STRUT (Part One of Two)
STRUT
A Piece of Kradam Erotica in Two Parts
By: Lady Michaelis
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Kris Allen
Rating: R - NC17
Warnings: Graphic public sex, extreme voyeurism, slight bondage, offensive language
Genre: Romance/Erotica
Summary: “So, he believes, ‘rock and roll is a prostitute - it should be tarted up’, huh? Why don’t I help you erase the memory of that staged kiss with something more palatable to your tastes?”
Disclaimers: Adam Lambert and Kris Allen are mine - not in this world, but probably in the next. Lyrics are from 'Strut' by Adam Lambert. Some parts of this story are trufax, but most are fictional.
Note: This was written in response to what happened at the AMAs. Kris is just jealous, okay? ;)
I want to start a revolution
A type of personal solution
We all have got our own pollution
It's all about the execution
Kris Allen rolled over in bed and threw the covers back over his head, not wanting to be greeted by the morning sun. His head was pounding, his eyes were itchy and he felt the overwhelming need to bend over a toilet and retch.
If he could have his way, he would stay burrowed in these sheets for all of eternity.
Last night - well, the American Music Awards - had begun on a fairly tolerable level. Although he had been forced to drag his soon-to-be-ex Katy O’Connell along, he was going to be a willing victim because he would see Adam Lambert on the red carpet and onstage that night.
Adam Mitchel Lambert. Maybe it was because the singer had been named after the first man, but Kris knew the Lord had been in a good mood the day He created him. His tousled pitch black hair, piercing blue-grey eyes, pale freckled complexion, confident swagger and intoxicating charm made Kris want to come in his pants like a pubescent teenager every time he fucking sauntered into a room. It was the first time the Christian goody-two-shoes from Arkansas realized that the world was more than just land, sea and people - the first time he ever found himself questioning his sexuality.
It wasn’t a thought Kris should have entertained because he was supposedly one-hundred percent straight man who recently married Conway’s perfect, pretty blond Homecoming Queen. However, being around Adam made him yearn for everything that he had missed out on. Adam was the epitome of the outside world - alluring, exciting, and dangerous - and Kris decided to dip his toe into Adam’s pool because he would probably never get the chance to do so again. Eager to indulge his new favorite midget, Adam had been cunningly pleasant about the whole arrangement. He taught Kris to do the tango and the foxtrot, making the Southerner forget about all the waltzing and square dancing his hometown had taught him. In their little Idol bubble, Kris felt that it was perfectly alright to embrace this new part of his persona. In fact, he had felt so comfortable in this new skin that he found himself responding - and even encouraging - to Adam’s flirtatious ways. The whole thing had the outside world going mad, leading to the creation of the bromance dubbed as Kradam. Everyone thought it was cute, so Adam and Kris really didn’t have much to deal with. The problems, however, caught up with them during the Idols Live Tour. 19 Entertainment had instructed them to tone things down towards the end, apparently because their choreography during Don’t Stop Believin’ was starting to get a little too raunchy. Even Katy - who had been pretty tolerant and supportive at the beginning - began to complain like crazy. She got annoyed whenever Kris forgot to call her, upset when he had to put the phone down because he was busy and absolutely livid when he decided to fly straight to Detroit instead of coming home with her. What was ironic was that Adam never left his side, even though the whole mess was about them. After the last state concert, Adam had pulled Kris to his chest, engulfing the tiny man in a warm, comforting hug. It has dawned on Kris that Adam was not going to be a bed or a room away anymore, and it scared him a little. Because they had been together for almost a year, he had gotten so used to having Adam nearby. It was inevitable that he was going to feel rather lost for awhile.
He had never expected for his heart to clench in that happy, lovesick way when Adam pulled him into one of those awesome hugs that he liked so much.
Adam had pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, and that did the trick. It was so much more amazing than anything Kris had ever experienced with Katy - which caused the warning bell in his head to go off, since he wasn’t supposed to be thinking about such things at all. He tried to shrug it off and immerse himself into his music, but the longing never left his heart, causing the secret love he felt for his best friend to reach a level so aggravating that he didn’t even want to sleep in the same bed with Katy anymore. He would spend his nights sprawled on the cold linoleum - they only had a mattress - wondering how things would have been if he didn’t marry right after he auditioned for the show.
One thing was for sure: Adam would have never let him sleep on the floor.
They often hung out together to catch up and critique each other’s work when they had free time, but it wasn’t enough for Kris. He needed to be with Adam all the time, just like how it was during the show and the tour. He hated having to say goodbye to Adam on his doorstep and have to come home to Katy, who had become so alien to the extent that he didn’t even know her anymore. All she did lately was put herself into the limelight - he saw too much of it at the Us Weekly party - with that fake smile plastered on her face, taking the opportunity to let the world know that she was never going to be content as merely Kris Allen’s wife. Luckily, Adam had been there as well, and they spent the night chattering away with each other, Kris tucked safely under Adam’s arm.
