Chapter Three
Annie
Eventually, everyone leaves, and it’s just me, Ella, Mum, and Dad at home. The living room is covered in empty pizza boxes and soft drink bottles. I can’t be bothered dealing with any of it, so I get up from the couch, stretch, and yawn.
It has to be late. We watched three movies after our concert, so it’s probably around one or two in the morning.
“Okay, I’m off to bed,” I say, hoping I can slip away without getting roped into helping clean up.
“Yeah, me too. We can all deal with this tomorrow,” Dad says.
I inwardly groan. I may have escaped tonight, but tomorrow I’ll still have to help, and I have far better things to do than clean, like sleep or write songs.
“Night, everyone,” Ella says, walking upstairs with me while the dogs race around our feet.
“Night, girls. Sleep well. We’re so proud of you both,” Mum calls.
I glance back down the stairs, smile, and then keep going toward my room.
“What an awesome night, hey?” I say as Ella reaches her door.
“Sure was. Night, sis.”
“Night, Elle’s Bells.”
She rolls her eyes at the nickname, and I grin as I step into my room and close the door behind me.
Finally.
My room is the one place where I don’t have to think about how I’m acting or what anyone else expects from me. In here, I can just be. It’s where I let myself think about the things I try not to think about in front of other people, because if I do, I might crack, and I hate that.
I don’t want people seeing the messier parts of me, if I can help it.
I walk over to my dresser, pull out my extra-long 12GAUGE-Slayed T-shirt, and toss it onto the bed. I take my hair out of its ponytail and run my fingers through it, fluffing it out before I strip off my clothes and throw them toward the edge of the bed.
They miss and land on the floor.
So do yesterday’s.
I leave them there because future Annie can deal with it.
I pull the shirt over my head just as there’s a knock at the door.
“Yeah?”
“It’s me, honey. Can I come in?”
Mum.
“Yeah, come in.”
I climb onto my bed and sit back against the pillows as the door opens. Mum steps inside and closes it behind her. “You ready for bed?” she asks.
I nod and slide under the crisp purple sheets.
“Good. You’re up far too late, but I suppose that comes with being a rock star,” she says, sitting beside me.
I laugh. “I’m not a rock star yet, Mum.”
She smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “No, but you will be. And I’ll be there every step of the way.”
The words make me think straight back to earlier, to them not being there the first time.
“I know,” I say quietly.
She frowns. “I’m sorry about today, Annie. I promise we’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s okay. You already did by letting me play again after I came back.”
She takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Did you mean what you said today?”
There’s so much hurt in her eyes that it makes my chest ache.
I shake my head and move a little closer. “No, Mum. I didn’t mean any of it. I was angry, and I lashed out. I’m sorry about what I said, because I couldn’t ask for a better Mum. It just really hurt, knowing you and Dad weren’t there when I was playing for you.”
“I know,” she says softly. “And trust me, you have no idea how sorry I am. We let you down. But it won’t happen again, Annie. I promise.” She leans in and kisses my forehead.
“Mum?”
“Yes, darling?”
I look down at my hands. Now that we’re talking, I may as well ask. “Do you think… I mean, do you know anything about my birth parents?”
She goes still for half a second. I feel it in the way her hand tightens around mine. “Are you thinking about them more lately?” she asks.
I look up and nod.
She exhales. “Okay. Well… I don’t know anything about them. We chose not to see any identifying details. We were only given your medical history and the things that might matter for your future.” Her expression softens. “I’m sorry, Annie. I really don’t know who they were or where they lived.”
I press my lips together and nod. “It’s okay. I just… I don’t know. It’s hard not knowing where you came from.”
“I understand that,” she says gently. “But Annie, just because you share someone else’s DNA doesn’t mean you’re alone.
We are your family… your father, Ella, me.
We love you, no matter where you came from.
Your past matters because it shaped you, but it doesn’t define whether you belong here. You do. You always will.”
My eyes sting, and suddenly I’m crying.
“Oh, honey,” Mum murmurs, pulling me into her arms. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” she says. “And I’m sorry today brought all of this up. But just remember… if your birth parents hadn’t given you up, you might have had a completely different life. And selfishly, I can’t imagine mine without my little purple-haired wildcat.”
A laugh slips out through my tears, and I scrub at my face. “I’m sorry I yelled at you today,” I say. “I just don’t know how to control my anger.”
