To my mom who’s a true rock star.
Not everyone gets a second chance at love. So, to my dad, Frank, thank you for stepping into the madness and embracing our craziness with your patience, love, and most of all, your bravery. Thanks for always having my back.
You’re an amazing dad and pop.
And to my dad in heaven, I hope I’ve made you proud.
Jaybird
Copyright © 2017 by M.A. Foster
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 13-9781543299335
ISBN: 10-1543299334
Cover design: Robin Harper, Wicked by Design
Interior Design: Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Heaven ~ Live
I Love You ~ Climax Blues Band My Sweet Summer ~ Dirty Heads Breath ~ Breaking Benjamin
Take Your Time ~ Sam Hunt
Sympathetic ~ Seether
Life is Beautiful ~ Sixx A.M.
Hate To See Your Heart Break ~ Paramore Gone Away ~ The Offspring
Broken ~ Seether (Ft. Amy Lee) Rise Above This ~ Seether
If You Only Knew ~ Shinedown It’s Time ~ Imagine Dragons
Welcome To Your Life ~ Group Love How You Get The Girl ~ Taylor Swift Roses ~ The Chainsmokers (Ft. Rozes) Somebody That I Used To Know ~ Goyte (Ft. Kimbra) Hello ~ Adele
Shut up and Dance ~ Walk The Moon Here ~ Alessia Cara
Send My Love (To Your New Lover) ~ Adele Can’t Stop The Feeling ~ Justin Timberlake Stitches ~ Shawn Mendes
All About That Bass ~ Meghan Trainor Wherever You Will Go ~ The Calling Fine Again ~ Seether
We Will Rock You ~ Queen
We Are The Champions ~ Queen Ain’t It Fun ~ Paramore
Burning Bridges ~ One Republic My House ~ Flo Rida
Kiss ~ Prince
Nobody Knows ~ Pink
Faithfully ~ Journey
I Hate That I Love You ~ Rihanna (Ft. Ne-Yo) Give It To Me ~ The Deekompressors Ho Hey ~ Tyler Ward Cover (Ft. Alex G) Closer ~ The Chainsmokers (Ft. Halsey) Try ~ Nelly Furtado
F**k Around (All Night) ~ Pepper Blank Space ~ I Prevail
First ~ Cold War Kids
You’re Going Down ~ Sick Puppies 24K Magic ~ Bruno Mars
Girls Chase Boys ~ Ingrid Michaelson Cut The Cord ~ Shinedown
Love On The Brain ~ Rihanna
Animals ~ Maroon 5
Blow Me (One Last Kiss) ~ Pink I Don’t Wanna Live Forever ~ Zayn, Taylor Swift Closer ~ Nine Inch Nails
Famous Last Words ~ My Chemical Romance So Far Away ~ Avenged Sevenfold Fight Song ~ Rachel Patten
So What ~ Pink
The Fighter ~ Gym Class Heroes (Ft. Ryan Tedder) Scars To Your Beautiful ~ Alessia Clara I Lived ~ One Republic
My Girl ~ The Temptations
JAYBIRD PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
CHARACTER LIST
Jayla “Jaybird” King ~ This story is based on Jayla’s path of self-discovery after experiencing one of the most heartbreaking moments of her life. Jayla also goes by Jay.
Marcus King ~ Jayla’s father and the frontman of the rock band Royal Mayhem.
Emerson (Mackenzie) King ~ Jayla’s mother and manager.
Bass ~ Jayla’s bodyguard. He and Jayla’s mother, Emerson are best friends who met in college. Bass was hired by Marcus to protect Emerson until Jayla was born.
Grace ~ The Kings’ housekeeper and cook.
Andrew “Drew” Wild ~ Royal Mayhem’s drummer, Marcus King’s best friend and Jayla’s godfather.
Royal Mayhem band members ~ Marcus King (lead guitarist and vocals) Andrew Wild (drums) Tommy Stone (bass guitar) and Chaz Vargas (keyboard / piano).
Evangeline “Weenie” Skye ~ Jayla’s best friend and only girlfriend, growing up.