The AMAs, however, put Kris in the foulest mood imaginable. He managed to sit through the whole thing with Katy next to him because Adam was going to close the awarding ceremony - that was probably Kris’ only reason for attending the event in the first place. He had enjoyed watching Adam strut across the stage with his dancers venerating him like he was Jesus Christ’s second coming, but had burned with jealousy from the inside out when Adam kissed that keyboard player of his. Kris could not forget how hurt and angry he had felt - really, that shouldn’t have been the case - upon seeing Adam kiss another man (a long time ago in a galaxy far away, he had secretly disliked a certain Drake LaBry). It was at that moment he realized that his feelings for his best friend ran much deeper than he thought they ever would. He wanted to attend red carpet events tucked under the dark-haired man’s arm. He wanted to wait up ‘til past midnight just to be able to welcome him home.
Kris was truly in love with Adam, and seeing him kiss someone else hurt him deeply, even if it was just a planned kiss for a performance.
For Your Entertainment - his ringtone - came blasting forth from his iPhone, forcing him to rejoin the world of the living. Groaning, he fumbled for it and pressed the ‘talk’ button.
“What?”
“Allen, get a grip.”
Kris immediately felt better upon figuring out who was on the other end of the line. Cassidy Haley was one of the world’s most creative creatures with a mind of steel and a heart of gold. They had met at Adam’s listening party and became fast friends despite their seemingly different personalities. Word was out on the street that only Cassidy was acquainted with Kris Allen’s internal bitch.
You got something to say
Your hands are tied
Open your mouth, open it wide
Let the freedom begin
Get on the floor, just let it drive
Don’t it feel good, don’t it feel hot?
Feel the fire within
“My life is over, Cassidy”, Kris moaned. “Every time I think of Adam, images of that kiss pops into my mind and I feel like running Ratliff over with a ten-wheeler truck. I know it was just for the performance’s sake, but I feel annoyed and jealous because it wasn’t me that he kissed.”
“So, are you finally admitting that you love him...?”
“Yes”, Kris whimpered, feeling silly and pathetic. “Damnit, Cassidy, I do love him.”
“There, there, baby”, Cassidy’s tone was gentle and comforting. “I told you at the listening party that he loves you, right? I know he still does, so stop fretting so much.”
“It’s not just that”, Kris sighed, finally sitting up to get his circulation working. “I know I’m going to come out as a fool if I just run to his flat right now and declare my undying love. I mean, Adam’s going to think that it’s some weird joke - not to mention I’m still married.”
“Based on what you’ve been telling me, you aren’t”, Cassidy replied crisply. “Marriage isn’t some sheet of fancy paper with your names on it, Kristopher Allen. Marriage is the union you enter because you love your partner and can’t imagine living the rest of your life without him or her by your side. If that chick you’re living with would rather scour town for acting gigs or pimp herself to the camera, then you’re no longer married. You aren’t in Arkansas anymore, and no longer living in the year 2004.”
“...you’re right”, Kris exhaled, sounding sad and defeated. “Katy and I would be better off leading separate lives. I guess that’s what she’s trying to imply through her actions, but I can’t help but think that we’re better off as separate people doing our own thing. I’m sick and tired of pretending that everything is okay when it’s really not. I’m more than willing to let go, but I think she’s waiting until the new American Idol will be crowned because I’ll be completely out of the Idol spotlight then.”
“She seriously wants to gather all the freebies before she goes?” Cassidy sounded incredulous. “I don’t know if I’m offending you by saying this, but what a bitch!”
“I feel offended in the sense that I didn’t see through that facade earlier on”, Kris muttered soberly. “She forced me to become a star so she could ride on my fame and make a name for herself. It’s nice that she’s ambitious and wants a life for herself, but she could do it in some nicer way, right?”
“Stop rationalizing, Allen”, Cassidy was dead serious. “You need to start moving, or else you’ll be trapped in that awful marriage forever and O’Connell’s going to get what she wants. I’m going to ring up a couple of divorce lawyers for you while you put your things together. I’m going to come over and pick you up in an hour or so. There’s no way you’re staying in that apartment any longer than necessary.”
“I love you, Cassidy”, Kris breathed. “I love you oh so much.”
“I know you do, babe”, Cassidy chuckled. “You still sound depressed, though. Is there something else I need to propose a solution to?”
“Adam. I want him to know that I’m open to the idea of having a relationship with him - if he still wants to, of course. I need him to know that I’m not a hundred percent straight. Maybe that way he’ll stop making out with that thing with the bad hair and do it with me instead. If he believes that rock and roll is a prostitute, then he shouldn’t object to kissing a married man - soon to be divorced, anyway - for the sake of a performance.”
“Allen, you just gave me the craziest idea ever”, Cassidy suddenly sounded excited. “So, he believes, ‘rock and roll is a prostitute - it should be tarted up’, huh? Why don’t I help you erase the memory of that staged kiss with something more palatable to your tastes?”
