Page 111 of Love on Tour
“I knew it would go well.” Julianna looked at her phone. “My parents are blowing up my phone. My grandmother isn’t doing well. Mind if I step out and make a call? With the crew moving boxes around and the DJ already playing music, I won’t be able to hear them. I know I promised not to leave you.”
“I’m safe back here. There’s too much security to be concerned. Go make your phone call,” Christine said.
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. Go.”
Julianna left with a promise to be right back.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Christine leaned back against the wall. She felt safe with Austin and Matt a mere twenty feet away, even if the door was closed. She shut her eyes, thinking she could fall asleep standing up. She marveled at what stress could do to the body and took a moment to gather herself. Seeing people from her high school had given her some much-needed closure, but it had also reopened some wounds. If she’d had a crystal ball and seen her future, she could have let a lot of the insults roll off her back then. But she didn’t. High school had seemed like the be-all and end-all when she was living it. It had felt like if she didn’t become someone then, she never would. What a ridiculous notion that she should have peaked in life at eighteen. If only teenagers realized they have their whole lives in front of them.
Christine’s phone chimed with a social media update. She wasn’t going to look but figured it had to be something good. She’d just treated twenty people to a fun encounter with a star. How could it not be good? She beamed, envisioning her classmates mentioning that she had planned the meet and greet, saying that Austin had spent time with them, and remarkingthat he was obviously her friend. Did she want validation? Of course she did. Doesn’t everyone?
She pulled up the post and froze. Her hand went to her mouth and she felt the blood drain out of her face. She fell back against the wall. Her legs were wobbly and she started to shake. There was a video of her with the high school group, Austin in the middle, but someone had dubbed a guy’s voice over it.
“Yeah, she’s a pretty cool big deal now. But back in high school, she was just Chrissy the Sissy. It was some dumb chant we used to do: ‘Chrissy is a sissy; Chrissy is a sissy.’ Cruel shit kids do to other kids that you wish now you could take back. It had something to do with a night when a bunch of guys were harassing her. They came up with it, but then we all played along. Why are teenagers so mean to each other? Hey, you’re not recording this, are you?” Then it stopped.
The video had been posted on multiple social media platforms with a dozen hashtags, including the venue name, the tour, Hit Songs Publishing, Austin, and various country music sites. Even her high school was hashtagged, along with the year Christine graduated. Who? Who could’ve done it? Who had said those things?
She sank to the floor as tears flowed down her face. She covered her face with her hands and let her emotions pour. “No. No, no, no,” she cried.
“Christine? Christine? What’s wrong?”
From somewhere in her brain, she heard Julianna calling for her.
“Austin, help me get her up,” Julianna said, but Christine wouldn’t move. She couldn’t move. She never wanted to move again.
“Chrissy, what’s wrong?” Austin was on the floor beside her, hugging her. “Honey, tell me what’s wrong. Did someone do something?”
Christine shook her head. She handed Julianna her phone, the social feed still showing.
Julianna played the video. “Oh, sweetie. I am so, so sorry.”
“What am I missing?” Austin asked. “What the hell does this mean?”
“Does he know what this means, Christine?” Julianna asked.
Christine shook her head.
“Somebody tell me what the hell is going on,” Austin said.
“Christine?” Julianna said.
“I can’t. You tell him,” Christine said, refusing to look up.
Julianna gave Austin the quick version of what had happened all those years ago.
“Jesus, Christine. Why didn’t you tell me that’s why you didn’t want me calling you that?” Austin said, rubbing her back.
Loud footsteps came stomping down the hall. Christine didn’t have to look to know who it was.
“Oh, for God’s sake. What’s wrong with Christine now?” Phoebe said, causing Christine to cry harder. She couldn’t handle one more person being mean to her.
“Not now, Phoebe,” Austin said.
“Nice attitude, Austin. She sits there crying like a damn sissy and you get pissed at me?” Phoebe said.
