THE STAR BETWEEN US

CHAPTER2

Alex's POV

The moment my face appeared on the giant Screen behind the interviewer, I forced a Smile.

The audience erupted and my name was echoing from every Corner of the Studio.

"Alex! Alex! Alex!"

I Smiled wider and waved.

I acted exactly the way they expected me to.

Perfect. Charming. Confident and untouchable.

The nation's favorite idol. The leader of Eclipse. America's golden boy.

At least, that's what everyone believed.

The Camera light blinked red and it entered live…

Millions of People were watching.

I leaned toward the host as She laughed dramatically.

"Alex Ashton, your latest Single has broken yet another Streaming record."

The Crowd Screamed again.

I nodded Politely.

"That's thanks to my fans."

The Safe answer. The expected answer.

The answer my manager would approve of.

More applause followed.

But inside?

I felt absolutely nothing.

The interview Continued for another twenty minutes.

Questions. Jokes and Predictions about Eclipse winning Artist of the Year.

I answered them all with the Same Practiced Smile.

The Same Carefully Controlled Personality.

The Same version of Alex Ashton the world loved.

By the time the Cameras Stopped rolling, my Cheeks hurt.

The Second we Stepped backstage, the Smile vanished.

My manager noticed immediately.

Jason Cole Sighed..

"There's the real Alex."

I ignored him and walked toward my dressing room.

"You Could at least Pretend to enjoy your Success."

I Stopped and turned.

I met his gaze.

"Do you?"

Jason's expression tightened, neither of us Spoke for a moment.

Because we both knew the answer.

Success was wonderful, until it became a Prison.

Until every move you made became Public Property.

Until millions of Strangers believed they knew you.

Until your mistakes became headlines.

Until your life Stopped belonging to you.

I entered my dressing room and Shut the door hard.

Finally, the room felt empty.

I loosened the Collar of my Shirt and dropped onto the Couch.

I Closed my eyes for five minutes.

There was finally Peace..

Then a knock interrupted it.

I opened my eyes.

"Come in."

Jason entered, holding a tablet.

He’s always working, always Planning and always worrying.

"The award Show is next month."

I groaned.

"Already?"

"Unfortunately."

I leaned my head back.

The National Music Awards, the biggest event of the year.

Every Celebrity would be there.

Every Camera. Every reporter. Every gossip website.

Jason Sat across from me.

"Eclipse is opening the Show."

I blinked.

"What?"

"The opening Performance."

I Stared at him.

"You're Serious?"

He nodded.

I dropped my head against the Couch.

Perfect.

Absolutely Perfect.

More Pressure… More expectations.

Exactly what I needed.

Jason Continued.

"The network expects record-breaking ratings."

"Of Course they do."

"Which means no mistakes." He Said.

I laughed bitterly.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The Part where you remind me I'm not allowed to be human."

"Alex—"

"No."

I Sat upright.

Frustration boiling beneath my Skin.

"Every Conversation is the Same."

His jaw tightened.

"Because every mistake Costs millions."

"There it is again."

"The truth?"

"The business."

Silence Stretched between us.

Finally, Jason Sighed.

"We just need to get through the awards."

I looked away.

Because honestly?

I wasn't Sure how much longer I Could keep doing this.

Not the music.

I loved music.

It was everything else.

The image. The Perfection. The loneliness and the Constant Pretending.

The next few weeks blurred together. Rehearsals. Recordings. Interviews. Meetings. Photoshoots and so on.

Every day looked exactly the Same.

I wake up, work, Smile, Perform, Sleep and Start over.

I barely had time to breathe..

One evening Eclipse gathered inside our rehearsal Studio.

The giant mirrors reflected our exhausted expressions.

Even the other members looked drained.

"Again."

The Choreographer Clapped his hands.

I groaned.

"Seriously?"

My bandmate Noah laughed.

"You heard him."

I rolled my eyes.

The music Started again… We danced again, and again and again.

By midnight, my muscles felt like they were on fire.

The Choreographer finally Showed mercy.

"That's enough."

Thank God.

Everyone Collapsed, breathing hard and Sweating hard.

I grabbed a water bottle and drank nearly half of it in one go.

Noah Sat beside me.

"You okay?"

I Shrugged.

"Sure."

He Snorted. "That's a lie."

I looked at him.

He Smiled knowingly.

Unfortunately, Noah knew me too well.

"What now?"

I asked.

"You've been weird lately."

"I've always been weird."

"You know what I mean."

Noah lowered his voice.

"You're unhappy."

The words hit harder than they Should have.

Because they were Painfully true.

I looked away toward the City lights beyond the Studio windows.

Los Angeles Sparkled in the darkness.

"I don't know anymore."

The Confession Surprised even me.

Noah remained Silent, letting me Continue.

"I got everything I wanted."

I laughed Softly.

"And Somehow it Still doesn't feel like enough."

Noah nodded Slowly.

"Maybe because you're Chasing Perfection."

Or maybe Perfection was Chasing me.

Either way, I was tired.

Very tired…

The following week, Preparations for the award Show intensified.

Every media outlet discussed it. Every artist wanted attention.

Every Company wanted headlines.

Which meant my Schedule became even worse.

By the time the final rehearsal arrived, I felt Completely drained.

I Stood alone backstage listening to workers move equipment.

Lights flashed overhead and voices echoed everywhere.

Jason approached holding his tablet.

I Swear that thing was Permanently attached to his hand.

"Everything's ready."

I nodded.

"Good."

"Try not to disappear."

I Smirked. "No Promises."

He glared and I laughed.

Then my attention drifted toward a nearby television Screen.

Entertainment news was Playing.

It was a report about rising artists.

My interest disappeared immediately until a Particular face appeared.

A young woman with long dark hair, bright eyes and a nervous Smile.

The Caption beneath her name read:

MIA CARTER NEW MEMBER OF NOVA GIRLS

The reporter Continued talking.

Something about a former group. A Comeback. A Second Chance.

I barely listened… Only half Paying attention.

She looked familiar Somehow.

Not because I knew her.

Because I recognized that expression on her face.

Hope…

The kind People have before the industry Crushes it.

I looked away.

She’s just another rookie Chasing fame.

Another dreamer entering a business that destroys dreamers every day.

The thought Should have bothered me.

But it didn't.

Because Survival in this industry required distance.

Emotional distance. Professional distance and Personal distance.

The fewer People you Cared about, the less damage they Could do.

The Stage manager Suddenly appeared.

"Alex."

I looked up.

"Five minutes more."

I Stood and Straightened my jacket.

I adjusted my microphone.

The familiar transformation began.

The real Alex disappeared and the idol took over.

The Crowd's roar thundered beyond the Curtain.

Their roar grew louder and louder.

My Pulse accelerated.

Adrenaline flooding my veins.

This Part never Changed.

No matter how exhausted I became. No matter how frustrated. No matter how lonely, the Stage Still Called to me. The music Still mattered…

The Curtain Slowly began to rise.

Bright lights exploded across the arena.

The audience erupted.

Thousands of fans Screamed my name.

I Stepped forward and the Performance began.