This chapter's focused on Ella, Peggy, Barron and Sander more as Caitlyn, Mitchie, Mara and Nate are away for a couple of days in Hawaii. I feel like I haven't really explored their secrets yet.
The song in this chapter is September Song by JP Cooper x
Tess frowned, spotting a piece of paper peeking out from under Ella's bed. She opened it up and gasped at its contents.
"Tess, did you finish my shampoo?"
The blonde's eyes narrowed at the closed bathroom door. "No, Ella but can you hurry up? We need to talk."
"Can't it wait? I'll be quick," she heard the brunette sigh.
The model sat down on her bed, crossing her legs as she waited for her friend to hurry up. Thirty minutes the brunette fashion designer exited the bathroom, fully dressed with a towel wrapped around her hair.
"What, Tess?"
Tess thrust the sheet into her face and bit her lip. "You had... you had an abortion?"
"You looked through my things?!"
"When? How? I didn't even know you were with anyone!"
Ella scoffed. "I wasn't."
"Then-"
"It was a one-night stand with another model from Fashion Week. I told him, we had some words then I decided to get rid of it."
Tess' eyes watered as she held in a gasp. "Why? I could have helped you! We would have been fine, raising a kid together. I'm your best friend, I would have murdered that guy for doing that to you!"
Ella had her own tears slipping down her cheeks. "I know and I love you for that, Tess but... I wasn't ready. We both weren't. Look, we've barely even started modelling and fashion designing and a kid does not fit into that plan."
"That was life, Ella..." Tess breathed out. "You killed life."
"Don't say that!" Ella cried. "You don't get it, you don't get me, Tess!"
Tess was hurt. "What?"
"And I don't get you either! You're hiding something from me and I've given you chances to come clean-"
"Just like you hid this from me?!" Tess screeched. "A baby, Ella! My secret isn't as bad as this!"
"Then what is it?! What's not as bad as this, Theresa?!"
Tess gulped. "I... I have an eating disorder."
Ella laughed bitterly. "I knew it. I suspected it. I never saw you eat back at home and you were always micromanaging what you ate. Yeah, you're right. It's not as bad as having an abortion..." Ella's voice cracked. "I'm staying with Lola and Nat tonight."
"Ella... don't go."
"We need a break."
"We can talk this out. I'm here for you-"
Ella shook her head. "I know. I'm here for you too but we're too fucked up right now to be near each other. Tess, you're practically my sister but both of us need to have our own space - our own secrets..."
"I'm sorry..."
"Me too," Ella looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks.
...
Sander threw his phone on his bed and sighed, rubbing his face.
"What's up?" Andy asked.
"Nothing."
"Seems like a stressful call?" Andy retorted, grabbing his bag and standing up. "I've got a class. If you want to talk, I'm here, bud."
Sander nodded. "Thanks."
Andy left and Barron entered noticing Sander's stress lines showing. "Dude, you're stressed out again."
"Our house is being repossessed."
Barron halted on his way to the bathroom and turned to face Sander. "But..."
"We haven't paid the bills in four months, Baz." Sander sighed, shaking his head.
"I thought we had it going good, though. This album's going to sell-"
"We have to downsize. Rent an apartment but when we come back home from camp, we won't be living there."
Barron paced, his hands laced through his hair. "I can get my mom and stepdad to start moving things for us and put it in a storage box until we come back."
"I've called my mom and dad, they say we can stay with them until we find somewhere but that has to be quick."
"Shit!"
Sander nodded. "'Shit' indeed. Maybe we should turn in our diplomas. I've got a degree in business, shouldn't be hard to find a job..."
"Sand!" Barron yelled. "We're not giving up on our dreams to be good rappers. We've got the skills and the charisma. You doing business and me doing culinary won't make us happy."
"Maybe our parents were right. This was so not a secure future."
"If all of our friends made it, why can't we?"
Sander shook his head, "Because we aren't serious! Remember that music video we shot a few months back? We blew out the budget and our agent quit."
"Then we get Nate to help us."
"He can't... His upcoming tour already has an opening act. His brother's new band that are really good and popular right now. He won't help a couple of sell-outs."
"Nate's our friend. He could help us get a new agent and manage us."
Sander shrugged. "Maybe. But I seriously hope this isn't our last chance."
...
Lola sat beside Peggy and gave her a soft smile.
"You've been quiet."
Peggy's eyes widened a little. "Sorry?"
"You've been quiet. Are you out of your honeymoon stage with Baz?"
Peggy returned the smile. "No... Just letting everything settle in, you know?"
Lola nodded. "Yeah... I'm going to pick up someone from England soon so I think this is the calm before the storm."
"Yeah..."
"Is everything all right, Peggy? I know we're not close but-"
"My grandmother died."
Lola gasped. "I'm so sorry!"
"We were really close and all and she got sick around the time I fell out with Tess and Ella. When I went on tour with Mitchie, I got a call that she didn't have long left so I went back home to Philadelphia. She died just before I came to camp."
Lola brought Peggy in for a hug, rubbing her back. "I'm so sorry... If you need anyone, I'm here. Always."
"Thank you, Lola. I wanted to tell everyone but I just needed a break because I can't stand my parents being so upset and heartbroken. My dad loved his mother and she took in my mom when she got pregnant with my brother when they were seventeen. They were really tight and it breaks my heart being around that."
"I lost my nana when I was all the way in England. I regret not spending her final moments with her."
"I'm sorry," Peggy whispered, offering her own shoulder for her to lean on. "Let's cry together," she joked, making Lola laugh through her tears.
...
Shane rummaged through Nate's things, looking for a spare shirt to wear.
"White? So 2009..." Shane mumbled, throwing the shirt back in. "Grey?" He frowned. "How about any long sleeves?"
He spotted a CD case and picked it up.
'Caitlyn's Proposal Mixtape'
"What the...?" Shane muttered, putting the CD into his laptop. "Nate's proposing?"
There was a selection of good romantic songs but one stood out by a singer he knew his brother adored.
"This is so... Caitlyn and Nate."
Our love was strong as a lion
Soft as the cotton you lie in
Times we got hot like an iron
You and I
Our hearts had never been broken
We were so innocent darling
We used to talk 'til the morning
You and I
We had the mixtape on every weekend
Had it repeating, had it repeating
You were my September song, summer lasted too long
Time moves so slowly, when you're only fifteen
You were my September song, tell me where have you gone?
Do you remember me, we were only fifteen
And I, I remember the chorus, they were singing it for us
You were my September song, tell me where have you gone?
Do you remember me, we were only fifteen
Sometimes I think that I see her
Face in the strangest of places
Down on the underground station
Passing by
I get a mild sense of danger
Feel like my heart couldn't take it
'Cause if we met we'd be strangers
You and I
Still I play that mixtape every weekend
Got it repeating, got it repeating
You were my September Song summer lasted too long
Ooh, time moves so slowly (so slowly) when you're only fifteen
You were my September song, tell me where have you gone?
Do you remember me, we were only fifteen
And I, I remember the chorus, they were singing it for us
I hear that September Song and I'm singing along
Thinking 'bout you and me, oh what a melody
And as the years go by, you will still be mine
Be my (September song)
You are my (September song)
You were my September Song summer lasted too long
Time moves so slowly when you're only fifteen
You were my September song, tell me where have you gone?
Do you remember me, we were only fifteen
And I, I remember the chorus, they were singing it for us
You were my September Song
I remember the chorus, they were singing it for us
"He really does love her..."
And forcing him to run away and start a new life with him made him feel guilty. Nate and Jason shouldn't have to be the ones to pick up the pieces. He knew what he had to do.
He had to start making things better for them.