𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚕𝚢𝚗 𝚊𝚞

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎: 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠

Ashlyn had yet another week of press. She was hopeful it would be easy this time around, but she was nervous. Most of the time the questions were fine; the same things she had been asked too many times. She knew the job couldn't be easy, but how hard was it to have slightly original questions?

"There's been a rumor," The interviewer opposite Ashlyn started. She bit her lip, knowing exactly where this was going. "That you have a boyfriend. Or, I've actually heard that you said you did?"

"Uh, yeah," she put on her best fake smile.

"Fans seem pretty curious who."

"Yeah, they do," Ashlyn agreed. "All in all, I think it doesn't really matter. Sure, there's a song or two--" okay, maybe she had a 15 song album and maybe 9 songs were about him, but... "—about him, but that doesn't matter. Sure, it's fun to know the person behind the music, but... not who it's about. Then it looses a lot of relatability. You can't put yourself in their shoes, as much."

"Totally."

"I'm keeping it to myself for the time being, I want my world's separate. It's not that interesting, it's not some huge star. It's part of my life." She smiled. A huge part of her life.

"So what would you say your favorite song on the album is?" She asked. Ashlyn gladly answered, the topic change welcome.

This day didn't have nearly as many interviews as her day weeks before. They were all finished by 4:30. She started her drive home, calling back anyone who had called her during the day.

"Hey, Gi!" She exclaimed, on the phone with one Gina Porter-Caswell.

"Hey, Ash, how are you?"

"I'm good. You? How's the honeymoon?" She sang.

"I'm good. It's good. EJ's good."

"You son't sound super enthusiastic." Ashlyn pointed out.

"I'm tired. And hungry. EJ's out grabbing food."

"Ah, understood," Ashlyn laughed. "Anyways, why'd you call?"

"Oh, just wanting to catch up. I feel like we haven't talked in forever. Besides texting, but... that's just not the same."

"Yeah," she agreed.

"How's our star?"

"Oh shut up Gi," she mumbled. "Just finished up some interviews."

"Is that, like, all you do?" Gina laughed.

"After I finish an album, basically." Ashlyn joined in her laughter. "Hey, can I call you back in awhile? My mom called earlier."

"You've got it. Bye Ash!"

"Bye!" She smiled, hanging up. She called her mom as well. The two chatted until Ashlyn got home. Her only other call was from Big Red, who she called back once she was in their apartment. He didn't answer, but called her back about 15 minutes later.

"Sorry, working," he told her. "Hey!"

"Hey!" She smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm good, you? Finished?"

"Thankfully, yeah," she let out a laugh. "You called earlier?"

"I was just checking in. We doing anything for dinner?"

"Nope, but I'd be happy to."

"Wanna grab dinner when I get off?"

"Sounds great," she agreed. "I should grab a shower."

"Didn't you shower this morning?"

"More of a... mental thing. Showers are refreshing."

"You okay?"

"I'm good. Interviews are tiring, you know the drill." She nodded.

"Yeah," he said. "I'll call you when I'm off, we can meet up?"

"Sounds good," she smiled slightly. "Love you."

"Love you, bye!" He replied. She hung up. She let out a sigh.

"You've got this," she muttered to herself.

She didn't realize just how out of hand it had gotten. She didn't have it. Not alone.