Faded (Rock Star Trilogy)

ignoring her, but instead turn toward her.
    “I'm sorry.”
    She looks very convincing. But then I remember what Stephan said about her being an amazing actress. I just shake my head. “I am not the one you should apologize to, and you know it.” I turn back around.
    “There's another reason why I don't like Stephan,” she blurts out.
    I turn back around. “I'm listening.”
    She shakes her head. “Not here.”
    Damn my curiosity .
    “Come for a ride?” I ask.
    She nods.
    Mona follows me, along with the cameras, to the parking lot. Thankfully I'm driving my Sesto Elemento, so they can't come with us... Though, I suspect the dash cameras are recording.
    In weird ways, Mona reminds me of Stephan. They don't really look alike, besides their green eyes, but their actions are alike. Part of me even likes her. (That part that likes her is very small ). I mean she's still a total bitch for how she treats Stephan.
    I roll my eyes when I see the camera crew following behind us in their creepy black van.
    “I see now that fame could be a pain,” she says, sympathetically. “It must suck to never have privacy.”
    “I have to be careful. Everywhere I go there is always somebody taking pictures. Trust me when I say, the paparazzi is great at getting embarrassing pictures. It’s the ugly pictures they like to post online.”
    “What do you do if you have a wedgie?”
    Mona's question is so serious that I can't help but laugh. She too joins in.
    “I wear a lot of thongs,” I finally answer. “But I suppose I would just go to the bathroom. I mean, what do you do when you have a wedgie?”
    She smiles, sheepishly. “I have my friends stand around me, and I pick it.”
    I start laughing hard again. Seriously, even though Mona is a complete bitch, she's kind of awesome. I can see why she has so many friends. She's rather charming. If she would just move past the whole Stephan thing, I could easily be her friend.
    “So where do you want to have this conversation?” I ask her.
    “Coffee?” she suggests.
    “Sure. Let's go to my house. My sister makes the best coffee.”
     
    12:34 PM
    Thank you, Alec.
     
    When we pull into my house, Mona sits up a little.
    “You live next to Stephan and Ethan?”
    “Yeah. It was annoying at first, but now I find it rather convenient.”
    We both get out of my car and walk inside. The cameras follow closely behind. As much as I try to ignore them, I can't.
    “Have you met Bridgett?” I ask her. I know she did at her beach party, but I think everybody thought Bridgett was me that night.
    She shakes her head.
    I pull out my phone to text Bridgett.
     
    Where are you? - S
     
    With Alec. We got you some studio time for tonight. - B
     
    “Well, she's not here,” I say. “Guess you'll meet her later.”
    Mona follows me into the kitchen, and for the first time since moving here, I open the fridge. I see a 24 pack of Red Bull inside.
    Thank you, Alec ... He's also addicted to the energy drink. I grab one for myself, and hold one out for Mona.
    “Thanks,” she says, taking it.
    I take her outside by the pool. I haven't gotten a spray tan in way too long, and I am starting to get pasty white. “So,” I say, taking a seat on a pool chair, “you were about to tell me why you hate Stephan.”
    Mona looks up at the cameras. “Do they have to record this?”
    I look at the director. “Yes. And you already signed a waiver.”
    She sighs. “I don't think I should tell you on camera, Scarlett. It's kind of personal.”
    My curiosity gets the best of me, so I grab her hand, and pull her behind me. As we are running through the house, I am tearing off my microphone. I push her inside the guest bathroom on the second floor, and lock the door behind us.
    I hear the door jiggle and hear Peter curse.
    My phone goes off again. It's Alec.
     
    Why the HELL did you lock Peter out? - A
     
    I ignore the text, and turn to Mona. She looks like she's about to break out in tears at any moment. She reaches inside her purse and hands me an envelope. The outside it addressed to Mona .
    “Read it,” she demands.
    I pull the letter out and start reading.
     
    Mona,
     
    If you're reading this, it means that I am no longer in this world. I am sorry that I left you so early in life. I'm sorry that I will never be there to see you graduate. I'm sorry I won't be at your wedding. I'm sorry I won't see the birth of my grandchildren. But, most of all, I'm sorry that I never got the chance to tell you the