“...like how?” Kris was fully awake now.
“He’s doing a performance at Bryant Park two nights from now”, Cassidy explained. “He accidentally told me that Strut is going to be the last song, and that is the key to getting you your most perverted sexual fantasy in the history of forever.”
“What perverted sexual fantasy?” Kris managed to choke out. “Do I have any of those?”
“Remember when we went drinking together last weekend? You let it slip that you were always wondering how it would feel to be manhandled by Adam onstage.”
“And you had to remember it!” Kris moaned.
“But that’s the key to our master plan - no pun intended”, Cassidy crowed - Kris could practically hear him smirking on the other end of the line. “I’m going to explain the rest as soon as you get here. After I’m down with you, Adam Lambert is never going to want to kiss any other man again.”
“...even Bill Kaulitz?”
“Even if the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic paid him a billion bucks to do it.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Cassidy, what the heck are these?”
Kris warily stared at what seemed to be scraps of lingerie littering Cassidy’s workspace, a feeling of dread worming its way into his stomach. Judging by the clothes, he already knew what ‘master plan’ Cassidy Haley had cooked up that morning.
“We’re going to pick out a costume for you, of course”, Cassidy smirked. “I plan to have you do a duet of Strut with Adam to close his show. Don’t worry about how it’s going to happen because I already told Monte about this and he agreed to distract Adam so he won’t see you sneaking backstage. He’s a great guy, that Monte - we’ve wanted to shock the smirk off Adam’s face for years.”
“But Cassidy, I don’t think I can pull off this look”, Kris protested, his cheeks going red as he gingerly picked up a sequined black thong. “I’m not as confident as you are.”
“Relax, darling”, Cassidy drawled. “I’m not going to send you out there in just a thong and a cape, for crying’ out loud. I want to put you in something so hot and complicated that Mister Lambert is going to have a nosebleed figuring out how to strip you naked.”
“I may or may not need drugs for this”, Kris mumbled. “The underwear stays inside, right?”
“Of course”, Cassidy agreed, handing over a silver version of the sequined thong he was holding. “That way, you can still knock Adam’s socks off after he works his way through the first layer.”
“You think silver is more my color?” Kris asked, studying the thong.
“I intend to make you look like an angel, baby boy”, Cassidy grinned, his eyes gleaming with delight. “I have these amazing white-feathered wings I made for one of my shows - which will look absolutely dazzling on you along with everything else I’m going to make you put on.”
Deciding to join in on the fun, Kris helped Cassidy in poking through the rest of the garments, searching for items that looked good for a ‘slutty angel that would bring Adam Lambert to his knees’ - according to Cassidy, at least. They were deciding on which belt to use when the door to Cassidy’s work room burst open, revealing a pretty dark-haired woman wearing a smile so bright it looked like she just won the state lottery.
“Hey there, Ali”, Cassidy grinned, waving her in. “Did you bring your stuff?”
“I sure did!” Alisan Porter cackled, planting a quick kiss on a surprised Kris’ cheek. “We are going to make you look so irresistible, honey!”
“You’re in on this too?” Kris blinked owlishly at her.
“Why oh why did they make you so cute?” Alisan sighed happily. “And yes, I am part of your transformation process. My role here is the makeup artist.”
“...as long as there are no creepy colors on my face”, Kris consented faintly.
I wanna see you strut (strut, strut)
C’mon walk for me
Strut (strut, strut)
How you wanna be
“Don’t you worry your pretty head off”, Alisan assured him. “I’m just going to use charcoal, pearl and a whole lot of glitter. You know how much Adam loves glitter, right?”
“Those don’t seem to be synonyms for turquoise and magenta, so I’m good”, Kris nodded, adding another bracelet Cassidy tossed him to the growing pile of things on his arms. “Gosh, Cassidy, don’t you think this is enough? I don’t think I can carry - or wear - all of these.”
“Right, sorry”, Cassidy laughed, relieving him of his burden. “I guess you can try them on now.”
Cassidy ended up having to alter some of the garments because Kris was just that petite - he finally admitted that he did get some of his jeans in the ladies’ department - but the end product was mind-blowing altogether. Alisan had experimented on various styles and blends of makeup until Cassidy pointed out the look he liked best with the outfit.
“I need to shoot you in that outfit”, Cassidy declared when Kris finally finished changing out of the costume and washing his face. “Katie and Jonny should make you the Skin.Graft angel or something, because that look is very becoming on you.”
“Well, it was kinda fun getting glammed up”, Kris giggled. “Maybe I should let you guys doll me up from time to time - just nothing too freaky, okay?”
“This is the best day of my life!” Alisan chirped dramatically, popping the cork of the wine bottle she was holding. “Now, let us drink and be merry because you will conquer Adam Lambert’s heart and cock in a span of less than forty-eight hours!”
