Love With Abandon

Ridding

"Seeing as how I can't control the songs you sing, what do you have in mind for this week? It's Mentor Week. I hope you pay attention to my songs."

Once again, I was in a mentoring session with Taylor. She was still pretty mad at me for last week's stunt. For the first time, however, the camera was rolling in the background.

"Erm, I can't say I've been listening to your recent songs."

Out of nowhere, a song got stuck in my head.

"How about 'White Horse?'"

"Perfect. You wanna try it out?"

***

"HASH BROWNS!!!" A melody of voices entered through my right ear, and I jumped off the bed.

"Oww... stop doing that!" I fumed at Variations.

"You should thank us. There's hash browns downstairs," Sasha, the taller girl said, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief, no doubt plotting their next prank.

As I brushed my teeth, I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me, and I clutched onto the sink for support. That was scary.

As I made my way down to the dining hall, I immediately started looking for the hash browns. Variations weren't lying. They actually were there. But as I took my first bite, I could taste the oils seeping onto my tongue, doing wierd stuff to my throat.

Suddenly, my stomach lurched, and I ran immediately to the bathroom, finding myself huddled over a toilet. Bile rose from my mouth. I was disgusted. I hated barfing.

When I was done, I developed a major headache. I went upstairs and slept, once again.

What was going on?

***

"Hey, wake up! You leaked!" a kind elderly voice said.

Groaning, I checked my pants. Crap. Hastily, I grabbed a pack of pads from my purse, and rushed to the bathroom.

Throughout the rest of the day, however, nothing happenned. It was like my period only lasted for two hours. 

***

I was walking around the barn with Taylor, eager to escape the house. Ever since the first four singers left, it was like we were mutated. This may seem mean and harsh, but I didn't really know anyone except Variations, and I didn't really care for another group. But something was missing in the house. Something was missing in the eyes of the people I did know.

"Hey, what's wrong? You seem out of sorts lately," Taylor asked, concern in her eyes.

"I don't know... the house is out of sorts ever since the first cutting, and I've been feeling wierd. I've been feeling like I need to collapse, I throw up some mornings now, and I've been getting headaches."

She frowned. "Are you pregnant?"

It did seem like it, except for one detail.

"I don't know. I got my period this morning, but it stopped within two hours."

She tensed, and I could see she suspected something. "You were spotting. It's a common symptom of pregnant women." She looked almost accusatory.

My face paled. I had to sit down.

How was I going to do this? The baby's father was a star, with hundreds of girls chasing after him every day, millions of girls dreaming of being with him.

"Don't worry, it might be pseudocyesis. Did you sleep with anyone recently?"

"I- erm, yes. I got drunk one night, and got into bed with a stranger, who was, apparently, also drunk. I don't think we used a condom."