And Always.

Chapter 20

(Happier Than Ever By Billie Eilish)

Harley's Pov

Two nights in North Dakota, then to Montana. Don't get me wrong, I loved touring, and I loved being in so many places, but I hate being on this bus, with my mother. I hated it even more after last night's events after our show ended.

***

The paparazzi swarmed us, as we walked out of the building. The boys and I were smiling, posing together, signing autographs and everything.

"Jessica Carson! How does it feel that your daughter is a rockstar?" A reporter asked my mother who was standing behind me.

As much as I wanted to turn around, and tell everyone that she wasn't my mother, just the person who gave birth to me, I couldn't. I had to keep my mouth shut and let everything happen.

"It could feel better. The fame has always gotten to her head. She's rude, and disrespectful to me, and never shows me gratitude for bringing her to LA." I felt my smile drop, and a hand be placed on my back, guiding me through the mass amounts of people.

"Ace has always been like that since her father died. She hasn't shown any respect towards the people that built her career, like myself. But at the end of the day, she is my daughter."

She paints herself out to be the victim, when in reality, she ruined my life. I felt my blood boil, as I turned around and faced her. Yomar is now trying to get me to walk back to the bus quicker. He stood in front of me, and I felt my anger ride.

"Don't do this, Ace." He mumbled so I could hear, as the other boys, started to walk towards.

"She has never learned how to respect anyone, and she doesn't deserve all of the fans, and the good opportunities that keep getting thrown at her. I gave up my whole life to be here with her." My mother spoke, and people stared at me like I was some sort of sick person. Anger. Pity. Sadness. I was infuriated.

"Are you fucking serious?" I said, my voice raising, my accent thick, and the rasp still in it from singing.

"Ace has taken her breakup with her ex, so hard, but he was a bad guy."

"Do not lie like that!" I screamed, my mother now turning around to face me.

"All you're doing is lying! It's a constant lie with you! Nothing is ever perfect enough for your standards, Jessica!" I screamed, Yomar still standing in front of me, as I tried to look around at my mother.

"You constantly paint me out to be the bad guy, but I never once talked shit about you on the internet? I never once told anyone anything bad about you! You're so embarrassing to have as a mother, because all you do is break me down and make me sad!" I screamed, everyone turning to face the brawl that was going on between my mother and i.

"You never once gave a shit about me until I got famous! You always blamed you not being there, on being misunderstood by everyone, but when you did show up, you made everything I built and created for myself, your own! You never let me have something I created!" The crowd went silent as my voice grew louder.

"Enough." Kevin told me, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the crowd, and having me escorted to the bus.

"Mr. Matthews-" I tried, my voice cracking as the lump in my throat burned more, and the tears started to fall from my face.