It's Complicated

Chapter 57: The Unexpected

I go to the front door to see who's here, but I cent help wondering why Brennan is acting so weird about it. "Why can't you just tell me who's at the door?" I say half annoyed as I grab the door knob. The door flies open with the wind, "Annie! It's so good to finally meet up with you! Or... is it a bad time? My bad, I'll just go. Call you later?" I'm literally stunned, like I can't move. "No, it's fine, it really is. Come on in Hayden. Sorry, I just wasn't... um... I wasn't expecting you." I say as I let him in the house and stare at my mother.

"Sorry guys, I forgot I'd set this meeting up. There were things I needed to tell you Annie, but things got crazy here so I hadn't really had the time. Maybe we should all go to the living room so we can talk?" My mom suggested. I noticed she was fidgeting with her wedding ring, she seemed rather frazzled to say the least.

Katie, Brennan, Hayden, and I walk to the living room following my mom and Mrs. Jill. Brennan and Katie sit on either side of me on one side of the couch while Hayden and Jill sit on opposite sides of my mom.

"Alright mom, so what's going on?"

"Well you all know Hayden from Musical.ly, y'all mutually follow each other on there. We'll you'd expressed that you wanted to do some singing and modeling and well Hayden does both. His dad Jimmy reached out to me and proposed that y'all should do a duet with each other. I agreed and thought it'd be the perfect idea. There's um, actually a performance date already set for the both of you."

"Wait. What? What do you mean?"

"RockYourHair, they're a brand that sponsors cheerleaders, dancers, musers and YouTubers. They put on concerts to showcase our talents whether it be dancing or singing, really for us to just have fun. That's how I started off with my music career and that's how they want you to start off too. RockYourHair wants to sponsor you and help you make a music video to help launch your career as a singer!" Hayden says with the most excitement I've ever seen.

"But how would I work on music here in Maryland?"

"Well you wouldn't," my mom says. I'm just as confused as I was 5 minutes ago. "We'd be renting out an apartment in L.A. for you. Since you're already 15 going on 16, I figured you'd be fine out there alone. You'd be in the same apartment complex as Jimmy and Hayden, so you wouldn't really be alone. I can go out there and stay with you, if you'd like though. We just wanted to give you options. But..." her voice quickly turns solemn.

"What mom? What's wrong?"

"There's just one issue though..." My mom says as she sighs and covers her mouth. "If you allow them to sponsor you... you lose your NCAA eligibility."

"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? NO WAY!" Katie shouts as she gets up from the couch. "NO! She can't do something so stupid and crazy like this! Annie, you can't! We've dreamed about doing collegiate gym together since we were little! You can't give that up!" She says with tears in her eyes.

Brennan quickly interjects, "Katie, it's not your choice. It's Annie's..." I can tell he's upset too. I feel bad that they're upset but this could be really great for me. I could finally be doing something that makes me happy.

"Katie, don't be like that. You know I've wanted to be a singer for like ever! This could be the start of something amazing! It isn't stupid, it's something I want to do!" Hayden looks right at me and begins to smile and nod his head.

Katie looks at me with betrayal in her eyes. She wipes the tears falling down her face, "Fine. Go to LA and become a singer, consider our friendship over!" She runs out of the house, leaving the front door wide open. I stand up to chase her, but my feet won't move. I can see her getting further and further away from my house. I look over at Brennan and he's biting his lip and shaking his head.

"Bren—" I say, but Mrs. Jill interrupts me. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Brennan, go chase after her! I'll catch up to y'all in my car! I'm sorry Katie, but congratulations Annie! Kate will be okay, I promise! She just needs time to process!" She says as she frantically gathers her things.

I sink myself back into the couch. What on earth just happened?