The next two weeks of the tour felt like a slow but steady climb back from the edge. Jade and Tori had decided to remain by Cat's side as much as possible, subtly encouraging her to eat more and gently pushing her to get rid of the nutritionist her team had hired. Every meal was a small victory—Cat hesitated, picked at the food, but eventually, she ate a little more. It wasn't much at first, but it was progress. Slowly, her energy levels started to shift. Her cheeks weren't as hollow, and the dark circles under her eyes weren't as prominent. The girls could see the tiniest improvements each day, and while they both knew it would take time to undo the months of pressure her team had placed on her, they could feel the change in the air.
Tour life itself was a slowly improving from they'd witnessed before. Cat's performances had always been flawless, but now she seemed to actually enjoy them again. She wasn't just going through the motions for the crowd or for the cameras—she was dancing and singing with her heart back in it, genuinely laughing and having fun between shows. It felt like the early days of her last tour when Jade had been there, supporting her. The difference was, there was no longer the need to hide their relationship. Now, Jade didn't need to act like they were just friends. They now were just two friends, completely honest with one another.
The moments between the shows, the downtime, were the best. The three of them—Jade, Tori, and Cat—would just hang out, dance around in their hotel rooms, talk about nothing and everything at once. It was the simplest kind of joy. The kind they'd all been starved for during the chaos of the past few months. Just them, being themselves. It was like they were normal again.
By the end of the two weeks, the tour was about to move to Europe and Jade knew she couldn't leave—not now, not when things were starting to shift. She had to stay. There was no way she could leave Cat alone, not when she was finally beginning to find her footing again. She'd seen how hard it had been for Cat to get this far, how fragile everything still felt. If she was truly going to be okay, she still needed someone in her corner—someone who could remind her of who she really was when everything else felt overwhelming. Jade didn't even need to think twice about it. She would stay on the tour, no matter what.
Cat tried to protest, of course, telling her she didn't need to defer her final year of college for her, but Jade could see it in her eyes—Cat secretly appreciated it more than she let on. Jade wasn't doing this for anyone else. She was doing it for Cat, and if it meant taking a break from school and staying with her until she was truly okay, then so be it. College could wait.
The decision was made. Jade wasn't going anywhere.
The backstage area of the venue in Germany was chaotic as usual—staff hustling, the crew setting up for the 3rd European show, and the performers prepping for their moment under the spotlight. But amidst the usual pre-show hustle, the air was thick with an unspoken tension. Austin had finally arrived for the first time during the tour, after being conspicuously absent for the earlier leg. And immediately, the dynamic shifted.
Jade hadn't heard a word about Austin from Cat in weeks. In fact, it almost seemed like she'd forgotten he existed. Not a single thing about him had come up in conversation, and Jade had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. So when he arrived in Germany, the shift was glaring.
Jade noticed the change in Cat immediately. There was something off about her energy when Austin was around—she was quieter, more reserved, and it was almost like she was walking on eggshells. Jade hadn't been keen on Austin from the beginning, but now, seeing how he was affecting Cat, her dislike for him deepened. He seemed to only care about her image, the way she looked, the way she performed. It felt like he was trying to control her in every way, even down to what she ate.
Austin's first comment, as casual as it seemed, was enough to set Jade off.
"Cat, you're eating too much," Austin said, glancing at the small spread of snacks she had before her. "You've been overindulging. You know the drill."
Jade couldn't help herself from snapping. "What the hell is your problem?" Jade jumped in, her voice cutting through the otherwise lively backstage atmosphere. Cat looked startled, but Jade wasn't backing down. "You've not been around this entire tour, and now you show up like some expert on what Cat should or shouldn't be eating? You've got some nerve."
Austin arched an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by her outburst. "I'm just looking out for her," he said, as if it were some noble thing to do. "We're on the road, she has to stay in shape. You know how this works."
Jade's anger flared as she stepped forward, glaring at him. "What? You think she can't do both? You want her to eat like she's a model while she's out there performing her ass off every night, jumping around, giving everything she has? She needs fuel, not some diet gimmick. This isn't a runway show—it's a fucking pop concert."
Cat, who had been quiet, fiddling with her water bottle, shifted uncomfortably. Jade noticed the way Cat's shoulders had sagged, the way she looked almost defeated, trying to please everyone but herself. And Jade wasn't going to let Austin keep treating her this way.
"You want her to be perfect? You want her to look like a model for you? She's not a fucking doll, Austin," Jade continued, her voice laced with fury. "She's a superstar. She works hard every single day, and the least you could do is give her the space to be herself. Stop treating her like she's a damn accessory in your life. She doesn't need you to control her."
Austin's jaw tightened, but instead of responding, he just shot Jade a withering look and muttered under his breath. "You don't get it."
"Yeah, I get it just fine," Jade retorted, her voice cold. "But you're too busy being obsessed with her image to see what she actually needs."
Jade could feel the heat in her chest as she took a step back. She had seen enough. She couldn't let this start up, couldn't let Austin dictate what Cat could or couldn't do.
