aura

Chapter 20

Even though Gaga carried on as usual, it was difficult trying to keep my mouth shut. I wanted to sing it from the rooftops and tell everyone I knew, but I was sworn to secrecy. The last thing any of us wanted was media attention until the baby was born, and it was best this way. Through the ArtRAVE all I could do was wonder if anyone would guess that Gaga was pregnant. Afterwards, she came up to me and planted a powdery kiss on my cheek. "Honey, you need to stop being so paranoid. I don't even show." I looked down at her stomach, and apart from being cased in rose-covered pink plastic, seemed completely normal. "You should stop worrying about me. I'm a grown woman darling, I'll know what to do when the time comes." I just hoped that she did.

The next day I felt lightheaded and very strange, like I'd been drinking, which wasn't the case. "Indie, are you okay up there?" Gaga trilled from across the hall.
"I'm fine, just a little bit marshmallow-headed. It's probably just fatigue."
"Okay." I smiled up at the ceiling; ever since I'd started living here I was so much happier. Being an adult and not having to live with my parents 24/7 was a blessing.
"Miss Indie, Miss Stefani, Mr Taylor, Belgian waffles!" called Dorota from the kitchen. I relaxed at the smell of salted caramel and the thought of having breakfast with Lady Gaga for the fifth time that week. How come I wasn't a celebrity already?!

As we got back from the clinic for Gaga's weekly checkup, I thought deeply about my own life. Aside from Gaga, I really had no social life. I didn't even have a boyfriend and the last event I'd been to was on my birthday. I decided I needed something to do. And that prayer was about to be answered.
"Indie! Is that you?!" I stared into the street, wondering who was calling my name. "Over here!" My eyes darted to where the sound was coming from. I recognised the face, but my mind couldn't connect the face with a name. Suddenly, it came to me.
"Peter?! Is that you?" The boy smiled. He was probably not a boy anymore, more like early twenties. It had been years since I'd seen him and I wondered why I'd seen him again now.
"Indie, I need to tell you something. Your family is in danger."