Page 69 of Siren's Heart

We only stop when we hear a timid knock on Kayla's door. She immediately runs to open it, letting Millie inside. I jump up, about to run over to her and suffocate her in a tight hug, when I remember the way she pushed me away before. Which was completely fine, but I'm not sure if a hug is what she needs right now.

She answers that unspoken question when she chucks her shoes into a corner and trudges over with her bare feet to where I'm standing, laying her hands on my chest to push me backward until I fall onto the couch and climbs onto me, her arms snaking around my neck.

"Hey, Sunshine," I murmur into her ear and press a kiss against her temple. "Feel a bit better?"

She nods against my shoulder, and I can feel her starting to relax in my arms. Thank God. My tense shoulders finally loosen, and suddenly, it feels like I can breathe properly again.

"Yeah. Sorry for before, I was a bit overwhelmed."

"Nothing to apologize for," I insist and hug her a bit tighter.

For a moment, I wasn't so sure if that was something I'd get to do again. I mean, what if she's changed her mind? If it's too much for her after all, and she decides that she doesn’t want to deal with this shit? Since most of the online hate seems to stem from people wanting someone better for me, what if she's decided I'm not worth the hassle? All those worries weighed on me, and now that they're gone, I enjoy her in my arms all the more.

"What are you guys doing?" she curiously asks a bit louder so Kayla and Asher can hear her as well.

"You know," Kayla hums and haws, before finally spitting out "Just planning to restore your reputation. Label and management be damned."

"Okay?" She sounds skeptical, and when she lifts her head, I see her scrunching her nose in an adorable grimace. I get it. It sounds crazy, but if it works, it works, right? And I can't imagine our little campaign not working. We’re not going to be able to convince everyone about how awesome she is, and I know that. But it’s a start.

Kayla fills Millie in on Asher's plan, and just like when he told Kayla and me, her eyes grow wide, and her mouth pops open.

"Are you guys crazy?" she asks, her voice turning a hysterical octave, and she jumps off my lap. "That's awkward as fuck."

"Wrong," Asher points out, causing her to glare directly at him. "It would have been awkward if you'd asked them yourself to do it. If we do, it's friends looking out for each other."

"Potato potah-to." She waves her hands through the air before she hides her face in them. "Oh God. This better work out; otherwise, my already tarnished reputation is even more fucked. I can already see the headlines. 'Hated popstars friends ask celebrities for encouraging words - none of them reply.'" She shakes her head.

"Well, speaking of, I'm stealing my friend for a minute, because he definitely needs to make a statement, too." Asher grabs my arm and pulls me into a stand.

"Where would I even post it?" To the zero followers I would have on my brand new profile?

"My account. Not the first time they’ve seen you on there, so come on, lover boy, we're doing one together."

He pulls me into Kayla's kitchen, where he opens all the cabinets until he finds one with a shelf at just the right height and angle to put his phone to film us.

"Okay, let's go." He taps on his smartwatch, then faces the camera. I look at him confused; everything just happens way too quickly. What exactly does he want me to do?

"Hello, everyone," he starts, and I barely realize he's already recording. I give the phone an awkward wave. "So we're here today because my friend and I need to have some words with y'all." I keep nodding beside him when he nudges my shoulder pretty hard. "Go on."

"Errr..." I take a split second to sort my thoughts in my head before I even have an idea where to start. "So as most of you probably know, I have no social media profile. So Asher's brought to my attention, what you guys are saying about my amazing girlfriend," I start and cross my arms in front of my chest.

"And honestly, I'm pretty disappointed with a lot of you." Just for emphasis, I shake my head and just pray that the 'I'm not mad just disappointed' tactic will work, even though I feel ridiculous. "Millie and I started dating only a bit ago, and I'm not kidding when I tell you that she makes me happier than I’ve ever thought I could be.

“She's generous and kind and one of the purest souls you can find in the entertainment industry. With her, I can be myself and never ever have to fear being judged. She's supportive as fuck, even if it hurts herself. So to all of you saying that I could do better: No, I couldn't. I know about her image; I've seen the headlines, but it's just that: empty words on a piece of paper or your screen.

And today, my lovely and very non-confrontational girlfriend hasn't been attacked once, but twice. I can't believe I have to say this, but–" I take a deep breath. "Just what the fuck guys?" I tilt my head and try my best to give the camera a disappointed stare. "Do better."

And with that, Asher taps on his watch again, then moves to take his phone off the cupboard.

"Wait, can we do that again?" My voice was all jittery, and I didn’t know what to do with my hands.

"Oh, sweet summer child," he says pitifully, and for the second time today, I fight the urge to let my fist meet his teeth. "It was a live stream. It's out there now. But you were perfect, so well done, bro."

He clasps my shoulder, and my eyes grow wide. "Wait, what do you mean 'live'?"

"You know what it means. Don't ask me such a dumb question," he chuckles. When we return to the living room, both of the girls are sitting on the couch, staring at Kayla's phone. My heart starts beating faster when I realize that Millie's eyes are glossy, her lip caught between her teeth.

"What's going on?" I ask, my heart beating full of panic that something else happened.

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