Page 70 of Beyond the Fame

My father gives me a curt nod and follows. I stand there, frozen, heartbroken, while they disappear into their bedroom and shut the door.

Today was the first day of my new show. It's a big deal. A network series and I'm the lead. I'm only seventeen and all the entertainment shows and magazines say this will open so many doors for my career. Yet, all my parents could say is don’t get in trouble because they don’t want to clean up my messes?

Fuck them. Fuck this life. I'm so goddamn alone and no one cares about me.

How can you give birth to a child then pretend they don’t exist? And imply that the child is a burden on your life?

I'm never going to have kids. I'm never going to get married. I'm never going to commit my life to another's because what’s the point? Love is selfish and if my parents love each other but don’t have enough for their own child, then how would I be able to do the same?

I stomp down the hallway and slam my bedroom door shut, falling back and sliding down to the floor.

Would anyone even care if I died? At least I'd no longer be a ‘problem’ for my parents.

My phone beeps and I dig it out of my jeans pocket. Mylan put me in a group text with Rey.

Mylan: I had so much fun tonight. We gotta do that again

He adds a crazy face emoji and I laugh and wipe my cheeks, not even realizing I'd been crying.

Rey: Fuck yeah, we do

Me: Hell yeah, man. Anytime

Rey: Jensen, tell me you got a number from that absolute fit bird flirting with you all night?

I laugh at Rey’s text. The drunker he got tonight, the stronger his accent and British slang became.

Me: Yeah, I got it

Both of them sent a slew of emojis, including the kissy face, the eggplant, and the peach.

Mylan: I know we all just met, but I have a feeling the three of us are going to best friends

Me: I'd like that

Rey: Aye. The best of wankers

I can’t help but bark another laugh at that crazy Brit. Best friends. I’ve never had a best friend. It’s hard to meet people when you’re home schooled and taught on set. Even my co-stars, some who are my age, never keep in touch after filming is over. Mostly because we’re moving on to the next role and don’t have time to meet up or hang out. I’m hoping that will be different with Mylan and Rey. We’ll be filming five to six days a week, months upon months a year (until the show gets canceled). Maybe that means we can form a better friendship since we’ll be around each other all the time.

I lean my head back against the door. Mylan cared enough to stand up for me today. No one’s ever done that for me.

Maybe my life is about to get better.

Chapter 18 – Rebecca

Present Day

I’m inspired.

My writer’s block is gone, and I’m ready to finish my book. I’m not sure if it was seeing Lana and Mylan’s love story reach a milestone. Or maybe it’s because of how much time I’ve been spending with Jensen and how he brings out parts of me I thought I’d hidden deep down inside. But the words are flowing out of me.

I woke up at eight this morning encased in Jensen’s arms and peeled myself out of bed to start writing. It’s now noon and I’ve sucked down three cups of coffee, ordered breakfast, and scarfed down the best waffles—topped with fresh strawberries and syrup—I’ve ever had. I’ve slammed out fifteen thousand words.

“Ami,” Jensen mumbles, stumbling out of his bedroom like a zombie. His hair sticks up all over his head as he rubs the sleep out of his face. He’s not wearing a shirt, only flannel pajama bottoms. My eyes sweep across his bare chest, over the intricate ink and bulky arms that feel so right when wrapped around me.

How could this man ever doubt he’s beautiful?

He yawns. “How long have you been awake?”

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