Page 147 of Fame & Rhythm

Guilt settles heavy in my chest.

“I didn’t tell your father,” she continues. “I said you had a stomach bug and went to bed. If he knew you drank yourself into that state again, he’d be furious.” Her tone softens. “So let’s keep this between us. But I need you to promise me you won’t do it again.”

“I promise,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.”

She studies me for a moment, then nods. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

A flicker of concern crosses her face, but she doesn’t push. “Okay. But will you talk to Dr. Ludwick?”

I nod.

That seems to be enough for her.

She stands, then leans over to flush the toilet. “Well,” she says, offering me a small smile. “First things first… we need to get some fluids into you. And maybe some food.”

“Fluids, yes,” I mutter, pushing myself up slowly. “Food… absolutely not.”

She smirks, sliding an arm around my shoulders to steady me. “We’ll see about that.”

***

It’s been two days since Dad’s party.

Yesterday was spent in bed, hungover and barely functioning. Today, I’m feeling every bit of the emotional fallout that came with it.

Dad left this morning for a press tour with the rest of 12GAUGE-Slayed. They’re heading to Scotland to start work on their new album. When he gets back, there’ll be talk about Staked, another album, the tour we were supposed to go on.

The thought of rehearsing, of being around Aston like nothing’s changed…

Feels impossible.

For a fleeting moment, I wonder if I should just quit. Walk away from the band entirely. Get a normal job. Disappear into something simple where none of this follows me.

I glance up at the clock… eight p.m.

I’m slumped on the couch, mindlessly watching television, bored out of my skull while Ella sits beside me, carefully painting her nails.

Then, out of nowhere, it hits me.

“Let’s go out.”

Ella looks at me, one brow lifting. “Now?”

I nod, a flicker of energy finally pushing through the fog I’ve been stuck in. I need to get out of my head. I need something, anything, other than this.

“Okay…” she says slowly. “Where?”

“I don’t know. A club or something.”

Her lips twitch, and I catch the spark of interest in her eyes. “Really? All right. What are we telling Mum?”

I shrug. “Girls’ night. Movie or something.”

“Perfect.”

That’s all it takes.