46. Unhinged
Unhinged
BETTY
The crash from the lighting rig shook me.
I watched in horror, screaming out as soon as I saw it drifting, but it was impossible to hear.
Barry reacted swiftly through some sixth sense, and thankfully, everyone was fine.
I looked to my co-host, Astrid, for any wisdom, but she had none.
Before we knew it, someone pulled us off stage and rushed us into a hallway.
All the while, we made cinematic gold as the documentary crew chased me through the halls. In an evening gown and heels, I did my best castle run until my detail told me we were safe. I stood, surrounded by confused performers.
“Something fell,” I clarified in confused Norwegian. “It’s okay. They are… checking it out.”
Breathless, I scanned the hallway, wanting to know Mary was okay. I needed to see her. Not caring how it looked, I streamed towards a throng of people in one of the main hallways.
I ducked into the green room and found Mary hyperventilating on a couch. I’d never seen her cry like this. She didn’t get like this. Mary Jensson was invincible, right?
I approached, leading the sea to part. People stared in confusion as I, an interloper, invaded.
I didn’t care. My sole goal was confirming her safety.
Clarice elbowed Alicia aside. Barry moved.
Betty’s head was practically in her lap.
I’d barely seen her cry and never saw her hyperventilate.
She was understandably frightened, but this wound seemed deeper than a momentary scare.
The woman who never got performance anxiety was shook.
I dropped before Mary and patted her knee.
“Hey,” I said. “Are you okay?”
She looked up in disbelief.
“Bets, you… you shouldn’t be here,” she sniffled.
“No, this is exactly where I should be, elskling,” I said. “I want to know that you’re okay. All of you—especially Barry.”
I looked at him.
“I’m fine.”
“You saved some lives,” I said. “That thing was heavy.”
“It was, but it never should have happened. Twenty years of doing this and I’ve never seen a c-clamp just give like that,” Barry murmured.
“What could cause that?” I asked. “Is it like the mechanics not doing a checklist on a plane?”
“Probably just carelessness,” Alicia said. “Shit happens.”
“I feel terrible. We’re the hosts.” I swallowed hard.
I worried we’d be blamed and targeted for favoritism. I added anger to a list of emotions rolling through me, alongside embarrassment.
“Unless it wasn’t an accident,” Mary whispered. “What if it was intentional? What if it was… meant to hurt? Just like my ear going out.”
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“What?” Barry asked.
“Norway would never do that,” Clarice said. “Betty, this isn’t on you. Accidents happen.”
“That is what they want you to think,” Mary insisted, almost catatonic.
I couldn’t understand what she meant. I gathered she was accusing someone of interference, but who? Again I worried she blamed us—and me, by proxy. If that was true, I would find out who did this and end their career if I had to. Alicia clarified the conspiracy theory.
“Max,” Alicia whispered. “He did something—or his goons did. Either way, he tried to sabotage us.”
“Oh, that’s… would he do that?” I asked.
I understood Mary was upset and traumatized, but that seemed far-fetched.
“There have been so many sabotage attempts at UniVox over the years,” Mary whispered in conspiracy.
“For fuck’s sake, he paid people off to push out my song last year!
It’s like the Olympics of singing. Except instead of doping, your performance enhancers are illegal corticosteroids and fucking with people’s mics.
The thing is, though… no one has ever attempted to kill a band member. ”
“Well, no one has been as threatened as Max is right now,” Alicia noted.
I was confused. “Is this just because you all are the favorites? Alia did well. No offense, but it’s still open.”
“It’s not about talent. I got into it with him. I told him I was about to call up all the other women he burned and would go to the press.”
“She did go off. Finally!” Clarice said. “What did you really say to him?”
Mary looked at us for the first time. But instead of rage, there was vulnerability. Her big brown eyes were wide open and the crying stopped. She was resolute.
“I told him I wasn’t scared anymore. He did something about it. I saw Jason backstage. I know it sounds mad, but… something is wrong.”
“Can you bring me a tissue?” I asked. “And some water?”
A member of Giftehode approached with tissues and a branded bottle of water.
“Tusen takk,” I pulled a tissue and dabbed Mary’s eyes gently. “The good news is your eyeliner is holding. What the hell do you wear?”
“I don’t know,” Mary sniffled. “Whatever Alicia put on me.”
