I giggle at Aden’s plate once we’re served our mains in the downstairs lounge of the Montecristo.

“I didn’t realise we were attending a banquet.”

He makes the face of a man hardly caught.

“Only around you.”

“Don’t tell me: no other woman makes you feel like royalty.”

“Let’s just say that it’s good that you, Ohio, are episodic in my existence.”

I nod, a bit brought down by the reminder of reality.

“Are you going to continue being closed off?”

“Not to you.”

“So, when I leave, you won’t allow any non-boyband members into your heart?”

I think about it for a minute.

“You’ll be hard pressed to find another me as well, so.”

“That’s what I thought when the time came to leave Denise, but I was wrong.”

His stare goes past me.

“Then you found me?”

“She’s nothing like you. I used to think she was kind and giving until the time to prove herself arrived and her mask fell. The minute I told her I was leaving indefinitely to join Lune Quartz, she demanded money from me. She said I was the reason she didn’t go to college.”

My blood chills. I can’t believe my ears.

“But the truth came out. She never planned on going to college; she just found a way to make me give her some of the advance I received from GCA.”

I gulp. Aden thinks Denise is nothing like me, but we are the same. I can’t tell him the truth now; he’ll hate me. When the plates are cleared, I’m finally able to speak.

“I thought you two were in love.”

“No, I was in love alone.”

“I don’t believe that. She must have had her reasons for doing what she did. Maybe she needed money.”

“Only you to try and clear her flaws.”

“I can’t believe anyone could be that malicious.”

“Do you think I love you for no reason? You can’t believe it because you are so innately good – that’s what I’ve always admired in you. That’s why I’ve always fought to keep you in my life. There isn’t much light in this world.”

“There is; you are.”

His demeanour changes, his gaze falling on his lap.

“Not with my violent tendencies.”

“I’m sorry for not being more sympathetic towards your past, Aden. While I still do consider violence to be wrong, I won’t condemn you for using it.”

Aden nods with alleviation lightening his face.

“But I’ll counsel you just as you did me today. I only ask that you think about it as I am willing to as well, okay?
“Violence will get you into a lot of trouble at some point. You tell yourself every time that you’re in control but one day, something might hurt you enough to provoke a reaction that would be otherwise out of character for you.
“Please think about what that would do to me, to your family, to the career that you’re working so hard to build. Violence isn’t your friend, Aden, or your ally. It’ll ruin you if you let it.”

He eyes me for a while before responding.

“I wonder if it’s really for me – your worry.”

“I already told you I’m not afraid of you.”

“Yes, well, as we discussed, maybe you should be.”

“I can’t claim to love you and doubt you at the same time. Real love offers hope instead of doubt; it provides energy instead of stripping it.”

“So, you hope I change?”

“Maybe hope was wrongly used; I have faith in you. I believe that you know better than to harm yourself and those you love. It’s in your nature.”

“I…” He seems astonished. “Thank you for the second chance.”

“I’ll count backwards from a hundred.”

“Make it a couple.”

I laugh.

“Bad boy in residence?”

“Only the perils of humanity.”

After dinner, I head straight to bed, citing a headache. But the truth is, I can’t face Aden right now. He believes me to be a saint compared to Denise, when in truth I’m probably worse than her. She took his money, but at least she never loved Aden.

It’s different with me. I claim to love him, yet and still, I have been willing to go ahead and use him to get myself a scholarship. Is that even love; if you can betray someone so deeply?

I hear Aden talking in the background first thing in the morning, so I turn on my side to watch him. I can tell he just woke up. His face is still puffy even after the shower he clearly had. His hair is dripping on the carpet and on the back portion of his shirt – his luck is that it’s black.

“Know the market is saturated with young upstarts. Trust me, you don’t want to be on that overcrowded train.”

A disembodied voice booms from Aden’s external speakers.

“I know.”

“Don’t be bothered by what they’re saying or even by what he’s up to. Focus on yourself.”

“Yes, of course. I’ve been looking into some beats and I even penned two verses for the 126GH beat.”

“Slow your horses, mate,” the speakers laugh. “Let’s remain in LQ body and soul for the time being. We don’t want to give off fragmented energy and all that.”

“It’s not that I’m leaving the boys behind–”

“Listen up, there’s great opportunity to raise your profile using the band’s connections. Connie and I will train you to ramp up the charisma in interviews to Jude Llanelli levels.”

“I don’t want to sound anything like him.”

