{ songbird }

CJ Bautista • 27 • Music Artist No pictures, please.

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

Jon nodded at her. Sure, he didn’t know the woman, but he could at least tell that she was, in fact, close with Kiki. “Thanks. It took… A long time.” He sighed, thinking back to those years. “…Actually.” He started, thinking over his words before starting to speak again. “Could you talk with her next time you see her? Something tells me she’ll listen to a friend more than she’ll listen to me…”

[mscjbautista-blog]

The woman tilted her head to the side as he made his request. “I’m not quite sure what I would say,” CJ admitted. “Obviously you seem to have turned over a new leaf, but is it really my place to say more than the fact that you’re looking for her?” The last thing she wanted to do was overstep, especially when her relationship with Kiki was so crucial to their careers.

[beckshough]

Beckett nodded his head and looked over towards the other. “It is. Honestly, it is such an amazing feeling. I mean, from what I came from to now, I would have never guessed.” He said as their drinks came.

[mscjbautista-blog]

"I can completely relate to that,” she commented. Her family, the Mendozas, were definitely working class, though CJ prided herself on earning all she had. “Life goes like that sometimes. Someone in my life had always said that you know you’ve made it once you don’t want to sleep because reality is better than your dreams.”

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

“You’d know, I suppose.” Jon reasoned with himself, nodding to the woman. “Yeah… I was a… Very different man than who you see before you.” He nodded. “Pretty much everything I did was one more stupid mistake to throw on the pile, but I’ve moved past it and gotten better.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

“I would think so,” CJ replied. Obviously, she didn’t know all there is to know about Kiki, but she would recognize substance abuse when she saw it. “I’m glad you’ve cleaned yourself up. Not everyone makes it to that point.”

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

“Yeah. It’s lovely.” Jon replied, nodding back with a laugh. “The one constant thing everyone says is a bar, and that’s real concerning for me seeming as she knew me in a time when I was a drug addict and alcoholic, yet to me, it’s starting to sound like she’s become an alcoholic herself.” Jon sighed. “I guess I wasn’t a bad enough example.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

“I wouldn’t say she’s anywhere close to being an alcoholic,” Constance reassured the man. Kiki definitely drank more often than her, but that was because she rarely drank at all. “It sounds like there’s quite a bit of history there though.”

[beckshough]

Beckett smiled softly and took a sip from his coffee. If there was one thing his parents actually taught him, it was how to be a gentleman. “Oh, for a couple of years now, and by couple of years I mean about 10 years or so. It honestly goes by in a blur but I did just finish paying it off so it’s officially mine.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

"That’s wonderful,” CJ smiled. She had pictured herself running a business of her own one day, a dance school, when she was done performing and ready to settle down. “Having something of your own like that must be fulfilling,” she commented. 

[oftatteredwings]

Liam nodded his head simply, and then said with a smile, “I’m sure that I will!”

[mscjbautista-blog]

CJ offered a smile of her own before returning to her porch seat with her package.

[oftatteredwings]

“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a half-hearted laugh. “Happens every day. Part of the job and all that.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

“Well, I hope you find things are bit easier in the future.”

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

“Well I’d hope not. My feelings would be hurt if you did.” Jon replied on a friendly tone. “Well…. It’s been 9 years. I can’t expect her to be the same.” Jon reasoned casually. “Well… I’m sure you know about her dead brother. Right?” Jon asked, but before letting her answer he continued. “Because if she ever mentioned his asshole best friend who should’ve been there to help, and wasn’t…. Well hey, I’m that asshole.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

CJ hadn’t discussed Kiki’s past very deeply, but she understood the gist of it. “I see,” CJ said with a small nod. There wasn’t much she could say, or even have an opinion on. To her, it wasn’t her place. “If you wander around town, hit up a bar or a coffee shop you’ll probably run into her. I won’t mention you if that’s your preference.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

↳ INSTAGRAM: @cjbautista

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❤ 802,593 likes, ✐ 12,102 comments

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

“I guess I’m a no one then, huh?” He countered, crossing his arms across his chest and raising his eyebrows a little. “Because I’ve known her for… Probably the majority of her life. So… I think I’ve earned my place calling her Christina, personally.” He reasoned, a casual shrug following. “Thanks but… No thanks. Please don’t. She… Probably doesn’t want to see me. Or have anything to do with me. That’s the other part of the dilemma.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

"That’s not what I meant,” CJ said with a tilt of her head. “I just meant that’s not quite who she is these days.” That wasn’t to say Kiki had completely changed, but Christina - Christina wasn’t the woman she knew. “Sorry to hear things are complicated. If I may, what happened?”

[beckshough]

Beckett smiled at the other as he finished paying and followed her to the table. “Of course.” He said. “I was raised as a gentleman.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

“I guess chivalry isn’t dead,” Constance joked. It had been quite some time since she was on a date. Her excuses mostly consisting of work and lack of time. “So how long have you owed the sweets shop?” 

[oftatteredwings]

Glad to have finally received the answer to his question, Liam flashed her a grin. “Okay, good,” he answered. “That’s great then. Thank you.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

"No problem,” CJ replied. “Sorry you had trouble with the package.”

[fabulous---kiki-blog]

“But none that would send death threats to people who insult me. You know, maybe I should be happy with that, those people are psychos.“

[mscjbautista-blog]

“You definitely should be,” CJ commented. “Having fans like that is kind of a burden. Makes me feel guilty when they do stuff like that.”

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

“No. I mean Christina.” He stated, his arms folding across his chest. “If I meant Kiki I would’ve /said/ Kiki Ashwell.” He added casually. “Oh! You’re one of her Kiss Ass Record goonies?!” He asked, his eyebrows raising in excitement. “Neato.” He smiled. “I was her friend, but I was an asshole, and I fucked off when she needed me most. I’m trying to fix shit, but I can’t when I don’t know where she is. See my dilemma?”

[mscjbautista-blog]

“No one calls her Christina anymore,” CJ said with a shake of her head. “Something like that.” She definitely didn’t consider herself a goon, but that didn’t matter much. “I do see. I’m not sure what she’s up to right now, but I’ll be seeing her soon. I’ll pass along the message, or mission I guess.”

[jon-mannix-deactivated20160819]

Jon sighed as he walked down the street, spitting on the sidewalk and walking up to the nearest individual, tapping their shoulder politely to get their attention. “Excuse me. You don’t know me. But you will. I am Carvel Rhomberg from the year 2025. The world will end if you don’t come with me now.” He then broke out laughing. “Sorry, shitty comedy is my ice breaker. Look, I’m gonna get to the point now… I’m looking for a girl by the name of Christina Ashwell? I think she’s a music producer. Kiss Ass Records or something like that? Do you know her?… Or where I might find her?”

[mscjbautista-blog]

CJ arched a single brow in confusion before offering a small smile at his antics. “You mean Kiki,” she corrected. Why he was looking for her was a bit of a mystery, but he was more than likely looking to work with her, similarly to many others. “I could maybe help you; I work with her, but could you tell me why you wanna find her?”

[oftatteredwings]

Liam nodded, holding the package out for her once more so she cold take a look. “Sure thing,” he answered. “I already asked at your neighbour’s and they didn’t seem to have a clue about anything.”

[mscjbautista-blog]

Her eyes fell to the parcel, scanning over the slightly smudged address. “Yep, this is for Constance Bautista and that would be me,” she said as a finger underlined her printed name. 

[fabulous---kiki-blog]

“Yeah, definitely. And in the end it seems like I’m no one’s idol. FML.“

[mscjbautista-blog]

“I’m sure you’ve got your admirers,” she replied with a small shrug.