A loud ringing noise woke Kate up, who opened her eyes disoriented by the morning light. Rubbing her eyes, she reached for her phone, and her eyes widened in surprise. Last night, after getting home, she went straight to bed and put her phone away to charge, and now she can see it filled with missed calls, voicemails, and so many notifications.
She first opened her manager's voicemail and heard it.
"Kate, I cannot believe you sang with such a talented guy! The producers are looking forward to signing him for our record deal. Just make sure he won't sign any other contracts. I will try to arrive at Mayfair in two days or sooner as soon as his contract is ready."
"What the?" Kate frowned and heard a few more voicemails all talking about some viral video and contract signing.
She then checked out her notification, and her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow!"
Apparently, Daphne has posted Anthony's singing videos on every social networking site and tagged her. So naturally, everyone saw those videos, and now they are all praising Anthony and want him to join Kate on a professional level.
Feeling excited, she read comments and messages from her fellow musicians and fans, and all were praising her boyfriend.
Suddenly, her phone began to ring, and she saw Daphne's name, which she picked up instantly. "Hello."
"Kate, please help me!"
"Daphne? What happened?"
What happened was that Daphne Bridgerton opened her eyes that morning with her phone buzzing continuously. She opened her Instagram page and found more than one million people following her, and so many D.M. inquired if she was Anthony's page handler as they could not find him on any social media pages.
"Kate, I am so scared; we are all getting calls and messages, and I fear what would happen if Anthony found out."
"Calls? What calls?"
She heard a shuffling sound, and then it seems Daphne put her on speaker phone as everyone started speaking at once in hushed tones. "Guys, please speak one by one; I cannot understand a thing."
"I got a call from Cho; he was asking me if I could assist him when he does a cover shoot for your upcoming album. I mean, I didn't know my brother signed up for some music album." Benedict speaks flabbergasted.
"Exactly! Fife called me, telling me that he wants to hire me as his assistant director for your upcoming album music videos; he already decided to book a five-song video shoot." Colin speaks in disbelief.
"On top of that, mom is getting calls after calls from all our family and friends. Poor mom, she is trying to explain that her son is not becoming a famous singer, but it's too late now because Anthony has gone famously viral, and that's all because of me! Oh Kate! As soon as Anthony is awake, he is going to realise his quiet world has changed, and he is not going to forgive me for disturbing it. Please, Kate, please come soon!"
"Okay guys, calm down; I will be there; just make sure your brother did not find out about all this from someone else."
"That's not easy Kate! Out mom is having a nervous breakdown, and Fran is excited to tell everyone her brother is a popular viral singer." Colin warns Kate as she hangs up and quickly gets dressed.
She was running down when Sophie called about viral video and how Debling was calling her and Penelope to post previous shoot pictures and tag the on-going viral video.
"Sophie tells Penelope to stop Debling from doing such things. Let me speak with Anthony first."
"Hurry up, Kate, because Penelope is not sure how long she could hold them off, especially if Principal Charlotte got to school before you guys."
With that, she grabbed her bag and rushed outside with a quick goodbye to her parents, who called after her. "Kate! Breakfast."
"No time; it's an emergency at Bridgerton House; I will fill you guys later."
With that, Kate left her house and drove fast towards Bridgerton House.
The moment she arrived, Kate knew she was late because her boyfriend was fuming at Daphne as he scolded her. "You posted those private videos publicly? How could you?"
Daphne trembled as she tried to explain. "Ant! I swear! I thought it was no big deal. How am I supposed to know you will become so popular overnight?"
"You thought! Daphne, can't you understand?! The fact remains that you did not think at all before posting something so private that now we are in this trouble. I sang because you all wanted me to sing; it was supposed to be for our family ears, not for the entire world."
"But Ant? Few other people who attended Aunt Poppy's restaurant posted videos too." Eloise said and stopped when Anthony glared at her as he yelled. "Yeah, they posted videos every night, but none of the other videos went viral! Daphne posted both videos and tagged my girlfriend's name so that her fans could see it too! Now tell me, was that for my benefit or did she just want more followers at my expense?!"
At that, Daphne began to cry as Anthony snatched her phone from her hands, making everyone gasp in shock as he commanded in a thunderous voice. "From now on, I am evoking your cell phones and internet privileges; you can only use the internet for your studies under my or mom's supervision! From now on, you are forbidden from social networking sites until you learn that you cannot use them so carelessly."
Daphne wailed as Anthony stormed off towards his room, and Kate finally joined his siblings. "Kate, please talk to him! I said, I'm sorry!"
