Page 39 of Fame & Rhythm

I laugh softly at her tone and do as I’m told before she leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

I swallow the pills with a few gulps of water and sink back into my bed, hoping for some decent sleep this time.

Just as I close my eyes, my phone vibrates.

I roll over and glance at the screen.

Aston.

I stare at it as it continues to buzz on silent, my chest tightening.

Part of me wants to answer.

But everything that happened last night… everything I’m feeling now…

I can’t deal with that.

Not yet.

So I let it ring out, turning back over and pulling the covers around me. This time, when sleep finally comes, the dream is different.

I’m back at the party.

Aston is in front of me, his hand brushing my cheek, his eyes locked on mine.

But instead of pulling away…

I lean in.

And I kiss him.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I sleep peacefully.

Chapter Eight

Annie

I’ve been holed up in my room all day, and even though Mum has been checking on me and bringing me food and drinks, I still feel bad for not seeing Dad. Knowing he’s been downstairs in the music room for the last few hours only proves he’s still upset. On his days off, he usually spends his time with Mum, or with Ella and me. He only disappears into the music room for hours when something’s bothering him.

And the slow, somber music still drifting up from downstairs makes me feel worse by the second.

I push myself off the bed and decide to get changed. I’m still wearing the short black lace dress from last night, and honestly, I need to get out of it. I need to get away from the memory of how stupid I was.

My phone vibrates again.

Aston.

He’s still calling, even though I haven’t answered the last twenty-seven times. Not that I’m counting.

I change into gray joggers and a vest, then decide I may as well bite the proverbial bullet and go downstairs to talk to Dad. I head into the hall and toward the stairs. Sassy and Snaggy start barking from the bottom, and I shush them as I make my way down the endless staircase.

Why it feels twice as long today, I don’t know, but I still feel gross, so I take my time.

The music stops.

I pause halfway down, my heart jumping, but then it starts again, and I keep going. At the bottom, I turn toward the music room and follow the sound of Dad’s guitar. I briefly wonder where Mum and Ella are, but everyone knows not to interrupt Dad when he’s in there.

Still, I’m doing it anyway.