Hollywood Hearts

Eight

I watched him as he sat at the table, reading the news articles about the guy who my dad had killed, then he looked at me. The air on the bus was tense, thick, and it had never been this silent before.

"You should have said something before-"

"Would you have come close?" I asked and looked at Jorel, my heart in my stomach as I thought of him not touching me. I don't know why, but it hurt physically to imagine.

"I-I would have listened-"

"Her father ordered a gang hit on that guy, Jorel!" Danny said and shook his head.

"You two need to stop, now, before he finds out!" He said and I looked at Danny then glared.

"Excuse me, this isn't your relationship-"

"Is it even real?" I looked at Johnny then he glared.

"You two seem to be trying too hard, in my opinion. Are you two even dating for real or not?" He asked again and I went to tell him the truth, but Jorel jumped in.

"How dare you question what I feel, George!" Jorel growled and I saw Johnny stand as Jorel went to get in his face, but I shot up and shoved them apart, clenching my fists as I tried to forget the memories.

"Please, don't fight! Not over me!" I whispered and heard someone softly say my name, but looked at Johnny.

"Yes, we're really dating, whether you feel we're trying too hard or not." I said and looked at Danny.

"Yes, my dad killed that guy, because he tried to do something I wasn't ready to do. I'm the reason that guy died, because I called him a liar instead of the guy he really was. That's on me." I said and looked at Jorel.

"You're also right, I should have told you before we got together and I'm sorry. Just- don't fight, please!" I begged and looked at Johnny.

"Perse-"

"Please, Johnny!" I begged and he huffed, glaring at the ground as I nodded and lowered my arms. As I stood there, I tried to calm down, but I took a deep breath and looked at my feet.

"Just- don't fight over me." I whispered and went around Jorel, going to my bunk and sitting on the bed.

Jorel's POV
I let out a breath as I looked at Johnny then he shook his head.

"You're playing with fire, Jorel. If her dad did that to a guy who only asked she be set free-"

"I know." I whispered and looked down the bus, eyeing her door. That night, after the show and everything that she had missed because she "didn't feel good", I was in my bed staring at the ceiling as I thought of her. Mostly, I was thinking of my relationship with her, both our real one and our fake one, and how this new information would change us.

"NO!" I heard and shot up, nearly hitting my head as I jumped out of the bunk.

"Is that Perse?" Charlie groaned as the guys woke up, but I ran to her door and tried to open it. When I yanked on it, I cursed as I realized she locked it and we couldn't get in.

"Persephone!" I yelled, banging my hand on the door as the guys woke up from her screams.

"Dude, break the fucking door!" Dylan yelled and I growled, yanking the door with all I had, breaking the lock. As I got into her room, I flipped the lights on and saw her tangled in her sheets, throwing herself around as she had a nightmare.

"Perse, wake up!" I yelled, grabbing her shoulders and trying to wake her. I felt the guys watching, but I ignored it as I tried to get her to wake up from whatever hell she was going through.

"GET OFF OF HER, PLEASE! LET HER GO!" She begged her ghosts as I cursed, the guys silently staring.

"MOM!" Perse cried and I froze, slowly turning to look at the guys, who were just as shocked. I looked back at Perse as she screamed a final time, shooting up in bed and looking around frantically.

"Perse, hey, you're okay!" I said and she focused on me then hugged me, sobbing into my shoulder as I held her, shushing her and trying to soothe her.

~*-*~

I brushed her hair back then let out a soft breath as she peacefully slept this time, her hand gripping mine tightly.

"Jorel?" I looked at the door and saw Dylan there, eyeing her.

"Just a sec." He nodded and left as I looked at Perse, leaning down and softly kissing her head. I got my hand free of hers then tucked her in, standing and closing the door as best as I could, going to the front.

"She was having a nightmare about her mom?" Matt asked and I glanced at my laptop, grabbing it and opening it.

"What are you doing, J?" Danny asked as I typed, finding the truth.

"This is what she was having a nightmare about." I whispered and turned the laptop to them, letting them read the headline.

LA Mother Found Murdered In Home With Child Next To Corpse

"She was-" Johnny ran a hand over his mouth, probably thinking of Ava as Danny looked sick, but I turned the laptop back to me.

"Perse was eight." I started as I read the article.

"Looks like some gang bangers broke into their house, took her mom and-" I stopped then took a deep breath.

"They grabbed her mom and raped her in the next room, but Perse was there when they shot her. Her dad was out of town on business and no one had reported the shots, so Perse was next to her mom for three days before police arrived." I said and closed the laptop, too sick to continue.

"It's no wonder she hates talking about her mom." Charlie whispered and I nodded, looking over my shoulder as I thought of her. I wonder, is that part of the reason he's so controlling?