Kate wrapped her arms around the young girl and tried to comfort her as she stared around and saw flowers and food baskets everywhere. "When did these come in?"
Violet sighed as she replied. "Portia brought flowers while Anthony was helping me with breakfast; after that, more people started arriving, congratulating him for being such a viral sensation."
"I never saw Anthony like this before." Colin said, still shuddering as he remembered how his mom's friends ambushed Anthony. "First he was confused, and then when he found out..."
A loud noise startled them as Anthony stormed back into the living room and threw car keys at Benedict. "Ben, I am hitching a ride with Kate, so please drop the girls off at school today; I cannot." Anthony sighed as he glared at Daphne, who was crying in Kate's arms. "Just please handle this today."
"Alright. I will drop them off." Ben assured his brother, and with that, Anthony grabbed his bag and walked outside as Kate kissed Daphne's head and wiped her tears away. "Go to school, and don't worry; I will talk with your brother."
She nods her head, and Kate gives an assuring smile to others as she leaves to go after her boyfriend.
Anthony did not say a word for the rest of the ride as he sat quietly with a frown on his face until Kate suddenly stopped the car and stared at him. "Are you going to say something, or are you cross with me too?"
"I am not crossed with you, Kate." Anthony says it gruffly, and Kate huffs in disbelief. "Why not? It was I who asked you to sing both times, didn't I? If you should blame anyone, it should be me."
Anthony turned to face her as he reminded her. "Kate, please don't turn this around on you. You know very well that I sang both times for you and my family, but not for what Daphne did."
"Anthony! Daphne is young; she still needs to learn a lot, and do you really think there was some selfish agenda on her part when she posted those videos? I understand those were your special private moments, but maybe Daphne did not think that far; beside, Eloise is right, you could become popular because some other guest posted that video. Now I understand that with my name, Daphne, just kick start the process, but I believe with or without her interference, you would eventually get popularity for your voice."
Anthony groaned as he realised Kate was right. "Well, it still stinks. Just please take me to school, because I cannot think about this anymore."
Only if this was easy, because as soon as they arrived at school, Anthony and Kate were ambushed with other students.
"Anthony, your voice is so great!" Margaret Goring complements him.
"Dude, you rocked at that video!" One student says:.
"Anthony! Can you sign my shirt?"
Kate gulped as she watched her boyfriend's face turn red, and not in a lovely way, as more students tried to come near him. "Shut Up! Just shut up! You people are sick hypocrites! Only a few days ago, you treated me like a plague! I went to this school being called shrew, and now you want my autograph because I became popular! That's so pathetic! Now get out of my sight before I file restraining orders against you all."
Kate flinched as everyone moved away, and Anthony stormed away, but not before tearing dance flyers angrily on his way.
"Geeze, even popularity cannot take the shrew out of him." Cressida mocked but stopped when Kate glared at her as she snapped. "At least he became popular because of his talent, not because of being Daddy's spoiled little princess."
Kate then left as students snickered at Cressida.
She found him in the library, clutching his head as if he were having headaches. "Anthony, baby, are you alright?"
"No, Kate. Today just proved to me how superficial this world is. I don't want their fake admiration; I don't want any of this."
Kate gently cupped his face as she rubbed his forehead. "Why do you think it's fake? Maybe they realise they were wrong about you; maybe they really like your wonderful voice."
When he scoffs, Kate pinches his cheek. "You don't believe me; I could show you what people everywhere think about you; they really admire you, honey."
"Well, I don't want the world to admire me; as long as people close to my heart admire me, I am happy."
Kate smiled as she stared at this man, who was so simple from the inside, but it hurts to see him so dejected. "I just wish everything returned to normal soon; until then, nothing could cheer me up."
"Oh, honey, come here." Kate opened her arms, and Anthony let his girlfriend pull himself into her comforting embrace, not knowing she was already planning something to cheer him up.
While Kate was helping Anthony, another Bridgerton was in need of help, as Benedict was trying to hide from Cressida. "Please Sophie! Please take me with you! If you leave me, then Cressida will find me, and I am running out of places to hide."
Sophie smirked as she saw Cressida far away, searching for Benedict. "And why should I help you?" Sophie asks clearly, stalling as Benedict becomes desperate. "Because you are good and kind, and you will never refuse a guy in need of help."
"Ben! Has anyone seen Benedict Bridgerton?" Cressida's voice was getting closer, and Benedict begged. "Please Sophie! I will be your slave! Just please help me out!"
