Free Hated (Rock Star Trilogy) by Mercy Amare Page B

those ‘ oh my God , I’m really famous’ moments. Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. But the second time I did it, I was eighteen. I wasn’t nervous at all. Just excited,” I tell him. “The rush of being on stage isn’t something I can describe. Thousands of people singing my songs along with me… I’m always blown away that so many people show up to hear me play. I always give everything I’ve got into my performances.”
    Once the plane levels out, I see Bridgett and Mona both relax. They too join the conversation.
    “When was the exact moment that you knew you had made it to the big time?” Mona asks.
    “That one is easy,” I answer. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was nominated for a Grammy — Best New Artist of the Year . I was up next to some crazy awesome people. I felt honored just to be nominated . So I was at the awards ceremony, and they called my name . I was so shocked. I hadn’t expected it at all. It was the moment that they called my name, I knew that I was in it for real. I knew that I had made it.”
    “Did you have a speech prepared?” Bridgett asks.
    “No way! I didn’t think I would win. Besides, I’ve always been better at winging it.”
    “If you could go back in time, would you still choose to do this ?” Mona asks.
    “I would,” I answer truthfully. “I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is the life I was made to live. Without it, I wouldn’t have found my twin sister. Without it, I wouldn’t have found Stephan.”
    “I doubt that,” Stephan says. “You and I were meant to find each other.”
    “Either way — music is my life … It’s my dream. The fact that I have made a career out of it still blows my mind. I mean, I’d be happy even if I wasn’t famous as long as I was playing. I’m glad that Dad pushed me.” It’s in that moment, I realize just how much I miss my dad. I went from talking to him and seeing him daily to never seeing him. I look at Bridgett. She looks sad, and I know it’s because I mentioned our dad. “Bridge, do you think you’ll ever find a way to forgive him?”
    She looks shocked by my question. It takes her a few seconds to respond. “I will forgive him eventually, but forgiveness isn’t the issue. It’s going to be forgetting . I don’t know if I can ever get over him taking you and leaving me.”
    “Do you think you will try to get to know him?” I ask.
    “I will try… for you,” she says. “I know that you miss him. He’s your dad. I miss my dad too.”
    “Have you decided if you’re going to your parents’ house for Thanksgiving?” I ask her.
    “Yeah, I think I’m going to go and take Alec with me. He will be a great buffer between my mom and me. I think I talked them out of inviting Martin. I’ll probably just go hang out for a couple days and spend the rest of the time in Hope with you.”
    “So, what is going on between you and Alec?” Mona asks Bridgett.
    I’d love to hear Bridgett’s answer, but I know that she won’t answer. Like me, she’s better at locking away her emotions. Someday Alec will drag it out of her. I know she can’t say no forever.
    “We’re just friends,” she answers nonchalant. “We just have to spend a lot of time together because of Scarlett. He’s producing her album, and I’m her manager. Plus, they are going on tour together. The next year is going to be pretty freaking crazy.”
    “Yes, it is,” Stephan agrees with her. “I’m ready for it to be over.”
    “After this, it will be something else,” Bridgett says. “There will always be something else with Scarlett.”
    It’s true. But I wasn’t going to tell him that. I am just hoping that once the tour is over, Stephan will be used to it. But from the way Stephan is looking at me, I’m not sure he wants to get used to it.
    Will my life ever get any less complicated? I’m going to go with NO .

Sunday, November 16
    1:31 PM
    I will never date you, Alec Torch!

    All is well