Higher Stakes [Strings: Part 1]

Chapter 3: Fire

Too late.

She was standing at the opened door to her dressing room. Pile of papers gathered in the center. Some were ripped apart. Some were scrunched up. Standing beside this pile, with his back facing her, Trace Cyrus was emptying a drawer filled with used up papers.

“Crap Trace! What are you doing?” Demi yelled.

Turning around, with his head held high, he dropped the drawer into the pile of useless papers which happened to be Demi’s music sheets. “Nice of you to come.” He said. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a lighter. “Maybe this time-“ Fire ignited on the lighter. “You’ll change your freaking mind.”

“Change about what?” Demi asked, confused.

She walked into the trashed dressing room, hoping that her boyfriend would stay calm and not do anything stupid.

“See!” he yelled. “You don’t even have any damn idea what I’m talking about!”

“Trace, stop it!” Tiffany interfered, rushing into the room as well. Doug and Brandon were standing by the door, panting double times. “Why in the hell are you doing here and trash Demi’s room? You can get arrested for this.”

“Fuck off!” Trace shouted at Tiffany’s face. Demi stepped in.

“Stop it! Just stop all of this!” Demi pleaded. “Please, don’t. Don’t. Get out of here.”

Trace raised his eyebrow at his girlfriend and snorted. Tilting his head to the side, his eyes stopped at one object in the room: Demi’s acoustic guitar. He smirked.

Aware of what going to happen, Demi pleaded some more. “No, No, No! Don’t.”

Again, she was too late. Trace got his hand on Demi’s precious guitar which happened to be a gift from her father. “Put it down! Please!”

He ignored her as he pretend to examine the guitar. Running his fingers down the fret board and the six strings, He strummed once with the tip of his lighter.

Demi cringed. “PUT IT DOWN!” She yelled.

That made him tick. He snapped and glared right at Demi. His eyes were wide as if they were about to shoot right out of the socket. Demi could feel the veins around his eyes tightening.

“What the fuck would you care about this piece of shit rather than me?” he hissed. Rising up the guitar next to him, he began. “This.” He gestured at it. “This is… NOTHING compare to me! This is a piece of wood. It doesn’t have feelings. It doesn’t have any sentimental values. It doesn’t give back anything only some crappy sounds!”

“Please, put it down.” Demi tearing up. “It means a lot to me.”

“Let see how it would mean to you when I do this,” He rose up the lighter in his hand and clicked it. Fire emerged at the end. “Say goodbye.”

“NO!” she cried.

Trace leads the fire to the bottom of the guitar. Moving it side to side, trying to make a stain. Then he went for the kill. He tried to set the guitar on fire right in front a broken girl.

“Grab the guitar!” someone yelled.

“Get him!” yelled another person.

Suddenly, two boys rushed in and charged straight at Trace.

“What the f-umpf”

They rushed and lifted Trace off the ground. One of them pinned him against the wall while the other pulled the guitar away. He put the guitar on the couch where Demi quickly reached for it. He then rushes and help his friend with Trace. Sadly, Trace pushed him off and got loose.

“Back off!” Trace roared at them.

David Henrie and Bradley Watson stood side by side, facing Trace. Both were trying to get in to settle Trace. “Calm down Trace.” David said.

Furious, Trace picked up the empty drawer by the pile of used papers. He charged towards David and swung it at him.

“David!” Selena screamed.

SLAM!

Trace was up against the wall again and this time, Bradley pinned him all on his own. He pressed his elbow against Trace’s ribs causing him to lose his breath. The empty drawer fell to the ground. Everyone gasped.

Bradley slowly backed off and stared at Trace. He drew in and said, “Get out of here. Before you get in deep.”

Not taking it in, Trace seized Bradley’s shirt, pulled him in with his fist ready to strike.

“Trace, no!” Demi shouted.

Hands off of him, Trace calmed down and just walked out of the room leaving everyone confuse and curious.

“You two okay?” Selena rushed onto the room and embraced Bradley and David. She checked them for any injuries which Bradley stopped her.

“We’re fine.” He smiled.

As everybody rushing in, Demi shook her head and ran out instead crying her eyes out. This was painful for her. All because of her, her friends and one stranger were nearly on the verge of disaster.

“Where is she going?” Bradley sounded.

Selena turned to the door and followed her best friend.