, she still made a few friends with other stars like her best friends, Emma and Jade, from the rock band Roxy. People assumed Nova was just like her cocky father, wrestling manager of the world-renowned Powerbomb Global, Eric Quinn. He had quite the reputation of his own, being a cut-throat business manager, and one of the most well-known managers in the business.


    When people took the time to know Nova, they soon saw she was nothing like her father or the reputation that preceded her. Unfortunately, not very many people took the time to find out who the real Nova really was. After years of her bad reputation, she had be jaded by knowing people saw her as the self-centered brat of the rock scene. Other than her fans who loved her, Nova didn¡¯t have many people she could depend on. A reputation of yelling at staff, trashing hotel rooms, and not to mention, the party girl lifestyle the paparazzi had portrayed didn¡¯t do much to improve things.


    On thest night of her big tour, Nova headed out to the stage with her handler. Just going through the motions she attempted getting in the zone to go on stage.


    ¡°We¡¯re walking! Nova¡¯s heading to the stage,¡± thedy shrieked in her headpiece making Nova cringe from the shrill voice.


    Nova had enough of her demanding lifestyle and strenuous travel schedule and was counting down the minutes for the tour to be over. She was ready to head home to sleep in her own bed in the luxury penthouse apartment in Manhattan after the long tour finally ended for a much-needed hiatus.


    ¡°Onest show, then home-sweet-home,¡± she thought to herself, as she adjusted her costume.


    After butting heads with her manager they finally agreed she needed some time off to rest. It was obvious to anyone looking in that she wasn¡¯t the same woman she hadn¡¯t been years before. She desperately needed a break before she lost her mind. The promoters had canceled herst two shows because of exhaustion and fatigue. She couldn¡¯t risk her health or sanity much longer; especially after her short stint in the hospital weeks before.


    After several weeks of back and forth, Nova wanted to make up for the canceling of several events and do something to show appreciation for her fans. She demanded herst show of the tour be free with a live stream online, against her manager¡¯s discretion.


    Nova stood under the stage tform, ready to put on one more show for the tour. Standing at the ready on a hydraulic lift that would bring her up into the middle of the stage, she was dressed in a ck sequin bodysuit, thigh-high boots, and white custom coat that would show hologram projections as she performed. She shivered with excitement at the idea of the holograms giving the appearance that the coat was the universe, once the lights lit up the stage, knowing her fans would love it. Her shows were full of special FX, pyrotechnics, andser lights. Far more glitz and m than Nova thought were needed, but it was par for the course at this point.


    On stage, the music started as the stage smoke and pyrotechnics filled the space.


    ¡°Hello LA! Are you ready for a SUPER NOVA!¡±


    Once the lift had her in ce, Nova rushed the stage to rock the house with her newest hit song. Feeling energized once she saw the excitement of the crowd her spirits were instantly lifted. Performing was her life, and she loved it. This was her safe ce; on stage with her fans.


    Halfway through the show, Nova was getting ready to sing a new bad she wrote about her own life. Going to the ck grand piano that was rolled out to the stage, the house lights went down. Only a soft glow shone over her and the piano. Nova began ying the song Smoke and Mirrors as the audience swayed with light from cellphones. Back and forth they waved making the stadium look like fireflies. With the feel of the crowd, her own emotions took over as the words fell from her lips.


    Nova¡¯s new song shared the feelings that consumed her over the past few years. Her second world tour had grown to be nothing like she expected the rockstar life to be. Her personal life was in shambles, and she just wanted to go home to be with her family.N?velDrama.Org content.


    As she yed, Nova felt as if the music was all being overshadowed by the video graphics ying in the background and the annoyingser lights that zoomed around her. The blinding lights were distracting people from seeing the painful beauty behind the lyrics.


    Singing about her loneliness on the road, and having to be something she wasn¡¯t, Nova remembered a conversation she once had with her friends, Jade and Emma. She traveled with them on a festival tour and it was the most fun she had in the music business over her whole career.


    The friends often talked about how hard the music life was once they were celebrities. Doing what they loved so much was lonely regardless of how happy the smiling faces of the crowds were. She remembered Jade professing the feeling of being a fraud while the music execs tried to make her more mainstream. Emma noted that she felt like her love for music had turned into shing lights and cameras instead of a way to reach people through music.