“We’ll make you better than him. Think his level of charisma but without the pompous ass-hattery. Once you get down here, we’ll be busy round the clock. I’m going to push you non-stop. I’ll be grilling you every chance I get. Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect, but it sure does produce an air of second nature.”

“I trust you.”

Aden is clearly bummed. His arms are interwoven, and he’s looking down to his hands.

“I’m telling you: you’ll fulfil that disaster of a contract and milk it for everything that it’s worth. We can lay some serious groundwork for your solo career if we approach this right.”

Aden nods dejectedly.

“Thanks Todd; I’ve got to go. Tell Connie I said hi.”

I go straight back to sleep, not wanting to get involved and when I wake, Aden’s on the bed sitting right next to me, book in hand, with a tray of food between us. I take a French fry from one of the plates only to spit it back out.

“This is really stale.”

“Sorry, I ordered straight after you went back to sleep.”

He sets the book down and turns to face me as I stare down the sandwiches. I settle for the ham and cheese. Aden takes two with jelly. I look up questioningly when he hands me a book.

“Bought you your own copy of Pollyanna.”

I shrug and put it on my bedside table.

“Who’s Todd?”

“Oh, my sort-of manager. He was assigned to me by Fast One Records. I mean, I’ve known him for a while; him and Connie, his assistant, have always had my back from day one.”

“So, he knew you when Lune Quartz was just getting started?”

“He told me he could tell I would have a prominent career one day – if I got rid of my mohawk, that was.” Aden laughs.

“You had one?” I’m shocked.

We both spot my phone by the edge of the bed and dive straight for it, spilling all the French fries on the bed. I jump up when I get it and quickly type Aden mohawk and hit search as I run to the bathroom.

Aden tackles me to the ground before I can get there but, it’s too late. The phone rolls onto the upright position and shows Aden in all his flame-red mohawk glory. I burst out laughing as Aden tickles me, muttering menacingly.

“I’ll give you something to laugh about.”

“Stop! I’ll pee myself.”

I shriek for mercy. Aden gets up and carries me to the bed to lay me among the fries.

“You looked so hot.” I tease as he climbs over me and straddles my hips.

“You really think you have the power in this situation?”

“You never talk about work. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t tell me these things just because I’m in high school.”

“That’s not the reason.” He takes a moment. “Most of what is on my mind is legal stuff. It’s all very messy and anything you know could be problematic. In fact, because I’m so attached to you, I’m prone to taking your advice over my lawyer’s just because I’m in love with you. You can imagine why we wouldn’t want a situation like that.”

“I thought you were holding back from me.”

“I wouldn’t.” His eyes shine with sincerity. “You’re enough. What we have is enough. I have one hundred and one people, including professional therapists, who will listen to my work issues. But there’s only one person who manages to pull me out of that world so I can be my carefree self – even if only for a while.”

“I don’t know how I feel about being your escape.”

“Sounds a tad co-dependent, doesn’t it?” I nod. “But remember, we have an expiry date.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I agree remorsefully as he kisses my brow.

I then leave in a hurry when I remember that I promised Danatha that I would watch her tango show today. I owe her after ditching yesterday’s rehearsal. The only thing I register on my way out is that Aden and I are supposedly going to a very exclusive club tonight.

When the show is finally over, I push through the disorganized crowd of students to get to Danatha. I call out for her and she turns, disoriented.

“I’m going to the club tonight.”

“Oh, Patina’s? Yeah, me too. JD–”

“Not Patina’s. Aden picked some fancy club uptown.”

“Oh.” she laughs. “He’s pulling out all the stops.”

“He says he has friends who know the owner. In any case, I need an outfit. I don’t think anything I own would work. I was going to ask Leona for one. And you to do my hair–”

“Not a chance. I have my own things to do. I have to help my mom before I go to the masseuse.”

“Can’t you reschedule with her?”

“It’s important.”

“I don’t have any ideas on who could help.” I pout.

“Mackenzie?”

“Please no. I don’t even think she’s home anyway.”

Danatha smiles and when I follow her gaze, I want to punch her.

“Really? Does she ever even do her own hair?”

“No, but she did work at the salon near London’s crib, remember?”

“Oh,” I cringe, not wanting to have to ask Tonya out of all people for a favour.

“Go speak to her.” Danatha dismisses as she goes back to texting on her phone.

“You know what? If you were a real friend–”

“As your real friend, I am teaching you to fight your battles.”

“But–”

“Or you could just go with the ponytail you got on now.”