Page 31 of Sixty Days Of Summer

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to stay calm, though I’m already bracing for the inevitable. If Theo keeps pushing my buttons, it’s only a matter of time before I snap and end up thumping him before the day’s over. Since we got into that town car to come here, he hasn’t stopped with his annoying shit. The guy gets even more annoying when he’s nervous, like he believes cracking jokes will keep his anxiety in check. But if the dickhead keeps it up, he’s gonna have a lot more to worry about than just a press conference.

“Relax, man,” Xander says, his hand squeezing my shoulder in a half-assed attempt to comfort me. It’s meant to be reassuring, but all I feel is the weight of his expectations pressingdown on me. “You’ve been through worse. Stick to the plan, and we’ll be outta here in no time.”

Yeah, right. As if I can just zone out while a bunch of vultures pick at our bones. I nod, but inside, I’m a whirlwind of emotions. It’s not just about introducing Scarlet; we’re also trying to salvage our reputation, and prove we’re more than the drama that constantly follows us. The tension is creeping back, and I can feel it building up inside me. I need a release, and punching Theo is starting to sound like a decent option to blow off some steam.

It’s funny. I finally understand why Xander always seemed like he wanted to rip someone’s head off when I pushed him into doing these press conferences every time he made headlines. The difference is, Xander never actually messed up like I did.

“Now, Scarlet,” Kit says, her tone all business-like and firm, “if they ask you anything uncomfortable out there-"

Scarlet swallows nervously, her anxiety starting to show. "What kind of things will they ask?"

“Any fucked-up thing they can dream up,” I reply.

The room goes dead quiet. All eyes, including Scarlet’s, fixate on me—I’ve definitely made things worse. Scarlet's anxiety is off the charts now. Theo’s sharp look makes it clear that I’ve made a mistake and should keep my fucking mouth shut. He turns back to Scarlet, his face softening as he tries to reassure her, his voice gentle and comforting. Xander and Kit stay quiet, their expressions speaking volumes—silent messages that cut deeper than anything they could’ve said aloud.

Theo tries to ease the tension. “It’ll be mostly about the music, Scar. You’ll see. Plus, you probably won’t get hit with too many questions since Xander’s doing most of the talking today—especially now that Ace has royally screwed up.” He throws me a sharp glare, making it obvious just how pissed he is with me.

Already fed up with being here, I let out a slow exhale, trying to chill the fuck out and keep it together.

“Relax,” Kit says to me, her voice soothing, like she’s trying to tame a wild animal. “You’ve done this a hundred times. Today’s just another day.” She then turns to face everyone, her confidence radiating. “Alright, you ready?” With that, Kit strides toward the door, and I can feel the tension crackling in the air, primed to explode as we brace ourselves for the chaos waiting outside.

Xander leads the way, with me bringing up the rear, while Scarlet and Theo stay close together like they’re in some kind of protective bubble.

When Xander gives the nod, Kit swings the door open, and we step through. The flash of cameras greets us like a sudden storm as we make our way toward the table, the noise in the room fading to an inaudible murmur. Kit follows us through the doorway and takes her place to the side, her gaze steady as she observes us settling into our seats.

I grab the bottle of water on the table, trying to quell the anxiety gnawing at my insides. Fuck, I’ve never felt this off at one of these events before. Usually, I’m the one steering the ship, radiating confidence and control, but today feels different. The air is thick and stifling. I scan the room, taking in the sea of reporters, their eyes glinting with eagerness, all waiting for one of us to slip up so they can spin it into a headline. The pressure builds, and I can feel their expectations weighing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

As the sound of papers rustling reaches my ears, I instinctively look down the table to find Xander preparing to begin. He glances up and flashes that polished media smile—the kind that’s all rehearsed and perfect, a stark contrast to the real Xander. It’s a far cry from the guy who’s been my anchor through everything. I’m thankful to be part of that inner circle;without him, the guys, Poppy, and Alex, I’d feel lost. They’re my family too, the ones who truly matter in my life.

Cameras flash, and reporters adjust their microphones, their eyes fixed on us, eager for the drama about to unfold. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a reminder of the stakes at play. This isn’t just about us; it’s about everything we’ve built together and how quickly it could all unravel under the world’s scrutiny.

Xander clears his throat, signaling the start of the press conference. “Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here today. We have some important updates to share. As many of you are aware, our talented drummer, Nate Reynolds, was recently involved in a car accident. The good news is that he’s expected to make a full recovery, but he’ll need some time off to focus on healing. In the meantime, we’re thrilled to announce that Scarlet will be stepping in as our drummer for the tour.”

I notice that Xander deliberately omitted Scarlet’s surname, likely to dodge the comparisons she was worried about. The room zeroes in on him, hanging on every word as he spins the story Kit’s carefully crafted, shaping the narrative the way only he can.

The usual murmurs of the reporters fade into the background, and I scan the crowd, trying to read the energy, gauging how they might react to Scarlet stepping up. Will they accept her? Or will this only fuel the media’s hunger for more drama?

“Scarlet brings a tremendous level of talent and energy to the band,” Xander continues, his voice steady and commanding. “We’ve been blown away by her during rehearsals, and we’re confident she’ll keep delivering the high-energy performances our fans expect. I want to assure everyone that the tour is going ahead as scheduled. We’re thrilled to hit the road with Scarlet and can’t wait to see all our fans at the shows.”

As he speaks, I can see the shift in the room. The reporters are scribbling notes, their interest piqued. If only they can see what we see in Scarlet, maybe this could mark the beginning of something great for her.

When Xander finishes his statement, the room goes dead silent for a moment, like everyone is holding their breath. Then, just as the media realizes the briefing is over, the silence explodes into a barrage of questions from all directions.

“Can you give us more details about Nate’s condition?”

“How long will Nate be out of action?”

“Why was Scarlet chosen as Nate's replacement?

"What makes Scarlet the right fit for the band?”

“Scarlet, how do you feel about stepping into Nate’s role?”

“What do you think makes you the right choice for the band?”

“Scarlet, can you tell us more about your background?”

The intensity of their inquiries crashes over us like a tidal wave.

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