    Nova¡¯s mind wandered to memories traveling with her father at his old wrestlingpany years before. With wrestlers, it was like a traveling family. She missed those simpler days practicing in the ring and working to be a wrestling star. Here on her metal tour, she was more alone than she had ever been in her life. Nova knew at the end of the night and the lights went out, she would return to her hotel room, left with just her thoughts.


    Even her own band members stopped hanging out with her once her perceived diva attitude started. So having any social life had be nonexistent.


    Halfway through the song, Nova looked out to the crowd where people held up lighters and cell phones, swaying to the music and singing along. Curious about the reaction, she stopped singing and began just moving her mouth. Suddenly she realized no one was hearing her. No one even noticed. She had heard other musicians say this could happen, but she never realized how true it was. They were just singing to what they knew.


    Nova felt overwhelming emotions well up inside her as she struggled to breathe. Recent years had caused her overwhelming anxiety, and all was crashing around her now. Tears fell and her voice trembled as she tried to sing again. Nova had never missed a beat, but she was now. No one noticed and he wondered if they ever cared.


    Nova stopped ying and held her head slumped down over the piano as a single tear hit keys. Soon after, the band stopped as well as they realized what was happening. She looked to the side of the stage where her music manager stood frantically waving her to go on.


    Nova slowly took the microphone and stood from the piano ready to take back her life. Peering over the now-silent crowd, she knew this had to end. This was not the life she had dreamed of and something clearly needed to change.


    Standing before the crowd she desperately tried to get a hold of herself, taking a deep breath that she didn¡¯t realize she had been holding in. For the first time in her life, she was experiencing stage fright. As the people watched her she could hear the mumbles of voices questioning what was going on. Shaking she was unsure of what to do next.


    Finally, she spoke, ¡°Turn up the house lights and turn off those damnsers¡­ Thank you. Ya know, I did this show for all of my fans. All of you out there in the crowd and across the world who are watching me now live in their homes. As you all know, I have been dealing with a lot of pressuretely. I became hospitalized for exhaustion just a week ago for the third time in the past few months. It has been all over the news and social media. Truth is¡­ I¡¯m tired.¡±


    Nova paced across the stage as she thought about her life that was now out of control.


    ¡°The paparazzi follow me everywhere I go, spreading lies about me. People on the street yell obscenities, thinking I¡¯m some kind of monster. People protest outside my concerts saying I am a horrible role model for their children. I hate that and it breaks my heart. My whole life I wanted to be an inspiration to kids who had a dream just like I did. I never wanted to be a disappointment to my fans or my family. Singing this song, I realized something. It¡¯s time for a change. Time for the real Nova to shine again. I¡¯m tired of pretending to be what the music execs want me to be. I¡¯m not what the media is trying to make people believe. I¡¯m a real person behind the persona of Nova the superstar.¡±


    ncing over her shoulder to her band so thought of the effect the media had on them, then back to the crowd saying, ¡°I need to make it up for everything. You came to see me and my band rock the house because you love my music. I haven¡¯t sung a word now for at least four bars of that song, and no one noticed. You can¡¯t even hear the show for the pyrotechnics booming and being blinded byser lights shing in your face. The fans are why I¡¯m still here, not for myself. You didn¡¯te to see the stage designs, crazy costumes, or fancy props. You came to watch a kick-ass rock show!¡±


    The crowd cheered at her statement, giving Nova the strength she needed to go on.


    ¡°This all stopped being about the music a long time ago. My love for performing, and seeing my fans smile, became less important as the recordbels tried to make me into a money-making machine. That¡¯s what the song Smoke and Mirrors are about. To them, it¡¯s all about fancy cars, cash, and red carpet events. My shows used to be about music, not fireworks and huge stage productions. It was just me and the art of making music. Tonight, I will do something different from what I have done this whole tour¡­¡±


    She turned back to her band once more. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s time we take back the stage and go back to our roots. These people came for a real show and we¡¯re going to give it to them. We will rock like we did when we started this journey six years ago; performing in dive bars and shady concert venues. No more pyro, videos, or crazy lights. Just an old-school rock concert. Are you with me?¡±


    The crowd and her band cheered.