Kris rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he accepted a wine goblet from Cassidy. He believed that things were easier said than done, and that still boded true for their ‘master plan’.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The days flew by quickly, and pretty soon, Kris Allen found himself standing in front of a full-length mirror being primped by his friends for the show. He was sulking a little because he had wanted to watch the first part of Adam’s set, but Cassidy had dragged him backstage saying that it would take a good hour and a half to get him ready. He had proved to be correct because most parts of the outfit had been difficult to put on - the thong the only thing he had managed to pull on by himself. With Cassidy and Alisan’s help, he was now dressed to dance at Babylon - Cassidy had gotten him hooked onQueer as Folk two nights ago - in his shimmering white leather vest, tight silvery-white pants with crisscrossed gashes that rode low on his hips, white lace-up leather boots, a plethora of silver jewelry, and the majestic white-feathered wings affixed to his back - Cassidy altered the vest, rendering it practically backless - with body glue. Alisan had made sure that his face was as ethereal as the rest of him - she used beige foundation coated with crushed freshwater pearls as the base, shimmering grey eye shadow for his lids, thick liner and mascara to accentuate his eyes and a glossy lip tint to make his bottom lip pop out even more.
“Oh my god, Kristopher”, she inhaled deeply. “You look so beautiful!”
“Adam is so going to love this”, Cassidy beamed, obviously proud of his handiwork. “When your sex video gets leaked and you decide to sell it so the proceeds go to Burundi babies, please state my name as your personal stylist on the CD jacket.”
“I don’t think that’s ever going to happen, Cassidy”, Kris sighed. “Look, I’m getting jitters right now.”
“Nonsense, Kristopher”, Alisan grabbed his arm, looking serious. “Are you going to put up with another Adam-kisses-his-bassist stunt? If you don’t give him something more interesting to think about, he’s not going to stop this. He’s young, single and hella horny, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to put on a crazy show that people won’t ever forget. If you don’t want him to kiss Tommy, a dancer or a random audience member, you have got to step up your game. You have to be the sexiest thing alive on that stage and make all of them look like caterpillars in the presence of a butterfly!”
“I want to, but I lack the guts”, Kris pouted, looking every bit the forlorn angel.
“...well, there is a little something that could help you”, Cassidy murmured thoughtfully. “It’s called Rose Red, an over-the-counter drug that gets you a little high. I took half a pill once to keep my energy levels high for a show. The side effects won’t ensue if you don’t take too much.”
“Give me”, Kris held out his hand expectantly. “I’ll need whatever confidence I can get to go up on that stage. If I prance around like a slut, I can blame it on an overdose or something.”
“Wow, Kris”, Alisan sounded rather impressed as she watched him down half a pill with a bottle of mineral water. “You really are intent on shedding the ‘vanilla’ image.”
“I’m taking my PR into my own hands”, Kris announced gruffly. “19E wants me to pose with a green scarf around my neck and an ugly ribbon on my guitar - I’ve had enough of that. Cassidy, if you guys want to do a shoot with me wearing things like these, I will happily comply. Maybe the people will actually start buying my music because they’re genuinely interested in what I do.”
“Easy there, Allen”, Cassidy placed a steady hand on his shoulder. “We’re all here for you, alright? I can start handling your PR from the sidelines if you want a sexier, bolder image.”
“Oh, definitely”, Kris looked pleased. “Anything that’s going to push me away from Katy, stupid holiday tradition videos and green scarves.”
“We’ll get to work on it when you’re sober enough”, Cassidy promised him. “For tonight, you’re going to go out there and show the world how sexy you are.”
“Hey, Allen!” Monte Pittman poked his head into the dressing room, trying to look as discreet as possible. “It’s almost your cue to get onstage! Adam is heading to his dressing room for a change of clothes - it’s the one next to this - so you have just enough time to run straight to the wings. Make sure you head for the northwest one because that’s the closest one from my vantage point. We’re going to let Adam sing the first verse of the song, and then I want you to come out during the chorus to shock the fuck out of that man. We clear, kid?”
“I think so, yeah”, Kris nodded, trying to digest all the information. “What about Ali and Cass?”
“We’re going to head to our seats in the audience”, Alisan explained. “Monte reserved two spots for us where we have a perfect vantage point of your little performance. You are going to do well, babe.”
She and Cassidy each gave Kris kisses on the cheek, then left quietly in search of their seats. Kris heaved a sigh, wishing the drug would take its effect already. He needed the false bravado it would bring so he could dance in front of Adam.
“Come on, kiddo”, Monte succumbed to a gentler tone. “I’ve got your back, so you have nothing to be afraid of. All you have to do is wait there and wait for my signal.”
Nodding nervously, Kris followed Monte out of the dressing room, hearing the enthusiastic cheers from Adam’s fans. As soon as he was safely concealed in the northwest wing, Monte patted his back and made a mad dash to the stage so Adam wouldn’t suspect a thing.
Really, all he could do for now was wait.
