Hey guys sorry for the long update. It's hectic where I am so I probably won't have the next chapter up until sometime in November. I thank you guys though for having such patience with me and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
OLIVIA'S POV
"What are you doing?"
I froze.
I turned around slowly.
"Jesus Christ Stella" I said breathing hard "You scared the hell out of me…YOU SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME!" I don't know why but I started bursting out crying. Stella came around the bed and over to hug me, not caring that all I had was underwear and jeans on. "You scared me" I repeated more quietly, still weeping.
"What is going on?" she managed to ask through my tantrums.
After another minute I spoke up uncontrollably "I'll tell you, just get me out of here"
"Okay" was all she said as I leant out of her embrace and hurried to put my clothes on, the realisation that Charlie could come in any second sinking in. As I grabbed my bra I looked at the picture of the Victoria girl and the bottle of pills. I closed the draw.
…..
WENS POV
After what happened with Olivia I sat in the hotel gardens contemplating why she was acting so strange. I mean it doesn't make any sense; just yesterday we were having fun, talking and laughing. Of course that all stopped when Sydney came back.
Crap.
I completely forgot about Sydney. Mentally slapping myself I make my way back to the hotel room where I told Sydney to stay all day, not wanting anyone to know she's here. I try to tame my thoughts from thinking of Olivia as I entered the room. I paused when I heard Sydney talking.
"So the money will definitely be extracted in a few weeks?"
She was talking on the phone. Not wanting to interrupt her I stay where I am.
"I'm going to get half of what he has" I smile at the excitement in Sydney's voice, even though she is talking about stealing my father's money, even though some voice inside my head is telling me that it's all wrong and that Olivia would never do something like that.
"One down, one to go" I faltered a bit, my hand knocking over a lamp. "Wen?" I looked up to see Sydney standing a mere three feet away from me in just a black silk robe, her cell phone in her hand.
"Hey" was all I said "Who were you talking too?"
She kept staring at me for a second before shaking her head and looking down at the device that seemed to be creating tension in the air, tension that I had no reason for.
"Oh just my lawyer, we're making sure it's definite that I will take half of what your father owns." I swallow that feeling of wrongness as I ask her my next question.
"What do you mean one down, one to go?" I looked closely at her face trying to read her expression.
"Oh just that there's only one more transaction that needs to be made to my account" No looking away, no sweating, no falter in expression. "Why do you ask?"
I shake my head "No reason" I say breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm just a little bit stressed I guess."
"Well maybe I can make you feel better." She says suggestively whilst quirking an eyebrow.
I don't know why but I instantly think of Olivia. She and Sydney are so different from each other. While Sydney is confident and seductive, Olivia is shy and innocent. Though I still couldn't help but compare Sydney's sexy eyebrow raise to Olivia's smouldering pursing lips. I couldn't decide which one I liked best.
"Uh actually I'm really tired so I think I'm gonna just sit down and watch TV for a bit." I walked into the living area before Sydney could say anything, afraid to see the rejection written on her face.
Once I was relaxed I flicked on the television, immediately coming to some Hollywood gossip crap. I groaned and was about to change it when an article of Lemonade Mouth came on.
"Breaking news, we have reason to believe that a member of world famous band Lemonade Mouth is in fact engaged..." What the hell is going on?
"You heard it here first, Wen Gifford is getting married!"
Holy. Fucking. Ball. Sacks.
My mouth hung open as I continued to watch, who the hell got this idea?
"She was very beautiful, and looked older than Wen Gifford"
"A receptionist at the hotel Lemonade Mouth is staying at brought the news to us saying that surprisingly Wens fiancé was not at all quiet about where she stands in Wens life."
"SYDNEY!" I screamed.
"What?" she asked as she came into view.
"Please tell me that some little poser is making up crap about us being engaged." I said carefully as I watched her expression. This time there's a falter in her expression as she looks away. I notice the tiniest bead of sweat on her forehead. "What the hell Sid!"
"Look don't panic okay I just said something to a receptionist and she took it seriously" Sydney shrugged her shoulders like it was the most casual thing.
"Sid, you can't just do that okay, I'm famous people are going to say things about me and take things seriously-"
"Well then it doesn't matter does it" Sydney said crossing her arms.
I paused and huffed in a deep breath; "Yes it matters, everything matters Sydney! God people are going to take this seriously and it could ruin everything-"
"Oh ruin everything?" she said "What ruin everything with your precious Olivia, because so help me god if the little angel finds out!"
