Maddy
I wake up with a start, my eyes adjusting to the pitch black, unfamiliar hotel room. Ihear Jett’s steady breathing and soft snores. We were both so exhausted after partying in Mum and Dad’s suite past 2 a.m., that we showered off our makeup and passed out as soon as we hit the sheets.
A soft glow illuminates the room, and Irealize Ihave Jett’s phone in one hand and mine in the other. Was Jett’s going off all night? Is that why Igrabbed it in my sleep? Iknow he’d never set an alarm this early, unlike mine, lighting up because it’s nearly six and Ihave to start getting ready to head to set already. Icrack my eyes open wider. Jett’s phone is lighting up because … Lily is blowing him up?Why?
I open the text thread to see if Ineed to wake him up, and my heart sinks into my stomach. There it is.The other shoe.
Apparently, she’s been texting him since just after we fell asleep.She’s still awake?
Lily: ‘Jett, can you please come to room 809?’
Lily: ‘Jett? Plz? Ineed you.’
The fuck?
Lily: ‘I’m going crazy, Ican’t sleep, Jettttttttt.’
She’d better be asking for a fucking sleeping pill.
I bring both phones to the bathroom and flick on the light to make sure I’m not having a nightmare, rubbing my eyes so hard tiny specks blur my vision. Irelease the shakiest inhale as my blood rushes through my ears, setting down my phone to look back at his.
Lily: ‘She’s asleep, plz, justcumdown here. I’ve waited long enough.’
My fingers tremble as Iscroll up to see if there are any incriminating texts sent by my boyfriend. Itis all very kosher, very, ‘Meet for sound check at this time.’
Oh, this bitch is getting something rammed down her throat, all right, and it sure as hell isn’t Keane.
My fists tightly clench up my sides as Iassess myself in the mirror. Ifeel an epic Baby Morningstar tantrum, likely the worst ever, coming on, and Idon’t have time to do my God damn makeup. Ithrow my hair in a high ponytail, quietly scramble in the dark for Jett’s ‘90s style, navy Adidas tracksuit he wears when we are traveling that smells like him, and slip on some Vans. Igrab my go bag and sneak out the door with both phones vibrating in my hands, from my anger, not from anyone calling.
My vision blares red as Istorm out of the elevator and slam my fist into the door that reads room 809. Ihear her little footsteps jogging to the door, and as soon as she opens it, she is slammed against the entry wall, my fist still pressed against the door, holding her there.
“Oops,my bad,”Isay, releasing my fist from the door and rubbing my pink knuckles. Ifly into the room seething, drop my bag, and wait for her to recover. She closes the door, and walks over to me, where Istand at the foot of her pathetic, lonely ass bed covered with crystals and weed pens.
Assault charges! Touch her and you’ll get charged, Baby!
The little voice in my brain, that’s at maybe a two out of ten volume, isn’t winning the fight against my heart, and Ihave watched thousands of horror films. Iknow a million different ways to end a bitch. Ihold up Jett’s phone.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Lily stammers, “I-I have paid my fucking dues, Maddy!”
I start to crowd into her space. “I’m sorry, did you sign a contract that stated you play a certain number of gigs and you get to fuck my boyfriend?”
“It-it’s a given! First Shara, then AnnaBella.” Her voice shakes. “Now me.”
I take two steps closer. “I get that was his pattern. But we weren’t together when he hired you. If he wanted to fuck you, he would have, and he didn’t. Ithink maybe you missed the memo.” Ispin around, lift my jacket, and showher my tramp stamp. “Jett begged me to get this. Jett paid for this. I’m his, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I feel her wobbly fingers slip around my ponytail, pulling hard. In true Jett’s Girl fashion, Ireuse his line, “Oh, good, Iwas hoping you’d do that.”Thanks for the self-defense excuse, bitch.
I spin towards her, and her hand twists, loosening from my hair. Istalk her until she falls ass first on the big, white bed with a white leather headboard, hissing as a chunk of amethyst stabs her tiny butt cheek. Iclimb up, hovering over her, knees straddling her bony hips. Igrab her wrists and thrust them down on the bed above her. She may be taller than me, but definitely not stronger, and Iknow if Jett walked in right now, he would make a crass comment about how hot this looks, but I’m certainlynotin the mood to hear anything like that.
My vision is still smeared with red-hot anger, and Igrasp her wrists tighter to deter myself from punching her or grabbing her throat.
“Jett could’ve had you, and avoided you instead. He doesn’t want to touch you with a ten foot pole! No, he hired you,not sure why,then fucked me and immediately said he wanted me to have his babies.”
“That’s because you’re Max Morningstar’s daughter. Everyone knows that’s the only reason he wants you, Maddy.Be serious.AMorningstarspawnwould give him a permanent rock ‘n roll throne for the rest of his life, and that’s all Jett cares about!”
I swear I’m a nice person,Iam,but someone must’ve muted that voice of reason that was barely audible before, and Isnap. Rage bubbles up from the pit of my stomach and rises, burning my esophagus, snipping my last thread of self-control. My right-hand flies off her wrist, and her arm is immediately up as she yanks on my ponytail as my fist reels back. Her eyes widen as my fist propels forward straight into her throat.Damn, that felt good.
