Love Cost (Closed)

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Ezzie didn’t know why Ethan had to be such a big jerk. She didn’t understand why she had to be so huge. She didn’t understand why the press just couldn’t leave her alone for once instead of constantly questioning about things even she didn’t know. Ezzie didn’t understand a lot of things, but she still had to go on living life at Hogwarts like nothing was wrong. She had to smile and wave at random people and keep up a chipper voice for her interviews and she had to eat all her lunch even though she was repulsed by the mere thought of food entering her body. It was all just fat and calories to her. Nothing seemed nutritious anymore. Nothing seemed as good as it used to be. Ezzie sighed heavily as she walked down to the Great Hall to force breakfast down her throat and eventually force it back out again. She hadn’t truly eaten in about a week, and to be honest, the effects of such a low amount of food in her body were beginning to catch up to her. Ezzie constantly felt tired and cold. Her throat was often hurting and itching and she was constantly trying to keep herself awake during classes to keep her grades up. Ezzie was a naturally smart girl and grades had never been a problem to her…until now. Ezzie had received her first ever failing grade in potions the other day, and Snape had been quick to pick up on it. Normally, Snape just passed by her cauldron or gave her an acceptable grade on her homeworks, unable to make a single negative comment about her. Through this past week however, he had been quick to pick up on her faltering energy and awarded her graciously with her first ever failing grade. She had cried for hours (in secret of course) following the grade and didn’t even bother to eat the following day. Ezzie wrapped her cloak tight around her body, trying to keep warm. Even with the unusually warm October weather, Ezzie still felt constantly cold. She dug her hands deep into her pockets as she walked into the Great Hall. She didn’t see Casey or Ethan anywhere, but she did see Carson. He was sitting alone at the Hufflepuff table, and Ezzie merely managed to give him a quick lazy wave as she walked over to her seat at the table, ignoring the curious stares from her Gryffindor peers. They didn’t seem as interested in her as usual though, for today was a Hogsmeade day and they were too busy meeting up with friends and making plans for the day ahead. Once she knew no one was watching, she slipped away from the table and over to the nearest bathroom where she bolted the door shut and placed the usual sound blocking enchantments.

Ten minutes later, Ezzie was walking through the oak front doors with a mint in her mouth toward the closest carriage possible. Today was not a leisure day for Ezzie. It was not a day to relax and have fun in the village like it was for the rest of the students. Today was a business day. Ezzie clutched a small piece of parchment in her hand, which bore the address of her manager Alyssa. Today she had an interview with the Daily Prophet and afterwards, she had a recording session for her newest song, “Love Cost.” She had sent the lyrics over to Alyssa by owl the other day and she had arranged for them to start recording right away. Being the star she was, Ezzie had no leisure time during the year. Fun time was for the summers, after her album was done. Even then Ezzie barely had any time to rest. Ezzie let out a long sigh as she mounted the carriage that was to take her over to Hogsmeade. She thought about her song, which was written the day after her big break-up with Ethan. It was all about the price Ezzie had been forced to pay in making the horrible decision of going out with Ethan Jacobs. She sang softly to herself.

I'm so crazed in love with you
Junk and candy will not do
You are poison on my tongue
Tasting you my lips are numb
All the risks for love I take
Sad and hurt I lay awake
Trying to take back what I lost
To refund my love cost

Do you tell her?
The same things you told me yesterday
Are you taking her
The same way you took me away

She sighed heavily as the carriage jerked to a halt and Ezzie took bitter notice of the large crowd of reporters waiting for her. How had she not expected this? She walked weakly out of the carriage, feeling strangely like she was walking out of a limo onto the red carpet at a premiere. The reporters immediately advanced on her and Ezzie just stared at them blankly, her eyelids threatening to close right in the middle of Hogsmeade’s streets. “Ezzie! Tell us; is it true that you and Ethan are over?” Said one skinny female reporter. “Who broke up with whom?” Said a fat man who had shoved his way to the front of the crowd. Ezzie merely took a deep calming breath and explained. “If you would like to know the details on the breakup of me and Ethan Jacobs, please read the Daily Prophet within the coming days. The full story will be there.”Ezzie said in a bored sort of voice. The reporters frowns but continued shooting questions at her that Ezzie had no intention of answering. She merely walked passed them, hoping they’d just go away.