"Don't bring Olivia into this; she would never do anything careless like this!"
"Of course not because she's little miss perfect isn't she. Beautiful, talented and she seems to have gotten her perfect manicured finger wrapped around you in just a little amount of time!" I watched Sydney's face go red as she rambled on about Olivia, everything finally becoming clearer.
"Is this why you made up some crap" I asked shaking my head "To make everyone believe I didn't have anything going on with Olivia?"
She put her hands on her hips whilst glaring at me "Yes. That's exactly why I did it because you can't seem to be man enough to do it yourself. And I told you Wen that if you didn't fix it then I would. And I did and I don't regret it."
We stood staring intently at each other for some time before I spoke up; "There are plenty of other things you could have done that would have caused much less damage. Why the hell would you instead say that I'm getting engaged?"
She faltered and I held myself from comforting her as a hurt look crossed her face. She quickly shadowed it though with a serene, in charge one. "Because once you're fathers out of the picture I want to marry you."
"What?"
"You heard me" Sydney walked right up to my face and grabbed my hands in hers "I want to marry you, I think we should get married."
I just gazed at her strangely.
"Do you want to get married?" she asked.
I swallowed.
…
SCOTTS POV
I tried to stop it. Tried to stop the images. But all I could think about, all I could picture as I let my anger guide me was Ray body all over Mo's. My Mo. All I could hear was her sweet moans saying my best friend's name. All I could feel was heartache. Absolute heartache.
To stop myself from feeling it I instead focus on the anger, the utter rage and hatred that are leading me to The Music Scene where Ray would be.
I still couldn't believe it. My best friend, well ex best friend and the love of my life sleeping together, Mo losing her virginity, Mo making love to him, touching him, moaning, sweating-
"DAM IT!" I yell as I turn and punch the wall of a building. I could feel a few people looking but I ignored them as I leaned against it and scrunched my eyes shut. I force myself to block out the images and instead focus on a new one.
A fucked up Ray. God only knows what I'm going to do when I get my hands on him.
Breathing a sigh I get up and cross the street to where my destination is. Just my luck, I'm halfway across the street when I see Ray exit. By himself I notice. Extra lucky.
I don't need to think twice about it, I run straight up to him and knock him against the wall. Not letting him register what's happening as I punch him across the face as hard as I can and then throw him on the ground. As he groans and tries to look up I crouch over him and punch him again. I can hear a crowd gathering around me but I don't care, I pull my fist back to punch him again but someone grabs me a holds me back.
"Back up man" I hear the stranger say "Just take it easy"
"Piss off" I yell and pull myself away to stare down at Ray whose lying flat on his back. He looks up at me through his swelling eye, breathes through his bleeding and crooked nose and laughs with his bloody mouth. I bend down to hit him again when someone pulls me back, this time keeping me in a restrain.
"Didn't take you very long" Ray said as he spat blood out onto the pavement "Good punch by the way, it's almost making me regret sleeping with your girlfriend" Ray laughed as I tried to fling myself at him but this time two people had a hold of me, forcing me to stay away.
"Shut the hell up!" I yell instead.
"Why? I mean it's already out in the open, so like best friends should do, let's talk about it. Let's see maybe I should start from the beginning. Okay well, your girlfriend came to one of my parties, one of course that you were absent from. She was upset because you weren't there and instead with Jules, blah blah blah. So we starting drinking, having a good time and what do you know she comes on to me and then we end up in bed together? Then of course I cum into her-"
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Every inch of me was raging, boiling, I could literal feel the anger leaking off my skin, could hear the sweet essence of steam coming out of my ears. Why was he doing this? Why! I couldn't understand any of it; I couldn't even comprehend the two of them together. And here Ray was making everything even more complicated by fucking around with my head. I just wanted to kill him. Maybe then it could erase the image permanently imprinted into my brain.
"How is Mo by the way?" Ray asked causing me to look him straight in the eye "I'm sure she's feeling guilty now that you know, well now that the world knows. You know I told her that I wouldn't tell anyone if she would just-"
"Wait. Mo knew you were here?" I asked confused.
He smirked; even covered in blood you could still sense its cruelness. "She didn't tell you? Funny, we've been meeting up during the last two days."
I closed my eyes as I took in deep breathes, slowly, concentrating on every part of my body, especially my fists.
