Page 29 of Beyond the Fame

“It was an accident,” Mylan says, his voice scratchy and raw.

“Bullshit,” Bruno growls. “We all got a text.”

He doesn’t defend himself.

“Is Jensen here?”

Bruno and Eloise say nothing.

“Right. Of course. Why would he be?” He doesn’t say it angrily. Just sad. Defeated. “Look… I’m going back to Forest Ridge after they release me from here. Okay?”

“Stay longer this time,” Eloise sobs.

I hate him so much right now for doing this to her. For doing this to me and Bruno. We’re his friends. We care about him. Does he not realize that?

“Please, Mylan,” Eloise pleads. Her voice is so small and broken.

“I’m sorry, Eloise. I really am. I... I don’t know what I was thinking. I... I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

It’d been a month since the worst night of my life. Reports about Mylan’s overdose went viral the next day. Except, the media reported it was accidental. Mylan’s publicity team is that good and kept the truth hidden.

Mylan stayed in the hospital’s psych ward until they were confident he was no longer a danger to himself. They sent him to Washington for rehab. Eloise says Mylan’s progress impressed the psychiatrists at L.A. Med enough that they didn’t recommend a longer treatment. That doesn’t surprise me. He’s a fucking actor and can convince anyone he's fine. He’s convinced me too many times to avoid going to rehab. They ultimately left the decision of an extensive treatment program up to Mylan.

What about the counselors at the rehabilitation center? He’d been there twice already. Would they try to talk him into staying longer like I did? I called his phone and left a million voicemails, sent him dozens of texts pleading with him to do the year-long treatment, but either he ignored every single one, or he shut off his phone and never got my messages.

I can’t make him do something he’s not ready for.

“What do you mean you have to drop out of the project?” Shyon, the executive producer, says.

I’m at the production company’s head office with her, and the two other producers who seem to be attached to her hips. Sitting across the table from them is my friend Rey Michaelson, who’s been cast as Tyler Taylor in Tyler’s Team. He’s the lead and now he’s telling us he can’t film the movie... with a month and a half before production begins.

Rey combs his fingers through his light brown hair, his blue eyes encased in shadows as he fidgets in his seat.

“I’m sorry, but it’s out of my control,” Rey says in his British accent. He grinds his jaw and shakes his leg.

“You signed a contract,” Shyon points out, not a caring bone in her body. All that matters to her is money.

“Then I’ll pay to break it,” Rey yells. “I don’t fucking care how much. Bill me, sue me, do whatever you need to do.” His hands ball into fists on the table. “I have to go back to the East Coast indefinitely. It’s a family emergency.” His words die out. The pain taking claim of his voice. “I have no choice.”

“This is—” Shyon begins, but I cut her off.

“This is fine. We’ll find another lead. No problem.”

Rey finally looks up, his eyes filled with concern and fear. “Thank you, J.B. I owe you.”

I’ve known Rey as long as Mylan. He’s a year younger than me and was cast to play mine and Mylan’s bandmate in Metal & Mayhem. The three of us became close. We were inseparable while filming that show. Then it was canceled, and all our careers took off. Suddenly, we were too busy to hang out, especially Rey. He strayed from our friend group as he built his successful career.

I’ve missed the three of us. That’s why Rey got the role in Tyler’s Team. I advocated for him because I wanted to work with my friend again.

Rey stands. He’s slightly shorter than me, six feet I'd say, and slim like Mylan. He’s your typical Hollywood heartthrob with washboard abs and swoon-worthy hair, who already has a long list of movies. Rey claimed his spot as the next big action star.

But this is a setback for him.

“Call me if you need anything, okay?” I hold out a hand and he gives it three slaps. Not quite the secret handshake Mylan, Rey, and I created but that’s understandable. He’d called me last night to tell me what happened. He’s mourning and his life is about to change drastically.

Shyon sighs dramatically the moment Rey leaves.

“What the hell are we going to do? We start filming in less than two months.”

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