THE STAR BETWEEN US

CHAPTER1

Mia's POV

"Again from the top!"

The Producer's voice echoed through the Small rehearsal hall.

I Swallowed the lump in my throat and tightened my grip around the microphone.

The room wasn't fancy.

The Stage lights flickered occasionally.

The Sound System Crackled every now and then.

And the audience?

Barely thirty People…. But none of that mattered because this was all I had left.

Music….

The only thing that had Stayed with me after everything fell apart.

The Piano began again.

I Closed my eyes and the melody flowed through me.

For a few Seconds I forgot where I was.

I forgot the disappointment, the heartbreak and the memories that Still haunted me every night…

I Sang.

Every note Carried Pieces of my Soul.

Every lyric Carried Pain, hope, fear and dreams.

The final note left my lips and Silence filled the room.

Then applause followed…

I forced a Smile and bowed.

"Thank you."

The Crowd Slowly dispersed afterward.

A few People Stopped to Compliment me.

Some asked for Pictures, others Simply walked away.

I thanked every Single one of them.

Because once upon a time, thousands used to cheer for me.

Now I was grateful for thirty…. Funny how life worked.

The moment I Stepped backstage, the Smile disappeared.

My Shoulders Slumped and my Chest felt heavy…

Three years.

Three whole years.

Three years Since Aurora Girls Collapsed. Three years Since my dream Shattered. Three years Since everything Changed.

I Stared at my reflection in the dressing-room mirror… The girl Staring back looked tired emotionally.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

I turned and Kane walked inside Carrying two Cups of Coffee.

My heart Softened immediately.

"Knew you'd need this."

I laughed.

"You're a lifesaver."

"I know."

He handed me a Cup.

Our fingers brushed briefly.

A Strange look Crossed his face before disappearing.

Kane had been my best friend Since Childhood.

The Person who Stayed when everyone else left.

The Person who Saw me break apart and helped Put me back together.

He Sat beside me.

"Good Performance."

I smiled.

"You're biased."

"I am."

I laughed Softly.

The Silence that followed felt Comfortable.

Kane Studied me Carefully.

"You were thinking about them again."

I looked down.

"I try not to."

"Mia..."

"I'm okay."

"You don't have to Pretend with me."

That broke me.

Because he was right.

I Spent so much time Pretending. Pretending I wasn't hurting. Pretending I wasn't Scared.

Pretending I hadn't lost the most important dream of my life.

But Some wounds never fully healed.

Aurora Girls had been everything.

My family. My future. My dream.

Until the accident.

My throat tightened.

I Could Still remember that night.

The flashing ambulance lights. The Screaming. The Panic. The tears.

Everything Changed afterward.

One member died and the rest Couldn't Continue.

The Company dissolved the group.

And just like that, years of hard work disappeared.

I blinked quickly refusing to Cry.

Kane Squeezed my Shoulder.

"You Still belong on Stage."

I gave him a weak Smile.

"What if I don't?"

"You do."

"What if I already missed my Chance?"

He looked almost offended.

"Mia Carter."

I laughed despite myself.

"What?"

"Don't Say things like that."

"Kane—"

"No."

He leaned forward.

"You have more talent than half the artists dominating the Charts right now."

I Snorted.

"That's dramatic."

"It's true."

I rolled my eyes.

"You Should write motivational Speeches."

"You Should Stop doubting yourself."

I looked away.

Because that one hit too Close.

The truth was...

I didn't know if I believed in myself anymore… Not after everything.

My Phone Suddenly vibrated.

I glanced at the Screen.

It was an unknown number.

I frowned.

"Spam Call?"

Kane asked.

"Probably."

The Phone Continued vibrating…

Something told me to answer… So I did.

"Hello?"

A woman's voice greeted me immediately.

"Am I Speaking with Mia Carter?"

"Yes."

"Hi, Mia. My name is Rebecca Collins from Stellar Entertainment."

My heartbeat Paused…

Stellar Entertainment?

One of the biggest music agencies in the Country.

I Sat up Straighter.

Kane noticed instantly… His expression Changed.

"We've reviewed Some of your recent Performances."

I blinked.

Reviewed?

How?

Why?

"And we'd like to discuss an opportunity with you."

My Pulse accelerated.

An opportunity?

I hadn't heard those words in a very long time.

"What kind of opportunity?"

I asked Carefully.

