I hold myself from snapping back. Can’t she see I’m lost in thought? Never interrupt a songwriter when he’s thinking. What if I was pulling ideas together?
I roll my eyes and glare at the paper below me. The team listed questions for us to fill out before our radio interview coming up. I hate doing stuff like this. They treat us like dogs, like they need to tame us. That’s what pisses me off. Singing with Amelia and Elijah was fun until we signed that record deal. Now, we don’t have freedom. We have to follow what they say, and if we don’t, we’re screwed.
I know Elijah and Amelia feel the same way. I see the frowns on their faces. The pen in Elijah’s grip is being squeezed as he rushes through the questions. Amelia writes neatly but slowly. I just stare down at the blank piece of paper, twiddling the pen between my fingers while cursing everyone back at the office in LA.
“The faster you answer the questions, the faster you can leave,” Mom says and sighs. Walking over to me, she brushes hair out of my eyes.
Mom has voiced her opinion to the agency. She agrees that we’re being pushed too hard. She hates watching us get stomped on. Pleading to my dad got us nowhere. The only thing he cares about is money. Not us.
My fingers grip the pen tightly, turning my skin pink.
“I know, Mom.” I sigh and give her a sad smile.
Glancing down, I read the first question.
How’s your love life?
I scribble down,Nonexistent.
The last thing I want is for the world to figure out about Trinity, not only for her sanity, but also because she doesn’t even know who I am yet. Don’t even get me started on the fans. They’ll go crazy, attack the shit out of her until she feels nothing but insecurities and sadness.
My eyes roam over and read the rest of the questions below.
I can easily answer most of these questions on the spot. I don’t give a fuck if the agency doesn’t trust me. I’m not finishing this. This is bullshit. Why am I wasting my time on this when I could be writing?
Pushing out of my seat, I throw the pen onto the table. “I can’t do this,” I mutter out, getting frustrated.
Amelia and Elijah both glare over at me and cross their arms across their chests.
“You’re not ditching us again,” Elijah pleads.
They both look at me with anger. Their noses flare as Mom walks into the room again.
“Leonidas,” she breathes out in frustration and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Please sit down and finish. This isn’t something you can choose to do. You must answer these questions.”
I can’t do this. I can’t finish. My brain is screaming at me. I’m antsy. All I want to do is scream. “If I sit in that chair, I’ll go insane,” I grit out to her.
My fists clench at my sides as she points over my shoulder toward the work.
“I know you hate it. So do your brother and sister, but they do it because they know they have to. You’ll get in trouble, Leonidas. Be smart this one time and finish, please.”
No one understands that I’m not the same as my siblings. We have different triggers and attention spans. Sitting down and doing stupid work the agency makes us do pisses me off. Me being in the band X3 and making money that they get a large percentage of should be enough.
Plus, I know how to answer simple questions to the press. I’ve been doing it for years now. Walking past my family, I dodge Mom’s hand when she tries to grab me by my shoulder.
“Leonidas Drakos!” she yells my full name, her voice stern and demanding.
I know Mom means serious business when she calls me by my full name. I hate my last name. Anything that only comes from my father gives me the creeps.
I pick up my pace when I hear her fast footsteps behind me.
I feel her hand on my shoulder, and my body twists around.
“Leonidas, go back, please?” Mom questions tiredly.
Guilt fills my entire body as I see the tiredness in my mom’s eyes. Though she doesn’t understand how frustrating this is.
“I’ll go insane, Mom. I’m sorry. I can’t. You always tell me to do what’s best for me. This is best for me. I’m not walking away because I’m lazy. I’m leaving because I’m angry,” I stammer.
