So, it's a tad late, but hey! This is me! What did you expect? It was very tough finding a song. Luckily a friend of mine turned me on to smaller, more unknown bands. This one is Do What You Do by Cute Is What We Aim For.

"Here's your dressing room," the bitter woman gestured to the room she'd led me to. "You have to change quickly. You're a little short on time." Her tone clearly stated that she wasn't happy about my tardiness. Well sorry that my flight got delayed. Clearly that's all my fault!

"Thanks," I responded in the same ungrateful tone. She left with a huff.

Once again, I was roped into singing something somewhere that I didn't wanna be. Today, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I wanted to rub my head in frustration, but I'm almost certain Carmen, the hairdresser, would murder me on the spot.

I was getting bored with my old hairstyle, so today I had her cut it down. I took her a long time to cut down my chin-length hair, and then die it back to its original dirty blonde. After that there was the special product that needed to be put in to make it stand up at my forehead. Good thing the store gave me a button-up shirt to wear.

It was a very nice, and expensive, white shirt. There were dark gray crosses all over the front and back. On the front of the shoulders sat two large crosses with wings and crowns at the top. Then there were random splotches of tan on both the front and back. On just the back, across the shoulders and neck, the words No Turning Back were written. Of course I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows.

Then there was a nice pair of dark, bootcut jeans. And to top it off, a pair of black patchwork Converse sneakers with an occasional brown or white patch.

After I was dressed the makeup team came in and touched up my face. Carmen came back and put a stray piece of my hair back in line. And then I was ready to go.

They led me out to my float and I gaped. The background was a blown up picture of the Roman Amphitheatre at night. It almost had a glow to it. To the sides of it were pure white columns. In the middle were two orange swords with black handles and flame-colored gems. They were standing in the shape of an X. And at the front was a microphone. My microphone.

Instead of using the stairs as intended, I went around to the front and hopped up; just for the fun of it. There was a banner with two flames and the title of my latest movie, Teen Gladiators and the Sword of Fire. I half smiled.

That quickly went away once I saw her. Miss Hannah Montana had the float right behind me. I sighed.

Of course she'd be looking absolutely perfect today. But there almost a bit of elegance in her outfit: a brown, spaghetti strap dress with pink flowers on the side, dark blue jeans, and black pumps that showed her toes. Peep-toe or something.

My hand reflexively went to the back of my head, and was momentarily shocked to feel the soft, short hair there. When I looked back up, Miley was staring at me in shock. Confused, my eyebrows knitted together. My head turned to the right. Once again I'd forgotten about the haircut.

She muttered something to her stage manager before coming over to me.

"When did you-How did you-Why did you-?"

That's when I caught on. "Oh, this morning. Thought I needed a change." After a moment of her still staring, I added, "Does it look bad?! I thought it looked fine-!"

"No, no, it does!" she assured. "It's just, surprising, I guess."

"Oh." It was really hard to be around her. How could she still be dating that guy knowing that he lied to her?! Even if it was a small lie, that's not the point. The nagging thought that maybe he hasn't told her reared its head again, but I shoved it away. I'm sure she's figured it out by now. I've seen them kiss more than once.

"Guys, come on, we gotta get ready!" Andy, my stage manager, rushed Miley back to her own float. He then adjusted a few minor things on mine. And then we were ready to go.

The float began moving forward, and I almost lost my balance. Maybe next time they could warn a guy!

After a few minutes of slow driving, and me waving at my screaming fans (who also loved the new hair) the cameras pointed at me. And I'm sure the hosts mentioned something about my hair and also quoted the short interview I gave one of them right after it was done.

The music started for my song. It was used in the final battle scene of the movie. I sucked in a deep breath before I began singing.

No one is telling me

The speed I should be traveling

So watch me take the lead

The crowd of mostly girls had already begun to shout the words as I sang them. I guess it was a popular song. I repeated that line as the music began to pick up until it eventually turned into more rock than tecno-ish sounding.

I started moving to the words more, getting into it. I'd been feeling angry all month, and this song's loud, random words helped me release it. The only lines that ever really fit how I'd felt when I wrote it (and how I still feel) is the second verse.

Quick, quick, quick, come fix me up
I need to make my move
This damn machine doesn't work the way that it used to
But that's what I get for taking it for granted
I never even meant it, never even meant it
That's what I get for taking it for granted
No, I never even meant it, never even meant it
If I keep up with it can I catch myself?

And then, when I reached the second chorus, I spotted something unexpected. Troy McCann was standing there with Oliver, doing some stupid air-guitar move. I glowered at him while I sang.

Have you ever been fake

For the sake of saving face

You can work, you can play

From the cradle to the grave

Have you ever been fake

For the sake of saving face

You can move as you make

From the cradle to the grave

He seemed to catch my drift, for he was glaring back at me in a way that would've made a weaker man cower. But I couldn't be scared of this guy, not even if I wanted to. And as I sang the third verse, I made a decision.

No one is telling me

The speed I should be traveling

So watch me take the lead

And that's what I planned to do. I was finally gonna take back my life, not let it continue to be pushed around by my stupid feelings. They've done nothing to help me in life. So that's why, after the parade, I planned to confront her.

--

I had no idea what that song meant, or why he asked to talk to me alone, but the emptiness in his eyes made me uneasy. Still, I followed without question.

We reached an empty hallway, and he turned abruptly to face me. The suddenness of his actions caused me to jump back, pressing my hand to my heart in attempt to steady it.

"You know he's lying to you, right?" This question caught me off guard.

"Who?"

"Don't play dumb. Your boyfriend." He was really starting to freak me out. He's never been so confident and angry around me before. I didn't like it.

"Lying to me about what?" I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest.

"About being that guy from Halloween."

"What, how would you know?!"

"I heard him over the phone."

"I think you're just jealous," I shot at him. His eyes hardened, but that didn't dissuade me. "Well, news flash, if you wanted me so much, you should've made that move a long time ago!"

Confusion flashed over his face for a second before he composed himself. "Jealous?" I nodded. "Why would I possibly be jealous of him?! As a matter of fact, I pity the guy cuz he has to be around you everyday!"

That did it. I felt the tears brimming in my eyes. And the fact that he appeared to take no remorse in his words made it all the worse. I blinked them back, not about to weaken myself in his presence.

"Well if that's how you feel about me, then why did you bother talking to me?" I asked in a hard tone.

--

I watched as she stormed away, already way past feeling shame for my actions. It literally pained me inside to watch the tears forming in her beautiful azure eyes. But I buried those feelings, because that's what my new practice was; no emotions. The only one I would permit is anger, but only on occasion.

Because Jake Ryan was no longer a crybaby.

Yeah, this chapter was really boring. Happy Thanksgiving! (Even if it wasn't for them.) I actually made Jake's float. Well, like, I combined pictures. Anyway, check it out on my links profile! Please review!

Luv Wendy! :)(: