Page 3 of The Masks We Wear

“Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol was a misunderstanding?” Selene asks doubtfully, a frown on her face.

Aria opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. Ivory speaks for me, “That was totally a misunderstanding.”

“How was that a misunderstanding exactly?” Selene cocks her head at Ivory.

Ivory whispers to me, “I’ve got nothing.”

I clear my throat, “It was simply a misunderstanding because we didn’t know the legal blood alcohol concentration for the state.”

Selene shakes her head, “You guys really have an excuse for everything, don’t you?”

“Yes we do.” Aria says proudly.

Selene asks, “Anything else to say?”

We all sit in silence for a moment, and I wonder if there is anything we haven’t covered. “Oh yes, one more thing. All of that, totally not our fault, and as for the possession of drugs…that we did do. But that’s really the only one, I swear!”

“You’re all filthy liars! All of you! I have lawyers working around the clock on this trying to do damage control and keep you three out of jail. Because if you go to jail, you’re also getting sued by your record label, because you signed a contract to have a new album out this year.” Selene explains the severity of our situation, and I’ll admit, I do feel a little bad. But only a little, because that tour was fun. So much fun.

Ivory sighs, “Sorry, Selene.”

“Sorry doesn’t fix this disaster! I have the court on my back, prosecutors, and angry soccer moms that want the courts to make an example out of you three.” Selene says frantically.

Aria frowns, “We’re sorry. It won’t happen again.” Total lie. Absolute lie.

Selene doesn’t look like she believes that for one second. “You bet your ass it won’t because you three are gonna start getting your acts together. Starting with you, Miss Ringleader.” Selene says to me, singling me out from the other two.

I point to my own chest innocently, “Me?”

She nods, “Yes, you. I know how you three work and the root of every problem isyou.” She says sternly. “And do you want to know what’s going to happen to you if you want to avoid jail?”

“What?” I ask curiously.

She raises her chin at me, “You are going to get sober.”

Ivory, Aria, and I all gasp in unison. “Selene! You can’t ask me to do that! I’m a rockstar for crying out loud!” I beg.

She holds up her hand, not wanting to hear another plea from me. “Brody, I can’t have this anymore. You’re going to get sober. No more drugs and no more alcohol. The legal team thinks that if you three keep your noses clean and act like well mannered, respectful young women now, that you might have a good chance at getting off clean. Now, I know you two are capable of getting your shit together on your own.” She points at Ivory and Aria. “But you, Brody, are out of control. So out of control, that someone else is going to have to supervise you and make sure you actually keep your nose clean and sober. Therefore, I found a live-in bodyguard who is going to stay with you at your house and also serve as your babysitter since you can’t be trusted.”

This finally gets my attention. I may have been doing my best to keep up the unaffected rockstar persona, but I don’t like the sound of this one bit. Any sign of amusement vanishes from my face and my sun kissed skin pales, “Selene, I don’t need a babysitter. I can get my shit together, I swea-”

She cuts me off, “No, you can’t. He will live with you until you get your shit together and until this legal disaster is taken care of. In the meantime, you are to obey his rules and listen to him. He is here to help you.”

“You can’t make me do that.” I argue.

She shrugs, “But I can. Because if you refuse this, Brody, you’re all on your own. I’ll let the soccer moms and the courts, and the prosecutors go after you with no defense of your own and I’ll stop managing you.”

My eyes go wide with shock. Selene has never made a threat like that before. She’s serious and the severity of our situation is just starting to sink in.

“His name is Harvey Taylor. He’s thirty-two and from Nevada. He’s ex-military and has recently sold his private security company. Now, he coaches people like you on the side and does it well. He’s the best in the business. His things are beingbrought to your house as we speak.” She announces.

I gasp, “What?”

She nods, “You heard me.”

“Selene, please!” I beg. She can’t do this to me! She can’t!

Selene sighs, growing irritated with me. “I don’t know what else to do with you, Brody. Besides, it’s only for three months. Just long enough for you to clean up your act and keep your nose out of trouble. Hopefully by then we’ll have all these legal problems settled.”

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