Follow Me Back Alternative Ending

Chapter 1

Tessa sucked in a breath as she dragged herself away from her bed. Today, she was going to get out of her house for the first time since summer to see Eric Thorn perform.
Every day up to today felt like a dream. There was no way that out of the millions of people to choose from, Eric Thorne chose her to go to his private performance. Yet here she stood, mentally preparing herself for when Dr. Regan would pick her up and take her to the Trail Dust Honky-Tonk Saloon.
Tessa stood at her door and braced herself. Okay Tessa. Eric one...Eric two...Eric three! She swiftly opened the door.
Tessa quietly crept down the hallway to her bathroom. Her heart rate picked up a little as she made her way to the bathroom. After what felt like an eternity, she reached the bathroom and almost slammed the door shut.
The hallway had been open. Almost too open Tessa thought. Anyone could have been watching her. A cold chill travel down her spine as she quickly locked the door. No, now is not the time to think about that. Today was going to be a good day. She would get out of the house for the first time in months, she was going to meet Eric Thorn in person, and she was finally going to meet Taylor.
The thought of Taylor almost calmed her jitters. If it hadn't been for him, Tessa wouldn't have entered the contest and won the private concert in the first place. She was allowed to bring up to fifty friends, but she didn't have any friends except Dr. Regan and Taylor.
If she wasn't able to get out of the house for herself, she would do it for Taylor she decided. Today was going to be wonderful, and she was going to get over her agoraphobia, she was going to meet her idol, and she was going to meet her online friend.
Tessa looked at herself in the mirror. Her long wavy hair had grown out due to her self confinement and her skin was incredibly pale. She was wearing her sparkly v-neck and dark washed skinny jeans, which were the only articles of clothing that she found suitable for this occasion.
She had abandoned her makeup in New Orleans when she fled. That left her to take her mother's makeup. She fished the makeup bag full of cheap products out from below the sink.
Eric four... Eric five... Eric six... Tessa didn't have much time before Dr. Regan pulled up in her driveway. Looking through the cheap cosmetics, Tessa tried to form a game plan in her mind. Should she go with some foundation, eyeliner, and lipstick? Should she use blush? While she wanted to look good, she didn't want to look like she was trying too hard either. Her natural beauty was off of it's game due to the lack of vitamin D she had been receiving for the past few months.
Tessa could see the romantic scene unfolding in her mind. Her and Taylor dancing under the moon, long after the concert. Maybe they would kiss at the strike of midnight. The thought brought a smile and a surge of pink to her face.
She quickly decided that she would go with some eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss after seeing the tubes upon tubes of crusty lipstick. She applied each as effectively as she could, but she didn't have much time. Taking one last look in the mirror, Tessa gave her appearance a nod of approval.
She immediately walked out the door, starting her long trek down the corridor. The butterflies that had swarmed her stomach at the thought of Taylor gave way to a deeper and heavier feeling. Don't be stupid, she scolded herself. No one's here. But that didn't stop the flood of thoughts that made her certain that she wasn't alone. That someone was watching her....
As she crept down the corridor, she felt a force get stronger. The force was screaming at her to ditch the concert altogether and barricade herself in her room. Every time this happened, she would either faint or do exactly what the force told her to. However, today she was going to finally break free of the prison she put herself in.
She forced herself to continue pushing on. It was only halfway down the stairs that she patted her pockets and realized that she had left her phone. That was important. What if she and Taylor needed to talk or find each other? With a small grunt she ran back up the stairs and into the bathroom. Clutching her phone, her heart dropped to the floor when she saw a notification light up the screen.
Was Taylor going to cancel? Was he having trouble getting to Texas?
Thankfully, the text wasn't from Taylor. Instead, it was from someone she hadn't talked to in months.

MET: Hey, ur gonna send me pics from the show, right?

Tessa felt a sharp shock travel through her body. The last time MET had messaged her, MET had given off an aura of slight danger. Her texts almost seemed threatening, even though there was no threats pointed at Taylor.

Tessa H: Huh?
MET: Private show in Midland!

Tessa felt it again. The undertones of danger and insanity were just peeking out of MET's texts. Tessa never told MET where the concert would be or the fact that she herself even won the contest, and she knew for a fact that she never told MET where she lived.

MET: Are you gonna send me pics, or do I have to get them myself?
Tessa H: I have no idea what you're talking about.
MET: Tessa, I know EVERYTHING EVERYTHING in this fandom. Haven't you figured that out by now?

Tessa didn't respond to that last message and instead rammed her phone into her back pocket. Her vision was blurry and her head swam with a million thoughts. This concert was private. The pub would be deserted. The guest list included only three people: Herself, Taylor, and Dr. Regan. Even her own mom was unaware of this private concert. How did MET even acquire this information? Would MET actually show up, and would there be a swarm of fans already there? What if security let them in to the concert?
She would be surrounded by strangers. She would have no personal space. Anyone could be watching her...
"No!" Tessa shouted aloud. There was no way that she could allow that. Pulling her phone back out, she sent off one final message.

Tessa H: No pictures. Guest list close. Security SUPER tight. Don't waste your time.

Tessa knew that the text sounded nothing like how Tessa usually texted MET, but she needed to get the point across. She couldn't have June happen again, especially not tonight.
Tessa could remember a time in which she was honored to be able to message with Eric Thorn's most famous fan. Now. she wished that MET had ignored her like she did with the smaller, less significant fans. It's funny how things could change over a few months.
Tessa sucked in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. She willed her heart to calm down and for the adrenalin racing through her veins to disperse.
Outside, Tessa finally heard Dr. Regan's SUV pull up her driveway. Tessa quickly forced herself to continue moving until she was right in front of the front door. Without letting herself think, she swung open the door and marched outside to the SUV.