Crash and Burn

33. Rainy Day

I groaned in relief when I plopped down onto my couch. After the radio debut, my manager started getting interviews for me and I had just gotten back from a three week press tour going from the UK to Europe to Canada and of course, USA. As much as I loved singing and travelling the world, I had to fly almost every day. Between the morning radio interviews, late night show appearances, midnight flights and time differences, I was exhausted. The worst part was having to cut short all my conversations with Demi. "Oh great! You're back. I have so much to tell you." Mel bounded towards me and grabbed me a tight hug. Her excitement was almost too much to handle and she was beaming with pure happiness. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep for the next two days but I could tell that this was important to her, so I sucked it up and sat up to give her my attention.

"I asked Chloe out and we went on a date." My eyes widened and a grin eased onto my face. "Congratulations! You finally grew some balls. Wait, do I need to give you the sex talk or am I already too late?" Her face flushed and she slapped my shoulder. "We're not there yet. Now, about the date." I kept the smile on my face as she gushed about how great the date was and how she really liked Chloe. "I'm happy for you, bug." Her face suddenly dropped and looked at me guiltily. "I'm sorry for talking about all this. You know, with your whole situation with Demi." I quickly shook my head and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "No, don't be. Whatever's going on between us shouldn't affect how you want to share something like this with me." Mel give me a hug and she pecked my cheek. "Now, there's something else I need to tell you." Her face turned serious and I nodded for her to go on. "I got a full ride to UCLA." A proud smile took over my face and I grabbed her into a tight hug. "That's great!" She scratched the back of her neck when we pulled away. "Yeah, I know but are you okay with it? I know how torn you are about the school."

Oh.

"Mel, what happened, happened. Charlotte mixed with bad company and she lost herself. I know how colleges work and I know that you'll be going to parties but I also know that you know your limits. I worked my ass off to get there because it was all that I had planned ever since I was a junior and I felt like I'd be letting Charlotte down if I didn't get in. But that's all in the past and I'm so proud of you for getting in. Do you know what you want to do?" She shrugged and she leaned back on the couch. "Probably business. Nothing else calls out to me and I know that mom and dad has some shares to the family company. Who knows if they'll still pass it on to us but I want to at least be prepared if they do. Even if they don't, Chloe has plans to start her own business and when she pitched it to me, I thought that it was a great idea. I gave her some input and she loved it and we honestly might make this work." My face dropped and I froze. Looks like I can't keep it from her any longer. "Mel, there's something I need to tell you."

The weather outside mirrored the mood of the room. Dark and stormy. The tears rolling down both our cheeks mirrored the rain that pattered relentlessly on our window. The usual clear skies in LA took a major turn just when the screaming match started. It was almost as if it waited for us to snap before it started pouring.

"I can't believe you didn't fucking tell me. I spent all my life thinking that my parents hated me!"

"How the fuck did you want me to tell you? You'd hate me then and you'll grow up with no one!"

Her next words stabbed me. "It's not any different now, is it?" She turned on her heel and stormed into her room. "What the fuck are you doing?" I followed her into her room and found her throwing clothes into a duffel bag. "Going to Chloe's. I can't stand to be around you right now." I grabbed her duffel bag and flung it behind me. "You can't fucking drive in this weather. It's too dangerous!" She pushed me outside of her room and gave me a cold stare. "No. I can't fucking stay here with you. Not even if it means that I die driving tonight." I tried to stop her but it was no use. I stood in the pouring rain, pounding on her car window and pulling at the handle. It was only when she revved away that I stepped back in reflex, afraid that she was going to run over my foot. Defeated, I trudged back to the apartment sopping wet.