Broken Strings

Chapter Nine

Greg opens the door after a while to check if I'm alright. I nod at him and step out. My head goes dizzy as I stand up. I try to remember the last time I ate something.

Cameras flash all around me and I find it hard to get to the doors. Greg takes my arm and leads me to the hotel. He wants to walk me to my room but I insist that I'm fine.

My head begins to pound and my mouth goes dry. I take out a chewing gum and pop it in my mouth. I've been chewing these a lot more lately.

I stumble down the hallways leaning against the wall trying to get my balance. Chills run over my body but I'm burning hot. My mind is processing only some of the images around me.

Something's wrong but I don't know what. Then I hear a voice.

"Saw the interview. Cheap make up really suits you." Charlotte smirks at me.

I stand there and look at her. I can't think of any witty replies. I can barely stand up. I just take the blow.

"Mom thinks I should just go to interviews in your place. It'd be better for everyone don't you think?"

She doesn't wait for an answer. She just plays with a string of hair and continues on. I need to get away from her.

"I saw Hayden earlier. He didn't look so great. I offered him my shoulder to cry on. He always did prefer me you know. Everyone truly does." She really knows where to hit me.

As the last blow leaves me biting back my tears I walk on. My knees go weak and I grasp onto a random chair. My hands are sweaty and so is the back of my neck. My head is spinning out of control. This can't get any worse.

Luke steps out of his room and scowls at me.

Spoke too soon.

"Sorry I'll get out of your way." He says in a bitter tone.

"What?" I ask.

I can't have another person against me. I need someone on my side. I need help. Never thought it would be Luke.

"Do you forgot what you said to me earlier?" Luke crosses his arms over his chest.

He doesn't look happy. As long as he isn't walking away from me I don't care.

"I wasn't talking to you today."

"It was less than an hour ago Esther." He informs me like I'm an idiot.

"I wasn't here an hour ago."

"Sure you were. I came up to ask if you wanted to go get some dinner later. You told me that I was idiotic and to get out of your way. When I tried to stop you walking away you asked why you would ever want to spend time with someone like me." Luke finishes and I am fuming.

But I can't do anything about it. My body doesn't feel like it belongs to me anymore.

"That wasn't me. That was Charlotte." I shout.

Tears are already streaming down my face. He couldn't tell me apart from her. My head hurts even more and Luke's face is covered in black dots. I bite down hard on the inside on my cheeks until I can taste something strange.

"Esther are you ok?" Luke asks grabbing my arm.

I try to push him off when all of a sudden there's a flash of white. Then the room goes black.

"Why didn't you call a God damn hospital?" A voice says.

I open my eyes a little but the light is too much.

"I freaked out ok. It's not every day someone faints." Another voice.

I open my eyes and this time I feel fine. I sit up to see that I'm lying on a bed in a room that isn't mine.