Complete Harmony (Sequel to The Missing Lyric- Nemi)

Chapter 18

Nick

I buzzed the gate open for Phil so he could come up the driveway, then I waited for him at the front door. I shook his hand when he came inside. "So what's going on? What is going to devastate Lyric?" I asked as we walked toward the living room where Demi was waiting.

Phil held up one finger, signalling me that he wanted to wait until Demi could hear him, so I sighed as we kept walking. When we got to the living room, Demi stopped pacing & stared at us, her mouth hanging open. "Phil... what is happening? What is going to upset Lyric?"

Motioning with his hand to the couches, Phil, inhaled, deeply. "You may want to sit down." He said in a soft tone. Demi & I glanced at each other, then sat on the couch, me on the arm of it, next to her. "Demi, do you remember a kid named Anthony that was the son of one of the crew members on the Camp Rock set?" Phil asked, standing to face us, his hands in a prayer position, touching his chin.

Demi looked at me, her face contorted a little. "I think so. I didn't know him really well, but once in awhile he'd hang out with us kids. He was our age & he was bored."

"This is very important, Demi. Did you & him have any kind of relationship?" Phil asked, speaking a little on the slow side. "Like intimate relationship?"

Demi let out a short, surprised laugh & shook her head. "What? No. I barely remember him."

"You were drinking a lot back then & had started taking pills & doing coke to lose weight. Is it possible you don't remember some things?" Phil's eyes were wide as he spoke, making me feel anxious because I hadn't seen him this nervous before.

"Yes, I did a lot of that kind of stuff back then, but I didn't have a lot of moments of total memory loss. Why are you asking all of these questions? What is this about & what does it have to do with Lyric?"

Phil sighed, letting his hands fall as he turned around & started pacing. "I heard from his lawyer. I haven't met him, but I'm sure I will at some point. I guess he started hearing about Lyric recently, then happened to catch the whole story of how she came about. Anyway. This guy says that you & him got really fucked up one night on alcohol & coke & ended up having sex in the boathouse. He says you didn't use protection & that Lyric could be his daughter, because of the timeline."

I stood up, feeling anger build up within me. "Are you fucking serious? That is bullshit. Lyric is my daughter. Who the fuck does this guy think he is? Certainly he's not her father."

Demi stood up & grabbed my arm. "Nick... please calm down. You're gonna wake her." She looked at Phil & chewed on her lip. "The boathouse?" Her voice trembled & it worried me.

I took a few quick breaths, trying to calm myself down. "Do you remember something about the boathouse? Doing something in the boathouse with this Anthony kid?" I asked, trying not to raise my voice. Demi started pacing, looking down at the floor as her fingers, aimlessly, touched her face or ran through her hair. "Demi!" I yelled out, impatiently, making her turn around & shush me.

"I need to think." She said, firmly, sounding terrified. She turned around to face me & Phil, her eyes filled with tears now & her hand over her mouth. She was avoiding eye contact with both me & Phil & that sent a chill down my spine. "I do remember something. I hadn't thought about it since it happened, but now that you bring him up.... a few days or maybe it was a week after we had sex...everyone had gone to a movie." Her eyes met mine & I tried to think back to when I was 15, filming Camp Rock. "Well, everyone went, except me...." Her voice cracked & I suddenly remembered the instance Demi was referring to, so I sighed.