better now ➳ post malone

ch. 34

"No, we haven't been awake long," Austin shook his head in confusion. Randy stood up and walked over to us showing us her screen.

POST MALONE
SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
Old classmate, Zoe Tucker, of artist 'Post Malone' comes forward regarding her experiences with the "Goodbyes" singer. Watch the video of the interview with Tucker, 26, below.

My heart was beating out of my chest as Randy clicked on the video. I watched Zoe who still had that fucking green hair talk on the screen.

"Hi, Zoe, thank you for joining us today," the interviewer said from behind the frame.

"Thank you for having me," Zoe said, nodding her head. She looked distraught.

"If you feel comfortable, can you explain your experience with Mr. Post?" He asked and she nodded.

"I hate that it has taken me so long to come forward," she shook her head as she started to cry. "I used to be in love with Austin. I was twenty, of course I thought the first guy I fell for in college I was going to marry. But eventually, he fell out of love with me."

"So, how does that relate to what escalated between you two?" The interviewer asked her.

"His wife now, Olivia McNeil, came along. I can't say she stole him from me because he was telling her we weren't dating," she scoffed, wiping her tears. "He stopped caring about me. He'd spend all his time with her and I finally gave up on him. But then they'd get into fights and he'd call me. I was stupid and in love so I went, every time. We'd hook up, you know, help him forget about her for a while. The next day, he was back with her."

I looked at Austin who was crying and continued watching the video.

"And then one day, I got tired of being second choice. So I went over when he called me. I told him I wasn't having sex with him anymore," She said, wiping her tears now. "He told me he would decide when we were done having sex, and then he raped me. I dropped out of USC that year and went back home to Sacramento."

"Why are you choosing now to come forward about it?" The interviewer asked.

"When it happened, I didn't think anyone would believe me," She sniffled. No, this isn't Austin. This can't be true. "But hearing his name all the time now, I can't take it anymore. Everyone needs to know who Post Malone truly is."

The video ended and I looked at Austin, as we all did. He was crying and I didn't know what to say.

"Guys, I never touched her in a way that wasn't consensual," he sniffled, wiping his tears and then turning to me. "Please believe me."

"I believe you," Taylor nodded. "Not only do I believe you, I know for a fact she's full of shit."

"I'm sorry," Randy shook her head and hugged Austin. "I don't even know what we can do."

"My career is probably over," he nodded, staring blankly into space. "I just hope y'all don't think I'm that kind of person, please. I-I would never do anything like that, I promise."

"Hey, man, we know," Q said as he walked up to Austin. "Don't worry about us. We know your heart and we love you."

"Her and Lenny are together still, right?" I asked Randy. She always knew everything.

"Last I checked, yes," she nodded.

"Lenny specifically asked for me to come to Izzy's apartment, and now Zoe is making false accusations about Austin publicly," I sighed, looking around the room.

"They're trying to ruin y'all," Parker scoffed.

"We just need to figure out why," Izzy said.

"And why now? After all of these years?" Taylor questioned.

"Do they want money? To be paid off?" Austin asked, shaking his head.

"No, I offered Lenny money before he hurt me," I shook my head. "He clearly didn't think too fondly of that idea."

"Lenny had a crush on Olivia, Zoe had a crush on Austin," Randy said, pacing back and forth. "In college. We were in fucking college. If that's what this is about still, they have some major fucking issues."

"They have major fucking issues anyway," Parker said. "Sexual assault and then accusing someone of sexual assault. Are they running out of ideas?"

"I don't know what the hell is going on but I'm going to find out," I told Austin, wrapping my arms around him. "Your career isn't over. She has no proof. You need to make a public statement soon, though, before people think you're avoiding it. Okay?"

"Okay," he nodded, tears still streaming down his face. "Olivia, please don't think I did this. Please."

"I don't, baby," I said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "I promise, I don't."

"I know I called her when you and I would fight but I didn't even hook up with her," he continued crying. Everyone had grown silent because we hadn't ever seen him like this.

"That was forever ago," I told him, rubbing his back. "It's okay."

"I've worked so hard for us to have this life, all of us," Austin shook his head. "And she just has the power to say one wrong thing to ruin it. Gone."

"I won't let anyone take away what you deserve, do you hear me?" I said, grabbing his face and making him look at me. "Not that green-haired grinch bitch, not anyone. If I have to fix this myself, I fucking will."

"She is not getting away with this, Austin," Randy told him. "You know me and you know I will go to prison before I let her fuck up your life."

"I love you guys," Austin smiled through his tears. "I'm so sorry this is happening while you're here but I'm glad everyone's with me instead of me being alone."

"I'm sure Anna Lee has called you by now," I sighed to him, referring to his publicist. She is going to be pissed. "Maybe you should call and talk to her."

"Good idea," he said, kissing me on my cheek. "Thank you for believing me."

"Of course, my love."