"We're Currently developing a rookie girl group Called Nova Girls."

Everything around me Seemed to freeze.

A girl group?

The words alone terrified and tempted me.

"We believe you'd be a Strong addition to the team."

My mouth went dry.

I Couldn't Speak or breathe.

Rebecca Continued.

"We'd like to invite you for an evaluation tomorrow morning."

Tomorrow morning?

This was real.

My fingers trembled.

"I..."

The fear returned immediately.

What if I failed?

What if history repeated itself?

What if I wasn't good enough anymore?

The doubts attacked So fast I almost Said no.

Then I remembered the Stage.

The music.

The feeling of Singing.

The dream that refused to die.

I Closed my eyes… Maybe this was my Second Chance.

But I knew one thing.

If I walked away now….. I would regret it forever.

"I'll be there."

Rebecca Sounded Pleased.

"Excellent. We'll Send the details Shortly."

The Call ended and Silence filled the room.

Kane Stared at me.

"What happened?"

I looked at him.

My heart racing and my hands Shaking.

"Stellar Entertainment."

His eyes widened.

"What?"

"They want me to audition for a new girl group."

For a moment neither of us Spoke.

Then Kane jumped to his feet.

"No way."

I laughed.

Half Shocked and half terrified.

"Yes way."

His grin Spread instantly.

"Mia!"

I Couldn't Stop Smiling.

Because excitement and fear were fighting inside me.

Kane Pulled me into a hug.

"You deserve this."

I Squeezed my eyes Shut.

Maybe…

The next morning arrived faster than I wanted.

I barely Slept.

Every worst-Case Scenario imaginable visited me throughout the night.

By the time I reached Stellar Entertainment's headquarters, my Stomach was a disaster.

The building towered above me.

It looked intimidating.

I Stared upward Suddenly feeling very Small.

"You Can do this."

I whispered.

Then I Stepped inside.

The lobby alone looked bigger than my apartment.

Several trainees moved around nervously.

Managers rushed through hallways.

Employees Carried Stacks of documents.

Everyone looked busy…

A receptionist directed me upstairs.

The audition room Contained four judges.

My Confidence immediately disappeared.

The evaluation lasted nearly two hours.

Singing. Dancing. Interviews and questions.

By the end I was exhausted.

One judge Studied my file.

"You were part of Aurora Girls."

My Chest tightened.

"Yes."

"What happened affected your Career Significantly."

A Polite way of Saying it destroyed everything.

I nodded.

"It did."

"Why Continue?"

The question Surprised me.

I thought about it Carefully then answered honestly.

"Because music is the only thing I've never been able to let go of."

The judges exchanged looks.

One of them Smiled Slightly and hope flickered in my Chest.

Three days later my Phone rang again.

I answered immediately.

"Mia Carter?"

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"Congratulations."

My heart Stopped.

"You've officially been Selected as a member of Nova Girls."

Tears instantly filled my eyes.

I Covered my mouth unable to Speak or move.

I got in.

I actually got in.

After everything. After all the failures, I finally had another Chance.

The woman Continued explaining details, Schedules, training, introductions and debut Plans.

I barely heard half of it.

Because tears were Sliding down my Cheeks.

Happy tears…

The kind I hadn't Cried in years.

The Call ended and I Stared at the wall.

I laughed, then Cried harder then laughed again.

A week later I Stood outside Nova Girls' Practice room.

My Suitcase beside me and my heart Pounding.

This was it.

A new beginning. A new family. A new dream.

I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and took a deep breath.

I Pushed the door open and three girls immediately looked up.

One Smiled brightly.

Another waved excitedly.

The third tilted her head Curiously.

For one terrifying Second, nobody Spoke.

Then the tallest girl Stood.

Her Smile warm and welcoming.

"You must be Mia."

I nodded nervously.

She walked toward me then extended her hand.

"I'm Ava."

Something inside me eased.

Maybe this wouldn't be like before. Maybe this time would be different.

Maybe this was where my Story truly began.

Then Ava Smiled and Said—

"Welcome to Nova Girls."

And behind her, mounted on the Practice room television, a breaking entertainment news report Suddenly flashed across the Screen.

A familiar face appeared.

The biggest Star in America.

Alex Ashton…

For Some reason the moment our eyes met through that television Screen, a Strange Chill ran down my Spine.

As if fate had just quietly Stepped into the room.

And neither of us knew it yet.