Faded (Rock Star Trilogy)

entertaining.
    The doorbell rings at seven AM sharp. It’s Peter and the rest of the camera crew. Stephan comes over at 7:30 to wish me luck for the day.
    Yeah, I know… Stephan is the sweetest boyfriend ever.
    “I wish I could be there with you,” he says sadly. “Keep me updated via text. I know it will all work out perfect, but I will be anxious until I hear you say it’s approved.”
    “I really wish you could come too. But you’re right. Everything will be fine . Why wouldn’t it be?” My stomach is in knots as I say the words, and I can’t help but worry. What if everything isn’t fine? Will my own record company reject me? I mean, I suppose it’s possible.
    “I better get to school,” he tells me, and then kisses me on the cheek. “Break a leg.”
    Breaking a leg is a definite possibility in these five-inch heels .
    “Thanks.”
    Peter has the camera up in my face as I watch Stephan walk toward his car. I wish that I was going with him, but right now, I really want to break Peter’s camera. I glare at him.
    “Scarlett, it’s good television. We want it all — love, hate, anticipation, stress, heartbreak… We want to show the world the real Scarlett Ryan . To do that, we need to capture every moment possible on film. Besides, I can practically feel the heat coming off you two. Maybe you could give us a sexy kissing scene, one where Stephan carries you into your bedroom, and throws you onto the bed. We would leave before anything happened.”
    Now I am imagining Stephan carrying me to my bed and having his way with me. “No way would I let you record that! My sex life is personal!” And nonexistent, but he doesn’t need to know that.
    Stephan and I are at an impasse in our relationship. He won’t tell me he loves me, unless he’s sure I’m his future wife. We’re definitely way too young too young to think like that. And I won’t have sex with him until he tells me he loves me.
    I think about Stephan and me staying together for years, exactly as we are. I would be so frustrated sexually. One of us is eventually going to have to cave, and it won’t be me. No matter how badly I want him.
     
    9:00 AM
    Pervy hugs
     
    Barry meets Alec, Bridgett, and me at the studio. Otto is already there, and he has everything set up. When Barry gets there, I feel surprisingly calm. I am not feeling any doubts… I’m fucking Scarlett Ryan ! I can do anything.
    “Hey, Barry,” I greet him. I reach out my hand to shake his, but instead he pulls me in for a tight hug. His hands are down way too low on my back. I’m silently praying that he doesn’t try to grab my ass.
    Barry is almost sixty, but his gray hair is colored brown. You can tell he’s had a few facelifts. He tries way too hard to look younger than he is.
    “So good to see you, Scarlett. We’ve missed you in LA. When are you coming back?” he asks, as he releases me.
    I try not to look too relieved that his awkwardly long hug is over. “I like it here,” I answer. “I will probably stay here as much as I possibly can, but after I graduate high school I’ll probably switch my time up between here and LA.”
    “Oh, right.” He smirks. “High school… You broke into the business at such a young age, sometimes I forget that you’re still a teenager.”
    And I’m barely legal, you perv. “Only for a little longer. I turn twenty next July.”
    Barry turns towards Alec. “Alec, so good to see you again.” They shake hands, and then he turns toward Bridgett. I am silently praying he keeps his hands to himself when it comes to her. “Wow… Who is this?”
    “This is my twin sister, Bridgett. I found her a few months ago. Can you believe it?”
    “You’ve done a great job of keeping her hidden from the press.” He shakes her hand. I’m so glad he didn’t give her one of his pervy hugs.
    “Not for too much longer,” I tell him. “She is part of the MTV documentary.”
    “Wow, Scarlett. You’re really doing great for yourself,” he says, obviously impressed. This was all set up by you three?”
    “Well, actually Bridgett and Alec worked out all the details for the documentary.”
    “Speaking of, our producer really wants to film this. Is it alright with you if we do?” Alec asks. “We really want to capture every moment we can.”
    Barry nods. “Sure. Anything to help Scarlett’s career.”
    I want to snort, but I refrain. Anything that helps my career helps fatten his pocketbook. Plus, this is free publicity for