Chapter Fourteen
Annie
Dad’s off talking to Rob and Hux, while Mum and Anna fuss over Ella, trying to make her even more beautiful. Not that she needs it—Ella’s stunning, and the crowd’s going to love her.
Across the room, Aston sits alone, scribbling in a notebook.
As much as I want to go over and demand answers about today, I hold back. He’s writing. And I know how much I hate being interrupted when I’m working on a song. He’s only just started writing, though, which makes me curious. I can’t wait to hear what he comes up with.
Peripheral finishes their set, and the crowd erupts.
There’s a short break before Red Velvet goes on.
I haven’t met them, but apparently their lead singer, Amber, is…
difficult. Chad ran into her earlier and said she’s young and thinks she owns the world, which is saying something, because Chad never says a bad word about anyone.
The crowd noise swells, echoing through the venue. I’ve heard it before at Dad’s shows, but this time, it’s for us.
My excitement twists into nerves.
And all I can think about is Aston.
I don’t know how we’re supposed to go on stage like this. He’s been avoiding me all day. Even during rehearsal, he wouldn’t come near me. And now… now I don’t know what to expect.
It’s throwing me off more than I want to admit.
I need air.
Slipping out when no one’s paying attention, I make my way down the hallway until I find a fire exit. It’s late April—cool, clear, perfect, exactly what I need.
I push the door open and step outside into the night.
Three girls are loitering nearby, and they spot me immediately.
“Oh my God, were you in there with the bands?” one of them asks, rushing over.
I smirk and nod, wrapping my arms around myself against the chill.
“Is it amazing in there? We tried to get tickets, but they sold out so fast,” another says.
“It’s pretty cool,” I reply. “Why are you out here?”
One of them keeps staring at me strangely, and I ignore her.
“We’re trying to get someone to sneak us in. We heard 12GAUGE-Slayed are here with their kids, and we really want to meet Colter Slade—”
“And Huxley,” another adds quickly.
I grin. They clearly don’t recognize me. Or maybe they just don’t expect me to be out here alone.
Might as well have a little fun. “Oh yeah, they’re all inside. Colt, Hux, Johnny, Dingo… I heard their kids’ band is supposed to be amazing.”
“I bet. With parents like that, they’d have to be. People are saying there are record labels in the crowd tonight, waiting to sign Staked.”
My eyes widen. “Seriously?”
She nods.
“I know who you are!” the third girl suddenly shrieks.
I blink. “What?”
“You’re Colter’s daughter. I saw you on the poster—”
“What? Really?” the others jump in, crowding closer.
Oh shit! My stomach drops.
“No, I think you’ve got me confused with—”
“No! The hair… you’re Annie Slade!” she screams.
Double shit!
They all start jumping and squealing.
“Oh my God, can I touch you?” one blurts, grabbing my arm before I can move.
I yank back, frowning. “Hey…”
“I touched Annie Slade. That means I basically touched Colt. I am never washing my hand again,” she gushes.
Right. Definitely unhinged.
“Okay, I’m going back inside,” I say, turning for the door, but she grabs my arm again, yanking me back.
“Take us with you. We’ll tell everyone about Staked. We’ll make you huge by Monday.”
I stare at her. “Let go of me.”
Another girl joins in, hands on my arms. Goddammit! Then suddenly they’re all over me, grabbing, pulling, tugging at my clothes.
“Annie, take us in!”
“Please!”
My heart slams against my ribs as I grab the door handle and yank, but it doesn’t budge.
Panic spikes.
“Annie, we can be your friends—”
“Best friends!”
“You’re all mental,” I snap, trying to pull free as they start tugging at my hair. “Ouch! Fuck!” The pain jerks my head back, and I lose my grip on the handle.
Suddenly, the door flies open, and Dad stands there, Mum just behind him, both staring at the scene.
“What the fuck!” Dad barks.
The girls freeze.
“Oh my God… Colter fucking Slade,” one shouts, instantly letting go.
The others drop me too, suddenly starstruck.
Mum rushes to my side, smoothing my hair as I lean into her. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
I nod, still shaken, and she pulls me inside. Dad slams the door behind us just as the girls start surging forward.
“Annie. God!” Dad’s voice is sharp, tight. “You’re just like your mother. You can’t go outside at events like this. You know what happened to her… you do remember that, right?”
