Page 3 of For One Night Only

I blink, truly stunned. “They can’t actually believe that bullshit too.” You’d think a streaming service would be used to handling the media—especially stories that aren’t true. FirstGossip Daily, then Roxanne, now The Network—is no one going to give me a chance to tell my side of the story?

Wade runs a hand over his hair. “Roxanne was slated for a series regular promotion, and you cost them that possibility.”

My nails dig sharply into my palms as I ball my fists. “They would have to actually renew the show to get series regulars. I don’t see why one embarrassing night has anything to do with it.”

“You know as well as I do that image is everything when you’re promoting a teen-adjacent show.”

“They don’t worry about that forYoung Sherlock.”

“You didn’t want to be on a sexy teen drama. If you get on theYoung Sherlockcast, you can do whatever you want.”

I huff, because we’ve had this discussion before. WhileEpicTheme SongandYoung Sherlockare technically aimed at the same eighteen-to-thirty-four demographic, they could not be more different.Epic Theme Songfollows a mediocre squad of not-so-superheroes navigating college by day and thwarting the minor villains the real heroes can’t be bothered with by night. It’s campy and fun with lots of dynamic queer characters, and the music is incredible. I auditioned forEpic Theme Songbecause it’s a musical, and it gave me a chance to work with Broadway legend Patricia Turner, who plays my mentor.

Young Sherlock, on the other hand, is closer in tone toGossip GirlandRiverwood. It’s a great show, but the last thing my image needs is more sex appeal. As if I could play a teenager who acts like a thirty-year-old when people already write think pieces to explain why I’m such a bad role model…

Epic Theme Songreally took off with teens, and they’re not exactly our originally intended audience, but our marketers have taken the fandom to heart. I love our fans, but the pressure to keep a low profile to remain palatable forparents of teenagersis stifling. It shouldn’t matter what I do in my private life.

I fold my arms on the counter and press my forehead into my wrists with a groan.

“I didn’t do anything wrong!” I say, the sound muffled by my hair.

“You didn’t, but the damage is done as far as The Network is concerned. They lost a high-profile star who was bringing in a new audience, and now the show is in the headlines for the wrong reasons.”

Of course he’s right, and bile stings the back of my throat. We’ve been hanging on by a thread.Epic Theme Songhas been critically acclaimed, but our numbers aren’t good enough. Despite our loyal fan base, we aren’t getting the views The Network wants from a show like ours, at least according to the mysterious metrics theywon’t even disclose to our showrunner. It’s been eleven months since season two dropped.

As a cast, we did everything we could to keep the renewal hope alive—livestreams with different actors, conventions, fan art contests…I even filmed a series of video tutorials for acoustic covers of my character’s songs. The fans loved it all, but we still haven’t heard a thing. Nothing has been good enough.

And now I might have killed the show by being the Internet’s Main Character.

“Is there anything I can do?”

Wade hums. “The Network is pretty concerned, but they haven’t made a final decision. If anything, I think they’re afraid of the fans reacting negatively to a cancellation, so they’re waiting for the right time to move forward with a decision. If you want them to change their minds, you’ll need to drum up good press, and fast.”

As if it’s that easy. I’ve been fighting a battle with the press for years.

Ever since the band I started in high school went viral and we signed a record deal, it’s been all I can do not to make everyone hate me. It all started when I got caught on a hot mic telling indie darling Hunter O’Brien to “get the fuck away from me” when we shared the stage at Bonnaroo.

In my defense, he insisted on “helping me arrange guitar pedals more efficiently” when we were already on the damn stage. I’m perfectly capable of managing my own setup, thank you very much, and hecompletelyjacked it up before our set. But the details didn’t matter to the tabloids. From that day forward, I was branded a diva.

The rest of the Glitter Bats didn’t have the same problem—everyone loves angel-on-earth Jane Mercer, our keys player. She’s literally the nicest person alive, and she’s one of the most talented people I’ve ever worked with. These days, Jane composes and produces critically acclaimed music for TV and video games.

Riker Maddox, our rhythm guitarist, has kept busy as a touring musician with the hottest bands. He only ever makes small headlines for kindnesses like quietly leaving massive tips at restaurants, or taking time to talk in depth with fans after shows. He’s a human golden retriever, and everyone likes golden retrievers.

Keeley Cunningham, our drummer, is in demand for every studio pop, rock, and folk artist aiming at the awards circuit. She can be blunt, but people care more about her work than her attitude—and when she parted ways with her big-name pop star ex after three years, the headlines only said the split was “friendly.”

And, well…I’m pretty sure Caleb Sloane is still beloved by the entire internet, even though he hasn’t been seen in public in years. Caleb never had to try for good press—he was a darling from day one, the kind of person with such innategoodnessit could never be denied. If the media sees me as a thunderstorm, he was always the sunshine streaming through the clouds after the rain, light shining on everyone around him.

Andoh my god.

That’s it.

“Caleb!” I say, raising my head and whirling to face my manager. For the first time all morning, I don’t feel a hint of nausea. This could work.

Wade raises his brows. “You’d better not be saying Caleb is back, because I cannot handle another of your romantic entanglements today.”

I flush, because I meanouch, but fair. Things between Caleb and me are complicated, and it’s the kind of complicated that stays firmly in the distant past. It would take a miracle for him to talk to me again, but a miracle might be my only chance to save our show.

And saving our show isn’t just for me or my costars—it’s for thefans. Of course I want to make another season, but after the cliff-hanger at the end of the last episode when my character lost herpowers, I know our fans deserve more than they got. More than me ruining their beloved show, at least.

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