“You don’t have a makeup artist, Mary?” I scoffed.
“No. Do you?”
“Bitch, please, of course I do!” I laughed, trying to get her to smile. “Damn, Alicia, you could hang out your own shingle.”
“Thanks, darling,” Alicia said. “It’s a passion.”
“By passion, she means she scrolls videos of makeup tutorials endlessly,” Clarice joked.
“I think it’s excessive to hire someone,” Mary said, “but you look really pretty.”
I smiled and dabbed the tears that ran to her chin.
All the while, I debated her words. Mary wasn’t one to lean into hyperbole.
Yes, she’d been traumatized by Max. Yes, she could lose it when she felt a sense of loss or rejection, but she wasn’t delusional or one to move to hysterics for sympathy or to throw a competition.
I’d seen Max and Jason hauling Alia all over—laying out her every move and controlling each thing she did.
I didn’t put this past him. If there was even a single chance Mary’s conspiracy had legs, the evidence wouldn’t be preserved forever.
With Mary slowly returning to earth, it was time to act.
The director approached, looking at me, then Mary. If he was confused, he said nothing.
He said to the band, “We’re cleaning up the stage. The judges do not want to see you out there again until you’re ready. I suggested we pick back up with Germany and then slot you in at the end if that is alright?”
The band turned to Mary, who said, “I don’t know if I feel safe.”
“We are vetting everything,” the director assured. “A C-Clamp failed that was checked over just this morning. We are so very sorry this happened, but I can assure you we are doing everything we can, Miss Jensson.”
“Is this a common thing?” I asked. “Are you sure no one missed a check?”
“We have a checklist and it was vetted an hour before call time, ma’am. I could provide it if you’d like.”
My blood ran cold. That suggested foul play. It was all there. Mary looked at me, tears welling. I had to defend her somehow. She needed validation more than ever and my gut told me something was wrong. I had the power to do something, so I rocked the boat and played my cards.
“I would like my team to see them. I’d also like a full investigation into possible foul play. Sir, it would look quite bad for us if something else happened. Have you investigated that possibility?”
“Ma’am that was mentioned, yes,” he said.
“Well, for my family’s sake, I would like you to pull the tapes to be sure there was no foul play in the interim. This reflects on Norway as a whole. It’s disturbing to think about, but… I need to feel safe there, too. If I don’t, my uncle will be—”
“Of course, Your Royal Highness. His Majesty can rest assured that we are doing all we can. For now, we have locked down the stage area so only performers within their time slot and hosts have access to the stage area. No managers or assistants.”
I gathered he thought this was all very odd as well. Mary wasn’t mad. She was just thinking like someone who had likely been burned dozens of times. I hoped my action further underlined how much I loved her. She was mine—part of the world I longed to protect.
“I appreciate that,” I said. “I mean, it’s terrible to think it could be the case and I’m sure I’m just a bit paranoid, but… it has happened before.”
“Unfortunately, ma’am, it has. Now, we’re going to finish our checks. After that, we’ve pushed the broadcast an hour. So, you’ll be the last act before the deliberation.”
“That’s good. Thanks,” Alicia said.
Mary nodded, still badly shaken.
“Are you okay to perform?” I whispered.
“Yeah, woman. That was frightening. No pressure,” Barry said.
“Barry, I should ask you,” Mary insisted. “You almost died.”
“This feels targeted at you,” Barry confirmed he believed her. “That’s why I’m asking.”
Mary shrugged. “I always suck it up.”
I made eye contact with Barry. There was a shared understanding that Mary’s past abuse and performance under duress left her feeling obligated to step back on stage, but there was a real concern it could cause further trauma and potential breakdown.
Clarice squeezed her knee. “If you cannot perform, no one will blame you, Mary. We love you. Please choose yourself if that’s what you need.”
Mary’s eyes welled. She took in her bandmate’s faces, then mine. “I can do it. I just need to take a breath.”
Sensing she needed a break, I broke protocol in a bigger way.
“Can we walk?” I asked. “Would that help? It’s crowded. And you’ve got some time. As do I. They’ll come get me when they’re ready.”
“Bets, is that really a good idea?” Mary asked, keenly aware of the eyes on us.
“I don’t really care,” I said. “Would it help you?”
She nodded.
I stood, extending a hand. “Okay. Let’s take a beat, then.”