She nods slowly. “I know.” Then she hesitates. “I could take you to talk to someone, if you wanted.”
I blink at her. “What, like a shrink?”
She smiles, holding back a laugh. “They’re not as scary as they sound.
And they’re not just for people who are falling apart.
Your father and I have both seen one. After my accident, we went quite a lot.
And again, after surrogacy failed.” Her expression stays calm and open.
“Sometimes it just helps to have someone outside the family give you tools to deal with things. Anger, hurt, questions… all of it.”
“I don’t need a shrink, Mum. I’m not crazy—”
“No one said you were,” she says gently. “That’s not what it means.”
“Can’t I just talk to you instead?” I ask.
Her face softens immediately, and she leans in to hug me again. “Of course you can. You can talk to me about anything. Always. You’re my daughter, and I love you. I’d do anything for you. You know that, right?”
“I know. I love you too, Mum.” I sniff and wipe at my face again. “I guess I just need time to process that I’ll probably never meet my birth parents. It makes me sad… but also weirdly relieved.”
“That makes sense.”
I let out a breath. “What if they were horrible? Or worse… what if they didn’t even like rock and roll? What if they were hippies living in a commune with hairy armpits and no deodorant?”
Mum laughs and shakes her head. “Well, sweetheart, I guess we’ll never know. But if it helps, maybe you can picture them however you want. Build an image of them that brings you peace, and hold onto that instead of every awful possibility.”
I raise an eyebrow. “So… make something up and stick with that?”
“If it helps.”
I think about it for a second. “Mum, can I ask you another question?”
“Of course, Annie. You can ask me anything.”
I hesitate, then exhale. “Honestly… what’s your real opinion on Staked?”
Mum’s smile brightens. “Annie, I can spot talent a mile away, and what you, your sister, and the rest of your band are doing is amazing. You’ve still got things to learn, but with your father and Uncle Hux guiding you, I have no doubt you’ll be playing to packed stadiums one day.
” She pauses, her expression softening slightly.
“The only thing I worry about is the fans… and the paparazzi. You’ll need to keep your cool around them. You don’t want to end up in headlines because of an outburst.”
I nod slowly. I know exactly what Mum means. It happens all the time, celebrities losing it, getting caught on camera, and suddenly that’s all anyone talks about.
And honestly?
I can see myself doing exactly that.
“Yeah… I’ll need to work on that,” I admit. “But I’ll have Aston and Ella with me. They’re pretty good at keeping me grounded.”
Mum tries to hide a smirk. “So… Aston, huh?” she says, her tone a little too knowing.
I frown. “What about him?”
“Nothing,” she replies lightly. “Just checking if there’s any news.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you being weird?”
“I’m not being weird,” she says, smiling as she stands. “Just making sure you’re still good friends.” She gestures for me to lie down, then pulls the covers up under my chin.
“We’ll always be best friends, Mum.”
“You know, sweetheart… if you ever want to talk about boys, you can talk to me.”
I blink at her. “What are you on about? Are you high?”
“Annie,” she says, trying not to laugh. “Don’t joke about drugs, especially with your father in the house.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she says, softening again. “I’m just saying… if you ever start liking someone as more than a friend, and it confuses you, you can come to me.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re being weird again.”
She sighs, smiling. “All right, maybe a little. Just… know I’m here. We can talk about anything.”
“That makes more sense,” I say. “Thanks, Mum. And… I am really sorry about today.”
She winces slightly, then nods. “So am I. Sleep well, sweetheart. And tidy this room a bit before Susan comes for school tomorrow, okay?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Mum.”
She chuckles as she heads for the door. “I love you, Annie Bear.”
I groan softly. “Love you too. Goodnight.”
“Sweet dreams.” She flicks the light off and closes the door behind her.
“Weirdo,” I mumble with a quiet laugh as I shift under the covers.
My phone vibrates on the bedside table, so I grab it and swipe the screen, smiling when I see Aston’s name.
Aston: Hey Lennox, hope I’m not waking u. Just wanted to know if ur doing ok? I know today was rough for u, but I’m here for u… always. A1 xo
I smile at his use of our message nicknames.
He’s A1, and I’m A2. We fought for ages because I thought I should be A1, but he said he’s older, so he gets those bragging rights.
