A week passed by in a blink of the eye, before I knew it I was sitting beside Auntie Kris getting pedicures and manicures at a salon in one town over. We barely made it to our appointment in time- the hairdresser took longer than expected. I had to practise in the morning and we got the rest of the day off so Auntie Kris and I got to spend more time together.  ''How much does it cost to go to L.A for your trip?'' she asked ''I think it's about a hundred dollars, but I got it covered,'' I told her. She nodded,'' I can't wait for Nessa to be old enough to join us,'' she smiled. Sometimes I forgot the Auntie Kris wasn't actually my mother and that she had her own daughter, maybe when Nessa got older she'll feel more like a sister than she does now. I smiled but said nothing. She suddenly squealed like a teen girl and turned to me, with a sparkle in her eyes. ''I can't wait to see you in action again. It feels like it's been a million years s

''Please, I don't want to go,'' I begged my mother. I was willing to get down on my knees if I had to, I was already halfway there. ''Mum, if she doesn't want to go I don't think you should force her,'' Lucas said as he walked into the kitchen, he took out a juice pouch from the fridge and gave it to me with a pat on the head. ''Lucas, sweeties, you spoil her. It's not she's going to die, you know,'' my mother said. She was always softer on Lucas, it wouldn't take much to figure out who was the favoured child. ''But, mum,'' ''Enough Lucas, she's going and that's final,'' my mother said decisively before she left the kitchen, probably to have one of the maids pack my bags. I was surprised she didn't give in to him but it was probably because the issue pertained to me. ''Lock I don't want to go,'' I said as tears began racing down my face. ''Hey, Key, it's ok, it's just a few days. I promise I'll be there to pick you up. I know you don't

I walked the perimeter of the rug in my room multiple times, I was trying to psyche myself up so that I would go knock on Lucas's door. I extended my pacing path to reach my bookshelf and collected our book. I gripped the worn copy cover of the velveteen rabbit and slowly made my way to his room. Ever since the incident his door has been locked, not just closed. He used to leave the door unlocked and sometimes opened a tiny bit so I can enter as I pleased, that was nothing but a faint memory now. I raised a clenched fist only to stare at it as it hovered over the dark hardwood. It remained still no matter how I willed it to connect with the surface, it was as if there was an invisible force that prevented me from completing the simple act of knocking. ''Come on Kiara, you can do this,'' I whispered to myself. I secretly hoped that he would hear me, open the door, pull me in and give me the comfort I so desired. As far back as I could remember it has always been the b

Her solid intense stares were like knives slowly dragging along my skin, it wasn't making my nausea any better. I took a deep breath and did my best to get lost in my character once more. I mentally repeated that she wasn't here and she was locked away someplace far from here. No matter how many times I repeated this statement to myself, I knew she was still here. I heaved a sigh of relief when curtains dropped for intermission after act three. The hustle and bustle was simply a background noise as I paced to and fro backstage with hopes of getting rid of nerves and nausea. ''You can't come back here,'' I turned to the commotion to see my brother marching towards me, his brows basically touching. ''That bitch won't leave,'' he spat. It seems he found her here. ''I'm training to be a medical professional, but I'll be a bouncer if needs be,'' I sent him a small smile. I wanted to tell him that it was okay, we both know I would be lying. ''Sir, you can't

The nurse came back shortly after that to release me. When I stepped out of her office, I was instantly surrounded by everyone from the cast and from my family fussing over me. I received flowers and get well soon from the cast before they left to change and head home, all extremely tired. Even as they left my family remained to ask if I was ok or if I need juice. ''Guys stop, I'm fine. I'm going to change.'' I told them as I was still in my costume from before, just with fewer layers.  ''I'll meet you at the car,'' I said to Lucas,'' And I'll see or text you guys later,'' I said to my friends but mainly Zack. ''If you say so,'' Kevin said and hugged me followed by Zack's family and Zoa. Luke was nowhere to be seen, though that was expected. They headed towards the exit and Lucas looked at me for a while longer before he followed them at a distance. Was he expecting me to collapse the minute he looked away? ''I'll see you at the car,'' Lucas call