“It says here that you can endorse products and brands and they’ll pay you for it,” Mervin reads. It was the next day and my friends and I were assessing my situation. “But you can’t be a one-hit-wonder, now. You need to blog and post videos frequently.”
“One-hit-wonder?” Kent snorts. “JT is a one million hit wonder!”
It was true. I really was kind of becoming semi-famous. People recognised me on the street, whether they said so or not. It was kind of exciting. Not everybody gave good comments, though. But I wasn’t unprepared. I knew the limelight was, ironically, a dark place.
“There’s lots of stuff you could do, JT,” Mervin starts, “to milk this for all it’s worth.”
Soon I am getting tons of requests for online interviews, reviews, messages and … hate mail. Someone had even started a fan page for me. It was getting out of hand. I had studied theatre; I had a passion for the fine arts. Not all this other stuff. But it sure was ego boosting.
“I’m not sure if we should pursue this,” I say, doubtful. “Maybe we should just let it run its course, let it go.”
“Really?” Vusi muses. “This may be your ticket in. If you’re going to be a media personality, this is how you’ll start.”
“You know, I was thinking more along the lines of Broadway … New York,” I say.
“Okay, Mr … er, shucks, I don’t even know any Broadway stars,” says Vusi.
“I’m on it.” Mervin unlocks his phone. “Okay, Google. Show me famous Broadway celebrities.”
The voice lists a few well-known Broadway performers.
“Right, but that’s not our goal now,” Kent says. “Our point is, forget Broadway. At least for now. Your destiny lies on another path now. You’re gonna let it pass by?”
I sigh. “I guess not. What do I do?”
“Don’t worry,” Mervin says, smiling. “I’ve got it all under control.”
* * * * *
“Hi,” I say.
Myrah turns to look at me from behind the bar.
“You’re back again? Are you stalking me?” She’s more jokey than upset and that’s a good sign.
“Nah,” I say coolly. “I think I left something here the other night.”
“Oh, really?” She raises her eyebrows. “Must I get the ‘lost and found’? What is it this time? A jacket, or your scarf? Your wallet?”
“No,” I say. “My mind. I’ve lost my mind here. It can’t seem to leave this place … to leave you.”
“Oh.” She’s stunned for a moment.
“In case you didn’t realise,” I say, walking closer, “that was a move.”
She laughs. “Yeah, I realise it dumbo. And that was smooth.”
“Listen, I’m really sorry about the other night. I had no right to judge you or what you do. We barely know each other.” I reach forward and take her hand. “But I’d like to change that. Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?”
She doesn’t pull her hand away.
“What about that other girl? The one from the song, Mr ‘Forever Love’.”
“Khanyi?” I snort. “She’s ancient history. For the first time in a long while, I’ve had so much going on, that I didn’t even think about her.”
“Yet you have time to come here and ask me out.”
“We find the time to do the things we care about.”
She smiles and it melts my insides. “Fine. Give me your phone.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to give you my number, you idiot. And we better go anywhere else besides this club.”
She’s punching her number on my phone when a guy comes out from the Staff Only door and eyes us. I recall him as being the bartender the other night. Oh shit.
“Hey, you’re Myrah’s cousin, right?” he asks. “Did you find each other the other night?”
Myrah’s confused as hell.
“Err, gotta go,” I say. “I’ll explain everything later.”
I tuck my phone into my pocket and leave as happy as a guy could be.
But then I get a text and my whole mood is ruined.
***
Tell us what you think: What examples are there of a ‘dark side’ to the ‘lime light’, being famous?