Not Another Cliché Sequel

Diana found herself frequently in Venice when she had the urge to shop and since the birth of River she was constantly shopping and sending Italian clothes home for the spoiled child. Diana was called when Valarie went into labor and arrived at the hospital only a few hours before he was born. Matt, the proud daddy, brought the little bundle out for everyone to see and the second Diana laid eyes on his soft smile that curved on the side like his father’s Diana knew she would be coming home soon. She stayed less than a week and returned home. Now, two months later things were finally wrapping up. Slowly she was shipping her stuff back to her house and found someone to buy her Italian home. The thing that solidified the move was finishing the song for the album. She didn’t tell anyone that she was writing it even though in every letter Zacky asked her to write one. In his last letter he told her that they were finalizing the new album and if they didn’t get a song soon, they would have to release it without her. As soon as she read that she grabbed the sheet music and shipped it off to America. She knew the second they got the package when her phone blew up with messages and calls.
“Diana this is one of the best songs you’ve written.” Zacky said excitedly over the phone.
“It felt right to make. Like it called for me to write it.”
“Does that mean you’re coming back yet?”
“I don’t know. I have things here I have to do and finish first but keep me updated with the release okay?”
“Okay.”
Diana hung and smiled to herself. She waited nearly three weeks before the release party invitation came in the mail. In less than a week she was on a plane with the rest of her belongings ready to join her family once again. She did as she did the few other times she returned to California, she went to her house, changed the sheets and cleaned the house without telling everyone. She was planning a grand entrance into the party and had planned ahead. She had not only shopped in the last week in Italy for River but for herself.
The dress she had chosen was like nothing she wore before. It was a low cut strapless dress that was floor length and had a slit up the side and was the color of Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz. She decided the night of the party that her black hair would look best in in a messy and loose side braid that would help her eyes pop and the red lipstick to stick out making her pale skin glow.
She ordered a chauffeur to bring her to the party and was easily let in since her name would always be on the guest list even if she declined the invitation. Diana was surprised by the size of the party and looked around for everyone. She quickly spotted Michelle and Brian at the bar, Valarie and Matt in a crowd of people near the main stage, and Johnny and Lacy walking over to Matt and Valarie and a series of leaned in talking and nods left Valarie and Lacy alone as they snatched Brian from the bar. They headed to the stage and Matt waved someone from the crowd up on the stage which ended up being Zacky. The crowd quieted as Matt leaned into the mike ready to speak.
“The guys and I wanted to thank each and everyone here for coming out to celebrate our new album, Hail to the King. Even with the amount of friends here it could never compare to the absence of Jimmy, our brother, and while he could never be replaced we would like to introduce our new drummer, Arin.”
Everyone clapped and some shouted “Rev” as a tan skinny male walked on the stage and smiled. He was young which surprised Diana to why they would have someone so new and fresh to the scene than someone experience and could play to Jimmy’s standards.
“This album was difficult to write without Jimmy and I know this tour will be difficult without him but he’s always with us and always making sure we don’t fuck up too bad. But now, this album we know would make him proud and that’s what we aim for. So this is for you brother!”
Another round of cheers and Diana found herself wiping tears from her eyes. The guys were looking around as they crowd cheered before she locked eyes with Brian. He smiled at her as they rose their glasses to toast to the new album. As they took the first sip she could hear the music pick back up and the crowd break away into smaller groups. It was just a few minutes until Brian had her in a tight embrace and couldn’t let her go.
“Are you staying this time?”
“Did the song I wrote for you guys say otherwise?”
“Have you heard the whole album yet?”
“I haven’t even heard the final production of Coming Home so of course not.”
“You should, I bet you’ll love the last track since you wrote it as well.”
“What?”
Brian shrugged and laughed as he stepped back.
“Go talk to the rest of the guys and let them know you’re here. Don’t leave us again Diana or I will come after you this time.”
Diana nodded as Brian faded into the crowd in the direction of the bar. Diana looked around and saw Valarie and Matt lounging on one of the leather couches and walked to them. Valarie saw her approach and leaped off the couch and tackled her into a tight hug. When she let her go it was Matt’s turn to hug her.
“You didn’t say you were coming!” Valarie beamed in excitement.
“Yes I did. Apparently my coming home announcement made it to the album.”
“We needed a Sullivan on the album.” Matt smirked.
“So are you staying?”
“I have to get to know River in person now don’t I?”
Matt and Valarie equally shared a beaming smile at the name of their son.
“Where are Johnny and Zachary?”
“Johnny might be hard to find. You know height challenges make things difficult with him. Zacky is over with his brother.”
“Thanks guys, I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Not too much later for me I need to get home.”
Valarie shot her another beaming smile before she traveled off. Diana wandered around for a few minutes before she saw Zacky talking to his brother and a couple of girls. She took a deep breath and started to walk to him. Zacky has his back to her and he turned around when his brother stopped talking and looked dead at her. She stopped a short distance from him and smiled. She grabbed her purse and opened it and pulled out an envelope and handed it to him.
“It would have been quicker to deliver the letter myself then let it go through customs.”
Zacky took the letter and placed it in his inside jacket pocket.
“I can’t believe you came. You look stunning Diana.”
“I told you I would eventually.”
Zacky started to talk again just as a blonde walked up and wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned up to kiss him lightly. It took everything Diana had to not freeze and stare. He had just divorced Gena and now here he was with another girl on his arm.
“Diana, this is Meaghan. Meaghan this is Diana, Jimmy’s sister.”
“Nice to finally meet you Diana. Are you here to stay or is this just for a visit?”
“I’m staying thank you. I’m already moved and unpacked back into my home and ready to pick up here.”
“A lot has changed since you left Diana.” Zacky said softly.
“I can see that but don’t worry, I’ve changed too. Now if you’ll excuse me I want to see some of the others tonight.”
Diana smiled once more and turned on her heel. She found a side door that led into a hallway that wrapped back around the front. She wasn’t going to stick around for the night she was going home to get out of the heels and into her accepting bed. She knew what she was possibly getting herself into when she left years ago but she couldn’t imagine that she would be so isolated. Matt and Valarie had a baby, Brian and Michelle were hot and heavy, and Johnny was getting serious with Lacy, and Zacky had found himself another blonde. It was times like this she would have driven to Jimmy’s house and cried on his lap without saying anything and feeling like she didn’t need anyone else. Maybe she shouldn’t have come back at all.

Notes