Cressida was now getting near, as Sophie suddenly whispered. "Go hide behind a pillar."
Benedict had a few minutes to hide, and then he watched as Cressida came near Sophie. "Hey you! Have you seen Ben?"
"Why would I see him? Last time I checked, he was your boy toy."
Cressida smirked as she said it triumphantly. "Glad you realise that."
"Anyway, tomorrow is school dance, and I am gathering students to volunteer to decorate the gym. Would you like to volunteer?"
Cressida scoffs as she scrunches her nose. "As if. I am not some slave; just do your volunteer work while I search Benedict and ask him for tomorrow's dance."
"Good luck." Sophie says sweetly as Cressida leaves, and a few seconds later Benedict comes by her side. "Thanks for saving me."
"You can thank me while decorating the gym because I am taking you to dance, just to protect you from the She devil." Sophie says, and Benedict was too happy to follow her anywhere she wanted.
While Anthony, Benedict, and other students were decorating the gym under Sophie and Penelope's watchful eyes, Colin was with Kate as they selected songs for Dance.
"Can you convince Ant to sing with you?" Colin inquired. "Principal Charlotte wants at least one duet performance."
Kate sighed as she glanced at her boyfriend. "I don't know, Col, Anthony must be uncomfortable to perform."
"He will if you ask; you know Debling says Principal Charlotte invited the Mayfair Times editor, Oxford Dramatic Professor, Fife, Cho, and someone from your production company to attend these two events. I think they are coming to talk about Anthony's future and even ours too. You know all of us who got called this morning after Ant became popular. This all feels like a great opportunity coming our way."
Kate sighed because she understood how opportunities can change someone's life, and here all their futures were dependent upon Anthony's decision. "Let's just get through with this festival; maybe Anthony will get used to this popularity by then."
It was then thatColin noticed Dumpling talking with his Pen, who looked nervous for some reason as their voice reached their ears.
"Penelope, the decorations looked really spectacular; it was like I stepped into the Regency era."
'Thanks; well, wait until tomorrow; everything will remind you of Jane Austen's stories."
Colin watched as Dumpling smiled and stepped closer to Pen as he asked. "About the dance, I understand it's the girls choice dance, but if you like, I will be honoured to."
"I have already asked my boyfriend." Penelope says quickly, like pulling Band-Aid, as she points in his direction, and when Dumpling looked shocked and turned to stare at him, Colin could not help but puff his chest as he walked towards his girlfriend. "Pen, darling, can you come with me? We need songs to select for our dances."
Penelope blushed as Colin smiled at Dumpling. "See you at dance Dumpling."
"Its Debling." He said it in annoyance, but Colin was already walking away with his girlfriend by his side. "
By the end of the school day, Anthony just wants to go home and forget this entire day, but he still has Volleyball practice to go through, and as he gathered his team, he noticed someone was missing.
"Bridgerton! Where is Sharma?" Their coach inquired, and Anthony looked around, but Kate was nowhere to be seen.
A loud screeching sound from speakers caught their attention as a sweet voice reached their ears. Kate began to sing on top of the benches.
You're just too good to be true Can't take my eyes off of you You'd be like Heaven to touch I wanna hold you so much
At long last, love has arrived I thank God I'm alive You're just too good to be true Can't take my eyes off of you
Pardon the way that I stare There's nothing else to compare The sight of you keeps me weak There are no words left to speak
But if you feel like I feel Please, let me know that it's real You're just too good to be true Can't take my eyes off of you
Anthony's eyes widen in surprise as suddenly the band starts playing, and he watches Francesca leading the band from her music school as Kate dances and sings as she walks towards him.
I love you, baby And if it's quite alright, I need you, baby To warm the lonely night I love you, baby, trust in me when I say Oh, pretty baby, don't bring me down, I pray Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay And let me love you, baby, let me love you
She finally reached near him and Sophie hand her bouquet as Benedict, Colin and Penelope held big posters behind Kate.
"Will you go on this dance with me?"
Anthony laughed brightly as he pulled his girlfriend and kissed her soundlessly for turning this dreadful day into best day of his life.
Pulling apart he beamed as he tells the love of his life. "Yes! I will go on this dance with you."
Kate jumped and kissed her boyfriend joyously as she sang one more time.
I love you, baby And if it's quite alright, I need you, baby To warm the lonely night I love you, baby, trust in me when I say Oh, pretty baby, don't bring me down, I pray Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay And let me love you, baby, let me love you...