"So you see Scott. You really shouldn't be angry at me right now. As far as I'm concerned, we're done, have been for a long time. But Mo, she's been with you this whole time, lying, sneaking around. But I bet you didn't let her know how angry you are did you? Knowing you, you probably just walked away like a coward. When really Scott you should have told her exactly how you feel, you should have taken your anger out on her not me. Because Scott I'm not the one that's betrayed you, not really. And I think you know that."
I stared at Ray a second too long, taking everything in. He's right. I had left a crying and guilty Mo when really I should have left a heartbroken one. She should be feeling what I'm feeling right now. This isn't all Ray's fault.
With this new revelation I removed my arms casually from the two guys, looked at Ray's bloody figure for one last time then walked away. I was done here.
…
MO'S POV
I furiously kept wiping at my eyes as I left the hotel room in search of Scott. I had stayed where I was on the floor for an hour crying my eyes out, then I finally realised that I couldn't just let him walk away like this. He deserves more than that.
"MO!" Crap.
"Look Charlie I really can't talk right now." I said as I continue to storm down the long corridor.
"Mo, what's wrong?" Charlie asked coming around and standing in front of me. I huffed.
"I said I really can't talk right now Charlie so if you could please get out of my way that would be great." I tried to walk past him but he wouldn't budge.
"Did you not hear me?" I asked, getting more irritated by the second "I said get out of my way."
"Mo, did Scott do something?" Jesus fucking Christ.
"No he didn't now move" My patience was wearing thin and I knew that if he kept me from Scott any longer I was going to lose it.
"No if he's done something then I'm going to-"
"NO!" I yelled "You are not going to do anything because you have no say in what goes on in my life! NO GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
"Mo…"
"Oh fucking hell Charlie. If you do not move then I will make you." He looked at me in shock and confusion. I wanted to wipe that expression of his face. I wanted him to be angry. I wanted him to finally realise something.
"I-"
"I will never love you" I said quietly interrupting Charlie "Did you hear me, I will never love you Charlie. So just stop. Stop trying. Stop having feelings for me. Just stop."
For a moment I thought Charlie was going to say something. For a moment I felt guilty for the expression written on Charlie's face. But then I realised that Charlie needs to know this. This way he can prevent any reason to hurt me and Scott as well as himself and Stella.
Charlie just remained frozen, staring at me. So I walked around him in search to find Scott, the guy I do love.
I pretended I didn't hear Charlie punch the wall.
…..
STELLA POV
"So let me get this straight. In the last three days you have slept with two guys, both which make up 66.6 per cent of the male equivalent of our band?" I just stared in shock as Olivia huffed and nodded her head. She was most likely bored with me as I had been checking back to her for the last half hour. I always knew she had a wild side but dam, this didn't even compare to what I thought she was capable of. "And you did this because you really really like Wen but you caught him with evil tramp hoe Sydney who he may or may not be engaged too, and to ease the pressure of this you found the closest guy you could, which is Charlie?"
"Pretty much" Olivia said as I just continued to stare at her in shock.
"Wow…."
Neither of us said anything for a minute, both stuck in our own thoughts. Finally after a few minutes I spoke up.
"So how was it?" I watched Olivia as she semi choked on her drink.
"What?" she managed to croak out.
"How was it?" I asked casually as I shrugged my shoulders.
Olivia recovered and after a moment replied; "Wen was…amazing." I smiled at Olivia's love struck expression. "He was gentle and passionate, whereas Charlie was…"
"Was what?" I asked carefully noticing Olivia's haunted expression. It had quickly changed from totally in love to totally afraid.
"He was just not what I expected." I just nodded, not wanting to push Olivia. "So anyway" she asked "Why are you fake dating Charlie?"
I groaned. Dam it. I knew this was coming but I was hoping I could draw it out longer so I could find some what reasonable explanation. "Let's just say that Charlie forced me too, so he can make Mo jealous." Olivia's mouth hung open.
"Okay I always knew he liked her but this is taking it too far."
"Tell me about it" I nodded.
"But I don't get it. Why would do it?" I avoided looking at Olivia "Stella? What's wrong?" Now it was my turn to cry.
I felt Olivia set next to me and wrap an arm around my shoulders as I tried to maintain myself.
"He-he found out." Was all is said.
"Found out what?" Here it was, the moment of truth.
"Found out I'm a lesbian." I continued to cry, embarrassed. I found comfort in the fact that Olivia didn't pull away. "You're the first person I've ever said those words aloud too." I confessed.
"What's wrong with being a lesbian?" Olivia asked. This caught me by surprise. I looked up at her through my tears, no reasonable answer coming to mind.
