Invisible String

Chapter 4 -Groupie

You see, the tricky thing about embarking on a world tour for almost two years is that I had immersed myself so much in my music that I had neglected many friendships. Sometimes it's really hard to maintain friendships when you're constantly on a plane, resting your voice most days, dealing with time differences, and experiencing different facets of life. My high school friends had grown tired of hearing about my adventures around the world, and it hurt not being able to participate in certain experiences that any person my age would enjoy. Over time, we ran out of things in common, and neither party involved in the relationship could give it their all.

If you add all these factors together, you get the perfect recipe for disaster.

I refused to go alone to such an important event; it was a matter of pride. When I entered the industry, many of my friends and family warned me that I would never be able to have a private and secure romantic relationship again, as the media would always find a way to ruin it. And they were partly right. Unless you took extreme precautions with your relationship, any public eye could destroy it and create insecurities that would eventually lead to a breakup. I had been a victim of that situation before, that wasn't a secret, but I refused to prove them right. I wanted them to eat their words. I didn't know how I would make it work, but I had to.

"Remember, you only have three months to confirm your attendance and plus one," he reminded me.

"I'm aware," I said, knowing that during these months I would find not-so-subtle ways to remind myself.

"And I apologize in advance for being so insistent on this subject," he admitted, although I already knew he would be. I don't blame him, he wanted the happiest day of his life to be completely perfect in every sense and detail. 

"So..." I shifted the conversation to another topic, one that had been gnawing at me ever since Jackson picked me up for dinner. I had to restrain myself from asking prematurely, but now enough time had passed. "Did you talk to Vanessa about the whole visiting her mother fiasco?"

Jackson's expression shifted slightly, a mix of resignation and concern flickering across his features. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair before meeting my gaze.

"No, it's only been five days since we talked, Gen," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'm still trying to figure out how to even bring it up. The worst part is that she's still trying to make contact with her mother."

"I'll tell you what, i'll try and talk to her, maybe i can convince her inviting her mother who she hasn't seen in over six years isn't a good idea."

Jackson's eyes widened slightly, surprise evident in his expression as he processed my offer. After a moment, a mixture of relief and gratitude washed over his features.

"Really, Gen? That would mean a lot to me," he said earnestly, his voice softening with gratitude. "I just want what's best for her, and sometimes she needs to hear it from someone other than me."

I offered him a reassuring smile. "Consider it done, Jack. I'll talk to her as soon as I can."

With a nod of appreciation, Jackson reached out to squeeze my hand briefly before releasing it. "Thank you, Gen. I owe you one."

I waved off his gratitude with a smile. "No need to thank me. We're family, Jack. We look out for each other."

"Of course," the smile on his lips reaches his eyes.

In that moment, as I looked at him, a striking resemblance to Mom emerged in his expression. It was uncanny how he mirrored her features, down to the smallest details of their facial structure.

"That's why I need you to do something for me," I said, breaking the moment of reflection.

"Of course you weren't helping out of the goodness of your heart," he teased with a playful grin.

"Hey!" I retorted, laughing along with him.

With a playful wink, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as if he were settling in for a good story. "Alright, spill it. What's the favor this time?"

"I just need you to reach out to your realtor friend and assist me in finding an apartment. But please, don't mention it to Mom. She'll have a fit if she finds out I'm house-hunting."

"Why would she?"

"Because all week she's been going on about how much she loves having me home and doesn't want me to leave her again, and all that rubbish. I don't want to break her heart by telling her i need my own personal space."

Leaving my childhood home with my ex-boyfriend, Noah, gave me a sense of independence that was liberating. Returning to my parents' house felt like being a bird in a cage. Once you've experienced complete freedom, you don't want to go back inside.

As I settled back into the familiar surroundings of my childhood bedroom, I couldn't shake the feeling of confinement. Every corner seemed to whisper reminders of a life I had outgrown. The walls, once comforting, now felt suffocating, closing in on me with each passing day.

With a resigned sigh, Jackson finally relented. "Fine. I'll help you."

A surge of relief washed over me. "You're the greatest!"

His response was a playful scoff. "Yeah yeah."

With Jackson's assistance, I could finally take the first step toward reclaiming my independence and finding my own space. Though the prospect of leaving my childhood home once again filled me with a mix of excitement and trepidation, I knew it was a necessary step toward fulfilling my desire for personal freedom and growth.

"Now that that's settled. Tell me everything  I been missing out on these past few months?" Jackson inquired, leaning in with eager curiosity. I gladly seized the opportunity to regale him with tales of my recent adventures, chatting away animatedly.

As I recounted my experiences, a sense of warmth washed over me, reminding me of the comfort of being back home.