((NOTE: I've changed the lyrics of the song {which was originally by Cassie Steele} just a bit to get rid of any drug references in the song. Ezzie doesn't do drugs, so that wouldn't make much sense to have references to drugs in her song))

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Ezzie wandered around the streets of Hogsmeade, wondering where the actual houses were located. Ezzie had only been to Hogsmeade a few times and she had always stuck to the shops and the part of the village that the Hogwarts students often visited. She had never actually been over to the homes where the actual people lived. She walked past a few streets, glancing both at the parchment with the address and behind her to be sure she wasn’t being followed by reporters or something. It seemed so like them to try to steal the story from the Prophet and print it before they could. The media was just so cruel like that. They didn’t think twice before doing something mean or stupid. They just did it and ignored the complaints and the problems it caused. All they cared for were sales. They cared about how many people bought their paper. The downside to being famous was the public. They were always asking for another story, another peek into the lives of their idols. Normally, Ezzie would feel touched that someone (or millions of people) would be so interested in Ezzie’s life, but the lengths the media went to make that happen had become downright aggravating. She smiled as she noticed a small shack labeled with the number 82. She glanced down at the parchment again to make sure the address was correct and walked onto the front doorstep to knock on the door. She was surprised Alyssa lived in such a place and wondered where a recording studio could possibly be in such a small home. Alyssa was Ezzie’s band manager and she was paid well for her service. Ezzie couldn’t understand how she could own such a small beaten down house.

Ezzie’s questions were immediately answered when Alyssa came to the door with a warm welcoming smile. She was dressed in a professional yet stylish business suit, covered by her wizard’s robes of course. She looked absolutely beautiful in the outfit. She greeted Alyssa with a warm smile that surprised even Ezzie. She entered the house and almost gasped. She was in a large modern sitting room area with comfortable couches and armchairs and beautiful paintings hanging on the wall. There was a large staircase that led to the upstairs as well. Ezzie would have never guessed that such a beautiful home could fit into such a horrible small shack. “Sorry about the outside appearance. I moved in about a day ago and this place is still mostly a mess. Now come in here,” Alyssa said as she led Ezzie into a small private office with a crowd of people inside. The room was soundproofed and heavy black blinds were placed over the large beautiful windows. The doors were bolted shut as Ezzie entered and she felt like she was in a (beautifully furnished) prison. She sighed as she took the seat across from the crowd of people and large wizarding cameras. The second she touched the seat, questions were fired. Ezzie couldn’t believe what she was getting herself into. “Miss Mendez, tell us-is it true that you and Ethan Jacobs are no longer a couple? If so, then give us the details on the breakup.” Ezzie answered the question like Alyssa would have wanted her to but in a voice that sounded almost monotone.

“Ethan Jacobs and I are in fact over. We broke up about a week ago about an argument that arose over another girl whose name I cannot reveal. “One reporter sighed and another plunged in again.
“Are you sure you can’t just give a name?” Ezzie sighed heavily. She should have known. The press would be begging to tell them information about that stupid Amber Hess. Suddenly, Ezzie stopped in her thought, hoping none of the wizards knew legimancy. She could have sworn one of them read her mind in the last interview. She couldn’t have it happen again. “Are you two still friends? How will life be like living with him during the holidays?”Ezzie wanted to think before answering this one, but knew she couldn’t hesitate. Many have told her that hesitating during the interview would have disastrous consequences. She thought fast. “Now, I wouldn’t go as far as to say we’re friends, but we still tolerate one another. I suppose now that we’ve gone our separate ways the fighting will cease…or at least that’s just my opinion.” She answered honestly. She had been avoiding him over the last couple of days, but that was beside the point.

“What about other boys at your school? Are you interested in anyone? Is anyone interested in you?” Said an ugly red headed woman.

“At this moment in time, I do not like anyone at my school and I plan on taking a break from guys for awhile. As for the part about others liking me, I’m not sure. If they do, they haven’t said anything.” She gave a small smile before they asked their final question. “I see you have lost a few pounds since school started. How do you stay so fit? Is your weight loss due to the stress of your breakup with Ethan?” Ezzie sighed patiently, but inside her heart was racing. They had asked that question. She didn’t know what to think about it. For now, she decided to feel proud that they had noticed and that her plan was working. She turned to the man that had asked the question. “Well, I go swimming in the lake a lot, so I suppose that’s what keeps me looking this way.” To be truly honest, Ezzie still didn’t think she was skinny enough, but kept it to herself. Alyssa walked up from behind Ezzie and spoke up. “Well, that’s all the time we have for today guys. Thanks for coming. My client has a recording session to do, and I wish you could stay, but that would be a bit unfair to the other reporters wouldn’t it?” Alyssa all but shoved the disappointed looking reporters out and Ezzie let out a great big sigh of relief.

