by Kayla Myles
“Spencer and George are both mature adults who can make a decision about their lives and relationship without our interference. Also, shouldn’t we look at this as it truly is?” He asked. “This is a blessing, and I, for one, think we should celebrate.”
Chase wrapped his fingers around the stem of his wine glass and lifted it up, raising his eyebrows up too, and looking at all of us with wide eyes, silently imploring us to do the same. Taking his cue, Veronica smiled widely and raised her own glass.
Feeling appropriately ashamed, I begrudgingly followed suit, murmuring well-wishes as Chase finished his toast. I placed the glass back onto the table, and pushed myself off the chair as they drank. They all turned their eyes up, and looked at me curiously. I shrugged, pointing my thumb at the hall.
“Going to get some fresh air,” I muttered before walking away. I pushed the double doors out of the restaurant, and leaned against the brick wall, tilting my head up to feel the brisk cold wind on my face.
Now that the anger had dissipated from my body, the space it left behind was slowly filled with regret and shame. I didn’t mean to go off like that. I adored kids and valued the gift of life, and I am happy for them. But a part of me still thought it was too soon a responsibility for them to bear.
An image of me lying on the floor by the foot of the stairs, blood pooling underneath my body flashed into my brain, and I hissed, shaking my head to be rid of it.
“Damn it,” I cursed under my breath, closing my eyes. There was a reason people buried some memories deep into the darkest depths of their minds, and I didn’t need them resurfacing now.
Memories like that only bred one thing – weakness.
I felt something pull at my sleeve, and my eyes snapped open to look at George, who gave me a small smile, her eyes sad and puppy-like. I frowned as I saw her skin forming goose bumps from the cold, and I shrugged off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulder to keep her warm.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” I scolded. “It’s not good for the baby if you caught a cold.”
She smiled at this, relief instantly flooding in her eyes.
“You’re not mad at me anymore?” she asked timidly, and I sighed.
“I was never mad at you,” I said softly. She raised her eyebrow in disbelief, and I rolled my eyes “Okay, maybe a little. But honestly? I was more…disappointed than anything else,” I admitted.
“You’re too young for this kind of responsibility, George. You and Spencer both. There are so many things you two could experience without a baby holding you back, but now, all of those would be ten times harder to accomplish. And I’ve met your parents, so I doubt they were very forthcoming about this, were they?” She shook her head sadly.
“Even Darcy got mad at first, but he came around after a few days, and told me he was going to help and support me as best as he can,” George replied.
“So you can see where I’m getting at, right?” I asked. She nodded once more, tears starting to pebble from the corner of her eyes. I sighed again, and wrapped my arms around the girl, her belly preventing me from holding her properly.
“Look, I can understand the situation you’re in now, and as much as I think your boyfriend’s an idiot, I’m glad Spencer has your back,” I comforted her. “Being pregnant and alone is really hard, and I would never want that to happen to you.”
George frowned and furrowed her eyebrows at my words.
“What do you mean you can understand?” she asked.
I blanched at my slipup and scrambled for an excuse when the restaurant’s door opened, and Spencer popped out, a worried expression on his face.
“Hey, the snow’s starting to fall,” he said. “Let’s go inside and eat.”
I smiled at Georgiana, and pushed her softly towards Spencer, coaxing her to get inside. She looked at me curiously for a few more seconds before smiling at Spencer and letting him open the door for her. I exchanged nods with Spencer, our fight forgotten and followed George inside.
“Finally!” Veronica said, rolling her eyes as I entered. “We totally need to finish our food if we’re going to get to the concert on time.” I furrowed my brows at her.
“Concert?”
Chapter 3
Tanner
“Remember, Tanner. After this concert, you’re to go to Arts & Soul so you can take some commemorative photos with the VIPs,” my agent said, waving my schedule in the air like he was going to swat a fly—or me—with it.
“I’m not feeling the crowd today,” I said, spreading my arms up at the top of the sofa, and leaning my back against the soft cushions. “Can I skip it?” I asked, even though I already knew he was going to say ‘No.’ I just liked to rile him up sometimes.
Sure enough, his left eye started to twitch, and his grip around his pen tightened that I almost thought it was going to snap in two.
“You absolutely can’t do that, Tanner!” he jeered, his eyes bulging like saucers. “Your popularity could plummet! Your reputation to the fans would take a nosedive, so you absolutely must do this!”
I sighed, rolling my eyes at his overreaction. Seriously, did he still think I was buying this crap? I knew for a fact my fans loved my bad boy image; it was basically what had them all panting after me and ensuring my concert tickets were selling like hotcakes. Rather than ruining my reputation, I was pretty sure it would have the opposite effect and skyrocket. Girls loved it when the guy was unattainable.
Besides, I met the manager of the record’s store earlier while I went shopping incognito, and I didn’t like the man. He was terrorizing his employees, and leering at all the girls that came in. Fucking disgusting pervert was what I thought.