Needless to say, I didn’t talk to him for about an hour, but I let him win because I will always cave when it comes to Aston. I hit reply.
Me: Hey, I’m still up just climbed into bed. Had a chat with Mum and we’re all good now. Thanks for being there for me today. I can always count on u to bring me back down off my high horse. A2 xxxx
I hit send, snuggle into the bed covers, and bring my phone screen in line with my face to wait for his reply. My phone vibrates, and I swipe the screen.
Aston: Anytime, Lennox, you know that. I’m always here for u, no matter what.
That’s what best friends do, right? BTW, I feel so badass for being up this late, the night before school.
Maybe we should sneak out, go to a bar, and get wasted.
Maybe to a strip club. Let’s go and be rebels. What do u say? A1 xo
I let out a loud laugh and then quickly cover my mouth with my hand, hoping I haven’t woken Ella next door, or worse, Mum or Dad. I hit reply.
Me: Let’s go all out and get tattoos and get high. I’ll hire u a prostitute, and I can learn to be a stripper, make a real night of it? Maybe I can even get pregnant if I try hard enough. Dad would love that. Bahahaha. Way better than getting homeschooled tomorrow. A2 xxxx
I hit send and giggle at our conversation. Those things are something neither of us would ever actually do. Well… maybe the tattoo part. We made a pact that on my eighteenth birthday, we’d get matching ones. My phone vibrates again.
Aston: Yeah, way better. But I guess I’m tired and it is a school night, so maybe we can raincheck for Friday? ;) A1 xo
I smile and hit reply.
Me: Piker! I was getting dressed up and was almost at ur place. Guess I’ll have to walk home and go to bed like a good little girl. lol A2 xxxx
I hit send.
Aston: Well, if I’d known u were almost at my house, I would’ve dropped everything. I would love to see you all dressed up. ;) A1 xo
I frown, my brow furrowing slightly.
Why would he say that?
I start typing.
Me: Why the hell would you say that? xxxx
I stare at it for a second… then backspace to start again.
Me: Well, I guess u’ll never know will u, u weirdo. A2 xxxx
Better. I hit send, then roll onto my back, resting my phone on my chest before I close my eyes. And then, out of nowhere, an image flashes in my mind.
Aston.
Earlier today.
The way he lifted his shirt.
The way his muscles moved…
I swallow, something strange flickering low in my stomach, spreading before I can stop it.
My legs feel heavy.
My chest tight.
What the hell was that?
I have no idea why my body reacts to Aston like this.
It doesn’t happen with anyone else. It never has. But with him… it’s always been there in some way—that strange pull, like I’m tied to him in a way I don’t fully understand.
Maybe it’s because we’re so close.
Or maybe it’s something else.
The thought makes my stomach twist, and I shift under the covers, trying to ignore the lingering warmth still humming through me. Being a teenager is confusing enough without my body suddenly deciding to react to things I don’t understand.
And for the first time, I don’t want to ask Mum about it.
That alone tells me something’s different.
My phone vibrates, pulling me from my thoughts. I open my eyes and grab it, glad for the distraction.
Aston: Ok well, this weirdo needs to go to bed. Have a good sleep Lennox, and I’ll see u tmro. A1 xo
I smile at the message, normal, easy, familiar, and hit reply.
Me: Night Ast, and thanks again for today. I luv ur gutz. Sleep well. A2 xxxx
I hit send and lean over to plug my phone into the charger. It vibrates again almost immediately.
Aston: Night beautiful. Luv u 2. A1 xo
I freeze.
Beautiful?
My brow furrows as I stare at the screen.
He’s never said that before.
I huff softly and place my phone on the nightstand, rolling onto my side and crossing my arms over my chest.
What the hell is going on?
After a moment, I turn back, grab the phone again, and open the messages, staring at the words as though they might suddenly make sense.
Aston: Night beautiful. Luv u 2.
A small smile tries to creep onto my lips, and I bite down on it.
Does he actually think I’m beautiful?
Or is it just… something people say?
I let out a quiet breath and drop the phone back onto the nightstand.
Nope.
Not going there.
It’s way too late, and I need sleep. Otherwise, cranky-pants Annie will show up for homeschooling tomorrow, and no one likes her.
Not even me.
I close my eyes, but it doesn’t help.
Because the moment I do, it’s him again.
Aston.
And even when sleep finally drags me under, he’s still there.