Everybody’s looking for some love
But they don’t know
How to let it all hang out
And that’s why they’re solo (solo, solo)
Don’t wanna be solo (solo, solo)
Don’t wanna be solo
A Piece of Kradam Erotica in Two Parts
By: Lady Michaelis
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Kris Allen
Rating: R - NC17
Warnings: Graphic public sex, extreme voyeurism, slight bondage, offensive language
Genre: Romance/Erotica
Summary: “So, he believes, ‘rock and roll is a prostitute - it should be tarted up’, huh? Why don’t I help you erase the memory of that staged kiss with something more palatable to your tastes?”
Disclaimers: Adam Lambert and Kris Allen are mine - not in this world, but probably in the next. Lyrics are from 'Strut' by Adam Lambert. Some parts of this story are trufax, but most are fictional.
Note: This was written in response to what happened at the AMAs. Kris is just jealous, okay? ;)
I want to start a revolution
A type of personal solution
We all have got our own pollution
It's all about the execution
Kris Allen rolled over in bed and threw the covers back over his head, not wanting to be greeted by the morning sun. His head was pounding, his eyes were itchy and he felt the overwhelming need to bend over a toilet and retch.
If he could have his way, he would stay burrowed in these sheets for all of eternity.
Last night - well, the American Music Awards - had begun on a fairly tolerable level. Although he had been forced to drag his soon-to-be-ex Katy O’Connell along, he was going to be a willing victim because he would see Adam Lambert on the red carpet and onstage that night.
Adam Mitchel Lambert. Maybe it was because the singer had been named after the first man, but Kris knew the Lord had been in a good mood the day He created him. His tousled pitch black hair, piercing blue-grey eyes, pale freckled complexion, confident swagger and intoxicating charm made Kris want to come in his pants like a pubescent teenager every time he fucking sauntered into a room. It was the first time the Christian goody-two-shoes from Arkansas realized that the world was more than just land, sea and people - the first time he ever found himself questioning his sexuality.
It wasn’t a thought Kris should have entertained because he was supposedly one-hundred percent straight man who recently married Conway’s perfect, pretty blond Homecoming Queen. However, being around Adam made him yearn for everything that he had missed out on. Adam was the epitome of the outside world - alluring, exciting, and dangerous - and Kris decided to dip his toe into Adam’s pool because he would probably never get the chance to do so again. Eager to indulge his new favorite midget, Adam had been cunningly pleasant about the whole arrangement. He taught Kris to do the tango and the foxtrot, making the Southerner forget about all the waltzing and square dancing his hometown had taught him. In their little Idol bubble, Kris felt that it was perfectly alright to embrace this new part of his persona. In fact, he had felt so comfortable in this new skin that he found himself responding - and even encouraging - to Adam’s flirtatious ways. The whole thing had the outside world going mad, leading to the creation of the bromance dubbed as Kradam. Everyone thought it was cute, so Adam and Kris really didn’t have much to deal with. The problems, however, caught up with them during the Idols Live Tour. 19 Entertainment had instructed them to tone things down towards the end, apparently because their choreography during Don’t Stop Believin’ was starting to get a little too raunchy. Even Katy - who had been pretty tolerant and supportive at the beginning - began to complain like crazy. She got annoyed whenever Kris forgot to call her, upset when he had to put the phone down because he was busy and absolutely livid when he decided to fly straight to Detroit instead of coming home with her. What was ironic was that Adam never left his side, even though the whole mess was about them. After the last state concert, Adam had pulled Kris to his chest, engulfing the tiny man in a warm, comforting hug. It has dawned on Kris that Adam was not going to be a bed or a room away anymore, and it scared him a little. Because they had been together for almost a year, he had gotten so used to having Adam nearby. It was inevitable that he was going to feel rather lost for awhile.
He had never expected for his heart to clench in that happy, lovesick way when Adam pulled him into one of those awesome hugs that he liked so much.
Adam had pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, and that did the trick. It was so much more amazing than anything Kris had ever experienced with Katy - which caused the warning bell in his head to go off, since he wasn’t supposed to be thinking about such things at all. He tried to shrug it off and immerse himself into his music, but the longing never left his heart, causing the secret love he felt for his best friend to reach a level so aggravating that he didn’t even want to sleep in the same bed with Katy anymore. He would spend his nights sprawled on the cold linoleum - they only had a mattress - wondering how things would have been if he didn’t marry right after he auditioned for the show.
One thing was for sure: Adam would have never let him sleep on the floor.
They often hung out together to catch up and critique each other’s work when they had free time, but it wasn’t enough for Kris. He needed to be with Adam all the time, just like how it was during the show and the tour. He hated having to say goodbye to Adam on his doorstep and have to come home to Katy, who had become so alien to the extent that he didn’t even know her anymore. All she did lately was put herself into the limelight - he saw too much of it at the Us Weekly party - with that fake smile plastered on her face, taking the opportunity to let the world know that she was never going to be content as merely Kris Allen’s wife. Luckily, Adam had been there as well, and they spent the night chattering away with each other, Kris tucked safely under Adam’s arm.