My phone started to vibrate, and I got up to answer the call, frowning when I see it’s my neighbor, Adam, calling.
“Hey, Tanner. Where are you going? You’re on stage in 10 minutes!” my agent cried.
Ignoring his cries, I walked out of the dressing room, and went into a secluded corner where I could hear Adam from the other end of the line.
“Hey, buddy? What’s up?” I asked.
“Tanner! Oh, thank God you picked up,” he said quickly.
“Is something wrong?”
“Something really important came up and I need to leave town immediately. I’m dropping Beth off at your concert venue. It’s only a few blocks from here, right?” my eyes widened in alarm.
“What?” I asked. “No, dude! You can’t! Listen, I’m going onstage in a few minutes! You can’t leave Beth here!”
“Well, I can’t possibly take her to Wisconsin with me, either!” he said, huffing. “Just order one of your guards to pick her up, and I’ll meet them at the parking lot.”
“But--,”
“Tanner, it’s your kid. Deal with it!” he said, hanging up.
***
I quickly explained the situation to my agent, who looked like he was about to have a coronary.
“This cannot be happening all at once,” he said, putting his hand on his forehead dramatically, his chest rising and falling fast like he was about to hyperventilate.
“Please, you got to send one of the guards to meet up with him. I can’t go there now,” I said imploringly. He waved me off with a grimace.
“I’ll handle it, I’ll handle it. You just get up there and wow your fans, you hear me?” he replied and I smirked, nodding.
“You know it,” I said confidently.
I let my makeup artist do her final touches on my face, while my costume designers made sure my outfit was perfect. The stage coordinator rapped on the door and called me over, reminding me all my cues and stops as we walked towards the metal elevators that would lift me up smack dab in the center of the stage, wielding my guitar. I gave the crew a thumbs up as I heard the first blow of the torchlights, and the intro of my music.
It’s show time…
Chapter 4
Rebecca
“This is where you take me?” I asked, my eyes taking in the huge crowd of peopl
e—mostly women. No one was on stage yet, but they were already screaming. They were fucking crazies, that’s what they were. “To a-what’s the name of the singer again?”
Both Veronica and George looked at me like I was an alien or something, which is rich coming from George, since she literally never stepped a foot away from her house until she went to college.
“I cannot believe you have not heard of him,” Veronica huffed. “I mean, this is Tanner Lee we’re talking about here. He’s only the budding rock icon of this generation!” she exclaimed. I shrugged at her.
“I highly doubt someone so young could already be an icon. Let’s not get carried away here, Ronnie,” I replied. She gasped at my response, staring at me with a hand on her chest, and looking positively aghast.
“You,” she whispered. “Have no sense of aesthetics.”
“She’s a big fan of alternative rock bands though,” George pointed out. “I’m actually a little surprised you haven’t heard about him,” she continued.
“You said it yourself: I like rock bands. He’s a one-man show.” The crowd’s screams got even louder and shriller that I had to wince as I turned back towards the stage. Veronica and George turned as well and joined in with the screaming as the stage lights started to change color and music started to play.
I raised my eyebrows and watched as a guy started to rise up from the center of the stage, his back turned towards us. He had short black hair, and was wearing a black leather jacket paired with jeans, clutching a guitar in his hands. I tilted my head as I continued to check him out when he finally turned around.
Well, now I knew why so many of these girls were going haywire. The man was built like a Greek God. He was tall and muscular, his build uncommon for a man in his profession. The muscles on his arms were noticeable enough through his jacket, but his pecs were popping out of his white shirt, further confirming he was pretty cut.
His face was clear and all angles, his jawline sharp and pronounced. The bridge of his nose was high and complimented his thick reddish lips perfectly. But what stood out to me the most were his eyes.
The three of us were close enough to the stage due to yet another of Veronica’s connections, so I was able to look up and see how his eyes shone like emeralds glinting against the multicolored lights. The way he looked at the crowd was like he was looking at each of us individually, like the song he was performing was meant for us and us alone...
My trance was broken when I heard Veronica start to pant.
“Oh my God, he is so fucking hot,” Veronica gushed.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, to be honest. But there was no way in hell she was going to know that.
“You’re already engaged,” I told her, and she waved me off in annoyance.
“There’s no law that says I can’t admire the cake if I’m not allowed to eat it,” she reasoned.
“Guys, shut it! He’s singing!” George snapped.
I listened to Tanner sing a few bars, and nodded thoughtfully. The guy was pretty good, his velvety tone smooth and deep and original. His fingers strummed the strings of his Telecaster expertly, not missing a note as he crooned the lyrics to the microphone.
“He’s…actually really good,” I murmured, unable to keep my eyes from him. He snapped his eyes directly at me, almost like he heard what I said and I jumped in shock. He smiled as he sang and winked at me in amusement.
