Envy of the Moon (rough draft)

Chapter 1 - Andrea

I was sitting close to the edge of the stage, microphone in my hand singing a love song I wrote for who I thought was the love of my life. I could faintly feel the blinding lights blaring in my face and hear the crowd chanting my name in a deafening pitch. 

"Drea! Drea! Drea!"

On a normal night, I would have soaked it all in. I would've smiled the biggest smile I could possible give, because I love my job and I love music. I love singing. But tonight was different. All the noise and light were dimmed out, because what I felt instead were more tears threatening to spill, and my heart breaking more in half. 

I could still hear the echo of my phone buzzing, and I could still see my boyfriend's message displayed on the screen. Or rather ex-boyfriend. 

"We're done. Don't call me."  That's all he messaged and then he blocked me. 

After the concert, I went on a long walk to clear my head. The city was lively tonight. Laughter spilling from late-night cafés, couples walking together under the stars, there were even sounds of animals in the distance. It was all so much, but thankfully there were no lights, cameras, or constant requests for autographs and photos. No one looked twice at me. 

I love my fans and my job, I really do, but I'm also human. And right now is one of those moments where I just want to be human. My heart hurts so much. I never thought Theo could break it like this. The least he could've done was tell me in person. But he chose to end things over text, right before my last concert. Like a coward. I don't even know how I made it through the final song.

As celebrity figures, we can do everything right, but one wrong thing caught on camera then people start to call you all sorts of things. Even if the wrong thing is not meeting one person's expectations whether they are a fan or not. We're always at a risk of getting canceled, and I can't have that when I'm at the peak of my career. I have so much left to sing about.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and kept walking until my own thoughts drowned out everything else. We're done. Don't call me. The words repeated like a broken record, stabbing deeper each time. I need to sit down. 

I reached a bench that already had an occupant. A girl with brown hair wearing a forest green sweater. I was hoping for my time out to be alone, but she looked to be in her own thoughts as well. A plate of nachos sat untouched beside her. She stared straight ahead like the world had paused around her. No expression on her face, just a tired look. 

 Before I could stop myself, I spoke out loud. "Is this seat taken?"

She didn't look up, just shook her head no. 

I sat down letting out a deep sigh, and glanced sideways only to see she was already looking at me. Not in a rude or nosey way. More like in a curious way. Like she knew something was wrong and was trying to understand.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice careful, as if even words could bruise me.

I let out a bitter laugh and tilted my head back to look at the stars. 

"Not really." A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. "My boyfriend dumped me. Over text."

Her brows knit together. "Oh, I'm sorry." Her response felt genuine. 

"You'd think," I said, my voice sharper than I meant it to be, "after everything I did for him, he'd at least have the decency to end it in person. All that laundry and cooking and taking care of him and everything meant nothing. Honestly, him saying we're done is ridiculous. I was the fool to put up with his disrespect, because I'm sure if it was any other girl or if there is another girl they wouldn't do all I did. They'd leave the second he mistreats her."

 The words kept coming out before I could even process what I was saying and to who. Yet, she didn't interrupt. Just handed me her water bottle, and I took it without hesitation, grateful for the small kindness. I kept on venting while she just listened.

After a while of me rambling about my ex, my eyes drifted to the nachos sitting between us still untouched. "Aren't you gonna eat those?"

"They're not mine," she said, almost too quickly. "They were here when I sat down."

"Well in that case." I picked them up and walked up to a nearby trashcan to toss them away.

Turning around to walk back to the bench, my eyes met hers. Her expression was different than before. There was something more than tiredness displayed on her face. I can't make out what it is in this lighting. Whatever it was it flickered across her face for but a moment, but she smoothed it away immediately. I just plopped back down on the bench not paying any mind to her reaction and started talking again.

"Boys are so mean. " I said, exhaling. "Wouldn't you agree?"

She tilted her head slightly. "Yeah, they can be."

I let out a weak laugh. "Wow. I've been talking this whole time and I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Andrea."

"Maya."

"So," I said, already filling in the quiet again, "what brings you to this bench?"

"I had a bad day." She hesitated before replying. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, then rushed to add, "You don't have to. I just—sometimes it helps."

"It's okay. Just a regular bad day."

"Right. Of course." I nodded, embarrassed, then immediately kept going anyway. "I know exactly how you feel."

I winced. The words felt wrong the second they left my mouth. God, Andrea. I had no idea what she was actually going through and had just decided to lump my heartbreak right beside it like we were the same. 

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean..." She cut me off before I could say anything else.  

"No no, I understand where you're getting at. No need to apologize." She smiled at me with that same genuine, pretty smile. 

Before I could spiral any further, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I took out my phone to see my manager had texted me. 

Manager: 

Andrea, we have an early flight tomorrow. You need to get back to the hotel so you can pack and get some rest. 

Andrea: 

Okay, I'm omw!

"Well I guess it's time for me to go." I said, putting my phone back in my pocket. "It was nice meeting you, Maya."

"Nice meeting you, Andrea."

We shook hands, hers were cool against my warm ones sending shivers down my spine. Luckily I did well in hiding that. At least I think I did. I turned and headed to the hotel taking in the surroundings on my walk back. 

I glanced back once. She was still sitting there quietly like she was when I first approached. 

Interesting woman, I thought. Very quiet but kind.