Jayla, Lucas and Evangeline have a strong bond between them and although they are not related by blood, they consider each other family, siblings.
LAW ~ Lucas’ band LAW stands for Lucas Andrew Wild or Lucas Wild, Ace Matthews and Wesley Brooks.
Alex Reyes ~ Family friend and Evangeline’s boyfriend.
Dr. Jasmine Ramos ~ Jayla’s therapist.
Side Characters (California)
Chandler Skye ~ Evangeline’s father, former manager of Royal Mayhem turned CFO of King Records.
Miles Townsend ~ Owner and head writer of Rhythm and Riffs Magazine.
Jack Reynolds ~ Attorney and longtime family friend.
Tyge Reynolds ~ Son of Jack Reynolds, family friend, pitcher for the LA Heat and Liam Mackenzie’s teammate.
Lauren Michaels ~ Cameron “Cam” Parker’s ex-girlfriend.
Nikki Fox ~ America’s Voice winner, recently signed with King Records.
The Mackenzies
Max “Mac” and Ella “Mimi” Mackenzie ~ Jayla’s grandparents (also known as Mac Daddy and Mimi). Max and Ella are the parents of:
Max Mackenzie ~ Jayla’s uncle and the oldest of the three. Max is married to Jessica and they have four children:
Dylan ~ Jayla’s cousin.
Cole ~ Jayla’s cousin and Zach’s best friend.
Aiden ~ Jayla’s cousin.
Willow ~ Jayla’s cousin.
Emerson Mackenzie (King) ~ Jayla’s mom and the middle child.
Liam Mackenzie ~ Jayla’s uncle, single and the youngest of the Mackenzie siblings.
The Parkers
Jameson “James” and Katherine “Kate” Parker ~ Zach’s grandparents. The Parkers are longtime friends of the Mackenzies. James and Kate have two children, Elizabeth (Liz) and Cameron (Cam). Elizabeth and Emerson grew up together as best friends until they graduated high school. But after a falling out shortly after graduation, the two went their separate ways and haven’t spoken since. Despite the falling out between their sisters, Liam and Cam have remained friends through high school, college and into the major leagues.
Elizabeth Parker ~ married to Mike Easton. Liz and Mike are high school sweethearts and married right out of high school. They have two sons:
Logan Easton ~ Zach’s brother.
Zach Easton ~ Zach is the popular high school quarterback. He’s also Jayla’s childhood friend, first and only love.
Cameron “Cam” Parker ~ Zach’s uncle and Liam Mackenzie’s best friend.
Heritage Bay
Brad Manning ~ Zach’s friend and teammate.
Brice Manning ~ Brad’s older brother.
Evan Martinez ~ Zach’s friend and teammate.
Grayson Martinez ~ Evan’s older brother.
Lexi ~ Evan’s girlfriend who befriends Jay from the moment they meet.
Justin Phillips ~ Zach’s friend and teammate.
Carter Nixon ~ Zach’s friend and teammate.
Dex White ~ Zach’s friend and teammate.
Derek “the do
uchebag” ~ Zach’s friend and teammate.
Reagan Vaughn ~ Co-captain of the cheer team and Zach’s ex-girlfriend.
Ashton Grant ~ Co-captain of the cheer team and obsessed with Cole.
Hannah Scott ~ Cheerleader and Brad’s ex-girlfriend.
Brooklyn Manning ~ Cheerleader and Brad’s little sister.
Piper ~ Cheerleader.
Kali ~ Cheerleader, Jay’s classmate and friend.
Jayla’s Project Mayhem Group
Cherry, Olivia, Eric and Jones.
Side Characters (Heritage Bay)
Lindsay Miller ~ Grayson Martinez’s ex-girlfriend and Zach’s friend.
Lisa ~ Salon owner, Emerson’s high school friend and Bass’s love interest.
Xavier ~ Jayla’s stylist.
Levi Martinez ~ Evan’s cousin and Jayla’s bodyguard.
Troy ~ Jayla’s bodyguard.
Principal David Avery ~ Principal of Heritage Bay Academy
Patrick Avery ~ David and Patty’s son and Max Mackenzie’s best friend.
