I'm surrounded by mirrors, everywhere I turn I see a different angle of myself, another flaw that seem impossible to fix. I let out a soft grunt as I look down and saw the piles and piles of dresses and clothes that I need to try on. Every outfit makes me feel worse than the previous one. Ugh, and I still need to go Prom dress shopping too thanks to Eddie's surprise earlier, I'm not complaining but I just have a lot to do and now I need to think about all of this too. Kelly wanted my stylist to pick my dress out but I had refused, saying that I want to buy my dress just like all the other girls. I needed to do that shopping with my Mom and Mel. The stress of this last week of school has been really getting to me. I don't think that Kelly realizes that I still have homework and I still need to do it. She has been constantly asking about my new music. With her reminding me at least five times a day it's had to concentrate on anything else, plus on top of all of this I just was to spend time with Eddie.

Eddie.

Just the thought of him calms me down. He himself is now at a press junket explaining everything, well almost everything that happened to him. This means he was constantly doing interviews today and was unreachable until later this afternoon. I slowly stood up from the cold white chair placed in the corner of the dressing room. I started to move the clothing items around as I was looking for my brown side purse, containing my phone. I dug my way through about three of the mounds of clothing before I found it. I looked at the time and noticed that this fitting has taken four hours. No wonder why I'm so miserable. I shot a text to my mom saying that I will be home later than planned because this took forever. Why do people care so much about what I wear? They didn't a year ago, but now I always need to look nice and proper, with my hair falling just the right way. I need to stay in style and wearing sweats out in public has been completely forbidden. 'You can never be too careful' that was Kelly's reasoning behind all the fuss on my look.

I slung my bag over my shoulder, pulled my hair out from under it and opened the black door that has kept me trapped inside this room like a prisoner. The sudden relief that I felt was almost visible. I walked past all the people in the office who were still trying to finish up for the day. "Loren." I stopped in my tracks and turned around at the sound of my name and saw Kelly almost sprinting after me.

"Where are you going?"

I didn't want to take one step close to Kelly because this was my first chance of freedom all day. Most kids get to go home and relax after school, but not me. I have to go and work. Don't get me wrong this is the best job ever it's just hard with everyone wanting your ideas and thoughts on everything that they are doing and the times I get called in are so unpredictable I have officially given up on have a set plan of my week like I used to. "Well I tried on all the clothes, so I'm done for the day. I need to head out."

"Okay, but before you go can you just…" I cut her off before she finished this sentence because it's one that she has repeated every day. "Tell you that I'm working on songs." I finished for her. "Yes, I am, but nothing is polished yet."

Kelly glared at me with disappoint visible on her face as she tucked one of her loose strands of hair behind her ear. I looked down at my brown knee-high boots. "I really need to hear some new material; the record company wanted the album out like yesterday." I looked up and smiled at her. "That's Jake's saying." I stated simply with my eyebrows slightly raised. And with that I turned around and headed for the door. Just as my hand was on the knob I heard Kelly say 'Work, Loren, work.' I laughed and rolled my eyes as I yelled back "That's also his!"

As I walked out the door I could feel the warmth of the sun's rays hit my skin. I tilted my head back at this pleasant feeling and walked towards my black car. I hopped in and just started to drive. The thoughts the were running through my head was something that I would never voice to anyone because I didn't want anyone to think that I had doubts about my career or know my longing for my old life, a life where I could do whatever I wanted and didn't have people planning every moment of it. I concluded that that was one of the reasons why I was so excited for school to be out, because it frees up eight hours of my day. I was just driving home when I looked out my window and saw a park.

This wasn't just a park though it was somewhere that Loren and Melissa used to come to every day after school and do their homework in middle school. Or in Mel's case run up the slides, swing, and try to climb across the top of the money bars while Loren tried to get her to focus and do her school work. This was a tradition until Melissa's mom found out and became way too overprotective and kept Mel from going back and Loren hadn't been back either.