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Alyssa re-entered the room, looking extremely satisfied. Ezzie had succeeded in the interview today. She had done everything perfectly. She told the reporters what they wanted to hear, but yet didn’t reveal too much of the story. She was focused and concentrated on the task at hand and she didn’t hesitate at all when questions were fired at her face. She did amazingly, and her manager did not hesitate to mention that. “Ezzie, I always knew you were a natural at this! You were great! I can’t believe how focused and concentrated you were. Simply amazing, Ezzie. Now, I read through the lyrics you sent to me, and I love it. It’s full of bitter emotion and I think I can sense a tune in there. I also want to record that other song you wrote just recently. What was it called again?” Ezzie smiled at Alyssa’s words of congratulations and encouragement. Ezzie knew she was going to do well in her career in music. There were many challenges to face ahead, but Ezzie knew she could handle it. She was strong, controlled, and she was a fighter. Ezzie Was a fighter to the end. She pondered Alyssa’s question. She wrote many songs over the past few weeks, but she had only sent two of them to Alyssa so far. The rest would be kept for Ezzie, and would never be revealed to anyone, not even Alyssa. She had showed a few to Casey and (although she now bitterly regretted it) she showed a few to Ethan as well. Those were strictly about her private life and she didn’t want anyone other than her closest friends to know about them.

“It was called Jaded.” Ezzie said quietly. She just didn’t have quite the energy to speak in her normal bubbly voice. Alyssa smiled. “That was it. Now, the recording studio is this way, so if you’ll just follow me, we can get down to work. I’m thinking we lay out a basic track for Love Cost first, and then I’ll let you go out to the Three Broomsticks or something for lunch. I’d come with you, but I’ve got far too much work to do. We’re setting up a tour for you. It will be a quick one for the Winter Holidays.” Ezzie tried to be excited, but really, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to. She had only done one live performance and only one of her songs was out in the public. She wasn’t used to all this fame stuff yet. She may have been good at handling it, but she wasn’t quite ready for a tour. Ezzie turned the idea over in her head. On one side, she’d be able to travel all over the place. She could visit Cuba again if she wanted to. Thinking about visiting her cozy old home made Ezzie feel warm inside her heart. Maybe the towns folk around there would be able to tell her what became of her family. Ezzie felt ashamed. She hadn’t spoken a word of Spanish in more than a year. Of course she still had her heavy Spanish accent and had trouble pronouncing some words, but spending that long without speaking a person’s native language could prevent them from ever speaking it the same way again. Ezzie had been so caught up in her British life that she had lost her Spanish culture. She couldn’t remember the last time she had mofongo or platanos, or even her mother’s famous Cuban style pollo. Just thinking about the delicious Spanish foods made her mouth water. Maybe the idea of a tour wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. After all, maybe Ezzie could get Alyssa to book a performance in a Spanish speaking country so Ezzie could get in touch with her Spanish routes again. She smiled as she followed Alyssa into a large soundproofed room. This was the recording studio that Alyssa used for her clients.

“I think a tour sounds great. Do you think we could book one in Spain or some other Spanish speaking country? I would be delighted if we could visit Cuba, but any Hispanic country would be great as well. I haven’t spoken a word of Spanish in ages.” Alyssa smiled warmly. “I’ll see what I can do.” She said. Ezzie opened the door and placed the headphones on her head. She remembered back to the week when she had worked hard on her first song, Bluebird. In one mere week, Ezzie had written the lyrics, cut the track, and rehearsed her performance for that movie premiere in Capri. She barely slept during that one week. Hopefully, this time the recording would be a bit less stressful. “You know what to do.” Alyssa said from the other side of the glass. Ezzie nodded and listened to the music. She counted the beats and joined in.

Do you miss me?
Am I still on your mind
Thought I made you happy baby
Then why was I left behind

Symptoms of a love addict
My heart is sick
Symptoms of a love addict
I'm falling quick

I'm so crazed in love with you
Junk and candy will not do
You are poison on my tongue
Tasting you my lips are numb
All the risks for love I take
Sad and hurt I lay awake
Trying to take back what I lost
To refund my love cost

Do you tell her?
The same things you told me yesterday
Are you taking her
The same way you took me away

Symptoms of a love addict
My heart is sick
Symptoms of a love addict
I'm falling quick

I'm so crazed in love with you
Junk and candy will not do
You are poison on my tongue
Tasting you my lips are numb
All the risks for love I take
Sad and hurt I lay awake
Trying to take back what I lost
To refund my love cost

Ezzie smiled as the song ended. Alyssa’s voice could be heard through Ezzie’s headphones. “Great job. It needs some work, but we can always do that after lunch. Go take a break. You’ve earned it kiddo.”

Translations:

Mofongo: A Hispanic dinner dish that has crushed plantains, rice, and other Hispanic foods.
Platanos: The Spanish word for Plantains
Pollo: Spanish for chicken