Faded (Rock Star Trilogy)

Thursday, October 15

Los Angeles, California

7:56 AM

Raining in LA

It's raining in LA, which is a rarity. When I woke up to thunder, I knew it was going to be an off day. Not necessarily bad, just different.

Who am I kidding? Everyday has been bad since I came back here. Ever since I left my sisters, my boyfriend, and all my friends back in Hope, Florida.

Stephan, tried to get me to come home one week ago, but I refused. I thought their li
ves would be better without me, which is true. But my life
sucks
without them. I've considered going back, but that would be selfish. This is where I belong — alone.

It's almost 11
AMin Hope, and I can't help but think I would be on my way to study hall right this second if I were ther
e…
Where Stephan is.

Two days ago
, Ethan, Stephan’s stepbrother and one of my best friends, called me. He gave me some good news... My twin sister, Bridgett, was released from the hospital, but she refuses to go back to South Carolina with her parents. She is currently staying at Ethan and Stephan's house. She's “waiting” for me to come back. She is convinced that I will be back soon. I want to. So bad I want to. I miss my sister like crazy.

Stephan hasn't trie
d to contact me since last week when he came to LA. I'm sure that he is beyond pissed at me, but Ethan said he just misses me. He said I broke his heart when I left Hope without telling him. It kills me to know that I hurt him. I can deal with my pain, because I deserve it. What I can’t deal with is knowing that I hurt him. He doesn’t deserve the pain that I’ve caused him.

I think about my first day in Hope
a little over one month ago. My stylist, Monica, told me not to fall in love. She was right –
high school love does suck
.

9:32 AM

I am broken

I a
m lying in bed, staring at my bedroom’s ceiling when I hear the doorbell. It is ringing obsessively, and I immediately know that it is Alec. He knows it annoys me, so he always does it.

I throw back the covers, and look down at my pajamas. I've been wearing them for two days now. I also haven't combed my hair, or taken a shower. My messy bun is starting to fall down, and I am dreading combing it. It's going to be very tangled.

As I walk down the stairs, I am working on my
angry face
. But when I open the door, I am shocked to see two people standing there. Beside Alec stands Bridgett.

“We are kidnapping you,” Alec says, stepping inside my house. “Now, unless you want the paparazzi to take a picture of you looking like this, I suggest you take a shower. You stink.”

I'm still looking at Bridgett, and have yet to acknowledge Alec’s remark.

“I'm sorry,” I blurt out. As if sorry would be enough.
I left her alone when she needed me the most. It was something that I would regret for the rest of my life.

“I'm sorry to
o…
about my mom.” She looks like she's about to cry. “She's a controller and a manipulator. She isn't happy unless she gets what she wants, and she wanted me with her. She can't handle the fact that I'm growing into my own person, and not doing what she thinks I should do. I know that I should have warned you about her, but I honestly thought you were strong enough to handle her. You're so much more confident than me. But, now I know that it is just a front. You're
broken
, just like me.

“I need you, Scarlett. And you need me. Please, will you come back to Hope with
Alec and me? For me, for you, for Stepha
n…
” A tear escapes her eye. “Please.”

I am scared that I will not be able to speak without crying, so I nod my head. I cannot tell Bridgett no, because she's right.
I am broken
.

I am pathetic.

I need her, and I need Stephan.

I push people
that I love away. Not because I'm selfish, but because
I don't know how to depend on others
. I'm used to being alone.

A
nd in this moment, I hate my mom and dad even more because I know
they made me like this
. I’m so used to being on my own, that I don’t know how to act when somebody cares for me.

Bridgett pulls me into her embrace, and I
can no longer hold in my tears. How could I run away from her when she needed me? I am the worst sister ever.

“I'm sorry,” I whisper to her. “I shouldn't have left you.”

She pushes me back. “It wasn't your fault. I fully blame my mother. Let's just put it behind us, and get you back to Hope. You have to finish high school, Scar.”

“Ok
ay,” I say, wiping away my tears.

“And you do stink
.” She laughs. “Get a shower so we can go home.”

