A New Form of Therapy

The Fallout

Two days have gone by. I feel a lot more calm now, but there is still a lot to go through to get this settled on my end. I contacted the lawyers the day after and gave them Katie's information. They said that they would do what they can. Then I cancelled the rest of my appointments for the week, which put me out of almost five thousand dollars. I have plenty of money in my savings, but I can't live off of it forever. Not if I lose this job. 

This morning, I ventured outside in a black hoodie and sunglasses to get a new phone. I was bombarded with paps shouting questions and trying to get that million dollar photo of the girl that stepped over the line with a very big client. That's what the news was saying, at least. Of course, no one knows that all my other clients are celebrities too, but I know that this getting out has put a big damper on my career and any future clients. I called through the list of managers and clients to let them know of the number change. Zendaya's manager has already called me back saying that she felt it was best to cancel the remaining sessions. 

"She is doing a lot better and seems to be in a better place now," was the official reason, but I know that isn't true. 

Now, Wednesday afternoon, I am sitting on my couch. I have all of the curtains pulled and lights off. My extra room has been locked tight for the last couple days. I've cleaned and cleaned again, having nothing else to do. I keep the TV on either Spotify or Netflix, not wanting to see myself in the news anymore after the first time. No one can make me feel worse than I am now. 

I pause the movie I'm watching- a documentary about tiger pups- and look at my phone. I have thought about calling my parents a hundred times. I usually call them at least once a week, but have been so busy lately that it's been almost two weeks since I've spoken to them. They know I get busy too, so they don't ever call me. That, or they are out somewhere on another road trip. 

My phone starts ringing in my hand, making me jump just a little. I am very surprised to see Selena's number and photo pop up. I wait a few more seconds before answering. 

"Hello?" I can hear the confusion in my voice. 

"Hey," she says slowly. "How are you?" 

"I'm just peachy," I say with no emotion. "Did we have a session today? I thought I had cancelled everything." 

"No, I got the message," she says. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I heard that it was your friend that did it." 

"Ex-friend, but yeah. She said it was because she was jealous that I was spending too much time working and wouldn't ever tell her anything. The stupidest reason I could think of to go around and hire an actress to get dirt on me and then sell it and ruin my life." 

"Wait," Selena says, sounding shocked. Of course she did. No one knew that last part. "She hired someone to see you?"

"Yeah," I say, still no emotion in my voice. "She posed as a new actress in town and came to me. I don't know how she found out, but she did. Everything I told her after that she was just reporting to her real boss and that's how everything kept getting out." 

"Wow," Selena says. I can almost imagine her falling back into a chair or something, shocked. I do the same, but because I'm done. I'm just done with everything. I tell this to Selena too. 

"I'm thinking about just moving back home for a while," I say.

"Is there anything I can do that can help or convince you to stay?" Selena asks. "I need you here. You may not think it, but you really have helped me. You're the best therapist I've been to. You're unconventional but relaxing and you make it so easy to talk to you. I don't even feel that comfortable around some of my friends." 

"If you could just tell that to the public, then maybe we could get this settled," I say jokingly. "Maybe I won't lose anymore clients either." 

"Are you doing anything right now?" Selena asks. "And later tonight?"

"I plan on staying out of the eye of the public for a while," I say. "Why?"

"Come to my show tonight," she says. "I can get you there and back with no one seeing you. You can watch from the side of the stage and then I'll get you back home in a car no one will recognize." 

"I don't-"

"I'm not taking no for an answer," she says. "I would love to see you there. I'll pick you up in an hour, whether you're ready or not." 

"I'll get in the shower then," I say. I know she's just trying to make me feel better, which is supposed to be my job, but I really don't feel like going anywhere tonight. I don't argue anymore though and say goodbye. I head for the shower. 

                                                                          

                                                                         ******************

"I'm outside," Selena says over the phone. 

"I'll be right down," I say. I lock the door behind me and head to the back stairwell. I see her parked in the back corner of the parking lot. There are no cameras around, waiting on the sidewalk or anything. I breathe a sigh of relief and climb into the passenger seat. "Hey." 

"You look amazing," Selena says, ignoring my greeting. "I love that dress." 

"Thanks," I say. "Retail therapy is also a very effective form of therapy, just so you know. I highly recommend it. I got it overnighted on Monday."

"It looks great on you," Selena says. 

We fall silent as she backs out and merges with the traffic. It isn't too bad, but it still takes us thirty minutes to get to the arena. Selena flashes her badge to the cops directing traffic in the parking lot and they let her through to the back where her bus is. 

"The show doesn't start for another four hours and this lot is already packed," I note. "This is insane." 

"Just wait until the show starts," she says. "I do have to go do sound check if you want to watch. You'll be the only one in the audience." 

"Sure," I say. We head in through the back. I follow her through the corridor and head down another hall before entering out onto the stage. 

Shock. That's the first thing that goes through my mind. I'm shocked. Stuck-in-the-spot-I'm-standing-shocked.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask. I look from them to Selena. "And how do you know everyone?"

CLIFFHANGER BECAUSE I'M JUST THAT AWESOMELY CRUEL! I PROMISE IT WONT BE LONG FOR A NEW UPDATE THOUGH BECAUSE I FINALLY KNOW WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN AND HOW I WANT THIS TO END! AND SADLY, WE ARE COMING TO THE END! D: 

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK THOUGH AND WHO YOU THINK IS STANDING THERE!