Page 33 of The Pursuit of Happiness

My hands are a little shaky as I anxiously twist the knob and open the door. I’m hoping Sly doesn’t give me the silent treatment like he did on the way home from the club.

I step inside and watch as Brody stops drumming and looks up at me, her head tilting in confusion as she takes in my appearance. Ivory stops tuning her guitar and scrunches her face in disgust. Selene gives me a puzzled look from where she stands in the corner with Harvey. Harvey himself raises one brow at me but in typical Harvey fashion, doesn’t speak or show any emotion. All of that is reserved for Brody. Finally, my eyes land on Sly who’s hovering over Brody at the drums. His gaze is intense and his jaw sets when he looks at me, but a look of pure confusion crosses his features before he schools his expression and greets, “Hey.”

The room is so silent, you could hear a pin drop. I myself am silent, shocked that Sly even wants to speak to me after what Idid last week. “Hi,” I mutter awkwardly.

Brody and Ivory exchange a look and glance at Selene almost for permission but Selene shakes her head once at them. I’ve never felt like an outsider in this group, but right now I’m starting to. What’s up with these silent communications I’m not a part of? Brody takes a deep breath and just gives me an empty look and Ivory scoffs, breaking the silence, “Okay, nobody else is saying it so I’m gonna. What the actual fuck are you wearing?”

Brody groans in relief, “Oh, thank God. I didn’t wanna be the one to say it but now that it’s been said, where did you get that turtleneck? I didn’t even know youowneda turtleneck.”

I take in both of their outfits for comparison. Brody wears her usual pair of loose fitted jeans with a cropped, white tank and Ivory wears a pair of black, ripped skinny jeans and a baby pink cropped t-shirt that reads “Future Milf” in white glittery letters.

I frown, crossing my arms over my chest, suddenly self conscious. How ridiculous is it to feel self-conscious after specifically wearing clothes to not make myself feel self-conscious? “It isn’t a turtleneck, it’s a mock neck,” I correct, distaste in my tone.

Ivory rolls her eyes, “Yeah and I’m the fucking President.”

Brody winks at her, “President of the future milfs of America maybe.”

Selene interrupts, “Let’s not worry about what other people are wearing, okay?” She says it gently, but I can feel the anger radiating off of her in waves. I know she isn’t speaking up in defense of my outfit, but because she can probably see I’m only seconds away from a breakdown. Am I really that easy to read these days?

Offended, I scrunch my nose, “I don’t need you to defend me, Selene.” I turn my attention back on Brody and Ivory, “What’s the problem with my mock neck?” I grumble.

“Um for starters, it’s ugly. Also, youneverwear long sleeves.I’ve never seen you in so much fabric before. You used to say that you would walk around naked all the time if you could,” Ivory calls me out, humbling me real quick. My cheeks flame with embarrassment and she continues, “And to boot, you’re clearly going through something. Do you need an intervention?”

Brody looks up over her shoulder at Sly who is staring at me with a blank expression on his face. She whispers to him, “Now may be a good time to intervene.”

He glances at her before making his way around the drum set and over to me so he stands only a foot away. I open my mouth to snap at Ivory, but he places a palm over my mouth to silence me and ushers me into the recording booth so we can speak privately. He releases me once the door shuts behind us, “What’s up with you?”

“Oh my God,” I groan, throwing my head back in irritation. “I wear a fucking mock neck and it’s the end of the world.”

He sighs, “It’s not the mock neck. Fuck the mock neck. It’s the fact that you look like death and you’re starting to freak everyone out.”

I huff, “Thanks, Sly. That’s what every girl wants to hear. Any other insults you wanna throw my way?”

“I’m not trying to insult you, Aria. I’m worried about you and so is everyone else.”

I snap, throwing my hands up, “I don’t need everyone to worry about me! I’m fine!”

He takes a step closer to me, grabbing my face in his hands, “Stop. Breathe,” he commands, giving me a serious look. I consider fighting him off, but ultimately decide I don’t have the energy. I take a deep breath in and release it. He nods his approval, “Better?”

I shrug, “I guess.”

He frowns, not releasing my face, “Talk to me. Is it because of what happened between us the other night at the club? I get thatyou regret-”

“It’s not that,” I cut him off. I don’t want him to finish that sentence because Idon’tregret what we did. I do however, regret the fact that I gave into my impulses and supported the media’s claims about me by hooking up with him in a public area.

“So what is it?” His voice is gentle, comforting. His eyes are so soft, yet they hold an intense look of worry. I have this burning desire within me to crumble and cry into his chest but I refrain, keeping my composure.

I take a step out of his grip to put distance between us. Those kinds of thoughts lead to dangerous territory. “I don’t know if you’ve realized, but I’m being slut shamed by the entire world. Forgive me for wanting to dress a little more on the conservative side amidst all the public scrutiny I’m experiencing about my character.”

Sly’s face shifts into a look of pure infuriation. His jaw sets and his nostrils flare, “Who gives a fuck what they say?”

I don’t want to make this a bigger deal than it is. I’m too exhausted. “Can we not do this right now, Sly? We have work to do,” I give him a pleading look.

For a second I’m convinced that he’s not going to drop the topic, but then he exhales, irritated, and walks out of the recording booth. I exit behind him, ensuring that there’s enough distance between us so as not to cause any suspicion.

Ivory bites her lip as if dying to say something, but knowing she shouldn’t. I roll my eyes, “Just say whatever it is you want to say,” my voice is filled with irritation.

Ivory grins, “I just have to know where you got the mock neck. I know you didn’t go buy one because you would never do that. And I know the contents of all of our closets, so where the fuck did it come from?”

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