Page 111 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘How old were you?’

‘Six.’

‘And where is your mother now?’

‘Damned if I know. You called me Danny the other day. The only person who ever called me Danny was my mom. After she left, I told people to call me Miller.’

‘What were you like as a child?’

‘A smartass. I’d pick fights with anyone. I could dance and fight better than anyone else I knew, but I wasn’t so hot with the books, you know. Got kicked outta school at fifteen.’

‘How old were you when you first auditioned for the reality show?’

‘Goin’ on seventeen.’

‘Did you have any formal dance training?’

‘My family mostly lived on handouts, Lex, what do you think?’

‘So, what were you doing for money at that time?’

‘Worked as a pizza delivery boy. Did that for a couple years, off and on. Prolly still be doing it now if I hadn’t got offered this gig.’

‘Were you surprised when you got the call to invite you to be in the band?’

‘I told the producer that called me it was a good thing they were righting their mistakes. I think later on she called me an ungrateful prick, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been called that either.’

‘You’re the band member who’s had the most paid endorsement deals, and you have the biggest social media following. Why do you think that is?’

‘Don’t the two go hand in hand? Guess I’m a popular guy. Those Ivy League dudes might laugh at me and think I’m dumb as shit, but they all wish they had a body like mine. Their girlfriends all wanna bang me and I’m every gay guy’s wet dream. You figure it out.’

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

‘Who’s laughing at you, Miller?’

He shrugs. ‘You read enough comments online, you know. At least, I do. Prolly shouldn’t.’

‘You state your opinions very openly. Tell me, who’s the best dancer in Rebel Heart?’

‘I am.’

I cock my head to one side. ‘Then who?’

‘Ravi.’

‘Then who?’

‘Aidey. Then Cal, then J.B. since you’re asking.’

‘Who’s the best singer?’

‘Aidey. Then J.B. and Cal. If I had to pick the best all-rounder, it would be Cal. Or maybe Aidey. I’m sure you can find plenty of debates about it online. That’s just my opinion, which as you say, I’m always happy to provide.’

‘What about your singing voice?’

‘It’s gotten better. Guess there’s a reason I didn’t get picked first time out the gates.’

‘Do you feel like an outsider because of that? Because you were a replacement?’

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