“I know—”
“Then w-why?” His voice cracks with something raw. “She was pushed into traffic, Annie. Hit by a van. She nearly died. Do you understand how dangerous this is?”
I wince, swallowing hard.
“Colt,” Mum says gently, stepping toward him. “She’s okay.”
But Dad just stands there, staring at me, like he’s still seeing what almost happened.
“I can’t lose her, Dee. I nearly lost you to them,” Dad says, his voice rough.
Mum wraps her arms around him, soothing him while I stand there, hugging myself, feeling stupid for upsetting him like this.
I know how scared he is of losing us. It’s the one thing that terrifies him most. It’s why we’ve lived such sheltered lives, barely any photographs, hardly any information out there.
He’s always been afraid that some unhinged fan, Mum’s evil minions, as she calls them, might try to hurt us.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t think anyone would be out there—”
“There is always someone out there, Annie.” He pulls me into his arms again, holding me so tight it almost knocks the breath out of me. “You can’t go outside on your own. Ever. Do you understand?”
“I understand. I’m sorry. I just needed some air… to clear my head.”
“Just promise me you won’t do that again. Not at events like this.”
A small laugh slips out of me. “After that? Don’t worry. I’m never going outside again.”
That is not an experience I ever want to repeat.
“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” he asks, finally pulling back to look me over.
“No, I’m fine. Just… a bruised ego.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Bruised ego?”
“They didn’t care about me. They just wanted to be close to you.”
Dad huffs softly. “Well, won’t they feel stupid when they realize how incredible you are? You’ll be more famous than me one day.”
I snort. “Doubtful. But thanks. I needed that.”
“Come on,” Mum says gently. “We should get back. People will be wondering where we are, and Ella might need a confidence boost, too.”
They fall into step on either side of me like bodyguards, and I can’t help but smile at how protective they are, even if it’s a little over the top.
“Hey… how did you know where I was?” I ask.
“Security cameras,” Dad says, pointing one out above us as we pass.
I glance up at it. “Well, I take back everything I’ve ever said about those. Big fan now. Big, huge, massive fan!” I giggle.
We step back into the green room to find Ella still at the fruit platter, which is almost completely wiped out.
I laugh as Mum pulls us both into a hug.
“And what’s this for?” Ella asks.
“Because I love my girls,” Mum says softly. “And if anything ever happened to either of you, it would break me. Just remember that.”
I press into her a little tighter.
“Okay… random, but sweet,” Ella says, then looks at me. “Where’d you disappear to?”
Mum shoots me a look, eyes wide— it is a ‘don’t say anything’ look.
“Just needed some air,” I reply, keeping it light. No way am I freaking Ella out before we go on stage.
“Well, I ate all the strawberries while Dad was gone. I’m starving.”
I glance over to Dad just as he pours a shot of Jack Daniel’s and downs it in one go.
Right. Definitely shaken.
He doesn’t drink hard liquor unless he really needs it, due to his past addiction issues.
Mum follows my gaze as Uncle Hux steps up beside him.
“Will he be okay?” I murmur.
“Yes, sweetheart. He’s rattled. But he will be fine as long as you’re okay.” She kisses the top of my head.
“Should I go talk to him?”
“No, I’ll handle it. Me and your Uncle Hux know how to calm him down.” She gives me a small smile. “Are you okay? Not too shaken to perform?”
“No fucking way am I missing that stage tonight.” I frown at her.
She raises a brow. “Language. You know your father hates that.”
“Then why does he love it when you swear?”
She actually blushes.
Oh no.
“How do you know that?” she asks.
I grin. “Because every time you do, Dad looks like his entire body glitches… in a good way. It’s weird.”
She huffs a laugh, shaking her head. “Right, well, don’t worry about that. Just try not to swear yourself.”
“Yes, Mum,” I say flatly.
“Good girl. Now go stop your sister from eating the entire fruit platter. Too much fiber isn’t a good idea before a show.”
I grin and head back to Ella, who’s now inhaling raspberries.
“Ella, do you want to bloat before we go on stage?” I ask.
She frowns, cheeks full. “You can’t get fat from fruit.”
“No, but your stomach can bloat. Do you want to look pregnant on stage?”
