Exhaling, I walk out the door and turn down the hallway. It was so jam-packed before, but now that it’s empty, it matches my mood. I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe that’s it. I wasn’t because I got so caught up in a web of exciting new possibilities, only to be left feeling overwhelmed and alone once again.
Quickly, I grab my cardigan edges and wrap my arms around myself as I rush toward the exit. At the same time, I begin to feel emotional at the thought of not seeing Colt again. I only met the guy last night, on the same night I broke up with the man I supposedly loved, so these feelings have taken me by surprise.
I’m obviously so upset about Joseph that I am trying to distract myself from the pain of losing him by getting involved with another man. Berating myself, I know I need to get back to the hotel and wallow, because that’s what I am good at, and that is what should happen when you break up with someone.
You don’t go to a rock concert with strangers!
The door opens to a dark sky, and I take a deep breath of the cool winter night and exhale slowly. I see my breath as the white vapor streams from my mouth in the cold night air.
To ward off the chill, I wrap my arms tighter around myself as I walk.
I have absolutely no idea where I’m going, but I want to be away from here.
Jessi’s right…
… I’mnota part of them.
And I was a fool for believing I ever could be.
Chapter Three
My Converse scuffs along the gravel pathway as I walk out to the street. There are girls everywhere, and they’re screaming their lungs out. I assume it’s fans out in front of the stadium waiting to be let in to see Colt and his band. But after everything that’s happened, I don’t care. I keep my eyes focused on the ground, feeling so lost, and I don’t know whether it’s from walking away from Colt or the grief from the breakup with Joseph.
Or is it something else entirely?I have no idea.
The screaming intensifies, and then someone tackles me. When I look up, girls all around me are pulling at my clothes and yelling.
Panic rises as they crowd me.
“You’re her! The girl who got into Colt’s Hummer,” one girl accuses.
“We saw your picture on Instagram. You’re Deliah Norman,” another points out.
“Are youreallyhis new girlfriend?”
“Is he as good in the sack as he looks?”
“Can you get us backstage?”
“I hate you, you slut! He’smine.”
“No, he’smine.”
They all start yelling, and I’m unsure if it’s at me or each other.
Suddenly, my hair is yanked to the side, and pain ripples through me as I let out a slight squeal while these crazed lunatics push me around in a circle. They escalate their tactics, slapping me as they continue to pull my hair. At this point, I can’t hold back the tears even if I tried.
“Stop it, you’re hurting me,” I try to call out over their incessant yelling, but it doesn’t stop them. They merely laughand push me to the ground. I let out a yelp as I land on my knees so violently that my jeans rip, and the tiny pebbles dig into my exposed skin, my palms skimming across the concrete.
“Hey!” a deep, demanding voice roars.
Then the screaming begins again, but even louder, if that’s possible. The girls all rush away from me as I hold my head where they pulled my hair. I look up to see two security guards making their way over, followed by a pack of screaming girls. The guards finally make it to me, and one raises his hand to help me. Someone’s pushing their way through the crowd of screaming imbeciles as I wipe my cheeks and straighten out my torn clothing.
“Dee… Dee,” Colt calls out frantically.
Looking up, I see him swarmed by those freaks and more security guards surrounding him. He pushes past everyone to get to me as I stand here shaking. “Dee, c’mon. Come with me,” Colt pleads, taking my hand and pulling me to his side. He wraps his arm around me tightly, and the security guards circle us.
Hands are fighting to get a hold of Colt…
