A New Dawn

Chapter 49 - Briar

Idris is pretty much out of the house at all times now. He doesn't even come back for dinner most days. He'll text us, so we know not to worry. Other than that, we don't know much and we don't ask. He's entitled to take as much time as he needs to process that dinner. And if he needs to do it on his own, that's fine.

I just hope he's fine.

I lie on my bed with my laptop, scrolling through Coralie and Armand's talent agency's website with their cards right in front of me. I glance at my closed bedroom door. No one's home right now which is the only reason why I'm looking through the website.

I haven't said anything to anyone. Family or friends. I tell myself it's because they're already weighed down and busy with other things, but really, it's because I don't want to hear what they might tell me. And I know they'll all tell me I should take the chance and accept Coralie's offer.

A part of me knows I should, especially since this doesn't seem like a scam. I've researched for hours on end to make sure it isn't. Which means the only thing stopping me from reaching out is myself.

I sigh, dropping my head on the bed. I don't want to think I need someone to push me to take opportunities, but that's exactly it. I don't want to tell anyone in my family, though. I think they're still reeling from the dinner with Idris' family just as much as Idris is. Which, of course, means Idris is out of the question. Marlowe basically is family now. So that leaves...

I lift my head, pulling my phone towards me. I pull up Sarina's number, my thumb already hovering over the call button. I stare at her smiling contact picture, a million excuses already going through my head about why I shouldn't bother her.

I push all of them out of my head and press the call button before I can stop myself. I put the phone to my ear, listening to it ring. My heart thuds with every second that passes. I almost think I have to leave a voicemail when the ringing stops. I don't know if a wave of relief or anticipation washes over me, but a completely different tidal wave of dread comes in when I hear the voice on the other end.

"Why are you calling, Briar?" Myron asks.

I slowly push myself into a sitting position, gripping the phone in my hand. My voice sounds weirdly distant when I ask, "Where's Sarina?"

"On stage rehearsing. You shouldn't have called."

"I needed to tell her something."

I can feel Myron rolling his eyes through the line. "I doubt it's so important that you have to pull her from rehearsal."

I swallow, gripping the blanket beneath me. "Do you know when she'll be free?"

Myron scoffs. "I don't know. Not anytime soon."

I don't respond, my mind racing like it always does when I interact with Myron. The usual emotions start to course through me. Annoyance. Anger. Insecurity. Fear. There are new emotions, too. Mostly... pity... Especially knowing why he's lashing out at me now.

Myron lets out an exasperated sigh. "Look, if you don't have anything else to say, I gotta go."

Before he can hang up, I blurt, "I'm sorry." I don't hear Myron, but the line doesn't cut out either, so I know he's still there. "I'm sorry," I repeat. "About your parents and how they treat you. I'm sorry you have to go through that."

Myron is quiet for a moment longer. "It's none of your business."

I tuck my feet beneath me. "I know it's not, but I still want you to know that I'm sorry that you don't have the best relationship with your parents. That's not fair to you." Myron doesn't respond, so I take the opportunity to keep talking before I lose my nerve. "I'm not saying what you did or said to me was okay, but I am saying that I think I kind of understand why you did it. And I'm sorry you felt like you needed to lash out at me."