Page 169 of Fame & Chaos

“Hey, I don’t give a crap about bruises,” she says firmly. “What I care about is getting you back onto planet Earth with me.”

Sliding awkwardly out of her lap, I wipe at my swollen eyes and finally look at her properly. Concern is etched all over her beautiful face, her dark brown eyes full of worry.

“I’m so sorry you had to see me like this,” I whisper thickly. “It’s been years since I had a breakdown this bad.”

She exhales softly and takes my hand, squeezing it tightly. “I’m just glad you finally gave me your address. I’d hate to think what could’ve happened if I hadn’t found you. Thank God your front door was unlocked.”

I shake my head weakly. I must have forgotten to lock it last night. Looking at Kenzi now, with her flawless black hair and perfectly winged eyeliner despite the early hour, I can’t help feeling like an absolute disaster beside her.

“Why did you read the article, Indi?” she asks gently.

“I don’t know.” I shrug miserably. “You telling me not to made me want to know what was so bad.”

“You are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.” She stands and offers me her hand. “Think you can stand?”

“Yeah. I think so.” Taking her hand, I let her help me onto shaky feet. I inhale deeply while she glances around my bedroom with a small smile.

“You know, Indi, you had absolutely nothing to worry about. Your place looks a lot like mine.”

I know that’s a blatant lie, but the fact that she’s trying to make me feel better softens something in my chest. “Thanks, Kenz. For being here.”

She smiles warmly before slapping my shoulder lightly. “Well, sister, I am a nurse. Mental breakdowns and people losing the plot are kinda my specialty.”

A weak laugh escapes me. “I did lose the plot there for a bit, didn’t I?”

“I was two seconds away from calling the wagon with the straitjackets.”

My brows shoot up.

“Kidding, Inds.” She grins. “Mostly.”

I exhale shakily while wiping my cheeks again.

“So… I brought brownies.” She disappears into the living room while I take another deep breath and follow her. Thank God she isn’t making a huge deal out of what just happened. She’s the only person besides Caleb’s family who knows about my past.

Well… not anymore.

Now the whole fucking world knows.

I walk into the living room and immediately spot the giant box overflowing with brownies. Honestly, I might love her a little bit more right now.

“Come sit down,” she says, patting the couch beside her. “You can tell me all about last night. Or not. Whatever you want.”

I sink beside her and grab a brownie without hesitation. I don’t care that it’s barely seven in the morning. I need chocolate. Slowly, I tell Kenzi everything. Caleb admitting he slept with her, leaving him stranded at the funfair—every painful second of it. Kenzi listens quietly through all of it, absorbing every word. She’s honestly the best listener I’ve ever known. Then again, she’s also the only real friend I’ve ever had besides Caleb.

We met my first day working at the hospital. Kenzi had already been there for a few years and basically ran the place because if there’s one thing about Kenzi, it’s that she loves bossing people around. She immediately took me under her wing and has basically bossed me around ever since.

We clicked instantly.

I was the quiet girl who never spoke to anyone, so eventually people stopped trying with me—everyone except Kenzi. Whether she kept pushing because she was supervising me or because she genuinely cared, I’ll never know. But I’m grateful she did, because despite us being complete opposites, we somehow fit together perfectly. She balances me out, and I calm her down whenever she gets too hyped up about something.

An hour passes with me crying on and off while Kenzi repeatedly curses Caleb’s name and threatens to shove his wilted roses up his ass. I’m finally starting to calm down when there’s a knock at the door.

Kenzi’s eyes widen dramatically. “Bet it’s him here to grovel.”

“Kenz—”

“Let me answer it and tell him I’m your lesbian lover.”