Reach For The Stars (Dallas Liu & Ian Ousley)

15

Star's POV
4 months later...

"And that's a wrap!"

We finished up filming the last music video from my new album.

These past four months have been hectic and emotional. Recreating the traumatic moments have caused a few spirals. But it's all in the name of art.

To cope with it all my drinking has slightly increased. Each and every time I made sure I wasn't going to black out. Although there were some days I wish I had. There may be better ways to cope with this, but for me this was the fastest way.

"Star, we have to get going." Kass tells me.

It hasn't been all to bad we have also received great news. The boys show got picked up not only for season two but three as well. As in for me, I was going to perform at Coachella as a headliner. So with finishing the album, filming music videos, behind the scenes of the making of the album, and practicing for Coachella life has been so busy.

Coachella couldn't come at a better time, I planned to announce my new album then. Luckily the boys had sometime off so they will be joining me for both weekends.

Kass and I get into our bus right away I'm usually not one for taking a bus but with the amount of people traveling with us and all that this was the easiest way. Coachella is going to be an absolute blast.

Ian's POV

We arrived to Coachella Valley and were taken to the villa we would be staying at for the next two weeks. Dallas and I were so excited for Star as her first time performing in Coachella she's a headliner. That is pretty iconic.

As each day went on Star's rise to fame has been increasing faster than the speed of light. She has set new records and is making history. Even though we couldn't be any more proud of her, the past four months have been hard. The workload she has had piled on has been a lot. Not only that but the emotional toll we have seen her go through is so heart wrenching.

Star thinks I haven't noticed but her habit of drinking has been increasing. When I try approaching her about it she just shrugs it off as having a fun little drink. I try to sympathize how hard this album has been on her but I'm worried that it might escalate to a bigger problem. But ever since she snapped at me and said she's an adult that has everything under control I tried giving her some space.

There's been nights when I pass by her room and all I hear is crying. The first couple of times I would ask her what's wrong she would tell me everything was okay. We had made a break through just to go a few steps back again. Now she feels colder than ever and it feels like we don't know our own friend. There's days where I can't even tell if she wants us around.

"I have to go rehearsal so I will be back later." Star tells us.

"See you later." We both say.

"Want to play some games?" I ask Dallas as I see the ps5 the villa had.

"Let's do it." He says.

I browse through the games and choose a two player game.

"Man, what are we going to do about Star?" Dallas says.

"Dude I don't know." I shake my head. "I'm trying to be compassionate but I'm worried about her."

"I think we should talk to her." Dallas suggests. "Just let her know we're a little worried."

"You think that will help? Remember she went off on me when I tried asking her about it." I tell him.

"We got to try again Ian." He says. "We can't give up on her."

I sigh, "I know, I just don't want to fight with her."

Dallas and I make a plan to talk to Star about the drinking habit that has been occurring lately.

Since it's Coachella these next to weekends she has mentioned how important this is for her, so I don't think she's going to crazy. Once this passes we will approach her because we don't want to ruin this moment for her.

For the rest of the evening Dallas and I played video games and ate. The villa had a chef and his cooking was amazing.

We hear the door open and see Star come in smiling.

"Hey popstar." I greet her. "How was rehearsal?"

"Veryyyy good." She says. "What'd you guys do?"

"We played video games and ate." Dallas responds.

"Very fun." Her ecstaticness almost sounds sarcastic.

"Are you hungry?" Dallas asks her.

"Not quite." She says. "Well I'm going to go shower." Star walks past us.

After a few minutes she came out and joined us. She plopped herself on the couch making herself comfortable. "Aren't you guys just happy to be here?"

"Yeah, we can't wait to experience this with you." I tell her.

Star begins to laugh causing Dallas and I to have a confused look.

"What's so funny?" Dallas asks getting up from his spot.

"Nothing." She smiles.

Dallas sits next to her pressing his body against hers. "Star, you smell like alcohol." He says.

"Oh yeah I drank a little bit." She shrugs.

"What for?" I ask.

"You know, just celebrating that I'm performing at Coachella for the first time ever as headliner."

"Isn't that a celebration for after?" Dallas asks her.

"You got to celebrate the future." She smirks. "It was just two shots. I'm not drunk."

"Okay." Dallas says.

"Okay what?" Attitude in her voice grows.

"I'm just saying okay Star." Dallas tells her.

"It sounds like you're judging me." The smile she once held turned into a frown.

"Why would you think that?"

"The way you're talking to me."

"Star, I just asked if you drank. That's all." Dallas reassures her.

The three of us sat there in silence, the only noise in the room was Star's heavy breathing.

"I'm going to excuse myself." Star says getting up from the couch.

"You sure you don't want to eat?" I ask her.

"I'm sure." She says and walks away.