Page 16 of The Jaded Notes

Watch me vanish like smoke through that iron door.

No rearview mirror. No second glance.

You missed your shot. You lost your chance.

Cuz babe, I don’t want you. That’s for sure.

I don’t give a fuck ’bout you anymore.

This train don’t stop. It only slides.

And it’s time for me to slide on by.

All I can think about is what a prick move that was. I slip my shades on and trudge out of the building to find the nearest bar.

I’ve got two hours before soundcheck, and I need to be numb as shit when I get there because there’s no way Bren’s gonna let me get away with this.

Chapter Four

LIVIANNA/LILY

Then

Between The Cuts & Him

The betrayal makes headlines, but the stillness after the song makes my scars.

“No, thanks.” I show the lead designer, who’s teaching this class, a grateful smile. Then, I click out of my computer program and stare at a penciled sketch of a man’s leather jacket with some lyrics stitched into the lining for inspiration. “I understand and don’t need to go over it again.”

My design is like a tattoo for clothes a rockstar would wear. It’s a creative signature, even if my teacher doesn’t like it.

I’m starting to think the classes I signed up for aren’t a good fit. I want to break out and express something no one else has done before, but they want us to stay locked into traditional lines and styles.

The only good thing to come from my class is that I have a new friend. His name is Trent Diamandis, and he’s from New York.

Go figure. I move to Paris to get exposure to the foreigndesign market, and what I find is a friend who lives in the States and is only here visiting, just like me.

He taps my leg under the table and mouths, “It’s fabulous, Livianna. Run with it!”

I suppress a laugh and nod. Class continues, but I get distracted by internet alerts that let me know when the press is reporting on Livianna Grace Designs.

My system pings anytime Livianna Hemings or Livianna Grace Designs is mentioned, and a slew of notifications have just hit my inbox.

A thrill runs through my blood and makes my heart beat faster. What is the media talking about today? I sent a couple of new designs to a few influencers, and I hope these are related.

I click the first notification. An article pops up, and I’m not sure what it means.

The headline reads:

Mayhem ensues when Livianna Hemings is STRIPPED and left outside a PACKED TRAIN.

I crinkle my nose as my brows draw together.What the…? I continue reading, not understanding any of the context.

In a cruel twist of fate, Livianna Hemings’s brother comes to Mayhem’s defense.

It was revealed unexpectedly on a podcast, through a line of unapproved questions the host posed for the band that one of Livianna’s supposed favorite songs, “Packed Train,” performed by Chrome Honey, was actually written by none other than her past love, Cash Mayze.

The lyrics of “Packed Train” often get overlooked by the exciting, heart-pumping beat, but if you listen to the words, you’ll hear the hate and revenge thatcan’t be denied. The song is anything but joyful when looked at that way.