Free Colt & Serena: A Hysterics Companion Novella (The Hysterics Book 2) by Kristen Hope Mazzola Page A

laughing and grabbed our silk pink robes from the floor. She tossed me mine before adding, “Do you think the creeps jerking off to this at home know how fake all this crap is?”
    I cinched the silk belt tight around my minuscule waist and shrugged. “They’re watching two chicks bang, I really don't think they could care any less if it’s fake or not, as long as it plays into their sick little fantasy.”
    The director chimed in. “You’re totally right, Serena, and they love the shit out of the two of you. Have you read the comments on the videos lately?”
    I rolled my eyes. There was no way I wanted to read what the pervs of the world thought about how my tits bounced when I fucked Maja’s pussy with a strap-on, or how perfect her tramp stamp looked while her ass was high in the air as she licked my cunt. This job was degrading enough; I didn’t need to add to my hatred of all of it.
    In the beginning, I had loved the attention and the money couldn’t be beat, but slowly my patience was wearing thin and my self-worth was no longer defined by how much someone would pay for me to pretend to be a lesbian on camera. I had fucking had it and was finally starting to make moves into my next stage of life. It was only a matter of time before I left the smut-filled slums of the world and made a real, legit, new name for myself.

    Colt
    T he sound of Dane’s sticks nervously tapping on the counter he was sitting on was starting to drive me up the wall. 
    “Dane. Dude, you mind?”
    He blankly looked up at me, bewildered for a second before his gaze snapped down to his hands. “Oh, sorry Colt.”
    I cracked my first beer for the night. I hadn’t planned on drinking at all before the show, but my anxiety was starting to get the better of me. Anxiety and performing for the largest crowd we’d ever had was definitely not mixing well.
    “You ok Colt?” Maverick walked in from the can, zipping up his fly.
    I nodded and took a swig. 
    “The Hysterics, five minute warning,” the stage manager called from the open doorway and Rodney answered, “Heard.”
    We grabbed our guitars and started to make our way to side stage right. As the roaring crowd came into earshot, I felt like I was going to hurl. 
    We had been performing live together since the middle of high school; I should not have been as freaking scared as I was, but this was the beginning of something more, something real. It was like standing on the edge of the cliff and in this moment we were going to leap into fame or crash onto the rocks of failure. 
    “Ready?” Dane’s hand landed on my shoulder.
    I glanced at him. “Let’s do this!”
    We all started to make our way onto the stage and a rush of excitement finally started to take over. 
    Deep breaths. 
    Here goes nothing.
    The guitar strap swung over my neck while the lights remained off. The crowd hollered and screamed as I picked a few cords on my ax. Sweat started to form on my brow as the adrenaline completely filled my veins. I could hear my heart beating in my ears as I tried to take a couple deep breaths to get my head on straight. Even though I had been on stage with these guys every weekend for years, each gig sent an overwhelming feeling rushing over me, reminding me why I truly loved what I did.
    The lights slowly brightened and the spotlight lit up Rodney’s face. All the booze-fueled fans shrieked as Rodney started his usual introduction: “Ladies, ladies, calm down. We’re The Hysterics, and we’re here for you.”

1
New Beginnings
    Serena
    “ H ow many times am I going to have to tell you?” My voice reached another octave as I watched Kevin roll his yellowing eyes at me again. That shit always got under my skin in two seconds flat and he freaking knew it. 
    His eyes narrowed as he leaned farther back in his faded leather desk chair. “Explain it one more time,  Princess .” 
    Yuck.
    I hated when my scumbag manager called me princess. Kevin’s three-day-old beard and