I laugh with her. “Fine!”

Alec smacks my butt as I start to walk up the stairs. “It is about time somebody talks some sense into you.”

I roll my eyes, but smile.

I missed Alec, too.

After a quick shower, I throw my hair up into a messy, wet bun, and get dressed. I just put on a pair of skinny jeans, and
an
Alec Torch
concert t-shirt. I've had the shirt since I was fifteen, so it's a little worn. Alec signed it, but over time the permanent black marker has faded and you can hardly see his signature anymore.

Alec laughs when I come downstairs. “Wow. It's been a while since that tour.”

“I think we are due for another tour together.”

“After you graduate,” he promises. “I'll have my manager book a summer tour.
We have got to promote your new CD.”

I look at him
cautiously. “What
new
CD?”

He
grins. “The one that I'm producing for you. Be prepared for long nights in the studio, honey.”

“Are you serious?” My voice may have just
gone up an octave.

He nods. “One hundred percent. And Bridgett is
overseeing the project. She wants to make sure the CD is
you
.”

I let out a squeal. “Bridgett?”
I’m not sure if I’m more shocked or excited.

She smiles. “As your manager, I have to make sure than the album is up to par.”

And just like that, my bad day turns amazing. I'm speechless, and I honestly don't know what to say. For the first time in my life, I feel amazing about my future. I have something to look forward to. With my best friend and sister by my side, I could easily take over the world.

Except
, of course, one thing is missing.

Stephan Montgomery is missing
.

Hope, Florida

5:53
PM

Touch my sister, and die.

Between the
four-hour flight, and the three-hour time difference, it's almost six o'clock when we land at the airport. And I swear
Alec is worse than a girl.
He has five suitcases, and he's already talking about all the stuff he's going to have to buy because he couldn't pack everything.

“How long are you staying with me, again?” I ask him.

“As long as it takes,” is his reply. “Probably two or three months.”

Fuck.
The next
two
or
three
months are going to be very long.

As we pull up to my house, I try not to focus on the fact that Stephan is less than
five hundred feet away from me. I just keep focusing on the fact that I'm
home
. With Bridgett and Alec! And as much as I want to run into his arms, I know he’s probably very mad at me. I can only take one step at a time.

Plus,
I don't
want
to think too far ahead. There is a lot of crap I have to deal with that I just
don't want to
, one of the things being my parents. I have to deal with them soon, but right now, I can't. I'm not strong enough.

When we get inside, I show Alec to his room, which he complains about.
I have a feeling that he is going to complain about a lot of things. “Your house is too small for three people.”

He's just mad because he has to cross the hall
way to get to his bathroom.

“You're welcome to stay at the Holiday Inn,” I suggest.

He rolls his eyes, and makes a gagging sound. “I'm Alec Torch. I don't stay at the Holiday Inn.”

I laugh, because I
know that Alec is never going to be the same after living in Hope. “Stop being a spoiled brat.”

I hear Bridgett behind me. “The Holiday Inn isn't
that
bad. Trust me, I've stayed at a lot worse.”

When Alec
sees Bridgett, he blushes a little.

What?

Oh my God, how cute.
ALEC FREAKING BLUSHED
!

“Well, I wouldn't be opposed to going to the Holiday Inn if
you
were there,” Alec flirts with Bridgett, and I gasp.

“
Touch my sister, and die
.”

Alec laughs for half a second,
and then he sees that I am not joking. The smile quickly fades from his face. I look at Bridgett who looks like she's ready to bolt out of the room, and then back at Alec.

“I was kidding, Scarlett.”
He quickly clarifies.

“I wasn't.” I glare at him.
“My sister is off limits.”

Bridgett starts laughing, and then grabs my hand. “Come on, Sca
r. Let him unpack. You have some apologizing to do anyway.”

I let Bridgett pull me from the room, but
I stop her once we reach the stairs. “Who am I apologizing too?” I already know the answer before I ask, but I have to confirm.

“A brown haired, green
-eyed boy, who happens to be your
boyfriend
.”