    ¡°Good! Now let¡¯s rock this crowd the way we used to! Time to ROCK!¡±


    She started singing one of her more hard rock anthems and the crowd went wild from being able to hear and feel the music. Nova and the band yed the best show they had the whole tour, and she felt more energized than she had since it started. As she sang, she knew, it was time to take back her life. Starting right now.

 Chapter 2

    After the show, Nova felt amazing. Remembering what it was like to entertain a crowd made her shake with excitement.


    Running backstage, she was smiling and high-fiving the band and for the first time in years, it all seemed perfect.


    Nova¡¯s manager waited for her to get past the curtains and grabbed her by the arm so hard she was sure it would leave marks. Pulling her to the side, he was fuming. Nova¡¯s smile quickly faded when she saw the look in his eyes.


    ¡°What the hell happened out there? You ruined my show! I have promoters and record execs calling me worried you will have some mental breakdown. You have five more shows ready to go up for promotion, so you better get your shit together. Not to mention thebel¡¯s breathing down my throat for you to write songs for the next album.¡±


    ¡°Your show? Last I checked, I¡¯m the one out there busting my ass! First of all, get your damn hands off me! Second, I told you I need a break. I¡¯ve been dragging my ass on stage for months, just going through the motions. I¡¯m not going on tour again until I¡¯m damn good and ready. I talked to the band today during rehearsals. They agree we need time with our families. Now, get my flight changed. I¡¯m going home.¡±


    Pulling away she stormed to her dressing room with rage building at the thought of the man¡¯s threats. Locking the door behind her, Nova grabbed her cell phone to call her friend Emma.


    ¡°Hey, Nova. What¡¯s up, girl? I watched the show. It was amazing! I was worried for a minute there, but you pulled it together.¡±


    ¡°Emma, I can¡¯t keep doing this. I¡¯ll be in a mental institution if I keep up this pace. I haven¡¯t slept in weeks.¡± Nova put her head in her hand, leaning on the makeup table as she fought back tears.


    ¡°Oh, Nova. Sweetie, I¡¯m so sorry. Listen, you must figure out what you want. Stop trying to keep things going if you¡¯re not happy. Every time we talk, you¡¯re more depressed. I thought this show was a good thing, but now I think you are just rallying to keep your head above water. I hear people talk and everyone in the industry thinks you¡¯re a bitch. I know you¡¯re not, but I hear you¡¯re getting into a dark ce again. It¡¯s the stress of trying to keep up this persona of yours. Maybe you just need to get away for a while and figure out what¡¯s important to you. I know it¡¯s hard and I¡¯m right here if you need to talk. I¡¯ve been praying for you,¡± Emma saidforting her best friend.


    She was always her biggest cheerleader. Her support saved Nova¡¯s life in a time she was at her lowest.


    ¡°What if this isn¡¯t where I belong anymore? I love music, but I miss my old life.¡±


    ¡°Nova, are you still thinking about returning to wrestling? I¡¯m no expert, but from what I could see when I watched you practice, you¡¯re good at it. Of course, that¡¯s just your bestie talking. At the end of the day, it¡¯s your choice to make. I just suggest keeping Liam from finding out until you have to. That manager of yours is a jackass. You know if he finds out you¡¯re still getting in the ring, he¡¯ll flip out.¡±


    Nova heard a pounding at the door and instantly stiffened knowing what was on the other side.


    ¡°Emma, I have to go. I¡¯ll call youter. Love you, sister-friend.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Opening the door stood her manager, red-faced and furious.


    ¡°Grab your stuff! The ne is ready. I¡¯m gonna give you two weeks to get your damn diva ass together. Princess, I don¡¯t know who you think you are? Never talk to me the way you did in front of the band and crew earlier. No one talks to me that way, do you understand me? I can make it where you never work in this business again. Now get moving! We have a flight to catch.¡±


    Liam turned and mmed the door in Nova¡¯s face jarring the entire room. The m of the door jolted her, making her jump as the teats started to roll. Her head dropped, feeling utter despair wash over her. Turning to see her reflection in the mirror, looking back was an empty shell of her former self. The woman she once was fading fast.

