Chapter Three: One step forward & Two steps back

*Adult Situation and Content inside, reader be warned. 
Two weeks later...

Miranda was on a mission, today she'd open the book she closed so long ago. She was going to find information on her family members she never knew. Unfortunately, her mother distanced herself from her family as well as her father's side but it was the 21st century, how hard could it be to track them down? Miranda wondered why her mother kept her hidden away like that? She shook the thought from her head and fastened the button on her pants while Joshua made up the bed.

Joshua: "Babe where are you headed so early?" He asked.

Miranda: "Just downtown I have some stuff to do.." She replied.

Joshua: "Like?" He inquired further. Miranda rolled her eyes to herself. When she didn't answer he walked over to her side. Before he could open his mouth, she closed it with a kiss and headed out of the door.

Miranda wasn't sure of what she would find but she hoped it was something helpful. She hopped into her limo and was driven to City Hall. Upon arrival, she walked inside and approached the first employee she laid eyes on.

Miranda: "Excuse me sir, could you help me?" She asked. He walked over to her and nodded.

Miranda: "I need help." She said.

Employee: "Okay with what?" He asked looking annoyed. 

Miranda: "Well my name is Miranda Griffin and I am trying to find some information on my family. You see my mother died and I don't know anyone else.." She tried to explain.

Please help me she thought. I don't know where else to go. 

Employee: "Ma'am I'm afraid I can't be much of help to you." He said.

Miranda: "But this is City Hall don't you have records or something?" She pleaded. He shook his head and apologized once more. Miranda furrowed her brows and looked defeated.

Miranda: "Okay I understand". She said in a small child-like voice. She turned to walk out and heard a voice whisper her name. She jerked around in the direction of the whisper.

"Sky" It called.

"Who's there?" She said and spun around. A man dressed in black with gray hair approached her. She eye'd him suspiciously. 

Miranda: "How do you know my name?" She asked stupidly. of course he'd know my name but what does he want? She thought.

Stranger: "I can help you." He replied simply.

Miranda: "I'm sorry with?" She asked feeling confused.

Stranger: "I overheard you inside. I could help you get the answers you're looking for." He explained.

Miranda: "Look mister I don't know who you are or what you're up to but I really need to go." She said. This guy must be crazy she thought. 

Stranger: "Ma'am this is a bit odd but I promise I can help. I just need you to trust me." He said.

Miranda: "Okay let's say I did trust you, what's in this for you? Are you going to black-mail me or something? or make me pay you loads of money?" She asked feeling suspicious. It was no way he was doing this out of the kindness of his heart, right?

Stranger: "No and No. I'm just doing my job. It's what I do, find people. While Miranda continued to question this strange man's loyalty and his intentions, Mimi had just finished her shift at the restaurant. 

Back at Home..

Mimi was so stressed after the long day she had. She came in to find Joshua sipping on a wine cooler and grabbed one herself.

Joshua noticed Mimi had come home and continued to sip on his wine cooler. 

Joshua: "Long day at work?" He asked in between sips.

Mimi: "Very, the new executive chef can't cook to save her life." She replied.

Joshua: "How did she get the job then?" He asked.

Mimi: "She's the bosses kid." She replied. Joshua shook his head and chuckled. 

Mimi: "What about you? You look like shit." She said and gave him a sorry look.

Joshua: "I kinda feel like it. Miranda has been so distant. I thought we had gotten passed that." He confessed and shook his head again. Mimi felt bad for him.

Mimi: "I know how you feel. Me and Issac broke up." She said.

Joshua: "Sorry to hear that." He said. She nodded and they clinked bottles with each other and toasted. After a couple dozen wine coolers the two were drunk off their asses. Who knew wine-coolers were so strong? The two had shed their clothes and found themselves in each other's arms. Alcohol and loneliness can be a deadly combination. In their drunkenness they weren't aware of their actions. They didn't yet think of the consequences that would come. 

Joshua picked her up in his arms and began to carry Mimi into her bedroom. The bedroom she once shared with Issac. 

