America's Sweetheart

seven | new age

Edited - 03.18.2022 (2:58am)

"LouLou, baby, where are you?"

I'm laying in our room, trying to keep my lunch down when he walks in. He sees me, with a cold rag on my head, and a worried expression takes over his features. He sits down on the bed next to me, holding my hand gingerly. I smile and blow him a kiss, which he goofily pretends to catch.

"Baby, what's wrong? Do I need to call the doc?"

I stay silent for a minute before shaking my head.

"Well then are you going to tell me why you're in bed, with a cold rag and the trash can handy?"

"I feel nauseous," I tell him, knowing that he's unaware of the little life inside of me.

"Did you eat something bad?"

"No, Haze. I've been eating like I normally do," I groan and roll my eyes.

"Well, I'm just checking Emma," He starts getting angry and I think better of the snide comment waiting on the tip of my tongue.

"Emma. Earth to Emma Lou!"

A voice breaks me out of my dream. I wake up with my face on the table of my bus, papers strewn everywhere, and my laptop open. I fell asleep while I was working; again.

My sister-in-law pops me on the back and slaps my hand. I sit up and rub my eyes. I think back to the dream I just had. I remember that day; I was pregnant, but it was way too early to be visible. One afternoon, Haze went out after dismissing yet another conversation and I had fallen asleep on the couch. Someone broke in and found me; apparently I was the target because they waited until Haze had left and came just early enough for him to find me, battered and beaten.

I was taken to the hospital, bloody and concerned about my career. When I arrived, they gave me six stitches for a gash on my abdomen. They realized I was pregnant and tried to tell Haze and I together, but he didn't know so I kept it from him. After that day, I wasn't allowed out of his sight. Then he cheated on me and started blaming me for not giving him any attention, but then he ended it and I cried for two days.

"Emma!"

I flinch when a hanger flies at me. I miss it by a hair; literally. The hanger lands behind me and Britt throws something at me. I know that it's some type of clothing so I catch it and hold it up in front of me.

"What's this for?"

She raises her eyebrows and rolls her eyes. She looks surprised at first then her surprise fades into understanding.

"Look at the date," is all she says before she returns to rifling through my clothes.

I pick my phone up and see that today is June twentieth. It's my birthday.

"Emma, what time-"

Russel, the drummer, opens the door to my bus and takes one step in, halting his words.

"What, Russ?"

"What time are you going to come and set your new microphone up? Sound check guy is about to lay an egg because he's in a place with the newest equipment."

"I'll come around noon. Thanks, Russ!"

He nods and turns, leaving with a wave.

"Get dressed we're going shopping. Also, I have a surprise for you," she smiles evilly.

"Oh no. What is it?"

I narrow my eyes at her and she acts angelic. I roll my eyes before I fix my hair and put some makeup on. I pull a dark peach colored sweater on and some dark wash jeans. I decide to do a half-up ponytail and put my hair scarf around it. After I've slipped my boots on, I slip my phone in my back pocket.