In no time, Sparrow was dressed and the photoshoot started. Sparrow hated taking photos and posing for the cameras, but this was the job and she had to do it. When they were done, she sat down with the interviewer, with Thomas and Jazz lingering in the background, in earshot of the conversation.

“Wow! That was magical. You look stunning and the pictures are wonderful,” the interviewer beamed.

“Thank you,” Sparrow smiled politely.

She felt like she had been gliding on air the whole time. The effects of the beautiful gown they had her put on was dazzling. It was thin-strapped with a bodice that made her ladies glow with appreciation. The waist line hugged her frame, allowing her hips to dazzle. The long slit line on her dress ran all the way up, almost to the waist, and gave the illusion of never-ending legs beneath it.

She felt magical. She was magical.

“Thank you for being here. Your show last night was amazing, and I’ll be honest, I expected you to cancel today’s interview.”

“I wish I could. But I worked hard to be here, and I wouldn’t dream of giving it up,” she threw a glare at Jazz. He smiled nervously.

The interviewer nodded. “So how do you do it? How do you stay on top of your game?”

“It’s not easy,” Sparrow said chuckling, “but I have an amazing team and a brilliant manager who knows how to spread me thin.”

Thomas chuckled, “That’s why you pay me the big bucks.”

The interviewer smiled. “Thomas is amazing and we know the story of how you two started your careers together. But not much is known about you outside of your singing career. Are you willing to share a bit about yourself with our readers?”

“That’s because I’m not a celebrity …”

“Not yet,” Jazz said from the corner, like a gawking fan, smiling, proud of himself. Everyone just looked at him and ignored his comment.

Sparrow went on as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “I’m just a simple girl from a small town, I’m pretty boring.”

“That I don’t believe!” the young woman said. “I watched your show last night and every performance you’ve ever had. It’s electric. How can that be boring?”

“Music allows me to be somebody else, but outside of that I’m just Morgan. I’m shy and keep to myself. Thomas is my only friend and I like to keep it that way.”

“Surely you have more, some old friends? Your family is still in PE, not so?”

“Yes. My mom and siblings are still there. And it’ll be good to see everyone again when I go on tour.”

There was silence as the interviewer paged through her notes.

“So tell us about this young man in your life. Jazz, is it? We hear the two of you are a hot thing.”

From the other side of the room Thomas yawned. Sparrow stiffened and shifted slightly in her chair. They had heard these “rumours” before, but they had never really addressed them. Jazz had posted their old pictures on Instagram again. Nobody had ever asked the question directly, and now here it was.

Sparrow could hear her head spinning, wheels turning like a washing machine. She looked at Jazz. He was practically drooling like a puppy waiting for his stick to be thrown, so he could fetch. He looked ridiculous. Why had she never seen this?

Then she looked in Thomas’s direction but nothing came from Thomas. Usually he would’ve jumped and cut the interviewer down, but maybe it was time Sparrow dealt with this. She needed to face it and now was the time.

“Jazz and I dated a few years ago. But we broke up and we both moved on.”

“But the pictures on social media say otherwise.”

“Jazz is just a fan,” she said looking straight at him. “I hear he’s having a baby with … I can’t recall her name, she’s a make-up influencer.”

Jazz coughed.

The interviewer looked at Jazz. “Do you have something to add? Care to give us her name? For the record?”

“I … What?” Jazz mumbled and picked up an imaginary phone call. “Excuse me,” he answered his phone even though they could clearly see it was off, and stepped outside.

“Guess that’s the last I’ll see of him,” Sparrow said irritably.

“Are you saying he fabricated the whole thing? The two of you were seen having dinner together not so long ago.”

“That was just dinner. He wanted my help and I said no. That’s that. I can’t help it if he wants to use me as a ladder to the limelight. I guess that’s part of being a ‘celebrity’.”

“So there is nobody special in your life?”

“The only people in my life are my family, my wonderful fans and supporters, and my best friend and manager.”

The room was silent.

“Well, your male followers will love to hear that.”

“I’m sure. But I’m not looking to date anyone right now. I’m completely focused on my career.”

“Thank you so much for sharing that with us Sparrow.”

With that, the interview came to an end. The young woman gave her a hug, and shook Thomas’s hand as she walked out.

When the door had just closed behind her, Sparrow walked over to the bar and poured herself a gin. She gulped it down and poured another one. Thomas came and stood behind her and put his hand on her shoulder.

“That was brilliant. Thank you so much for sharing that,” he said, mimicking the eager young interviewer.

Sparrow poured a drink for him too and handed it to him. They both sat down on the couch and sipped their drinks slowly.

“So tell me,” said Thomas, “what made you change your mind?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sparrow teased.

“Well, I’m glad you came to your senses, little Sparrow. May your name be forever written in the stars.”

Sparrow smiled and put her arm around him. “Right next to yours, my darling.”

*****

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