Mimi threw her head back and giggled. Joshua gazed down with lust in his eyes and began walking towards the bedroom. Once there the both of them shredded the rest of their clothing and began to advance towards each other. They kissed. They caressed. They licked. They sucked. They had sex. And when all was said and done they collapsed and drifted off to sleep. Three hours later they began to stir. Joshua was the first to wake and the first to realized what  had taken place. Regret quickly filled him. What had he done? One mistake and his life would spin out of control. Sure he had been lonely but that was no excuse for what he had done, for what they had done and with her best friend no less. Mimi woken up soon afterwards and glanced towards Joshua who had began to weep. 

Mimi: "Oh no, oh God.." She gasped.

Back to Miranda

Miranda had decided to accept the friendly strangers help. He had given her his card and she gave him her number as well. She felt a little odd, okay very odd but what choice did she have? She was desperate and she needed this over so she could move on with her wedding plans and in life general. She needed closure and she deserved to do that with her family. On her way home, the phone rung in her pocket. She picked it up and answered it. It was him already.

Miranda: "Yes?" She said.

Stranger: "I've found something." Miranda sighed deeply and felt as if her heart just dropped. Was she ready to find out so soon? Would she like the information? 

Chapter Two: The truth

Miranda was on her way back home when she realized she had a show to perform. She called her limo driver to tell her to pick her up at the beach instead of her home.

Driver: "Good evening Ms. Griffin." After Miranda had changed back into her clothing she rolled down the window.

Miranda: "Hello Alice. How are you?" She replied back. The two continued their small talk until Miranda had reached the coffeehouse. The place where she got her first break. Sure it wasn't a big venue or a live concert but how could she forget this place? She owed her career to it. She bid Alice goodbye and quickly freshened up and changed for her performance. Once on stage she took a sip of water and gathered herself before she began to sing.

 

She then grabbed the mic and began to sing. She let go of the memories of her mother and the lies she had told earlier. All that mattered right now was her, the stage and her audience. 

Miranda looked out to the crowd and saw Joshua and Mimi watching her. Despite the lies and weirdness of this morning they still wanted to support her. And it made her heart swell with happiness. 

After Miranda closed the show she headed home. She came home to find Joshua sitting on the sofa. She sat down next to him.

Joshua: "Hey babe you rocked the show tonight." He said.

Miranda: "Thank you honey. That means a lot coming from you." She said. 

Joshua: "You know you're good rather I say it or not, Why don't you come closer? I missed you." He said and ushered for her to cuddle with him.

 

Miranda: "I'm sorry about earlier I know I was acting a little odd." She confessed.

Joshua: "Yeah, do you want to talk about  her, -I mean it?" He said.

Miranda: "Yes I do. I haven't thought much about my guests simply because I have very few to invite..I don't have much family all I had was my mom." She began, "But she was killed in a car crash when I was 12." She finished.

Joshua: "I'm so sorry why didn't you tell me?" He asked.

Miranda: "I don't know it's hard for me you know? I miss her so much and it hurts just to think about it. I never got to say goodbye, we didn't even have a proper funeral since she was injured so badly." She explained. Joshua gently hugged her.

Joshua: "Hey it's okay, he said, she's in a better place and you don't have to say anymore if you don't want to okay?" He said. She nodded and hug him back.

Miranda: "Thank you so much for understanding. I love you." 

Chapter One: Forgotten Memories

Two years ago Miranda was signing the lease to rent her first home. Two years ago Miranda was just starting out performing for tips, auditioning for gigs and being turned down by the proprietors. It seemed like just yesterday she had met Mimi on the beach after she performed for the very first time. And only yesterday that Mithun had stolen her heart and broken it seemingly at the same time.But it wasn't yesterday, today was today. Miranda had finally accomplished her dreams of being a legendary singer. And she met a man who loved her and cared for her genuinely.

In fact they were engaged and today they were sitting down to discuss wedding plans. 

 

Joshua: "I think I finally have my list ready."

Miranda: "You mean the guest list? already?"

Miranda had totally forgot, actually she hadn't even thought about it yet. Everything had been so busy lately with the meetings with her agent, interviews and her steady gigs. 

Miranda: "Well how many from your side are you inviting?"

Joshua began counting on his hands..

Joshua: "Well let's see Mom, Dad, My Aunt Rose.."

Miranda had tuned him out, not purposefully, but she was thinking who'd she invite. 

Then it hit her she had no one to invite. Growing up it had only been her and her mom but she had passed away when she was only 12. She swallowed back a lump from forming in her throat and began to speak.