The AMAs, however, put Kris in the foulest mood imaginable. He managed to sit through the whole thing with Katy next to him because Adam was going to close the awarding ceremony - that was probably Kris’ only reason for attending the event in the first place. He had enjoyed watching Adam strut across the stage with his dancers venerating him like he was Jesus Christ’s second coming, but had burned with jealousy from the inside out when Adam kissed that keyboard player of his. Kris could not forget how hurt and angry he had felt - really, that shouldn’t have been the case - upon seeing Adam kiss another man (a long time ago in a galaxy far away, he had secretly disliked a certain Drake LaBry). It was at that moment he realized that his feelings for his best friend ran much deeper than he thought they ever would. He wanted to attend red carpet events tucked under the dark-haired man’s arm. He wanted to wait up ‘til past midnight just to be able to welcome him home.
Kris was truly in love with Adam, and seeing him kiss someone else hurt him deeply, even if it was just a planned kiss for a performance.
For Your Entertainment - his ringtone - came blasting forth from his iPhone, forcing him to rejoin the world of the living. Groaning, he fumbled for it and pressed the ‘talk’ button.
“What?”
“Allen, get a grip.”
Kris immediately felt better upon figuring out who was on the other end of the line. Cassidy Haley was one of the world’s most creative creatures with a mind of steel and a heart of gold. They had met at Adam’s listening party and became fast friends despite their seemingly different personalities. Word was out on the street that only Cassidy was acquainted with Kris Allen’s internal bitch.
You got something to say
Your hands are tied
Open your mouth, open it wide
Let the freedom begin
Get on the floor, just let it drive
Don’t it feel good, don’t it feel hot?
Feel the fire within
“My life is over, Cassidy”, Kris moaned. “Every time I think of Adam, images of that kiss pops into my mind and I feel like running Ratliff over with a ten-wheeler truck. I know it was just for the performance’s sake, but I feel annoyed and jealous because it wasn’t me that he kissed.”
“So, are you finally admitting that you love him...?”
“Yes”, Kris whimpered, feeling silly and pathetic. “Damnit, Cassidy, I do love him.”
“There, there, baby”, Cassidy’s tone was gentle and comforting. “I told you at the listening party that he loves you, right? I know he still does, so stop fretting so much.”
“It’s not just that”, Kris sighed, finally sitting up to get his circulation working. “I know I’m going to come out as a fool if I just run to his flat right now and declare my undying love. I mean, Adam’s going to think that it’s some weird joke - not to mention I’m still married.”
“Based on what you’ve been telling me, you aren’t”, Cassidy replied crisply. “Marriage isn’t some sheet of fancy paper with your names on it, Kristopher Allen. Marriage is the union you enter because you love your partner and can’t imagine living the rest of your life without him or her by your side. If that chick you’re living with would rather scour town for acting gigs or pimp herself to the camera, then you’re no longer married. You aren’t in Arkansas anymore, and no longer living in the year 2004.”
“...you’re right”, Kris exhaled, sounding sad and defeated. “Katy and I would be better off leading separate lives. I guess that’s what she’s trying to imply through her actions, but I can’t help but think that we’re better off as separate people doing our own thing. I’m sick and tired of pretending that everything is okay when it’s really not. I’m more than willing to let go, but I think she’s waiting until the new American Idol will be crowned because I’ll be completely out of the Idol spotlight then.”
“She seriously wants to gather all the freebies before she goes?” Cassidy sounded incredulous. “I don’t know if I’m offending you by saying this, but what a bitch!”
“I feel offended in the sense that I didn’t see through that facade earlier on”, Kris muttered soberly. “She forced me to become a star so she could ride on my fame and make a name for herself. It’s nice that she’s ambitious and wants a life for herself, but she could do it in some nicer way, right?”
“Stop rationalizing, Allen”, Cassidy was dead serious. “You need to start moving, or else you’ll be trapped in that awful marriage forever and O’Connell’s going to get what she wants. I’m going to ring up a couple of divorce lawyers for you while you put your things together. I’m going to come over and pick you up in an hour or so. There’s no way you’re staying in that apartment any longer than necessary.”
“I love you, Cassidy”, Kris breathed. “I love you oh so much.”
“I know you do, babe”, Cassidy chuckled. “You still sound depressed, though. Is there something else I need to propose a solution to?”
“Adam. I want him to know that I’m open to the idea of having a relationship with him - if he still wants to, of course. I need him to know that I’m not a hundred percent straight. Maybe that way he’ll stop making out with that thing with the bad hair and do it with me instead. If he believes that rock and roll is a prostitute, then he shouldn’t object to kissing a married man - soon to be divorced, anyway - for the sake of a performance.”
“Allen, you just gave me the craziest idea ever”, Cassidy suddenly sounded excited. “So, he believes, ‘rock and roll is a prostitute - it should be tarted up’, huh? Why don’t I help you erase the memory of that staged kiss with something more palatable to your tastes?”
“...like how?” Kris was fully awake now.