"Everything, people are going to look down on me because of it."
"Stella…no one is going to judge you because you're a lesbian ok. And even if they do it just means that they're cruel and hateful. I think it's pretty cool that you're a lesbian. What I don't think is cool however is that you are ashamed of it." I looked Olivia straight in the eyes as she spoke, her words soothing and embarrassing me.
"I just- I don't want people to think different of me."
"As far as I'm concerned, you're still the same Stella. Loyal, fierce, brave. Nothing's going to change that if you don't let it."
"I just don't know how to deal with it or let people know."
"I think that when you figure it out, you're going to be fine ok. Stella there is boys and girls out there who are just in the same boat as you about their sexuality. And most of them aren't famous and could make a difference. You could save people Stella." Olivia looked so persistent that it made me feel inspired.
"You're amazing you know that." Olivia just smiled at my words "You really are my best friend Olivia White."
"And you're my best friend Stella Yamada" Olivia said, wrapping me in a hug "Now don't let anyone, even Charlie get you down otherwise I might have to dis-own you."
I laughed feeling a tons time better. I pulled away to look at Olivia; "You're going to figure everything out." I said "Everything with Wen and Charlie."
"I don't know about that. I'm so angry at Wen but at the same time so heartbroken and I just don't know what to do. And then with Charlie well-"Olivia's expression changed once again "Hey there's something I have to tell you about Charlie."
"Okay, what is it?"
"I found-"
"Sorry" I said as 'Be Heard' starting blasting from my cell phone. I looked at it and realised it was a call from our event manager. "I better take this. Hello?"
"Stella, the event at Madison Square garden has been rescheduled to tonight so you and the band need to get down here now. I've already notified everyone else, except Olivia who I can't seem to get a hold of."
"Oh Olivia's with me."
"Great! Well both of you get down here now. I'll see you soon." I hung up.
"What's up?" Olivia asked.
"Our performance for tomorrow night has been rescheduled to tonight, so we need to get down there now."
"Okay" Olivia said getting up.
"Hey" I said as I grabbed her arm "We'll talk later."
"Mhm" was all she said.
The whole way there I tried to block out Olivia's haunted expression.
…..
WENS POV
We were all sitting back stage, all of us except Scott that is.
"He'll be here" Stella reassures everyone.
None of us say anything, not even Mo which is strange.
I look over to my other band mates. Charlie is unpleasantly silent just staring at the wall across from him. And Olivia, well she's Olivia, beautiful and relaxed whilst avoiding eye contact with me. It takes every fibre in my body not to go over and comfort her.
Of course thinking of Olivia my thoughts drift back on Sydney. I had left her in my hotel room after being saved by the bell by my event manager. It couldn't have been perfect timing. Sydney had completely taken me by surprised. Not in a million years had I expected her to straight up ask me to marry her…while she is still married to my father. But I know that if I told her this she would yell at me for using my father as an excuse, she would know that right now, I don't want to marry her. She would then of course blame Olivia, she always blames Olivia. And maybe this time she's right. Because looking at Olivia now and contemplating our last few days together it is becoming clearer. Maybe the world see's us as the ideal couple for a reason. Maybe I should just give in.
I just couldn't wait for the tour, maybe then I could clear my head, being away from Sydney, even though it hurts, may be the best thing. This way I could spend more time with Olivia and see if we could be something more. That is of course if she starts talking or even looking at me. I had hope though. The tour would fix everything. I just had to wait a few weeks.
"Scott…" Mo's urgent voice brings me back to reality. I look up to see Scott standing in all of his bad boy glory. Scott looks at Mo and I notice something change between them. Normally they would hug or kiss, but Scott just acknowledges her then looks away.
"Sorry I'm late" he addresses to everyone, everyone except Mo that is.
"You better me sorry" our manager says walking over "You also better have a reasonable explanation as to why you beat the crap out of Ray Beech."
Holy crap.
"Scott…" Mo says again
"No way" Stella says with excitement.
"Oh my god" Olivia adds.
Charlie just huffs.
After a moment Scott replies; "I was just pissed at him." He says it likes it's the most casual of things.
"You were just pissed at him" our manager says slowly "Well since you got pissed at him and beat him up in front of tons of spectators, many of which own modern devices such as cameras, you're 'pissed off' moment has been posted all over the internet!"
This cannot be good.
"And?" Scott once again replies in his cool manner.
