more for us | grayson dolan (book two)

twenty eight

The long, tiring, and hectic weekend has finally come to an end. It's Monday, which means the start of a brand new week. Not only is Lanie's fashion show inching closer, but so is the mid-semester showcase.

We still have a few more weeks to go, but it's really crunch time. I stayed up late last night practicing the song. I bet Carter is doing the same, because I haven't heard from him all weekend. I was unable to make it to Friday's rehearsal, but I'm sure it went well.

The minute my taxi pulls up to the university, I'm thrust into the world of music. Even though I've been coming to this school for a whole month, it's still so nerve wracking to walk through campus.

I grip onto my bag and start walking toward the large building. A few students greet me with a friendly nod hello, others move out of my way so I can pass them. Carter is the only friend I made at this school, but that's really all I need. He's real, despite being the most popular guy here.

My boots push me toward the auditorium as I run through the song notes in my mind. I've made it a point to memorize the Somebody to Love sheet music. It's easier that way.

"So, the showcase is coming up pretty quickly." A voice startles me.

I let out a breath as I turn my head to the right, seeing Violet walking next to me. A smug expression is on her face as she holds onto her Prada bag. The sound of her heels clicking along the floor already irritate me.

"Yeah, I guess." I respond with a dry tone to my voice.

"I thought you guys were working your asses off, you know, since you had a little set back." Her laugh makes my skin boil with anger.

"We are working our asses off, not that it's any of your business." I try to keep my tone neutral.

"I wouldn't put it that way. Cancelling your rehearsal this past weekend could really hurt your performance. I mean, you need all the time you can get." She crosses her arms over her jacket.

"Rehearsal wasn't cancelled, I just couldn't make it." I roll my eyes at her inaccurate information. "Maybe you should get your facts straight, first."

"That's not what I heard." She shrugs her shoulders. "Carter didn't hold a rehearsal this weekend at all."

"Yes he did. Now, can you just leave me alone?" I say through my teeth.

"It's kind of hilarious. Your partner keeps secrets from you." Violet shakes her head before entering the auditorium.

I stop walking and furrow my eyebrows, confusion is stirring in my core. My eyes look across the hallway, seeing Andrew talking to the drummer in his band. They're standing in front of a classroom door.

My feet march over to them, clearing my throat in the process. "Hey, Andrew."

The blonde turns his head to look at me with a small smile. "Stella, what's up?"

"How was rehearsal this weekend?" I get straight to the point.

"It was cancelled." He gives me a weird look.

"Wait, what? The whole thing was cancelled?" I nervously gulp, hating that Violet's words were true.

"Yeah, Carter texted me and said we weren't going to rehearse this weekend." He casually shrugs.

"Oh. Well, did he say why?" Now I'm even more confused.

"Nope, I haven't heard from him all weekend. None of us have." He motions toward his drummer. I think his name is Jack.

"Yeah, total radio silence. He's usually always blowing up our phones with rehearsal schedules." The boy confirms.

"None of you heard from him?" I raise an eyebrow.