I pulled into the parking lot which had about two other cars in it. Before I got out of the car I reached to the back seat and grabbed my guitar, which I always kept with me because I never knew when I was going to need it, for an occasion just like this one. I got out of the car and slung my guitar over my back while I grabbed my purse and locked my car. I stood and just looked around taking in the sight around me. The playground equipment has defiantly aged and looked like it's got a lot of use out if, as the bright blue color that it once was had changed into a dull muted blue. The slides, filled with new scrapes and marks that I had never seen before. The trees have grown a fair amount and they have really filled in. The shadow of them only hit one spot on the green grass. I made my way over there and planted myself at a bottom of one of the largest trees.
I set my guitar on the ground and took out my song writing book and dug for a pencil. I found both of these things and began tapping the end of the pencil to the melody I heard in my head with the lyrics I was reading over. I decided it was time to try to put it with the guitar. I positioned myself so I was leading up against the tree, my instrument across my lap and my book to the right of me. I took a look around and saw that the two families where on the opposite side of the park and decided that it was safe. I took a deep breath before strumming and looking down at my book.

You feel out of breath

Old and broken down

Just like a shattered glass

In pieces on the ground

No, that's not right. I set down my guitar and erased 'Old'. He is not old. I began to tap my pencil once more as I rack my mind for an idea. I try to think about the two people this song is for, Melissa and of course Eddie. I smiled as I thought of the proper word, wrote it in and started from the beginning again.

You feel out of breath

Used up and broken down

Just like a shattered glass

In pieces on the ground

Some days you wanna scream

But you can't make a sound

But you're not alone

Here comes another day

Here comes another fight

You'd rather give it up than give it one more try

'Cause no one understands the way you feel inside

But you're not alone

I stopped once again tapped the side of my guitar thinking of a different melody. I glanced up and looked into the beautiful clear blue sky with only a few white clouds dancing along with the wind, I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the tree until I thought of something. My eyes opened instantly and I sat up so I could try my idea.

Right now it feels like the end of the world

All your battles are lost

You've been cheated

(Mistreated)

Just when you think

That you can't hold on any longer

Hold on a little bit longer

Trust me, you'll see

You'll be so much stronger

(You'll be so much stronger)

It's only temporary

But it feels like you're stuck

Like no wishing well

Could ever change your luck

I paused and continued to strum my guitar as I heard a faint voice. "Excuse me." I looked towards the sound and saw a beautiful little girl. From what it looked like she couldn't be any older than six. She was in a pair of jeans which had a grass stain on the left knee and looked like she had just recently received. Her shirt was slightly skewed on her body. Her blond hair was in a small braid and she looked at me with her huge blue eyes.

"Hey, sweetie." I smiled at her and she looked down at the tennis shoes and shifted her weight around before she looked back up. "Are you Loren Tate?" she asked in her cute shy voice.

"Yes, I am. What's your name honey?"

"Elizabeth." She said swinging her arms back and forth. "That's a very pretty name." I said and she looked down once again and mumbled 'thank you'

"Can I have your autograph?" Elizabeth asked suddenly and I looked at her with surprise.

"What? Oh, uh, of course!" I smiled and she returned one three times the size of mine.

"Don't act so surprised." I turned around at the sound of this new voice and saw the last person I thought would be hanging out in an old park.

"Adriana, what are you doing here?" I asked there was no hiding how surprised I was. I glanced back at Elizabeth and smiled. I grabbed my song book, flipped to a blank page, and ripped it out. I signed it and gave the piece of paper to Elizabeth how took it, hugged me and then ran back to her family.

"She's cute."

"Yeah, she is really sweet." I added. I looked at Adriana with confusion still clear on my face. I saw her sandy blond hair in loose curls move gently in the wind of her shoulders. She was wearing a light color jean jacket with a pink tank top, dark jean shorts with white wedges. "You working on a new song?" she asked.

"I was just messing around." I said as I moved my hair out of my face.

"It sure didn't sound like you were messing around, it sounded good."