Her eyes widen, and she immediately drops the slice of cantaloupe she was about to eat. “I can’t stop,” she groans. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Are you nervous?” She nods. “Then that’s it. Everyone’s got a thing. Dad gets too flirty with Mum. Chad fusses with his clothes. I get grumpy…” I smirk. “And you? Well, you eat.”
She pauses, thinking. “You know what… you’re right. I always raid the fridge when I’m nervous.”
I grin. “There you go.”
“Great. I’m going to be huge by the time I’m thirty.”
“Not if you stick to decent food. You’ll be fine.”
She points at me. “You have to stop me if I go overboard.”
“Done!”
She immediately pops another raspberry into her mouth, then hooks her arm through mine and pulls me away from the table, and I laugh as we head back to the sofa.
Red Velvet’s set echoes through the venue, and they sound good. Really good. I just hope the crowd feels the same way about us. They already have a following, and we are about to walk out there as complete unknowns.
And that could go either way.
Rob walks in, all smiles. “Okay, Staked… ready to go?”
I glance at Aston. He looks at me… then looks away, his face revealing nothing.
I exhale and move toward the door with Ella.
“Let’s get this party started!” Caleb shouts, charging ahead to lead us down the hall.
Red Velvet finishes their last song, and the crowd goes wild. The sound hits me like a shockwave, rattling through my chest.
Caleb looks back, practically vibrating with excitement. I grin at him as he bounces around like he’s about to explode. Chad is calm as ever, while Ella looks like she might pass out.
I glance at Aston again, and finally, he smiles.
Relief floods through me.
We reach the stage entrance as Red Velvet walks off. The lead singer, a dyed redhead, gives me a slow once-over and frowns. I raise my brows at her, unimpressed.
As she passes Chad, though, she gives him a small smile.
Interesting.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he liked her, even after calling her a bitch earlier. But then again, Chad’s impossible to read half the time.
“All right, huddle up,” Caleb calls as the parents step back.
“Good luck, guys. We’re proud of you,” Dad says.
I keep quiet about the record labels being out there. No way am I stressing everyone out, especially Ella, who looks seconds away from throwing up.
We form a circle, arms wrapping around each other like always.
Except…
Aston isn’t beside me.
He’s opposite me.
And the absence of him at my side feels wrong.
“Focus out there,” Caleb says. “Don’t think about the crowd. Yeah, it’s big, but play like we do at the manor, and everything will be all Isle of Wight.”
We laugh.
“Did you just use Cockney slang?” Ella asks.
He grins. “Maybe.”
“All right, hands in,” Caleb says.
We all stack our hands together, grinning as we get ready to say our mantra.
The music flows for all to hear.
You cannot help but stop and cheer.
The walls will tremble, shudder, and break,
’Cause no one can handle the sound of Staked.
One, two, three… Staked!
We shout, the energy surging between us.
“Okay, you’re up!” someone calls.
Ella, Aston, and I grab our guitars and strap them on. My pulse is racing, adrenaline flooding every inch of me. Nervous, but more excited than I’ve ever been in my life.
Then…
A sharp tingle runs over my skin.
“Annie.”
I turn. Aston is right behind me.
I glance over. Dad’s distracted, talking to Rob.
Ella casually drifts away, giving us space.
It’s just us.
“I’m sorry about today,” Aston says quickly, stepping closer. Our guitars brush. “I don’t know how long we’ve got before your dad notices, but I need you to know… I wasn’t avoiding you on purpose. I swear. All I’ve wanted to do all day…” he leans in, voice low, “…is kiss you.”
My breath catches. “Then kiss me,” I whisper.
He glances around, then smiles, and closes the distance. His lips meet mine, soft but sure. Heat rushes through me instantly, my body reacting before I can even think.
And then it’s over.
Way too soon.
“God, I’ve wanted to do that all day,” he murmurs.
I smile, still a little dazed. “Why were you avoid—”
“All right, kids, you’re on,” Dad cuts in, stepping over. “Go out there and have a blast.”
I look back at Aston.
He winks.
And just like that, everything feels right again.
We move to the edge of the stage as the announcement booms over the speakers. “And now, the band you’ve all been waiting for… give it up for Staked!”
The crowd erupts.
I glance at Aston, and we both grin while my heart pounds like it’s about to burst.
The lights dim.
We step out onto the stage.
The roar of the crowd hits us full force, thousands of people screaming, jumping, waiting, and as I take it all in, one thing is crystal clear…
It doesn’t get better than this.