We arrived in Toronto around 7pm that night. I had just woken up not too long ago and it was already night, it might've just been the fact that I had slept awhile too. Many fans crowded around the jet as we landed which made the situation quite chaotic. Everyone had to pack themselves tightly into each vehicle as we rode to the hotel which was pretty far from the airport. A few hours into the tour and I'm already wanting to go home. All of this was a new experience for me and I honestly didn't know how to handle all of the schedules that we were on, along with different time zones. I still didn't understand how Michael handled all of this.
...
We all settled into are rooms and had a quick meeting before being dismissed to our rooms. I took a shower to cleanse myself from my long day of constant traveling and settled into a pair of shorts and an oversized Brooklyn sweatshirt I had received as a gift one year from one of my students. As I was about to call Michael before going to bed, there was a knock on the door that interrupted my chance of doing just that. When I answered the door, I was surprised to see who had visited me at such an hour.
"Whitney? Come in, come in. What are you doing here so late?" I looked at Whitney who had already prepared herself for bed.
"I just wanted to check in to see how you were adjusting to everything. I saw how uncomfortable you were while we were on the plane ride." Her and I sat down as we talked.
"I guess I'm doing okay, this is all a huge adjustment for me so I'm still trying to eat used to it." I said.
"Well I know it can be uncomfortable when you're around people you don't know. I apologize for my little entourage for being so rude today, I felt really bad and I just wanted to come here and apologize face to face." I waved my hand at her.
"It's okay, it wasn't that big of a deal. Plus, I'm used to it anyways so it doesn't come at a surprise." I rubbed my arms uncomfortably.
"Anna is everything okay? You seem sad." She examined me as I shook my head.
"No, I'm okay." I lied.
"Anna, I want to believe you but I can't. Something is up and I just want you to know that I'm here for you." I watched as her eyes traveled down to my arms. I looked down to see that my sweatshirt had rolled up, leaving enough cleavage to show my shame that had been marked on me. Whitney rushed over and grabbed my wrist and pushed my sleeve up.
"Anna! What did you do?" She said half concerned, half angry.
"It's nothing." I tried to tear myself away from her grasp but she held my wrist tight.
"Anna you need to tell me right now! What is going on? And I'm not going to ask again." I gulped as tears welled in my eyes.
"I-I don't know Whitney. It's just really hard to explain since no one can really relate." I looked away to hide my tears. Whitney turned my face towards her as she wiped away my tears with her thumb.
"Anna, please tell me. I'm really worried about you right now." I sighed as I turned to her.
"When I left Michael a few years ago, I was broken because he had been the only true friend I had ever had. The day I left he had told me that he loved me and when I left, I was completely broken from the inside out. Not too long after I went back to school, my parents had died in a car wreck and I lost it. I had isolated myself from everyone and just couldn't handle life anymore. That's when this started and many other problems had occurred that I had never told Michael about. I'm ashamed of what I did and what I've done to myself and I can never forgive myself. I would prefer if Michael never knew about this, God knows what he would do." I sniffles as I finished my disastrous story. Whitney had tears streaming down her face as well.
"Anna, I'm so so sorry. I didn't know about this but I'm glad you told me. You've been through so much and I don't know how you've been so strong! I don't know how it would feel or be in your position. I would absolutely lose my mind completely." Whitney wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly.
"I promise you that things will get better, and I will help you through this okay? I promise that I won't tel anyone about this." She swore.
"I appreciate it Whitney. Very much." I thanked her.
"No problem. Just try and get some sleep okay? That will be the best thing for you." I nodded my head as Whitney made her way to the door.
"Goodnight Anna, remember we have rehearsals at eight tomorrow." She reminded me.
"Okay I'll see you then. Goodnight Whitney." She then shut the door as I made my way to bed. Right as I settled in bed, my phone rang on the nightstand. I groaned as I picked it up as it was going on 11pm.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Remind me to never tour again." Michael groaned from the other side.
"How'd it go?" I asked him.
"It went fine, although it would've been better if you were front row and cheering me on. I miss your obnoxiousness." I scoffed at his insult.
"I'm obnoxious? Michael I think you have a little too much hairspray stuck in your ear." I teased.
"For the record, I only use water." I chuckled as I heard him take a seat somewhere. "So where are you guys now?"
"Well, we're at the hotel in Toronto. We leave tomorrow after the concert and head to Saratoga Springs." I stated.
"Welcome to the life of touring." I rolled my eyes and his "enthusiasm".
"But this isn't the reason I called. I just got off the phone with Whitney, is there anything that I need to know about? Anything going on?" I knew what he was hinting at which made me furious to know that Whitney told.
"I actually made a new friend. It's her half brother and he is literally just like you. He's pulled the most amazing pranks I have ever heard." I fake laughed.
"That's great to hear, I'm happy for you. What I mean is there anything going on with you that you need to tell me? I don't want you keeping any secrets from me Anna. You know I care about you and your well-being." My blood still boiled to know that Whitney went against my word.
"No Michael, I'm perfectly fine and in good health. Anyway, I got to get to bed because I have early morning rehearsals."
"Oh okay, well goodnight Anna." I hung up the phone quickly as I shook my head and turned off the light.
...
(Michael's POV)
Flashback
(Phone ringing)
"Hello?" I answered.
"Michael? It's me Whitney! How are you?" She enthusiastically responded.
"I'm doing good! How about yourself?" I politely said back to her.
"Pretty good actually, thanks for asking." She said.
"May I ask why you're calling me at this time?" I asked, not wanting to sound rude.
"Shoot, I forgot about the time difference. Listen, the reason I called was about Anna." I was worried when she mentioned Anna.
"Is everything okay? What's going on?" I worriedly asked.
"Umm, well there is something that you need to know. Her and I talked this evening, although I'm very happy that she is on tour with me, but I'm worried about her. Anna has been trying to..kill herself. Not recently but in the last few months, yes. She has cut marks all over her forearms and she has apparently been doing it from the day you two...broke apart up until now. And after everything she's gone through with her parents and with you missing from her life has been a major contribution to her issues. She didn't want me to tell you any of this because she knew that you would fret over this, but I thought that you should know." I was morally shocked.
"Are you sure Whitney? Cause' this doesn't sound like the Anna I know." I shook my head in disbelief.
"I know it doesn't, that's why I called you. I don't want to fire her, she's very talented for a girl her age."
"Yes I know that she is very talented. I'll talk to her, maybe there was a misunderstanding." I hoped and prayed that this was some sort of mixup.
"I doubt it Michael. She was pretty clear." My Hands were shaking and my heart was beating fast as I worried about Anna.
"Okay well thank you for the heads up. I'll give her a call immediately." Whitney bid me goodbye as I made a mad dash to contact Anna.
End of Flashback
I tossed and turned all night as I worried about Anna. Just thinking about her doing any of this just doesn't seem reliable. So many questions were running through my head as I pondered my thoughts. In some degree it all made sense. The strange behavior, the refusal of touch and change of subject. I was afraid to confront her face to face because I know how it will end. She promised me that whenever she had a problem that she would come to me about it, but like she said, people change.
Ooooo! Whitney told Michael! How do you think Anna will react when she sees Whitney? What other secrets will be spilled? Comment your input