Rise To Fame

Chapter 4

(Y/n's POV)

Left, right. Left, left, right. I hit the punching bag again and again, anger and sadness fuelling every blow.

My headphones are blasting the music so loud in my ears that I don't hear him calling my name, I only jump when he puts his hand on my shoulder.

"Holy shit!" I yell as I spin around, fist balled up and ready to strike.

"No not again!" Jamie shouts, covering his face with his hands.

"Jesus Christ why did you sneak up on me like that?" I snap, pulling my headphones out.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you. But you ran off again and I felt like it was my fault, so I asked Martin where you went and I left as soon as we finished filming."

Goddammit Martin.

I look at the slight bruising under his eyes and around his nose and I wince.

"Sorry about that," I nod to his face. "What did you tell people?"

"Don't worry y/n, I didn't say it was you. Just told them I walked into a door, didn't I?"

I laugh slightly, "Well thanks I guess."

"And now you owe me," he smirks at me. "So how about that date?"

He grins as I roll my eyes at him.

"I already told you, I'm going for a drink with Martin."

"So text him," he shrugs. "Tell him you're going out with me instead. Or if you don't want to tell him that, then just say something came up. Either way, I'll pick you up at 7."

He winks at me one more time before turning and walking away.

A few hours later and I'm looking through my wardrobe, trying to find something cute but casual to wear.

I'd sent a text to Martin earlier; Hey M, hope it's okay but I said I'd go out with Jamie tonight. I think he feels bad abt earlier, and I kinda feel guilty for punching him in the face... Drinks tmrw? X

Ofc darling, not a bother. Use protection ;)

I didn't reply to that but did laugh at it.

After another 10 minutes of looking through my wardrobe, I finally pick out an outfit.

Cute but simple, I think as I look in the mirror.

And at precisely 7pm, my doorbell rings.

(Jamie's POV)

I take a deep breath in when she opens the door. She looks absolutely breathtaking.

"Shut your mouth," she jokes lightly. "You'll catch flies."

"I reckon I'll have caught something else by the end of the night," I smile slyly as I hold out my arm for her.

She chuckles and wraps her hand around my bicep, careful not to touch my tender forearms.

We walk in silence for a few moments before I finally tell her.

"I know," I say, and she stiffens slightly beside me.

"Know what?"

"I know about Sam."

She swallows. Hard.

"How?"

"Martin," I admit guiltily. I feel bad for dropping him in it but it's only fair that she knows. "Look, y/n, I'm sorry. I never should've pried. But you seemed so sad earlier and I wanted to know if there was something I could do to help."

She takes a deep breath before she speaks again.

"It's fine. I'm not mad, sort of glad you know actually. At least I don't have to pretend."

"Do you want to tell me about him?"

She gives me a small smile, "Actually that would be really nice."

I give a slight encouraging nod.

"Well, Sam was my Golden Retriever. I got him when he was a puppy, his mum was a rescue dog and she couldn't keep all of the pups. So I took Sam. I'd gone through a bad break up not long before, and I needed a distraction. Something to take care of besides myself. Sam became everything to me. Then, when he was 6, he started having problems with his back and then soon after, his kidneys. He wouldn't eat properly, wouldn't drink enough...."

Her eyes start to tear up and I squeeze her hand gently.

She clears her throat.

"I made trip after trip to the vets. They gave me medicine to give to him, and the only way I could hide it was in his food. But as he wasn't eating his food, he wasn't taking his medicine. It was so unfair because he was so young, but he just seemed to be in pain all the time, and he ended up needing surgery, but he didn't make it. That was 2 years ago, and it hasn't gotten any easier."

"I don't expect that it would," I say gently. "I am so sorry y/n."

"It's alright," she squeezes my hand. "I had 6 amazing years with him. I do sometimes think about getting another dog, but I can't bring myself to do it. I don't want him to feel like he's being replaced. I know it's stupid, but I can't do it."

"It's not stupid at all. Though I do think he'd want you to be happy."

She smiles a little again. "I hope he's happy, wherever he is."

We walk in silence a bit more.

"And..." I start, nervously, "if you don't mind me asking, what happened with you ex."

The smile disappears.