Even Heroes Have Scars

[60] Stars

•A Month After the Break Up•

Demi's P.O.V.

Hell. The past month had been hell. I couldn't bear to blame Ansley, because it wasn't her fault. She was right. I cheated on her with Wilmer, and that was a mistake I could only learn from, rather than fix. But performing every night with a smile on my face hurt like shit, and all I could do was continue.

After my performance with Joe Jonas at one of my concerts, I began writing a new song in my dressing room called Mr. Hughes. It had a good rhythm and it was catchy, but, at first, I wasn't positive the label would love such a shady song. Turned out the label loved it. They were never told who it was about, of course. I still needed to meet with a songwriter to perfect it before recording it, though.

Marissa came to visit for my show tonight and to fill me in on a few things. "Ansley came to the airport when you left," she deadpanned, looking around the room in fear of getting yelled at.

My eyes widened. "What? When? Why didn't you tell me?" I questioned, staring at her and giving her my full attention.

She shrugged. "She came when you were leaving, but she missed you by only thirty seconds. And she won't tell me why she went, but I have a feeling she didn't plan it, hence the being too late. I didn't tell you because I wanted to in person." She paused a moment, staring at the floor of my dressing room. "I comforted her when she cried, and I've been helping her all month in this process of letting go. You won't believe this, but she wears your t-shirt to sleep in sometimes, said she wanted to keep one thing to remember you by, as if the memories themselves weren't enough. I have one for you, as well." Digging through her bag, she found a t-shirt that belonged to Ansley. A Kelly Clarkson shirt.

"You should have told me. I would've gotten off that damn plane to run to her." Rage coursed through me like my blood, my veins. "She and I could've made up!" I leaned forward, making sure she heard me perfectly. She flinched as if I would hit her, and I leaned back. This was what I felt when I boxed Shorty in the face. I couldn't do that again. I couldn't hit my best friend. "I'm sorry. Thank you for the shirt. Maybe this distance is for the best."

She nodded, playing with her hands. "She started talking to that girl again. Red head. Her name is Scarlet. She's pretty cool, but nothing compared to you," she said as she continued to stare at the floor, suddenly lost in thought.

"Have you...um... Have you talked to this Scarlet girl?" I asked, tense at the thought of someone else being with Ansley. But Ansley wasn't mine anymore.

"A couple times," she recalled. "They met at a bar apparently. Had a few drinks. One time they managed to meet up in their sobriety. That was the day we saw them in Starbucks. I talked to her about how she needs to help Anna get sober again and stop smoking. She's working on it."

I gulped down my fear of her moving on to another girl. "Do you know if she really blocked my number?" I ran my fingers through my hair, stressed and nervous.

She shook her head. "She hasn't blocked you. One time, I found her staring at your contact on her phone. Like she wanted to call you but didn't have the courage." She sighed and gave me the look of you know what you need to do. "How have you been since that night?"

I chuckled softly, eyeing the floor. "Just as bad. I only knew her for a while, but it was like...it was like she was my other half." Then I went quiet, like I couldn't find words or the voice to speak. "I guess what I'm trying to say is...she has beautiful eyes, the kind you get lost in. And I guess I did."

"She's an amazing person," she nodded, as if she had any damn idea how I felt. "But still, you only knew her for a while. You were only dating for a day."