Miranda: "Actually honey I can't talk about this now. I just remembered I have to call my agent to discuss an upcoming tour" She fibbed. Joshua shut up and frowned. 

Joshua: "You hadn't mentioned this before and you've been so busy we haven't had time to discuss anything." He said.

Miranda: "Well it hasn't been that long."

Joshua: "Miranda It's been almost 5 months since I proposed I know we're not getting married over night, but I'd like to discuss it." 

Five months?! Had it been that long already..It seemed like he'd just proposed. Her mind drifted back to that  night.

 

 

Miranda:" Joshua I'm really sorry I didn't realize it had been so long,  promise we'll talk about it later" She said still trying to avoid the topic of her mother. He nodded and headed upstairs and she watched to make sure he was leaving.

As he ascended upstairs, Miranda walked towards the kitchen and picked up her phone. Who was she calling anything? She let her fingers move her and she just watched the numbers as the came up on the screen. Mimi was sleeping peacefully until she heard her phone vibrating beside her. She slowly got up and put the phone to her ear.

Mimi: "I hope this is important" She said not caring who was on the other line.

Miranda: "Sorry to interrupt you.."

Mimi: "Oh Miranda it's fine. I didn't know it was you. How are you?" She said.

Miranda: "I'm fine I just missed you." 

Mimi: "I've only been gone for a day" she laughed. Mimi had been visiting her boyfriend over the weekend. 

Miranda nodded as if she could see her, she was really a bad liar.

Miranda: "I know but we haven't talked much, even when you're home."

Mimi: "Well I guess we'e both been busy huh?" 

Miranda: "Yes I suppose so, hey I think Josh is calling me we'll talk when you get back home okay?"

Mimi frowned, Miranda was acting really strange. Nonetheless she said goodbye and returned back to bed.

Today had not gone as Miranda thought it might. She decided she needed to clear her head so she put on her work-out clothes and jogged to the beach. 

It felt good to be out of the house. It felt good to run and feel her feet hit the pavement. "What is wrong with me?" Miranda thought to herself. "Why are you lying to the two most important people in your life?" She thought once more and shook her head at herself.

"Such a coward." She thought aloud. 

Meanwhile back at home, Mimi decided to come home early. She hadn't been able to go back to sleep and so she dressed and left. Once home she saw Joshua downstairs and went to speak with him.

Mimi: "Hey Josh is Miranda upstairs?" She asked.

He shook his head.

Joshua: "No I believe she just left."

Mimi: "Hmm, that's strange I just talked to her." She said.

Joshua: "Well I'm sure she'll be back." He replied.

Mimi: "Has she been acting funny lately?, I didn't notice until she called me." Mimi inquired.

Joshua: "No not until we were talking about our wedding plans, she got quiet when I started talking about the guests but not sure why." He said honestly.

Joshua: "Does she have someone she doesn't want me to know about or something?" He asked, concerned.

Mimi: "No I'm sure that's not it. She doesn't have much family, actually she doesn't have any." Mimi said and suddenly realized what might have happened.

Mimi: "That's it! Her mom was all she had and she passed away a while ago." 

Joshua: "That's why she looked so sad. She never told me." He said.

Mimi: "She doesn't like to talk about it she wouldn't have told me if I didn't catch her bawling her eyes out one day."

The two pondered on how to get Miranda to open up about this. 

Back at the beach, Miranda had changed into her swimwear and was watching the waves come in.

As Miranda watched the waves come ashore she decided she couldn't hide the truth anymore. She'd tell Joshua everything and get it off her chest once and for all. How could she spend the rest of life with him if she couldn't talk about her mother? 

Prologue

Miranda Griffin was 19. Her whole life was ahead of her and it was only one thing she wanted. She wanted to be a star. Not just your local celebrity, she wanted to be a legend. I'm talking about Chart-topper, pictures in every magazine, barbie dolls made in her image, a total legend. And it was only one place where she could make that happen. That place was none other than Starlight Shores. On her journey to become a star she will meet some unforgettable people. Her best friend  Mimi, some people she'd like to forget, Mithun, and her fans who gave her the strength to take the mic in her hands and sing her soul out. Being at the top is THE DREAM, but will that be everything? Could that truly bring her all the happiness she thought it would.