Depression's End, Young Love's Start

Chapter 5

My fall at the concert blew up into a full-blown media storm.

Sensational headline after sensational headline flooded every news outlet: "Abigail Falls Mid-Concert—Paralyzed? Will Her Career Ever Recover?" "Suicide Over Heartbreak? The Untold Love Life of Pop's Biggest Diva!" and "Inside the Concert Fall: Was This a Planned Suicide Attempt?"

At the hospital, Isaac clicked the TV off with a sharp snap.

He pulled back the curtain and glanced outside. The reporters who'd camped out there for days showed no sign of leaving.

Isaac frowned. "Vultures. Like sharks smelling blood in the water."

I lay in the hospital bed, my face deathly pale.

I'd fallen off the stage lift, but luckily, I'd only walked away with minor injuries.

I gave a bitter smile. "Sorry for all the trouble."

Isaac waved it off. "It's my job. The real thing you need to worry about is..."

He trailed off, his expression serious. "You have to keep taking your meds. No more skipping them."

Isaac never brought up the phone call from the concert, not once.

Right after the accident, Isaac had called Brandon. An assistant had picked up instead.

The guy had said that Brandon was too busy filming to talk.

My accident was everywhere, and he couldn't even send a single check-in. He was too busy working.

Isaac had felt a cold anger settle in his chest just hearing that.

He looked over at me. My long lashes were cast down, my eyes fixed on my phone. I was clearly waiting for a call from someone.

Isaac's chest ached for me. He'd cursed Brandon out a hundred times in his head.

*****

It took a full month for the hype to die down.

I'd already signed on for a gig before the accident, so I had to head back to work.

It was the biggest variety show on air right now. Celebrities paired up to play a couple for a day.

When I got to the set, I spotted Brandon standing off to the side.

This was the first time we'd seen each other since that night he'd walked out.

I walked over, stopped in front of him, and said softly, "Brandon."

A flicker of something complicated crossed Brandon's eyes, but his tone was cold and distant. "Ms. Morrow."

I stared at him, stunned. A bitter taste spread across my tongue.

A lazy voice called out from behind me. "Whoa, Ms. Morrow, making a beeline for Mr. Evans? I thought I was your 'date' for today."

I turned around. It was Fernando, bold and bright, brimming with easy, youthful energy.

"We're... paired together?" I asked, unsure.

Fernando raised an eyebrow. "What, you don't think I'm good enough, Ms. Morrow?"

I huffed a small laugh.

Fernando was only 22, a full eight years younger than me.

Just then, Gloria walked over in a dress.

She greeted Brandon like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Hey, babe."

My heart jolted. Brandon didn't even react. He looked totally used to it.

Gloria turned to me with a bright smile. "Hi, Ms. Morrow! I'm such a huge fan. I grew up listening to your music."

She was a year younger than Fernando.

That sunny, carefree energy of hers looked exactly like I used to be, back in the day.

Brandon tapped her arm lightly. "Knock it off."

The small gesture stung. It felt like a punch straight to my chest.

From across the set, the director called us over to go over the schedule. Brandon gave us a quick nod and headed over first, Gloria right beside him.

Fernando crossed his arms as he watched me stare after them. His tone was dry. "Quit staring. The cold, mysterious movie star and the sunny ingénue? That's the hook the network wants."

I quickly looked away, flustered, and forced a smile. "What about us, then?"

Fernando smirked. "The comeback queen who blew up the internet, and the scandal-prone new A-lister. Audiences eat that stuff up right now."

The two fake couples split up to film their segments, each planning their own date.

During a break, Fernando treated the entire crew to ice cream.

He handed one over to me while I was resting. "Here. You like these, right?"

I blinked in surprise.

It was true I loved ice cream, but how did Fernando know that?

Fernando shrugged it off with a casual smile. "Figured a thirty-year-old woman like you might feel silly eating it alone. So I'd make everyone join in."

He'd never admit it out loud, but ever since the concert, he'd binged every single interview I'd ever done.

I picked up on the flirty edge in his voice, and my smile faded. "Sorry. Not really into them anymore."

Fernando raised an eyebrow. "What about the person? You are not into him anymore, either?"

I froze, then my voice turned cold. "Mr. West, we're just coworkers. Nothing more."

Fernando huffed a laugh. "You and Brandon are over. Why hang onto someone who's already moved on, Ms. Morrow? He's got a new life now. You can, too. Why not give me a shot?"

A new life?

It felt like someone had shoved me underwater.

Air was all around me, but my chest burned like I'd inhaled water.

I croaked out. "What do you mean?"

Fernando pulled up his phone, scrolled for a second, and handed it over. "Gloria's Twitter post from yesterday."

I stared at the screen. It was a photo of Brandon and Gloria together.

Gloria was holding a bouquet of roses, grinning from ear to ear.

The caption read:

I love you not for who you are, but for who I am when I'm with you.