Page 114 of Disharmony

“I said, Zach is a good teacher,” Ash repeats, crossing her arms.

She thinks I’m a good teacher? For real?

A warm fuzzy feeling spreads through my chest, and I’m not sure what’s better: her complimenting the Lionheart version of me or how she’s brave enough to stand her ground. No one dares speak back to my mother.

Fuck… I’m the one who said we had to leave the Ash saga behind because it’s too dangerous, but she’s making it harder for me to let go.

“Who are you?” Mom looks Ash up and down. Recognition glints in her eyes. “Oh, you’re the girl from that video.” She laughs coldly and waves her hand dismissively. “A nobody.”

Anger stirs inside me. My mom has always been a bitch, but she isn’t usually this ruthless. Something about Ash puts her on edge, which only strengthens the draw I feel toward her. Anyone my mom disapproves of only makes me want to get to know them more.

Ash raises her eyebrows then says, “I may be a nobody, but I’d rather be a nobody than a celebrity who acts like an asshole.”

With that, she grabs her backpack and storms out of the rehearsal room.

How would it feel if I let her walk out of my life completely?

forty-two

Ash

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck… FUCK!

I repeat it over and over again as I burst out of the studio, replaying what I said to Vivian Royal. What was I thinking? She’s a woman who graces the big screen, has won countless awards, and looks like she hasn’t aged a day in twenty years. Yet, I still can’t keep my smart mouth shut.

I can’t stand bullies. I’ve been bullied myself and learned early on how to defend myself. Now I refuse to stand by and say nothing. What she said to Zach wasn’t bad, but it’s the way she said it. I recognized the tone of someone who gets through life dragging people down. Will Zach be mad at me for saying that to his mom? I didn’t exactly call her an asshole directly, but it was heavily implied.

I don’t know why I felt the need to say something. I should have stayed quiet, but the urge took over and the words came out before I could stop them. Zach didn’t need me interfering in his business. He’s a grown fucking man. But I saw the way his face fell when he saw his mom. It’s bad enough living under the shadow of the Meadow Springs Sherriff, I can’t imagine what it feels like to have a living legend as a mom and a family of celebrities.

I pace through Rec Square back to my cabin, hoping I can lock myself in there and not come out again until someone invents time travel. When I turn the key and step inside, I almost crush a small envelope posted underneath the door. Like the last one, it has my name on it.

I look out the window. In the distance, I see Conor walking toward me.

“Hey,” I head onto the porch and wave as he gets closer. “Have you seen anyone else around here?”

“Everyone else is still in class or rehearsals at the main stage.” He frowns in confusion. “Why?”

I hide the envelope behind my back. “No reason.”

“Why aren’t you out there?” he asks, then wiggles his eyebrows playfully. “I heard you got a solo.”

“I had a coaching session with Zach, until his mom gate-crashed.”

“You mean Vivian is at camp?” He looks around wildly as if she’s gonna step out from behind a tree trunk. There’s no way she’ll be traipsing through camp in her expensive heels. “Man, I love her movies.”

“Well, stick to watching her on the screen,” I advise. “Reality doesn’t live up to the hype.”

“Pity,” he says, although he still looks around in hope.

“What’s your excuse?” I turn the question around on him. “Why aren’t you in class?”

“I’ve been busy,” he replies, burying his hands in his pockets. “I’m working on some new songs.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask cautiously, then gesture to the porch steps. “Do you wanna sit?”

I expect him to make an excuse, like the other times I’ve asked him or Declan how they’re doing. I’ve never spent a lot of time alone with him before. Usually, we’re part of the big group, but he takes me by surprise by sitting down. I quickly frisbee the envelope onto my bed to pick up later and sit next to him.

He doesn’t say anything for a while, then asks, “Can you really trust someone after they break it?”

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