Free Where Words Fail by Katheryn Kiden, Kathy Krick, Melissa Gill, Kelsey Keeton Page B

room. “You were somewhere else... What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
    I shrugged, not really wanting to talk about it. “Alex... Matt... Jameson... Izzy. Everything I guess. I just don’t know what to do about anything anymore, AJ.”
    He pulled me into his massive chest, wrapping his arms around me before kissing me on the top of my head. “I know babe. I know. But all you need to do is focus on getting through this last show and then you go home and we’ll figure everything out when we’re all together.”
    AJ knew everything about, well, everything. He became my best friend right after my parents died. I was being picked on for crying in school, and he stood up to the kids. From then on he told me to stick by his side, which I did, until I met Jamie. Then, I was still friends with him, but I didn’t see him as much because I was too wrapped up in my relationship. After Jamie walked out on me, AJ was once again there to swoop in and protect me alongside of Alex. Same thing with Matt. I honestly don’t think I would be around without those two guys in my life.
    “I don’t even want to talk to that asshole, let alone sing with him about how I feel,” I whined.
    His hands settled on either side of my face, pulling it up so I would have to look at him. “Abby, everything will be fine. I promise. Have I ever let you down before?” I shook my head. It was true. He was one of the only people I have ever been able to count on fully. “Then you know I wouldn’t let you walk out there and do this only to get hurt more. At least not willingly. So, quit worrying until you have something to worry about.”
    We talked for a few more minutes before he calmed me down enough to go back to the dressing room. Tuesday kissed me before getting to work on my face and hair. AJ held my hand while he sat next to me texting someone. Jason was reclined back on the couch with his eyes closed and headphones in, rocking out to some insanely loud music. I tried to ignore Jameson, but I could feel his eyes burning a hole in me and every time I looked in the mirror my eyes happened to collide with his. No matter how much he hurt me, I was trying not to show it. Everything I said last night was the truth, and I’m not quite sure where to go from here.
     
     
    Jameson
    I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I tried. I really, really did, but the harder I tried the more I realized how scared I was of losing her all over again. Her red hair was cascading down her back as Tuesday put some massive waves into it. I’d catch Abby’s green eyes in the mirror every few minutes as she tried to ignore me. I tried to keep telling myself over and over again that after this show was over, we would talk. At least, I would try. Whether or not she was going to go along with talking to me was a different story altogether.
    The stage manager popped his head into the room. “Five minutes guys.” Tuesday whispered something into Abby’s ear before hugging her and eyeing me. Abby nodded, squeezed her hand and then left the room, heading towards the stage with AJ and Jason behind her. The screams from the crowd were crazy tonight as we got closer to the stage. They all knew that there was a new song coming tonight and no one knew what it was, but based on the story Maggie put out to go along with the video of Abby and I fighting, they were all pumped to find out.
    Ever After was finishing up and West came sauntering off stage, straight towards Abby. He put his hand against her face, dragging his fingers down her cheek to her collarbone. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but based on every other night so far in the past three weeks I knew he was hitting on her. Anger boiled through my veins, and it took every ounce of effort not to knock him out. My hands were flexing by my sides as people rushed around us. He was touching what was mine, and I wasn’t having it. When he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek a growl escaped from my throat