Page 11 of Hollow Heart

Fucking hell, why does it hurt so bad?

I close my eyes, trying to shut out my jumbled thoughts.

Lou turns up the radio, and familiar lyrics ring in my brain.

I’m waiting in the Black Sea

Baby, for you

I’m drowning in the Black Sea

Baby, save me, from myself

I stifle a sob as I remember the night I wroteBlack Sea.

Sully thought it was terrible. He called it emo.

I zone out as I watch the street lights pass by and I listen to Duncan and Lou laughing, going on about “the old days.”

Jealousy stings me, because I don’t know what that’s like.

Everyone thinks because I’m famous my life is one big yellow brick road.

But the truth is, my life is the fucking Hunger Games.

There’s always someone else threatening to take my spotlight, always some bullshit tightrope I need to walk to stay in everyone’s fucking good graces.

It’sexhausting.

The closest I’ve ever had to a good time, has been with Sully.

But even that didn’t last.

The door opens and Lou looks at me with disdain.

“Come on your majesty, your castle awaits,” he nips.

His tone pisses me off. He acts like I’m a fucking child.

I’m twenty-three years old, for God’s sake.

“Think I’m fine where I’m at.” I sneer as I curl up into the back seat, stretching across the cushions.

I hear Lou curse before I’m literally beingdraggedout of the back seat like a damn sack of potatoes, thrown over heavy, broad shoulders.

“Put me down!” I holler as I kick and writhe, a heavy, large hand settling on my ass, holding me in place.

“No,” Duncan grumbles as Lou laughs his ass off while he punches in my code.

“I can walk into my own fucking house!” I say as I twist like a rubber band in his steady grasp.

Lou opens the door, and Duncan all but throws me down on my couch.

I fall with a thud, my boots hard against the wooden floor.

“That hurt, asshole!”

Duncan grunts. “Good. Maybe it’ll knock some sense into your ass.”

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