“He’s doing a performance at Bryant Park two nights from now”, Cassidy explained. “He accidentally told me that Strut is going to be the last song, and that is the key to getting you your most perverted sexual fantasy in the history of forever.”
“What perverted sexual fantasy?” Kris managed to choke out. “Do I have any of those?”
“Remember when we went drinking together last weekend? You let it slip that you were always wondering how it would feel to be manhandled by Adam onstage.”
“And you had to remember it!” Kris moaned.
“But that’s the key to our master plan - no pun intended”, Cassidy crowed - Kris could practically hear him smirking on the other end of the line. “I’m going to explain the rest as soon as you get here. After I’m down with you, Adam Lambert is never going to want to kiss any other man again.”
“...even Bill Kaulitz?”
“Even if the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic paid him a billion bucks to do it.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Cassidy, what the heck are these?”
Kris warily stared at what seemed to be scraps of lingerie littering Cassidy’s workspace, a feeling of dread worming its way into his stomach. Judging by the clothes, he already knew what ‘master plan’ Cassidy Haley had cooked up that morning.
“We’re going to pick out a costume for you, of course”, Cassidy smirked. “I plan to have you do a duet of Strut with Adam to close his show. Don’t worry about how it’s going to happen because I already told Monte about this and he agreed to distract Adam so he won’t see you sneaking backstage. He’s a great guy, that Monte - we’ve wanted to shock the smirk off Adam’s face for years.”
“But Cassidy, I don’t think I can pull off this look”, Kris protested, his cheeks going red as he gingerly picked up a sequined black thong. “I’m not as confident as you are.”
“Relax, darling”, Cassidy drawled. “I’m not going to send you out there in just a thong and a cape, for crying’ out loud. I want to put you in something so hot and complicated that Mister Lambert is going to have a nosebleed figuring out how to strip you naked.”
“I may or may not need drugs for this”, Kris mumbled. “The underwear stays inside, right?”
“Of course”, Cassidy agreed, handing over a silver version of the sequined thong he was holding. “That way, you can still knock Adam’s socks off after he works his way through the first layer.”
“You think silver is more my color?” Kris asked, studying the thong.
“I intend to make you look like an angel, baby boy”, Cassidy grinned, his eyes gleaming with delight. “I have these amazing white-feathered wings I made for one of my shows - which will look absolutely dazzling on you along with everything else I’m going to make you put on.”
Deciding to join in on the fun, Kris helped Cassidy in poking through the rest of the garments, searching for items that looked good for a ‘slutty angel that would bring Adam Lambert to his knees’ - according to Cassidy, at least. They were deciding on which belt to use when the door to Cassidy’s work room burst open, revealing a pretty dark-haired woman wearing a smile so bright it looked like she just won the state lottery.
“Hey there, Ali”, Cassidy grinned, waving her in. “Did you bring your stuff?”
“I sure did!” Alisan Porter cackled, planting a quick kiss on a surprised Kris’ cheek. “We are going to make you look so irresistible, honey!”
“You’re in on this too?” Kris blinked owlishly at her.
“Why oh why did they make you so cute?” Alisan sighed happily. “And yes, I am part of your transformation process. My role here is the makeup artist.”
“...as long as there are no creepy colors on my face”, Kris consented faintly.
I wanna see you strut (strut, strut)
C’mon walk for me
Strut (strut, strut)
How you wanna be
“Don’t you worry your pretty head off”, Alisan assured him. “I’m just going to use charcoal, pearl and a whole lot of glitter. You know how much Adam loves glitter, right?”
“Those don’t seem to be synonyms for turquoise and magenta, so I’m good”, Kris nodded, adding another bracelet Cassidy tossed him to the growing pile of things on his arms. “Gosh, Cassidy, don’t you think this is enough? I don’t think I can carry - or wear - all of these.”
“Right, sorry”, Cassidy laughed, relieving him of his burden. “I guess you can try them on now.”
Cassidy ended up having to alter some of the garments because Kris was just that petite - he finally admitted that he did get some of his jeans in the ladies’ department - but the end product was mind-blowing altogether. Alisan had experimented on various styles and blends of makeup until Cassidy pointed out the look he liked best with the outfit.
“I need to shoot you in that outfit”, Cassidy declared when Kris finally finished changing out of the costume and washing his face. “Katie and Jonny should make you the Skin.Graft angel or something, because that look is very becoming on you.”
“Well, it was kinda fun getting glammed up”, Kris giggled. “Maybe I should let you guys doll me up from time to time - just nothing too freaky, okay?”
“This is the best day of my life!” Alisan chirped dramatically, popping the cork of the wine bottle she was holding. “Now, let us drink and be merry because you will conquer Adam Lambert’s heart and cock in a span of less than forty-eight hours!”
