Chapter 7: Worthless

So, the next morning I come back home. I open the front door with my key and step into the house. It's unusually quiet. As I make my way to the kitchen I suddenly trip over something. It was… moving. I instantly get grossed out thinking it might be a rat. I grab the nearest broom and I look around for the little rodent. I check each corner of the kitchen twitching my head back and forth in search for the rat. Then I hear a quiet, cute little "Meow"

"Oh!" I laugh quietly to myself bending over to properly handle the cat. I bring the cat up to my arms and pet him lightly. "How did you get in here? Little guy." I lifted up his collar to see what his name was, and possibly find the owner's name.

Austin

His name was Austin. And the owner was..

The Moons

My parents bought a cat? They hate animals. I found the litter box for the cat and placed him inside. I noticed the box had a tiny little microphone stand inside. Like the ones used when recording a song.

I turned around when I heard the key turn. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I knew they'd be upset, but I didn't know how upset they were going to be. I rose from the ground and walked over to the door to meet them.

"Oh Austin! You're home!" My mother said cheerfully, but with a sarcastic tone.

"Glad, you decided to come back home son." My dad said in the same sarcastic tone.

"I just stayed over at Ally's house last night to finish my schoolwork." I told them playing along with their 'everything's fine' game.

"And did you practice the song at all?" My dad smiled.

"Well, no- but" I replied hesitantly.

"I didn't think so." He smiled once more.

Mom and dad walk over to the litter box and pick up the cat. "That is why we went to the pet store, and got this little guy. Just this morning."

"Yeah I saw him, he's really cute and… you guys named him after me."

My mother laughed lightly as she placed her hand on my shoulder

"Oh sweety, we named him in place of you."

"What do you mean?"

"Take a look at the new and improved Starr Records recording artist… Austin Moon!" My dad cheered as my mom pulled a little cat outfit out of her purse to show me. I sat down on the couch and just stared at them with a blank face. My mom began to put the clothes on the cat, although he protested greatly.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked plainly. My dad ignored my question and ran over to the litter box and grabbed it. He shoved it in my face making me jerk back almost falling off the couch.

"Look Austin!"(He said addressing the cat) "We even got you a little microphone in your little box, so that you can practice every night before you go to bed." He then dropped the box on my lap causing some of it to spill out onto me.

"Hey!" I yelled appalled at his anger towards me. And a little frightened. They were acting crazy.

"What, you think we're acting silly? Ridiculous? Well, why should we take your career seriously if you don't!" My dad yelled in my face. I could feel the spit as it came rushing out of his mouth. And I could visibly see the veins straining out of his face. He was way too close for comfort. I wiped the spit off of my face in disgust. "Do you know what was all over the internet this morning?" He stepped away to help me visualize it. Bringing his hands up as if headlining something, he shouted "Austin Moon caught sneaking out late at night to visit his songwriter. It looks like he stayed the night and left this morning! It looks to me like they were doing more than just writing songs." He put on his best announcing voice. "Did you even notice the paparazzi following you that night? Let me guess, no! Because you don't notice anything. You never consider the consequences for the stupid things you do. Now they're calling Ally a whore, because she still has a boyfriend at her high school." I quickly shut my eyes fearing how Ally was taking the news, especially now that her and Ethan were not dating anymore. I'm the one they should be calling a whore I've been with so many girls I can't even keep count. She's only been with one guy her entire life. She's like the purest person in the world.

"And as if ruining the reputation of your best friend wasn't enough, have you checked the sales for your new single? No? Of course you haven't, because there is no new single, because you never finished the song! Your mother and I have given you too much slack since you got the flu and we're done! You are either going to put more effort into the career we've paved for you, or we'll find someone else to manage."

"You-you'd replace me?" I asked incredulously as I looked up at them.

"In a heartbeat. There's always another teen boy who dances better, sings better, has better work ethic, and is younger. We'll just post, 'Who wants to be the next Austin Moon' and then witness boys just like you, line up to sing and dance for the role. The role you couldn't play. We could easily find someone else to replace you. You're just as easily replaced as that cat."

