Double Life

Withdrawl

"Now that we've done a few weeks of press and a few videos, it's time for your first live show. Grey, you've got to pull even more weight now that Lay is pursuing his own endeavors."

I nod solemnly, the group and I centered around our manager, as we plan the details for my debut live show. Apparently it's already sold out, the thought alone making my heart race. I follow the solitary ant crawling across the carpet with my eyes, sipping the half empty cup of coffee while I do so. The small loops in the rug are like mountains for him, as he continues his treck across the daunting, unvacuumed fields, hunting for any stray crumbs he can find to bring back as a meager offering to the mighty quee-

"Grey!"

The manager shouts, and I realize all eyes are turned towards me.

"Have you been listening?"

He says, impatiently tapping his foot as he passes his scheduling tablet from one hand to the other.

"Why don't you think I've been listening! Are you singling me out? Are you being sexist?"

I snarl, sipping my seventh cup of coffee today. I haven't been able to get a decent sleep, between threatening S.M. to pay me something, and fighting to get in three gigs a night. I'm exhausted. I've also been renewing my rent on the old apartment I'm holding, unable to give up a place to run to if things turn sour here. The cockroaches seem to have grown even larger in my absence.

"So you were listening when we went over the plan for your first performance?"

"Of course I was. Sexist."

I mutter, glaring over the rim of my mug. Everyone almost imperceptibly shuffles away from me slightly, picking up on the sour mood I've developed.

"Okay then! Since Grey was listening, I guess, let's work out all the other details now."

"I'll start with Grey for the intro and then pass him over to Sehun."

Baekhyun says, Sehun nodding.

"Then maybe something with D.O., maybe that could be followed with him and Suho?"

"Yeah and then I could pass him over to Kai and they could like, have a moment, the fans would love that."

"But we should have the biggest moment! Me and Grey are the biggest ship right now!"

"That's why you two are starting the show."

"Wait what about like, Grey taking Chen's place?"

"Grey isn't taking my spot, we already agreed that he's going to be passed around the entire time."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

I say, the conversation so apparently focused on me completely sailing over my head. Our manager has disappeared, his approach being that we "work out the details on our own". Suho plants his face in his hands, sighing very audibly.

"Greeeeeyyy"

He groans, some of the members chuckling at his apparent grief. Xuimin takes the moment into his hands, standing up from our floor circle. He comes over behind me and whispers in my ear, a hand on my shoulder as he leans down.