Page 34 of Before the Encore

“You don’t,” Madison said too quickly. Heat tickled her neck. “The picture can mark the start of our blossoming friendship.”

Bonnie snorted. “Don’t push it.” But she turned the camera on them anyway. Madison held her breath while she took the photo. Bonnie brought the picture up on the screen and showed it her. “What do you think?”

The two of them smiled, golden light casting shadows across their faces. Her gaze fell to Bonnie’s lips, her cheekbones, those big eyes staring back at her.

Something squeezed in her chest. As dusk deepened, the world suspended in this little bubble in the clouds, caught between light and shadow. Madison held her breath again, afraid of anything shattering something so fragile.

She looked at herself, surprised at how genuine her smile seemed. We kinda look good together.

The thought made her recoil, the itchy heat flaring up her neck. She didn’t do relationships. She didn’t do whatever this was. Madison got under people’s skin, not the other way around.

“Yeah.” She looked away. “It’ll be good for our socials.”

That sank the mood like a lead balloon. And with a crank, the wheel started descending again.

Chapter Nine

Bonnie

Bonnie’s reflection stared back at her. Hot pink eyeshadow blended into a fiery orange gradient of electric colour, glitter sparkling under the bright lights. She traced the contour of her cheeks delicately, marvelled by the transformation. She blinked, lashes long and dramatic, her lipstick, pink and perfect. Her make-up artist, Hannah, had done a wonderful job. But now, alone in her dressing room, Bonnie couldn’t stop searching for imperfections.

Like how she couldn’t stop picking apart these last few weeks.

Since their trip to the pier, she’d barely seen Madison. Preparations for Bonnie’s teaser tour had taken up most of their schedule, but she’d not even glimpsed her in between rehearsals. They’d rehearsed ‘Ghost’ together with plans to showcase the new song tonight in Bonnie’s set. But between singing and the choreographer directing them, they’d barely spoken. Excitement around the tour had amplified—the fake dating an official success—so Bailey had only organised one interview with a top music magazine in this final week to add to the buzz. For the duration of the interview, Madison stayed quiet, flicking her persona on and off like a light switch when asked a question. She left straight after, insisting she had plans with Kam.

The distance hurt a little. Bonnie thought they’d stumbled into a weird but civil friendship territory. Madison had made an effort for Bonnie to relax at the pier, and they had a great time…until Bonnie opened up about her mum. Maybe it’d been too heavy for Madison to deal with. Or maybe now their obligations were almost fulfilled, Madison wasn’t interested. It wouldn’t surprise her.

She refused to give other, more disturbing thoughts attention. Because if her brain wandered to those darker depths—where memories of their closeness in the Ferris wheel cabin sent shivers across her skin, where the fake dating felt a little less fake and a lot more real—everything could unravel.

“Fucking Madison,” she muttered, smoothing her hands over her sequinned bodysuit. A woman that annoying shouldn’t be capable of drawing such fascination. Madison had her bandmates wrapped around her finger, Bailey eating out of her palm, and now, even Bonnie was caught in her web. Frustration pinched at her temples. She swore she wouldn’t get pulled into Madison’s games, but yet, there she was, thinking about her when she should be focused on the show.

Her socials were blowing up with excited fans. Paparazzi had camped outside the arena, desperate to get any insider info. The demand was there; Bonnie just had to meet it. The board had to see her as a worthy investment. The show had to be perfect.

Her stomach churned, and she brushed her hands over it in an attempt to self-soothe. I am grateful. I am open. I trust in the universe. Sound check went without a hitch. Choreo was tight. All props and sets and pyrotechnics functioned just as they should—including Bonnie’s surprise entrance from under the stage. Fortunately, the stage didn’t explode and crush her like it had in one of her dreams. Everything was perfect.

The only unpredictable element was Madison—which was no surprise.

She checked her phone, scrolling past the articles Bailey had forwarded expressing their anticipation for opening night, and clicked on her messages.

Katy: Good luck tonight!

The more I see, the more I wonder…

Just how cosy are we talking?

Katy forwarded a link to a social media post. She clicked and read:

‘Bloom and Moore are “getting cosy”, source says’

Bonnie rolled her eyes. A million pounds on the ‘source’ being Bailey. Her phone vibrated with another message. Speak of the devil.

Bailey: Olivia Steinberg is in the VIP, make sure you say hello. VC

And don’t forget to SMILE

Her chest pinched. Olivia. Another ‘valuable contact’ to endure, but with additional baggage. Just what she needed.

Olivia came into her life two years after The Pop Factor, when Bonnie’s first album reached number one. They’d become fast friends, encouraged by their managers, and frequented events together.