I stared at them as a child would stare at a monster. In this moment I was terrified of them. They were a monsters.

The gruesome beast roughly slapped the litter box off my lap making me tremble in the process. I swallowed thickly as it hit the hardwood floor. He then picked it up and placed it back where it was. My mother stood in front of me looking at me with disdain. She looked like she hated me. Maybe I was, just a placeholder for the next teen heartthrob. Maybe I'm no good at what I do.

"Is that what you want Austin?! To have your career taken away from you!" My mother yelled.

I shook my head silently looking at the floor while the substances from the litter box remain on my jeans. My still body is abruptly shaken when my dad yells,

"Look at your mother when she's talking to you! And use your voice. If she vocally asks you a question, I wanna hear you vocally give her an answer. That's how respect works. In case you've forgotten."

"No, I don't want my career taken away from me." I reply loud and clear.

"Alright then, go up to your room and get changed. You have a lot of work to do today."

"Okay, I will." I respond carefully standing up, trying not to spill too much of the cat litter onto the floor.

"Hey, clean yourself off before you go upstairs! You're getting litter all over the floor!"

"I'm sorry, I'll clean it off now." I say loudly as I quickly but carefully walk over to the kitchen and get a clean wet towel and clean the stuff off of me.

I take my pants off and grab a washcloth. In my bathroom, I try to scrub the stain the cat litter has left on them. I try to focus on what I'm doing so that I can get done faster and start my day, but I just can't get myself to concentrate. As I scrub the stain in my jeans, before putting them in the wash I see something fall onto them. The jeans I am currently hovering over had just had something drop on it. I look up, as if to make sure nothing has fallen from the ceiling. There is nothing there. When I revert my eyes back to my task, it happens again. Then suddenly I stop scrubbing. Because I realize it was me. I was crying. My tears were lightly staining my jeans as they poured from my eyes. I lock my bathroom door shutting it quietly. I don't want to risk any of them coming in. They would probably ridicule me for being weak. Parents. I thought they were supposed to be your rock. The people you can always count on. The ones who build you up when the world tries to tear you down. I never thought they'd be the ones to tear me down. They said that they could easily find someone to replace me. Easily. As if all I was to them was an act that brought in money. Not a son that they loved unconditionally. Apparently the condition, is that I have to be successful. I place my hands on the counter staring down at the sink bowl letting my tears fall into the drain, along with the rest of my dignity. They stripped me of every bit of confidence I had. And reduced me to this. Crying. Like a baby. Like a girl. Like… Ally. Like how she had cried in my arms last night. Maybe it wasn't such a shameful act. Ally was usually so strong and courageous. Of course she had her insecurities, but everyone did. For the most part she was very strong, confident and beautiful. I guess, we all have our breaking points.

My parents have said a lot of hurtful things to me throughout the years. But, this one has to be the worse. I didn't expect their words to hurt this much, but they do. They hurt more than anything in the world. Probably because I love my parents more than anything in the world. They said they would replace me in a heartbeat. A heartbeat. Why would they say that? Why would they call me worthless? I don't understand why they want to make me feel worthless. If it is supposed to make me want to work harder, it isn't working. I shed a few more tears, and then I was fine.

"Austin! hurry up!" I heard my mother yell.

"Yes!" I cleared my throat quickly drying my eyes. "Umm I'll be down there soon!"

As I was in the backseat while my mom drove me to my interview, I got a call from Ally.

Ally- Hey Austin

Austin- Ally, hey umm I'm sorry about the thing on the news. I had no idea anyone was following me last night. I'm about to go to an interview now, I'll be sure to talk about us. To clear it up with America. I'm really sorry Ally.

Ally- Austin, It's okay. It's not your fault. I don't care what the media has to say about me. I know who I am. And I love me.

Austin- Wow, look at you!

Ally- I know, and you helped me come to the realization that if I spend my life worrying about what others think of me, I'll never be happy, because people are impossible to please. I just need to focus on being the best I can be.

Austin- There you go! There's the Ally attitude I know and love.

