Jumpnow’s POV
Short stack were doing a special instore appearance at just after 10 this morning, so it was just before 9 and I was up getting ready. Imogen was doing her hair next to me, fighting to get mirror space even though she wouldn’t be coming. None of the girls were, it was easier if they stayed behind rather than stir up the fans who came to see Short Stack just because the girls happened to be there. Imogen snatched the hair straightner out of my hand and ran in through her fringe, before starting on the back of her head. She was good at it, which sounds stupid but if there was one she was really good at it was hair and makeup. She was concentrating on smoothing the curls out of her hair so she didn’t catch me watching her every move in the mirror. When this tour was over, she was going to have to leave. The lady who had been her mother her whole life (Belinda) kept calling, asking for her to leave but bradie kept saying no, at least not until the end of tour. Imogen was going to be 18 in just a few months but until then she was legally stuck with Belinda, who didn’t approve of me or her being on tour with a bunch of legal boys.
So what if we slept in the same bed? it’s not like I was trying to pressure her into sex. That was her choice and we werent ready yet. Imogen yawned and reached for the hair spray, I felt kind of bad knowing she was only up because I was. The cut on my wrist from taylah had finally healed properly, it was just a scar now. A bad memory, of someone I didn’t even know. I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on, I was just watching the mirror. Imogen poked my arm and rolled her eyes when I blinked and smiled guiltily at her before accepting the hair straightner. By the wrong end. It burnt my hand, I dropped it instantly, shoving my hand under the tap. ‘Shit’ I muttered under my breath. How was I supposed to do my hair now? Imogen picked up the hair straightner, sitting it on the bench before disappearing out of sight. I held my hand under the water, groaning at the sight of the red welts starting to appear on my palm. Imogen appeared again within a few minutes with an icepack and some burn cream, shaking her head at me. Then I had an idea. ‘Ims, will you do my hair?’
’But you hate people touching your hair…’
’Please, just this once?’
She smiled despite arguing that she would ruin it, picking up the hair straightner and starting on my hair. I took my hand out from under the running water and held the icepack instead, the sting coming from the burns was so painful, but instead I concentrated on Imogen working on my hair. By the time she was done, some of the pain had gone from my hand. We put the cream on and covered the burns with dressings. This tour was making me look a bit emo now, with the cut and the burns but it was all worth it. I had to leave soon after she finished my hair, pulling on shoes and sunglasses; I didn’t want to leave without a kiss. I kissed her hard, quickly before being dragged out the door. I knew bradie wouldn’t exactly approve of me being with Imogen but I thought he would have gotten a little more used to it by now. Instead, he just looked away when I touched her, and frowned if I talked about wanting to be with Imogen.
When we pulled up and got escorted in, the whole level of the mall was packed, so many girls all getting really excited. While Short Stack signed autographs I sat around, my hand still burning from this morning. I was supposed to be handing out posters to get signed but I really didn’t have the energy nor did I want to go out into the crowd and face the fans for dating Imogen. I gave them to Jimmy instead, lying back against the wall, my head spinning with lack of sleep and too much caffeine. I shut my eyes, blocking out the spinning room and blocking out the day. In my head I was alone with Imogen, holding her without Bradie looking away. Totally alone. My daydream was interrupted by someone with a quiet voice asking for a photo, so I sat up. At least, the room had stopped spinning. I got a photo with the girl who seemed about 12, she walked off smiling and hugging her camera. Teenies.
Imogen’s POV
We stayed at the hotel rather than going with the band, rather then stirring up the fans. Me, Bella, Ashley, Aleesha, Rachael and Shae were all in the one room watching reruns of some random show on tv. Ashley was so much happier now that she had the abortion, I had been at her for days to tell everyone, to not keep it a secret and now, it was just us girls. I knew she was going to tell. After she told every little detail, there was complete silence. Hugs and tears. Smiles and frowns. The way she talked about it now was like she was looking up, she used to talk about her past like she was stuck there, now she sounded like she knew she had a future. She had one all along but she just couldn’t see it. Blinded by hate, rage, fear and blood. This got my thinking about me, in just a few months I would be 18. Legally aloud to leave and start again, a new beginning. But until then, I was Belinda’s bitch. Not the best way of putting it but that was how it felt, she kept ringing and demanding I come back but Bradie kept saying no. Not until the end of the tour, that is.
Which was only a week and a half away. I didn’t want to leave this life I had found, I liked it so much better then my old one. I wanted to stay forever. Doing Jumpnows hair this morning made me realise what I wanted to do; hair and makeup. Stupid dream right? As if I would ever make it. But it’s what I wanted, and Jumpnow was going to help me find it
