Chapter 2

Raeleigh Campbell

POV

I nearly stabbed someone to death today. As you know I love all things sour, and I requested gummies at a work thing. Would you imagine my surprise when some jerkward ate all my gummies.

I was upset but being the bigger person, I let it go. I was tired and I just wanted to go home and get some sleep.

I wish more people were like you. No one is as sweet and considerate as you are Craig...

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I hoist up my guitar, she’s my favourite, Riley got me this guitar for my birthday four years ago, it’s bedazzled. She knows me so well. She knew I would absolutely love this.

I make sure my hair doesn’t get caught in the strap. The strap had my name on it in glitter. I believe she did this herself.

I begin, strumming the first chord to the very first song I wrote when I became a sole artist. “Being in love isn’t easy...” I start singing softly.

The crowd roars, drowning me in the love my fans have always given me. I smile at the crowd.

“Loving me is even harder,

The more I crave,

The harder I have to fight...”

In this moment I feel more alive than I have in years. I was back in my element. Where I started, how hard I fought to be here. Why I fought to be here.

The band behind begins to play with me.

“I need you to need me.

I need love. I need your love,

You’re what unicorns and rainbows aspire to be,

You’re greatness to me...”

The tempo rises as the floodlights brighten. A crew member takes my guitar and I grab my microphone from the stand.

I perform the choreography the way my choreographer drilled into me for a whole six months before my tour. I’ve performed it almost every night for the last six months as well. I’ve been doing the same dance for a whole darn year.

The rest of the song I dance along the tempo. I’m out of breath as I strike the final pose.

The crowd roars once more, standing and clapping at my performance. My heart is pounding out of my chest. I take a moment to take it all in. This was why I love performing.

Gordan Lane jogs up onto the stage and stands beside me. God I was glad the interview was over. Gordan called me a brat for writing songs about my exes. He asked questions about Carson, when I specifically told him I didn’t him asking me about him.

Gordan announces the rest of his line up for the day and to be honest, I didn’t listen. I didn’t care.

When the crowd claps I do the same. All I could think about was the gummies I had waiting for me backstage. A childhood friend would send me a pack of mixed gummies once a week. It was the one thing that always made me smile.

I wait for my cue from the cameraman and I walk off stage, the crowd cheers. I wave at them blowing kisses.

Once I’m backstage my assistant Sarah is waiting with my phone, I take a quick selfie to upload to my I*******m. She hands me a towel and a bottle of water. I dab my hairline and hand it back to her before drinking water.

I get to my dressing room and there’s a group of men talking. Confused I look around. “Excuse me but what are you all doing here?” I couldn’t help but ask.

One of the guys turn and I’m instantly drawn to his eyes. The same blue eyes I saw three years ago.

“We have every right to be here. Who exactly are you?” he asks.

This asshole’s entitlement.

I watch him take my sour gummies in his massive over grown hands and swallow them.

This behemoth just ate my gummies. He just at my sweets.

“Hey! Those are mine. Don’t eat those...” I say with a frown.

“Oh yeah? What makes you think you’re entitled to anything in my dressing room?” he asks.

“You ate my things, in my dressing room. Not yours!” I say.

“Your sweets? What are you five?” He eyes me the same fire I have in mine.

“This the sweets I specifically requested when I confirmed I would be on the show. Not anyone can eat my things...” I cross my arms, I leave them there, even though I want to remove my arms from my middle. The rhinestones were digging into my skin.

“How much of a brat do you have to be to throw a tantrum over other peoples things.” he places his hands on his hips.

I scoff. “You’re calling me a brat when you’re a thief. A candy thief!”

It’s his turn to scoff.

“Rae...” One of his friends try to speak in but is cut off by blue eyes.

“Rae is it? I’ll let it go because I don’t argue with brats... Take the candy and begone...” he dismisses me.

He actually dismisses me!

“Rae here you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I thought you would be in your dressing room...” Jay’s voice has me turning to him.

“This is my dressing room.” I tell him.

Jay looks at me confused. “No it’s not... Yours is next door...” He says.

On cue my embarrassment kicks in. I turn to look at blue eyes. He has a smug look on his face.

I glare at him.

“I’ve never seen anyone get so worked up over candy. But because I’m being nice. I’ll let you have mine...” he says handing me the bowl of sweets, I haven’t stopped thinking about.

I grab it out of his hand before rushing out with a quick thank you...

I was so embarrassed I was ready to go into witness protection. I got into the wrong room and demanded they leave, like I was diva.

I am tired and hungry, making me grumpy. I couldn’t wait to go to sleep when I get home.