Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine)

Chapter 57: Scorched Earth

Jade's POV 

The sharp shake on my shoulder dragged me from sleep. I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow. 

"Jade, wake up. We need to talk." 

Leslie's voice cut through the haze of sleep, and I blinked groggily at her. My vision cleared, and I froze when I saw her expression—hard, set, and deeply pissed. My stomach turned. 

"What happened?" I rasped, sitting up. My heart thudded as my gaze darted behind me. Nick was still asleep, his back rising and falling steadily. 

Leslie's lips pressed into a thin line. "Just get ready and meet me in the front of the bus. Don't look at your phone until we talk." 

The air shifted. A weight settled on my chest. "Leslie, what's going on?" 

Her jaw tightened. "It's about yesterday. About Harry and Nick." 

My blood ran cold. I thought we were done with that nightmare.

Before I could press her, Nick stirred behind me, rolling over. His sleepy eyes flicked between Leslie and me, narrowing with suspicion. "What's going on?" 

Leslie's gaze hardened as it landed on him. "You too. Get ready. You'll want to be part of this conversation." 

"Why?" Nick's voice was sharp now, edged with the faintest trace of panic. 

"Just trust me," Leslie replied, already turning toward the door. "Both of you—front of the bus. Ten minutes." 

The moment she left, the unease I'd been suppressing erupted. I turned to Nick, my throat dry. "What do you think this is about?" 

Nick sat up, raking a hand through his hair. "I don't know, but it's never good when she looks like that." 

The anxiety I thought I'd buried clawed its way to the surface. "She said not to check our phones." 

Nick swung his legs over the side of the bed, his movements sharp. "That's all I need to know." 

We moved in silence, brushing our teeth in the cramped bathroom. My reflection stared back at me, wide-eyed and uneasy. 

What now? 

By the time we reached the front of the bus, Leslie was already sitting on the couch, her phone in hand, her expression grim. She gestured for us to sit on the couch opposite her. 

I sank into the seat, crossing my arms over my chest. Nick perched beside me, his body taut, his jaw ticking. 

"Alright," Leslie began, her voice tight. "This morning, TMZ dropped a story. Harry... well, he sold them everything." 

Nick's head snapped toward her, his brows furrowing. "Everything?" 

She nodded. "The breakup. Paris. The tour. The whole messy saga." 

The words hit me like a slap, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. "What exactly did he say?" 

Leslie took a steadying breath. "He painted a picture of himself as the victim. He said Nick was jealous of your tour together, that you confided in Harry about your relationship problems, and that he was the one who picked up the pieces after you found out about Nick and Jenna."

The mention of Jenna sent a bolt of fury through Nick. His fists clenched on his thighs, his knuckles white.

Leslie continued. "He also... exaggerated a lot of things. Said you encouraged his flirting, that you told him Nick wasn't half the man he was."

"That's bullshit!" Nick snapped, his voice shaking with rage.

Leslie's expression darkened. "It gets worse. He claims you two were together before you officially broke up with Nick. That it was messy and passionate. And... he sold pictures."