Torn

Chapter 19

"I'm fine." Annie said.

"I heard about a couple things."

Silence.

"Are you mad at your mom?" Caroline asked sweetly. I literally hear my pulse banging in my ear drums.

"No," Annie sighed, "I can't be mad at her."

"That's good. She gets jealous really easily, you know that right?"

So not true.

"Yeah."

Annie!

"I think she just gets upset when you go to other people, like Marissa, instead of her."

"I tried, Car. She doesn't care anymore. I was telling her in bed last night and she fell asleep. I'll try talking and she just changes the subject or gets distracted."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I do remember her starting to tell me something last night, but after my show I could barely keep my eyes open.

"She cares! She cares a whole bunch. You just have to realize she has a bunch on her plate right now."

"Yeah." Annie said simply. "I should've stayed with Mar."

Oh my gosh, no. No. No.

"No!" Caroline exclaimed, reading my thoughts. "Don't say that. I want you here, Nat wants you here, Mike wants you here, Max wants you here, Sugar wants you here, and Demi wants you here. Stop overthinking!"

"Okay. I'm sorry. Thanks, Caroline." I heard Annie say.

"You're very welcome!"

Annie's POV

And, here I am. Running laps around the second level of the arena while they set up because I have nothing else better to do.

I have upbeat and rap music blaring through my headphones, so I didn't notice when Christina yelled at me from the bottom. And, before I knew it, she popped out of nowhere and I almost ran into her.

I ripped my headphones out of my ears, scared shitless. Gosh, why did she scare me like that?! Damn it.

"Hey!" She giggled. "I didn't mean to scare you!"

I sighed, letting out a laugh after the shock past. "It's okay. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to workout with me tomorrow. I saw you up here and I really need a partner until Demi gets her bike.."

I thought about it for a second. Having Christina as a workout buddy would be fun and it would give me something to do. There's no reason to say no. "Sure! Id love to!"

"Sweet!" She said, giving me a high five. "I have to go start getting ready, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay? My dressing room around twelve?"

"Sure!" I said, slipping my headphones back in and watching her disappear back out of view.

That lady.

I sat down in one if the seats and just took in the view of the stage and how empty it looks. It had me reminiscing the times me, Camila, and Dinah would be on a team and Ally, Lauren, and Normani would be on the other and we would play hide and go seek throughout this huge place. I miss them.

I unplugged the headphones from my phone and dialed up Camilas number, knowing that she could make anything feel better.

"Hello? Annie, is this you?" She joked, making me smile.

"Hey, Cam." I said lightly.

"Uh oh, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, really. I'm just tired of being on tour without you guys. It's so, so, so, boring, Cam."

"Awe, I know. We all miss you so much! But we'll come to a concert or two or three or eight and we'll sit side stage and dance just how we used to. And, when tour is over, you and Madison can come spend a weekend with us. Or, better yet, I'll convince Demi to let you have an extra week off school!" Even though I knew Demi wouldn't let me out of her sight for a week, let alone a school week, a smile played across my lips as I thought of the idea of at least the weekend.

"Really? Are you being serious?"

"Maybe not so much about the whole week, because Demi would have a cow, but of course about the weekend! Or more! As long as Dems would let you stay!" She said, "Oh, and I'm serious about all the concerts."

"Yay! I'm so excited, Cams!" I squealed, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome! We're at the studio right now, so I'll have to go. But, I'll text you and call you when we're done. Or, you could call me after the concert. Oh my gosh, or you could FaceTime us during the concert and-"

"Okay, Camila." I laughed, "I love you!"

"I love you a whole bunches of oats! You're beautiful. Have fun."

I smiled and hung up the phone, feeling much better than I did this morning.

••

"So, are you having any more fun?" Madison asked, through the phone.

"I dunno," I sighed, "I guess."

I'm laying on a leather couch in one of the dressing rooms, waiting for Demi to be done with meet and greet.

"That sucks. I miss you. A lot." She sighed.

"I miss you more." I said, "and tomorrow I have to get my computer set up for schooling and I don't want too." I complained.

"Well, tomorrow I have to actually go to school school, so." She slightly laughed.

"We suck." I laughed.

"I know!" She giggled back.

"I really wish you and Marissa were here. It's so... Boring without you guys. I went for a freaking run around the whole arena! I ran two miles out of boredom!"

Madison laughed her belly laugh through the phone, making me smile a little.

"And," I added, "I agreed to workout with Christina tomorrow. What is this?" I laughed.

Knock knock knock.

"Uhg," I groaned, "Hold on, Mads."

I left the phone pressed to my ear as I walked to the dressing room door and opened it, seeing a twelve year old girl with a flannel on and also a phone pressed to her ear.

"Madison!" I shrieked, throwing my arms around her.

"Annie!" She squealed back.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" I said, my cheeks already hurting from smiling so hard. I honestly think happy tears are about to start forming.

"I'm so excited!" Madison yelled.

"I'm more excited!" I laughed back, pulling away from our hug.

"I'm here!" She screamed.

I laughed, "I know!"

Then, it hit me.

"Where's Marissa? Did you come with her?" I asked.

She laughed uncomfortably and leaned against the door frame, "That's the.. Thing. I didn't come with Marissa. But her and everyone else are coming in a week."

"Then.. Who did you come with?" I asked curiously.

"Wilmer."