"She doesn't need you trying to control her every move," Jade said, her voice dropping to a low, steady tone. "She needs someone who actually gives a shit about her. And you—"
Before Jade could finish, Austin turned away, shaking his head, as if he was above her. "Whatever," he muttered, walking off toward the hallway where the crew was waiting.
Cat stood there for a moment, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. She wasn't looking at Jade but instead stared at the spot where Austin had just stood. Jade's anger faded as she saw the exhaustion in Cat's eyes—the tiredness that had been fading away recently.
Jade stepped toward her, her voice softer now. "Cat, you okay?"
Cat looked at her, and for a brief second, Jade saw something vulnerable in her eyes. She quickly masked it with a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine," Cat said, her voice tight. "He's just… he's just looking out for me, you know? He wants everything to be perfect."
Jade didn't buy it, not for a second. She could see how much pressure Cat was under. It was written all over her face, and it tore Jade apart.
"Cat, listen," Jade said, taking a breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. "You don't need to be perfect for him. Or for anyone. You're already amazing the way you are. If you're not happy, if something doesn't feel right, you have the right to say no. You have the right to prioritise yourself."
Cat didn't respond right away. She simply nodded, but there was something in her gaze that made Jade's heart ache. She could tell Cat was torn between trying to make everyone happy and keeping up with the impossible standards others were setting for her.
"I'll be okay," Cat said softly. "I promise. I'll figure it out."
Jade didn't know if she believed her, but she didn't push it further. Instead, she just gave Cat a small smile and squeezed her shoulder.
"You don't have to do this alone," Jade said quietly. "I've got your back, always."
Cat's smile was weak, but it was a smile nonetheless. "Thanks, Jade."
The next three shows went by in a blur. Cat still performed with the same intensity, the same fierce energy, but Jade couldn't ignore how much more fragile she seemed each day. She was still eating better, thanks to Jade's insistence, but there was something missing. Cat's usual spark was dulled, hidden behind a mask of exhaustion. She would laugh and joke with the crew and fans, but Jade could see it in the way she moved, the way she carried herself. She wasn't the same.
Austin's presence continued to cast a shadow over everything. The mood was tense, every time he showed up backstage or in Cat's dressing room. It was clear that something was off. He barely spoke to Jade after the argument in Germany, but his condescending attitude toward Cat had only gotten worse. Jade was worried, but Cat still tried to put on a brave face—until the inevitable explosion came.
It happened on their day off, just after the second show. The tension had been building all day, and when Austin and Cat found themselves alone in their shared hotel room, the argument finally erupted. It was loud, heated, and ugly, full of words neither of them would ever take back.
Jade had been in the her own room, nursing a coffee and quietly trying to unwind after a long day. She didn't hear the argument, but when Cat appeared at her door, her face flushed with tears, Jade knew what had happened.
"Oh Cat." Jade pulled her inside the room instantly, her instincts kicking in.
"He left," Cat whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "He… he said I was too much of a distraction, that he couldn't do it anymore. He said I wasn't taking my career seriously. He said I was a liability."
Jade's heart ached, but she stayed quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond. She wanted to comfort Cat, tell her everything would be okay, but she also knew that deep down, this might be what Cat needed.
"I'm so sorry, Jade," Cat continued, wiping her eyes. "I don't know what went wrong. I thought—"
"Hey," Jade said gently, her hand resting on Cat's shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. "This is not your fault. It's his. He's been treating you like you're something to be controlled, like you're just part of his lifestyle. He couldn't see you for who you are, Cat. Not really."
Cat's eyes filled with more tears as she met Jade's gaze. "But I… I love him," she murmured. "I thought he understood me."
"I know you do," Jade said softly, her voice steady. "But sometimes love doesn't look the way we expect. And you can't let someone tear you down for who you are. You deserve more than that."
Cat nodded, her tears finally slowing, but her heart was still broken. "I don't know if I can do this on my own, Jade," she said, her voice barely audible. "I don't know if I can handle all this."
Jade's heart clenched, seeing the vulnerability in Cat's eyes. She wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into a hug. "You don't have to do it alone. You've got me. You've always had me."
The two girls sat there for a long time, the weight of everything hanging between them. Jade could feel the guilt gnawing at her. She knew this had been building, that Austin had never been good for Cat, but seeing her so broken still made Jade feel like a villain. She hated seeing Cat like this, hated that her feelings had been caught in the middle of it all.
When they finally pulled apart, Jade wiped the last of Cat's tears away. "This is for the best, you know?" Jade said softly. "You don't need someone who doesn't see your worth. You're more than what he made you feel."
Cat sniffed, looking up at Jade, her face still etched with sadness. "I don't feel like it's for the best right now, though," she said, her voice shaky. "I feel like I lost everything."
"You haven't lost everything," Jade said firmly. "You've got the people who actually care about you, not just your image. You've got me. And I'm not going anywhere."
Cat's lips trembled, but she nodded, taking a shaky breath. "Thanks, Jade. I don't know what I'd do without you."