 Chapter 3

    A few dayster, Nova was finishing up on her tour. After a day ofst-minute media interviews, Nova entered her swanky Manhattan penthouse with her entourage following closely behind. Flopping down on the couch she watched as the makeup team, assistants, and her manager scurried around her home. Annoyed, she just sat there with seething contempt in her eyes.


    She quickly realized none of them cared anything about her. They clearly loved the money and fancy high society life she was giving them. Except for her personal assistant, ire, she felt like just amodity. The sweet girl in her college years was Nova¡¯s right hand. ire was the only one who ever made any attempt to treat Nova like a human being. The quiet assistant stood nearby, watching her boss with pity. The girl knew what Nova was thinking before she even would say a word.


    Nova¡¯s diva-side kicked in when hearing her manager rambled on about appearances and talk shows he wanted her to attend that week. This was supposed to be her so-called break. Not another publicity stunt.


    Nova got up and went to the door, slinging it open with a bang.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! Everyone out¡­ NOW! ire, you can stay as always. Everyone else¡­ get the hell out of my apartment!¡±


    The crew stopped in their tracks, looking at her like she had lost her mind.


    Nova went over to her couch, throwing pillows at them. ¡°Did I fucking stutter? All of you! Get OUT!¡±


    Everyone quickly scurried out that door except for her manager who stood there with a smug look smeared across his face. As ire quietly went to her guest quarters, Liam went to the front door and mming it hard before heading straight to Nova. She was ready tounch another pillow at his head when he yanked it from her hand and stepped nose-to-nose to her.


    Pointing in her face he yelled, ¡°Let me tell you something you ungrateful bitch! I have had about enough of that attitude. You have a responsibility to the recordpany and to me. Get your damn diva attitude in check, or you won¡¯t like what I have in store for you. You¡¯re a spoiled little brat. I gave you everything, Nova Quinn! Have a little bit of gratitude for once in your pathetic fucking life.¡±


    Pushing his hand away, Nova yelled back, ¡°You? All you do is force me to perform day-in-and-day-out just to make you more money. You treat me like your dancing puppet. Get out! I¡¯m not going to do anything else on my break. I¡¯ll contact you when I¡¯m damn good and ready to go back to work. I¡¯m not a child, Liam. You know I won¡¯t take your shit anymore.¡±


    Nova walked away, stomping down the hall to her room yelling over her shoulder, ¡°And lock the door on your way out!¡±


    Liam left the apartment with a m of the door. Quickly Nova rushed straight to her bedroom with her phone in hand, ready to call the one person she needed most. The only person she knew who could help her out of this nightmare.


    ¡°Daddy¡­?¡± she pouted.


    Eric Quinn¡¯s heart plummeted as he heard the desperate plea of his daughter¡¯s voice. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, baby girl? Do I need toe to get that asshole manager in his ce again?¡±


    ¡°No, Daddy. I¡¯m home for a while. I¡¯m taking a break from my music .¡±


    Nova rubbed her tired eyes, already feeling the weight of her exhausted body trying to take over. It had been so long since she slept in her own bed that the billowy softness was almost lulling her to sleep on contact.


    ¡°A break? That¡¯s good to hear. Every time I get this call, I hear how drained you are. You need to take better care of yourself, sweetie. So, how long are you off?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. I miss you, Daddy.¡±


    She picked up the framed photo of her family that was ced by the bed, holding it to her heart.


    ¡°Nova, you never talk to me in your baby voice unless you want something. What is it now?¡±


    Eric knew he always spoiled her and worried that what he was seeing in the media was partly true. She was turning into a spoiled brat.


    ¡°I just want to talk. I want to see you,¡± Nova sighed.


    ¡°I can try. I¡¯m in New York for a show. Powerbomb is gearing up for our European tour, and we have some downtimeing up next month. Maybe if your still home we can get the family together.¡±


    ¡°That would be wonderful, but I really need to see you now.¡±


    Eric tapped his fingers on the makeshift office space in the arena that held the night¡¯s events. Something was wrong; he could feel it. Nova was never so needy and the desperation in her voice was chilling. A little spoiled, yes, but she was independent so her behavior seemed off.


    He sighed, ¡°All right. Why don¡¯t we meet up tomorrow for lunch?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Daddy. I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m going to bed. I love you.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Nova hung up and quickly went to sleep. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light.


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