"Really?" I asked knowing that Adriana has never be nice to me and preparing myself for the insults that are bound to come any moment.
"Yeah!" She sat down next to me and looked out at the playground. "It's crazy that even here people know who you are."

"Well you know who I am." I stated.

"That's not what I meant, I mean that little girl over there," She pointed to Elizabeth "She asked you for your autograph, that just crazy."

"Yeah, it's pretty weird." But not as weird as this is I thought to myself. Silence fell over the two of us for a while and I started to put my things back in my bag when my phone vibrated. I looked at the text; it was from Eddie telling me that he got done early and to stop by when I could. I smiled and said that I had to go home first.

"Who's that?" Adriana asked, reminding me of her presence.

"Eddie." I said simply

"Cool." She replied and silence fell upon on once more but this time there was a bit of awkwardness feeling in it. "I'm sorry." She said suddenly causing me to look at her.

"What?"

"I'm sorry for everything that I have said and done to you. You already know that I was just jealous of you and when you entered that songwriting contest it pushed me over the edge. I wanted your life so I thought that I could make it worse for you so that my life would be better." I smiled at her and stood up.

"I know Adriana, so why don't we start over and forget about the past after all these are new times. I'm really sorry but I need to get home, my mom was expecting me a while ago."

"Oh, right." Adriana said

"I'll see you later." I added

"What?" she asked as a hint of confusion spread across her face.

"At Mel's I mean you know because you are living there now and all."

"Ha-ha, of course! See you later than!" she said as she stood up as well and went back the way she came.

I walked back to my car trying not to draw too much attention to myself as the park had become increasing more busy with small children running all around. I maneuvered my way through everyone and to my car and I started headed home once more. I was at a stop light when my mom called me.

"Hey Honey, where are you?" Nora asked

"I'm headed home."

"Oh, okay but I'm not there, I'm at Max's going through his stuff." I ran my hand through my hair and placed them back on the wheel still waiting for the light to turn green. "Right because he is moving in." I said the last part slightly singing it.

"Yeah, so you can just stop by later." She added.

I looked at the stop light and saw that no one else we even going the other direction and my light were still red. "Okay, then I'm gonna head to Eddies now."

"Okay have fun and be safe." I looked back at the road right in front of me and say that my light had turned green. "Always, bye mom. Love you." I said as I started to slowly drive. "Love you too." And with that I hung up my phone and decided to head to Eddies'.

I know the way to Eddie's place like I know the way to my house. Well considering I have lived there I now really know the way. It took me about twenty minutes of jamming out to music before I reached Eddies'. I parked in my usual spot and opened the glass door.

"Good Afternoon Ms. Tate." Jeffery the door man welcomed me. I smiled at his welcome.

"How many times have I told you, call me Loren?" I replied. "Right of course Loren." Jeffery stated as he slid his card so I could go into the elevator. "Have a nice visit." He added as I stepped into the elevator.

I got out of the elevator and knocked. No answer. That's strange I thought to myself so I dug into my purse and found my key and turned the lock. I opened the door and set my bag down on the sleek black grand piano.

"Oh my god! Loren! You are not supposed to be here yet!"

Authors note:

I'm so sorry that I didn't do the second update yesterday! I originally had this chapter end earlier then it does now, and I just wasn't really happy with it. I hope that you all like it! I want to thank you to all who reviewed and followed! I'm so shocked by all of the positive feed back that i have been getting on this story! Please let me know your thoughts about this, and if im headed in a direction that you all like! Please review, favorite, and follow! Oh and just to let you all know my next update wont be for a while because I have a lot of projects to do and I have about five hours of dance every night and the my minimum, and I'm currently at my studio now posting this on one of my short breaks! I will post and write with any free time that I have, but I might not get the next chapter done for a couple of days, so I just wanted to warn you!

Dis-clamor: I don't own Hollywood Heights or the Characters, just this plot line. Loren's song is Stronger by Jennette McCurdy.

andbeyond