"Austin, we're here you need to hang up the phone." My mother said a she parked.

"Okay, mom." I replied.

Austin- Ally I have to go, we're at the place.

Ally- Okay, do you want to come over later?

Austin- Maybe, If I have time. I'll let you know. Alright, I love you bye.

Ally- I-I love you too, umm bye Austin.

Austin- Bye Ally

What's wrong with me! First the kiss and now this? 'I love you?' We never say 'I love you' after conversations. I mean, of course I really care about her and would do anything for her, but that's just because she's my best friend. Once again, I have no idea why I did that.

We're Live with Teen Sensation Austin Moon!

Helen: Glad to have you back Austin.

Austin: It's good to be back.

Helen: How are you?

Austin: I'm doing great, how about you?

Helen: Marvelous, thanks for asking. So, you and your songwriting partner… what went down between you two.

I laugh lightly, which is completely fake. I laugh as if she touched a sensitive subject and start with a Ummm. To pretend that I am contemplating how I will word my explanation. Yeah, I have done this way too many times.

Austin: We're just good friends. Nothing went down.

Helen: Is it true that you and Ally were spotted by your car late night holding hands in the parking garage?

Austin: Wow, really specific. Yeah, that's true.

Helen: Friends don't usually hold hands like that.. seems a little intimate if you ask me…

Austin: Yeah, we're really close and she got a little scared because of all the paparazzi so she asked to hold my hand. It was nothing special. We actually hold hands all the time. Especially during the Winter. It helps to keep warm.( I laugh at the last part). No, but seriously, Ally is in a serious relationship with a guy from her high school, so she's taken.

Helen: So you're telling me nothing happened between you two the night you went over to her house.

Austin: Nothing happened. Ally's a classy girl, she would never do something like that. She's the type of girl you take home for your parents, not for the night.

Helen: Aww and I bet that's one of the many things you love about her.

Austin: It is! (I smile)

Helen: Alright, enough about love, Austin you said you had a new hit single coming out soon.

Austin: Yes, it's called "No Pressure". It's got more of a R&B style to it, so I'm stepping out of my comfort zone on this one a little bit, but I'm excited. I think it turned out great. And I think the fans are going to love it.

Helen: And did you and Ally write this song together?

Austin: Uhh, no, I didn't get the chance to work with Ally on this song, but we plan to work on my next one together.( I lie, knowing that Ally and I haven't worked on a song that actually goes on my album in years)

Helen: Well, we can't wait to hear the new single "No Pressure" next week on the Helen Show! Give it up for our guest, Austin Moon everyone!

Then the show goes into a commercial break.

Helen stands up to shake my hand and thank me for being on the show. I timidly shake her hand as I try and comprehend what she said before we were off.

"I'm sorry Helen, did you say Thursday?" I asked her.

"Yes, I was told you're coming back on Thursday to perform your new song." She replied, before she was ripped away by one of the producers.

New Song?

There is no way I have time to finish "No Pressure" before next week. I don't even know all the lyrics yet. Heck, I don't even know how to sing it yet!

After the whole interview was over I walked backstage and found my agent, my mom, and my manager. We all walked back to the parking lot. I decided not to say anything until I was in the car with my mom only.

"Mom?" I said lightly.

"Yes, Austin?"

"Did you hear what Helen said about me performing "No Pressure" on the show in two days?"

"Yeah, I heard her." She replied simply.

"Well, why would they set me up to perform the song when they know I'm not ready!" I panicked.

"We all planned for you to finish recording the song last night. It was meant to be published today and then rehearsed tomorrow. If you would have kept up with the schedule, you would be prepared. Since you decided to be irresponsible and not practice the song like we insisted, you're going to have to figure out how you're going to learn and practice with the band on such short notice."

"Mom, why can't we just cancel it."

"Because- we're just not." She responded sharply. I sat back in my seat in defeat and refused to speak the rest of the ride.

I only have a couple of hours to learn the song before the Helen Show, and I know just the person to help me.

Thank you all for reading this chapter I hope you liked it. Please review and let me know what you think of the chapter.