INTRO 00:
TRACK 1: DADDY’S GIRL
TRACK 2: TOO LATE FOR REGRETS
TRACK 3: PIECE OF ME
TRACK 4: SYMPATHETIC
TRACK 5: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
TRACK 6: BROKEN
TRACK 7: RISE ABOVE THIS
TRACK 8: CAN’T LET GO
TRACK 9: ALL FOR YOU
TRACK 10: IT’S TIME
TRACK 11: SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW
TRACK 12: JAYBIRD
TRACK 13: WHEREVER YOU WILL GO
TRACK 14: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES
TRACK 15: CHANGES
TRACK 16: WELCOME TO NORMAL
TRACK 17: HELLO
TRACK 18: SHE’S LOVELY
TRACK 19: OLD FRIENDS
TRACK 20: MISSING YOU
TRACK 21: IN MY DREAMS
TRACK 22: NEW KID IN TOWN
TRACK 23: BACK OFF
TRACK 24: HOW DOES IT FEEL?
TRACK 25: YOUR DEMISE
TRACK 26: A MILLION REASONS
TRACK 27: BEG FOR IT
TRACK 28: NOT WITHOUT YOU
TRACK 29: BREAK THE SILENCE
TRACK 30: STARTING OVER
TRACK 31: NEVER AGAIN
TRACK 32: NO MORE GAMES
TRACK 33: BEAUTIFUL LIAR
TRACK 34: GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT
TRACK 35: BELIEVE ME
TRACK 36: MAKE YOUR MOVE
TRACK 37: TRY
TRACK 38: FAKING IT
TRACK 39: I GET IT
TRACK 40: KICKING ASS & TAKING NAMES
TRACK 41: NOT WHAT IT SEEMS
TRACK 42: IT’S YOU
TRACK 43: SPECIAL
TRACK 44: YOU’RE GOING DOWN
TRACK 45: NEVER FAR APART
TRACK 46: UP TO NO GOOD
TRACK 47: CLOSURE
TRACK 48: UNEXPECTED
TRACK 49: EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT
TRACK 50: FALLING APART
TRACK 51: CIRCUS OF LIFE
TRACK 52: BAD DAY
TRACK 53: MY BIGGEST MISTAKE
TRACK 54: OUT OF CONTROL
TRACK 55: FINALLY
TRACK 56: FAMILY AFFAIRS
TRACK 57: IT’S BEEN SO LONG
TRACK 58: CAN’T HOLD ME DOWN
TRACK 59: DEEP IN MY SOUL
TRACK 60: FINDING MY WAY BACK HOME
TRACK 61: CRUMBLING BENEATH THE SURFACE
TRACK 62: BACK WITH A VENGEANCE
TRACK 63: DONE WITH THE LIES
TRACK 64: PIECE OF ME (PIANO VERSION)
TRACK 65: I LIVED
BONUS TRACK 01: SOUL MATES
BONUS TRACK 02: WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T HAVE IT ALL?
THEY SAY THAT right before you die your whole life flashes before your eyes. Like photographs on shutter speed. But as I drift in and out of consciousness, it’s not my life that flashes before my eyes; it’s the faces of the people I love, and the fear of leaving them behind.
And regret for everything I’ve taken for granted.
“I’M HOME!” I announce as I open the front door. “Daddy? Mom?” I call out, dropping my bags in the foyer. The house is unusually quiet for the middle of the afternoon, and that has me feeling a little uneasy. A few seconds later, Bass—pronounced ‘Base’—my bodyguard, comes through the door with the rest of my bags. “How’s he doing, B?”
“He’s hanging in there, Princess.” He jerks his chin toward the stairs. “They’re upstairs.”
I race up to my parents’ room and find them on their king-size bed. My mom is lying on her side with her head resting on my dad’s chest, arm curled around his waist, and leg hooked over both of his thighs, holding onto him as if he’s being pulled away from her. My dad croons their favorite love song, “I Love You,” while running his fingers through her hair.
This right here is what true love looks like.
It’s beautiful. And heartbreaking.