Kris rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he accepted a wine goblet from Cassidy. He believed that things were easier said than done, and that still boded true for their ‘master plan’.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The days flew by quickly, and pretty soon, Kris Allen found himself standing in front of a full-length mirror being primped by his friends for the show. He was sulking a little because he had wanted to watch the first part of Adam’s set, but Cassidy had dragged him backstage saying that it would take a good hour and a half to get him ready. He had proved to be correct because most parts of the outfit had been difficult to put on - the thong the only thing he had managed to pull on by himself. With Cassidy and Alisan’s help, he was now dressed to dance at Babylon - Cassidy had gotten him hooked onQueer as Folk two nights ago - in his shimmering white leather vest, tight silvery-white pants with crisscrossed gashes that rode low on his hips, white lace-up leather boots, a plethora of silver jewelry, and the majestic white-feathered wings affixed to his back - Cassidy altered the vest, rendering it practically backless - with body glue. Alisan had made sure that his face was as ethereal as the rest of him - she used beige foundation coated with crushed freshwater pearls as the base, shimmering grey eye shadow for his lids, thick liner and mascara to accentuate his eyes and a glossy lip tint to make his bottom lip pop out even more.
“Oh my god, Kristopher”, she inhaled deeply. “You look so beautiful!”
“Adam is so going to love this”, Cassidy beamed, obviously proud of his handiwork. “When your sex video gets leaked and you decide to sell it so the proceeds go to Burundi babies, please state my name as your personal stylist on the CD jacket.”
“I don’t think that’s ever going to happen, Cassidy”, Kris sighed. “Look, I’m getting jitters right now.”
“Nonsense, Kristopher”, Alisan grabbed his arm, looking serious. “Are you going to put up with another Adam-kisses-his-bassist stunt? If you don’t give him something more interesting to think about, he’s not going to stop this. He’s young, single and hella horny, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to put on a crazy show that people won’t ever forget. If you don’t want him to kiss Tommy, a dancer or a random audience member, you have got to step up your game. You have to be the sexiest thing alive on that stage and make all of them look like caterpillars in the presence of a butterfly!”
“I want to, but I lack the guts”, Kris pouted, looking every bit the forlorn angel.
“...well, there is a little something that could help you”, Cassidy murmured thoughtfully. “It’s called Rose Red, an over-the-counter drug that gets you a little high. I took half a pill once to keep my energy levels high for a show. The side effects won’t ensue if you don’t take too much.”
“Give me”, Kris held out his hand expectantly. “I’ll need whatever confidence I can get to go up on that stage. If I prance around like a slut, I can blame it on an overdose or something.”
“Wow, Kris”, Alisan sounded rather impressed as she watched him down half a pill with a bottle of mineral water. “You really are intent on shedding the ‘vanilla’ image.”
“I’m taking my PR into my own hands”, Kris announced gruffly. “19E wants me to pose with a green scarf around my neck and an ugly ribbon on my guitar - I’ve had enough of that. Cassidy, if you guys want to do a shoot with me wearing things like these, I will happily comply. Maybe the people will actually start buying my music because they’re genuinely interested in what I do.”
“Easy there, Allen”, Cassidy placed a steady hand on his shoulder. “We’re all here for you, alright? I can start handling your PR from the sidelines if you want a sexier, bolder image.”
“Oh, definitely”, Kris looked pleased. “Anything that’s going to push me away from Katy, stupid holiday tradition videos and green scarves.”
“We’ll get to work on it when you’re sober enough”, Cassidy promised him. “For tonight, you’re going to go out there and show the world how sexy you are.”
“Hey, Allen!” Monte Pittman poked his head into the dressing room, trying to look as discreet as possible. “It’s almost your cue to get onstage! Adam is heading to his dressing room for a change of clothes - it’s the one next to this - so you have just enough time to run straight to the wings. Make sure you head for the northwest one because that’s the closest one from my vantage point. We’re going to let Adam sing the first verse of the song, and then I want you to come out during the chorus to shock the fuck out of that man. We clear, kid?”
“I think so, yeah”, Kris nodded, trying to digest all the information. “What about Ali and Cass?”
“We’re going to head to our seats in the audience”, Alisan explained. “Monte reserved two spots for us where we have a perfect vantage point of your little performance. You are going to do well, babe.”
She and Cassidy each gave Kris kisses on the cheek, then left quietly in search of their seats. Kris heaved a sigh, wishing the drug would take its effect already. He needed the false bravado it would bring so he could dance in front of Adam.
“Come on, kiddo”, Monte succumbed to a gentler tone. “I’ve got your back, so you have nothing to be afraid of. All you have to do is wait there and wait for my signal.”
Nodding nervously, Kris followed Monte out of the dressing room, hearing the enthusiastic cheers from Adam’s fans. As soon as he was safely concealed in the northwest wing, Monte patted his back and made a mad dash to the stage so Adam wouldn’t suspect a thing.
Really, all he could do for now was wait.
Everybody’s looking for some love
But they don’t know
How to let it all hang out
And that’s why they’re solo (solo, solo)
Don’t wanna be solo (solo, solo)
Don’t wanna be solo