AllFreeNovel
Share Us
27
Jade
I don’t get more than a block from the building when I have to stop and gather myself. I’m so furious at everyone. Jimmy for the contract I signed, Bret for cutting the final string that linked us together, and Austin. I can’t believe I never picked up on any of the clues. Coming and going at Rich Records whenever he wanted. Never talking about his parents. How he knows so many people in the industry. But what hurts the most is that I trusted him. Maybe I’m the idiot for feeling that way, but I did. And that pisses me off the most. I resent myself most of all for never questioning anything and being so trusting with all of them.
Grabbing my phone, I call Lily.
“Hey, girl,” she answers.
“Can you please come pick me up?”
“Pick you up? Where are you?”
“I’m about a block away from Rich Records.” When she doesn’t respond quickly, I snap. “Lily, please!”
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry.” I look around to make sure no one is paying attention to me. They’re not, but I don’t want to wait around for anyone to find out. “Not really. And I really need a ride. Please?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.”
Looking across the street, I see a small coffee shop. “Just Java is where I’ll be. Call me when you’re close.”
“Okay. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
Heading across the street, I glance around but try to keep my head low. I seriously don’t want anyone to recognize me right now. When I see a restroom in the corner, I hurry over to it. Thankfully it’s unoccupied, and getting inside, I lock the door. Throwing my hands over my face, I feel the sting of tears threatening my eyes. I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m not sad, I’m angry. Frustrated. Feeling betrayed and conned all at the same time. The same questions keep spinning around in my mind. How could I have been so stupid?
Then the thoughts turn to the boys. My brother. How am I gonna be able to tell them about this? My idiotic decision to sign a contract I never read, and now Jimmy Richards has control over my music. Granted, it’s all rough, and none of it was ever intended to be released, but it’s mine. It’s my heart and soul in those lyrics. My emotions in those chords I played. It almost feels like I gave a piece of myself away without even knowing it, and I’ll never get it back. All of the heartache over those things continues to circle around into outrage again.
When my phone chimes, I read the message; it’s Lily telling me she’s in the café looking for me. I hurry out of the bathroom. She looks like she’s about to ask me what’s wrong again, but I shake off her words. She nods and motions me to the door, and I see her car parked on the street. I almost run to it, wishing I could be somewhere alone, and let all of this emotion I’m feeling pour out. If I was to do that out in public, it’d no doubt cause a scene. I just want to bury myself away from everything and everyone.
After we’re driving for five minutes, she reaches over, taking my hand. “What happened?”
I let out a disgusted and defeated scoff. “What didn’t happen. I’m so stupid.”
“Hey, don’t say that. What’s wrong?”
Pulling my knees up to my chest, I turn and stare out of the passenger window. Cars fly by, the bright sun is high, without a cloud in the sky. But I feel like it’s pouring, and I’ll never see the sun again.
“Jade?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I whisper. “Please, just take me home.”
* * *
There’s a knock at my bedroom door. Other than trotting to my uncle’s kitchen and eating whatever he has as leftovers, or going to the bathroom, my blankets have been a cocoon blocking out the rest of the world.
I hear the knock again, but instead of answering, I pull the covers over my head, shielding myself from the sun I feel on the blankets.
“Jade, what the hell are you doing? Are you dead?” Maddox says through the door.
“Yes,” I call back. “Leave me alone.”
“You don’t sound dead,” he replies. “I’m coming in. You better not be naked because I just had tacos and don’t want to throw up on you.”
“No!” I yell out. “Leave me alone!”
Hearing the door open, I pull the blankets around me tighter. I’ve only told Lily what happened. When she dropped me off, she wouldn’t leave unless I explained to her why I was freaking out, so I did. But I made her promise me not to tell anyone. It’s been over forty-eight hours, and I still can’t shake the feeling of being swindled.
