Grateful that she doesn’t put up an argument, she tells me where to take her and as we round the final corner, my foot shifts off the accelerator at the sight of the police car up ahead.
“Shit,” she says and gets out of the car before it’s even come to a complete stop. She runs to the front door, and I watch her disappear inside a house that seen better years. She hasn’t returned after five minutes, and I don’t want to be an intrusion while the police are there. I’m about to pull away from the kerb when she comes out the front door, arms wrapped around her front. Two police officers follow out after her and stop by her side. One hands her a card before she turns and walks to me. Staying at my driver’s window, it’s obvious she’s been crying.
“Thanks for all your help today,” her voice sounds raw.
“Are you okay? I want to ask what’s happened but don’t want to upset you,” I say. Lily gives me a little shake of the head as the tears start to well in her eyes. “Hey.” The keys are already turned off, and I’m out of the car reaching out to pull her into my arms. Burrowing into my chest, Lily sobs as I tighten my hug. “Is it your sister?”
“No,” I barely hear her.
“Your mother?”
Her head bobs up and down as she continues to sob.
Lily takes a step back and out of my arms. “Thanks for the lift home and the help today. You don’t need to be burdened by my problems. I’ll see you at school.”
***
The only problem was, I never saw Lily again. I can understand taking a day off school, but when she didn’t show the day after that, I started to get worried. Ditching one of my classes, I drove past her house. No one came to the door, and as I bent to look into the living room, the place didn’t even look lived in. Heading to the vets, Tits McGee took great delight in telling me that she didn’t turn up and that he was hoping she would so he could fire her. Returning to the school, I make a beeline for the principal’s office and ask to see her.
“You know I can’t discuss other students and their situations, Baxter.”
“But I’m not asking anything untoward. Something happened, and the police turned up, and Lily said she’d be back. I just want to know if she’s alright.”
Mrs Press leans her elbows on her desk as she leans forward. “Lily Maltree is no longer a student of this school. That’s all I can tell you.” Deciding not to throw a massive hissy fit, I pick up my newly bought notebook when Mrs Press calls my name. “She did stop by and ask to give you this though.”
The white envelope feels like it’s burning my hand the whole walk to the studio. I need silence. I need privacy and I don’t even respond to the group of girls saying my name. Giving them a wave, I turn the lock on the studio door.
Ripping open the envelope, I pull the single piece of paper from within.
Be the biggest superstar this world will ever know, always aim sky high.
I don’t know how long I stared at the paper for because I only looked up when Mr Colson knocked on the door.
“I know what the assignment said but these are extenuating circumstances.”
“I have a recording of our song, that’s proof that we did the assignment together.” My fingers fumble over the buttons to get the recording to play. Sitting down, Mr Colson takes a seat next to me as my voice does the count in. My skin prickles as she starts to sing. Knowing she’s gone makes her lyrics hit even harder. This song is Lily’s desire. The simple wish of being able to stay in one place. The desire to make friends and feel like you belong. It’s only now I feel like I’m getting to know her and it’s too late. She was telling me her story all along, and I was too slow to work it out. Swallowing over the lump in my throat as the song now appears quite painful, why didn’t I see it?
Mr Colson sits quietly the entire time, and even after the last lyric is sung, he sits shaking his head. “Don’t take this the wrong way, I know you can write a good song and that right there is proof of that. That song. That song is gold.” Letting out a deep breath, he leans forward. “Given the circumstances that you don’t have someone to perform with and that hearing the song—”
“I’m not performing it on my own or letting someone else sing it,” I say with a shake of my head. Someone else singing it is not even an option.
“Agreed. I said you had to perform together. I didn’t say how. The recording is proof enough. You guys did a wonderful job. Amazing. Can I just say, I’m not all over the details of how Lily left, but she’s been a really positive influence on you.” In more ways than you know. “Keep your head down, keep your focus on what you truly want, and you will go far.”
Lily managed to wade through all the superficial stuff and see me for who I really am. I might not know where she, but I want her to see or hear me wherever she goes.
The fire was lit. I’m going to work harder than I ever have before. I’ll have to if I’m going to be the best in the world.
Read Sky High Now.
One Click Here
Also by Josephine Traynor
The lights dim and the overpowering smell of buttered popcorn starts to turn my nervous stomach. I know I’ll calm when I see her. It’s the question of if she will come or not. I feel like I can breathe again as I see her enter the cinema. She stops at the bottom, and I know she’s looking for me. She’s hesitating. She looks down at her ticket. I told her row N, seat one. The bucket seat to the right in the corner. Secluded. Private. There are only six other people in the cinema, and none of them will be near us. I’m sitting in the shadows near the wall as she takes the steps one at a time and looks around the room. Even with the darkened cinema throwing random light, she’s beautiful. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a low ponytail.
She stops at the end of the row. I duck down and pull my hoodie further over my face as she turns to look around the cinema again. Part of me thinks she’s going to leave. There’s always that chance. She thinks I haven’t turned up. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until she finally takes a step into the aisle and moves towards her seat.
I rub my erection as I wait for her to find it. Her next instruction. The blindfold. Again, she hesitates. The sound of more patrons coming into the cinema hastens her moves, and she drops the popcorn bucket into the neighboring seat as she takes her own. I see her scanning the room. She still doesn’t see me.
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To the reader,
Thank you for picking my book out of the sea of millions and taking a chance on my work as a debut author. It’s been a dream of mine to be a published author and I finally got brave enough to pursue it.
It was a pleasure to write the story of a bumbling rockstar falling on hard times and I hope you enjoyed it. I also hope the story has inspired you to be brave and follow your dreams.
Xo, Josephine
Acknowledgments
There’re two people that without their input, support, encouragement and subtle threats, this book wouldn’t have made it off my computer.
Ashleigh – You have encouraged me every step of the way from when I first told you I had an idea about this manchild rockstar. Your constant push of ‘where are you up to?’ ‘you can’t leave me hanging there’, ‘if you put this in the bottom drawer, I will come and kick your arse’ and ‘stop feeding into the fear’ kept me going. Your wisdom and advice about getting it to the published stage has been invaluable and I can’t thank you enough.
Elaine – You have championed Reece and Madelyn’s story since I gave you a little snippet all those months ago. Your suggestions and feedback has been invaluable and your patience and support have been very dear to me. You are a rockstar not only as a beta reader but as a friend. The awesomeness of the dishwasher is owed to you my friend. My aim for this book was to provide something entertaining and original, with your reassurance, I believe I’ve done this.
To Brie and Nikki – you ladies are my A-Tea
m. Your feedback on the overall story was hugely appreciated. Your professionalism and friendliness needs to be bottled.
About the Author
Josephine Traynor is very good at keeping secrets - she’s been a closeted writer for years, but only got brave enough last year to show her writer friend a small chunk of what she’d written.
She’s a mother of two small boys and only told her husband about her book when it was completed. God knows what he thought she was doing on the computer for all those hours!
Josephine’s a lover of tea and has a thing for all things that smell like vanilla. She loves a good book that makes her laugh and has heaps of character growth. Her aim is to write books that inspire, cause sore stomach muscles and have memorable characters for all the right reasons.
Josephine Traynor is not her real name. The pen name is derived from Josephine being her favourite girls name and Traynor is inspired by Will Traynor from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. His message from that book was for everyone to be brave in this world and to make their mark. This was a huge lesson for her to get over her fear of publishing. She’s doing this for her, her dream is to be a published author, what’s your dream and go after it.
How to connect with me:
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