River cursed his parents many times over the years for the way he grew up. They didn’t care about him and found more joy in a bottle of gin, and whatever drug could give them a high. For a while, River hated them with a passion and thought they were weak, constantly succumbing to their addictions. But after years of being with Otávio, he realized he was just as vulnerable.
Maybe their habit is my fault. They were young and still in high school when they had me. And couldn’t handle the pressure of being parents.
Having to become the breadwinner, River put the thoughts of going to college out of his mind even though he graduated a year early and was fifth in his graduating class. River remembered that he loved studying history and languages and taught himself Portuguese and Latin, all the while holding down three part-time jobs.
He didn’t deny that he was jealous when he’d heard of the colleges his classmates were going to and what they wanted to do with their lives when he was stuck at home taking care of his parents. For a while things were bad, but after meeting Otávio, who was a few years older than him, River’s life got better. Sadly, he latched on to Otávio, seeing him as his savior and hero, rescuing him from a life of tragedy.
River jumped, dropping the washcloth in the sink when there was a loud bang on the bathroom door.
“What the fuck are you doing in there?” Otávio yelled. “Everyone is waiting for you downstairs.”
River licked his dry, chapped lips. “I…I’ll be down in a few minutes.” He prayed that his voice didn’t shake.
“Whatever. I’m giving you twenty minutes to get your shit together. You won’t like what will happen if I have to drag your clumsy ass down there.” Otávio’s commanding and condemning voice grated and scared River at the same time.
“I…I just need a few minutes to collect myself.”
“Hurry the hell up and don’t fuck up the same way you did on stage tonight. Let’s hope your fuckup didn’t cost me the deal I need.”
River rested his head on the closed bathroom door and waited to hear the outer hotel door slam shut. He knew that he’d fucked up, and Otávio would have noticed since the man watched his every move.
He was so tired and in so much pain that he’d forgotten the words to the song he wrote and performed countless times. River had been so focused on hiding his pain that he knew it was the worst performance he’d ever given. He could already read what the magazines would print.
“Lead singer River Wilde, of the band Kingdom of Extasy, forgot the words of his songs because he was too high.”
The crazy thing was, other than his suppressants, River’d never touched a drug in his life. After seeing what it had done to his parents, he promised never to do that kind of shit.
Whatever made me think Otávio loves me? Oh yeah, he was my first. Worst mistake I’ve ever made.
When Otávio Ramos entered his life, he thought things would have been better for him. He finally had someone in his corner and encouraged River to find his place in life.
He was young, and because Otávio was older, spoke Portuguese, and portrayed himself as someone who was cultured and worldly, River ate up every word that came from his mouth.
If only River knew what those sweet words of encouragement would one day cost him.
Although in the beginning he started a singing career to make Otávio happy, River found that he enjoyed being on stage. He loved hearing the fans screaming his name and writing music that touched their souls.
Their beginning together was fun, even though they were weaving their way into a world where they were both clueless. Otávio became River’s manager, promoter, and everything else he needed. He got gigs here and there where he’d performed a few songs he’d written along with a few modeling gigs to earn extra money.
As River’s name got around and he got more jobs, Otávio hired gig musicians to back him up. Later those guys stuck around and River went from singing alone to having a band, calling themselves the Kingdom of Extasy. Their music focused on alternative rock with a mix of new and old sounds.
Things were going great for River. He wasn’t living the high life, but he was content. He was learning and maturing in his personal and professional life. His affections