(Note: This story takes place one week after “Big Star”, published in the January 2026 issue of The Tempest.)
“Rockview?” Cora’s manager’s face scrunched up with confusion. “Sweetheart, why would you want to play Rockview? That place is a town, not even a city. You’re a superstar. You shouldn’t be playin’ no town.”
“Please, Rick,” Cora pleaded quietly. “You don’t understand.”
Cora and Rick were sitting across from each other at a dimly-lit diner. A notepad sat in the center of the table.
“You’re right, kid: I don’t understand!” Rick exclaimed.
With unusual sternness, Cora asked: “Will you book the show, or not?”
Rick sighed gruffly: “If that’s really what you want… sure.”
One week later, James Pillman sat half-asleep at his desk, typing on his laptop. Everything was quiet… until his assistant burst into the room, a wild look on his face.
“Mr. Mayor!” He yelled. “You’ve gotta see this!”
“What is it?!” asked James, who was now very much awake.
His assistant handed him a letter. As James read it, his eyes went wide, and his stomach churned.
“Why would Cora Newton want to come here?!” James’ assistant wondered.
James mumbled: “Gee… I dunno…”
One month later, James sat in a suite, on the upper level of the 2,000 capacity Rockview Coliseum – a venue which Cora could have sold out 20 times over. A roaring crowd of locals packed the arena, chatting about how lucky they were to have this show come to their medium-sized hometown.
James’ heart pounded before Cora even stepped onstage. He sipped anxiously from his drink.
When she did finally walk out before the audience, they erupted into cheering.
James was floored. This was the first time in five years that he had seen his ex-girlfriend in person. Her glowing face was projected onto every screen in the arena, and James was enveloped in the moment. Before she spoke a word, he felt himself falling in love all over again.
Cora addressed the crowd: “hey, everyone. To start off my show tonight, I’m gonna play a very special song. This isn’t one that many people have heard, but I hope you guys can vibe with it.”
As she began to strum on her ukulele, James recognized the tune almost instantly. He was brought back to six years ago, when he was first campaigning to become Mayor of Rockview, and Cora played this exact song to attract a massive crowd to his advertising table.
Thanks to Cora, he ended up winning. He ended up becoming Mayor.
Now, James sobbed uncontrollably. His friends and colleagues asked repeatedly what was wrong. They were deeply confused.
As he cried, James’ lips quivered into a smile as he answered: “nothing’s wrong at all. This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
The next morning, James sat at a wooden table in a coffee shop. He tapped his fingers rapidly against the tabletop, sipping nervously from his coffee.
His date’s order already sat across the table from him – he’d remembered it by heart.
Cora stepped through the door. Almost instantly, a crowd formed around her. When James stood up to greet her, the same effect applied.
“Cora Newton!” the people shouted. “Mr. Mayor!”
The two celebrities couldn’t hear any of it. As their eyes met for the first time in years, everything else melted away.
When they reached each other, Cora smiled softly and said: “hey, James.”
“Hey, Cora,” James blushed.
“We have a lot of catching up to do, huh?”
“We sure do.”
