My lip wobbles and my eyes sting with unwanted tears. I can’t believe he did this for me.
I move the money apart, placing it back where it was when I notice something orange at the very bottom. It’s a small oval pill. I take it out and grab my phone, doing a Google search because I have no idea what it is. Maybe it’s one of those sleeping pills he was taking, though I’m pretty sure those were white.
The unease I was feeling earlier intensifies as I scroll on my phone, confirming it’s Adderall, the same drug they found on him when they arrested him. He said someone gave it to him, and he wasn’t even going to take it. Maybe he didn’t, maybe this was one they somehow missed?
A quick dive on the internet tells me that was only wishful thinking. All of his symptoms match an Adderall addiction. The not eating, not sleeping, mood swings, and weight loss.
Making a rash decision, I pocket my phone and the pill and put everything else back where it was. He’s going to know it’s missing, but he won’t know who took it. It’s not like he can confront anyone without outing himself.
I speed walk back to my hotel, looking over my shoulder every ten seconds. I go straight to the bathroom and flush the pill, equal parts relief and guilt flooding me. Where is he getting them from? And how is he doing it without any of us noticing? Well, not anymore. From now on, I’m going to be his shadow. Where he goes, I go. He’s not getting anything else by me.
My phone starts ringing, and in my paranoid state, I jump. A breath of relief comes out seeing Liv’s photo light up my screen.
“Hey, did you do it?” she whispers.
“Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t know.”
I laugh. “Ok, but yes, I did it. I just got back to my room.”
“Well?”
I hesitate. Fuck it, what’s one more secret? “I didn’t find anything.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good, right?”
“I guess.”
She lets out a sigh. “I haven’t been able to think about anything else. I kept picturing you tearing the bus apart and someone coming and busting you.”
“What?!”
“I know,” she squeaks. “I had a bad feeling, but I’m glad it’s over. I’ve been a nervous wreck.”
“All good now,” I say as convincingly as I can. It’s definitely not all good.
40
ELLIE
I’m staringinto nothing when my phone pings on the table in front of me. I blink, coming back to Earth and glance at the screen.
Travis:
Money was sent to your account
“Thank you, Ellie. I so appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” I mock to no one. Well, not no one. One of the baristas walks by at that exact moment and gives me a strange look.
I smile at her, trying to convey I’m not, in fact, crazy, though a certain big-headed lead singer is doing his damndest to drive me there.
I send back a thumbs up, smirking to myself. Nothing like a good ol’ thumbs-up response to piss you off. I’d rather be left on read. Take that thumb and shove it up your ass.
It took him a few days to get everything squared away. I wasn’t even asking for the money. I knew eventually he’d get it to me, but things are tight for them right now. They’refunneling a lot of money out for this tour. The good thing about them being on their own is that all the profits are theirs, aside from what they have to pay their people. Most of their revenue will be from streaming services and merch sales, which are doing extremely well. Things are flying off the tables, and their website is currently sitting at ‘out of stock’ on almost everything. Something they’ll need to address when the tour is finished.
I stroll through the doors, a fresh latte in hand, when I hear the distinct sound of a cat meowing.
My feet stop, head turning toward the narrow alleyway. At first, I don’t see anything, but as I step closer, I spot a small, sad-looking cat next to a metal trash can, seemingly searching for food.