She nodded bravely and followed me to the hall. Kaldi and her cameras waited.
“She needs a minute without cameras, okay?” I asked. “This is real life. Please give her some room.”
Kaldi wasn’t upset and agreed. “Of course. We’re so sorry that happened. Take a moment.”
The crew nodded in agreement, retreating.
“Why do they do that for you and not me?” Mary asked.
I squeezed her hand. “Because I’m a princess and they need Uncle Olav’s approval.”
It was only part of the truth. I suspected Kaldi felt solidarity.
“Betty, I am so fucked up. I’m coming down and… it’s terrifying.”
I pulled her into a small recession near a door to God only knew what. Backstage was a maze.
“You’re going to be okay,” I said. “You’re motherfucking Marit Jensson. You’re talented, prepared, and smoking hot. And getting to the finals is basically your right.”
She blushed.
“I love you. I was terrified when I saw you up there with that light, but I trust the team that is managing the stage to be more careful than ever. I wouldn’t tell you to do it unless I firmly believed it was best.”
“I… I must trust that, but I’m so shaken.”
“Of course you are. That’s why I agree with the band. You deserve the finals. You will win this, elskling. However, if that will mentally break you and you don’t feel safe, you don’t owe anyone anything.”
I pressed my forehead to hers and ran my thumb over the soft hair on her undercut. Mary’s eyes met mine and she took a deep breath. Her gaze turned from nervous to determined.
“I am not giving up. To back out would be to give him everything he wants. I cannot do that.”
I agreed, “Okay, then. Take this time to chill.”
She hugged me tight, then stepped back, taking deep breaths.
Eyes closed, she centered herself. I didn’t push.
I waited, standing by her in a moment of need.
Keenly aware of people everywhere, I kept watch.
No one bothered us. I wouldn’t have cared if they had.
Hiding felt wrong when Mary was so vulnerable.
“You have no idea what it means for you to tell them to pull those tapes,” Mary murmured. “It means a lot.”
“It’s what needed to be done. And I sure as hell won’t let the Swedes do you dirty like that.”
She laughed and kissed my forehead. “We shouldn’t do this here, but… I cannot help it. You came when I needed you—even if you shouldn’t.”
“I shouldn’t do this or that? Mary, I love you.
I’m not going to just fuck off and not take care of you.
You’re my girlfriend,” I said as tears bubbled up.
“This is it, okay? It’s just us. We were hiding it for a competition because it was the ‘right’ thing to do, but it’s not more important than your mental or physical wellbeing. ”
She looped her hands around my waist. “Thanks. I needed to hear that. I just want you to know that I would understand if you felt you couldn’t. We agreed—”
“No, it wouldn’t.” I tucked the long part of her hair behind her ear tenderly.
“It wouldn’t be okay for me to just desert you.
You matter much more than people’s judgement or the press or even being in hot water with Uncle Olav.
I will take the heat, but I could never forgive myself if I left you like this. ”
“I love you, Bets,” she whispered, eyes welling.
“Shh.” I wiped my own tears before switching to Swedish. “I love you, too. You will be amazing. You will light it up.”
“I will try.”
“You will stick it to them. You won’t let him win and steal this from you. I come from a line of women who refuse to sit on a shelf, and I gather you do, too, Marit.”
“Mum was far from a shrinking violet.”
“And she’d be so fucking proud of you, elskling.”
Mary fought tears. “I love you so much. Thank you for just… being here.”
“I always will be,” I promised.
“Can you do me one favor, skatt?”
“Yes.”
“Check on my dad. Make sure he’s doing okay. He’s got to be nervous, and this place isn’t at all accessible.”
“Sure,” I agreed. “I’ll go to him right after this. I’ll go right now if you’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” Mary said. “I’m worried he’s freaking out.”
“Good,” I said. “I love you. I love you so much.”
I kissed her, needing to soak up every moment.
We’d make it through this, but I was glad for quiet time with the person I loved most. There was something else below the surface.
I didn’t save Mary from the past. I couldn’t.
I supported her so she could save herself and stand strong for her band.
In a way, my strength and determination gave her the safety to pursue her dream and that was beautiful.
“Go on, check on him,” Mary urged. “I’ll only keep kissing you and that’s no good.”
“Later,” I promised. “Some way, somehow.”
“Make it so,” Mary agreed.