Page 226 of Bliss & Her Idols

I startle, jumping to stand up. I take up a protective stance over Cricket, shielding him from view.

He doesn’t even look up from the screens.

“What the hell is all this?” Zoe rushes up the aisle.

No one replies

The silence echoes somehow as much as her shrill yelling does.

Zoe looks harried. But then, Cricket has sent her on as many fake crises as possible all day.

I thought that the report of squirrels destroying the loft and gnawing through wires in the manor was inspired. It probably also explains why her bun is covered in cobwebs and her plain white t-shirt is smeared in dust.

I hope that she spent a lot of frustrating hours crawling around in the dark.

“I said,” Zoe repeats, placing her hands on her hips, “what the fucking hell is this? No practice is scheduled in here. I don’t know what type of craziness is going on today…maybe it’s a full moon or something tonight…but this stops now.”

Jin shakes his head. “I have a song to perform. Why don’t you leave, yeah? I don’t need you. In fact, I never have.”

Zoe’s mean mouth twists in shock. “Who taught you to be so willful? You entitled brat.”

My eyes narrow.

Zoe clambers onto the stage, storming toward Jin.

Torin and Immortal instantly move closer to Jin, protectively. The Idols behind him surge forward, blocking Zoe’s path.

Happiness rises through me that the Idols are standing together to protect one of their own.

They’re not going to allow anyone to bully them again.

It’s inspiring to see the generations united.

Zoe gapes at them. “What do you think you’re doing? I’ll tell the twins.”

“You won’t.” Jin’s voice is harder than I’ve heard it before. He gently pats the head of a young girl in thanks, before shrugging his way through the kids’ ranks to stand shoulder by shoulder with them. “I’m sorry that you didn’t make it as a singer, Zoe. The system sucks. But you shouldn’t take it out on the Idols who are under your supervision. I didn’t decide—”

“That just because I’m not as pretty as you, I don’t deserve to become the star?” Zoe’s eyes fill with tears. “Look at you, adored even by these little dumbasses. You’re not the best; you justlookthe best in a beautiful costume.”

Jin runs his hand through his hair. “I’m not dressed up tonight.”

“And I’mstilla better singer than you,” Zoe screeches.

She’s breathing too fast.

When she lunges toward Jin, I’ve had enough.

It’s true that it’s not fair that she didn’t get a chance at becoming a singer. But she saw had badly the Idols were treated. She should have known that Jin’s life wasn’t glamorous.

Jealousy poisoned her. By making failed Idols into supervisors, Philomena ensured it.

I dive across the stage, grabbing Zoe by the arm before she can attack Jin.

I shove her.

Caught off guard, she stumbles into the Idols. Emboldened by my example, they push her away.

Zoe howls as she falls off the edge of the stage onto her ass.

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