Page 65 of Backstage

“You’ll find one that doesn’t terrify you. And then, you might not believe me, but even the Jailbirds don’t seem too keen on having a different one every night. After all, Damian hasn’t slept with anyone but me. I thought he had a different one every night, but I was wrong. Things are often not what they seem. Maybe it’s the atmosphere of the tour that’s so frenetic that, in the end, it prevents us from living it up all the way.” I try to reassure him while he’s sipping his milkshake, enjoying it as if it were his last meal before a death sentence.

“And here I thought it was all sex, drugs and rock and roll. The next thing you know, I’m knitting, living the same life as my grandmother on the couch in Brooklyn. Michael carves wood! Have you ever seen anything less rock and roll than that?”

We both burst out laughing. Finally, after all the stress we’ve been through since we first sent that blessed competition video, I linger a bit to breathe in the air that caresses my face. I appreciate the sun that warms my skin and allow myself to enjoy an afternoon like we did when we were nobodies, and our biggest worry was finding a club to play in the evening. After months of frenzy, I finally feel grounded, my head is not spinning, and I have some peace.

People:

Looks like we’ll have to wait to see the wedding photos of Damian Jones and Lilly Jenkins. As you can see from these pictures taken yesterday, it seems that Jenkins’ heart doesn’t beat for one man. In fact, she was seen on a very intimate date with Martin Moore, guitarist of the band she’s been playing with for years. According to witnesses, he paid the bill like a true gentleman. We are waiting for reactions from Damian Jones, although we can anticipate that they will not be flattering.

Gossip Now:

Trouble in paradise? Looks like the relationship between Damian Jones and Lilly Jenkins is over. However, Jenkins already seems to have put an end to it, going out on a romantic date with Martin Moore, guitarist of her band. The two have known each other for many years, and, according to sources close to the couple, they’ve already had an affair in the past, and it seems that the tour has triggered a comeback. How did the dark rocker guy take it when he was replaced so quickly?

Twitter @damian4ever:

But isn’t she even a little bit ashamed to go from one bed to another as if she were a professional? She’s ugly too #LillyYouAreRidiculous

Twitter @JailbirdsTrueFan:

Finally! Damian deserves better than such an ugly and sloppy one. What’s it been since the breakup, two days? #LillyYouAreRidiculous

Twitter @damianIsMyBae:

Now that you’ve achieved the success you wanted, you don’t need Damian anymore, right? #LillyYouAreRidiculous

I’ve been awake for a while now, lying with my arms under my head, staring at the ceiling of my room without any particular thoughts in my mind and a lack of someone at my side. At this point, it has become a physical ache that I can hardly cope with. I’ve never been one to lose sleep over a woman. Yet, here I am, waiting for a decent hour to have breakfast without ordering room service.

The sound of someone knocking on my door makes me sit upright. It’s not a violent knocking, but it’s so firm that if I were asleep, it would have woken me up. I get up, go to open the door, and find Evan in front of me with papers in his hand.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I came on the first flight because you obviously can’t handle the press, and, at this point, a statement is required.” He slams it on the table, a fresh printout of the headlines of several gossip sites portraying Martin and Lilly in intimate positions.

“Trouble in Paradise?” “Lilly Dumped Damian for a New Flame?” An endless list of click-bait titles that make my blood boil. I stare at them for I don’t know how long—an hour, a few seconds—the anger mounting inside me to the point of insanity. I don’t believe in gossip magazines, but it still hurts to see them together. And I feel like an idiot: dumped, replaced, and being laughed at behind my back. When the hell did we get to this point? When did things get so out of hand?

“Why was she out there alone? Couldn’t you have sent someone after her? I swear I’m gonna fire that tour manager.” His questions awaken me from my dazed state.

“They’re grown adults; they certainly don’t need someone to take care of them. They’re not so famous that they need someone to look after them. From these photos, they didn’t even realize they were being followed by the paparazzi.” I find myself defending them against my will.

Evan seems to be taking my words into consideration and eventually sits down. “I’ve already got everyone out of bed. They’re on their way here for a meeting to deal with this.”

“Why the hell don’t we go somewhere else besides my room?” I ask.

“Because I need privacy to handle this!” Evan calls out right as someone knocks on the door.

It’s Martin, still drowsy with sleep lines from the pillow on his face. Then Lilly, Thomas, Simon, and everybody else. The two full bands are in my room. Just great.

“Can you tell me what these are?” questions an angry Evan, handing the papers to Martin and Lilly, who are looking at them with wide eyes.

“I swear we just had milkshakes, like we used to in New York.” The guy decides to explain it to me first, then to Evan. “Nothing happened.”

If he weren’t so lovey-dovey in his own clumsy way, I’d punch him. I don’t know what makes me angrier, the fact that he makes me look like an idiot or that he gets to hang out casually with Lilly during daylight.

“You got me out of bed for this? Do I also have to account for where I’ve been and what I’ve done with all of my free time?” Lilly’s voice is full of rage.

“Yes, princess, you have to give us an answer because you make me look like an asshole!” I blurt out without even thinking about it, and I shudder when she looks at me with rage. I take one step back. It’s terrifying to see her so angry.

“What do you want from me? First you fuck me, but you don’t tell anyone. Then you get pissed off about the gossip and blame me, but you answer them with a ‘no comment’. Then you avoid me like a bad smell, but you kiss me in the elevator and then you tell me you can’t fuck anyone but me. What the hell do you want from me, Damian? What do you take me for? Your very own, personal escort?”

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