Page 8 of Fame & Rhythm

When I finally look at Mum, my chest tightens.

She’s been crying.

What did I expect!

Dad sits beside her, quieter than usual, his expression heavy. It’s not something I see often—him looking unsure.

Aston gently guides me forward.

“Annie, sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” Mum says. “We’re so sorry we upset you. We know we should’ve been here. We were selfish.”

Dad inhales sharply beside her.

Aston nudges me lightly.

“Yes, you were selfish—”

“Annie!” Aston warns.

I shoot him a look. “I’m not finished.”

I turn back to Mum and Dad, steadying myself. “You were selfish,” I say, softer now. “But so was I.” The room stays silent. “I let my anger take over, and I said things I should never have said. I didn’t mean any of it. I love you both, and I’m really sorry for bringing that up.” I swallow, forcing myself to hold their gaze. “You didn’t deserve that.”

Mum’s face crumples, tears spilling over.

“Please don’t cry,” I say quickly, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her.

She hugs me tight, and I press into her, holding on. Her hugs always make everything feel a little less broken.

“I’m s-sorry,” I whisper again.

She pulls back, brushing my hair away from my face. “Sweetheart, I’m crying because we let you down. We should’ve been here. We know how much this meant to you… and that makes it just as important to us.”

I glance at Dad, and he nods, his expression still serious but softer now.

“Do you think… maybe you’d like to play a song for us?” Mum asks gently.

I blink. “Really?” Excitement sparks through me before I can stop it. Dad nods again, and I push to my feet, a small smile breaking through as the heaviness finally starts to lift.

Dad stands and walks over to me. “I’m sorry, Annie. This was my fault. What you said, we didn’t deserve, but the anger behind it? We did. So let’s make it up to each other by letting us hear you and your band play?”

I smile and loop my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He wraps his big tattooed arms around me and lifts me clean off the ground in a bear hug.

“I love you, Annie,” Dad says quietly in my ear, too low for anyone else to hear. He sets me down, and I look up at him and nod.

Aston grabs my hand and pulls me toward our guitars. A little laugh slips out of me as Ella comes over with hers and kisses me on the cheek.

“Can we get started, kids?” Caleb asks, smirking like he’s trying to rile me again.

“We’re not kids, Caleb. We’re teenagers. Well, me and Aston are. It’s Ella and Chad who are still the babies of the band,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

“Shut up, Annie!” Ella and Chad say in unison, making everyone laugh.

And just like that… the tension breaks.

I hate how fast my temper can get away from me. It’s like something takes over, and I stop thinking straight. Seeing Mum cry and Dad look like that is enough to make me realize I can’t keep doing this. I have to get a handle on it.

Caleb counts us in, and the second I start strumming the first chords of “Don’t Mess With The Best,” a calm washes over me.