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Addison/Frankie,
Sorry. This isn’t the life for me and 6 months of it feels impossible. I will email you the names of some other writers who can help you. I thought you were both amazing, but I need to leave.
Emmy.
Matt insisted on dropping me home and giving me his number in case I needed him. Forty-eight hours around the Cosmic Gods and I’d been attacked by a stranger and then groped by the lead singer.I mean, it was only a kiss, but what gives him the right to assume he can just do that to me? What do I keep doing to make men assume they can simply take what they want from me?I didn’t wear makeup or style my hair. I hid my curves, covered my flesh, and yet it kept happening. I didn’t want people to think I deserved it or was asking for it, hence my look, but that hadn’t stopped that shit from happening over the last two days.
No matter how much I need the money, I don’t need to put up with this. I’ll stay with Quinn. I’ll write more, work harder, and I’ll get my house eventually. I don’t need to be abused and touched up for that to happen.I reached for my phone to call Quinn.
“Hey, princess, where have you been?”
“Oh, I had a job offer I went to explore, but they were totally wrong for me, so I came home,” I replied, trying to hide the crack in my voice as I forced down the tears that threatened to spill.
“The Cosmic Gods got in touch, then?”
“What? How do you know?”
“My firm represents them. I told Addison about you when she said they needed someone to tell their story.”
“You could have warned me, Quinn. It was a nightmare.” I sighed, letting my back slide down the wall as I slumped to the floor in my bedroom.
“Why? What happened? Are you alright?”
“Some bloke tried to rape me and then the lead singer kissed me.” Even saying it out loud, it didn’t sound real. I’d only been with them two days, reminding me that their life wasn’t for me.
“Did you say rape you? Shit? Are you okay? Did he touch you?”
I sighed. “No, Tanner saved me. But then he ruined everything by forcing his tongue into my mouth.”
“Tanner’s so hot. I bet he kisses like the Devil. Scorching.”
“That’s not the point, Quinn, and you know it.” My reply was short and sharp, unable to hide the anger in my words.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m a terrible friend, but he is hot. The whole band are hot. They need you to write their story, and you need them to teach you how to embrace your inner goddess and stop hiding behind the frumpy clothes and the awful hair.”
“Jesus, Quinn, tell me how you really feel. I’ve had a shitty few days, and this isn’t helping.”
“You’re fabulous, Em, and I love you so much, but you’ve been in a funk for years. I kind of hoped that the band would help you shed that thick skin you’ve wrapped around yourself.”
“Well, my ability to be a magnet for douchebags and sexual deviants has put a stop to that. Looks like you’re getting a roommate for a while if that’s okay?”
“Of course, lovely. Whatever you need. I’m sorry if I was insensitive.”
“No, I want you to be honest with me, always. Even when that honesty hurts like hell. Right, I need to go and wash this rock star makeover off and turn back into frumpy old me. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Hanging up, I headed to the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror. I did look good, and it was nice to feel my age instead of ten years older like I usually did. But it felt fake. I wasn’t meant to stand out or be glamorous. My job was to be invisible and write other people’s stories. That’s what I needed to focus on.
I stepped into the shower, washing the makeup from my face and rinsing the product from my hair. When I was out, I tied my hair into a soggy, messy bun, before pulling on some sleep shorts and a slightly cropped tank top with some knee-high rainbow fluffy socks, knowing that I was 100% safe in my own home. Digging my reading glasses out of my handbag, I pushed them on, before running my finger along my wall-length bookshelf, trying to find something to appease my mood. And there it was, the perfect thing.Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Escapism in a book I knew word for word, full of characters that would help cheer me up. I was just getting to the point where Hagrid turned up at Privet Drive, demanding Harry join him at Hogwarts when there was a loud knock at my door.
I ignored it.
The knock came again. Harder.
I ignored it.
“Emmy, please. I know you’re there because I’ve had Matt outside, making sure you didn’t leave.”
I stared at the door.
