Worthwhile: The Sequel (A Jonah Marais Fanfiction)

Chapter 24

"You're the best thing I've ever waited for."

'pretender' was released on the 1st of August, 2019, the same date that Winter Addington fell. The album broke all her previous records and went on to top every single music chart to be named. She broke the record for the most streamed album of the decade in 24 hours and went on to become the youngest artist with the most sales in the first month of release. Also, the album doesn't seem to be moving from it's number one spot on the Billboards chart and iTunes charts any time soon.

She played her first stadium at the Olympic Stadium, Quebec, on the 12th of September and ended the show an hour before midnight so she could head to her parents holiday home with her family and celebrate her 20th birthday.

Playing in front of 56,000 people was a rush that she needed. She loved the feeling of the adrenaline pumping through her veins and the warmth of happiness and contentment coursing through her body. She slumped against the leather-bound seat of the car and groaned as the heels of her feet ached. 

"You tired, pumpkin?" Mr. Addington asked, glancing at his eldest daughter from the rear view mirror.

The brunette hummed in response, fighting the drowsiness in an attempt to stay awake. 

Mrs. Addington turned towards her daughter from the passenger seat and smiled, "Honey, why don't you get a wink? We still have 45 minutes before we reach."

Winter stifled a yawn and was immediately pulled closer by her younger sister. "Sleep." Ciara ordered, resting Winter's head on her shoulder. As soon as her head touched Ciara's shoulder, she was taken by sleep. 

When they were around ten minutes away from the holiday home, Ciara made a quick call, "Babe, we'll be there in ten. Be ready." She hung up the phone and gently shook Winter awake. 

Being a light sleeper, Winter instantly woke up and stretched. She smiled at her sister and lazily gazed at the view outside. It was quite dark. However, the moonlight shined against the needles of the tall pine trees. Stars adorned the night sky like pieces of decoration. Slowly, the clear lake came into view. The moonlight reflected along its surface. The blurry outline of the snow-clad mountains in the distance made Winter smile. 

She loved this place. She remembered visiting the cabin during Christmas when her grandmother was still alive. The snow would envelope the place like a beautiful blanket. Her fingers would turn blue from spending hours playing in the snow with Ciara. A mug of hot chocolate by the fireplace as her family played board games on Christmas Eve was enough to heal anyone's soul. 

She let out a content sigh as the wooden cottage came into view. Her mother had inherited the cottage after her grandmother's death. The wooden exterior was exactly the same as she remembered. The cottage had five bedrooms, a kitchen, a backyard where they dined, a huge living room and a patio where Winter's Nana would read her stories and play her songs from the vault.  

The lake was located at a five minute walk from the cottage. Winter just couldn't wait to get up in the morning and walk by its shore. She might even sail her father's yacht if she was in the mood. 

The family got out of the car and took out their luggage from the trunks. There were still two minutes left to midnight and Winter wondered as to why didn't she receive any absurd text from the boys or any piece of gossip from the girls, ever since they wished her luck for the concert. Even Jonah had failed to answer her calls and texts.

"Win, I think you should enter first." Mrs. Addington placed the key in Winter's palm. 

"Bu-" Winter began.