Cherry Bomb [h.s]

37

Surprise! This is part 1 of a double update, so be sure to read ch 38 after this one!
Also, this chapter is around 11,600 words, so enjoy :)

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Spencer

My heart is pumping and my skin is still tingling with the adrenaline of performing, even an hour later. As I'm grabbing the last of my things in the now otherwise empty dressing room, I hear two sharp knocks on the door. I figure it must be Amber or Willow coming back to grab something they forgot.

I walk over to the door and open it, but I'm immediately taken aback.

"Hello there, Spencer," Johnny Marx says to me, giving a sly Cheshire cat grin.

His eyes are blood-shot, and his clothes look disheveled. More than usual, anyway. His typically greasy hair is even more stringy, and there's an ever-present sheen to his skin. He hasn't shaved or trimmed recently, so his stubble is slightly overgrown and wily. Yet his expression is classic, the typical Johnny Marx glint in his eye and smug posture.

I glare at him and swallow before responding.

"What are you doing here?" I ask coldly, "You already got your answer."

I had denied his 'generous offer' weeks ago, and hadn't gotten a response. I thought that was the end of it.

Apparently not.

"Yes," he says, then walks into the room, "That's why I'm here, actually. You see, I'm not exactly satisfied with the answer you gave."

"And how is that my problem?" I ask, ignoring his sinister gaze and grabbing more of my things, shoving them into my bag.

"I'm just curious," he says, "The last time we talked, you seemed very interested in my offer. And now, it seems you want nothing to do with me."

"Yeah, well I changed my mind," I say, then push past him to walk out the door.

"Harry got into your head, didn't he?"

I pause in the doorway, saying nothing.

"He's just trying to sabotage you, kid." He tells me, and I can feel him approaching me from behind, too close for comfort.

I turn around sharply, so that he backs off from me.

"Why are you so obsessed with me?" I laugh dryly and cross my arms, "What? Don't have enough busty blondes in your sex-trafficking ring?"

As soon as I say it, I know it was a mistake. But I just couldn't stand to look at his fucking face, and listen to his lies when I knew the truth.

I watch as Johnny's eyes widen and his nostrils flare. It's only for a split second before he recovers with his previous expression, but I saw it. He's surprised, maybe even scared.

"Yeah, I know," I tell him, "Harry told me everything. So if you think you can convince me that he's the one manipulating me, you're sorely mistaken."

"You think you know about me, kid?" He spits out, "You know fucking nothing."

"I know that you're a disgusting piece of shit who exploits innocent people, including children," I seethe, "How do you even sleep at night, knowing what you've done?"