I scowled back in reply.
Ass.
I saw him glance at me a couple more times as he sang one song after another, until I started to feel cramped and heated. I tapped Veronica on the shoulder, and leaned down to put my mouth against her ear.
“I’m going to go out for a bit. The air is starting to feel stuffy in here,” I told her, and she nodded distractedly, her face still turned up towards Tanner. I rolled my eyes and squeezed my way out of the crowd until I reached the exit.
Man, the air was really thin in there. I took a big gulp of air as soon as I stepped out of the concert hall and into the open area. I took my phone out of my pocket, and saw a message from Chase, saying he and the boys were going to watch “It” while we have fun at the concert. I scrolled through my messages, and received another one from Spencer, who was asking me to check the car if he left his muffler there. I rolled my eyes and sent him back a text telling him he was such an idiot before walking towards one of the elevators. I pressed the button to go to the basement parking lot, leaning back and drumming my fingers at the side of my leg as Tanner’s song played in my mind.
The doors opened and I strutted out, turning left, where Jason’s Jeep was parked. I was crossing towards the slot when I heard the sound of footsteps running towards me, and I turned to look only to stumble backwards as something small collided with me. Little chubby arms wrapped around my legs, and I placed my hand on top of the kid’s shoulders in confusion.
The little girl looked up at me with a fearful look on her face, her chin brushing against my stomach, and her gorgeous emerald eyes glistening with tears. My heart melted immediately, feeling a compulsion to help this poor little girl.
She turns her head to look at something behind her, and I followed her line of sight, my jaw tightening as I see three men in suits and sunglasses chasing after her.
The little girl hid behind me, and I stood my ground, waiting for the men to reach me. I couldn’t see their eyes because of their shades, but the little cocky smirk on one of them was enough to tick me off.
The smirking one pointed at the little girl before crooking his finger in a come-hither motion.
“You,” he said sternly, as if his gesture wasn’t understandable enough. “Come here.”
I placed my hand behind me, spreading my palm to keep the child from moving. “What seems to be the problem here, gentlemen?” I asked smoothly.
“This has nothing to do with you,” he sneered, taking a step closer to us. “Let the girl go and run along before you get hurt.”
I quirked my eyebrow at him, my mind taking his threat automatically as a challenge. I looked down at the little girl, and waited until she peeked up at me with her wide-eyed gaze.
I nodded towards the big column before speaking. “Why don’t you hide over there while I take care of this mess, hmm?” She glanced at the three men before looking back at me with worry and I smiled. “It’s okay. I’ve got this, don’t worry. Now go,” I patted her back and she nodded, scampering off and hiding behind the column obediently.
I turned back towards them with a steely glare, all traces of my smile earlier wiped off in favor of a menacing frown. I cracked my knuckles against my palms as I snapped my neck from side to side to get the cricks out, and then rolling my shoulders to get the edge off. I didn’t want my shoulder getting tight after I kicked their asses, after all. These idiots looked at each other, then back at me like I was being funny. They didn’t realize I would be the one having the last laugh.
“You guys want to play?” I taunted, getting into position. I tilted my head and smirked as they raised their arms, fists at the ready. “Let’s play.”
I had already catalogued how I was going to end this fight before I even entered into my first position. The space of the parking lot was vast enough that I could take one down before the other could move between us to intervene. I calculated which one of these bozos was closer to me, and I hoped he’d make the first move.
His eagerness in fighting granted my wish.
He threw his hands out towards my neck, trying to grapple me into a chokehold, and I quickly caught him by his wrist and twisted my body so I was standing behind his back, pinning his arm awkwardly and making him yelp in pain. I applied enough pressure for a snap, and the guy screamed until he fell onto the ground out cold, his dislocated arm dangling in an off way.
One down, two to go.
The surprised looks on their faces filled me up with glee as they realized how grossly they had underestimated me. I threw a punch straight to the center of his face, breaking his nose.
He reels back before rushing toward me again with his eyes closed, groping blindly. I bent my knees down and grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, and then throwing him down to the floor using his own momentum. I got back up and fixed the last man with a stare, watching the color drain from his face as he looked down on his fallen comrades then back at me.
I took a step towards him, and he hightailed it out of there without looking back.
Well, that definitely put a smile on my face.
The little girl watched the guy run away before emerging from her hiding place, a cute grin splashed on her face as she looked at me. I smiled back and called her over.
“You alright?” I asked, and she nodded, her fingers wringing the fabric of her dress. “Why were they after you?” she shook her head. “Why are you all alone out here?”
She bit her lip and looked down at her feet, not answering me.
“What about your parents?” I tried again.
Still no answer.
I frowned. Now what was I going to do? I couldn’t leave her here, could I? What if these two idiots woke up, or that guy who ran away came back with even more men? And I couldn’t exactly stay here and watch over her.