"And the board of the tour are thinking of kicking us off and replacing us with Mudslide Crush!"
Everyone stops to stare at our manager. This could not be happening. The tour is our big debut; this was going to be the highlight of our lives. This tour was going to finalise our success.
Suddenly I got very angry because this tour was supposed to fix all this Sydney and Olivia crap.
"You're kidding me." I say feeling myself getting irritated.
"Nope" our manager says "Congrats Scott you may have just ruined all of our careers because you decided to throw it all away for freaking Ray Beech."
I don't even acknowledge Scott as I feel my face getting redder. "But there has to be something we can do right, I mean they can't just kick us off the tour over something stupid like this."
"They can do whatever they want. And honestly guys it's a long shot that they let us off with just a slap on the wrist. But I'm going to do what I can. So in the meantime just have a good performance and we'll talk about this tomorrow." With that being said our manager walks off leaving the six of us alone.
It seemed like no one has anything to say. Looking around the room Mo is staring at Scott with a broken look in her eyes while Olivia and Stella were still dumb found. Charlie's just leaning against the wall, smirking as if this was some sick joke. I wish it was.
"Why the hell would you beat up Ray Beech for? Are you crazy? You know that at this time specifically we need to be on our best behaviour." I try to retain myself from yelling this at Scott and instead managed to say it calmly.
"I told you already. I was pissed at him." Scott's causality is really starting to piss me off.
"Yeah well funny I'm pissed at you right now but you don't see me jumping your bones."
"Like you could if you tried" Scott replies.
"Scott" Mo warns.
"Shut up" he says to her harshly.
"Don't tell her to shut up" Charlie finally speaks.
"Stay out of this Charlie" Olivia says.
"Really, let's test that theory" I say getting up and staunching over to Scott.
"Hey!" Stella yells standing between Scott and me "Don't do this okay"
"Get out of the way Stella" I say through gritted teeth while glaring at Scott.
"Yeah Stella I wanna see what Wens got." Scott smirks.
"Scott don't." Mo grabs his arm and he reacts as if he's been electrocuted. Suddenly Scott is glaring at Mo and not me.
He looks like he's about to say something when one of the crew comes over; "You guys are on now."
"Let's just go" Olivia says, standing protectively next to Mo.
"Whatever" Scott says as he turns and walks off, all of us following close behind.
I reach out to grab Olivia's arm; "Olivia…"
"I told you not to touch me" is all she says as she continues to make her way to the stage, to the millions of screaming fans who think of us as idols and inspirations. I wonder what they will think if they could have seen us just moments before.
….
MO'S POV
"HELLO MADISON SQURE GARDEN!" Stella screams through the mike as thousands of fans react "WE'RE LEMONADE MOUTH AND WE'RE HERE TO ROCK YOU'RE WORLD!" Normally I would smile or laugh at Stella's antics but I couldn't feel a single ounce of happiness. Even walking onto the stage I couldn't even sum up a hello or a handshake for a fellow fan who was screaming my name.
I watch Scott as we began playing Breakthrough, his favourite. I picture us only months ago just playing here; Scott so happy to have joined the band, me so happy to have my two most important things together, music and Scott. We had danced around that night, sending each other sexy smirks as we performed our hearts out.
But it's so different now. I'm standing exactly where I was months ago but looking at Scott I see that he's not giving me a playful smirk or a sexy wink. He's just focussing on performing. He's playing his guitar like never before and dancing all over the place, doing all of his signature moves. His energy is wowing as well as scaring me, he's putting everything into it, every bit of fibre in his body, yet he's not putting anything into our relationship. And I know I shouldn't be disappointed of him because of it but I guess I just expected him to at least let me know that everything is going to be okay.
At least I had the satisfaction of knowing that he beat the hell out of Ray, even though it might get us kicked off our tour. And I needed the tour. It's the perfect time to fix everything with Scott so we can get back to how we were, even though some voice inside my head is telling me that we're never be the same again.
I try to snap out of my thoughts as I sing my lines but again my eyes wonder back to Scott. It seems my voice has added some impact on him as he is moving and playing twice as hard as he was before. I keep singing though, trying not to let his obvious anger get to me.
I turn back to the audience but my attention is brought back to Scott when I see him freeze. I stop mid-line, watching him. The audience are singing my lines but I can barely hear them. I see Scott place a hand over his heart and I instantly know something's wrong.
He looks at me and I see it. I see the regret and guilt.
I drop my mike as he falls to the ground.
"NO!"