Layers of Love|Book 1: The Stunt:Faking the Spotlight

Chapter 1: After the Breakup

                       

      Chloe

"Famous singer, Ariana Frost, dumbs girlfriend of 4 years Chloe Barlow "

"Messiest break up of the year: Ariana Frost and Chloe Barlow break up after 4 years"

"High school sweethearts and pop star sensations, Ariana Frost and Chlo-"

I turned off my phone, I didn't have time for this nonsense, I turned on my car put on my favourite song by Chase Atlantic, they always gave a break from reality. But I just couldn't get Ariana off my mind, we'd been dating for 4 years, since junior year of high school, then she cheated on me with some girl she found at a club and had apparently been dating her for 2 months now behind my back. It hurt, to know the love of your life had  been lying to you, and when I finally confronted her, she had such a nerve to lie and deny everything over and over again. I was so mad, I actually loved Ari, did she even love me? Memories of me and Ari started filling my mind and I put the volume louder, I needed a break. I stopped at my favourite cafe a few minutes away from my place when I bumbed into someone holding an ice coffee and a croissant, before they went flying to the floor.

"oh, gosh, I'm so sorry" I said, bending down to pick up her plate and croissant, when I got back down she was just staring at her coffee, spilt on the floor, "here" I said handing her, her croissant, "can I buy you a new one?" She nodded

I bought her another iced coffee, a chocolate chip cookie and a chocolate croissant before I joined her where she was sitting waiting for me. I sat down opposite where she was sitting handing her her stuff "Thank you" she said.Gosh. That voice, so soft yet strong but shy as well. "no problem" I said with a smile. 

We sat there in awkward silence for a while before I broke the silence, "I'm sorry" I said, I couldn't think of anything else to say "it's okay, no worries" she said taking a sip of her coffee."Aren't you Chloe? Chloe Barlow?" she asked looking more closely "yeah I am and you are......?"  I asked 

"Riley"

"Nice to meet you Riley" I said, before we started started talking, it was small talk though but I was getting somewhere, damn, this Riley girl was gorgeous. After a half hour I got up to leave.

"Nice meeting you Riley"

"You too" she said with a small warm smile with two adorable dimples on both cheeks. Riley was all I could think of the whole way home, eish, I really hated it. 

Once I parked my car in my garage and pulled out my phone, the first thing I saw were messages and news updates about how Ariana had cheated on my then broke up with me. Great, just what I needed.

I made myself some coffee and started writing, I was working on a new album I wanted to release. After about an hour and a half I finished my rough draft of my first song, it was kinda giving Olivia Rodgrigo, but who was I to complain I loved that girl and her music. I went to sleep and hour later, I was so tired, I had just released a new song and the producer was a real pain today.

When I woke up again it was 2am, so instead of going back to sleep, i went downstairs and bing-watched Alexa and Katie, i know I'm too old to like it but i loved that show, I've rewatched it so many times.

I fell asleep on the couch that night with Alexa and Katie playing in the background and Ariana and Riley on my mind the whole night.