Most kids would probably be horrified at the sight of their parents being affectionate with one another, but I’m not most kids. I think it’s amazing that, after twenty years of marriage, they’re still in love.
Maybe it’s because I’m still swooning over Zach, my longtime childhood crush. The same boy I just spent two of the most amazing weeks of my life with in St. Thomas.
Maybe it’s because I believe in fairy tales and that every princess gets her prince… or princess.
Hey, I don’t judge.
But if I’ve learned one thing in the past two years, it’s that fairy tales don’t always end with a happily ever after. Because, in this particular real-life fairy tale, Emerson’s prince—my dad—is dying.
It’s been two years since the doctors discovered my father’s inoperable brain tumor. My parents have accepted his fate. I, on the other hand, have not.
“Hey,” I say, pulling their attention to me before pushing off the doorframe and making my way over to their bed. Bending down, I give both a kiss and perch on the edge of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, running my fingers through my father’s short, dark hair.
He reaches for my hand and brings it to his chest, placing it over his heart, and covering it with his other hand. “Just a little tired,” he answers with a wink.
My father, Marcus King, lead singer of the rock band, Royal Mayhem, is loved by all because he’s charismatic and talented. His Latin charm, handsome features, and tattoos give him that bad-boy rock star image, making him popular with the females. He’s my dad, but I’m not blind; he’s a good-looking man. But he’s no bad-boy.
As a celebrity, he’s one of the most down-to-earth and genuine people in the industry. He’s even earned the nickname “The Gentleman of Rock ‘n’ Roll” in the tabloids. As the front man of Royal Mayhem, and America’s favorite judge on America’s Voice, he has a wide fan base.
However, his number one fan is and will always be me.
“Did you have a good time?”
I always have a good time in St. Thomas, and recently, it’s become one of my favorite places. “You’re my girl, Jay,” Zach’s whispered words have been on constant replay in my head since I boarded the plane back to California.
I was just a few months shy of turning six, the first time I met Zach and his brother, Logan. It was the beginning of an annual summer tradition, and my first vacation, with my grandparents and cousins, Dylan and Cole. Zach and Logan, came with their grandparents, who happen to be my grandparents’ closest friends.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t go every summer because my life revolved around concerts, tours, interviews, award shows, and all the other fun stuff that comes with being the child of a rock star.
However, I looked forward to those vacations where I got to be a normal kid, and hang out with my grandparents, cousins, and their friends. No bodyguard. No looking over my shoulder for cameras. N
ot that there would be cameras since no one really knows who I am, but still….
Just normal.
Turns out this summer, it was just Zach and me. My cousins, Dylan, Cole, and Aiden, stayed in Heritage Bay, and Zach’s brother, Logan, was wrapped up in summer college classes. Our vacation couldn’t have been more perfect. For two whole weeks, our days were spent either lying on the beach, swimming, fishing, sailing, snorkeling, shopping, golfing, or just exploring the island. And our nights were spent sneaking into each other’s rooms and doing things my parents would not approve of.
“Of course, Daddy,” I say with a smile. “You know how much I love it there.” I pull my phone from my back pocket and tap on the photos app before passing it to him.
Of course, I made sure to delete anything questionable.
Now, Marcus King, my dad, is as overprotective as they come. And for most of my life, he’s kept me on a short leash. Wherever he goes, Mom and I go. And if my parents go somewhere without me, I hang with Bass. My mom has been homeschooling me since day one, and when I’m not studying, I’m writing music or practicing. My friends are limited to the few I grew up with. And boys? Out of the question until I’m thirty.
Mom reaches for my phone. “Is that Zach?”
“Yes.” I smile. I can’t help it.
“Wow. I can’t believe how much he looks like his father.” She looks over at me. “He’s gorgeous, Jayla.” She winks.
Zach is gorgeous with his dark blond hair, bright blue eyes, and perfect smile.
He’s perfect.
My parents know I’ve had a crush on Zach for like ever, but as far as they know, it’s innocent—just like me. And we’ll leave it at that because it would crush me to see them disappointed. Luckily, having a mom in PR, I’ve learned to keep my facial expressions neutral.